Every airport in the UK has a list of safety issues which are tolerated by CAA
Why? What's the point of signing up to an ICAO standard, and then "tolerating" airports that don't meet it. Don't forget, the users frequently don't know about the shortcomings.
Let me assure you, we are not talking of minor, unimportant variances in many cases, we are talking of major hazards, which are not "rectified over a short timescale". One of the worst I know about has been there since 1980 (before that, in fact, but it became important at that time) and was commented on by CAA in 1984 if not earlier.
we'll see whether they have the balls to do it to some of the bigger boys with similar issues.
We will, won't we. I am not holding my breath.