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Fascinating watching the drama unfold within the Labour party. Party leader Corbyn is against the Government plan to extend air strikes into Syria, but seems to be in the middle of a party revolt, as a lot of his members want to offer cross party support for airstrikes.

Some great accusations coming internally from Labour, "Corbyn and his band of Trots in the bunker!"

I think he has got a fair point about the strategy, most people agree that air power alone will never stop ISIS, and a few more planes from us won't make any difference. The reality is, we will have to have a military force on the ground in some shape or form, preferably under a UN banner, and everyone doing their bit.

Interesting times ahead for the Labour party 

It's an interesting point, maybe a lot is to do with personal perception in where we are in the world, possible lingering legacy of our fairly recent history (and living memory for a lot of people), with passed down views and opinions. 

Rightly or wrongly, I've never considered myself European, always British. I've no problem with Europe or Europeans, I just don't feel like a European.

I think the EU is important as a trading and economic club. But the thought of a single currency with it's implications and impact to members states as recently demonstrated by Greece, Italy etc is a step to far for me. Likewise some of the regulation, bureaucracy and the biggest sticking point, open borders and freedom of travel. It is clearly open to abuse, from terrorism to economic migrants and and with temp border restrictions in place for a number of Eurozone countries, I can see the open border concept ending.

There is, or was some support in certain quarters for a United States of Europe, with the single currency being the gel to glue it all together, and standardised regulation and economic controls. But Europe, East, West is too diverse. Our cultures are all different and we have our own identities. I like Europe as it is, independent, diverse but a powerful trading club we need to be a member of. I can see the point of closer military and security co-operation and partnerships, that makes sense, but not a federalised United States  

I hope Cameron manages to get the concessions he needs, but I think too many media images of migrants and doom and gloom has sealed our fate for the EU vote. What happens afterwards as a tiny country on our own remains to be seen 

Originally Posted by Barney

“Ahem.... Just before any of you vigilantes start beating the local youths up, or sharpening up your axes in your sheds... Or practicing on your axe swinging actions, Or cleaning the blood of your last victim from the chopping board.....  You might want to put it on hold for the time being

Hardly surprising the kids of today feel hard done by......

There was a good reason why we done away with capital punishment in this country.......”

29 year old! What a pratt. Good point though Mr Barney, sir ever the calming and sensible influence 

Bloody 'ell! Think they will need to revise the planning application, maybe to open plan

Hmm, like the idea of a subterranean swimming pool, might build it under the neighbours house  

Please tell me you're joking, or your colleague isn't British?

Who said the world was dumbing down...  

Our neighbours got a hybrid 4x4 which he regularly trails a cable out of the garage to charge it up, but can use petrol when the battery is flat.

So best of both worlds, or argue worst of both!

Like the defib idea  It's a cracking point though, you see chargers now at the motorway services. Do drivers have to plug in for 12 hours, or is a 30 minute pitstop enough time to give you any meaningful charge?

Give me a electric car that can do 400 miles between charges, and doesn't look like something off Logans Run, and I'll buy one.

Any electric car owners?

Well the dust is settling on the Governments spending review and autumn statement. You can see a breakdown on the gov.uk - Spending Review and Autumn Statement

For me, it's refreshing to hear the Military is finally getting some new kit after years of savage cuts but continual overseas operations. But the extra money has to come out of someone else's pocket.

Small Business wise, it's good to hear that Business Rates relief is being extended for another year. Apprenticeships are back in the news with the creation of an Apprenticeship levy. My understanding is that this is only for large employers, with a £15k allowance, making taking on an apprentice viable for most small businesses.

What are your thoughts? Obviously there has been the usual media speculation, analysis and hysteria depending on your politics. Was it encouraging or are you disappointed?

What would you do differently?

Originally Posted by Barney

“Might be going up”

oh dear

"After a lengthy freeze under the Coalition, the Chancellor conspicuously made no mention of fuel taxes yesterday.

This could mean a rise of more than 2p a litre in April 2016 – and steeper rises every year after that.

The small print of the Spending Review documents shows the Treasury’s takings from fuel duty are expected to rise at the rate of inflation every year until 2020."

Time to scrap cars, we'll all work from home doing stuff and turn prisons into factories. Pollution and crime tackled in one sentence, how good am I?

Feel the need to re-address the balance and make reference to certain parts of our society who make lipstick adjustment and general make up amendments whilst driving 

Years ago we came second in the start up category for the 118 awards. We were beaten by Royal Mail  The argument was they had started a new branch of the business offering directory services, so were therefore classed as a start up.

So it seems you can just about blag and make anything up these days!