Comments by "Gareth Hart" (@tgheretford) on "Andy The Gabby Cabby" channel.

  1. The problem is that you don't own your electric and gas meters, they are the property of the local distributor of electric or national distributor of gas. They're no longer manufacturing the mechanical ones, only refurbished ones. So your only options in future will be to accept one (but insist that it doesn't communicate) or go off grid.
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  2. If every store did that, that's the end of shopping for the elderly, the disabled and those who can't drive. I suspect there would be lawsuits on the grounds of discrimination to challenge any shop that attempts to implement that rule in a high street or supermarket setting.
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  3. And the troops. Something that has gone under the radar with the news reporting is the plan to time-limit unemployment welfare and to conscript unemployed people into the army to cut the unemployment numbers for Starmer's "peacekeeping mission".
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  4. The mainstream media seems quite intent as of late to get as many candidates up for election to claim Reform is the new BNP, that its full of people described with every -ist and -phobic you can think of and attempting to get the party shut down.
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  5. They're destroying the unique selling point of the channel in a fit of panic to save their broadcast licence. If they fall, Talk TV will be next to be targeted. And online will not be a refuge either with the Online Safety Act. Advertisers are being pressured and pressuring broadcasters to tow the line. However, paywalling content is not a solution either as you're one payment processor away from being cancelled who also face the same pressure and doing the same pressuring as the advertisers.
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  6. Wait until YouTube has to comply with the Online Safety Act. Help us all.
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  7. The problem is going to come if they're part of a Shopwatch scheme and bar you from every retailer in the area. That would become a problem in the same vein and seriousness as debanking someone.
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  8. Won't be long before Ofcom flexes their arm and asserts that everything online accessible in the UK will be under the purvue of Ofcom due to the Online Safety Act.
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  9. I suspect we're heading toward new Lèse Majesté, blasphemy and insult laws. Where instead of listening to the public, criticism and disrespect of the Royals, politicians, military, foreign heads of state, countries and religion will be outlawed. Whether by speech or protest. There are politicians who would love to see Lee Anderson behind bars for what he said regarding his critique of the Mayor of London yesterday. Some European democratic countries have such laws on the books today.
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  10. It's going to get worse for singles. Not only could they lose the Single Occupancy Discount but the reforms could also change the way its levied. From a household based on two people to a married/common law married (cohabiting) couple and additional levies on single people like holiday firms do to squeeze more cash out of them and subsidise families. Single households could face extra thousands a year in payments! Likley this is also being done to nudge people into relationships and to have children as birth rates are going down.
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  11. The Government proclaimed leader of the manosphere and therefore one of the key targets for the new statutory definition of extremism Michael Gove introduced this week.
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  12. The EU will state that its merely new "money-laundering" laws. I know you can't spend more than £50 with gift cards that work as debit cards because they're anonymous. In reality, it's to ensure cash payments are as traceable as card payments "for your own safety".
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  13. From what I heard on the radio, they've only guaranteed safeguarding the rate of Income Tax. Don't be surprised if tax thresholds are reduced and tax relief for pensions end. I would also not be surprised if an emergency levy is placed on next years council tax bill for each household to generate the tens of billions they want.
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  14. The reason why you're seeing the Tories and Labour act as one and the same uniparty is because of a new statutory definition of extremism that will outlaw political opposition, potentially including the Scottish National Party if he does go all the way with making it law. That's why they're all in unison and talking of unity and kindness (a.k.a. agreement) because the alternative is deplatforming, defunding, debanking and potential criminal consequences. Even Reform UK is towing the line.
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  15. Which is why when they bring in self-service and get you to pay to do the job, they're also refitting all the stores to be as secure as Fort Knox.
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  16. People dont just want the licence fee abolished, they want ALL BROADCASTING abolished - ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, radio et al. And replaced with expensive subscription services run by American congomerlates.
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  17. @waltersobchak1719 Critics of the licence fee when they give their rationales always speak of other broadcasters on TV and radio while staring that the future is subscription streaming by American firms such as Google, Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Comcast, Viacom et al.
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  18. @waltersobchak1719 Unfortunately the broadcasting network and the platforms are funded primarily by the BBC and in turn by licence fee payers. That's why people oppose broadcasting. A network wholly funded by advertising won't work in the UK which is why everyone, including the BBC, is looking toward streaming only futures.
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  19. £900 a year is roughly what I'll be paying on Octopus Tracker for both Gas and Electric all being well and no sudden spikes in unit prices and with a healthy credit balance to edge my bets. Bearing in mind that I live alone.
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  20. If your current meters are now out of specification as they all will do eventually as all meters have a lifespan, the energy companies are legally bound to replace them with smart meters and you can't refuse. Unless you ask for them to be put into "dumb mode" or go off-grid if you really don't want one.
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  21.  @maryl2529  Until your old meter goes out of specification. Then you will have to. Namely because they don't manufacture mechanical meters any more.
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  22. They're attempting to give Reform the "Russell Brand treatment" in the next couple of days to keep this going to election day. I have to wonder if deals have been done behind the scenes to safeguard the funding and status of the main broadcasters in return for painting Reform as toxic?
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  23. The commentators in a certain tabloid newspaper were disappointed that it was a set-up and it stopped at the door. Which in one way is terrifying - who would actively want to threaten someone in that way, even if they haven't been paying the rent, and risk losing your liberty?
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