What happened on 24th July 2023 - With your comments in the Web

On Monday, it became known that Network Rail bosses splashed £10,000-a-week on air fares last year because it worked out cheaper than getting the train.

Figures showed that staff at the public body - which owns most of the UK’s railway network - bought 985 plane tickets for flights within the UK. They bought a further 1,622 for international journeys, Freedom of Information data has revealed.

Many of these domestic journeys could have easily been done by rail - outraging green campaigners who pointed out that getting the train is far more environmentally-friendly.

Of the internal flights, 72 were between Birmingham and Glasgow which is served by a direct train line with one-way tickets costing up to £206. And among the company’s staff, high-flying director Michelle Handforth - who pockets an annual salary of £330,000 - expensed £8,000 worth of domestic flights.

Criticism of national railway wevice wasn't surprised for anyone.

"In Britain we pay exorbitant first world prices, for a third world rail service. Other European countries have vastly superior trains, at a fraction of the price for tickets.

I am not in the least bit surprised that people would rather fly, for what is very often a fraction of the cost. And infinitely more reliable."

"Network Rail is publicly owned. All journeys by Network Rail employees within the UK should be taken by train (where a train service exists).How can we expect the train service to improve if Network Rail employees don't experience it firsthand?"

"Was looking at an apprenticeship to become a train driver. It stipulated that you had to be able to travel to the station without relying on rail travel. They’re aware of how shoddy their service is

Edit: for those of you living relentlessly in the real world, I concede there’s probably perfectly functional reasons for this. However, I still think it’s funny that “you are not allowed to rely on this service in order to work in this service”."

This day either, homeowners in Scotland faced being blocked from selling their properties unless they swap gas boilers for heat pumps, under plans being considered by Humza Yousaf’s government.

From 2025, properties will need to meet Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C or above at certain trigger points, including a sale. But the EPC ratings system will first be overhauled and more stringent green standards introduced, meaning some homes that currently achieve a C rating will be downgraded.

It is understood that this could include giving a lower score to homes heated by gas boilers, forcing some owners to install a low carbon source of heating such as a heat pump before they could sell. Currently, EPC ratings take into account how costly it is to heat a home, but the Herald on Sunday warned reforms mean they could also include the type of heating.

Patrick Harvie, the green zero carbon buildings minister, said the Scottish Government wanted “all homes to reach new energy efficiency standards by no later than 2033”. He said improving energy efficiency in Scotland’s homes was “nowhere near enough” to meet the target and argued there needed to be a major change in heating methods – “as big as the shift from coal to gas last century, but in a shorter timescale”.

 

"And in ten years time it'll be 'why won't older home owners downsize', 'why are people staying in areas with worse employment prospects'.

Let buyers and sellers decide between themselves."

"This was suggested the other day to me, "Why don't you downsize now you are a pensioner and free up a larger house for a family with children?"..... I still have children and grandchildren who come to stay - fucking muppets!"

"Is there a time scale? Like, a number of years you can enjoy being a home owner before you’re shunted into a tiny flat and forgotten about so you don’t bother anyone else with your lofty dreams of having a spare room?

And people wonder why I started serial killing…"

On Monday as well, Anjem Choudary appeared in court over 'terror group' charges.

The 56-year-old Islamist from east London has also been charged with addressing meetings to encourage support for the organisation. Another man, Khaled Hussein, 28, was charged on Monday, accused of being a member of the same group.

Both appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court and did not enter pleas. An offshoot of Al-Muhajiroun was banned, or proscribed, in 2006 for glorifying terrorism. That ban was expanded in 2010 to include a number of other names, including Al-Muhajiroun.

Choudary was arrested in the capital by counter-terrorism detectives on 17 July, the same day as Mr Hussein, who is from Edmonton in Canada, was detained after getting off a flight at Heathrow.

The prosecution claims Choudary spoke to weekly online small groups from June 2022 until his arrest, giving lectures on the establishment of an Islamic State in Britain and how to radicalise people. He remained silent in court during the 23 minute hearing, other than to confirm his name, date of birth and Ilford address.

Choudary is accused of membership of a proscribed organisation, addressing Al Muhajiroun meetings to encourage support for a proscribed organisation and directing a terrorist organisation, contrary to section 56 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

 

Redditors were happy to learn this news.

"Good. About time the UK stopped tip toeing around this nonsense"

"Good, need to be heavy handed with these extremists

Edit: surprised I didn’t get banned for calling an extremist an extremist again"

"Can they not just throw the book at him and get rid of him? 40 years let him out when he's in his 80s"