Would those that are anti Monarchy and would prefer to live in a Republic, please declare their hands publicly now. Every one of you.

Sorry guys, the three of you will have to wait until tomorrow. Been around for far too long to jump to that sort of provocation. Enjoy your evening :-)

FYI that info was provided to Master Williams in his role of Minster in that department in March 2014 during the "happy days" of the Tory - Lib Dem" coalition. Nice job you did boys.

Would those that are anti Monarchy and would prefer to live in a Republic, please declare their hands publicly now. Every one of you.

Would those that are anti Monarchy and would prefer to live in a Republic, please declare their hands publicly now. Every one of you.

The State opening of Parliament is one of the greatest events in the life of the United Kingdom, and incorporates the quite proper display of the very symbols of office, worn or not, of the British Monarchy, as has been done by tradition over centuries. And I will not stand by and see that denigrated by anybody.

An Englishman, Irishman, Welshman, and Scotsman were captured while fighting in a far-off foreign land, and the leader of the captors said, 'We're going to line you up in front of a firing squad and shoot you all in turn. But first, you each can make a final wish.'

The Englishman responds, 'I'd like to hear "God Save The Queen" just one more time to remind me of the auld country, played by the London All Boys Choir. With Morris Dancers Dancing to the tune.'

The Irishman replies, 'I'd like to hear "Danny Boy" just one more time to remind me of the auld country, sung in the style of Daniel O'Donnell, with Riverdance dancers skipping gaily to the tune.'

The Welshman answers, 'I'd like to hear "Men Of Harlech" just one more time to remind me of the country, sung as if by the Treorchy Male Voice Choir.'

The Scotsman requested, 'I'd like to be shot first.'

and i would really love to see you say that to my face

Would those that are anti Monarchy and would prefer to live in a Republic, please declare their hands publicly now. Every one of you.

tensions regarding Gibraltar

The State opening of Parliament is one of the greatest events in the life of the United Kingdom, and incorporates the quite proper display of the very symbols of office, worn or not, of the British Monarchy, as has been done by tradition over centuries. And I will not stand by and see that denigrated by anybody.

I'm quite happy to say that I support the current government (with caveats) and the Monarchy as well.

Because you were asked nicely, so we all know where people stand? If you would rather ditch the Monarchy then at least have the courage to say so.

The result of putting the people before the party.

No doubt the anti-monarchists here will rejoice at the Daily Mail front page this morning, probably frame a copy for the wall.

You are all free to have the opinions that you want, and I certainly have no intention of trying to change them, and also I can see no reason why I should waste my time in trying to defend mine against you. Trying to have sensible conversations with you lot is like talking to a brick wall, about as much fun as watching paint dry. Enjoy your little club, in the words of Sam Goldwyn, you may include me out.

Yesterday the PM had to apologise in the Commons for his Council's failings. As PM she effectively has a sign on the desk saying the buck stops here. He should have gone days ago, his position was untenable.

if it's an enemies of the State list

My local tax rebate is blood money

In 2014, I received my Kensington and Chelsea council tax bill and a letter from the leader of the council, Nicholas Paget-Brown, explaining that all residents who pay council tax in full would “receive a one-off payment of £100”, to be deducted from the bill. This bonus, the letter continued, was due to the council’s careful management of its finances over the years, “consistently delivering greater efficiencies while improving services”. Austerity, K&C style: you give to the rich while taking from the poor (nobody with discounted bills or claiming council tax support was eligible to share in the bounty of the town hall blue-chips).

On a Conservative website, Paget-Brown further explained that “thanks to an overachieving efficiency drive”, the council was “well ahead of [its] savings targets for the year”. Triple AAA credit status, how nice. In deciding what to do with this surplus, he continued, “we have taken the view that it is simply wrong to discount from our calculations whose money this was in the first place. In short, we think the right place for it is back with our residents.”

In May 2014, the local election returned a huge majority of Conservative councillors. Business as usual. For years, the Royal Borough has got away with bribing the electorate with its own money. For years, the Royal Borough has been running huge underspends in its revenue budgets which it then transfers into capital reserves. The underspend in the 2016-17 adult services budget alone is £1.9m. Apparently, adult services in the area are doing so well they don’t need the money. And every other social service must be performing brilliantly, as the council’s projected reserves of £167m by the end of 2016-17 has climbed to a staggering £209m – that’s £42m surplus to requirements. How many sprinkler systems is that?

As the toxic ash of Grenfell Tower’s vanity cladding falls over the neighbouring streets, we are left with the acrid truth in our throats: regeneration in the Royal Borough is in fact a crime of greed and selfishness. I took the refund. At the time, I felt uncomfortable with this decision and the ways in which I justified it to myself. And then I forgot about it, until the smoke drifting into my flat in the early hours of Wednesday woke me up. Today, I gave it back. It wasn’t ever mine to keep. I handed it over in cash to a vicar running a refuge for the victims of the fire in a local church. I explained that it was not a donation, not a charitable act, that it was guilt money and he was doing me a kindness by taking it off my hands.

If you live in Kensington and Chelsea, please, give your rebate back. But not to the council, which seems to have trouble in identifying those – “our residents” – who might actually need it.

if it's an enemies of the State list

Oh... well there you go, and I thought this was a democracy where free speech was at least tolerated, but there I am... a number two *waft self upwind*

;)

I thought this was a democracy ...

I would think that many locally Tory controlled London Councils would have a word to say about a new GLC! And who was the leader for many years? Red Ken!

The Greater London Council (GLC) was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council (LCC) which had covered a much smaller area. The GLC was dissolved in 1986 by the Local Government Act 1985 and its powers were devolved to the London boroughs and other entities. A new administrative body, known as the Greater London Authority (GLA), was established in 2000.

I would think that many locally Tory controlled London Councils would have a word to say about a new GLC! And who was the leader for many years? Red Ken!

The government(Taxpayers) have paid £10,000,000 for those flats. WHY hasn't the RBK&C bought them as they have a £42,000,000 surplus? & the government has handed them over to RBK&C - pretty free with our money don't you think?
You are asking me questions that I have no means to answer. I don't know what goes on behind the doors of RBK&C Council or No.10 any more than you do.

Can I suggest that you ask the PM and the Council Leader those questions, I have no role as their spokesman.