badgerx16

Of course it is a factor; Putin wants to restore the Russian Empire, but he has a problem in that the Baltic states turned, as soon as they could, to the West, to thwart any expectations he had that they might be recovered. Ultimately it is the same reason Finland joined NATO, fearing that if he succeeds in Ukraine he might try to reinstate Russia's north-western territories, which only became independent in 1917. Ukraine was his last hope for glory. The problem for all the appeasers is that NATO did not aggressively entice these Eastern European states, their collective memory of Russian occupation and oppression made them willing recruits.

Say's the most blinkered and closed mind on the forum, and that includes GM.

Colcannon

Yeah, we've got an easy first 7, only have to play Newcastle, Man Utd, and Arsenal. Still, you do get 2 Derby games.

Not YOUR man, you idiotic charlatan.

No, chard is Swiss.

No, I am wondering how the "aggressive expansion" of the EU and NATO eastwards might have been stopped, as that is the point of contention. These countries chose to apply, for what reason might the existing members have refused them ?

So Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania should have been refused membership of the EU and NATO ? What about Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Poland ? The Czech Republic ?

21 Dhuʻl-Hijjah 1445 AH

Showing solidarity, we have just taken delivery of some Palestinian dates.

How are we worse off by staying in ?

Probably no more reliable than their artillery shells.

The ECHR is nothing to do with the EU.

Of course, but I suspect there is an ulterior motive with all the Tory talk of leaving the ECHR, and not just relating to deportations to Rwanda.

The ECHR is just the next 'European' bogey man that the headbangers on the right of the Conservative party want us to think is restricting our sovereign freedoms, when in fact what they want is to take us away from the common ideals we share with our neighbour and back to Jacob Rees-Mogg's heyday, with children up chimneys and picking lint from working mill looms, and when the common man doffed his cap to the Squire when he passed and was grateful for the generous gift of a free turnip at Christmas - unfortunately Britannia no longer rules the waves, the World has moved on, the Empire has faded into history, and we no longer have the international influence the ERG think we deserve.

Yet if Warks hadn't had a 180 plus stand in their middle order, from 123:6, we would have wrapped things up. I think that is what ultimately cost us the game.

When did Canada withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights ? The only country to leave is Russia, in 2022; the Czech Republic and Serbia and Montenegro ceased membership when they split into Czechia, Slovakia, Serbia, and Montenegro, all of which joined as independent entities.

Whilst we are signed up to the ECHR it is nigh on impossible to start fraying the ends in preparation for unpicking it. If we leave, it will start with recanting a single phrase here, rewriting some words there, then, once they have the taste for it, producing a 'British version', with watered down clauses and rights eroded.

I think Rishi needs to watch this;

From the BBC reporting on Gareth Jenkins' being questioned on his witness statements for the prosecution of a sub-postmaster; "On Wednesday the inquiry was shown drafts of witness statements by Mr Jenkins, drawn up as Post Office prosecutors prepared their case against Mr Thomas. In his first draft, Mr Jenkins said “system failure” could be one of the reasons behind the problems at Mr Thomas’ branch, adding that “such failures are normal occurrences”. The inquiry was shown how this line had been deleted, in edits to the document made by Post Office investigator, Graham Ward. Mr Ward added in tracked changes to the document: “This is a really poor choice of words which seems to accept that failures in the system are normal and therefore may well support the postmasters' claim that the system is to blame for losses !!!!” In a separate email to Mr Jenkins, Mr Ward told him his statement needed work, saying it was “potentially very damaging” and that the Post Office needed to ensure it was not “embarrassed” in court." Doctoring evidence and not disclosing to the defence information they might find useful - not looking good for Mr Ward. Jenkins is already being investigated for perjury.

O'Neal

Either tournament yellow card count, or if that is level it is because they had a better head to head over Slovenia in qualifying.

Since beating Malta 2-0 England have played 8 matches and won 2.

2 England players collide, commentator desperately calls it a foul 'surely'.

Comment on the BBC: Kane, Watkins, Saka, Palmer, Bowen, Foden and Gordon scored a combined 139 league goals last season. That's the firepower Southgate has at his disposal and we somehow have zero threat up front. Embarrassing.