The politics thread.

[lyb]

Both my kids are going through the Finnish school system, its free and as good as any fee paying school in the UK - there is only a handful of fee payment schools here and those are International schools for visiting expat kids mostly

So less banned and more just no demand for the fact the public system is of a high standard?

 

[PukkiParty]

I think it’s a crying shame that there hasn’t been more investment in solar

Geopolitics at play here I think, I agree that policies like enforcing roofs of new fulfilment centres to be covered in solar would make a lot of sense (people always go on about wasting arable land on solar panels, but you seen the size of the fulfillment centres used by Amazon, Asos, Next, Boohoo etc? Should be forced to build these with roofs strong enough to be covered in solar panels).

But China produces almost 80% of the worlds solar panels, and the West is essentially in a proxy trade war with China, so any pledge by the government to spend tens of billions on solar would, in reality, mean awarding billions of pounds worth of contracts to China.

There are some UK based solar panel manufacturers but they can't produce to the scale (or as cheap as you mention) to make much more than a dent to demand.

It will be the small modular reactors which will ensure our energy security, there are 6 companies through to the final stage of the tender process for contracts to build and operate and 3 are British, 2 are American, 1 Japanese. That is despite the Chinese being ahead in the race and having successfully finished building one this year, quite telling.

I'm a bit torn on nuclear. I accept that its the answer, but I'm definitely a NIMBY, wouldn't want to live near one (should be put in areas of high unemployment anyway, to replace lost industry). The fact that we can award many or most of the contracts to British companies to be made domestically is an attractive proposition also, and a welcome change as usually paying the French loads to build our nuclear facilities!

I'd snap up the opportunity to take a solar subsidy to put 16 panels on my own roof, to reduce my dependence on the grid though.

 

[morty]

Geopolitics at play here I think, I agree that policies like enforcing roofs of new fulfilment centres to be covered in solar would make a lot of sense (people always go on about wasting arable land on solar panels, but you seen the size of the fulfillment centres used by Amazon, Asos, Next, Boohoo etc? Should be forced to build these with roofs strong enough to be covered in solar panels).

But China produces almost 80% of the worlds solar panels, and the West is essentially in a proxy trade war with China, so any pledge by the government to spend tens of billions on solar would, in reality, mean awarding billions of pounds worth of contracts to China.

There are some UK based solar panel manufacturers but they can't produce to the scale (or as cheap as you mention) to make much more than a dent to demand.

It will be the small modular reactors which will ensure our energy security, there are 6 companies through to the final stage of the tender process for contracts to build and operate and 3 are British, 2 are American, 1 Japanese. That is despite the Chinese being ahead in the race and having successfully finished building one this year, quite telling.

I'm a bit torn on nuclear. I accept that its the answer, but I'm definitely a NIMBY, wouldn't want to live near one (should be put in areas of high unemployment anyway, to replace lost industry).

I'd snap up the opportunity to take a solar subsidy to put 16 panels on my own roof, to reduce my dependence on the grid though.

Do you live in Norwich? They are still doing the Solar together scheme, the prices are good.

https://solartogether.co.uk/norwich/unauthorized

 

[PukkiParty]

Do you live in Norwich? They are still doing the Solar together scheme, the prices are good.

https://solartogether.co.uk/norwich/unauthorized

Afraid not, where I live the scheme like this closed earlier this year, but was for people with poorly insulated homes or no gas mains supply. I live in a modern house with B energy rating and have a gas mains supply so didn't qualify.

 

[morty]

Afraid not, where I live the scheme like this closed earlier this year, but was for people with poorly insulated homes or no gas mains supply. I live in a modern house with B energy rating and have a gas mains supply so didn't qualify.

Thats a bit shit frankly. I think a lot more people would be up for this if the price was within their range. Just goes to confirm though, all about the profit, and fuck all to do with the planet.

 

[PukkiParty]

Thats a bit shit frankly. I think a lot more people would be up for this if the price was within their range. Just goes to confirm though, all about the profit, and fuck all to do with the planet.

I could afford it with the monthly repayment things that some providers offer, but would mean that I won't start seeing the benefit for about 6 or 7 years (based on neighbours performance on identical house),and I like my ROIs to come a bit quicker than that

What would be absolutely amazing would be if a company would just install for free, then take all the energy produced until its paid for, at which point they become yours. That would be a government scheme I could get behind. My bills wouldn't go up, government would essentially just be taking the energy produced as their loan repayment, that would be smart.

But again, would be taxpayer subsidy of big contracts to Chinese solar manufacturers, which I suspect is a sticking point. I do think we're in a bit of a trade war with China, I also think its the Chinese flying drones over all the American airbases.

 

[morty]

I could afford it with the monthly repayment things that some providers offer, but would mean that I won't start seeing the benefit for about 6 years (based on neighbours performance on identical house),and I like my ROIs to come a bit quicker than that

What would be absolutely amazing would be if a company would just install for free, then take all the energy produced until its paid for, at which point they become yours. That would be a government scheme I could get behind. My bills wouldn't go up, government would essentially just be taking the energy produced as their loan repayment, that would be smart.

I think that there may be a scheme similar to that in Scotland?

The trouble is though, you can have too much solar, and we need the energy more in the winter, when they produce less. So in the grand scheme it wouldn't surprise me if they want to limit it in some ways.

 

[PukkiParty]

I think that there may be a scheme similar to that in Scotland?

That the English no doubt help pay for

 

[Helsinki Canary]

So less banned and more just no demand for the fact the public system is of a high standard?

Pretty much the case - why pay huge money when you get as good for free - I had a stint working in Oz - there has the same problem as the UK - people pay 30-40k$ a year to get their kids a better education - we sent our kids to a state schools, the primary was ok but secondary was poor - we chose to head back to Helsinki so our kids got the best education for free.

 

[Fenway Frank]

Woman at work has panels, during the summer she uses washing machine, lawnmower etc during the day and doesn't pay a penny. I would be interested but the cost of installation puts me off as I'm outside the city and as I'm already in a B rated home I guess I won't qualify for the deal that Morty has highlighted

 

[morty]

Woman at work has panels, during the summer she uses washing machine, lawnmower etc during the day and doesn't pay a penny. I would be interested but the cost of installation puts me off as I'm outside the city and as I'm already in a B rated home I guess I won't qualify for the deal that Morty has highlighted

There is no actual grant or qualification threshhold. It was simply a scheme where weight of numbers meant you could get a better deal. If you are interested register for it, and they will send you a quote. There is no obligation.

 

[morty]

Switch Together Solar | Norwich City Council

Looking to cut your energy bills and go green? Switch Together Solar - Norfolk makes it easy and affordable to install solar panels through a trusted group-buying scheme backed by Norwich City Council.

www.norwich.gov.uk

 

[Fenway Frank]

Meant to say, I had a log burner installed in September, I've had to buy some logs for this year but have already collected quite a bit for next year. At this time of year you're usually paying more than the direct debit but mine is currently still less. Not environmentally friendly for some and I'm only heating one room but I love it.

 

[Fenway Frank]

For 5k I'd be interested in panels but I've just checked and it isn't available in broadband. I might look into it a bit more though to see what's available

 

[morty]

For 5k I'd be interested in panels but I've just checked and it isn't available in broadband. I might look into it a bit more though to see what's available

My system, including batteries came in at just under 5k. Which gives you a good starting point, the market for this has become very competitive, the prices really are being driven down.

 

[Rock The Boat]

Pretty much the case - why pay huge money when you get as good for free - I had a stint working in Oz - there has the same problem as the UK - people pay 30-40k$ a year to get their kids a better education - we sent our kids to a state schools, the primary was ok but secondary was poor - we chose to head back to Helsinki so our kids got the best education for free.

The best state school in the UK is the Michaela School in Wembley, London. Around 90% of the pupils are first or second generation immigrants of low income families. Mchaela acheives 91% pass rate in Maths and English GCSEs and 82% of Sixth Form go on to a Russell Group Uni or Oxbridge. Their results compare with the best fee paying schools. Surprisingly, there have been attempts to get the school shut down because the remarkable Head Teacher refuses to accept any woke ideology within the school environment which upsets a lot of progressives. Pupils have to leave their differences at the school gate. Michaela shows that it is not lack of resources that prevents successful outcomes, what is needed is a commitment to standards and the dedication of teachers. It can be done.

 

[morty]

The best state school in the UK is the Michaela School in Wembley, London. Around 90% of the pupils are first or second generation immigrants of low income families. Mchaela acheives 91% pass rate in Maths and English GCSEs and 82% of Sixth Form go on to a Russell Group Uni or Oxbridge. Their results compare with the best fee paying schools. Surprisingly, there have been attempts to get the school shut down because the remarkable Head Teacher refuses to accept any woke ideology within the school environment which upsets a lot of progressives. Pupils have to leave their differences at the school gate. Michaela shows that it is not lack of resources that prevents successful outcomes, what is needed is a commitment to standards and the dedication of teachers. It can be done.

Huge fan of Katharine Birbalsingh. A testament to what old school values and discipline can achieve.

 

[Rock The Boat]

It was a fairly well-known thing over on the Pink'Un non-football side that i have never been the biggest fan of the Labour party, but I've found myself feeling somewhat sorry for Keir Starmer at the start of his term. I do think they made a major error in judgement in going excessively pessimistic in tone at the outset, and I think the criticisms made that this may have damaged consumer confidence to the detriment of the wider economy may not be unfounded.

Other than that, though, this is an incredibly young government with absolutely zero experience of running a country. It's completely normal for new governments to do virtually nothing for quite a while, while the new ministers find their feet regarding the mechanisms of government. I can see there's obviously some panic setting in with the appointment of Peter Mandelson to a key diplomatic spot with the US. Kind of unfortunate that he's on record trashing their new President, however much I'm not a fan of Donald Trump myself.

One thing that is making me somewhat defensive of the government is the attacks on it from over the pond, particularly from Elon Musk. I really do think it's outrageous for someone about to assume a major post with an ally to just be openly gunning to depose our elected government in the manner he is. With that said, I suppose comments from Mandelson etc. in the past regarding Donald Trump could arguably make it some tit for tat, but it's nevertheless tragic to see diplomacy decaying to social media spats like this.

While you may not enjoy Musk's intervention in British politics you have to remember Labour sent 100 'volunteers' to work for the Biden election campaign. So the Labour Party should not be too surprised there are consequences.
Besides four years of a Trump presidency saw a steady stream of invective and downright hostility from commentators on this side of the Atlantic. Indeed the old Pinkun had a Never President Trump thread where posters gave vent to their emotions on a daily basis. So again we shouldn't be surprised to see it being dished out the same as we were doing before.

 

[morty]

I should imagine a few in the labour party are wishing they were back in opposition, it must have been so much easier!

 

[lyb]

While you may not enjoy Musk's intervention in British politics you have to remember Labour sent 100 'volunteers' to work for the Biden election campaign. So the Labour Party should not be too surprised there are consequences.
Besides four years of a Trump presidency saw a steady stream of invective and downright hostility from commentators on this side of the Atlantic. Indeed the old Pinkun had a Never President Trump thread where posters gave vent to their emotions on a daily basis. So again we shouldn't be surprised to see it being dished out the same as we were doing before.

That's very true. The tragedy is that once these sorts of lines are crossed, there's no going back. I do think there's a difference between people getting involved on the ground and behind the scenes rather than this really base approach Musk seems to have embraced. Some really low-brow stuff that I'd expect from the most ignorant of plebs on occasion, not a highly intelligent multi-billionaire.

I also don't think it's right to have someone given so much power in government policy, like Musk has, being an active businessman with a lot of government contracts. It's all very well believing the best gamekeepers are poachers, but that doesn't mean you want to employ gamekeepers who are active and successful poachers at the same time they're supposed to be looking after your game!