Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Options

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Why Jeremy Hunt might be onto a loser in his fight with the

SystemSystem Posts: 11,703
edited November 2015 in General

imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Why Jeremy Hunt might be onto a loser in his fight with the doctors

The government is heading for a major confrontation with junior doctors over pay restructuring. Jeremy Hunt is looking to change their terms of employment to facilitate his vision of a seven day a week health service. Junior doctors feel that the revised terms pull the rug from under them. They feel that Jeremy Hunt is spoiling for a fight and that he is looking to impose his terms on them.

Read the full story here


«1345

Comments

  • Options
    blackburn63blackburn63 Posts: 4,492
    First?
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990
    So we should let Doctors have whatever they want since they are trusted more? Laughable.
  • Options
    watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474
    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.
  • Options
    Blimey, antifrank, you've taken SeanT's chiding to heart.
  • Options
    I disagree.

    If they go on strike and people can attribute patient deaths to said strike then those numbers are going to tumble.

    Doctors aren't on the bread line like some of those who were going to have their tax credits cut so again they'll have less sympathy.
  • Options

    Blimey, antifrank, you've taken SeanT's chiding to heart.

    Actually, I'd drafted this before the other one went up. Mike has shortened it further (and made it better). I do try to take heed of constructive criticism.
  • Options
    Chris_AChris_A Posts: 1,237
    Yes Hunt will not win this battle but his aim could be to further destabilise the NHS after Lansley did his worst. We're still paying for Lansley's unwanted and needless changes. Cover is already spread thin and it won't do 7 days without an input of more money.
  • Options
    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503
    Doctors should not go on strike. Part of the reason we trust doctors is an implicit assumption that they have our best interests at heart.

    Striking destroys that assumption. Any strike will kill people.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990
    antifrank said:

    Blimey, antifrank, you've taken SeanT's chiding to heart.

    Actually, I'd drafted this before the other one went up. Mike has shortened it further (and made it better). I do try to take heed of constructive criticism.
    For less important plebs with less busy lives, the long threads can be interesting/enlightening.
  • Options
    MarkSeniorMarkSenior Posts: 4,699
    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

  • Options
    antifrank said:

    Blimey, antifrank, you've taken SeanT's chiding to heart.

    Actually, I'd drafted this before the other one went up. Mike has shortened it further (and made it better). I do try to take heed of constructive criticism.
    I do like short posts to the point or just posting a chart where the message is very clear.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990

    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

    Any evidence for this? Or just wishful thinking?
  • Options
    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,290
    edited November 2015
    Hunt will be finished if this goes ahead.

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/holby-city-stars-walk-out-6834118

    Luvvies for Labour or is it a virtuous virtue signalling cult not at work.

    Holby Junior Hospital Doctors strike in sympathy...
  • Options
    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @tombradby: Le Pen tells us; no more migrants or refugees. Not a single one... https://t.co/UD3CBwh8iY
  • Options
    Chris_A said:

    Yes Hunt will not win this battle but his aim could be to further destabilise the NHS after Lansley did his worst. We're still paying for Lansley's unwanted and needless changes. Cover is already spread thin and it won't do 7 days without an input of more money.

    Two of the smartest things Cameron did in the run-up to GE15 was move Lansley from Health and Gove from Education.
  • Options
    Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820
    edited November 2015
    Perhaps Jeremy Hunt has picked his battle carefully. He's a careful politician.

    As for the doctors, it is an invariable rule that, come what may, they will always oppose anything government does, just as they opposed the creation of the NHS.
  • Options
    MarkSeniorMarkSenior Posts: 4,699
    RobD said:

    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

    Any evidence for this? Or just wishful thinking?
    The evidence is in the table given by the thread writer . Hunt will blame the doctors . The doctors will blame Hunt for not being prepared to negotiate and the general public will on balance believe the doctors rather than Hunt .
  • Options

    Perhaps Jeremy Hunt has picked his battle carefully. He's a careful politician.

    As for the doctors, it is an invariable rule that, come what may, they will always oppose anything government does, just as they opposed the creation of the NHS.

    Perhaps. I'm struggling to see how he can win this. It's not even as though he has the unqualified backing of the Conservative parts of the media.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990

    RobD said:

    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

    Any evidence for this? Or just wishful thinking?
    The evidence is in the table given by the thread writer . Hunt will blame the doctors . The doctors will blame Hunt for not being prepared to negotiate and the general public will on balance believe the doctors rather than Hunt .
    Did the same happen for the tube strike?
  • Options
    RobD said:

    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

    Any evidence for this? Or just wishful thinking?
    Maybe your view on this is wishful thinking as well. We don't know.

  • Options
    AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    When was the poll conducted?
  • Options
    MarkHopkinsMarkHopkins Posts: 5,584

    We trust doctors to tell the truth, because that is their job.

    We expect politicians not to tell the truth, because that too comes with the job.

    Doesn't mean a doctor's strike will be supported by the people.

  • Options
    watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474

    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

    Any proof to back up that assertion?

    Doctors playing politics with peoples lives in their pursuit of money, will only play one way.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990

    RobD said:

    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

    Any evidence for this? Or just wishful thinking?
    Maybe your view on this is wishful thinking as well. We don't know.

    Unlike Mark, I haven't stated a view on who will be blamed ;)
  • Options
    I never get tired of reminding my father (NHS doctor for 30 years) that Ken Clarke said in his all his dealings with public sector employees the most militant he had to deal was with those that worked in the NHS.
  • Options

    The evidence is in the table given by the thread writer . Hunt will blame the doctors . The doctors will blame Hunt for not being prepared to negotiate and the general public will on balance believe the doctors rather than Hunt .

    But it isn't a question of whether people trust the doctors to tell the truth (the truth about what, by the way?). It's a question of whether they are resisting sensible reforms. You don't have to think they are being dishonest to think they are being obstructive.
  • Options
    MarkSeniorMarkSenior Posts: 4,699
    watford30 said:

    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

    Any proof to back up that assertion?

    Doctors playing politics with peoples lives in their pursuit of money, will only play one way.
    A politician playing politics with peoples lives in the pursuit of political motives will only play one way with the public as a whole .
  • Options
    blackburn63blackburn63 Posts: 4,492
    Any poll that says 1 in 6 of us trust politicians must be treated with caution, I can't believe anybody does. Actually I'll rephrase that, we all trust the ones we want to trust.
  • Options
    AndyJS said:

    When was the poll conducted?

    The poll has been conducted annually for donkeys' years. This particular one was from the beginning of the year. You'd have had much the same findings any year in the last 20.
  • Options

    Perhaps Jeremy Hunt has picked his battle carefully. He's a careful politician.

    As for the doctors, it is an invariable rule that, come what may, they will always oppose anything government does, just as they opposed the creation of the NHS.

    If he's judged it a necessary battle [I don't know if it is], then the best time to get it done is immediately after the GE. If there's to be a compromise then it would be as well for Hunt to get the BMA's demands (for facilitating "true" 7 day working) on the record asap so that whatever is agreed represents climbdown on both sides.

    But more generally, strikers don't command as much sympathy as would-be strikers. The BMA have to tread carefully here too.
  • Options
    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,290
    Cue for I was misquoted.

    https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/666261434498736129

    I would love to know how Jezza thinks that the unity of The Syrian people will prevail. Given the depth of the religious, secular, & political differences in the country I'm damned if I understand how this bloody mess will be ended by talks. I have my doubts that Cameron has much idea about who could be let alone should be ruling in Damascus. But Corbyn needs to start leaving his comfort zone behind.
  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,144
    A surprisingly simplistic thread. Do we think the public blame politicians for the much poorer health outcomes at weekends? Do we think the public will blame politician for trying to do something to remedy those poor outcomes?
  • Options
    MarkSeniorMarkSenior Posts: 4,699
    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

    Any evidence for this? Or just wishful thinking?
    The evidence is in the table given by the thread writer . Hunt will blame the doctors . The doctors will blame Hunt for not being prepared to negotiate and the general public will on balance believe the doctors rather than Hunt .
    Did the same happen for the tube strike?
    Where are tube drivers on the trust list and how many patients lives were endangered ?
  • Options
    Well having watched Corbyn on Sky, I can't imagine him as PM having to make any difficult decisions. He makes Gordon Brown look decisive, and this is the man who when asked a simple quesiton about his favourite food said...

    I like chinese food, indian food, I likes English food um, British food. I like French foo..., uh ..
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

    Any evidence for this? Or just wishful thinking?
    The evidence is in the table given by the thread writer . Hunt will blame the doctors . The doctors will blame Hunt for not being prepared to negotiate and the general public will on balance believe the doctors rather than Hunt .
    Did the same happen for the tube strike?
    Where are tube drivers on the trust list and how many patients lives were endangered ?
    Well trade union officials are about three times higher than politicians. And in this case, I am talking about blame in general.
  • Options
    dr_spyn said:

    I would love to know how Jezza thinks that the unity of The Syrian people will prevail. Given the depth of the religious, secular, & political differences in the country I'm damned if I understand how this bloody mess will be ended by talks. I have my doubts that Cameron has much idea about who could be let alone should be ruling in Damascus. But Corbyn needs to start leaving his comfort zone behind.

    He's like a seven-year old saying 'Mummy, why can't all these people be nice to each other?'
  • Options
    ThomasNasheThomasNashe Posts: 5,018
    The issue I really don't understand here is that the main reason for the disparity of outcomes for patients treated at weekends is largely due to the absence of consultants. In simple terms, it's the time when the junior doctors are in control. They're already working weekends (as the 'I'm in work, Jeremy' campaign on Twitter sought to point out). If you want a better service at weekends you need to get the consultants in, not fiddle around with junior doctors' contracts.
  • Options
    On topic, Hunt has a very good chance of 'winning' because he can change the terms of employment and there's not a great deal the doctors can do about it. The doctors won't like it and if it becomes a major issue the public might not like it - which means it might not be worth it - but he can still get his way.
  • Options
    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    dr_spyn said:

    Cue for I was misquoted.

    @IanDunt: And I want all the comics, but we're playing big boy games now. https://t.co/bwoN53y0ij

    @robertsjonathan: Platitudinous crap. Might as well say 'why can't we all just hold hands and skip through meadows beneath rainbows?' https://t.co/frSxZBpety
  • Options
    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @bbclaurak: Jeremy Corbyn refuses to say if he would ever back military action against extremists, told me repeatedly that's a 'hypothetical question'
  • Options
    If Ms Merkel is looking for an excuse to do a U-turn, here it is:

    German authorities said they have arrested an Algerian asylum seeker, whom they allege told associates early last week that bomb attacks were coming to Paris.

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/nov/16/paris-attacks-france-airstrikes-isis-raqqa-syria-live

    14:50
  • Options
    felixfelix Posts: 15,125

    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

    It sure as he'll doesn't include a minivan's worth of LD MPs.
  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 76,001
    Now is a GREAT time to get the Doctor changes and tax credits through.

    Hunt and Osborne should hop straight to it :)
  • Options
    AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited November 2015
    Odd that clergy/priests are still so trusted when hardly anyone uses their services these days.
  • Options
    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503
    Scott_P said:

    @bbclaurak: Jeremy Corbyn refuses to say if he would ever back military action against extremists, told me repeatedly that's a 'hypothetical question'

    Someone should remind Jeremy of the old saw: "People who say violence never solves anything haven't used enough violence".
  • Options
    chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341

    The issue I really don't understand here is that the main reason for the disparity of outcomes for patients treated at weekends is largely due to the absence of consultants. In simple terms, it's the time when the junior doctors are in control. They're already working weekends (as the 'I'm in work, Jeremy' campaign on Twitter sought to point out). If you want a better service at weekends you need to get the consultants in, not fiddle around with junior doctors' contracts.

    £1bn a year extra goes straight into pay packets, not extra care, as a result of current contractual design, I believe.
  • Options
    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    John_M said:

    Someone should remind Jeremy of the old saw: "People who say violence never solves anything haven't used enough violence".

    @IanDunt: Those saying bombing in Syria can't work: Tell that the 50,000 Yazidis who fled to safety in Sinjar Mountains following US air strikes.

    @IanDunt: Isis would have slaughtered every single one of them. American bombs and Kurdish troops saved them.
  • Options
    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

    Any evidence for this? Or just wishful thinking?
    Maybe your view on this is wishful thinking as well. We don't know.

    Unlike Mark, I haven't stated a view on who will be blamed ;)
    watford30 said:
    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.
  • Options
    Scott_P said:

    @bbclaurak: Jeremy Corbyn refuses to say if he would ever back military action against extremists, told me repeatedly that's a 'hypothetical question'

    Back to talking about man hole covers for Jezza. He talks more sense about those.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

    Any evidence for this? Or just wishful thinking?
    Maybe your view on this is wishful thinking as well. We don't know.

    Unlike Mark, I haven't stated a view on who will be blamed ;)
    watford30 said:
    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.
    Yes, note it wasn't "RobD said"
  • Options

    antifrank said:

    Blimey, antifrank, you've taken SeanT's chiding to heart.

    Actually, I'd drafted this before the other one went up. Mike has shortened it further (and made it better). I do try to take heed of constructive criticism.
    I do like short posts to the point or just posting a chart where the message is very clear.
    I do too but am nowhere near mastering the art of writing them!
  • Options
    GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

    Any evidence for this? Or just wishful thinking?
    The evidence is in the table given by the thread writer . Hunt will blame the doctors . The doctors will blame Hunt for not being prepared to negotiate and the general public will on balance believe the doctors rather than Hunt .
    Did the same happen for the tube strike?
    Where are tube drivers on the trust list and how many patients lives were endangered ?
    The tube strike happened when the unions came out in support of a driver disciplined for being at the wheel pissed out of his face.

    So that's a tube train full of endangered commuters for a start.
  • Options
    AndyJS said:

    Odd that clergy/priests are still so trusted when hardly anyone uses their services these days.

    I'm not sure I 'trust' any one group more than another.

    My trust is based upon my knowledge and respect for the individual concerned, and my history of dealings with them.

    Even then sometimes you just get it wrong.
  • Options
    Dr. Spyn, presumably Corbyn will be organising a fire-side sing-along of Kum Ba Yah?

    Mr. M, or, indeed, Putin. He didn't get Crimea by holding hands and making daisy chains.
  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 76,001
    edited November 2015
    AndyJS said:

    Odd that clergy/priests are still so trusted when hardly anyone uses their services these days.

    Would you trust a Finsbury Park Imam to run a gun club; or a recently retired 'celibate' vicar in his 70s to look after your 9 year old kids ?
  • Options
    philiphphiliph Posts: 4,704
    edited November 2015
    Hunt wins in any case.

    The Drs will be damaged by strikes.
    The public would like better weekend outcomes and seven day NHS

    The battle may be won by Drs, but the long term position they have will be diminished. Thus Hunt wins (it may be a pyrrhic victory).
  • Options
    OmniumOmnium Posts: 9,800
    That's an astonishingly good figure for Doctors. They have no idea what the truth is, nor do teachers. Gobsmackingly awful for Scientists and Judges - they should have the luxury of 'don't know'.

    The Clergy - by definition they must be wrong, so 71% of the sample are a bit wrong-headed anyway.

    The only people on the list that have an unambiguous brief are the pollsters and the newsreaders. Possibly the Journos too.

  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,144
    Scott_P said:

    @bbclaurak: Jeremy Corbyn refuses to say if he would ever back military action against extremists, told me repeatedly that's a 'hypothetical question'

    The man is a complete fucking tool.
  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 76,001
    I note charity workers are not in the list.

    It would be interesting to see their position and movement after Batmanbatshit's interventions.
  • Options

    antifrank said:

    Blimey, antifrank, you've taken SeanT's chiding to heart.

    Actually, I'd drafted this before the other one went up. Mike has shortened it further (and made it better). I do try to take heed of constructive criticism.
    I do like short posts to the point or just posting a chart where the message is very clear.
    I do too but am nowhere near mastering the art of writing them!
    My steps to writing to threads

    1) Have a punt, write a thread based on that

    2) Have a pun, write a thread based on that

    3) Can I troll the Nats with a thread, write a thread based on that

    4) Same as 3 but replace Nats with Kippers

    5) Can I do a thread that combines 3 and 4, write a thread on that

    6) Can I compare something from antiquity to current day politics, if so do a thread on that
  • Options
    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

    Any evidence for this? Or just wishful thinking?
    Maybe your view on this is wishful thinking as well. We don't know.

    Unlike Mark, I haven't stated a view on who will be blamed ;)
    watford30 said:
    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.
    Yes, note it wasn't "RobD said"
    Oops, sorry, got lost in the reply list. So, do you agree with Watford?
  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 76,001

    Scott_P said:

    @bbclaurak: Jeremy Corbyn refuses to say if he would ever back military action against extremists, told me repeatedly that's a 'hypothetical question'

    The man is a complete fucking tool.
    Blimey, he can say no it's really not a hypothetical ! It is the question he would have right now if h was PM.
  • Options
    Scott_P said:

    @bbclaurak: Jeremy Corbyn refuses to say if he would ever back military action against extremists, told me repeatedly that's a 'hypothetical question'

    Oh no it isn't Jeremy.

    What he means is he's unable to conceive a set of circumstances in which he'd ever use military force.

    I expect, in reality, he'd find a reason to explain away inaction every single time.
  • Options
    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,290

    Dr. Spyn, presumably Corbyn will be organising a fire-side sing-along of Kum Ba Yah?

    Mr. M, or, indeed, Putin. He didn't get Crimea by holding hands and making daisy chains.

    Come by car, My Lord, Come by car?
  • Options
    nicknick Posts: 14
    edited November 2015

    Hi everyone. I've been regularly lurking on this forum for years, but thought I'd create an account so I could tell you about something I've been working on for much of this year. I hope you don't mind if it's a bit off topic.

    Over half the UK population is now non-religious and a similar number thinks religion does more harm than good. I think that number has probably increased as a result of the terrible attacks in Paris.

    At the same time technology and automation is on the verge of making huge swathes (35% according to a recent study) of the population unemployed. Many people will clearly need to reskill and yet none of the political parties appear to have grasped that reskilling huge numbers of people is going to be a huge challenge.

    With Labour veering to the left and the Lib Dems still reeling from the election, I think there is currently an opportunity for a new kind of political party which promotes a scientific and rational worldview. I call this the Science, Technology & Education Party (or "STEP"), and while we're not registered yet we aim to become so soon. We have a website here along with a forum and Twitter account.

    So what do you guys think? It's obviously ambitious, but I think there are people out there that this will resonate with. We're looking for key people right now, and I'm hoping some of them might be reading this. If you're interested please come and join us on the forum.

  • Options
    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,061
    edited November 2015
    dr_spyn said:

    Cue for I was misquoted.

    (snip)
    I would love to know how Jezza thinks that the unity of The Syrian people will prevail. Given the depth of the religious, secular, & political differences in the country I'm damned if I understand how this bloody mess will be ended by talks. I have my doubts that Cameron has much idea about who could be let alone should be ruling in Damascus. But Corbyn needs to start leaving his comfort zone behind.

    Considering the conflict started in a civil war, the will of the 'Syrian people' - even if many of the fighters are foreign forces for AlN and ISIS - is probably hard to reconcile.

    Yesterday Hilary Benn was calling for peace talks. If that's Labour's position, it'll be interesting to know who they expect to take part in the talks, considering that two of the major combatannts - al Nusra and ISIS - are probably not people who are willing to talk. Or if they are, their demands might well be untenable.

    For the others: the Syrian regime, the remnants of the FSA, the Kurds, and the other disparate groups - it might be possible to have talks. But that leaves a fast number of combatants and territory outside the talks.
  • Options
    Pulpstar said:

    Blimey, he can say no it's really not a hypothetical ! It is the question he would have right now if h was PM.

    Not only that, but as leader of the opposition it's not hypothetical even now.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,583
    edited November 2015
    Pulpstar said:

    I note charity workers are not in the list.

    It would be interesting to see their position and movement after Batmanbatshit's interventions.

    And chuggers too. Especially the pretty female ones wearing a t shirt two sizes too small.
  • Options

    Scott_P said:

    @bbclaurak: Jeremy Corbyn refuses to say if he would ever back military action against extremists, told me repeatedly that's a 'hypothetical question'

    The man is a complete fucking tool.
    Anybody would think he wasn't even an elected official, let alone leader of the second largest political party.
  • Options
    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @chrisshipitv: Jeremy Corbyn just told us he questions the 'legality' of last week's airstrike which killed Mohammed Emwazi/#JihadiJohn
  • Options
    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    FPT Whomever said this originally, CLAPS
    ''Labour do seem to project the notion that, as long as they give Labour their votes, Muslims can pretty do what they want - and Labour will let them get on with it. From cousin marriages to FGM to hate preaching to corrupt election practices to industrial-scale rape of the young, Labour has been woefully quiet. ''
  • Options
    Mr. Nick, agree on the need for technology, science and maths to be at the heart of education and the economy. There's also, as you indicate, a lot of room for a new party to make great headway in the current political climate.

    Your problems will likely be more on the political rather than the policy side. UKIP have been serially incompetent at General Elections, going for a wide and shallow approach. I'd advise you to focus on a very small number of seats and try to win them rather than spread yourselves thin and wide, and get more votes but no seats.

    You also need to decide on leadership structure, and your social approach. If you put together a liberal approach towards civil liberties and free speech with a focus on technology and science, that would be quite appealing.
  • Options
    Scott_P said:

    @chrisshipitv: Jeremy Corbyn just told us he questions the 'legality' of last week's airstrike which killed Mohammed Emwazi/#JihadiJohn

    Surely the hashtag should be JihadiJez?
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,292
    edited November 2015
    Scott_P said:

    @chrisshipitv: Jeremy Corbyn just told us he questions the 'legality' of last week's airstrike which killed Mohammed Emwazi/#JihadiJohn

    http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/digging-hole-white-background-42653295.jpg
  • Options

    Anybody would think he wasn't even an elected official, let alone leader of the second largest political party.

    To be fair, he is trying as hard as he can to ensure that it stops being the second-largest.
  • Options
    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    There is no electoral dustbin that he can't stick Labour in.
    Scott_P said:

    @chrisshipitv: Jeremy Corbyn just told us he questions the 'legality' of last week's airstrike which killed Mohammed Emwazi/#JihadiJohn

  • Options
    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,290
    Milne is having a corker of a day.

    Chris ShipVerified account
    @chrisshipitv
    Jeremy Corbyn just told us he questions the 'legality' of last week's airstrike which killed Mohammed Emwazi/#JihadiJohn
  • Options
    watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474

    dr_spyn said:

    Cue for I was misquoted.

    (snip)
    I would love to know how Jezza thinks that the unity of The Syrian people will prevail. Given the depth of the religious, secular, & political differences in the country I'm damned if I understand how this bloody mess will be ended by talks. I have my doubts that Cameron has much idea about who could be let alone should be ruling in Damascus. But Corbyn needs to start leaving his comfort zone behind.

    Considering the conflict started in a civil war, the will of the 'Syrian people' - even if many of the fighters are foreign forces for AlN and ISIS - is probably hard to reconcile.

    Yesterday Hilary Benn was calling for peace talks. If that's Labour's position, it'll be interesting to know who they expect to take part in the talks, considering that two of the major combatannts - al Nusra and ISIS - are probably not people who are willing to talk. Or if they are, their demands might well be untenable.

    For the others: the Syrian regime, the remnants of the FSA, the Kurds, and the other disparate groups - it might be possible to have talks. But that leaves a fast number of combatants and territory outside the talks.
    Peace talks with the death cult loons would merely result in the demise of those with whom they are invited to negotiate.
  • Options
    chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341
    Scott_P said:

    @chrisshipitv: Jeremy Corbyn just told us he questions the 'legality' of last week's airstrike which killed Mohammed Emwazi/#JihadiJohn

    The leader chosen by Comedy Casting.

    Labour are going to need every Pakistani Muslim vote they can muster in Bolton.

  • Options
    MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    dr_spyn said:

    Cue for I was misquoted.

    https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/666261434498736129

    I would love to know how Jezza thinks that the unity of The Syrian people will prevail. Given the depth of the religious, secular, & political differences in the country I'm damned if I understand how this bloody mess will be ended by talks. I have my doubts that Cameron has much idea about who could be let alone should be ruling in Damascus. But Corbyn needs to start leaving his comfort zone behind.

    Corbyn shows his complete ignorance of Syria and the Middle East in general. The modern Syria was a construct made real by the French and British dividing spheres of influence after WW1.

    Syria has/had 5 distinct religions, four of them Muslim: Sunni, Shia, Druse, and Alawites. Christians also made up a large group. Since the fighting started we have also been introduced to the Yazidis and the Kurds who also call themselves muslim. They all hate each other now, but one time, under the ottomans, they seemed to have co-existed without to much trouble.

    All the kings horses and all the kings men will never put Syria together again.
  • Options
    That is some timing from Corbyn.

    And we all thought Miliband was the best sleeper agent the Conservatives ever had.
  • Options
    Obama a talking head and showing every reason why he is a lame duck President. So poor Sky switched to Hollande addressing his Parliament in a Statesman manner declaring France is at war. He is not one for mealy mouth words like Obama and it is clear that this 'war' fight back will be lead by France and Russia, hopefully with the UK playing it's part
  • Options
    blackburn63blackburn63 Posts: 4,492
    On the previous thread I pointed out Farage was speaking this evening re Paris and that he had a great opportunity. Reading what Corbyn has said reinforces that.
  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 76,001
    Can someone remind Jez that I've backed him to stay in post till the start of Jihadi 1st, 2017.

    Fortunately his acolytes are working against the forces of the Labour party that would seek to destabilise him :O)

    Seamus Milne, John McDonnell - I salute you.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990

    Scott_P said:

    @chrisshipitv: Jeremy Corbyn just told us he questions the 'legality' of last week's airstrike which killed Mohammed Emwazi/#JihadiJohn

    Surely the hashtag should be JihadiJez?
    Jezbollah is clearly the best. Rolls off the tongue!
  • Options
    Mr. Pulpstar, Ayatollah Corbyni will always be Supreme Leader!
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

    The general public ( which of course excludes Conservative government apologists posting on here ) would blame primarily Hunt and secondarily the Government in general for any patient deaths that may occur .

    Any evidence for this? Or just wishful thinking?
    Maybe your view on this is wishful thinking as well. We don't know.

    Unlike Mark, I haven't stated a view on who will be blamed ;)
    watford30 said:
    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.
    Yes, note it wasn't "RobD said"
    Oops, sorry, got lost in the reply list. So, do you agree with Watford?
    Now that I've accused someone of wishful thinking, I can hardly commit myself, can I? :p
  • Options
    Pulpstar said:

    Can someone remind Jez that I've backed him to stay in post till the start of Jihadi 1st, 2017.

    Fortunately his acolytes are working against the forces of the Labour party that would seek to destabilise him :O)

    Seamus Milne, John McDonnell - I salute you.

    Check your vanilla
  • Options

    antifrank said:

    Blimey, antifrank, you've taken SeanT's chiding to heart.

    Actually, I'd drafted this before the other one went up. Mike has shortened it further (and made it better). I do try to take heed of constructive criticism.
    I do like short posts to the point or just posting a chart where the message is very clear.
    I do too but am nowhere near mastering the art of writing them!
    My steps to writing to threads

    1) Have a punt, write a thread based on that

    2) Have a pun, write a thread based on that

    3) Can I troll the Nats with a thread, write a thread based on that

    4) Same as 3 but replace Nats with Kippers

    5) Can I do a thread that combines 3 and 4, write a thread on that

    6) Can I compare something from antiquity to current day politics, if so do a thread on that
    I should try and tally them up! ;-)
  • Options
    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503
    Scott_P said:

    @chrisshipitv: Jeremy Corbyn just told us he questions the 'legality' of last week's airstrike which killed Mohammed Emwazi/#JihadiJohn

    Poor Labour. Attlee must be spinning in his grave.
  • Options
    AnorakAnorak Posts: 6,621
    chestnut said:

    Scott_P said:

    @chrisshipitv: Jeremy Corbyn just told us he questions the 'legality' of last week's airstrike which killed Mohammed Emwazi/#JihadiJohn

    The leader chosen by Comedy Casting.

    Labour are going to need every Pakistani Muslim vote they can muster in Bolton.
    But, but, but we are led to believe that Jezza is upsetting 99.9% of those with his terrorist-appeasement.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990

    Mr. Pulpstar, Ayatollah Corbyni will always be Supreme Leader!

    LOL :D
  • Options
    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    edited November 2015
    Quite. Frankly, I've been less than impressed with doctors inc GPs myself. My father persuaded our GP to keep my mother in a state of virtual stasis to keep her quiet. She had depression after the death of my infant sister, and then bipolar in her 40s. She was left a shell/doped of her previous self for 20yrs until her death.

    A complete and appalling waste of a very bright and brave spark.

    I will never forgive those who stole her life.
    watford30 said:

    Watch the trust melt away when strike action is blamed for any patient deaths.

  • Options
    OmniumOmnium Posts: 9,800
    My own personal views on this list are;

    Doctors - they don't know
    Teachers - they especially don't know
    Scientists - they don't know, and should keep quiet
    Judges - they officially don't know
    Clergy - they think they know but they don't
    TV news - always the first not to know
    Police - they should find out
    Man in the street - they like not to know
    Civil servants - knowing is no part of the remit
    Pollsters - they know they don't know
    NHS managers - they don't care that they don't know
    Trade Union types - they celebrate the fact that they don't know
    Business leaders - they're keen to keep quiet about not knowing
    Bankers - they know, but for a percentage they'll look the other way
    Journos - being the first to not know is the key
    Estate agents - shoot on sight
    Ministers - being seen to not know is the only peril
    Politicians - don't know, but will tell you they do



  • Options
    Pulpstar said:

    Can someone remind Jez that I've backed him to stay in post till the start of Jihadi 1st, 2017.

    Fortunately his acolytes are working against the forces of the Labour party that would seek to destabilise him :O)

    Seamus Milne, John McDonnell - I salute you.

    Jihadi first?

    If you know something we don't perhaps you should consider sharing it with the security services.
  • Options
    MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    I never trust doctors, some of them are as ignorant as piss. I don't trust the government either, and ditto!
  • Options
    Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 25,551

    dr_spyn said:

    Cue for I was misquoted.

    (snip)
    I would love to know how Jezza thinks that the unity of The Syrian people will prevail. Given the depth of the religious, secular, & political differences in the country I'm damned if I understand how this bloody mess will be ended by talks. I have my doubts that Cameron has much idea about who could be let alone should be ruling in Damascus. But Corbyn needs to start leaving his comfort zone behind.

    Considering the conflict started in a civil war, the will of the 'Syrian people' - even if many of the fighters are foreign forces for AlN and ISIS - is probably hard to reconcile.

    Yesterday Hilary Benn was calling for peace talks. If that's Labour's position, it'll be interesting to know who they expect to take part in the talks, considering that two of the major combatannts - al Nusra and ISIS - are probably not people who are willing to talk. Or if they are, their demands might well be untenable.

    For the others: the Syrian regime, the remnants of the FSA, the Kurds, and the other disparate groups - it might be possible to have talks. But that leaves a fast number of combatants and territory outside the talks.
    Al Nusra and ISIS are terrorist organisations. They don't get to talk, they get to die, then the other combatants talk.

    As to the will of the Syrian people, they have been polled, and Assad got a thumping majority.

  • Options
    @Omnium - Very good!
  • Options
    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,956
    Incidentally, I have a theory that Corbyn will be overwhelmed by indecision on all important issues. Events, not his curious views, will overwhelm him, and, if they're not careful, Labour too.

    Probably a thread header in it.
  • Options
    nicknick Posts: 14

    Mr. Nick, agree on the need for technology, science and maths to be at the heart of education and the economy. There's also, as you indicate, a lot of room for a new party to make great headway in the current political climate.

    Thanks, I'm glad you think so :smile:

    Your problems will likely be more on the political rather than the policy side. UKIP have been serially incompetent at General Elections, going for a wide and shallow approach. I'd advise you to focus on a very small number of seats and try to win them rather than spread yourselves thin and wide, and get more votes but no seats.

    I've been thinking the same thing. The Lib Dems approach of concentrating on the south west seemed to work for them. Perhaps university towns would be good candidates. Places with science/tech hubs too. I keep thinking of Cambridge.

    You also need to decide on leadership structure, and your social approach. If you put together a liberal approach towards civil liberties and free speech with a focus on technology and science, that would be quite appealing.

    Regarding civil liberties and free speech, I think this is what we've done. Our site says: We would rather live in a forward looking, free society of well educated, free thinkers than a surveillance state where hateful religious dogma goes unchallenged.

    Regarding leadership structure (and the party's constitution generally), we have not done anything yet. I've noticed that the Greens, UKIP and now Labour have all had issues caused by their organisational structure. I'm tempted to borrow heavily from the Tories who historically seem to have evolved something that's very good at getting power. Do you have any ideas on this front?
This discussion has been closed.