One could argue that an adult in their 40s or 50s who chooses to date someone 21-23 or 22-24 deserves to die.

Cool, that sounds fun, I’m always up for an argument. Before we start though, can you clarify the terms? Are you saying that:

• Someone in their 40s who chooses to date someone 21-23 deserves to die; and
• Someone in their 50s who chooses to date someone 22-24 deserves to die?

What about a 49 year old who is dating a 24 year old whose birthday is the day after hers? What happens when she turns 50 and is dating a 24 year old for a day? Does she deserve to die? Or is that only if she starts dating a 24 year (+364 day) old during that time? What if they break up for that day, presumably that’s fine? What if she says “I’m breaking up with you, Kevin”, and he says “No, Lou-Anne, I won’t give up on us, I’m going to keep calling you, we are not over” and walks out, and so they’re technically dating for that day but it’s not her choice any more (“who chooses to date”).

Also, what age are we using? Presumably we’re just going by the birthday, rather than going down to the time as well? Like someone who turned 40 today dating someone who turns 24 tomorrow. Obviously she deserves to die because she’s dating a 23 year old. But if she was born just before midnight and he was born just after, she might deserve to die, but two people whose age gap is even bigger (by a few hours) wouldn’t deserve to die. That doesn’t make sense, surely? So we need exact time of birth for some potential couples.

Also, why the lower limits? I’m assuming you’re not advocating for paedophilia so let’s keep the age of consent the same. Why is it fine for someone in their 40s to date someone aged 18-20? If it’s not, why did you specify a lower limit?

Is this a moral absolute (for those who could argue it)? Could a 40 year old be a good enough person to be allowed to date a 23 year old? Could a 39 year old be bad enough to not be allowed to date a 23 year old?

It depends. Accidental drink driving is not as bad as deliberate illegal street racing. But deliberate drink driving is worse than accidental illegal street racing.

Oh FFS, the problem with this government’s authoritarian bullshit is that it’s authoritarian bullshit, not that they’re using it against the wrong target.

I’d love to see a “Get rid of the petitions system, its sole purpose is to make people feel they have been listened to while you continue to ignore them” petition get enough votes to be debated.

Well I was delighted when I went to my private doctors only to find it had been turned into A Pub!

And they were showing my favourite TV channel, CBBC.

It’s not meant to be a single digit multiple of the UK tax, I don’t know where you’re getting that from. The things which the article mentions as being single digit multiples are:

In 13 countries, acquisition taxes for such an SUV are more than three times higher than the UK’s

£3,200 in the UK, but the sale would incur taxes of £66,600 in France – driving UK SUV sales to four times the level in France.

And the headline figure is “up to 20 times”, which roughly matches the £66k.

I’m not sure what the mistake is? France charge a £50k premium, so £66k tax doesn’t sound unreasonable.

It doesn’t say that that £66k is 3 times the cost, it says there are 13 countries which have a greater acquisition tax than 3x the UK rate. As far as I can see, it doesn’t mention the relative costs between the UK and France.

They’d better be careful. Damaging the paintwork of such a valuable piece, in order to further their message (the state is not violent) meets all of the criteria for terrorism, as I understand it.

Quite right too. What you’re attracted to is “infant gangster chic”, or “playground hard-man cosplay”. No need to bring slurs into it.

If you can work the phrase “shove them up your fucking arse” in there, I’m in 100% agreement.

Yeah, “trivial” was too strong, but I do think that “punch them in the balls” is obviously impractical enough as not to count as a serious suggestion, particularly coming from a comedian.

I’d be surprised if CPS took it any further and shocked if he actually got a conviction. But either way this just plays into the narrative of “woke snowflakes who can’t take criticism without crying to the police”, IMO. Just look at how much of a cause célèbre Lucy Connolly has become for the right, for what was objectively a much worse tweet.

Linehan and Streeting are both dickheads of the highest order, but jfc I don’t want to live in a country where you can get arrested for such trivial shite.

And well done to whichever twat escalated this to the police - I’m sure this won’t lead to yet more demonisation of the trans community 🙄