The revelation raises the prospect of further damaging cuts in so-called unprotected departments that were also hit in the 2010s by the austerity policies pursued by successive Conservative-led governments. Reductions in day-to-day spending, which excludes capital investment, would leave departments that have already been squeezed hardest facing further pain. Those at risk include Local Government, Culture, Justice, the Home Office, Environment, Energy, and Work and Pensions.

  • TheOubliette@lemmy.ml
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    10 months ago

    “Defense”.

    Funny how that translates into bombs against brown people in their own country.

    • BombOmOm@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      The UK is one of the top supporters of Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s war of conquest of Ukraine. No way to spin that other than UK helping Ukraine’s defense. British weapons are used daily to destroy the invader, as will continue until Russia goes home.

      • TheOubliette@lemmy.ml
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        10 months ago

        The UK intervened to stop peace negotiations early on and was complicit in undermining the implementation of Minsk II.

        Like other OECD countries, the UK was and is happy to use Ukraine as a weapon against Russia, no matter how many Ukrainians die. Their strategy is to escalate, not defend.

        • BombOmOm@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          Ukraine’s strategy is to expel the invader and ask for any and all assistance in the defense of their country from Russia’s war of conquest. All of the help from Poland, the UK, the US, Baltics, Germany, and other European countries is massively appreciated. More is requested and it’s good to see the UK is stepping up in a much bigger way to assist in their defense.

          • TheOubliette@lemmy.ml
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            10 months ago

            Ukraine’s strategy is to expel the invader and ask for any and all assistance in the defense of their country from Russia’s war of conquest.

            Ukraine is not a sovereign country. Its affairs are dictated by the Western countries that pushed Euromaidan, selected its subsequent president, ensured the failure of Minsk II, and now support endless war to the last Ukrainian. So far as I can tell, there is not much strategy to Ukraine outside of “keep fighting”, and their overall strategy has been absolutely desolating for the population, throwing people into meat grinder after meat grinder, which Russia finds an acceptable status quo.

            All of the help from Poland, the UK, the US, Baltics, Germany, and other European countries is massively appreciated.

            Is it appreciated by those being forcefully conscripted? What about the majorities who want a negotiated peace? Perhaps they do, but don’t let this get in the way of understanding that endless escalation and war is not popular, and this is nevertheless what is happening.

            More is requested and it’s good to see the UK is stepping up in a much bigger way to assist in their defense.

            If you had read the article, you would know that it’s about (1) austerity cuts justified by (2) general fund increased “defense” spending, not specifically for Ukraine-based arms. The only mention of Ukraine is Starmer’s unhinged comments about potentially sending troops to Ukraine, i.e. NATO member troops to Ukraine, which is, again, only an escalation.

            As I already mentioned, the goal of endless arms to Ukraine is one of escalation and using Ukrainians as fodder against Russia, not actually helping the country. The country is already ruined, it has been sold off to these OECD countries for a song (or for “defense”, as the propaganda term would put it). Some “aid”, getting UA’s land and industries in return! Some “aid”, i.e. loans with interest!

  • Warl0k3@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Allright well we seem to have the Americans warming up to perform their hit number “WE TOLD YOU SO” lets see if it changes from the last fifty times we’ve heard it…

  • TargaryenTKE@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Completely off-topic, but does anyone know why they have the black Union Jack? I can think of several reasons why you would want it (and it looks pretty cool ngl), I’m just curious if there is an official reason

    • Skua@kbin.earth
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      10 months ago

      I don’t know about a military context or if this would be acceptable to fly in this context, but flags like this are usually seen here being flown by supporters of football teams that play in black and white strips, like Newcastle United.

      Artist Jonathan Parsons also made one like it back in 1993 that was about the disappearance of black and white TV and film. This photo is definitely not about that, of course, but I found it interesting

  • BombOmOm@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    They should have done this three years ago. Not wait till today when the US is threatening to pull out. The only Europmeans who have been taking this seriously are Poland and the Baltics, as they know the horrors of being under Russian occupation.

    But, the second best time to plant a tree is today! So, good on the UK!

    • Sodium_nitride
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      10 months ago

      The only Europmeans who have been taking this seriously are Poland and the Baltics, as they know the horrors of being under Russian occupation.

      Ah the horrors of being freed from fascism and given actual social security nets with industrialization! How terrible! We noble westerners should increase our military spending to make sure these things never happen again.

      We will defend the rising tide of fascism, genocide in the middle east, and crippling austerity to the last man standing!

    • stink
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      10 months ago

      Sorry for the Russians killing your Nazis, I guess…

    • Zarathustra@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      If the USA isn’t responsible for what’s going on in Ukraine, then why is the UK?

      Make it make sense.

      • Warl0k3@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        "Well the USA did it, too! has got to be the worst justification, for anything, that I have ever heard.

      • BombOmOm@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        The UK wasn’t responsible for France being invaded in WWII either. Yet, they helped push out the invader.

        • Magnus@lemmy.ml
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          10 months ago

          Well the UK kinda was responsible for the insane economic sanctions that were put on Germany after the war.

        • Zarathustra@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          Yeah that doesn’t make it make sense either. The UK should have raised military spending 3 years ago in anticipation of US flippancy on the subject of Ukraine… checks notes… because they helped France in WWII?

          Please finish the following sentence for me: The citizens of the UK should put up with even worse public services because…

          • Warl0k3@lemmy.world
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            10 months ago

            “… they need to fix the problem quickly, and after some political dicking around this is the only option they’re left with?”

            • Zarathustra@lemmy.world
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              10 months ago

              tbh this just sounds to me like a bunch of people running around moaning at other countries to solve world problems. Take some responsibility.