Blah Blah

This has gone one and on since the lane was created and the council haven't listened to a single point. Now the lane is in such bad repair anyway on the kerbs that you would have to be a complete idiot to not see that the design and materials are not fit for purpose. For the record, I have had four collission with pedestrians who walked straight into my front wheel without looking. Even though I always cycle at walking pace, it did not stop the collision.

James is right in what he says. And also, the referendum campaign itself cut accross party lines, so it seems perfectly logical that it would do so in subsequent parliamentary business too. What Labour have to do now though is fiercely affect the kind of brexit we end up with. Labour should makes access to the single market a key demand and win the economic argument for it. The tories line will be whatever it takes to appeal to brexit views on immigration, so Labour should argue for other ways that disincentivise immigration, over sacrifising single market access. Then voters will have a clear choice between Conservative, Labour and Libdem (offering hard/soft and no brexit) in future elections, if that issue really matters to them. Farage is just a vile hypocrit anyway. And the election of Trump will also have a bearing on where we go as well. 18% of our exports are to America,and they have a trade deficit with us (of around $7billion). Trump isn't going to stand for that, nor does he want America importing goods - he wants to bring back mass US manufacturing (although how he will do that given the much higher production costs over China is anyones guess). So we could find ourselves in a position where we not only face tariffs into the EU, but also increased Tariffs on some of our exports to the US. That's 62% of our exports at risk of costing (10-20%) more to the customer. This is serious stuff.

There were 131 constituencies who voted remain and most of the 114 MP's that voted against triggering the article yesterday, represent those constituencies - so criticising them for doing so is a bich rich (especially after the Richmond bi-election). I thought Ken Clarke's speech was excellent (not that I like very much about his political career). I too am disappointed in Harriet's decision to vote in favour but it was a whipped vote and calls for deselection are a bit much. I certainly wouldn't support that.

There is a lot to worry about in the psychological profile of someone who tortures, kill and mutilates animals. This person needs to be caught, before he or she moves onto larger targets as the Lilo says above.

All of this from a single tweet where the use of language is as clear as day!

This film IS a reflection of what welfare reform has done to thousands of people. Of the 1.3 million people and families that were referred to foodbanks last year, 63% were as a result of welfare delays, sanctions and removal of benefits. This should not be happening. It was a deliberate act by Osborne and Ian Duncan Smith to make accessing benefits as hard as possible, especially for the sick and diabled. Just 6% of the welfare and social security budget is spent on the unemployed and those claiming ESA. The over 65's swallow 65% of that spending, with housing benefit and child tax credits taking sizeable percentages as well. So it is hard to argue that making savings justify the harshness. Under New Labour, food parcels were just 25,000 a year. There has been a backlash against this film by tory apologists masquerasing as journalists, and Tory MPs themselves. I hope every one goes to see it. Last week, a policy unit set up by the tories delivered a report commissioned by government, which citicised pretty much every aspect of welfare repform. This government has made people ill and made them less able to look for work. And none of it, not one bit, is necessary.

Some wheelchair users can reach speeds of 8 mpr too. Should we have those in cycle lanes too? There's a clear dfference between something with a top speed of 8 mpr and a cycle that can go much faster. I also think that mobility scooters on roads will lead to the same kinds of accidents that cyclists suffer from. But if we do ever get to a place where there are millions of mobility sccoter users, we may well want to look at road or pavement provision for them. That would just make sense. Right now though, while it might make sense to allow a mobility scooter to use a bus lane, it makes no sense to allow them in narrow cycle lanes.

This is why I have mirrors on my bicycle and they are the most useful thing I've ever added. I use them all the time.

Ha ha Pickle. That's very funny. Those Catherine Wheels were always the tricky ones. It's the bonfires I miss. Used to be one in every village, town and street corner. Not allowed to do that anymore.

I agreed ????. Until the actual process begins and the talks start, we know nothing. I still think we'll end up with a Norway type deal, especially as the two years of talks takes us right up to the doorstep of the next GE. Most of the marginals that matter in the next GE voted leave. This has to be shaping the public government line on this. What happens in reality though is sometihng else.

Correct. The EU will go for self preservation over any deal with us. This the most naive aspect of the leave argument, that we are somehow special. This empirical nonsense is establishment through and through. And it will be exposed over single market access.

To answer Alan though, access to the single market only, without full membership would cost us about half of what we pay at the moment, athough we'd probably lose our rebate, so probably around 60% of what we pay at present.

Fixie's are fine in places like Holland, which is mostly flat. Completely useless in London though, which is quite hilly in parts.

Some cyclists jump lights it's true. But not all do. I don't for example. We always remember the ones who annoy us, and forget those who don't. Hence what is often a skewed view of cyclists. Sounds like this particular cyclist was just plain wreckless though, and as the OP says, is an accident waiting to happen.

The problem is that governments and public alike become complacent and forget how it was or what it leads to. It's why we are having decades of boom and bust and every time, the masters of the universe think it won't happen again, because they are so much cleverer this time! No-one ever questions the system when the money is rolling in.

But they think we will still have access to it without all the conditions attached. Or at least, that's what they keep telling us when pressed on the matter.

Breaking news. Unilever and Tesco have come to an 'agreement'. The Marmite embargo is over!

She is paradoxical. To the right of Thatcher but also a 'wet' on some issues.

A falling pound though does still affect production costs for things produced in this country. We import all kinds of raw materials and energy, which producers have to pay increased prices for.

Also, the U-turn on allowing a parliamentary debate, came of of threatened revolt from May's own backbenchers. The divisions within the Tory party are as fierce as ever. This is why a parliamentary vote has been ruled out by May, because she knows full well that it is her own party that will sabotage Brexit.

We haven't invoked article 50 yet teddboy. How low will the pound go when we do? We haven't seen tariffs in action on exports yet. How many jobs will be lost when we do? We still have our workers and employment rights. Which of those will be thrown out by this government? How many of those who voted leave will be happy to pay between 10% and 30% more for their goods? Telling people to move to another country is not an answer. I have as much right to stay in the country I was born in and fight for the country and economy I want as you. Almost half the population did not vote leave, so that's 16 million people you are telling to leave. And it is the narrow margin of the vote that gives me and many others some hope that common sense will prevail, and we won't end up over the cliff after all. A Norway type deal which protects our access to the single market is probably the best compromise.

The bewildering thing about Trump for me is that the Republican Party allowed someone who has never held any kind of office to stand as a candidate in the first place. Maybe they figured they could trade on his celebrity status (they have been out of office for two terms after all), or never really exected him to win the nomination (like Jeremy Corbyn), but thought he would be good entertainment for the process. Either way, they have it seems, triggered the downfall of their party. Even if Trump wins, he will never get Senators and Congress to back him on anything imo - so a lame duck presidency at best. The other disconnect with the public is the idea that any of these people really serve their interests. Trump wants lower taxes for people like him, and regulation of big business to be swept away. Nigel Farage too, is as close to establishment as a politician can get (and stands for similar ideas on tax and deregulation). These kinds of people do well because they know how to push the right buttons in people who feel angry or disenfranchised, but they offer nothing that will actually change the balance of pwer between wealth and ordinary people. They are frauds imo.