As long as we don't forget to add 10% tax for Scandinavians :-)
Right, Cabinet meeting closed. All down the pub, I'm buying!

I hope it's Guinness. My sisters last name is McGuinness:)

Cheers Matthew my nephew.

It even rhymes:)

I cannot speak for Naval SOP's(Standard Operating Procedure), but I can speak of land based security at both Army & Air Force bases in the UK(not all, as I haven't entered them, but can say quite a few).

While serving with the Royal Corps of Transport, transported various weapons & ammunition. The personal, troop, squadron & regimental security in place was pretty tight as it should be.

Move forward 20 years. Arrived at Bassingbourn at 09:05 11th Sept 2001 to make a delivery, we were not allowed in. The soldiers at the gate were nervously alert & their weapons held live ammunition (if you know army procedures, you can tell).

The delivery was made at the gates with several soldiers humping the furniture into the base. While they offloaded the last of the delivery, the soldiers on the gatehouse got more alert & requested we complete the delivery asap & for us to clear the area. The second plane had hit.

Move forward 6 months or so. I have in my possession by now a driving license photocard (issued 6th Dec 2011) & have a delivery for RAF Wittering. At the guardhouse, we had to provide identification. I produced my photocard, my oppo had no ID on his person.

He was not allowed to enter the base. As I knew the layout of the base, I was let through as the guardhouse phoned through to the person expecting the delivery.

Line 3 on that photocard states your d.o.b & place of birth. Mine states xx.xx.xx Ireland.

I was not searched nor was the vehicle. I found this strange as since that time, every time I delivered to Canary Wharf, the steering wheel was swabbed while the underside of the vehicle was checked.

Yet since then, all the bases delivered to, did not receive any of those checks...

...Makes one wonder.

On the day of 9/11 nobody knew for certain whether the planes in America were part of a worldwide blitz, or just confined to the USA. So yes it was quite likely that every armed services base in the UK was on high alert. Canary Wharf in Central London is rather different to the Midlands, but nevertheless any base is likely to have weapons and amunition, therefore appropriate security has to be maintained at all times for that very reason alone.

You continue to state the obvious.

"Canary Wharf is a major business district located in Tower Hamlets, London. It is one of the UK's two main financial centres – along with the traditional City of London – and contains many of Europe's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest in Great Britain, One Canada Square.

Canary Wharf contains around 14,000,000 square feet (1,300,000 m2) of office and retail space, of which around 7,900,000 square feet (730,000 m2) is owned by Canary Wharf Group. Around 105,000 people work in Canary Wharf and it is home to the world or European headquarters of numerous major banks, professional services firms and media organisations including Barclays, Citigroup, Clifford Chance, Credit Suisse, Infosys, Fitch Ratings, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, KPMG, MetLife, Moody's, Morgan Stanley, RBC, Skadden, State Street and Thomson Reuters."

What was the World Trade Centre? An Army base perhaps?

On the day of 9/11 nobody knew for certain whether the planes in America were part of a worldwide blitz, or just confined to the USA. So yes it was quite likely that every armed services base in the UK was on high alert. Canary Wharf in Central London is rather different to the Midlands, but nevertheless any base is likely to have weapons and amunition, therefore appropriate security has to be maintained at all times for that very reason alone.

I find the implication of racism far more interesting. As Sirius said, he used to be checked and searched each time before 9/11, but afterwards not anymore. I'm willing to bet that now you will get searched if your first name is Mohammed and you look Middle Eastern.

On the day of 9/11 nobody knew for certain whether the planes in America were part of a worldwide blitz, or just confined to the USA. So yes it was quite likely that every armed services base in the UK was on high alert. Canary Wharf in Central London is rather different to the Midlands, but nevertheless any base is likely to have weapons and amunition, therefore appropriate security has to be maintained at all times for that very reason alone.

I find the implication of racism far more interesting. As Sirius said, he used to be checked and searched each time before 9/11, but afterwards not anymore. I'm willing to bet that now you will get searched if your first name is Mohammed and you look Middle Eastern.

Ah yes. Ugly dirty thing, where you come from.

Reminds me of when a friend and I took a trip in his car. We stayed in a town next to a base. He is retired military with ID and his car has base entry decals, I'm not retired military. Day we got into the town base sign indicates heightened threat condition, but we have no issue being waved on base so he can get gasoline from the BX. It it a military guard person, who does not ask for my ID. On the day we leave town, we went to get gas and the civilian contractor guard, now lower threat condition, asks for my military ID or day pass. I didn't have a pass, could have gotten one, but not worth it for a tank of gas. So what happens is frequently very spotty and up to local commanders or the people at the gate.

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On the day of 9/11 nobody knew for certain whether the planes in America were part of a worldwide blitz, or just confined to the USA. So yes it was quite likely that every armed services base in the UK was on high alert. Canary Wharf in Central London is rather different to the Midlands, but nevertheless any base is likely to have weapons and amunition, therefore appropriate security has to be maintained at all times for that very reason alone.

I find the implication of racism far more interesting. As Sirius said, he used to be checked and searched each time before 9/11, but afterwards not anymore. I'm willing to bet that now you will get searched if your first name is Mohammed and you look Middle Eastern.

Sorry to burst your bubble. Your post made me look back at mine as I was sure I stated matters in correct order.

Move forward 20 years. Arrived at Bassingbourn at 09:05 11th Sept 2001

Move forward 6 months or so.

That would be March 2002.

Not checked at military bases but...

I found this strange as since that time, every time I delivered to Canary Wharf, the steering wheel was swabbed while the underside of the vehicle was checked.

Maybe I should have stated "since that date".

Bit late in the day dude

Trying to act on Nigel's points now are we?

"Mr Cameron said that "making Britain a less attractive place to come and work illegally" is a crucial part of a fair immigration policy - adding that a "strong country is one that controls immigration... not one that pulls up the drawbridge"."

Careful there dude, you do not want to get labelled "Enoch Powell 2".

"Mr Cameron said that "making Britain a less attractive place to come and work illegally" is a crucial part of a fair immigration policy - adding that a "strong country is one that controls immigration...

That sounds like he's been listening to Tony Abbott and is something Abbott has said here about immigration

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adding that a "strong country is one that controls immigration... not one that pulls up the drawbridge"

But what about refugees seeking asylum in the EU?
Where should they go in these times?
Only Italy, Greece, Spain, Germany and Sweden?

"Mr Cameron said that "making Britain a less attractive place to come and work illegally" is a crucial part of a fair immigration policy - adding that a "strong country is one that controls immigration...

That sounds like he's been listening to Tony Abbott and is something Abbott has said here about immigration

I think the Conservatives always did want limits placed on immigration but for the last term they had the Lib Dems sort of keeping them under control but now the Conservatives have got it without a coalition so theyre not being held back anymore ,also I think David Cameron want to be seen as a PM in his own right not as leader of a coalition .
If people want to move here and contribute to society good luck to them , but if they are just "benefit scroungers or health torists" that aint right and should be stopped

2,000 people trapped on boats from Burma off Maylasia and Indonesia .

The U.N has asked Australia to help out and settle some of them .

America and other country's say they will help them .

Tony Abbott answer and i quote on today news "nope, nope ,nope we will not encourage the people smugglers in anyway , if you wish to come here then come through the front door not on a leaky boat"

Real nice bloke Tony Abbott....NOT

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Britain cannot afford to take on the result of the worlds problems. What we can do is try to reduce or prevent these problems happening in the first place.

If not Britain, who else can "afford" it?
In the case of boat refugees, Italy and Greece?
It's a real problem right now!

Britain cannot afford to take on the result of the worlds problems. What we can do is try to reduce or prevent these problems happening in the first place.

If not Britain, who else can "afford" it?
In the case of boat refugees, Italy and Greece?
It's a real problem right now!

Europe is a nice big continent whereas Britain is a small island, so pretty obvious don't you think?

Britain cannot afford to take on the result of the worlds problems. What we can do is try to reduce or prevent these problems happening in the first place.

If not Britain, who else can "afford" it?
In the case of boat refugees, Italy and Greece?
It's a real problem right now!

Europe is a nice big continent whereas Britain is a small island, so pretty obvious don't you think?

I Think British Isles are almost desolated comparing to the Netherlands:)

Today I learnt that the UK consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
And that Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man are not part of the United Kingdom:)
From British Wikipedia:)

The UK consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.[11] The latter three have devolved administrations,[12] each with varying powers,[13][14] based in their capitals, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast, respectively. Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man are not part of the United Kingdom, being Crown dependencies with the British Government responsible for defence and international representation.[15]

The problem with all this immigration is that the volume involved is so
great that there is little or no integration only mass segregation.
Different cultures building their own little enclaves within the indigenous
population of that country that they have settled in. Immigration will only
ever work out for the good when the immigrants have to integrate fully with
that indigenous population, and you know what I mean by that. Brussels has
no conscious, who are they kidding, they don't really give a damn about the
boat people. Brussels is just being opportunistic here for reasons which are
pretty straightforward. When it comes to a vote in support of Brussels and
it's future plans for a full United States of Europe you can guess on who's
votes Brussels will be able to count on....all those immigrants moving into
the EU over the passed 15 years.....they will be the vote swayers, swaying
things in favour of Brussels.

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The Kite Fliers

--------------------
Kite fliers: An imaginary club of solo members, those who don't yet
belong to a formal team so "fly their own kites" - as the saying goes.

Don't you think Cameron & his cronies know that!

The problem with all this immigration is that the volume involved is so
great that there is little or no integration only mass segregation.
Different cultures building their own little enclaves within the indigenous
population of that country that they have settled in. Immigration will only
ever work out for the good when the immigrants have to integrate fully with
that indigenous population, and you know what I mean by that. Brussels has
no conscious, who are they kidding, they don't really give a damn about the
boat people. Brussels is just being opportunistic here for reasons which are
pretty straightforward. When it comes to a vote in support of Brussels and
it's future plans for a full United States of Europe you can guess on who's
votes Brussels will be able to count on....all those immigrants moving into
the EU over the passed 15 years.....they will be the vote swayers, swaying
things in favour of Brussels.

Thats was a big oneliner:)
But Brussels as you say, I hope that you mean the EU Parlaiment, are already adressing this problem.
Sort of because it's a fairly new problem with mass migration from the middle east for obvious resons...
And saying that "Brussels has no conscious, who are they kidding, they don't really give a damn about the boat people." is utter nonsense!

Don't you think Cameron & his cronies know that!

Yes, and the Labour party gained a lot of votes from the immigrants
it let in back when it last won the general election.

---

The Kite Fliers

--------------------
Kite fliers: An imaginary club of solo members, those who don't yet
belong to a formal team so "fly their own kites" - as the saying goes.

Thats was a big oneliner:)
But Brussels as you say, I hope that you mean the EU Parlaiment, are already adressing this problem.
Sort of because it's a fairly new problem with mass migration from the middle east for obvious resons...
And saying that "Brussels has no conscious, who are they kidding, they don't really give a damn about the boat people." is utter nonsense!

Too long in sentence to be classed as a one liner!!

Jan, you seem to have faith in Brussels, lets hope they don't turn out to be
your devil in disguise.

---

The Kite Fliers

--------------------
Kite fliers: An imaginary club of solo members, those who don't yet
belong to a formal team so "fly their own kites" - as the saying goes.

"Brussels is the name of his latest flame" :-)