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  • Options
    another_richardanother_richard Posts: 25,142
    edited November 2017

    Princes, former ministers, billionaires. Looks very significant.
    That describes about a thousand members of the Saudi royal family.
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,913
    Sunday papers must be out soon. Wonder what's coming up. More touched knees or something else?
  • Options
    YBarddCwscYBarddCwsc Posts: 7,172
    edited November 2017



    I believe Conservative Clubs in places like Horwich are often little more than standard WMCs.

    I was astonished when I visited Ebbw Vale recently to find -- amongst the tanning parlours, pound-shops and pawn brokers that otherwise made up the High Street -- a gleaming and well maintained Conservative Club.

    It was the most prosperous looking building on the High Street (though that sadly isn’t saying much).

    The Tory vote in the whole of the Blaenau Gwent constituency is absolutely derisory. Given that Ebbw Vale is one of the most deprived parts of the already very deprived Blaenau Gwent, I just can’t believe that the Ebbw Vale Conservative Club survives on the subscriptions of paid-up members of the Conservative party.

    There were youths in the club playing snooker when I passed by.
  • Options
    Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 60,401
    edited November 2017
    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    Boris tops a new Conservative Home poll of who they want to succeed May on 19%. Rees-Mogg is second on 15% and Davis third on 9%.

    Though 'other' gets 23%.
    https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2017/11/our-survey-its-a-thumbs-down-from-party-members-to-all-the-main-leadership-candidates.html

    Thumbs down to all the main leadership candidates says it all.

    The next leader will not be any of the old guard
    Unless another candidate starts to get the majority of that support for an 'other' candidate though the next Tory leader will almost certainly be Boris, Rees-Mogg or Davis.
    When the time comes I expect some will stand who are not on the radar and then it will be up to the hustings before two are put through for the membership to vote. JRM is the only one I would consider of the three but I would hope a star will emerge

    We will wait and see and I do have a vote
  • Options
    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    I've managed to get to 50 without ever feeling inclined to use such authority as I have to press myself onto others. I don't regard myself as some kind of unworldly saint.

    Talk about Puritanism is ridiculous,

    Absolutely, Alastair. I'd be ashamed if my sons, aged 18, 20 and 22 had to have some sort of Code Of Conduct on how to behave around young women. That it is the great and the good who clearly can't control themselves just shows how morally corrupt they all are.
    And that is exactly the problem. A small number of jvfibiduals have proven themselves as you say. But you blame everyone regardless of guilt or innocence
  • Options
    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549



    AndyJS said:

    Re that Janice Turner piece: why should minor indiscretions be 'tolerated'? If someone does something I don't like, I'll let them know.

    Sean_F said:

    AndyJS said:

    "Roundheads have routed the randy old fools — Janice Turner

    We are entering a new age of Puritanism where even minor indiscretions by ageing dinosaurs will not be tolerated"

    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/roundheads-have-routed-the-randy-old-fools-7q5dzfts6

    Perhaps, but moral panics have a tendency to provoke a reaction in the other direction.


    Right wingers have already had their 'backlash' with Brexit, with Trump, with all the right-leaning to far right parties being elected across Europe. Now, this is the backlash to that socially conservative worldview.

    As Krishnan Guru-Murthy‏ has said:
    https://twitter.com/krishgm/status/926236543622230017
    .
    What's wrong with social conservatism?
    Pretty much everything, in my view (I'm very socially liberal). I'm not a fan of the because 'I put up with it in my generation so should you' attitude, for example that social conservatives that I know have been telling me over the last week in light of these recent allegations in Westminster.
    Yet it is people who purport to be socially liberal who have a remarkable silence about FGM.

    Something which tends to be mentioned here only by people of the political centre or right and it should be noted a large majority of the victims reside in areas with Labour MPs and Labour councils.
    I don't agree with that at all. Social liberals do talk about FGM.

    The centre-right, like a lot of these matters, tends to bring up FGM only as means of whataboutery in relation to incidents of sexism that they feel are 'lesser.'
    Interestingly many of these who are now (laudably) adopting FGM as a cause are not so keen to say anything about Male Genital Mutilation. Oh no.

    I'd ban that on children as well.

    Doubtless that will get me accused of being anti-Jewish or anti-Muslim.
    Surely that should be a parental decision. I am talking about "male" circumcision. Please note.

    https://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/guide/circumcision
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,861
    Nigelb said:

    Sean_F said:

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    They are a bunch of evil low life scum.

    You can tell this by the way they have forgotten the apostrophe in 'Gentlemen's'...
    The sleaziest aspect for me is the way 'waitresses' are listed ahead of food amongst the enticements to attend.
    It isn't entirely clear whether the waitresses are strippers or not either. Which would make it even sleazier.
    crandles said:

    ;)
    Also lack of space between Gentle and Mens' as it is obviously not aimed at gentlemen

    I am no gentleman, I was state school educated. But I have to say in my quite limited experience of such people I think your suggested typo is a tad optimistic!
    Perhaps, the waitresses serve the food naked, a practice that Tiberius supposedly enjoyed.
    Sean_F said:

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    They are a bunch of evil low life scum.

    You can tell this by the way they have forgotten the apostrophe in 'Gentlemen's'...
    The sleaziest aspect for me is the way 'waitresses' are listed ahead of food amongst the enticements to attend.
    It isn't entirely clear whether the waitresses are strippers or not either. Which would make it even sleazier.
    crandles said:

    ;)
    Also lack of space between Gentle and Mens' as it is obviously not aimed at gentlemen

    I am no gentleman, I was state school educated. But I have to say in my quite limited experience of such people I think your suggested typo is a tad optimistic!
    Perhaps, the waitresses serve the food naked, a practice that Tiberius supposedly enjoyed.
    According to the local Bolton paper, they had a no touching rule... sleazy, but not quite Tiberian excess.
    According to the local Bolton paper, they had a no touching rule... They should try adopting that at the HoC :lol:
  • Options
    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549
    HYUFD said:
    They revealed that themselves.
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,292
    edited November 2017
    Lord Ashcroft going to be back in the news...

    Lord Ashcroft, who has given millions to the Tories, could see his company's financial deals exposed as he is a client of a company which has been caught up in a huge data leak.

    The dealings of Robert Mercer, a major donor to Donald Trump who also aided the Leave.EU campaign, could also come under scrutiny following the attack on one of the world's biggest offshore law firms.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/04/bermuda-hack-tory-donor-billionaire-leave-campaigner-braced/
  • Options
    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    edited November 2017
    Nigelb said:

    @Nigelb

    Mike Pence's policy is actually more nuanced. It is applied to events where alcohol is served.

    https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-04-03/the-pences-prophylactic-approach-to-infidelity

    It is notable that most of the events that come to light are not directly at political business meetings, but rather in the miasma around them, at conference hotels, or at social functions.

    It is perfectly reasonable to adopt such a policy of only having such meetings when others are present....

    "nor attend events where alcohol is served unless his wife is present...." sounds a little unnuanced to me, but if it's his own personal rule rather than an expectation of what constitutes acceptable behaviour, fair enough.
    That he chooses to be Trump's VP suggests a motivation rather weirder than personal morality.
    I don't think that he asks others to apply the same rules. It is his own discipline.

    In light of recent stories, the wisdom of separating work and socialising is apparent.

    Not that I agree much else of his policies!
  • Options
    oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,831
    surbiton said:



    AndyJS said:

    Re that Janice Turner piece: why should minor indiscretions be 'tolerated'? If someone does something I don't like, I'll let them know.

    Sean_F said:

    AndyJS said:

    "Roundheads have routed the randy old fools — Janice Turner

    We are entering a new age of Puritanism where even minor indiscretions by ageing dinosaurs will not be tolerated"

    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/roundheads-have-routed-the-randy-old-fools-7q5dzfts6

    Perhaps, but moral panics have a tendency to provoke a reaction in the other direction.


    Right wingers have already had their 'backlash' with Brexit, with Trump, with all the right-leaning to far right parties being elected across Europe. Now, this is the backlash to that socially conservative worldview.

    As Krishnan Guru-Murthy‏ has said:
    https://twitter.com/krishgm/status/926236543622230017
    .
    What's wrong with social conservatism?
    Pretty much everything, in my view (I'm very socially liberal). I'm not a fan of the because 'I put up with it in my generation so should you' attitude, for example that social conservatives that I know have been telling me over the last week in light of these recent allegations in Westminster.
    Yet it is people who purport to be socially liberal who have a remarkable silence about FGM.

    Something which tends to be mentioned here only by people of the political centre or right and it should be noted a large majority of the victims reside in areas with Labour MPs and Labour councils.
    I don't agree with that at all. Social liberals do talk about FGM.

    The centre-right, like a lot of these matters, tends to bring up FGM only as means of whataboutery in relation to incidents of sexism that they feel are 'lesser.'
    Interestingly many of these who are now (laudably) adopting FGM as a cause are not so keen to say anything about Male Genital Mutilation. Oh no.

    I'd ban that on children as well.

    Doubtless that will get me accused of being anti-Jewish or anti-Muslim.
    Surely that should be a parental decision. I am talking about "male" circumcision. Please note.

    https://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/guide/circumcision
    I don't believe any parent has the right to demand the removal of a part of their son's body. It should be a medical decision not a 'cultural' one.
  • Options
    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549

    Princes, former ministers, billionaires. Looks very significant.
    A Palace coup against princes. Since, there are over 7000 of them, the economic downturn means the loot is becoming increasingly difficult to share.
  • Options
    nielhnielh Posts: 1,307

    nielh said:


    First, the subset doesn't seem that small.

    Secondly, such actions seem to have been universally tolerated, indeed seen as useful leverage by others.

    Westminster seems to have a serious culture problem.

    I sincerely believe we have to be patient and allow due process to take place. That doesn't make for good headlines but we need to work with the rule of law, not Trial by Twitter.
    You confidently asserted that it was a small subset. You are determined to minimise the problem, Why?
    Apologies to interrupt this exchange.

    Alastair - You are as I understand it a lawyer.



    Five different things.

    1) are these allegations to be relied upon uncritically? No.
    2) are they important in establishing whether there is a problem of culture? Yes.
    3) are individuals in public life entitled to a fair hearing? Yes.
    4) if there are allegations of criminality, those should be judged on the criminal standard of proof, i.e. beyond all reasonable doubt.
    5) for establishing whether they are fit for public office, the appropriate standard should be the civil standard, the balance of probabilities.

    Right now I have seen no particular evidence that women are systematically weaponising false accusations of misconduct to bring down politicians. It's possible but not likely.
    That's a good summary.
    I agree with most of the points set out in Alastairs response and would point out that I didn't allege that women were making malicious allegations. But if anything they seem to reinforce the points that oxfordsimon was making, you have to go through a proper process to understand the extent of the problem. It does seem to me that there are not actually that many actual documented allegations at the moment, in so far as it relates to parliament at least.
  • Options
    AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited November 2017
    I think one of the reasons these scandals (or perhaps "scandals") are so popular with the public is that it indirectly lets ordinary people off the hook when it comes to minor crimes and misdemeanors. They can say "why should we be judged when the people in charge are allegedly so awful."
  • Options
    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    I've managed to get to 50 without ever feeling inclined to use such authority as I have to press myself onto others. I don't regard myself as some kind of unworldly saint.

    Talk about Puritanism is ridiculous,

    Absolutelyduct on how to behave around young women. That it is the great and the good who clearly can't control themselves just shows how morally corrupt they all are.
    We must stop tarring everyone as being corrupt. Yes, there are some who have overstepped the mark and, in some case, their behaviour could well have been bad enough to warrant criminal charges being laid. But it is not true of all of 'the great and the good' - it is a small subset of people who have transgressed.
    Tory MPs apparently need a code of conduct on appropriate behaviour. These are grown men, some of them Knights of the Realm, on a minimum 75 grand plus expenses, and elected to allegedly run the country. Doesn't that concern you?
    I am urging a sense of perspective.

    I made no comment at all about the party of any of those at the centre of the allegations. If you genuinely believe that it only affects Conservative MPs, then you are clearly deluded. This is very clearly not a party political issue.
    I'm not deluded, it's affecting all parties. I'm merely commenting on the fact that highly paid grown men apparently need a code of conduct on how to behave in Westminster's bars and social areas. If I was a Tory MP I'd find that deeply shameful.
    Almost every workplace has a code of conduct relating to such matters. I have to go through tedious online training course on the topic each year.
    Don't we all?
    But May explicitly ordered a new one this week to try and get a grip on the spiralling scandal, replacing a previous voluntary one. They have to promise not to bully or harass anyone and to try to rein in general naughtiness. It's embarrassing.
    Is it? The alternative, to do nothing, would look far worse.
    So without a new code of conduct, the Tory MPs don't know how to behave? They only now, in 2017, have realised that they can't act in inappropriate ways? And we pay these fuckers 75k?
    "Don't pork the payroll" would cover most of what these would-be lotharios need to know.
    A little crude. How about:

    Don't fish off the company pier

    Or

    Don't dip your pen in the company ink
  • Options

    crandles said:

    ydoethur said:

    They are a bunch of evil low life scum.

    You can tell this by the way they have forgotten the apostrophe in 'Gentlemen's'...
    ;)


    Also lack of space between Gentle and Mens' as it is obviously not aimed at gentlemen
    I believe Conservative Clubs in places like Horwich are often little more than standard WMCs.
    Ah, so that's all right then (?!)
    To be honest I can't say I'm that bothered - though I think it would be fair if they put on an equivalent 'Ladies Night'.
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,172
    surbiton said:

    HYUFD said:
    They revealed that themselves.
    Still astonishing that none of the living former Republican Presidents voted for the Republican candidate for President last year.
  • Options
    AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    "Scottish minister Mark McDonald resigns over 'inappropriate behaviour'

    The childcare minister said he was standing down after "some of my previous actions" were "considered to be inappropriate"."

    http://news.sky.com/story/scottish-minister-mark-mcdonald-resigns-overinappropriate-behaviour-11113831
  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,995
    HYUFD said:

    surbiton said:

    HYUFD said:
    They revealed that themselves.
    Still astonishing that none of the living former Republican Presidents voted for the Republican candidate for President last year.
    The Virginia governor's has really tightened up. If Gillespie wins this, it will be another State where the Republicans have a trifecta.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,861
    edited November 2017

    crandles said:

    ydoethur said:

    They are a bunch of evil low life scum.

    You can tell this by the way they have forgotten the apostrophe in 'Gentlemen's'...
    ;)


    Also lack of space between Gentle and Mens' as it is obviously not aimed at gentlemen
    I believe Conservative Clubs in places like Horwich are often little more than standard WMCs.
    Ah, so that's all right then (?!)
    To be honest I can't say I'm that bothered - though I think it would be fair if they put on an equivalent 'Ladies Night'.
    Actually, I agree with you. Amongst consenting adults and all that. But I won't be going as they don't allow 'Disabled Access'.

    "Club Rules:

    THE NO's

    No Birthday Parties between the ages of 17 and 20 (21st are allowed)
    Disabled Access
    Air Conditioning
    No cellotape [sic] on walls in the function room"


    PS - I've just spotted where the missing apostrophe from Gentlemens went... NO's
  • Options
    dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 28,024



    I believe Conservative Clubs in places like Horwich are often little more than standard WMCs.

    I was astonished when I visited Ebbw Vale recently to find -- amongst the tanning parlours, pound-shops and pawn brokers that otherwise made up the High Street -- a gleaming and well maintained Conservative Club.

    It was the most prosperous looking building on the High Street (though that sadly isn’t saying much).

    The Tory vote in the whole of the Blaenau Gwent constituency is absolutely derisory. Given that Ebbw Vale is one of the most deprived parts of the already very deprived Blaenau Gwent, I just can’t believe that the Ebbw Vale Conservative Club survives on the subscriptions of paid-up members of the Conservative party.

    There were youths in the club playing snooker when I passed by.
    This is true. However, Horwich is hardly Ebbw Vale. It is a relatively prosperous small town outside Bolton.
  • Options
    Scott_P said:

    twitter.com/hendopolis/status/926924295242166272

    Rog...Kevin has handled this perfectly and done nothing wrong...
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    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,995
    AndyJS said:

    "Scottish minister Mark McDonald resigns over 'inappropriate behaviour'

    The childcare minister said he was standing down after "some of my previous actions" were "considered to be inappropriate"."

    http://news.sky.com/story/scottish-minister-mark-mcdonald-resigns-overinappropriate-behaviour-11113831

    What actions? Drink, dice, or is he a buggerer of boys?
  • Options
    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    crandles said:

    ydoethur said:

    They are a bunch of evil low life scum.

    You can tell this by the way they have forgotten the apostrophe in 'Gentlemen's'...
    ;)


    Also lack of space between Gentle and Mens' as it is obviously not aimed at gentlemen
    I believe Conservative Clubs in places like Horwich are often little more than standard WMCs.
    Ah, so that's all right then (?!)
    To be honest I can't say I'm that bothered - though I think it would be fair if they put on an equivalent 'Ladies Night'.
    Actually, I agree with you. Amongst consenting adults and all that. But I won't be going as they don't allow 'Disabled Access'.

    "Club Rules:

    THE NO's

    No Birthday Parties between the ages of 17 and 20 (21st are allowed)
    Disabled Access
    Air Conditioning
    No cellotape [sic] on walls in the function room"


    PS - I've just spotted where the missing apostrophe from Gentlemens went... NO's
    It's not that they don't allow it - just there is no special provision for it, which can be permitted where it is not economic or otherwise inappropriate to retro fit disabled access
  • Options

    crandles said:

    ydoethur said:

    They are a bunch of evil low life scum.

    You can tell this by the way they have forgotten the apostrophe in 'Gentlemen's'...
    ;)


    Also lack of space between Gentle and Mens' as it is obviously not aimed at gentlemen
    I believe Conservative Clubs in places like Horwich are often little more than standard WMCs.
    Ah, so that's all right then (?!)
    To be honest I can't say I'm that bothered - though I think it would be fair if they put on an equivalent 'Ladies Night'.
    Actually, I agree with you. Amongst consenting adults and all that. But I won't be going as they don't allow 'Disabled Access'.

    "Club Rules:

    THE NO's

    No Birthday Parties between the ages of 17 and 20 (21st are allowed)
    Disabled Access
    Air Conditioning
    No cellotape [sic] on walls in the function room"


    PS - I've just spotted where the missing apostrophe from Gentlemens went... NO's
    That is rather crass by the Club.

    Don't such places have to make reasonable efforts for the disabled these days ? Though perhaps that would run foul of the health and safety regulations.
  • Options
    SeanT said:

    surbiton said:


    AndyJS said:


    What's wrong with social conservatism?

    Pretty much everything, in my view (I'm very socially liberal). I'm not a fan of the because 'I put up with it in my generation so should you' attitude, for example that social conservatives that I know have been telling me over the last week in light of these recent allegations in Westminster.
    Yet it is peopl.
    There is a sort s.
    Remind me about the number of prosecutions and convictions for FGM in this country.

    There is a sort of 'progressive' leftist who tried to shut down any mention of inconvenient issues.


    Prosecution is not the entirety of how an anti FGM campaign should be conducted. The real change to make it an anachronism is via social and health education amongst appropriate communities.
    There haedy as an FGM practioner practices his trade in South London outwitting the social services.
    "Discussion o

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/07/britain-clampdown-fgm-young-girls-false-accusations-families

    The majority of those here with FGM are those born and mutilated abroad, usually from the Sahel or Horn of Africa regions, presenting later in life here
    Not according to SeanT. To him, this is a Muslim problem. I don't think anyone in Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India or Pakistan had ever heard of FGM.
    You're a fucking idiot

    Same guy who was yesterday banging on about 16 year olds in the army dying on the front line....poundshop Diane Abbott.
  • Options

    crandles said:

    ydoethur said:

    They are a bunch of evil low life scum.

    You can tell this by the way they have forgotten the apostrophe in 'Gentlemen's'...
    ;)


    Also lack of space between Gentle and Mens' as it is obviously not aimed at gentlemen
    I believe Conservative Clubs in places like Horwich are often little more than standard WMCs.
    Ah, so that's all right then (?!)
    To be honest I can't say I'm that bothered - though I think it would be fair if they put on an equivalent 'Ladies Night'.
    Actually, I agree with you. Amongst consenting adults and all that. But I won't be going as they don't allow 'Disabled Access'.

    "Club Rules:

    THE NO's

    No Birthday Parties between the ages of 17 and 20 (21st are allowed)
    Disabled Access
    Air Conditioning
    No cellotape [sic] on walls in the function room"


    PS - I've just spotted where the missing apostrophe from Gentlemens went... NO's
    That is rather crass by the Club.

    Don't such places have to make reasonable efforts for the disabled these days ? Though perhaps that would run foul of the health and safety regulations.
    It is called "Reasonable Adjustment", but there are all sorts of loopholes.
  • Options
    YBarddCwscYBarddCwsc Posts: 7,172
    dixiedean said:



    I believe Conservative Clubs in places like Horwich are often little more than standard WMCs.

    I was astonished when I visited Ebbw Vale recently to find -- amongst the tanning parlours, pound-shops and pawn brokers that otherwise made up the High Street -- a gleaming and well maintained Conservative Club.

    It was the most prosperous looking building on the High Street (though that sadly isn’t saying much).

    The Tory vote in the whole of the Blaenau Gwent constituency is absolutely derisory. Given that Ebbw Vale is one of the most deprived parts of the already very deprived Blaenau Gwent, I just can’t believe that the Ebbw Vale Conservative Club survives on the subscriptions of paid-up members of the Conservative party.

    There were youths in the club playing snooker when I passed by.
    This is true. However, Horwich is hardly Ebbw Vale. It is a relatively prosperous small town outside Bolton.
    I don’t know Horwich, although it’s wikipedia entry doesn’t make it sound that salubrious.

    I just was absolutely astonished that there is a Conservative Club at all in Ebbw Vale. Let alone the best looking building on the High Street.

    It may, I suppose, not be related to the Conservative Party.

    I mean, if I decide to set up a club called the PoliticalBetting Conservative Club, can the Tory party stop me ?
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,148
    edited November 2017
    .
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    oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,831
    Scott_P said:
    I was expecting something a bit more earth-shattering than that.
  • Options
    welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,460
    edited November 2017



    I believe Conservative Clubs in places like Horwich are often little more than standard WMCs.

    I was astonished when I visited Ebbw Vale recently to find -- amongst the tanning parlours, pound-shops and pawn brokers that otherwise made up the High Street -- a gleaming and well maintained Conservative Club.

    It was the most prosperous looking building on the High Street (though that sadly isn’t saying much).

    The Tory vote in the whole of the Blaenau Gwent constituency is absolutely derisory. Given that Ebbw Vale is one of the most deprived parts of the already very deprived Blaenau Gwent, I just can’t believe that the Ebbw Vale Conservative Club survives on the subscriptions of paid-up members of the Conservative party.

    There were youths in the club playing snooker when I passed by.
    I think oddity of the many “Con clubs”, in the deepest valleys went back to the pre 1961 Sunday drinking laws in Wales where the pubs were shut but clubs were open to members and guests ( and membership was often purchasable on the door for a nominal sum). Often the division, I believe, in society was “chapel” or “Con club”. Why the “Con” bit though as opposed to others I don’t know. Nevertheless they live on.

    Incidentally there was a vote forced on closing the pubs in Cardiff as late as about 1989ish. The council decided to save money and didn’t publicise it (!). The brewers alerted folk to the vote by advertising the fact on beer mats.

    Never have I arrived at a polling station so early to cast my vote (!)
  • Options
    PongPong Posts: 4,693
    edited November 2017
    Scott_P said:
    That's a crap allegation.

    Apologies to Mr Story for any offence, but seriously?

    MoS front page?
  • Options
    AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited November 2017
    edit
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    dixiedean said:



    I believe Conservative Clubs in places like Horwich are often little more than standard WMCs.

    I was astonished when I visited Ebbw Vale recently to find -- amongst the tanning parlours, pound-shops and pawn brokers that otherwise made up the High Street -- a gleaming and well maintained Conservative Club.

    It was the most prosperous looking building on the High Street (though that sadly isn’t saying much).

    The Tory vote in the whole of the Blaenau Gwent constituency is absolutely derisory. Given that Ebbw Vale is one of the most deprived parts of the already very deprived Blaenau Gwent, I just can’t believe that the Ebbw Vale Conservative Club survives on the subscriptions of paid-up members of the Conservative party.

    There were youths in the club playing snooker when I passed by.
    This is true. However, Horwich is hardly Ebbw Vale. It is a relatively prosperous small town outside Bolton.
    But still a Labour voting town.

    And given how diminished and old the Conservative membership is these days I doubt there will be that many Conservative members at the event.
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,292
    edited November 2017
    Scott_P said:

    twitter.com/shippersunbound/status/926926780551884800

    I wonder how long the media have been sitting on this story?
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    Scott_P said:
    Jesus....

    I would not have guessed Damien Green would be *that* guy.
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    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,861

    Scott_P said:

    twitter.com/shippersunbound/status/926926780551884800

    I wonder how long the media have been sitting on this story?
    Er... about 9 years?
  • Options
    oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,831
    There is a difference between 'extreme' and illegal.

    If it wasn't legal, they clearly had an obligation to pass it up to the CPS - and yet no charges were made.

    Having a taste for some unusual porn does not automatically make you a criminal or unfit for public office.
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    SeanT said:

    AndyJS said:
    Extreme could be anything tho:

    Bondage, spanking and gimp masks? Meh, no one cares

    Nazi-themed gay orgies? Ouch and tricky

    Animals or Kids? Prison
    Surely if it was illegal stuff he would have been done by the plod? I mean at the time they were gunning for him anyway.
  • Options
    AndyJS said:

    edit

    I misread that and thought it referred to TM

    If true Green needs to go as I have been saying all week
  • Options
    A concluding Season of House of Cards without Spacey will jar. Though the finale of Season 5 means it'll be much less difficult that in previous seasons. Overall I think House of Cards has been a masterpiece and equals The West Wing in almost every way save for the Sorkin era script quality. For artistic reasons alone it deserves a proper conclusion and strong dramatic end.
  • Options

    There is a difference between 'extreme' and illegal.

    If it wasn't legal, they clearly had an obligation to pass it up to the CPS - and yet no charges were made.

    Having a taste for some unusual porn does not automatically make you a criminal or unfit for public office.
    As DPM he needs to resign
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,292
    edited November 2017
    Scott_P said:

    twitter.com/hendopolis/status/926928040097181698

    Interesting he is denying it that it is true. I would have though the plod would have evidence of this if it is the case.
  • Options
    oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,831

    AndyJS said:

    edit

    I misread that and thought it referred to TM

    If true Green needs to go as I have been saying all week
    On what basis? Green wasn't charged at the time and the Police are rarely backwards in coming forwards when it comes to bringing charges for illegal porn.

    So you are saying he should be sacked for having something legal...

    If the images were illegal at the time - why wasn't he charged?

  • Options

    There is a difference between 'extreme' and illegal.

    If it wasn't legal, they clearly had an obligation to pass it up to the CPS - and yet no charges were made.

    Having a taste for some unusual porn does not automatically make you a criminal or unfit for public office.
    As DPM he needs to resign
    How about establishing the facts before calling for his resignation?
  • Options
    AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited November 2017

    AndyJS said:

    edit

    I misread that and thought it referred to TM

    If true Green needs to go as I have been saying all week
    Of course younger people won't give a monkeys about legal porn because it's so common these days. Older people might care about it, and they comprise most Tory voters.
  • Options

    There is a difference between 'extreme' and illegal.

    If it wasn't legal, they clearly had an obligation to pass it up to the CPS - and yet no charges were made.

    Having a taste for some unusual porn does not automatically make you a criminal or unfit for public office.
    Having on your office computer does normally mean you'd breach most workplace IT policies though. Happened to a colleague of mine more than 10 years ago. Instant dismissal for gross professional misconduct.
  • Options
    nielhnielh Posts: 1,307

    SeanT said:

    AndyJS said:
    Extreme could be anything tho:

    Bondage, spanking and gimp masks? Meh, no one cares

    Nazi-themed gay orgies? Ouch and tricky

    Animals or Kids? Prison
    Surely if it was illegal stuff he would have been done by the plod? I mean at the time they were gunning for him anyway.
    If it relates to legal pornography then surely there is no public interest, unless it was on his work computer.
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    stevefstevef Posts: 1,044
    At what point does a commendable attempt to protect women from predatory males escalate out of control into a witch-hunt?
  • Options

    There is a difference between 'extreme' and illegal.

    If it wasn't legal, they clearly had an obligation to pass it up to the CPS - and yet no charges were made.

    Having a taste for some unusual porn does not automatically make you a criminal or unfit for public office.
    Having on your office computer does normally mean you'd breach most workplace IT policies though. Happened to a colleague of mine more than 10 years ago. Instant dismissal for gross professional misconduct.
    Many moons ago, when I was a just a whipper snapper, a work colleague literally got sent to Coventry for this...
  • Options
    SeanT said:

    AndyJS said:
    Extreme could be anything tho:

    Bondage, spanking and gimp masks? Meh, no one cares

    Nazi-themed gay orgies? Ouch and tricky

    Animals or Kids? Prison
    Is zoophilia porn illegal? (Not that I'd be affected if it was I hasten to add.)
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    Ishmael_ZIshmael_Z Posts: 8,981

    There is a difference between 'extreme' and illegal.

    If it wasn't legal, they clearly had an obligation to pass it up to the CPS - and yet no charges were made.

    Having a taste for some unusual porn does not automatically make you a criminal or unfit for public office.
    Extreme has a specific legal meaning: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/d_to_g/extreme_pornography/#an02
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,172
    edited November 2017
    Sean_F said:

    HYUFD said:

    surbiton said:

    HYUFD said:
    They revealed that themselves.
    Still astonishing that none of the living former Republican Presidents voted for the Republican candidate for President last year.
    The Virginia governor's has really tightened up. If Gillespie wins this, it will be another State where the Republicans have a trifecta.
    As I told you before and as I will clearly have to tell you again the Virginia Governor's race is going entirely according to precedent where the year after the election of a new President one of the New Jersey or Virginia Governors races is won by the party out of the White House by a landslide and another by a narrow margin (going back decades).

    I expect the Democrats to win both, New Jersey by a landslide but Virginia by a much narrower margin.
  • Options
    It's the second tweet posted by Scott_P which is a cause for concern. Pornography in of itself isn't a big deal, but extreme enough to potentially result in gross misconduct and dismissal if he was a police officer? Err.....
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,994
    Ishmael_Z said:

    There is a difference between 'extreme' and illegal.

    If it wasn't legal, they clearly had an obligation to pass it up to the CPS - and yet no charges were made.

    Having a taste for some unusual porn does not automatically make you a criminal or unfit for public office.
    Extreme has a specific legal meaning: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/d_to_g/extreme_pornography/#an02
    Why wasn't he charged at the time?

    ... *quickly checks that there is no porn on my computer*
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,861
    SeanT said:

    AndyJS said:
    Extreme could be anything tho:

    Bondage, spanking and gimp masks? Meh, no one cares

    Nazi-themed gay orgies? Ouch and tricky

    Animals or Kids? Prison
    I suspect a lot of the Tory membership would care and be shocked about the first category.

    Big question too about whether it was on his personal property or government issued PCs. I assume the former because you'd think the civil service have appropriate filters in place but... 8 years ago? not so sure.
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    AndyJS said:

    edit

    I misread that and thought it referred to TM

    If true Green needs to go as I have been saying all week
    On what basis? Green wasn't charged at the time and the Police are rarely backwards in coming forwards when it comes to bringing charges for illegal porn.

    So you are saying he should be sacked for having something legal...

    If the images were illegal at the time - why wasn't he charged?

    He is already subject to an allegation and this latest revelation must to be too uncomfortable for TM and his resignation would be the right thing to do
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,292
    edited November 2017
    I seemed to remember the government did (or were considering) making certain porn classified as extreme that lets say many people didn't think was that extreme, or at least shouldn't be illegal between consenting adults.

    Didn't we have several long threads on this, with the Guardian particular up in arms about it.
  • Options

    There is a difference between 'extreme' and illegal.

    If it wasn't legal, they clearly had an obligation to pass it up to the CPS - and yet no charges were made.

    Having a taste for some unusual porn does not automatically make you a criminal or unfit for public office.
    As DPM he needs to resign
    How about establishing the facts before calling for his resignation?
    He is compromised and standing down while clearing his name is the right thing to do
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,172
    SeanT said:

    Scott_P said:
    Is there a red blooded male in the country, nay, the world, without some "porn on his computer"?

    It's like saying "we investigated the deputy prime minister and found a penis between his legs"
    I bet if you investigated the internet history of 90% of Sunday Times journalists you would also find porn there somewhere.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,861

    There is a difference between 'extreme' and illegal.

    If it wasn't legal, they clearly had an obligation to pass it up to the CPS - and yet no charges were made.

    Having a taste for some unusual porn does not automatically make you a criminal or unfit for public office.
    Having on your office computer does normally mean you'd breach most workplace IT policies though. Happened to a colleague of mine more than 10 years ago. Instant dismissal for gross professional misconduct.
    Many moons ago, when I was a just a whipper snapper, a work colleague literally got sent to Coventry for this...
    What had Coventry done to deserve that?
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,172

    There is a difference between 'extreme' and illegal.

    If it wasn't legal, they clearly had an obligation to pass it up to the CPS - and yet no charges were made.

    Having a taste for some unusual porn does not automatically make you a criminal or unfit for public office.
    Having on your office computer does normally mean you'd breach most workplace IT policies though. Happened to a colleague of mine more than 10 years ago. Instant dismissal for gross professional misconduct.
    Though most workplace computers now block it anyway.
  • Options

    AndyJS said:

    edit

    I misread that and thought it referred to TM

    If true Green needs to go as I have been saying all week
    On what basis? Green wasn't charged at the time and the Police are rarely backwards in coming forwards when it comes to bringing charges for illegal porn.

    So you are saying he should be sacked for having something legal...

    If the images were illegal at the time - why wasn't he charged?

    He is already subject to an allegation and this latest revelation must to be too uncomfortable for TM and his resignation would be the right thing to do
    You really don't believe in due process do you?
  • Options
    dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 28,024
    RobD said:

    Ishmael_Z said:

    There is a difference between 'extreme' and illegal.

    If it wasn't legal, they clearly had an obligation to pass it up to the CPS - and yet no charges were made.

    Having a taste for some unusual porn does not automatically make you a criminal or unfit for public office.
    Extreme has a specific legal meaning: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/d_to_g/extreme_pornography/#an02
    Why wasn't he charged at the time?

    ... *quickly checks that there is no porn on my computer*
    Law was changed 2014 to bring in line with BBFC. Therefore, it is possible he was found with material now legally defined as "extreme", but which was not illegal at the time.
  • Options
    oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,831
    Ishmael_Z said:

    There is a difference between 'extreme' and illegal.

    If it wasn't legal, they clearly had an obligation to pass it up to the CPS - and yet no charges were made.

    Having a taste for some unusual porn does not automatically make you a criminal or unfit for public office.
    Extreme has a specific legal meaning: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/d_to_g/extreme_pornography/#an02
    That definition didn't come into force until early 2009 - after his arrest and the search.
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,292
    edited November 2017
    Scott_P said:
    So the real story is "he denies having some kinky porn on his pc" 10 years ago....I think a lot of young male adults are thinking AND...Mrs Green on the other hand might not be so happy.

    I thought we were supposed to be hearing stories of sexual harassment, not dirty old men watching porn.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,861

    There is a difference between 'extreme' and illegal.

    If it wasn't legal, they clearly had an obligation to pass it up to the CPS - and yet no charges were made.

    Having a taste for some unusual porn does not automatically make you a criminal or unfit for public office.
    As DPM he needs to resign
    How about establishing the facts before calling for his resignation?
    He is compromised and standing down while clearing his name is the right thing to do
    He's a gonner!
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,913
    No evidence of coherent government strategy on any hard drive.
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    RhubarbRhubarb Posts: 359
    Scott_P said:
    It may not even been his parliamentary laptop - it's entirely possible it was a personal one he had with him that was grabbed during the raid.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,861
    HYUFD said:

    SeanT said:

    Scott_P said:
    Is there a red blooded male in the country, nay, the world, without some "porn on his computer"?

    It's like saying "we investigated the deputy prime minister and found a penis between his legs"
    I bet if you investigated the internet history of 90% of Sunday Times journalists you would also find porn there somewhere.

    "Extreme" is the important word here, I think.
  • Options
    oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,831

    Scott_P said:
    So the real story is "he denies having some kinky porn on his pc" 10 years ago....I think a lot of young male adults are thinking AND...
    So the police found legal porn and took no action.

    Why is this a story then?
  • Options
    Rhubarb said:

    Scott_P said:
    It may not even been his parliamentary laptop - it's entirely possible it was a personal one he had with him that was grabbed during the raid.
    It's even possible that it was not him using the computer to view porn.
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    marke09marke09 Posts: 926
    welshowl said:



    I believe Conservative Clubs in places like Horwich are often little more than standard WMCs.

    I was astonished when I visited Ebbw Vale recently to find -- amongst the tanning parlours, pound-shops and pawn brokers that otherwise made up the High Street -- a gleaming and well maintained Conservative Club.

    It was the most prosperous looking building on the High Street (though that sadly isn’t saying much).

    The Tory vote in the whole of the Blaenau Gwent constituency is absolutely derisory. Given that Ebbw Vale is one of the most deprived parts of the already very deprived Blaenau Gwent, I just can’t believe that the Ebbw Vale Conservative Club survives on the subscriptions of paid-up members of the Conservative party.

    There were youths in the club playing snooker when I passed by.
    I think oddity of the many “Con clubs”, in the deepest valleys went back to the pre 1961 Sunday drinking laws in Wales where the pubs were shut but clubs were open to members and guests ( and membership was often purchasable on the door for a nominal sum). Often the division, I believe, in society was “chapel” or “Con club”. Why the “Con” bit though as opposed to others I don’t know. Nevertheless they live on.

    Incidentally there was a vote forced on closing the pubs in Cardiff as late as about 1989ish. The council decided to save money and didn’t publicise it (!). The brewers alerted folk to the vote by advertising the fact on beer mats.

    Never have I arrived at a polling station so early to cast my vote (!)
    ny first vote was on opening /closing the pubs on a Sunday 1982 -i voted open as evey 18yr old did
  • Options
    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    It's almost like Tim Shipman is reading this thread and posting answers to the questions as they arise...
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,172

    HYUFD said:

    SeanT said:

    Scott_P said:
    Is there a red blooded male in the country, nay, the world, without some "porn on his computer"?

    It's like saying "we investigated the deputy prime minister and found a penis between his legs"
    I bet if you investigated the internet history of 90% of Sunday Times journalists you would also find porn there somewhere.

    "Extreme" is the important word here, I think.
    There is a difference between 'extreme' and 'illegal' as already pointed out.
  • Options
    MarkHopkinsMarkHopkins Posts: 5,584
    SeanT said:

    Scott_P said:
    Is there a red blooded male in the country, nay, the world, without some "porn on his computer"?

    It's like saying "we investigated the deputy prime minister and found a penis between his legs"

    The way things are going right now, having a penis between your legs will be illegal...

  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,995

    AndyJS said:

    edit

    I misread that and thought it referred to TM

    If true Green needs to go as I have been saying all week
    On what basis? Green wasn't charged at the time and the Police are rarely backwards in coming forwards when it comes to bringing charges for illegal porn.

    So you are saying he should be sacked for having something legal...

    If the images were illegal at the time - why wasn't he charged?

    He is already subject to an allegation and this latest revelation must to be too uncomfortable for TM and his resignation would be the right thing to do
    Man looks at legal pornography is scarcely remarkable.
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,292
    edited November 2017

    Scott_P said:
    So the real story is "he denies having some kinky porn on his pc" 10 years ago....I think a lot of young male adults are thinking AND...
    So the police found legal porn and took no action.

    Why is this a story then?
    As long as we didn't pay for it out of his expenses, I don't give a shit. And of course we already know the likes of Mr Harperson is acustomed to particular niche sites...

    https://order-order.com/2013/11/20/jack-dromeys-porn-favourites/
  • Options

    HYUFD said:

    SeanT said:

    Scott_P said:
    Is there a red blooded male in the country, nay, the world, without some "porn on his computer"?

    It's like saying "we investigated the deputy prime minister and found a penis between his legs"
    I bet if you investigated the internet history of 90% of Sunday Times journalists you would also find porn there somewhere.

    "Extreme" is the important word here, I think.
    Yep. Him watching any old porn is no story.

    It's the 'extreme' part which is making this a story. I also don't think we can say everyone watches 'extreme' porn either.
  • Options

    SeanT said:

    AndyJS said:
    Extreme could be anything tho:

    Bondage, spanking and gimp masks? Meh, no one cares

    Nazi-themed gay orgies? Ouch and tricky

    Animals or Kids? Prison
    Is zoophilia porn illegal? (Not that I'd be affected if it was I hasten to add.)
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_bestiality_by_country_or_territory

    Beastiality is legal in some surprising countries:

    ' Sex acts with animals are legal in Canada, so long as there is no penetration involved, according to a surprise ruling issued by the Supreme Court. '

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/bestiality-legal-canada-supreme-court-a7073196.html
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    If the porn found on Damian Green's computer was legal why have the Police mentioned it?
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    HYUFD said:

    There is a difference between 'extreme' and illegal.

    If it wasn't legal, they clearly had an obligation to pass it up to the CPS - and yet no charges were made.

    Having a taste for some unusual porn does not automatically make you a criminal or unfit for public office.
    Having on your office computer does normally mean you'd breach most workplace IT policies though. Happened to a colleague of mine more than 10 years ago. Instant dismissal for gross professional misconduct.
    Though most workplace computers now block it anyway.
    This guy had downloaded stuff on his home network onto his work laptop, which he then brought into work. Unfortunately for him, there was also a piece of software installed which picks up on keywords, then screenshots what the user is doing, with a time and date stamp.

    I don't think it was extreme, just your average porn, but he's never worked in my profession again.
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,172
    Scott_P said:
    So story is 'Government Minister watches legal porn'?

    What a farce.
  • Options

    If the porn found on Damian Green's computer was legal why have the Police mentioned it?

    Axe grinding...remember why the police raid came about and the fall out.
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    AndyJS said:

    edit

    I misread that and thought it referred to TM

    If true Green needs to go as I have been saying all week
    On what basis? Green wasn't charged at the time and the Police are rarely backwards in coming forwards when it comes to bringing charges for illegal porn.

    So you are saying he should be sacked for having something legal...

    If the images were illegal at the time - why wasn't he charged?

    He is already subject to an allegation and this latest revelation must to be too uncomfortable for TM and his resignation would be the right thing to do
    You really don't believe in due process do you?
    Of course but in this case he is DPM and TM is compromised as long as he is in office
  • Options
    oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,831

    If the porn found on Damian Green's computer was legal why have the Police mentioned it?

    I do wonder whether Bob Quick is out for some sort of revenge. He lost his job as a result of the Green case and aftermath.
This discussion has been closed.