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Post by peterob on May 8, 2023 10:04:14 GMT
It was in reference to Pete, as he was saying they had paper licences and also mentioning how expensive passports were. It wasn't the cost per se (thought the hassle is unwelcome) more the backhand route to forcing you to purchase identity papers (which have a different cited purpose) while avoiding introducing identity papers because it is politically difficult. Although I don't care about cost it is good to know that there will be no charge for a photo licence when I have to hand in my paper licence in a couple of years. Though there is still the hassle and I guess it is a low-hanging fruit for future revenue raising. |
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Post by willien on May 8, 2023 10:18:14 GMT
Or £20 to get a photo card licence, or if you are over 70 it is free. Not much use to the visually impaired though as you need to be able to read a number plate from 20 metres to apply. A photo driving licence does not get you a quicker tax rebate. |
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Post by geoffr on May 8, 2023 11:01:25 GMT
You don’t need lots and signatures for a renewal and a doctor can sign a passport application. I think Lesley could find a doctor. Almost anyone can sign. Here's from the govt website:
"Who can sign your form and photo
Your countersignatory must:
# have known you (or the adult who signed the form if the passport is for a child under 16) for at least 2 years
# be able to identify you, for example they’re a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally)
#be ‘a person of good standing in their community’ or work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession"
The # are 'bullets' in the original but I couldn't make the copy/paste work properly.
Mick
Then I can sign, being “retired from a recognised profession”. Unfortunately I have never met Lesley so I’m not much help. |
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Post by davidh on May 8, 2023 15:03:25 GMT
It was in reference to Pete, as he was saying they had paper licences and also mentioning how expensive passports were. It wasn't the cost per se (thought the hassle is unwelcome) more the backhand route to forcing you to purchase identity papers (which have a different cited purpose) while avoiding introducing identity papers because it is politically difficult. Although I don't care about cost it is good to know that there will be no charge for a photo licence when I have to hand in my paper licence in a couple of years. Though there is still the hassle and I guess it is a low-hanging fruit for future revenue raising. There's always the free voter authority certificate (requirement: One digital photo and your NI number). |
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Photo ID
May 8, 2023 20:37:14 GMT
via mobile
Post by zou on May 8, 2023 20:37:14 GMT
Almost anyone can sign. Here's from the govt website:
"Who can sign your form and photo
Your countersignatory must:
# have known you (or the adult who signed the form if the passport is for a child under 16) for at least 2 years
# be able to identify you, for example they’re a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally)
#be ‘a person of good standing in their community’ or work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession"
The # are 'bullets' in the original but I couldn't make the copy/paste work properly.
Mick
Then I can sign, being “retired from a recognised profession”. Unfortunately I have never met Lesley so I’m not much help. I did the verification for a now retired colleague and my goodness it was a faff. There were a couple of points on the application where what was required was ambiguous at best, and the cherry on top was receiving a letter from the passport office saying "we have received an application that appears to have been signed by you. Enclosed is a photo (comically enlarged copy of the photo, in photocopy quality black and white), please verify if this is the person you appeared to sign for". They wanted it on company headed paper, with personal details of the applicant which aren't required on the regular form. Did all that, and still a long wait. He eventually got his passport but it took nearly 4 months. |
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Post by lesleysm2 on May 8, 2023 22:30:13 GMT
I think Lesley could find a doctor. I doubt anyone will be in the least bit surprised I use the landlord of the Bell's (licensee of a public house is on the approved list) Well he can honestly say he's known me for over 5 years |
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neilt3
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Posts: 134
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Post by neilt3 on May 9, 2023 0:17:38 GMT
From a tourist point of view it is the fact that the traditions are centuries old and would lose its attraction if it was freshly elected nonentities being faux heads of state (as opposed to heriditary nonentities) Chas 3 has said he is going to trim the firm, let’s see, maybe he means it. I think some of the firm have jumped before they were pushed...Apart from Andrew of course. I want Prince Louis to be King. He has the right attitude. Trouble is it would mean another four state funerals Yes , but think how much we could save if we did the four of them together .  |
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Post by willien on May 9, 2023 8:00:27 GMT
I think some of the firm have jumped before they were pushed...Apart from Andrew of course. I want Prince Louis to be King. He has the right attitude. Trouble is it would mean another four state funerals Yes , but think how much we could save if we did the four of them together . You mean use one very big axe?  |
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neilt3
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Photo ID
May 9, 2023 8:36:41 GMT
via mobile
Post by neilt3 on May 9, 2023 8:36:41 GMT
Yes , but think how much we could save if we did the four of them together . You mean use one very big axe? Well , if they do pay for view on Sky you need to give them the chop individually. Otherwise you can only charge once . Chuck them in a big box , off to the white cliffs of Dover and over the edge for a burial at sea . Probably make sure the tides in first !  Alternatively, and this could be a good money spinner , remember the human cannon ball at the circus? I'm thinking bigger cannon , more gunpowder , marker buoys out to sea with numbers on . Shove a royal down the barrel and orf they go ! Get the national lottery people to organise it ..... There's enough royals and hangers on to make a series of it ... You could get rid of the royals and not only would it not cost us any money , it could well be a money spinner . Buy a scratch card , if your number comes up , you get to chose who goes in the barrel next . You could call it a "Right Royal Lottery" . I might write someone a letter , Charlie maybe ? You can just hear him on the phone . " Harry ? I wonder if you'd like to come back to the family . I've a little job you could do to improve the PR of the royal family, it'll only take a few minutes and you get to travel free ." |
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Post by dreampolice on May 9, 2023 9:14:07 GMT
Tourists famously don't go to countries without monarchies. The argument that without the monarchy tourist £'s would decrease seems to me a load of rubbish. How many tourists come to the UK to meet the King, Queen and Princesses or to be groped by a sweaty nonce, etc? Surely they would come anyway without them, just like we visit other countries that have castles, Palaces and temples or whatever. The houses and palaces would still be here, our history would still be here and in fact, the numbers may increase when their houses and palaces are opened up like other stately homes that tourists flock to. I doubt there are many tourists who put down their reason for visiting is because we have a monarchy. I accept, one off events such as weddings/funerals/coronations will be an added bonus, but it isn't as if it is a regular thing. |
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Post by geoffr on May 9, 2023 14:48:01 GMT
Tourists famously don't go to countries without monarchies. The argument that without the monarchy tourist £'s would decrease seems to me a load of rubbish. How many tourists come to the UK to meet the King, Queen and Princesses or to be groped by a sweaty nonce, etc? Surely they would come anyway without them, just like we visit other countries that have castles, Palaces and temples or whatever. The houses and palaces would still be here, our history would still be here and in fact, the numbers may increase when their houses and palaces are opened up like other stately homes that tourists flock to. I doubt there are many tourists who put down their reason for visiting is because we have a monarchy. I accept, one off events such as weddings/funerals/coronations will be an added bonus, but it isn't as if it is a regular thing. I think the possibility of seeing the monarch is an attraction for some. The stately home open to the public are generally furnished either as the former owner left them with antique furniture etc. or refurnished in the style of an appropriate period. The current Royal palaces may contain antique furniture but in other respects their private rooms are modern. We don’t change the guard at 10 Downing Street, would we still perform the ceremony at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle and wherever else it is done? I understand the frustration at a bunch of “freeloaders” but if we had to pay separately for every time someone was required to perform one of their duties we’d end up creating a huge bureaucracy. I also don’t think any of us would want the job if it were offered. |
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Post by Ivor E Tower on May 9, 2023 19:40:52 GMT
I have endless trouble as I don't have a passport or a driving licence Passport IIRC £75 for 10 years. £7.5 per year, under 63p per month. Edit - Yes it sucks but that's life.
The only photo ID I have is my passport. We've lived so long at our current address that I still have an old paper driving licence and we don't have ID badges or passes where I work. I was asked to upload a digital photo for my senior person's railcard when I renewed it in January but there was no photo on the card when it arrived. I presume that they keep it on their system and that the ticket inspectors have access to see it if they need to check who I am. The passport cost is now horrendous (a bit like the TV Licence). When you break it down to a daily or weekly charge, it doesn't sound so bad but the trouble is that it had to be paid out in one lump sum and it effectively becomes just another tax on being alive EDIT: Oh, and I nearly forgot.... the requirement for photo ID to vote is IMHO just another piece in the jigsaw of the introduction of identity cards for all, which will probably be something that we will all have to pay for over and above existing taxes. ID cards were mooted a few years back but the idea was dropped (IIRC) because of the public expression of anger, and I reckon that the government is just finding other slightly more subtle ways of making us accept that they are a "need" |
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neilt3
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Posts: 134
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Post by neilt3 on May 9, 2023 20:33:43 GMT
The argument that without the monarchy tourist £'s would decrease seems to me a load of rubbish. How many tourists come to the UK to meet the King, Queen and Princesses or to be groped by a sweaty nonce, etc? Surely they would come anyway without them, just like we visit other countries that have castles, Palaces and temples or whatever. The houses and palaces would still be here, our history would still be here and in fact, the numbers may increase when their houses and palaces are opened up like other stately homes that tourists flock to. I doubt there are many tourists who put down their reason for visiting is because we have a monarchy. I accept, one off events such as weddings/funerals/coronations will be an added bonus, but it isn't as if it is a regular thing. I think the possibility of seeing the monarch is an attraction for some. The stately home open to the public are generally furnished either as the former owner left them with antique furniture etc. or refurnished in the style of an appropriate period. The current Royal palaces may contain antique furniture but in other respects their private rooms are modern. There is a way around that . We could just have royalty stuffed , and put on display at the palaces . Kill two birds with one stone , so to speak . Save money , and make more . Your guaranteed to see a royal then . Rotate them around a bit between the premises . Maybe hire them out for special occasions ? Do some animatronics and you could even have some corgis running around yapping and biting the occasional person .  |
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Post by spinno on May 10, 2023 8:02:44 GMT
I think the possibility of seeing the monarch is an attraction for some. The stately home open to the public are generally furnished either as the former owner left them with antique furniture etc. or refurnished in the style of an appropriate period. The current Royal palaces may contain antique furniture but in other respects their private rooms are modern. There is a way around that . We could just have royalty stuffed , and put on display at the palaces . Kill two birds with one stone , so to speak . Save money , and make more . Your guaranteed to see a royal then . Rotate them around a bit between the premises . Maybe hire them out for special occasions ? Do some animatronics and you could even have some corgis running around yapping and biting the occasional person . Get Princess Anne to set her Jack Russell on the punters for the truly Royal experience |
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AGW
New Member
Posts: 18
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Post by AGW on May 10, 2023 11:44:27 GMT
Once again, Douglas Adams came up with the perfect work around...
"The hereditary Emperor is nearly dead and has been for many centuries. In the last moments of his dying coma he was locked in a stasis field which keeps him in a state of perpetual unchangingness. All his heirs are now long dead, and this means that without any drastic political upheaval, power has simply and effectively moved a rung or two down the ladder, and is now seen to be vested in a body that used to act simply as advisers to the Emperor—an elected governmental assembly headed by a President elected by that assembly. "
Graeme
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