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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Marf on the UKIP Basildon selection

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  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    edited December 2014

    isam said:

    isam said:

    I should've gone for it in SB&ET

    The constituency literally starts at the end of my road. But it is one of the biggest around I think... covers places in Essex I have never heard of

    EDIT: My road is actually in the constituency! v long road

    Didn't you tip UKIP for that at 12/1 some time ago?

    Aiiii!

    Hamilton is a political joke, they might as well select Jeffrey Archer for a seat.
    At this rate they'll be welcoming Dennis McShane on board as Head of IT. He can look after the 'banks of computers' in Forage's shed.
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    GeoffM said:

    I wondered when someone would deploy this bombshell against Labour's Burnham. Clegg won this one. It should be used everytime Labour whinge about privatising the NHS.

    http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/45865/burnham_hits_out_at_clegg_over_nhs_privatisation_claim.html
    "The NAO report of the bidding process published on 8 November 2012 clearly states that in December 2009 there were only 3 bidders left in the process - Circle Health, Ramsay Health Care UK and Serco Health.
    "It says on page 20 that 'the two NHS trusts involved both withdrew at early stages of the process.'"

    Burnham is an utter liar and typical Labour hypocrite.

    Wonder what Big John thinks of this?
    He won't care as long as taxpayers money carries on lining his golden pension pot.
    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. - Oscar Wilde

    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is the Tories privatising the NHS - BJO
    What about when Burnham did it?
    He didnt.

    You might be thinking of Milburn the 2nd worst SOS in my 33 years in NHS

    Lab had an NHS preferred provider policy under Burnham.

    Scrapped by the coalition.

    Lansley was the worst by the way with his flawed conflict of interest reforms.

    By the way Ken Clarke was one of the best.
    Think you had better keep up with what has happened today before you look even more stupid.
    I have kept up to date. These things are important to me.

    When Burnham left office an NHS hospital was still involved in the bidding process, Peterboro and Stamford.

    Circle were appointed in 2011.

    Are you stupidly taking the facts from the wrong source?
    I don't think that correct: in Feb 2010 there were 5 bidders left, all private sector:

    http://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/feb/19/hinchingbrooke-huntington-hospital-nhs-private

    Circle had previous NHS contracts running Burton and Nottingham ISTCs. They are an interesting organisation. I went to a start up meeting when they were being set up, but did not buy in.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,507
    edited December 2014

    isam said:

    isam said:

    I should've gone for it in SB&ET

    The constituency literally starts at the end of my road. But it is one of the biggest around I think... covers places in Essex I have never heard of

    EDIT: My road is actually in the constituency! v long road

    Didn't you tip UKIP for that at 12/1 some time ago?

    Aiiii!

    Hamilton is a political joke, they might as well select Jeffrey Archer for a seat.
    Well it doesn't seem like they check the educational background too closely, so Jeffrey should be ok on that one.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,469

    GeoffM said:

    I wondered when someone would deploy this bombshell against Labour's Burnham. Clegg won this one. It should be used everytime Labour whinge about privatising the NHS.

    http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/45865/burnham_hits_out_at_clegg_over_nhs_privatisation_claim.html
    "The NAO report of the bidding process published on 8 November 2012 clearly states that in December 2009 there were only 3 bidders left in the process - Circle Health, Ramsay Health Care UK and Serco Health.
    "It says on page 20 that 'the two NHS trusts involved both withdrew at early stages of the process.'"

    Burnham is an utter liar and typical Labour hypocrite.

    Wonder what Big John thinks of this?
    He won't care as long as taxpayers money carries on lining his golden pension pot.
    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. - Oscar Wilde

    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is the Tories privatising the NHS - BJO
    What about when Burnham did it?
    He didnt.

    You might be thinking of Milburn the 2nd worst SOS in my 33 years in NHS

    Lab had an NHS preferred provider policy under Burnham.

    Scrapped by the coalition.

    Lansley was the worst by the way with his flawed conflict of interest reforms.

    By the way Ken Clarke was one of the best.
    Think you had better keep up with what has happened today before you look even more stupid.
    I have kept up to date. These things are important to me.

    When Burnham left office an NHS hospital was still involved in the bidding process, Peterboro and Stamford.

    Circle were appointed in 2011.

    Are you stupidly taking the facts from the wrong source?
    That's not how I understand it. What's your source - it's probably wrong, as Circle were announced the winner in late 2010, and started running the hospital in early 2012.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11838687

    And you may want to read the following:

    "In February (2010), it was announced that the only NHS bidder to run Hinchingbrooke had withdrawn leaving private firms in the race."

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/8549149.stm

    So it looks as though you were wrong - Burnham had several months to cancel the bidding if he wanted it to go to an NHS bidder.

    And BTW, Hinchinbrooke's done us very well this year, thank you very much. :-)
  • Moses_Moses_ Posts: 4,865

    GeoffM said:

    I wondered when someone would deploy this bombshell against Labour's Burnham. Clegg won this one. It should be used everytime Labour whinge about privatising the NHS.

    http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/45865/burnham_hits_out_at_clegg_over_nhs_privatisation_claim.html
    "The NAO report of the bidding process published on 8 November 2012 clearly states that in December 2009 there were only 3 bidders left in the process - Circle Health, Ramsay Health Care UK and Serco Health.
    "It says on page 20 that 'the two NHS trusts involved both withdrew at early stages of the process.'"

    Burnham is an utter liar and typical Labour hypocrite.

    Wonder what Big John thinks of this?
    He won't care as long as taxpayers money carries on lining his golden pension pot.
    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. - Oscar Wilde

    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is the Tories privatising the NHS - BJO
    What about when Burnham did it?
    He didnt.

    You might be thinking of Milburn the 2nd worst SOS in my 33 years in NHS

    Lab had an NHS preferred provider policy under Burnham.

    Scrapped by the coalition.

    Lansley was the worst by the way with his flawed conflict of interest reforms.

    By the way Ken Clarke was one of the best.
    Think you had better keep up with what has happened today before you look even more stupid.
    I have kept up to date. These things are important to me.

    When Burnham left office an NHS hospital was still involved in the bidding process, Peterboro and Stamford.

    Circle were appointed in 2011.

    Are you stupidly taking the facts from the wrong source?


    Not so according to official report. They left the process at an early stage and while Burnham was still the minister.
    I realise this does not fit in with your version of events. Either way it could have been worse it could have turned out like Stafford.

    http://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/1213628.pdf
  • UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process
  • UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736

    GeoffM said:

    I wondered when someone would deploy this bombshell against Labour's Burnham. Clegg won this one. It should be used everytime Labour whinge about privatising the NHS.

    http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/45865/burnham_hits_out_at_clegg_over_nhs_privatisation_claim.html
    "The NAO report of the bidding process published on 8 November 2012 clearly states that in December 2009 there were only 3 bidders left in the process - Circle Health, Ramsay Health Care UK and Serco Health.
    "It says on page 20 that 'the two NHS trusts involved both withdrew at early stages of the process.'"

    Burnham is an utter liar and typical Labour hypocrite.

    Wonder what Big John thinks of this?
    He won't care as long as taxpayers money carries on lining his golden pension pot.
    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. - Oscar Wilde

    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is the Tories privatising the NHS - BJO
    What about when Burnham did it?
    He didnt.

    You might be thinking of Milburn the 2nd worst SOS in my 33 years in NHS

    Lab had an NHS preferred provider policy under Burnham.

    Scrapped by the coalition.

    Lansley was the worst by the way with his flawed conflict of interest reforms.

    By the way Ken Clarke was one of the best.
    Think you had better keep up with what has happened today before you look even more stupid.
    I have kept up to date. These things are important to me.

    When Burnham left office an NHS hospital was still involved in the bidding process, Peterboro and Stamford.

    Circle were appointed in 2011.

    Are you stupidly taking the facts from the wrong source?
    I don't think that correct: in Feb 2010 there were 5 bidders left, all private sector:

    http://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/feb/19/hinchingbrooke-huntington-hospital-nhs-private

    Circle had previous NHS contracts running Burton and Nottingham ISTCs. They are an interesting organisation. I went to a start up meeting when they were being set up, but did not buy in.
    ,Well in May 2010 the Serco bid which included Peterborough and Stamford NHS foundation trust as a partner was effectively Pet. and Stamf. running the services Serco providing the support serv and some required Capital funds as far as I understand.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,937
    Carswell must be very disappointed to see a former Conservative MP failing to get the nomination for an Essex seat.

    Not.
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Moses_ said:

    GeoffM said:

    I wondered when someone would deploy this bombshell against Labour's Burnham. Clegg won this one. It should be used everytime Labour whinge about privatising the NHS.

    http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/45865/burnham_hits_out_at_clegg_over_nhs_privatisation_claim.html
    "The NAO report of the bidding process published on 8 November 2012 clearly states that in December 2009 there were only 3 bidders left in the process - Circle Health, Ramsay Health Care UK and Serco Health.
    "It says on page 20 that 'the two NHS trusts involved both withdrew at early stages of the process.'"

    Burnham is an utter liar and typical Labour hypocrite.

    Wonder what Big John thinks of this?
    He won't care as long as taxpayers money carries on lining his golden pension pot.
    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. - Oscar Wilde

    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is the Tories privatising the NHS - BJO
    What about when Burnham did it?
    He didnt.

    You might be thinking of Milburn the 2nd worst SOS in my 33 years in NHS

    Lab had an NHS preferred provider policy under Burnham.

    Scrapped by the coalition.

    Lansley was the worst by the way with his flawed conflict of interest reforms.

    By the way Ken Clarke was one of the best.
    Think you had better keep up with what has happened today before you look even more stupid.
    I have kept up to date. These things are important to me.

    When Burnham left office an NHS hospital was still involved in the bidding process, Peterboro and Stamford.

    Circle were appointed in 2011.

    Are you stupidly taking the facts from the wrong source?


    Not so according to official report. They left the process at an early stage and while Burnham was still the minister.
    I realise this does not fit in with your version of events. Either way it could have been worse it could have turned out like Stafford.

    http://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/1213628.pdf
    Burnham is in the clear over Stafford, he set up the first enquiry within weeks of taking over at health. The privatisation fiasco is a fair cop, but this was Milburns agenda then carried on by the rest of New Labour.

    To be fair, I do think that Burnham has genuinely changed his mind and thinks privatisation has gone too far.
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    GeoffM said:

    I wondered when someone would deploy this bombshell against Labour's Burnham. Clegg won this one. It should be used everytime Labour whinge about privatising the NHS.

    http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/45865/burnham_hits_out_at_clegg_over_nhs_privatisation_claim.html
    "The NAO report of the bidding process published on 8 November 2012 clearly states that in December 2009 there were only 3 bidders left in the process - Circle Health, Ramsay Health Care UK and Serco Health.
    "It says on page 20 that 'the two NHS trusts involved both withdrew at early stages of the process.'"

    Burnham is an utter liar and typical Labour hypocrite.

    Wonder what Big John thinks of this?
    He won't care as long as taxpayers money carries on lining his golden pension pot.
    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. - Oscar Wilde

    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is the Tories privatising the NHS - BJO
    What about when Burnham did it?
    He didnt.

    You might be thinking of Milburn the 2nd worst SOS in my 33 years in NHS

    Lab had an NHS preferred provider policy under Burnham.

    Scrapped by the coalition.

    Lansley was the worst by the way with his flawed conflict of interest reforms.

    By the way Ken Clarke was one of the best.
    Think you had better keep up with what has happened today before you look even more stupid.
    I have kept up to date. These things are important to me.

    When Burnham left office an NHS hospital was still involved in the bidding process, Peterboro and Stamford.

    Circle were appointed in 2011.

    Are you stupidly taking the facts from the wrong source?
    I don't think that correct: in Feb 2010 there were 5 bidders left, all private sector:

    http://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/feb/19/hinchingbrooke-huntington-hospital-nhs-private

    Circle had previous NHS contracts running Burton and Nottingham ISTCs. They are an interesting organisation. I went to a start up meeting when they were being set up, but did not buy in.
    ,Well in May 2010 the Serco bid which included Peterborough and Stamford NHS foundation trust as a partner was effectively Pet. and Stamf. running the services Serco providing the support serv and some required Capital funds as far as I understand.
    Sounds like privatisation to me!

  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,937

    UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
    The time to rejoice will be when Hamilton accepts his political career is dead.

    How can he have such lack of self-awareness as to think he still has anything worthwhile to contribute to public life?

    Who wants yesterday's men shaping tomorrow?
  • Funny how I can't recall seeing any cartoon threads on this site involving or alluding to people like Thorpe, Smith, Rennard, Oaten and Huhne when they were in the news.

    I thought this site was supposed to be neutral?

    Mike gives me complete editorial freedom, which is another way of saying the cartoons are my sole responsibility and do not represent the views of the site.

    The truth is, any comedian will tell you that some words are funny, others are not - some stories are funny, some are not.

    I don't touch sex abuse, or torture. Though I did write a graphic novel about sex abuse, called 'Runaway' (and I haven't found a publisher who hasn't found it too 'dark').

    Not funny - Sir Cyril Smith, Jeremy Thorpe, Mark Oaten.

    As for Lord Rennard, well, he IS a cartoon.

    Huhne - you're wrong, I did do cartoons about Huhne at the time.

    Anyway, you get the idea. It's not that cartoons on this site are passing over certain figures because Mike and I have colluded, and wish to be polite about one and rude about another, according to some party lines.

    I didn't mean to give you a quick tutorial on cartooning. But you must watch 'Punchlines' with Tom Hanks and Sally Fields. I didn't appreciate them as actors until I saw this movie. It's a good script and it even features some grand old comedians. It really is a good film about writing, and about comedy. 'Funny/not funny' is all you need to know. Sounds simple, but comedians I love, like Woody Allen, work at it every day.



    Surely Mark Oaten was funny!

    (Though probably NSFW!)

    Funny indeed but unpublishable, anyone doing so would end up in th.......

    Marf, thanks for the response, to be honest I felt a little sorry for Hamilton, others seem to have done far worse and fared far better. In view of Mr Cricks efforts tonight that sympathy might be misplaced.

    Politics is politics but its the attitude of some posters that ukip are upstarts who need to be put in their place that gets me. Most of it comes from tory supporters. Libdems are much cleverer and better at having a dig in a subtle almost unnoticed way while sounding very reasonable, which does induce me to put the boot in and try and goad them into a more direct statement sometimes.

  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
    The time to rejoice will be when Hamilton accepts his political career is dead.

    How can he have such lack of self-awareness as to think he still has anything worthwhile to contribute to public life?

    Who wants yesterday's men shaping tomorrow?
    Kippers are yearning for yesterday.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118

    UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
    The time to rejoice will be when Hamilton accepts his political career is dead.

    How can he have such lack of self-awareness as to think he still has anything worthwhile to contribute to public life?

    Who wants yesterday's men shaping tomorrow?
    I don't think UKIP have a candidate in Basildon & Billericay yet...
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736
    Moses_ said:

    GeoffM said:

    I wondered when someone would deploy this bombshell against Labour's Burnham. Clegg won this one. It should be used everytime Labour whinge about privatising the NHS.

    http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/45865/burnham_hits_out_at_clegg_over_nhs_privatisation_claim.html
    "The NAO report of the bidding process published on 8 November 2012 clearly states that in December 2009 there were only 3 bidders left in the process - Circle Health, Ramsay Health Care UK and Serco Health.
    "It says on page 20 that 'the two NHS trusts involved both withdrew at early stages of the process.'"

    Burnham is an utter liar and typical Labour hypocrite.

    Wonder what Big John thinks of this?
    He won't care as long as taxpayers money carries on lining his golden pension pot.
    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. - Oscar Wilde

    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is the Tories privatising the NHS - BJO
    What about when Burnham did it?
    He didnt.

    You might be thinking of Milburn the 2nd worst SOS in my 33 years in NHS

    Lab had an NHS preferred provider policy under Burnham.

    Scrapped by the coalition.

    Lansley was the worst by the way with his flawed conflict of interest reforms.

    By the way Ken Clarke was one of the best.
    Think you had better keep up with what has happened today before you look even more stupid.
    I have kept up to date. These things are important to me.

    When Burnham left office an NHS hospital was still involved in the bidding process, Peterboro and Stamford.

    Circle were appointed in 2011.

    Are you stupidly taking the facts from the wrong source?


    Not so according to official report. They left the process at an early stage and while Burnham was still the minister.
    I realise this does not fit in with your version of events. Either way it could have been worse it could have turned out like Stafford.

    http://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/1213628.pdf
    The report does not say what you say though does it.

    The Serco Peterborough and Stamford bid was still in the running at GE2010.

    Where does it say otherwise?

    Burnham would not have appointed Circle in 2011 if he had been SOS IMO (and his!!!)
  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    TGOHF said:

    UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
    The time to rejoice will be when Hamilton accepts his political career is dead.

    How can he have such lack of self-awareness as to think he still has anything worthwhile to contribute to public life?

    Who wants yesterday's men shaping tomorrow?
    Kippers are yearning for yesterday.
    When the roads were empty, and one could drive a Morris Traveller on the Queens Highway without meeting an upstart immigrant in a foreign car.
  • john_zimsjohn_zims Posts: 3,399
    @bigjohnowls

    When your in a hole stop digging.

    'In a letter published this evening, the Deputy Prime Minister stood by his PMQs attack, branding Mr Burnham's claim on the bidding process "simply not true".

    He wrote: "On 26 March 2010, that is before the General Election and while you were still Health Secretary, the three organisations shortlisted for the contract to run Hinchingbrooke Hospital were Circle Health, Ramsay Health Care UK and Serco Health - all of which are non-NHS organisations.
  • UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
    The time to rejoice will be when Hamilton accepts his political career is dead.

    How can he have such lack of self-awareness as to think he still has anything worthwhile to contribute to public life?

    Who wants yesterday's men shaping tomorrow?
    What I can't understand is why they are accepting toxic rejects and all their baggage from other parties as candidates.
    Christine would have been fine as a candidate. Neil described himself as a political joke when they appeared on HIGNFY iirc.
    It's a comic lack of self awareness.

  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,937
    TGOHF said:

    UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
    The time to rejoice will be when Hamilton accepts his political career is dead.

    How can he have such lack of self-awareness as to think he still has anything worthwhile to contribute to public life?

    Who wants yesterday's men shaping tomorrow?
    Kippers are yearning for yesterday.
    I remember the Spitting Image sketch where the shades of the Hitler Youth were tied to the Tories with the song "Tomorrow Belongs To Me" in the eighties. And one of those same lampooned characters is now still trying to sing the same song....nearly thirty years later.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736

    GeoffM said:

    I wondered when someone would deploy this bombshell against Labour's Burnham. Clegg won this one. It should be used everytime Labour whinge about privatising the NHS.

    http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/45865/burnham_hits_out_at_clegg_over_nhs_privatisation_claim.html
    "The NAO report of the bidding process published on 8 November 2012 clearly states that in December 2009 there were only 3 bidders left in the process - Circle Health, Ramsay Health Care UK and Serco Health.
    "It says on page 20 that 'the two NHS trusts involved both withdrew at early stages of the process.'"

    Burnham is an utter liar and typical Labour hypocrite.

    Wonder what Big John thinks of this?
    He won't care as long as taxpayers money carries on lining his golden pension pot.
    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. - Oscar Wilde

    There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is the Tories privatising the NHS - BJO
    What about when Burnham did it?
    He didnt.

    You might be thinking of Milburn the 2nd worst SOS in my 33 years in NHS

    Lab had an NHS preferred provider policy under Burnham.

    Scrapped by the coalition.

    Lansley was the worst by the way with his flawed conflict of interest reforms.

    By the way Ken Clarke was one of the best.
    Think you had better keep up with what has happened today before you look even more stupid.
    I don't think that correct: in Feb 2010 there were 5 bidders left, all private sector:

    http://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/feb/19/hinchingbrooke-huntington-hospital-nhs-private

    Circle had previous NHS contracts running Burton and Nottingham ISTCs. They are an interesting organisation. I went to a start up meeting when they were being set up, but did not buy in.
    ,Well in May 2010 the Serco bid which included Peterborough and Stamford NHS foundation trust as a partner was effectively Pet. and Stamf. running the services Serco providing the support serv and some required Capital funds as far as I understand.
    Sounds like privatisation to me!

    Maybe an inevitable consequence of the Milburn reforms that Dobson and Burnham had watered down with NHS preferred provider rules.

    Lansley clearly ran in a different direction entirely
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    edited December 2014
    Old white men...

    Michael Heaver ‏@Michael_Heaver · 48s48 seconds ago
    UKIP's Luton South candidate Dr. Yasin Rehman with UKIP's Luton Council candidates pic.twitter.com/JJFcM3X2eQ
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,469


    The report does not say what you say though does it.

    The Serco Peterborough and Stamford bid was still in the running at GE2010.

    Where does it say otherwise?

    Burnham would not have appointed Circle in 2011 if he had been SOS IMO (and his!!!)

    Why would he not have appointed Circle?

    Coffeehouse has some more info on this:

    http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/12/who-privatised-hinchingbrooke-hospital-and-does-it-matter/

    As I've said passim, I've used both Hinchinbrooke and Addenbrookes recently. We could have picked either to have our son at, and we chose Hinchinbrooke because it appeared better for our needs. Surely at the end of the day that is all that matters?

    Like too many on the left, you care more about who owns something that what works.
  • Come to this ding dong about Hinchingbrooke Hospital rather late.

    I was under the impression the reason it was out to tender was it was a total disaster and unable to continue as it was, and that since Circle has taken over it has actually been quite a good success story.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    edited December 2014
    Old white men

    "UKIP and Labour parliamentary candidates Tim Aker and Polly Billington came to blows at South Essex College, Grays, today as they were grilled by young people at a student ‘Question Time’.

    Conservative MP Jackie Doyle-Price was criticised by the college youngsters for not attending, although Lib-Dem MP Geoff was on hand to represent the Lib-Dems

    Student support for UKIP and Mr Aker at the event appeared strong – although many students, when pressed – were unable to clarify their views.

    Saulge Hubert, 18, of The Limes, Brentwood and Connor Wright, 18, of Tinklerside, Basildon spoke of their support for candidates, and Laura Kelly, 19, Chalk End, Pitsea, talked about why she supports UKIP"

    http://m.thurrockgazette.co.uk/news/11657942.VIDEOS__UKIP_and_Labour_exchange_verbal_blows_at_student__Question_Time_/

  • SCOTTISH NATIONAL: Police probe role of Scottish airports in CIA torture flights

    I sure David Miliband knows nothing about these.
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
    The time to rejoice will be when Hamilton accepts his political career is dead.

    How can he have such lack of self-awareness as to think he still has anything worthwhile to contribute to public life?

    Who wants yesterday's men shaping tomorrow?
    What I can't understand is why they are accepting toxic rejects and all their baggage from other parties as candidates.
    Christine would have been fine as a candidate. Neil described himself as a political joke when they appeared on HIGNFY iirc.
    It's a comic lack of self awareness.

    Hamilton came top in the UKIP NEC elections, well clear of the next. He clearly has a lot of support in the party. I cannot explain why!

    http://www.ukip.org/2014_nec_election_results

    half the UKIP membership voted for him. Can anyone explain why?
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736
    john_zims said:

    @bigjohnowls

    When your in a hole stop digging.

    'In a letter published this evening, the Deputy Prime Minister stood by his PMQs attack, branding Mr Burnham's claim on the bidding process "simply not true".

    He wrote: "On 26 March 2010, that is before the General Election and while you were still Health Secretary, the three organisations shortlisted for the contract to run Hinchingbrooke Hospital were Circle Health, Ramsay Health Care UK and Serco Health - all of which are non-NHS organisations.

    Stop digging yourself

    The Serco bid was a joint one with P&SNHSFT.

    Since when have you took the word of the DPM?

    How can a contract not let till Nov 2011 be Labours??
  • "UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process."

    Wow - that's the first time I ever got somebody deselected!

  • chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341
    So, we have Labour's privatisation of the NHS under Burnham followed by Mary Creagh's acknowledgement that Labour are "absolutely" committed to contracting out NHS services.

    Ed picked a bad day to have a day off.
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    Come to this ding dong about Hinchingbrooke Hospital rather late.

    I was under the impression the reason it was out to tender was it was a total disaster and unable to continue as it was, and that since Circle has taken over it has actually been quite a good success story.

    Hinchingbrooke was a financial rather than clinical basket case.

    It still has major financial issues.

    http://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/uncertainty_over_finances_at_hinchingbrooke_hospital_in_huntingdon_1_3760966
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,536

    UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
    The time to rejoice will be when Hamilton accepts his political career is dead.

    How can he have such lack of self-awareness as to think he still has anything worthwhile to contribute to public life?

    Who wants yesterday's men shaping tomorrow?
    What I can't understand is why they are accepting toxic rejects and all their baggage from other parties as candidates.
    Christine would have been fine as a candidate. Neil described himself as a political joke when they appeared on HIGNFY iirc.
    It's a comic lack of self awareness.

    My guess would be that before UKIP's membership took off, they thought beggars can't be choosers. My big worry is that someone will let Brian Coleman into the party.
  • john_zimsjohn_zims Posts: 3,399
    edited December 2014
    @bigjohnowls

    Labour were the first to privatize an NHS hospital,get over it.

    Any nonsense now about the Coalition privatizing the NHS is laughable.
  • UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
    The time to rejoice will be when Hamilton accepts his political career is dead.

    How can he have such lack of self-awareness as to think he still has anything worthwhile to contribute to public life?

    Who wants yesterday's men shaping tomorrow?
    What I can't understand is why they are accepting toxic rejects and all their baggage from other parties as candidates.
    Christine would have been fine as a candidate. Neil described himself as a political joke when they appeared on HIGNFY iirc.
    It's a comic lack of self awareness.

    Hamilton came top in the UKIP NEC elections, well clear of the next. He clearly has a lot of support in the party. I cannot explain why!

    http://www.ukip.org/2014_nec_election_results

    half the UKIP membership voted for him. Can anyone explain why?
    Possibly name recognition.
    Whatever way, it is sheer madness. By all means make Hamilton a party grandee or whatever. But keep him and his ilk away from the public.

  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Sean_F said:

    UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
    The time to rejoice will be when Hamilton accepts his political career is dead.

    How can he have such lack of self-awareness as to think he still has anything worthwhile to contribute to public life?

    Who wants yesterday's men shaping tomorrow?
    What I can't understand is why they are accepting toxic rejects and all their baggage from other parties as candidates.
    Christine would have been fine as a candidate. Neil described himself as a political joke when they appeared on HIGNFY iirc.
    It's a comic lack of self awareness.

    My guess would be that before UKIP's membership took off, they thought beggars can't be choosers. My big worry is that someone will let Brian Coleman into the party.
    The UKIP NEC elections this autumn had half the eligible members voting for Hamilton. One can only conclude they like what they see.

  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    edited December 2014
    Matthew d'Ancona in the Standard today reminded me of everything I detest about the Tories. Even though he wrote it after it was already emerging Bird was in a consensual relationship with this woman, he claimed it made UKIP look like the sleazy 1990s Tories, who actually committed adultery. He did the usual lie that UKIP didn't want mothers breastfeeding in public, even though Farage said the direct opposite. And he claimed UKIP voters were just angry at the world rather than actually supporting their policies. If it was just a random journalist it would be one thing. But I know it's the sort of smug and patronising attitude that exists throughout the Cameroons.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,536
    isam said:

    UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
    The time to rejoice will be when Hamilton accepts his political career is dead.

    How can he have such lack of self-awareness as to think he still has anything worthwhile to contribute to public life?

    Who wants yesterday's men shaping tomorrow?
    I don't think UKIP have a candidate in Basildon & Billericay yet...
    Unless it's John Baron.
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    Well UKIP have now dealt with both an alleged sex scandal and Neil Hamilton's selection efforts successfully and by the book, and it was just a year ago when they couldn't handle comments from Godfrey Bloom wrecking their conference.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,889
    The UK will have a population of 80 million by 2050 overtaking France with 76 million and Germany with 71 million to be the largest population and economy in Europe
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/jeremy-warner/11283803/UK-population-boom-could-make-it-EUs-top-economy.html
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Socrates said:

    Matthew d'Ancona in the Standard today reminded me of everything I detest about the Tories. Even though he wrote it after it was already emerging Bird was in a consensual relationship with this woman, he claimed it made UKIP look like the sleazy 1990s stories. He did the usual lie that UKIP didn't want mothers breastfeeding in public, even though Farage said the direct opposite. And he claimed UKIP voters were just angry at the world rather than actually supporting their policies. If it was just a random journalist it would be one thing. But I know it's the sort of smug and patronising attitude that exists throughout the Cameroons.

    Why do you think UKIP were so keen to place Bolter in a winnable seat?

  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Right back to where we started...

    A good, honest local boy!

    Gawain Towler ‏@GawainTowler · 26m26 minutes ago
    Cllr Kerry Smith selected for Thurrock and South Basildon @ukip

  • "UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process."

    Wow - that's the first time I ever got somebody deselected!

    Good for you Marf!
    More power to your drawing hand.

  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    edited December 2014
    Speedy said:

    Well UKIP have now dealt with both an alleged sex scandal and Neil Hamilton's selection efforts successfully and by the book, and it was just a year ago when they couldn't handle comments from Godfrey Bloom wrecking their conference.

    When did they resolve the problem with Bird? It's still ongoing.

    And now the Deputy Chairman's expenses claims are under investigation.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,889
    Would be quite a coup for Neil Hamilton if he returned to the Commons 18 years after his humiliating defeat by Martin Bell with a victory over both his former party and Labour
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
    The time to rejoice will be when Hamilton accepts his political career is dead.

    How can he have such lack of self-awareness as to think he still has anything worthwhile to contribute to public life?

    Who wants yesterday's men shaping tomorrow?
    What I can't understand is why they are accepting toxic rejects and all their baggage from other parties as candidates.
    Christine would have been fine as a candidate. Neil described himself as a political joke when they appeared on HIGNFY iirc.
    It's a comic lack of self awareness.

    Hamilton came top in the UKIP NEC elections, well clear of the next. He clearly has a lot of support in the party. I cannot explain why!

    http://www.ukip.org/2014_nec_election_results

    half the UKIP membership voted for him. Can anyone explain why?
    Getting one over on the Cons blinds them to rational thought, See blocking a referendum by letting Ed in.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736

    Come to this ding dong about Hinchingbrooke Hospital rather late.

    I was under the impression the reason it was out to tender was it was a total disaster and unable to continue as it was, and that since Circle has taken over it has actually been quite a good success story.

    Depends how you judge success

    Still in deficit, got half the cash it had a year ago but at least 1 person doing rather well.


    The salary of the most-highly paid employee at Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust in the
    financial year 2013/14, the Chief Executive Officer, was in the range of £235,000–£240,000.
    This was 9.2 times the median salary of the workforce, which was £25,783.
    The salary of the most-highly paid employee at Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust
    in the financial year 2012/13, the Medical Director, was in the range of £155,000–£160,000
    financial year end. This was 6.3 times the median salary of the workforce, which was £25,291.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Sean_F said:

    isam said:

    UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
    The time to rejoice will be when Hamilton accepts his political career is dead.

    How can he have such lack of self-awareness as to think he still has anything worthwhile to contribute to public life?

    Who wants yesterday's men shaping tomorrow?
    I don't think UKIP have a candidate in Basildon & Billericay yet...
    Unless it's John Baron.
    Yeah!

    The hustings (or l'hustings as I now prefer to call them) were meant to take place yesterday I think.

    No mumble though...
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,536

    Sean_F said:

    UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
    The time to rejoice will be when Hamilton accepts his political career is dead.

    How can he have such lack of self-awareness as to think he still has anything worthwhile to contribute to public life?

    Who wants yesterday's men shaping tomorrow?
    What I can't understand is why they are accepting toxic rejects and all their baggage from other parties as candidates.
    Christine would have been fine as a candidate. Neil described himself as a political joke when they appeared on HIGNFY iirc.
    It's a comic lack of self awareness.

    My guess would be that before UKIP's membership took off, they thought beggars can't be choosers. My big worry is that someone will let Brian Coleman into the party.
    The UKIP NEC elections this autumn had half the eligible members voting for Hamilton. One can only conclude they like what they see.

    I imagine they feel he's worked hard for the party for years, and deserves recognition. I agree with others here that he comes with too much baggage to be a Parliamentary candidate.

  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736
    john_zims said:

    @bigjohnowls

    Labour were the first to privatize an NHS hospital,get over it.

    Any nonsense now about the Coalition privatizing the NHS is laughable.

    First in November 2011.

    Laughable
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    Come to this ding dong about Hinchingbrooke Hospital rather late.

    I was under the impression the reason it was out to tender was it was a total disaster and unable to continue as it was, and that since Circle has taken over it has actually been quite a good success story.

    Depends how you judge success

    Still in deficit, got half the cash it had a year ago but at least 1 person doing rather well.


    The salary of the most-highly paid employee at Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust in the
    financial year 2013/14, the Chief Executive Officer, was in the range of £235,000–£240,000.
    This was 9.2 times the median salary of the workforce, which was £25,783.
    The salary of the most-highly paid employee at Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust
    in the financial year 2012/13, the Medical Director, was in the range of £155,000–£160,000
    financial year end. This was 6.3 times the median salary of the workforce, which was £25,291.
    So much better then but you want social justice in the board room. What is the current total wage bill and whAt about patient outcomes ?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,889
    Survation poll on the EU has 'out' leading by 46% to 34%, although admittedly commissioned by the Freedom Association and published in the Express
    http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/545654/Britain-Referendum-Vote-In-Out-Vote-Europe-EU-Survey


  • Funny how I can't recall seeing any cartoon threads on this site involving or alluding to people like Thorpe, Smith, Rennard, Oaten and Huhne when they were in the news.

    I thought this site was supposed to be neutral?

    Mike gives me complete editorial freedom, which is another way of saying the cartoons are my sole responsibility and do not represent the views of the site.

    The truth is, any comedian will tell you that some words are funny, others are not - some stories are funny, some are not.

    I don't touch sex abuse, or torture. Though I did write a graphic novel about sex abuse, called 'Runaway' (and I haven't found a publisher who hasn't found it too 'dark').

    Not funny - Sir Cyril Smith, Jeremy Thorpe, Mark Oaten.

    As for Lord Rennard, well, he IS a cartoon.

    Huhne - you're wrong, I did do cartoons about Huhne at the time.

    Anyway, you get the idea. It's not that cartoons on this site are passing over certain figures because Mike and I have colluded, and wish to be polite about one and rude about another, according to some party lines.

    I didn't mean to give you a quick tutorial on cartooning. But you must watch 'Punchlines' with Tom Hanks and Sally Fields. I didn't appreciate them as actors until I saw this movie. It's a good script and it even features some grand old comedians. It really is a good film about writing, and about comedy. 'Funny/not funny' is all you need to know. Sounds simple, but comedians I love, like Woody Allen, work at it every day.



    Surely Mark Oaten was funny!

    (Though probably NSFW!)

    Funny indeed but unpublishable, anyone doing so would end up in th.......

    Marf, thanks for the response, to be honest I felt a little sorry for Hamilton, others seem to have done far worse and fared far better. In view of Mr Cricks efforts tonight that sympathy might be misplaced.

    Politics is politics but its the attitude of some posters that ukip are upstarts who need to be put in their place that gets me. Most of it comes from tory supporters. Libdems are much cleverer and better at having a dig in a subtle almost unnoticed way while sounding very reasonable, which does induce me to put the boot in and try and goad them into a more direct statement sometimes.

    Thanks Paul.

    Totally understand what you are saying.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,536

    Socrates said:

    Matthew d'Ancona in the Standard today reminded me of everything I detest about the Tories. Even though he wrote it after it was already emerging Bird was in a consensual relationship with this woman, he claimed it made UKIP look like the sleazy 1990s stories. He did the usual lie that UKIP didn't want mothers breastfeeding in public, even though Farage said the direct opposite. And he claimed UKIP voters were just angry at the world rather than actually supporting their policies. If it was just a random journalist it would be one thing. But I know it's the sort of smug and patronising attitude that exists throughout the Cameroons.

    Why do you think UKIP were so keen to place Bolter in a winnable seat?

    They thought they'd recruited a high-flyer (wrongly, as it turned out).
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118

    Speedy said:

    Well UKIP have now dealt with both an alleged sex scandal and Neil Hamilton's selection efforts successfully and by the book, and it was just a year ago when they couldn't handle comments from Godfrey Bloom wrecking their conference.

    When did they resolve the problem with Bird? It's still ongoing.

    And now the Deputy Chairman's expenses claims are under investigation.
    Peak Kipper XVIII?
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100

    UKIP's Neil Hamilton withdraws from Basildon selection process

    Thank heaven for that.
    The time to rejoice will be when Hamilton accepts his political career is dead.

    How can he have such lack of self-awareness as to think he still has anything worthwhile to contribute to public life?

    Who wants yesterday's men shaping tomorrow?
    What I can't understand is why they are accepting toxic rejects and all their baggage from other parties as candidates.
    Christine would have been fine as a candidate. Neil described himself as a political joke when they appeared on HIGNFY iirc.
    It's a comic lack of self awareness.

    Hamilton came top in the UKIP NEC elections, well clear of the next. He clearly has a lot of support in the party. I cannot explain why!

    http://www.ukip.org/2014_nec_election_results

    half the UKIP membership voted for him. Can anyone explain why?
    The Internet.
    With that people don't forget as easy, look at what happened in these past 2 days, they even uncovered some old guardian articles from the 90's describing him as (expletives deleted).

    Of course if Hamilton actually stood as a candidate but somewhere UKIP doesn't have a chance anyway, that would remove the stigma without any negatives for UKIP and Hamilton could run for a more winnable seat next time in 2020, as the press would have already thrown the bucket on him in 2015.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,469

    john_zims said:

    @bigjohnowls

    Labour were the first to privatize an NHS hospital,get over it.

    Any nonsense now about the Coalition privatizing the NHS is laughable.

    First in November 2011.

    Laughable
    At least you're getting your dates right now!

    Your contention that the Cerco bid was still an NHS bid is interesting. Do you have any evidence to back that up? At what point does something become a private bid?
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,536
    Socrates said:

    Matthew d'Ancona in the Standard today reminded me of everything I detest about the Tories. Even though he wrote it after it was already emerging Bird was in a consensual relationship with this woman, he claimed it made UKIP look like the sleazy 1990s Tories, who actually committed adultery. He did the usual lie that UKIP didn't want mothers breastfeeding in public, even though Farage said the direct opposite. And he claimed UKIP voters were just angry at the world rather than actually supporting their policies. If it was just a random journalist it would be one thing. But I know it's the sort of smug and patronising attitude that exists throughout the Cameroons.

    D'Ancona really is the epitome of Harry Enfield's Tory Boy.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,937
    OK, too cloudy for aurora tonight, so I will love and leave.

    And no, I am not sneaking off to the Penis Museum....
  • john_zims said:

    @bigjohnowls

    Labour were the first to privatize an NHS hospital,get over it.

    Any nonsense now about the Coalition privatizing the NHS is laughable.

    First in November 2011.

    Laughable
    There were no NHS bidders left by May 2010, sorry to break it to you but Burnham was the first person to privatize a hospital.

    Someone up thread said who cares who runs it if it working OK, which it seems to be.

    The cynical among us may think you are more concerned with your golden pension that if a hospital runs more efficiently.
  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    isam said:

    Speedy said:

    Well UKIP have now dealt with both an alleged sex scandal and Neil Hamilton's selection efforts successfully and by the book, and it was just a year ago when they couldn't handle comments from Godfrey Bloom wrecking their conference.

    When did they resolve the problem with Bird? It's still ongoing.

    And now the Deputy Chairman's expenses claims are under investigation.
    Peak Kipper XVIII?
    Same creatures wearing different coloured badges. Kippers are no different to the other parties.
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    edited December 2014
    isam said:

    Right back to where we started...

    A good, honest local boy!

    Gawain Towler ‏@GawainTowler · 26m26 minutes ago
    Cllr Kerry Smith selected for Thurrock and South Basildon @ukip

    A local councillor with 10 years of experience in Basildon politics:
    http://www.yourthurrock.com/Kerry-Smith-selected-UKIP-candidate-South/story-25553877-detail/story.html

    UKIP's chances have received a bounce in S. Basildon.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118

    isam said:

    Speedy said:

    Well UKIP have now dealt with both an alleged sex scandal and Neil Hamilton's selection efforts successfully and by the book, and it was just a year ago when they couldn't handle comments from Godfrey Bloom wrecking their conference.

    When did they resolve the problem with Bird? It's still ongoing.

    And now the Deputy Chairman's expenses claims are under investigation.
    Peak Kipper XVIII?
    Same creatures wearing different coloured badges. Kippers are no different to the other parties.
    Aw shucks don't say that you'll shatter all my dreams
  • Miliband: Cutting deficit is 'part of Labour's mission'

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30417955

    Memory is coming back to him
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736
    TGOHF said:

    Come to this ding dong about Hinchingbrooke Hospital rather late.

    I was under the impression the reason it was out to tender was it was a total disaster and unable to continue as it was, and that since Circle has taken over it has actually been quite a good success story.

    Depends how you judge success

    Still in deficit, got half the cash it had a year ago but at least 1 person doing rather well.


    The salary of the most-highly paid employee at Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust in the
    financial year 2013/14, the Chief Executive Officer, was in the range of £235,000–£240,000.
    This was 9.2 times the median salary of the workforce, which was £25,783.
    The salary of the most-highly paid employee at Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust
    in the financial year 2012/13, the Medical Director, was in the range of £155,000–£160,000
    financial year end. This was 6.3 times the median salary of the workforce, which was £25,291.
    So much better then but you want social justice in the board room. What is the current total wage bill and whAt about patient outcomes ?
    Cash is king and Hinchinbrookes ain't got any.

    Clinical standards? You tell me. Their AR shows

    Diagnostics – maximum six-week wait for access to diagnostic tests - missed target


    Net promoter score (Friends and Family Test) target >80 actual 77.3


    Pressure ulcers – grades two to four actual 79


    Emergency MRSA screening compliance target 100% actual93.5%

  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Kerry Smith was the original candidate in Basildon South.
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Sean_F said:

    Socrates said:

    Matthew d'Ancona in the Standard today reminded me of everything I detest about the Tories. Even though he wrote it after it was already emerging Bird was in a consensual relationship with this woman, he claimed it made UKIP look like the sleazy 1990s stories. He did the usual lie that UKIP didn't want mothers breastfeeding in public, even though Farage said the direct opposite. And he claimed UKIP voters were just angry at the world rather than actually supporting their policies. If it was just a random journalist it would be one thing. But I know it's the sort of smug and patronising attitude that exists throughout the Cameroons.

    Why do you think UKIP were so keen to place Bolter in a winnable seat?

    They thought they'd recruited a high-flyer (wrongly, as it turned out).
    Perhaps if Farage put down his pint and did a bit of research on these "high fliers" then the party would not be so embarrassed so often.

    A lot of the high fliers that he recruits turn out to be turkeys...

    UKIP remains a wolf in sheeps clothing, duping people with leftist policies so they can force through a right wing agenda which mostly benefits wealthy financiers like themselves.

    I do not blame the conned, I blame the con artists.
  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262

    Miliband: Cutting deficit is 'part of Labour's mission'

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30417955

    Memory is coming back to him

    Those would be the 'good' cuts, not the nasty ones that everyone else would make.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736

    john_zims said:

    @bigjohnowls

    Labour were the first to privatize an NHS hospital,get over it.

    Any nonsense now about the Coalition privatizing the NHS is laughable.

    First in November 2011.

    Laughable
    There were no NHS bidders left by May 2010, sorry to break it to you but Burnham was the first person to privatize a hospital.

    Someone up thread said who cares who runs it if it working OK, which it seems to be.

    The cynical among us may think you are more concerned with your golden pension that if a hospital runs more efficiently.
    Why? That is a despicable comment.

    Why are you obsessed with my retirement is it because you didnt you have the foresight to organise your retirement arrangements properly
  • OK, too cloudy for aurora tonight, so I will love and leave.

    And no, I am not sneaking off to the Penis Museum....

    Best place for beer is Microbar, on Austurstræti. Best restaurant IMO is Thrir Frakkar, if you want to eat whale, guillemot, horse etc.
  • anotherDaveanotherDave Posts: 6,746
    edited December 2014

    UKIP remains a wolf in sheeps clothing, duping people with leftist policies so they can force through a right wing agenda which mostly benefits wealthy financiers like themselves.

    Can you offer an example of those policies?

  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,889
    Powerful drama on Chris Jefferies on ITV tonight, shows what a dreadful witchhunt by much of the media the whole affair was
  • john_zims said:

    @bigjohnowls

    Labour were the first to privatize an NHS hospital,get over it.

    Any nonsense now about the Coalition privatizing the NHS is laughable.

    First in November 2011.

    Laughable
    There were no NHS bidders left by May 2010, sorry to break it to you but Burnham was the first person to privatize a hospital.

    Someone up thread said who cares who runs it if it working OK, which it seems to be.

    The cynical among us may think you are more concerned with your golden pension that if a hospital runs more efficiently.
    Why? That is a despicable comment.

    Why are you obsessed with my retirement is it because you didnt you have the foresight to organise your retirement arrangements properly
    maybe as a tax payer he chokes on funding your early retirement?
  • Miliband: Cutting deficit is 'part of Labour's mission'

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30417955

    Memory is coming back to him

    Those would be the 'good' cuts, not the nasty ones that everyone else would make.
    Miliband is going to save us. Him and his gang have signed EDM 454. Surely he'd never go back on a pledge? Politicians never break their pledges.

  • YouGov/Sun poll tonight - Labour and Tories still tied, Lib Dems drop back to fifth: CON 33%, LAB 33%, LD 6%, UKIP 15%, GRN 7%
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,536

    Sean_F said:

    Socrates said:

    Matthew d'Ancona in the Standard today reminded me of everything I detest about the Tories. Even though he wrote it after it was already emerging Bird was in a consensual relationship with this woman, he claimed it made UKIP look like the sleazy 1990s stories. He did the usual lie that UKIP didn't want mothers breastfeeding in public, even though Farage said the direct opposite. And he claimed UKIP voters were just angry at the world rather than actually supporting their policies. If it was just a random journalist it would be one thing. But I know it's the sort of smug and patronising attitude that exists throughout the Cameroons.

    Why do you think UKIP were so keen to place Bolter in a winnable seat?

    They thought they'd recruited a high-flyer (wrongly, as it turned out).
    Perhaps if Farage put down his pint and did a bit of research on these "high fliers" then the party would not be so embarrassed so often.

    A lot of the high fliers that he recruits turn out to be turkeys...

    UKIP remains a wolf in sheeps clothing, duping people with leftist policies so they can force through a right wing agenda which mostly benefits wealthy financiers like themselves.

    I do not blame the conned, I blame the con artists.
    Personally, I'm quite content with a right-wing agenda.
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    UKIP remains a wolf in sheeps clothing, duping people with leftist policies so they can force through a right wing agenda which mostly benefits wealthy financiers like themselves.

    Can you offer an example of those policies?

    The 2010 manifesto advocated flat taxes.

    Paul Nuttall advocated getting rid of the NHS:

    http://onlinefocus.org/?p=14939

    Douglas Carswell ditto:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Plan-Twelve-months-Britain/dp/0955979900

    Now we have not seen the 2015 manifesto and perhaps Nigel may actually read it this time, but can we trust any party that has changed its mind so completely in such a short period of time?
  • MarkSeniorMarkSenior Posts: 4,699
    HYUFD said:

    Powerful drama on Chris Jefferies on ITV tonight, shows what a dreadful witchhunt by much of the media the whole affair was

    There were several posters on here at the time who indulged in a witch hunt of their own .
  • Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091

    Miliband: Cutting deficit is 'part of Labour's mission'

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30417955

    Memory is coming back to him

    The strategy of alienating anyone who's inclined to vote Labour, while not gaining any of the people who he's pandering to, continues apace then.
  • Miliband: Cutting deficit is 'part of Labour's mission'

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30417955

    Memory is coming back to him

    One does wonder about Miliband's sense of priorities. Must struggle with daily chores often.
  • anotherDaveanotherDave Posts: 6,746

    YouGov/Sun poll tonight - Labour and Tories still tied, Lib Dems drop back to fifth: CON 33%, LAB 33%, LD 6%, UKIP 15%, GRN 7%

    The Greens seem to be having a good run in their LD/Green fight since December started.
  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    edited December 2014

    Miliband: Cutting deficit is 'part of Labour's mission'

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30417955

    Memory is coming back to him

    Those would be the 'good' cuts, not the nasty ones that everyone else would make.
    Miliband is going to save us. Him and his gang have signed EDM 454. Surely he'd never go back on a pledge? Politicians never break their pledges.

    If Labour can privatise hospitals, they're more than capable of selling Fire Stations to the highest bidder.

    You could be working for 'Circle Fire' this time, next year.
  • UKIP remains a wolf in sheeps clothing, duping people with leftist policies so they can force through a right wing agenda which mostly benefits wealthy financiers like themselves.

    Can you offer an example of those policies?

    The 2010 manifesto advocated flat taxes.

    Paul Nuttall advocated getting rid of the NHS:

    http://onlinefocus.org/?p=14939

    Douglas Carswell ditto:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Plan-Twelve-months-Britain/dp/0955979900

    Now we have not seen the 2015 manifesto and perhaps Nigel may actually read it this time, but can we trust any party that has changed its mind so completely in such a short period of time?
    You mean like the other parties?
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736
    Tonights YG LAB 322 CON 284 LD 16

    EICIPM
  • chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341

    YouGov/Sun poll tonight - Labour and Tories still tied, Lib Dems drop back to fifth: CON 33%, LAB 33%, LD 6%, UKIP 15%, GRN 7%

    Last 11

    5 ties, 3 Lab Leads, 3 Tory Leads
  • MonksfieldMonksfield Posts: 2,808
    O/T but what is this weatherbomb nonsense that these BBC/Metoffice idiots keep jibbering about. It's an atlantic depression, a not wholly unusual event.

    Does everything have to be repackaged?
  • anotherDaveanotherDave Posts: 6,746

    UKIP remains a wolf in sheeps clothing, duping people with leftist policies so they can force through a right wing agenda which mostly benefits wealthy financiers like themselves.

    Can you offer an example of those policies?

    The 2010 manifesto advocated flat taxes.

    Paul Nuttall advocated getting rid of the NHS:

    http://onlinefocus.org/?p=14939

    Douglas Carswell ditto:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Plan-Twelve-months-Britain/dp/0955979900

    Now we have not seen the 2015 manifesto and perhaps Nigel may actually read it this time, but can we trust any party that has changed its mind so completely in such a short period of time?
    Nothing about a flat tax on their website:

    "Repairing the UK Economy

    – UKIP will increase personal allowance to the level of full-time minimum wage earnings (approx £13,500 by next election).

    – Inheritance tax will be abolished.

    – We will introduce a 35p income tax rate between £42,285 and £55,000, whereupon the 40p rate becomes payable.

    – UKIP will set up a Treasury Commission to design a turnover tax to ensure big businesses pay a minimum floor rate of tax as a proportion of their UK turnover."

    http://www.ukip.org/policies_for_people

    http://www.ukip.org/speeches_from_annual_conference

  • john_zims said:

    @bigjohnowls

    Labour were the first to privatize an NHS hospital,get over it.

    Any nonsense now about the Coalition privatizing the NHS is laughable.

    First in November 2011.
    Laughable
    At least you're getting your dates right now!
    Your contention that the Cerco bid was still an NHS bid is interesting. Do you have any evidence to back that up? At what point does something become a private bid?
    Maybe they had a token NHS person included to make the tea once a week?
  • Sean_F said:

    Socrates said:

    Matthew d'Ancona in the Standard today reminded me of everything I detest about the Tories. Even though he wrote it after it was already emerging Bird was in a consensual relationship with this woman, he claimed it made UKIP look like the sleazy 1990s Tories, who actually committed adultery. He did the usual lie that UKIP didn't want mothers breastfeeding in public, even though Farage said the direct opposite. And he claimed UKIP voters were just angry at the world rather than actually supporting their policies. If it was just a random journalist it would be one thing. But I know it's the sort of smug and patronising attitude that exists throughout the Cameroons.

    D'Ancona really is the epitome of Harry Enfield's Tory Boy.
    No. D'Ancona is just a younger version of that wet Parris. Drip, drip, dripping over the desk.
  • O/T but what is this weatherbomb nonsense that these BBC/Metoffice idiots keep jibbering about. It's an atlantic depression, a not wholly unusual event.

    Does everything have to be repackaged?

    We discussed it on the morning thread.

    OblitusSumMe gave it its proper name, Explosive cyclogenesis.

    Apparently it's a common thing, the PB consensus it is a ridiculous name, and Robert has issued a warning, anyone using weatherbomb in a non-ironic way, will be banned.
  • I'm shocked

    Behind the bluster, the Tories and the Lib Dems are preparing for another coalition

    Clegg and others would rather continue to do business with the Tories than with a Labour Party regarded as irredeemably tribal.

    http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/12/behind-bluster-tories-and-lib-dems-are-preparing-another-coalition
  • @ShippersUnbound Ukip really has come of age this week as a mainstream political party. Sex scandal. Check. Briefing against difficult candidates. Check.

    Dealing with difficulties far quicker than the other parties. Check.
    Re-cycling disgraced politicians and failing to run CV checks. Check.
  • Socrates said:

    Matthew d'Ancona in the Standard today reminded me of everything I detest about the Tories. Even though he wrote it after it was already emerging Bird was in a consensual relationship with this woman, he claimed it made UKIP look like the sleazy 1990s Tories, who actually committed adultery. He did the usual lie that UKIP didn't want mothers breastfeeding in public, even though Farage said the direct opposite. And he claimed UKIP voters were just angry at the world rather than actually supporting their policies. If it was just a random journalist it would be one thing. But I know it's the sort of smug and patronising attitude that exists throughout the Cameroons.

    D'Ancona is a prize prat. Almost every article he writes infuriates me and reeks of pomposity and hypocrisy.

    It was him that actually convinced me to vote UKIP in the May 2014 Euros. Well done Matthew.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,889
    MS Indeed, many of us were too quick to judge, and certainly the media and police do not come out of it with much credit either, at least it gives the chance to show his side of the story as an innocent man wrongly accused with very little evidence against him
  • TGOHF said:

    Hamilton would make a good MEP

    @TelegraphNews: Neil Hamilton is being questioned by Ukip over expenses he allegedly claimed for staying in his wife's flat http://t.co/6U8fmhZEoG

    Well unlike one character at UKIP at least he was not staying at his mistresses flat.
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    UKIP remains a wolf in sheeps clothing, duping people with leftist policies so they can force through a right wing agenda which mostly benefits wealthy financiers like themselves.

    Can you offer an example of those policies?

    The 2010 manifesto advocated flat taxes.

    Paul Nuttall advocated getting rid of the NHS:

    http://onlinefocus.org/?p=14939

    Douglas Carswell ditto:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Plan-Twelve-months-Britain/dp/0955979900

    Now we have not seen the 2015 manifesto and perhaps Nigel may actually read it this time, but can we trust any party that has changed its mind so completely in such a short period of time?
    Nothing about a flat tax on their website:

    "Repairing the UK Economy

    – UKIP will increase personal allowance to the level of full-time minimum wage earnings (approx £13,500 by next election).

    – Inheritance tax will be abolished.

    – We will introduce a 35p income tax rate between £42,285 and £55,000, whereupon the 40p rate becomes payable.

    – UKIP will set up a Treasury Commission to design a turnover tax to ensure big businesses pay a minimum floor rate of tax as a proportion of their UK turnover."

    http://www.ukip.org/policies_for_people

    http://www.ukip.org/speeches_from_annual_conference

    The flat tax was in the 2010 manifesto: the one that Farage famously insulted.

    Low taxes and increased spending: the magic money tree has very purple foliage!

    Despite the obnoxious Russell Brand QT may be worth watching tomorrow to see Farage bluster.
  • Off the back of this thread, I just checked UKIP's website. In terms of the words, on what it says it stands for, it seems the closest match to my own beliefs of any of the main parties:

    "UKIP is a patriotic party that promotes independence: from the EU, and from government interference. We believe in free trade, lower taxes, personal freedom and responsibility.

    UKIP believes in Britain becoming a democratic, self-governing country once again. This can only be achieved by getting our nation out of the European Union and reasserting the sovereignty of Parliament.

    As a party we are unashamedly patriotic: we believe there is so much to be proud about Britain and the contribution it has made to the world. We believe that Britain is good enough to be an independent nation, trading and building harmonious relations with the rest of the world.

    We believe Britain must get back control over its borders, so that it can welcome people with a positive contribution to make while limiting the overall numbers of migrants and keeping out those without the skills or aptitudes to be of benefit to the nation.

    UKIP believes in promoting self-reliance and personal freedom from state interference. We believe the state in Britain has become too large, too expensive and too dominant over civil society."

    Wow. It's very hard to disagree with that. Yes please.
  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262

    john_zims said:

    @bigjohnowls

    Labour were the first to privatize an NHS hospital,get over it.

    Any nonsense now about the Coalition privatizing the NHS is laughable.

    First in November 2011.
    Laughable
    At least you're getting your dates right now!
    Your contention that the Cerco bid was still an NHS bid is interesting. Do you have any evidence to back that up? At what point does something become a private bid?
    Maybe they had a token NHS person included to make the tea once a week?
    A Pilgrim forced onto the payroll.
  • UKIP remains a wolf in sheeps clothing, duping people with leftist policies so they can force through a right wing agenda which mostly benefits wealthy financiers like themselves.

    Can you offer an example of those policies?

    The 2010 manifesto advocated flat taxes.

    Paul Nuttall advocated getting rid of the NHS:

    http://onlinefocus.org/?p=14939
    ,
    Douglas Carswell ditto:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Plan-Twelve-months-Britain/dp/0955979900

    Now we have not seen the 2015 manifesto and perhaps Nigel may actually read it this time, but can we trust any party that has changed its mind so completely in such a short period of time?
    Fox, have you seen the headline story on the Mercury website? Really poor for us.
  • Just seen the UKIP expenses letter on Ch4 blog. Methinks if the big three parties had been as rigourous in making enquiries before paying they wouldnt be in the pickle they are now.

    Ever heard of UKIP MEP Tom Wise? He is thought to be the first MEP jailed for EC expenses fraud.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Wise

    UKIP are er... different?

    UKIP have the highest ratio amongst UK parties for having elected MEPs subsequently jailed.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736
    Raise tax-free threshold on income to £11,500, followed by a flat rate of 31% to replace current income tax and employees' National Insurance (NI) - UKIP manifesto 2010
This discussion has been closed.