*Geraldine Scott, Political Reporter, May 31 2022, The Times*
A government minister was unable to convert imperial measurements into metric despite No 10 suggesting the system was “universally understood”.
Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, the arts minister, was quizzed on Sky News after it was announced that a consultation will be launched into further incorporating imperial measurements in Britain after Brexit.
No 10 insisted yesterday that imperial measurements were universally understood in the UK, despite the metric system being taught in schools since 1974.
Parkinson, 39, was asked how many ounces were in a pound. He said 14 ounces but the answer is 16. He was then asked how many grams of sausages he would get if he ordered a pound, and answered 250g. The correct answer is 450g.
He got the final question — which is more, four pints or three litres — correct, answering the latter.
The prime minister’s deputy spokesman said yesterday that Boris Johnson had “been clear he wants to consult on this later this week”, the timing understood to coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
“I think the prime minister’s point is that imperial measures are widely used and understood in this country,” he said. “Many people measure driving speed in miles per hour, for example, many people purchase things in terms of pounds and ounces, so it’s universally understood in this country.”
He said Johnson also wanted to use “Brexit freedoms” to reintroduce the crown symbol on pint glasses, which traditionally was used to guarantee they were large enough to hold a full pint.
“He believes it’s important that we celebrate our national identity and heritage and he wants to reintroduce that symbol, which is fondly remembered by many.”
The CE mark, which stands for Conformité Européenne — European Conformity in French — was introduced in 2006 to show products meet safety standards, but the European Union has rejected claims that the mark stops the crown also being used.
The spokesman could not say whether the government planned to change the school curriculum so children could learn the imperial system.
Asked if the move would pave the way for the reintroduction of the pint bottle of champagne, which Winston Churchill called the “ideal size . . . enough for two at lunch and one at dinner”, the spokesman said: “It wouldn’t be for us to recommend what people do and don’t drink.”
Tobias Ellwood, one of the Tory MPs who has called for Johnson to resign over the Sue Gray report, said the government was using the “nostalgic policy in the hope that it’s enough to win the next election”.
But he added: “This not the case. This is not one-nation Conservative thinking that is required to appeal beyond our base.
“It’s far from the inspirational, visionary progressive thinking that we require. And it fits into a pattern I am afraid of micro-announcements that are increasingly thrown out there, which actually is sowing further discontent with more MPs.”
Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, has said the policy is “light-hearted” but Alicia Kearns, another of the Conservative MPs who has declared she has no confidence in Johnson, said the idea was “a nonsense”.
Under EU rules, which came into force in 2000, shops are legally required to use metric units for produce sold by weight or measuring fresh produce. They can also use pounds and ounces alongside this.
The consultation will examine whether those rules should be changed to allow traders to choose which system to use.
I think this current obsession about Imperial units is weird and I won’t be using them. I’d prefer metric for everything, personally.
However, not being able to convert imperial to metric doesn’t mean you don’t “understand” imperial units.
He was stupid for not knowing there’s 16 oz in a lb though, if he’s going to claim to understand them. Presumably he got it mixed up with 14 oz to a stone.
Im old enough to remember going metric.
Going back to imperial is a utterly fucking stupid idea with zero benefits.
It’s one of the worst, most pointless ideas they’ve had since Brexit
> Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
It sounds like he bought a Lordship on eBay. Of course, he will have paid a lot more for it, and will grift a lot more with it.
Lord of Whitley fucking Bay and they want us to take them seriously.
my one small satisfaction is knowing MPs are probably going to be instructed to memorise all the conversions now in case of future interviews
still a fucking stupid idea though
>Many people measure driving speed in miles per hour, for example
Well of course they do, they are forced to. My mum took her car across from South Africa and one of the things that she had to do before she was allowed to drive it was replace her kph speedometer to a mph one.
The sort of people who want this will be older people in their 70s and 80s, those people are only getting older and dying off as we speak. We will see this policy become obsolete within a decade, yet the Tories will happily go along with it if it means votes in the short term.
When the imperial system is currently defined by the metric system, and you want to use the same thing just with a different factor.
I’m fine with going back to the 1960s in the shops as long as the prices go back to the 1960s too. Six cups of bread for a hapenny? 20 fluid ounces of milk for a shilling? Sign me up!
It’s been 52 years since full decimalisation. 52 years. And still we cling on to this arcane codswallop.
We have fuel efficiency in miles/gallon, yet we buy fuel in litres. We buy wine in 750ml bottles. But we buy beer in pints.
We measure long distances in miles, medium distances in meters and short distances in inches.
In athletics, we have the 100m/400m etc races. But in football, we have the 18yard box.
It’s fucking insane. Let’s just end Imperial for good. Finally. After over 50 years.
454g in a pound.
It’s such a stupid idea (even for this clown), that I can’t help wondering if it’s the start of an attempt to allow the large US firms to sell us their stuff with minimum effort, in the absence of a decent trade deal.
So the large print will be “hurrah, pounds and ounces”, and the small print may be “goodbye to any food standards we once had”
Nice distraction 👍
Has anybody even asked for this?
What ? 3.28084 feet to a metre and 2.54 centimetres to an inch. It’s simple !
Can we ask Johnson if we can also go back to the Carolingian monetary system? It’s extremely important to my sense of Britishness that we revert back to a monetary system that was eradicated before I was born and I won’t consider Brexit “done” until it happens. Also, I really want to see how Excel copes.
Everyone talks about having beer in pints, but, consider this: the Krauts get their beer in litres. And not, like, they go to their bierhaus and say “Guten Morgen Biermensch, kann mann 5,68 decilitres bier gehaben? Mit ‘Hog Lumps’, bitte?” – no, they just straight up get a whole fucking litre of beer. That’s nearly twice as much beer as we get!
This is a level of societal development that is being denied us by cowards who are terrified of progress.
There is also the fact that metric measurements transcend the type of measurement. 1kg of water is 1m cubed, and to raise the temperature of that water by 1 degree Celsius takes 1 kilojoule of energy. Blows my mind that someone was able to tie all that together.
The way to make sure it is dead on arrival is for the press to start asking exactly how many additional civil servants will be required to implement this. Quite a few, I suspect.
This is all so people can give answer to the question “What tangible thing has brexit given us?” At the moment, there is nothing but less freedom, expensive food and diminishing trade.
Now they can say “aha! We can now call a pint a pint! Wasn’t this all worth it?!”
Personally I hope they decide to create a new measurement, given hardly anyone remembers imperial.
Weight is converted to dead cats, Fluid ounces to bottles in a suitcase etc.
The French have three aircraft companies, three national car manufacturers, a space programme with booster manufacturer and launch facilities, a comprehensive network of high speed rail, a deep sea exploration agency, Yep, pounds feet and gallons is a great idea.
At what point can we collectively agree as a country that a) Brexit is the stupidest idea of all time and b) the Tories are corrupt cunts that are just trying to deflect from their blatant corruption and us and them mentality?
I bet a certain top hat wearing tory is pretty good at it though.
Onwards into the 19th century gentlemen!
A quick guide:
Lbs = £ down the drain.
Ounces = as in not an ounce of honesty or character in the party.
Foot = what should be in the arses. (Alternatively used is such sentences as, “Not to worry; the people will foot the bill for this ridiculous escapade”.
Inch = 2.54 cm (for some benefit).
If this happens surely Northern Ireland will go as well.
Can’t imagine those who are in the middle of unionists and republicans will want to be forced to adopt imperial measures again…
A pint glass is roughly 6 inches tall, base somewhere between 4 and six inches, didn’t check and so erred on the side of big so just did 6 X 6. Googled it and it’s 28.8 so if I’d have split the difference I’d have been pretty much correct.
Going backwards to imperial what a joke. Hold on, the USA works in imperial I smell another Johnson rat crawling around
Old person here. I grew up with this system, and it was ridiculous and illogical-seeming to me. Think how a generation of people brought up with a metric system are going to greet it.
Sure let’s adopt imperial and reinstate the empire.
Ugh
NOTE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND AMERICANS: One shilling = Five Pee. It helps to understand the antique finances of the Witchfinder Army if you know the original British monetary system:
Two farthings = One Ha’penny. Two ha’pennies = One Penny. Three pennies = A Thrupenny Bit. Two Thrupences = A Sixpence. Two Sixpences = One Shilling, or Bob. Two Bob = A Florin. One Florin and One Sixpence = Half a Crown. Four Half Crowns = Ten Bob Note. Two Ten Bob Notes = One Pound (or 240 pennies). Once Pound and One Shilling = One Guinea.
The British resisted decimalized currency for a long time because they thought it was too complicated.
Good Omens, Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
When i was in uni, the lecturer gave a set of engineering questions in imperial measurements, perplexed as shit, ended up just coverting the units to metric, then converted the answer back.
I’m hoping all this bullshit is overblown and nonsense to distract from all the sodden shite they’ve otherwise been peddling because if we go back to imperial I might have to quit my job and spend every waking moment of my life following around the wankers coming up with this bollocks with a megaphone reminding them, and the surrounding fauna, loudly they are utter imbeciles.
nobody can, my car is apparently 45mpg-ish, what does that translate to in litres? * shrug *
I’m pretty sure this is all about wine and champagne bottle sizes though so if that translates to being able to buy literal mega pints of wine I’m all in
Johsnon is playing a game, its almost like he turns around and winks knowingly with his mouth agape before everything he says. Man can’t be trusted. Cunt.
I grew up with Imperial, then we went Metric, both are good in different ways. Imperial is good for DIY where Metric is so small to see. Metric is good for fine measurements. Keep both please, I use both anyway!
Bet gove knows how many grams are in an ounce
Old people have ruined this great Country with their flag waving racism.
Universally understood by boomers
If i wans’t partially deaf I’m fairly certain I could hear a dog whistle!
It irks me as an architect that my customers are old and want everything in square feet, and the doors and bricks are in inches, the surveyor works in meters and I just use mm.
Just shows what a bunch of idiots we have running g the country
Why the fuck woukd anyone want imperial measurements
42 comments
Article contents:
*Geraldine Scott, Political Reporter, May 31 2022, The Times*
A government minister was unable to convert imperial measurements into metric despite No 10 suggesting the system was “universally understood”.
Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, the arts minister, was quizzed on Sky News after it was announced that a consultation will be launched into further incorporating imperial measurements in Britain after Brexit.
No 10 insisted yesterday that imperial measurements were universally understood in the UK, despite the metric system being taught in schools since 1974.
Parkinson, 39, was asked how many ounces were in a pound. He said 14 ounces but the answer is 16. He was then asked how many grams of sausages he would get if he ordered a pound, and answered 250g. The correct answer is 450g.
He got the final question — which is more, four pints or three litres — correct, answering the latter.
The prime minister’s deputy spokesman said yesterday that Boris Johnson had “been clear he wants to consult on this later this week”, the timing understood to coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
“I think the prime minister’s point is that imperial measures are widely used and understood in this country,” he said. “Many people measure driving speed in miles per hour, for example, many people purchase things in terms of pounds and ounces, so it’s universally understood in this country.”
He said Johnson also wanted to use “Brexit freedoms” to reintroduce the crown symbol on pint glasses, which traditionally was used to guarantee they were large enough to hold a full pint.
“He believes it’s important that we celebrate our national identity and heritage and he wants to reintroduce that symbol, which is fondly remembered by many.”
The CE mark, which stands for Conformité Européenne — European Conformity in French — was introduced in 2006 to show products meet safety standards, but the European Union has rejected claims that the mark stops the crown also being used.
The spokesman could not say whether the government planned to change the school curriculum so children could learn the imperial system.
Asked if the move would pave the way for the reintroduction of the pint bottle of champagne, which Winston Churchill called the “ideal size . . . enough for two at lunch and one at dinner”, the spokesman said: “It wouldn’t be for us to recommend what people do and don’t drink.”
Tobias Ellwood, one of the Tory MPs who has called for Johnson to resign over the Sue Gray report, said the government was using the “nostalgic policy in the hope that it’s enough to win the next election”.
But he added: “This not the case. This is not one-nation Conservative thinking that is required to appeal beyond our base.
“It’s far from the inspirational, visionary progressive thinking that we require. And it fits into a pattern I am afraid of micro-announcements that are increasingly thrown out there, which actually is sowing further discontent with more MPs.”
Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, has said the policy is “light-hearted” but Alicia Kearns, another of the Conservative MPs who has declared she has no confidence in Johnson, said the idea was “a nonsense”.
Under EU rules, which came into force in 2000, shops are legally required to use metric units for produce sold by weight or measuring fresh produce. They can also use pounds and ounces alongside this.
The consultation will examine whether those rules should be changed to allow traders to choose which system to use.
I think this current obsession about Imperial units is weird and I won’t be using them. I’d prefer metric for everything, personally.
However, not being able to convert imperial to metric doesn’t mean you don’t “understand” imperial units.
He was stupid for not knowing there’s 16 oz in a lb though, if he’s going to claim to understand them. Presumably he got it mixed up with 14 oz to a stone.
Im old enough to remember going metric.
Going back to imperial is a utterly fucking stupid idea with zero benefits.
It’s one of the worst, most pointless ideas they’ve had since Brexit
> Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
It sounds like he bought a Lordship on eBay. Of course, he will have paid a lot more for it, and will grift a lot more with it.
Lord of Whitley fucking Bay and they want us to take them seriously.
my one small satisfaction is knowing MPs are probably going to be instructed to memorise all the conversions now in case of future interviews
still a fucking stupid idea though
>Many people measure driving speed in miles per hour, for example
Well of course they do, they are forced to. My mum took her car across from South Africa and one of the things that she had to do before she was allowed to drive it was replace her kph speedometer to a mph one.
The sort of people who want this will be older people in their 70s and 80s, those people are only getting older and dying off as we speak. We will see this policy become obsolete within a decade, yet the Tories will happily go along with it if it means votes in the short term.
When the imperial system is currently defined by the metric system, and you want to use the same thing just with a different factor.
I’m fine with going back to the 1960s in the shops as long as the prices go back to the 1960s too. Six cups of bread for a hapenny? 20 fluid ounces of milk for a shilling? Sign me up!
It’s been 52 years since full decimalisation. 52 years. And still we cling on to this arcane codswallop.
We have fuel efficiency in miles/gallon, yet we buy fuel in litres. We buy wine in 750ml bottles. But we buy beer in pints.
We measure long distances in miles, medium distances in meters and short distances in inches.
In athletics, we have the 100m/400m etc races. But in football, we have the 18yard box.
It’s fucking insane. Let’s just end Imperial for good. Finally. After over 50 years.
454g in a pound.
It’s such a stupid idea (even for this clown), that I can’t help wondering if it’s the start of an attempt to allow the large US firms to sell us their stuff with minimum effort, in the absence of a decent trade deal.
So the large print will be “hurrah, pounds and ounces”, and the small print may be “goodbye to any food standards we once had”
Nice distraction 👍
Has anybody even asked for this?
What ? 3.28084 feet to a metre and 2.54 centimetres to an inch. It’s simple !
Can we ask Johnson if we can also go back to the Carolingian monetary system? It’s extremely important to my sense of Britishness that we revert back to a monetary system that was eradicated before I was born and I won’t consider Brexit “done” until it happens. Also, I really want to see how Excel copes.
Everyone talks about having beer in pints, but, consider this: the Krauts get their beer in litres. And not, like, they go to their bierhaus and say “Guten Morgen Biermensch, kann mann 5,68 decilitres bier gehaben? Mit ‘Hog Lumps’, bitte?” – no, they just straight up get a whole fucking litre of beer. That’s nearly twice as much beer as we get!
This is a level of societal development that is being denied us by cowards who are terrified of progress.
There is also the fact that metric measurements transcend the type of measurement. 1kg of water is 1m cubed, and to raise the temperature of that water by 1 degree Celsius takes 1 kilojoule of energy. Blows my mind that someone was able to tie all that together.
The way to make sure it is dead on arrival is for the press to start asking exactly how many additional civil servants will be required to implement this. Quite a few, I suspect.
This is all so people can give answer to the question “What tangible thing has brexit given us?” At the moment, there is nothing but less freedom, expensive food and diminishing trade.
Now they can say “aha! We can now call a pint a pint! Wasn’t this all worth it?!”
Personally I hope they decide to create a new measurement, given hardly anyone remembers imperial.
Weight is converted to dead cats, Fluid ounces to bottles in a suitcase etc.
The French have three aircraft companies, three national car manufacturers, a space programme with booster manufacturer and launch facilities, a comprehensive network of high speed rail, a deep sea exploration agency, Yep, pounds feet and gallons is a great idea.
At what point can we collectively agree as a country that a) Brexit is the stupidest idea of all time and b) the Tories are corrupt cunts that are just trying to deflect from their blatant corruption and us and them mentality?
I bet a certain top hat wearing tory is pretty good at it though.
Onwards into the 19th century gentlemen!
A quick guide:
Lbs = £ down the drain.
Ounces = as in not an ounce of honesty or character in the party.
Foot = what should be in the arses. (Alternatively used is such sentences as, “Not to worry; the people will foot the bill for this ridiculous escapade”.
Inch = 2.54 cm (for some benefit).
If this happens surely Northern Ireland will go as well.
Can’t imagine those who are in the middle of unionists and republicans will want to be forced to adopt imperial measures again…
A pint glass is roughly 6 inches tall, base somewhere between 4 and six inches, didn’t check and so erred on the side of big so just did 6 X 6. Googled it and it’s 28.8 so if I’d have split the difference I’d have been pretty much correct.
Going backwards to imperial what a joke. Hold on, the USA works in imperial I smell another Johnson rat crawling around
Old person here. I grew up with this system, and it was ridiculous and illogical-seeming to me. Think how a generation of people brought up with a metric system are going to greet it.
Sure let’s adopt imperial and reinstate the empire.
Ugh
NOTE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND AMERICANS: One shilling = Five Pee. It helps to understand the antique finances of the Witchfinder Army if you know the original British monetary system:
Two farthings = One Ha’penny. Two ha’pennies = One Penny. Three pennies = A Thrupenny Bit. Two Thrupences = A Sixpence. Two Sixpences = One Shilling, or Bob. Two Bob = A Florin. One Florin and One Sixpence = Half a Crown. Four Half Crowns = Ten Bob Note. Two Ten Bob Notes = One Pound (or 240 pennies). Once Pound and One Shilling = One Guinea.
The British resisted decimalized currency for a long time because they thought it was too complicated.
Good Omens, Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
When i was in uni, the lecturer gave a set of engineering questions in imperial measurements, perplexed as shit, ended up just coverting the units to metric, then converted the answer back.
I’m hoping all this bullshit is overblown and nonsense to distract from all the sodden shite they’ve otherwise been peddling because if we go back to imperial I might have to quit my job and spend every waking moment of my life following around the wankers coming up with this bollocks with a megaphone reminding them, and the surrounding fauna, loudly they are utter imbeciles.
nobody can, my car is apparently 45mpg-ish, what does that translate to in litres? * shrug *
I’m pretty sure this is all about wine and champagne bottle sizes though so if that translates to being able to buy literal mega pints of wine I’m all in
Johsnon is playing a game, its almost like he turns around and winks knowingly with his mouth agape before everything he says. Man can’t be trusted. Cunt.
I grew up with Imperial, then we went Metric, both are good in different ways. Imperial is good for DIY where Metric is so small to see. Metric is good for fine measurements. Keep both please, I use both anyway!
Bet gove knows how many grams are in an ounce
Old people have ruined this great Country with their flag waving racism.
Universally understood by boomers
If i wans’t partially deaf I’m fairly certain I could hear a dog whistle!
It irks me as an architect that my customers are old and want everything in square feet, and the doors and bricks are in inches, the surveyor works in meters and I just use mm.
Just shows what a bunch of idiots we have running g the country
Why the fuck woukd anyone want imperial measurements