UK British News Megathread - aka CWCissey's news thread

https://news.sky.com/story/row-over-new-greggs-vegan-sausage-rolls-heats-up-11597679

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]

You've been radicalised by slavs.

Their clean living, open countryside, fresh food and beautiful women, converted me. Dekuju!

 

[FedPostalService]

Their clean living, open countryside, fresh food and beautiful women, converted me. Dekuju!

I like their hard drinking, woman beating, and their ability to inform the secret police in each other.

 

[teriyakiburns]

I like their hard drinking, woman beating, and their ability to inform the secret police in each other.

We have all that at home.

 

[Hey Johnny Bravo]

We have all that at home.

This is a dead serious question: why is it that UK citizens appear more likely to put up with overt government bullshit than, say, American or French citizens? I've never understood it and the answers I get are always sarcastic. Is it because British culture is more compartmentalized with its class system, leading to a "keep your head down" mentality?

 

[Ken Barlow]

I miss Sooty and Friends, I had the exploding cupcakes episode on video and watched it all the time until it broke.

I miss Bodger and Badger. Also whatever happened to Neil Buchanan?

 

[Chunky Salsa]

This is a dead serious question: why is it that UK citizens appear more likely to put up with overt government bullshit than, say, American or French citizens? I've never understood it and the answers I get are always sarcastic. Is it because British culture is more compartmentalized with its class system, leading to a "keep your head down" mentality?

We aren't. I don't know where the idea that we are actually comes from. We have less tracking of individuals than France, Germany, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Our gun, knife, and explosives crime is lower than Sweden, Germany, Denmark, France, and essentially every other country in Europe. We arrest less for hate crimes; and arrest less in general than these countries. The majority of people simply do not want to deal with the government in any way; we hold contempt for the offices of government and largely see them as useless, petty and worthless. At the same time, the government will pass a lot of restrictive laws; and then just not enforce them. On the books we are massively oppressed for sure, but the government is so fucking useless, and our police so shit that it doesn't really pan out that way.

The perception of it comes - I imagine - from the fact that the UK and the USA are fairly similar and share each others news; and from the fact that the UK doesn't...for lack of a better word 'front' than the US does. We don't do the 'We are for sure going to use our guns to destroy anyone that tries stepping on us!' thing that the US does - and then never follows through on. We just sort of roll our eyes, call the government shit, and carry on as we have always done.

I think America is in a paradoxically worse and better situation than we are in regards to overt government bullshit; because the US has worse in the form of the government bluntly importing millions of people that hate the actual people of the USA; and will happily dump them by the truckload into towns that were 100% white. The wealth disparity doesn't help this; and 'LEGAL IS FINE!' right aren't great for that either. But they also have a lot of people willing to speak against it, and legal protection to help them do this. The UK - and Europe in general - has more extreme right wings, with a history of being happy to use violence on an organisational level (as opposed to Americas more libertarian style lone wolf assassins); but less legal protection for people wanting change.

It's an odd dichotomy.

EDIT: We also have a rural/city divide that runs hard into a class divide, and a big problem of people just shrugging and doing the 'I don't care, doesn't impact me' thing. Which is infuriating to deal with.

 

[Hey Johnny Bravo]

We aren't. I don't know where the idea that we are actually comes from. We have less tracking of individuals than France, Germany, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Our gun, knife, and explosives crime is lower than Sweden, Germany, Denmark, France, and essentially every other country in Europe. We arrest less for hate crimes; and arrest less in general than these countries. The majority of people simply do not want to deal with the government in any way; we hold contempt for the offices of government and largely see them as useless, petty and worthless. At the same time, the government will pass a lot of restrictive laws; and then just not enforce them. On the books we are massively oppressed for sure, but the government is so fucking useless, and our police so shit that it doesn't really pan out that way.

The perception of it comes - I imagine - from the fact that the UK and the USA are fairly similar and share each others news; and from the fact that the UK doesn't...for lack of a better word 'front' than the US does. We don't do the 'We are for sure going to use our guns to destroy anyone that tries stepping on us!' thing that the US does - and then never follows through on. We just sort of roll our eyes, call the government shit, and carry on as we have always done.

I think America is in a paradoxically worse and better situation than we are in regards to overt government bullshit; because the US has worse in the form of the government bluntly importing millions of people that hate the actual people of the USA; and will happily dump them by the truckload into towns that were 100% white. The wealth disparity doesn't help this; and 'LEGAL IS FINE!' right aren't great for that either. But they also have a lot of people willing to speak against it, and legal protection to help them do this. The UK - and Europe in general - has more extreme right wings, with a history of being happy to use violence on an organisational level (as opposed to Americas more libertarian style lone wolf assassins); but less legal protection for people wanting change.

It's an odd dichotomy.

I very much appreciate your detailed and earnest post. Thank you. It makes a lot of sense.

 

[A-Logato]

This is a dead serious question: why is it that UK citizens appear more likely to put up with overt government bullshit than, say, American or French citizens? I've never understood it and the answers I get are always sarcastic. Is it because British culture is more compartmentalized with its class system, leading to a "keep your head down" mentality?

A mixture of stiff upper lip, tall poppy syndrome and generations of being under the ruling classes foot due to a generationally imbedded class system. Note that England and the rest of the UK were some of the very few European countries to not have a revolution like France or the attempt Germany had, we had a much earlier peasants revolt but it ultimately achieved nothing in the long run.

 

[Rusty Metal Skull Gun]

This is a dead serious question: why is it that UK citizens appear more likely to put up with overt government bullshit than, say, American or French citizens? I've never understood it and the answers I get are always sarcastic. Is it because British culture is more compartmentalized with its class system, leading to a "keep your head down" mentality?

The number one rule in British society is "don't take the piss" (a.k.a. noblesse oblige). Those in power are given a lot of leeway, because it's taken as read that they won't do anything that isn't cricket. When they do, there isn't really a mechanism to prevent this. Plus British pessimism means that it's generally seen that the Opposition would be just as bad as the Government.
Another reason is that earnestness and sincerity are frowned upon, so you're not going to get any ideological uprisings like the French or American revolutions.

If you're interested in British society as an outsider, I can recommend the pop-anthropology book Watching the English by Kate Fox - it's really good.

 

[Hey Johnny Bravo]

A mixture of stiff upper lip, tall poppy syndrome and generations of being under the ruling classes foot due to a generationally imbedded class system. Note that England and the rest of the UK were some of the very few European countries to not have a revolution like France or the attempt Germany had, we had a much earlier peasants revolt but it ultimately achieved nothing in the long run.

I'm not sure how I feel about the second part of your post. My understanding of British history is that the isles had way more revolutions, civil wars, and political instability over several centuries compared to continental Europe. While it never resulted in a complete re-making of British society, such as the American or French Revolutions, it did lead to a slow progression towards the social and political system which Britain has today. England also had one of the first anti-Catholic movements (John Wycliffe).

To say "it ultimately achieved nothing" does not comport with my reading. Then again, I'm an idiot, so maybe this is a stupid observation.

Another reason is that earnestness and sincerity are frowned upon, so you're not going to get any ideological uprisings like the French or American revolutions.

I guess this is what comes across as so alien to me as an American: "earnestness and sincerity are frowned upon." Most of the Brits I am personally close with are very open, so what you say here makes a lot of sense.

 

[Chunky Salsa]

When they do, there isn't really a mechanism to prevent this.

There's also an incredibly irritating fucking habit of actually right wing people in UK politics, where they will make grand speeches and declarations of what needed to be done; what should be done, and saying that the establishment parties are unable to do this and a new party should be made. People applaud, people say 'Fucking finally someone says it!'...and then they leave. They quit politics, withdraw from public life, and typically leave. Nigger why!!

 

[Whoopsie Daisy]

Is the real reason we deal with the oppression, bad weather and ugly women is because we love to moan?
Moaning powers Britain and if you remove our topics to moan about, we get bored and go knock the shit out of another country, or continent, for a bit.

 

[Snekposter]

The inmates of the cities are bad enough with knives and modified blank-firers, imagine if the average drill rapper could get his hands on a decent quality pistol or rifle?

Can't be any worse than Chicago. Besides, look on the bright side. The increased lethality might finally start putting a dent in their numbers.

Gun culture rather than guns. As in, people have really really strong opinions about guns. It's weird.

Well, let's look at what happens when you don't have those really strong opinions, or rather, only one side is allowed to have really strong opinions about guns. Complete and total disarmament save for the criminals.

 

[FedPostalService]

French citizens?

Go to France. Meet the French. Really, do it.

They rich ones hate France more than us English pretend to and want to see France destroyed more than Henry V.

The few who love France and want it to be saved you won’t hear from because they’re poorer than you, rural, and only speak French.

 

[Hey Johnny Bravo]

Go to France. Meet the French. Really, do it.

They rich ones hate France more than us English pretend to and want to see France destroyed more than Henry V.

The few who love France and want it to be saved you won’t hear from because they’re poorer than you, rural, and only speak French.

I have met the French and you are correct. It is why I do not consider Parisians to be French.

 

[CaptainAutism69]

That's horrifying. My Eastern European shithole of choice is very traditional and conservative. They hate all foreigners, including Brits - who can blame them? I avoid the cunts at all costs, and if you don't fit in or complain about their culture, you're out.

I'm lucky in that my neighbours are elderly and I can help them out a fair bit and win "not all foreigners are bad" points. I keep my head down, speak the language as best I can and even fly their nations flag outside my house like so many natives do.

I think we are in the same place. Things are changing fast

 

[Rusty Metal Skull Gun]

Well, let's look at what happens when you don't have those really strong opinions, or rather, only one side is allowed to have really strong opinions about guns. Complete and total disarmament save for the criminals.

I don't think you appreciate quite how rare guns are in Britain.

Outlawing guns in America would lead to an increase in gun crime, because only criminals would have guns.
Legalizing guns in Britain would also lead to an increase in gun crime, because criminals can much more easily get guns.

Different places, different cultures.

 

[FedPostalService]

I have met the French and you are correct. It is why I do not consider Parisians to be French.

Aux armes, citoyens,
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons !

 

[Chunky Salsa]

It's about 1% of the UK population who own firearms. Six hundred thousand ish.

 

[Hey Johnny Bravo]

Aux armes, citoyens,
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons !

La Marseillaise is a really fun national anthem since it's basically "my dad can kick your dad's ass."