UK British News Megathread - aka CWCissey's news thread

https://news.sky.com/story/row-over-new-greggs-vegan-sausage-rolls-heats-up-11597679 (https://archive.ph/5Ba6o)

A heated row has broken out over a move by Britain's largest bakery chain to launch a vegan sausage roll.

The pastry, which is filled with a meat substitute and encased in 96 pastry layers, is available in 950 Greggs stores across the country.

It was promised after 20,000 people signed a petition calling for the snack to be launched to accommodate plant-based diet eaters.


But the vegan sausage roll's launch has been greeted by a mixed reaction: Some consumers welcomed it, while others voiced their objections.

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spread happiness@p4leandp1nk
https://twitter.com/p4leandp1nk/status/1080767496569974785

#VEGANsausageroll thanks Greggs

7
10:07 AM - Jan 3, 2019
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Cook and food poverty campaigner Jack Monroe declared she was "frantically googling to see what time my nearest opens tomorrow morning because I will be outside".

While TV writer Brydie Lee-Kennedy called herself "very pro the Greggs vegan sausage roll because anything that wrenches veganism back from the 'clean eating' wellness folk is a good thing".

One Twitter user wrote that finding vegan sausage rolls missing from a store in Corby had "ruined my morning".

Another said: "My son is allergic to dairy products which means I can't really go to Greggs when he's with me. Now I can. Thank you vegans."

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pg often@pgofton
https://twitter.com/pgofton/status/1080772793774624768

The hype got me like #Greggs #Veganuary

42
10:28 AM - Jan 3, 2019
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TV presenter Piers Morgan led the charge of those outraged by the new roll.

"Nobody was waiting for a vegan bloody sausage, you PC-ravaged clowns," he wrote on Twitter.

Mr Morgan later complained at receiving "howling abuse from vegans", adding: "I get it, you're all hangry. I would be too if I only ate plants and gruel."

Another Twitter user said: "I really struggle to believe that 20,000 vegans are that desperate to eat in a Greggs."

"You don't paint a mustach (sic) on the Mona Lisa and you don't mess with the perfect sausage roll," one quipped.

Journalist Nooruddean Choudry suggested Greggs introduce a halal steak bake to "crank the fume levels right up to 11".

The bakery chain told concerned customers that "change is good" and that there would "always be a classic sausage roll".

It comes on the same day McDonald's launched its first vegetarian "Happy Meal", designed for children.

The new dish comes with a "veggie wrap", instead of the usual chicken or beef option.

It should be noted that Piers Morgan and Greggs share the same PR firm, so I'm thinking this is some serious faux outrage and South Park KKK gambiting here.

 

[Whoopsie Daisy]

The amount of unrest now is starting to become harder to ignore, and what is worse is the Police are being gutted left and right. Also, that spending bill was the stuff of fantasy; I don't even think any of it is real, just lies to bolster the invading scourge.

What do you mean? They pinky promise to try and stop giving billions of pounds away to illegals by 2029! They're going to really, really try to shut down the asylum hotels and save the tax payer £1 billion a year!
They would never lie, never, ever!

 

[Overly Serious]

I'm sure he'd love it, it has two of his most favourite things, British stupidity and Advertisers.

Fuck it. @Null , I hereby have to inform you that in addition to all the other crimes the British Government lays at your door, your servers are now hosting illegal Twix adverts that British authorities are trying to ban.

"Twix advert must be axed from TV and 'never shown again'."
https://archive.ph/wip/berNJ

(Maybe he'll feature it just to tweak them off. I can dream)

 

[Crunkle]

Over my dead body will we get a heat pump. They’re fine for some settings but retrofitting into most British housing stock is a stupid idea. The housing isn’t built for it. I’ll keep my gas stove and boiler thanks (and have them serviced by corgi registered technicians at the appropriate intervals….) we’ve also got a wood burner and a healthy woodpile and that’s not getting removed either.

Ohh, who 'members 3D TVs, eh?

For real, this. I'm already seeing small businesses relying on heat pumps to be their "solar panels". The next eco loon bandwagon to jump onto for the next 10 years. They'll be a nightmare to sell since the whole solar panel selling point was it would make you money (even with our weather). Sell as many heat pumps as we can now and don't think about the amount of unhappy people you'll get asking for refunds for shitty fixtures, noise complaints and what not. Not to mention buyer's remorse for the electricity cost.

Most small companies can't fit a fucking window without having problems, let alone brand new technology which has been proven to be a terrible idea.

My boiler is right at the end of its life and has been in the house since it was built, and I am dreading what my choices will be. If I move on it now and get a gas boiler, I'll be sorted for 10 years, hopefully.

 

[BongoMongo]

Ohh, who 'members 3D TVs, eh?

For real, this. I'm already seeing small businesses relying on heat pumps to be their "solar panels". The next eco loon bandwagon to jump onto for the next 10 years. They'll be a nightmare to sell since the whole solar panel selling point was it would make you money (even with our weather). Sell as many heat pumps as we can now and don't think about the amount of unhappy people you'll get asking for refunds for shitty fixtures, noise complaints and what not. Not to mention buyer's remorse for the electricity cost.

Most small companies can't fit a fucking window without having problems, let alone brand new technology which has been proven to be a terrible idea.

My boiler is right at the end of its life and has been in the house since it was built, and I am dreading what my choices will be. If I move on it now and get a gas boiler, I'll be sorted for 10 years, hopefully.

I had an engineer out for my boiler this week. He is rammed for next 5 months putting in new ones of people in your situation. I wouldn't want to speculate on how things are in your neck of woods but if you're going to do it, might be worth getting a wiggle on.

 

[Crunkle]

I had an engineer out for my boiler this week. He is rammed for next 5 months putting in new ones of people in your situation. I wouldn't want to speculate on how things are in your neck of woods but if you're going to do it, might be worth getting a wiggle on.

Thanks for this, didn't know it was this bad. They're not exactly small jobs either.

Without PLing too much, what kind of area are you in? City, town, village etc? I've never bought a boiler before so I should have a ring about.

 

[the printer is outo fink]

My boiler is right at the end of its life and has been in the house since it was built, and I am dreading what my choices will be. If I move on it now and get a gas boiler, I'll be sorted for 10 years, hopefully.

Is it incredibly weird of me to have a strong preference for an oil boiler for no other reason than I pay for it upfront and can't be surprised mid-winter with a huge bill. If there is a dip in oil prices in spring/summer I get the tank filled then, and store it until the winter months. I also keep logs and coal on hand for when I feel like lighting a fire. But my go-to heat option is my mobile butane gas heater, as even on the lowest setting it's incredibly warm and perfect for when I work from home as it costs almost nothing to keep the room I'm in super toasty all day, which is also paid upfront. And obviously, works through power outages.

 

[Crunkle]

Is it incredibly weird of me to have a strong preference for an oil boiler for no other reason than I pay for it upfront and can't be surprised mid-winter with a huge bill. If there is a dip in oil prices in spring/summer I get the tank filled then, and store it until the winter months. I also keep logs and coal on hand for when I feel like lighting a fire. But my go-to heat option is my mobile butane gas heater, as even on the lowest setting it's incredibly warm and perfect for when I work from home as it costs almost nothing to keep the room I'm in super toasty all day, which is also paid upfront. And obviously, works through power outages.

I've got a few mates who replaced central heating with a log burner and they say it's a godsend in winter. Small fire with a few logs + a post-2000s build = sauna. Huge upfront cost but it does sound pretty attractive.

 

[Morethanabitfoolish]

There must be subsidies for this. I’ve seen a bunch of various stage new builds on my travels recently. Never more than 4 panels on a house. Norm is 3.

There were I believe. However as with so many things there's the hidden cost, namely replacing these things when you need to the enormous cost they add to any work on the roof.

 

[Overly Serious]

Is it incredibly weird of me to have a strong preference for an oil boiler for no other reason than I pay for it upfront and can't be surprised mid-winter with a huge bill. If there is a dip in oil prices in spring/summer I get the tank filled then, and store it until the winter months. I also keep logs and coal on hand for when I feel like lighting a fire. But my go-to heat option is my mobile butane gas heater, as even on the lowest setting it's incredibly warm and perfect for when I work from home as it costs almost nothing to keep the room I'm in super toasty all day, which is also paid upfront. And obviously, works through power outages.

Do you mean this sort of thing? I've never looked into the economics of it but you make an appealing case.

I've got a few mates who replaced central heating with a log burner and they say it's a godsend in winter. Small fire with a few logs + a post-2000s build = sauna. Huge upfront cost but it does sound pretty attractive.

A coal fire will be absolutely toasty as Hell. But most combi-stoves these days are so small that keeping one in overnight is a PITA so you have to keep re-lighting it. Also, you end up taking ash out a lot more than you have to burning wood. Still, it's nice to have the option.

 

[teriyakiburns]

Do you mean this sort of thing? I've never looked into the economics of it but you make an appealing case.

We used to have one of those when I was a lad. wo panels kept us plenty warm in the lounge. Three if we wanted toasty. In fact, I remember literally toasting bread on it once, by holding it up to the bars, much to me mam's distress. They can keep a fairly large room warm as long as you keep the door closed, but you have to have it well-ventilated as well, or you'll get CO and CO2 build-up. Handy to have around in the event your heating gives out. I've got one, and a tank of gas to go with it. Never had cause to use it yet, but it's there if I ever need it.

 

[Crunkle]

The April 2025 GDP figures are finally out, first month where Labour's budget kicked in.

GDP has shrunk by 0.3%. I wouldn't mind what this number was doing if we saw our quality of life going up, happiness is a far greater measurement of success. Reeves will be gone by October, no question, leading to yet another reshuffle where we get another mongoloid in the most important position in government. I reckon she'll be used to announce the next wave of tax rises then dumped and blamed for it. "New direction for government", Starmer reset #92.

 

[Zoot]

The April 2025 GDP figures are finally out, first month where Labour's budget kicked in.

GDP has shrunk by 0.3%. I wouldn't mind what this number was doing if we saw our quality of life going up, happiness is a far greater measurement of success. Reeves will be gone by October, no question, leading to yet another reshuffle where we get another mongoloid in the most important position in government. I reckon she'll be used to announce the next wave of tax rises then dumped and blamed for it. "New direction for government", Starmer reset #92.

I want to see GDP go down by 25% as all the niggers and pakis are thrown out

 

[the printer is outo fink]

Do you mean this sort of thing? I've never looked into the economics of it but you make an appealing case.

Yeah, one of those. My Dad gave it to me and to be honest, I was initially unappreciative and just saw it as big and ugly and I was tempted to stash it in the shed. But a few years ago I was unwell and just couldn't warm up and didn't feel up to lighting a fire so I dusted it off, switched it on and fell in love with it. It really is great when you want to just heat one room. And it's just reassuring during a storm to know that even if the power goes, you have guaranteed instant heat.

 

[Otterly]

.

farm owners only have a few panels over irrigation canals

Terrible idea. If the panels get damaged by weather or hail the water gets contaminated.
Knocking down houses for solar farms is retarded.

 

[Whoopsie Daisy]

Sell as many heat pumps as we can now and don't think about the amount of unhappy people you'll get asking for refunds for shitty fixtures, noise complaints

A funny bit of legislation

1. Heat pump noise new regulations. From 1 April 2021, heat pumps with an outdoor unit will be subject to a new requirement for maximum noise during night time hours. Heat pumps installed from that date onwards will be allowed to produce a maximum noise of 40 decibels in the evening and at night between 7pm and 7am.

• Outdoor units:
  Most modern heat pump outdoor units have a sound rating around 60 decibels.

How can you run it during winter if it's illegal?

In fact, I remember literally toasting bread on it once, by holding it up to the bars, much to me mam's distress.

Pulling these apart and melting the filling in front of the bars, or the chocolate equivalent.

 

[Tony Martin's Force Ghost]

You fucker bourbons are my weakness, I am in wedding weight loss mode atm, I hate you.

A shrinkage in 0.3 is fucking crazy like that is some real sledgehammer to a dry wall to achieve that level in a month. I dread to see what May's figures are, but I predict about 0.2. Hell, I was having a catch-up with one of my neighbours, and the husband is an engineer, and they are highly considering going over to the US. I am seeing a lot of my friends in my circle who have children and the ability to move, move. Another friend last month started applying with her Pharmacy degree to Oz. All white too, I said to my other half, I am just going to retrain in Accountancy when over in the states.

When your native born leave the country in droves, it is not only bad on a micro level but on a macro level because how bad does that look to foreign powers. I have started divesting whilst the pound is "strong" and converting it over to USD savings, using my partner's account as I can see the pound being crippled.

I did have to double-take when I had an Owen Jones video autoplay on my workout, and I listened to it all because I found I was agreeing with a lot of what he was saying. The horseshoe theory is one hell of a drug, but it tells of the times we are in.

Good job Rachel, you fucking retard.

 

[Whoopsie Daisy]

I wonder if the 0.3 will be revised in a few months to 1.5. Imagine how bad it would be if we didn't have hordes of immigrants helping our GDP

 

[Mound Dweller]

Heat pumps are a fucking con just like solar panels/cavity insulation/literally everything ever only made economically viable through gov subsidises ever.
If they were "better" or "cheaper" or anything like that, then contractors wouldn't need bribing with tax money to actually install them now would they? "oooh but they only cost 10k" yeah mate and they don't work half the time because you've gotta turn them on in advance and if it ever breaks good luck getting anyone who knows how to fix it some silly thing like that. Same deal with panels being imported from chyna. JUST USE THE COAL until modular reactors are a thing, it's objectively less bad for the fish at this point.

You can make the same argument for steel production/fracking but those are "strategic resource" concerns and get a pass, truth is with current year tech you simply cannot outcompete the combustion engine, trying to make it otherwise is how you get dumb shit like imported amerimutt biowaste making more money generating power than domestic waste wood pallets; too much bollocks, total regulation death please.

 

[Inquisitor_BadAss]

A day will come that cavity wall insulation, exterior foam insulation, heat pumps and other energy efficient nonsense will make so those can't be mortgaged. It's already happening with expanding foam people placed in their lofts and attic spaces so just give it time for the others.

 

[Mound Dweller]

A day will come that cavity wall insulation, exterior foam insulation, heat pumps and other energy efficient nonsense will make so those can't be mortgaged. It's already happening with expanding foam people placed in their lofts and attic spaces so just give it time for the others.

People have already been suffering the consequences of it for years now cavity insulation = bad, it is simply a flawed method much like putting lead in paint, but it's "green" so has gotten a pass for too long;

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cxwwr7vyrj0o/https://archive.is/ecSQc

Spoiler: Homes insulated in government scheme go mouldy

Every two weeks Zoe Godrich scrapes the black mould off the walls of her children's bedrooms.
She says her house now resembles a squat. ''It's absolutely heartbreaking because I can't provide for my children's basic needs of a safe warm home."
The mould took over after she had her Swansea home fitted with cavity-wall insulation three years ago. She says that within weeks, water was constantly running down the walls ''like a little waterfall".
The BBC can reveal that cavity-wall insulation fitted under government-backed green energy schemes could have failed in hundreds of thousands of homes because it was not installed properly.

'Botched' installation​

Single mum Zoe and her three children are now sleeping in one room, on mattresses on the floor. The other two bedrooms are uninhabitable, she says.
She says she has thrown all of their beds and wardrobes away because they were consumed by damp and mould. She shows me a photograph of her six-year-old daughter's baby doll, covered in black mould, which she had to bin.

Zoe has had to throw out some of her children's toys because of the mould
One of her daughters takes several medications for asthma. Her son has eczema so severe, his cracked skin bleeds. She says they were not on these medications before the insulation was installed. The NHS says that damp and mould can lead to respiratory illnesses and skin conditions.
David Walter is a building surveyor who has been inspecting insulated homes all over the UK for more than 25 years. He visited Zoe's home in April and said the installation had been "botched", and the extraction hadn't been done properly either.
He says there is nothing unusual about what has happened to Zoe's home. ''The industry is motivated by money - they get government grants for doing this work. So there's an incentive for the contractors just to get people signed up, get the job done and get the grant money.'' He blames a lack of oversight and regulation for the problems.
Since 2008, more than three million homes have had cavity-wall insulation fitted under green energy schemes set up by the government. Energy suppliers were responsible for inspecting 5% of them to check for installation quality.
Figures compiled by energy watchdog Ofgem seen by the BBC suggest that insulation in hundreds of thousands of these homes could have failed because it was not installed properly.
In total 15 million homes have had their cavities filled.

Merry-go-round​

The mould in her home is "horrific", says Zoe
A year after the problems began, Zoe went on a merry-go-round of companies and organisations to try to get help. She began in early 2022 with Installers UK, which carried out the installation work. The company insisted the insulation wasn't to blame and then went bust.
The firm told the BBC the problems were caused by a hole in the roof, although it cannot provide a copy of the pre-installation report to confirm this. If there had been issues with the property, according to the standards body the British Assessment Bureau, they should have been fixed before the work was carried out.
Next, she contacted City Energy Network Limited, who secured the funding for Zoe's home. Its name is on the guarantee for the work, although City Energy says this was an error and that it had nothing to do with the guarantee, which should have been issued by the company that did the work.
Zoe says she was advised to get the insulation removed. She took out a £7,000 loan to pay for it. What she didn't know was that the extraction would invalidate the guarantee for the work. Without the insulation, the house is now very cold. She can't afford to turn up the temperature, which is leading to yet more damp and mould.

City Energy told the BBC that its only involvement was to fund a grant through the government scheme. It says it has no connection with Installers UK, nor was it involved in the installation or removal process.
The government recognised that standards needed to be improved several years ago. It tasked the independent organisation Trustmark to set up an assurance quality scheme in 2019.
But the problems that Zoe has faced raises questions over how well the scheme is working. Both Installers UK, which carried out the work in 2021, and City Energy, which secured the grant money, were Trustmark-registered.
Zoe says she sees no resolution in sight. ''The life has just been sucked out of me. For the last few years all I've done is fight company after company after company.''
City Energy says although it has no obligation to provide any assistance, it has ''recognised and sympathised with the position in which Ms Godrich finds herself'' and says it has sought to resolve matters directly with her in an effort to assist.
In a statement, Trustmark told the BBC: ''The problems at Ms Godrich's property are complex. The work was carried out under an earlier standard and did not take the 'whole house' approach that current standards do, preventing some of the issues seen here.
"However, the situation Ms Godrich is left in is completely unacceptable and needs to be put right. We will work with the British Assessment Bureau and City Energy to achieve a suitable solution that makes Ms Godrich's property a warm, comfortable and healthy home for her and her family."
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero declined to comment but referred us to a ministerial statement in February that said: “The Government is committed to protecting all consumers undertaking home retrofit work as well as improving the overall consumer journey.”

It's a very common outcome; cowboys (all tradies are cowboys btw) get gov money to do a shit job, exact same deal with newbuilds and their ridiculously long snag lists, I knew better but a guy I know didn't, he got a okay payout eventually from whoever was ultimately liable (not the fuckers who put it in though) but it doesn't make up for the years of shit living conditions.
Cavity insulation is about as bad as it gets but I imagine there'll be something similar with heat pumps down the line; maybe they're great at concentrating radon?