So the good news is that the bill to exonerate the SubPostmasters gained Royal Assent last night, freeing up the fixed compensation scheme for those whose convictions are now quashed (or allowing them to apply to have their individual case assessed).
The, perhaps, not so good news, as much legal commentary has been focusing on is the (potential) precedent it sets for governments to reverse the decisions of Courts.
In this case it would seem pretty just, but in the future?
That's a good point; and the timing issue may be crucial.... but overall, as a supporter of the rule of law, I'd have preferred to see a judicial solution - that said, given the time that might have taken, this might have been pragmatically (and in isolation) the most just response
Its difficult to assess what % of food (or food based energy) consumed is ultra processed, but here is a chart that aggregates a number of studies to suggest the range of % for a selection of countries.... & then when you know Big Food in the USA spends more on lobbying than the Tobacco industry (which is likely to be similar in UK)... it starts to make sense.
Link that to public health & we have some more context for the UK's health crisis.
Of course, one of the the things we all need to be considering is how to vote tactically... so here for your consideration is one guide to how to vote tactically in your constituency.
Just type in you postcode for advice (based on polling) on how you might vote tactically to get the Tories out (or if you have other priorities, how to maximise the impact of your vote under the current FPTP system)
I think one of things that people are unhappy about with Tactical Voting, is that it confirms the notion that democracy is about voting against rather than for....
The date of the general election seems designed to disenfranchise young people as much as possible, since most university students who vote do so at their term-time address. Universities are in recess on 4 July & many students will be at their parents’ or between university accommodation. Please make sure anyone you know in this situation registers at an appropriate address, preferably with a postal vote.
In a transparent attempt to push the 'country's not safe under Labour' narrative, today Oliver Dowden launches a new Govt. website called Prepare which offers advice on stockpiling goods (food) for potential emergencies.
Advice includes holding 10liters per person per day stock of bottled water & food supplies that do not need to be cooked.
While this may bring advice in line with other countries with such 'resilience' planning, the timing looks pretty odd, does it not?
I sometimes thought my father thought he could't die while he still had books on his pending pile (a stab at immortality I seem to be replicating)... so, it was strangely touching to see Tom Gauld has had similar thoughts.
Ha ha, well access is good, but what we/you really need is infinite time for reading to digest & enjoy them all... or the (large?) portion that you might actually want to read
Britain's record on homelessness is world beating, just not in a good way.
We've the highest recorded levels of homelessness in the developed world; while other counties have seen (albeit slow) declines in homelessness, since 2010 the UK's rate has been accelerating away.
The housing crisis has many dimensions, but here there's a direct correlation between the arrival of the current Tory govt. & massive increases!
The party of landlords is working for them & doing nothing for us!
meanwhile in there US, Boeing's troubles look to be about to get (even) worse.
After the two 737Max fatal crashes, the US Dept. of Justice agreed not to prosecute if it addressed the issues that had led to the engineering mistakes that causes the crashes... some saw that as letting Boeing off the hook.
Now the DoJ has decided that the agreement is off because Boeing had not honoured the 'deal'; might we now see major prosecution of Boeing?
Yes, I'm sure there will.... the Seatle establishment will be seeking to ensure that... but the Q. might be how far it goes publicly before its stamped on.... it may in the end prove fatal to Boeing, in its current form at least