Come To Britain And Travel In Style.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3271045/Pictured-50-000-luxury-stretch-Hummer-used-ferry-asylum-seekers-London-Manchester-village-complained-deluged.html

Why the need to transport seven young African males, at a cost of £3,000, all the way from London to Manchester, in such luxurious transport?

[slaney]

From the original link - scroll down to the very end...

"A Home Office spokesperson added: 'Our contractors are responsible for arranging the transport of asylum seekers and bear the cost of doing so. However, this incident was totally inappropriate and Serco has apologised.

'The terms of our contract with Serco requires them to take all reasonable steps to ensure transport is appropriate. We have reminded the company of their contractual obligations and expressed our strong disapproval. There was no additional cost to the taxpayer.'

[andy-hughes]

AOG - ///// Is their ethnicity relevant? ///

/// Surely a waste of money is just a waste of money - does it inflame Mail readers further because the men in question are asylum seekers, and from Africa? ///

!!!!! Oh dear, I've done it again, some never fail to respond !!!!! //

And some never fail to find and post this type of story!!!!!!!!!

If you don't appreciate responses to your OP's, there is a very simple solution ...

[Retrochic]

why put facts in the way of a good argument? The government have a Contract with this company and pay them a set fee to transport people -it does not make any difference if they use buses, limos, or taxis - the contract is a yearly set price. Maybe all the other vehicles were out -maybe the firm involved wanted to make a point? who knows but it has not cost the tax payer one single penny more than it would have if they had been herded into a cattle wagon and sent on their way.

[Retrochic]

Andy - the OP did not have to search very far for the story they have been discussing this issue on the Wright Stuff this morning.

[andy-hughes]

Retrochic - //Andy - the OP did not have to search very far for the story they have been discussing this issue on the Wright Stuff this morning. //

Thanks for tha info - sadly I am denied access to daytime TV, I still have to work for a living!!! (But not complaining about it!)

[anotheoldgit]

Don't let Gromit draw you Togo, it is just his way of diverting attention from a sensitive issue.

As a AB moderator he should abide by the rules.

*** The Answerbank reserves the right to remove any post that does not relate to the topic being
discussed ***

[andy-hughes]

Retrochic - //why put facts in the way of a good argument? The government have a Contract with this company and pay them a set fee to transport people -it does not make any difference if they use buses, limos, or taxis - the contract is a yearly set price. Maybe all the other vehicles were out -maybe the firm involved wanted to make a point? who knows but it has not cost the tax payer one single penny more than it would have if they had been herded into a cattle wagon and sent on their way. //

An excellent point - which simply adds substance to my point that - as usual - the Mail is using its readers' known prejudices to make a headline, and wind everyone up in the process.

And on the basis of the OP, it does appear to have done its job admirably.

[andy-hughes]

AOG - //Why not pick-up trucks, isn't that their usual mode of transport? //

Because it is not ours.

[Retrochic]

andy -that is exactly what they concluded on the Wright Show - a racist article written by the Mail to whip up emotion.

[andy-hughes]

Retrochic - //andy -that is exactly what they concluded on the Wright Show - a racist article written by the Mail to whip up emotion. //

So no change there.

The sad fact is that so many people allow their buttons to be pushed by this odious rag.

[anotheoldgit]

/// And some never fail to find and post this type of story!!!!!!!!! ///

This story is widespread across the media, are you saying that if stories happen to mention the ongoing problem of migrants and who happen to be Africans, simply because they come from Africa, that one is not allowed to place a thread about it on AB?

/// If you don't appreciate responses to your OP's, there is a very simple solution ... ///

I do not mind in the least appropriate responses, it is just that you always have to make your same snide associations to racism, as in this case there was no reason whatsoever for you to do so.

"There is a simple solution"

And wouldn't you just like that, for me to not post on matters that you don't like.

But short of you getting me suspended, "I ain't going anywhere" as they say.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Thanks for tha info - sadly I am denied access to daytime TV, I still have to work for a living!!! (But not complaining about it!) ///

Yet it seems you are not denied access to AnswerBank, or to spend your 'working' hours' hanging on to each and every post.

[anotheoldgit]

Retrochic

/// who knows but it has not cost the tax payer one single penny more than it would have if they had been herded into a cattle wagon and sent on their way. ///

I don't think it would have cost £3,000 to send them on their way in cattle trucks.

[andy-hughes]

AOG - At the time of writing, your thread is 31 posts old - I have posted nine of them, less than a third, but as always, you zero in on my contribution - which is really quite flattering!

So, to address your points -

//This story is widespread across the media, are you saying that if stories happen to mention the ongoing problem of migrants and who happen to be Africans, simply because they come from Africa, that one is not allowed to place a thread about it on AB? //

No I am not saying that - which is why I have not said that. I have never suggested that anyone should not post whatever they like - but they must be prepared to receive comment on their posts, from myself and anyone else on here who wishes to do so - that is now the site operates.

//I do not mind in the least appropriate responses, it is just that you always have to make your same snide associations to racism, as in this case there was no reason whatsoever for you to do so. //

I made a general observation based on the Mai's slant on the story. If you wish to take that and parley it into an attack on your views, then that is your responsibility - but please don't assume that my responses are only ever directed at you - that is not the case I assure you.

//"There is a simple solution"

And wouldn't you just like that, for me to not post on matters that you don't like.//

I have never said that I 'don't like' the issues on which you post - again you see something which is not there.

// But short of you getting me suspended, "I ain't going anywhere" as they say. //

I am pleased to hear it - the site would be poorer without your input.

And for the record, I have never suspended any AB contributor, contrary to popular belief.

[andy-hughes]

AOG - ///// Thanks for tha info - sadly I am denied access to daytime TV, I still have to work for a living!!! (But not complaining about it!) ///

Yet it seems you are not denied access to AnswerBank, or to spend your 'working' hours' hanging on to each and every post. //

I think that's for my employer to worry about - if they wish - it really shouldn't concern you - don't worry yourself.

[Togo]

//usual - the Mail is using its readers' known prejudices to make a headline, and wind everyone up in the process.//
The story appears to be in all the newspapers ( after taking a quick look) why do some posters seem to try and demonise The Mail. Perhaps its the well known quote from William Blake.
A truth that's told with bad intent
Beats all the lies you can invent.

[andy-hughes]

Togo - // ... why do some posters seem to try and demonise The Mail. //

As a poster who takes a swipe at the Mail on a regular basis - it is a well-known fact that the Mail likes to wind up its readers with stories like this - which it made much of all over its front page - I do not know the status of the story in other dailies - did it make any other splashes like the Mail's?

But that is not a 'demonization' of the Mail - it's job is to sell papers, and it knows it market very well.

My point was really more of a 'same old same old ...' observation from the Mail, not really a criticism.

I have ben a Mail reader for more than forty years, but I confess, as its obsessions become more tedious and predictable, I am seriously thinking about a change, or an addition to my daily news intake.

[sp1814]

AOG

I suggest treating this story with flame-retardant gloves.

It was all over Twitter yesterday because of two factors:

1. No-one has been able to verify the story. The limo company still hasn't been tracked down.

2. That chap Ray (have a look at the photos) asked to remain anonymous...and so the Daily Mail to guarantee his anonymity promised not to reveal his surname...just his face.

Very amusing.

[THECORBYLOON]

ANDY believe it or no, when I seen your post about not being able to watch TV because you are working, I was going to post 'wait for someone to ask why you are on AB during working hours.' Then I thought, no, folk must realise that some folk are self-employed, run their oqn business or have employers who allow Internet access as long as the work gets done.

Ach well...

[andy-hughes]

Corbyloon - //ANDY believe it or no, when I seen your post about not being able to watch TV because you are working, I was going to post 'wait for someone to ask why you are on AB during working hours.' Then I thought, no, folk must realise that some folk are self-employed, run their oqn business or have employers who allow Internet access as long as the work gets done.

Ach well... //

Indeed! I am more than capable of multi-tasking - I do not 'hang onto each and every post' as advised, I do my work in tandem with my time on here.

But as you realise, some people think it is wrong for me to do both - but that is not a matter for them to worry about, so I shall continue - it has done my career no noticeable harm in fourteen years.