General British politics discussion thread

My point about a divided society is that it doesn't just involve two people arguing about politics at a bus stop or in a work canteen. It can manifest itself in numerous different ways. Growing inequality, increases in incidences of racism or xenophobia, sectors of society falling into food or energy poverty, people being marginalised or left behind, acts of discrimination etc can be just as much a sign of a divided society as two individuals having a political argument.

Is there evidence that this is worse than other European countries? Income inequality levels are much worse in Ireland for example. Food banks are a feature of every city in Europe.

Isn't it the case all the things you mention existed prior to 2016.

And seeing as this is the thread discussing British politics why must you keep bringing Ireland into it?

Seems like you're trying to minimise Britain's woes. Funny that.

I never knew Ireland were leaving the EU and about to have Liz Truss as Taoiseach

Of course it’s been questioned, and never more so than in the aftermath of the 2008 GFC, hence this academic study I linked and the zillion further studies, polls and other metrics on the topic, before and since, that are free for the perusing on t’Internet, a Googling away 🙄

The ideological wedges driven into British society since then by populists like Farage, Johnson and their acolytes have crystallised into the majority Brexit vote, the serial majority Tory votes on ever more fascistic promises, the rocketing hate crime rates since 2016, the impoverishment statistics plumbing ever deeper depths year on year, <…>.

There is still no clearer factual metric of the issue, in recent times, than the 2016 referendum vote, given the participation rate and the closeness of the result, and the all-pervasiveness of the outcome in British politics over 6 years on: so divisive, that the main opposition party still espouses that outcome, in the face of its proven effects on the national economy and its prospects, to this day.

Naturally, it is not the only vector of division by far. Just one of the more visible ones. We can equally consider immigration, particularly attitudes to refugees. We can equally consider education, particularly access to further education. Healthcare access and outcomes Etc. It’s a long list.

Media messaging just ups the ante opportunistically for clicks, but it does nothing whatsoever to improve personal outcomes for the have-nots: outrage just polarises people still further, and accessorily sells; it’s been years since it coerced British politicians into working for, or doing the right thing in, the national best interests.

Ive always loved this weird idea that comes out specifically in a lot threads on here about the UK how some posters feel the need to question and police what people are interested in, British politics interests me and id wager its the same for most others who are actively involved in this thread are you trying to say im not allowed be interested in it?

Btw id describe the UK as more of an active and evolving car crash than a basket case, can you honestly say if a car crash was happening in front of you and had the potential to impact on you that you would look away and ignore it?

A German or French politics discussion thread simply wouldn't work as we have relatively little access to their media, plus the language barrier. Interest in the UK in Ireland can hardly come as a surprise - British TV and radio channels available everywhere, UK newspapers on sale in the shops. Many Irish people are probably better informed about UK politics than considerable numbers of people in Britain itself.

You'd probably find the same situation anywhere with two neighbouring countries who share a language i.e. New Zealand people being very well informed about what is going on in Australia, Canadians about the US etc.

Is Boris Johnson under investigation for any alleged criminal activities by the police or will they just turn a blind eye to what he got up to now that he has buggered off?