badgerx16

Back on track; 3:55 GMT 18th Feb 2026 : The US State Department says it "supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago". 18:13 GMT 18th Feb 2026 : Donald Trump posts on social media - "Do not give away Diego Garcia,""

How does reducing the welfare budget reduce abuse of the system ? Is the logic as follows ; If the welfare budget was £100M and fraud was 3%, then the amount of fraud is £3M, however if you cut the budget to £90m the amount of fraud would be £2.7M, so reduced by £300K. The main issue with the system is the administration needs to do 2 things better; firstly better validation of claims to screen out potentially fraudulent claims, and secondly, better fraud investigation and reporting procedures.

Forrest Gump Dumb and Dumber.

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Part of the Save America Act wants to bring in compulsory voter ID. It is claimed that over 20 million US citizens do not have any of the required forms of ID necessary to register to vote under the proposed new regulations. For instance, at least half of Americans do not have a passport.

Really not impressed with the chap who just rang from Sky Assured Maintenence. He told me that the agreement on our television equipment was up for renewal, but when I asked him to list out the makes and models of the affected kit he just hung up.

The last time I was in A&E there was a loudly drunk man sitting to one side telling the security staff that they were failed Policemen, and were just as corrupt as the Police. He continued this rant for about half an hour and refused all requests to STFU, so security went to call the 'real' Police, Just as they arrived the drunk did a runner out of A&E and down the corridor towards the X-Ray department. The Police asked where he had gone and everybody in the reception, about 40 people, all pointed out the direction he had run. About 2 minutes later he was frogmarched out, this time ranting directly to the Police about how corrupt the force is.

I don't suppose Melania will ever reach the status of 'classic'.

What chance of a party lead by Lowe winning a seat in Southampton ?

Judge blocks Trump adminstration's attempt to erase awkward history;

Lobbying groups will be preparing stuffed brown envelopes in anticipation.

Zimbabwe game rained off - Aussies go home.

I read that as "I've seen the memo".

"Twenty-nine councils have confirmed to Sky News they have written to the government asking their local elections be postponed by a year, citing the resources needed to deliver the local government reorganisation (LGR) programme, and the cost of holding elections." "All 63 councils offered a delay to their May elections by the government have now confirmed their positions to Sky News, after the deadline to request a postponement passed at midnight on Thursday." As I said, the Councils requested the postponement due to LG reorganisation. https://news.sky.com/story/local-elections-2026-over-a-third-of-councils-offered-a-delay-have-requested-one-is-yours-on-the-list-13494762