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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Leave till last. Identifying the next Conservative leader

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  • Options
    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,472

    Survation.


    @Survation
    9h9 hours ago
    More
    London Council Election Polling. On behalf of @4in10, 81% of Londoners Tell Survation Local Councils should pay the real living wage:

    LOL. First the minimum wage, then the living wage, and now the real living wage.

    Next comes the realer living wage, the even realer living wage, and finally the wage rage that people aren't getting the honest, truly-to-God enhanced extra living wage with sugar, sprinkles and extra cream on top.
  • Options
    welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,460
    nielh said:




    It would probably be closer to 50k.
    I agree money is not the only criteria - but it is the simplest to understand, easiest to implement, and perhaps fairest.

    I don't agree with that at all.

    For a start, there are major regional variations on salaries, largely based on the differences in wages between London and the regions. A 50k requirement would effectively limit immigration to very highly skilled and specialised jobs, and the financial services sector (and its various spin offs), mostly in London. It would not benefit many industries where there is a skill shortage eg architecture, or nursing. It would also arguably hold British people back, as there would be massive competition for jobs over a certain salary level. I don't see how that would be fair.

    I don't think that 'simple to understand' and 'easy to implement' should be the guiding principles for an immigration policy.
    "it would also arguably hold British people back. as there would be massive competition for jobs over a certain salary level. I don't see how that would be fair".

    Quite. The minimum salary level now is the minimum wage, or less of course cash in hand down the building site.

    Do you not see this??????
  • Options
    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,684

    It would probably be closer to 50k.
    I agree money is not the only criteria - but it is the simplest to understand, easiest to implement, and perhaps fairest.

    I've done the sums for this in a previous job, I think it was £36k as a minimum requirement for a single person and £44k for someone coming with dependents. Targeting around 125k-175k net migration. Plus a temporary working holiday visa scheme for young people and seasonal workers.
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,505
    welshowl said:

    nielh said:

    A friend of mine came from over from China last decade. Studied a masters degree in architecture. Upon graduation, he got a job with an architecture firm in London, first as an intern earning below minimum wage for a year or so. The company then sponsored him to get a visa to stay in the UK, he was earning aroun 25-30 k, and he worked for 5 years, increasingly on projects in China, where he had contacts and work experience. A decade on, he is running the business in so far as it relates to China, eventually returning there to open an office, dividing his time between the two countries. It is bringing in millions of pounds for this British architecture firm.

    You just can't train a British person for that kind of role, it isn't possible. But it isn't an uncommon story in the architectural sector. You have to listen to what these industries are saying, not rely on your own theories.

    Being in the EU and putting EU immigration first makes that much harder to do, so hopefully Brexit will open up these opportunities more.
    This is a category error. EU citizens are exercising their rights as citizens within a single market. Nobody thought the EU had any relevance at all to immigration policy before expansion.
    It didn't 1973 -2004 because freedom of movement (or was it right to work before it seemingly morphed) was between fairly even economies pre the Easy Jet age.

    Well it bloody well does now, of course. Anyone with half a brain could see the huge magnetic effect of a big wage disparity post 2004. And that would've been before the UK, Ireland, and Sweden alone gave full access at once.

    Blair et al of course did not possess half a brain.
    It's easy to forget the context of the early 2000s. Perhaps in isolation the decision not to impose transition controls was correct, but it was compounded by other policies.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/920182.stm

    Ms Roche told the IPPR that since the early 1970s the number of people emigrating has outstripped those entering the UK.

    Britain faces a demographic time-bomb, with a quarter of the population expected to be over the age of 65 by 2050, she said.

    Other countries such as the US, Canada and Australia have used immigration as an economic tool, Ms Roche added.
  • Options
    CD13CD13 Posts: 6,352
    edited May 2018
    Mr welshowl,

    "Blair et al of course did not possess half a brain."

    With half a brain, he might have invested money in infrastructure for the areas where mass immigration was likely. Unless he really did want to rub their faces in the diversity.

    It worked well, we voted Leave.
  • Options
    rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 7,952

    Survation.


    @Survation
    9h9 hours ago
    More
    London Council Election Polling. On behalf of @4in10, 81% of Londoners Tell Survation Local Councils should pay the real living wage:

    LOL. First the minimum wage, then the living wage, and now the real living wage.

    Next comes the realer living wage, the even realer living wage, and finally the wage rage that people aren't getting the honest, truly-to-God enhanced extra living wage with sugar, sprinkles and extra cream on top.
    Isn't the 'real' living wage thing because Osborne tried to steal the branding?
  • Options
    welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,460

    welshowl said:

    nielh said:

    A friend of mine came from over from China last decade. Studied a masters degree in architecture. Upon graduation, he got a job with an architecture firm in London, first as an intern earning below minimum wage for a year or so. The company then sponsored him to get a visa to stay in the UK, he was earning aroun 25-30 k, and he worked for 5 years, increasingly on projects in China, where he had contacts and work experience. A decade on, he is running the business in so far as it relates to China, eventually returning there to open an office, dividing his time between the two countries. It is bringing in millions of pounds for this British architecture firm.

    You just can't train a British person for that kind of role, it isn't possible. But it isn't an uncommon story in the architectural sector. You have to listen to what these industries are saying, not rely on your own theories.

    Being in the EU and putting EU immigration first makes that much harder to do, so hopefully Brexit will open up these opportunities more.
    This is a category error. EU citizens are exercising their rights as citizens within a single market. Nobody thought the EU had any relevance at all to immigration policy before expansion.
    It didn't 1973 -2004 because freedom of movement (or was it right to work before it seemingly morphed) was between fairly even economies pre the Easy Jet age.

    Well it bloody well does now, of course. Anyone with half a brain could see the huge magnetic effect of a big wage disparity post 2004. And that would've been before the UK, Ireland, and Sweden alone gave full access at once.

    Blair et al of course did not possess half a brain.
    It's easy to forget the context of the early 2000s. Perhaps in isolation the decision not to impose transition controls was correct, but it was compounded by other policies.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/920182.stm

    Ms Roche told the IPPR that since the early 1970s the number of people emigrating has outstripped those entering the UK.

    Britain faces a demographic time-bomb, with a quarter of the population expected to be over the age of 65 by 2050, she said.

    Other countries such as the US, Canada and Australia have used immigration as an economic tool, Ms Roche added.
    Yes, Australia et al did. Good for them. Under their control. They did not subcontract it to SE Asia.
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,580

    Survation.


    @Survation
    9h9 hours ago
    More
    London Council Election Polling. On behalf of @4in10, 81% of Londoners Tell Survation Local Councils should pay the real living wage:

    LOL. First the minimum wage, then the living wage, and now the real living wage.

    Next comes the realer living wage, the even realer living wage, and finally the wage rage that people aren't getting the honest, truly-to-God enhanced extra living wage with sugar, sprinkles and extra cream on top.
    At the very least they need a better name for it.
  • Options
    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,964
    rkrkrk said:

    Survation.


    @Survation
    9h9 hours ago
    More
    London Council Election Polling. On behalf of @4in10, 81% of Londoners Tell Survation Local Councils should pay the real living wage:

    LOL. First the minimum wage, then the living wage, and now the real living wage.

    Next comes the realer living wage, the even realer living wage, and finally the wage rage that people aren't getting the honest, truly-to-God enhanced extra living wage with sugar, sprinkles and extra cream on top.
    Isn't the 'real' living wage thing because Osborne tried to steal the branding?
    no it's because uncontrolled immigration has suppressed wages for the lower paid so we're having to legislate higher wages for favoured groups.
  • Options
    nielhnielh Posts: 1,307
    welshowl said:

    nielh said:




    It would probably be closer to 50k.
    I agree money is not the only criteria - but it is the simplest to understand, easiest to implement, and perhaps fairest.

    I don't agree with that at all.

    For a start, there are major regional variations on salaries, largely based on the differences in wages between London and the regions. A 50k requirement would effectively limit immigration to very highly skilled and specialised jobs, and the financial services sector (and its various spin offs), mostly in London. It would not benefit many industries where there is a skill shortage eg architecture, or nursing. It would also arguably hold British people back, as there would be massive competition for jobs over a certain salary level. I don't see how that would be fair.

    I don't think that 'simple to understand' and 'easy to implement' should be the guiding principles for an immigration policy.
    "it would also arguably hold British people back. as there would be massive competition for jobs over a certain salary level. I don't see how that would be fair".

    Quite. The minimum salary level now is the minimum wage, or less of course cash in hand down the building site.

    Do you not see this??????
    I am not trying to defend the current system of free movement, in that regard you seem to misunderstand me. I am trying to challenge the view expressed by Gardenwalker and supported by others on here that we need to set an immigration policy based solely on an income threshold. My personal view is that there should be an income threshold, but it should be set quite low (so, somewhere between the minimum wage and the £50k suggested by Gardenwalker) and account for regional and sectoral variations.
  • Options
    rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 7,952

    rkrkrk said:

    Survation.


    @Survation
    9h9 hours ago
    More
    London Council Election Polling. On behalf of @4in10, 81% of Londoners Tell Survation Local Councils should pay the real living wage:

    LOL. First the minimum wage, then the living wage, and now the real living wage.

    Next comes the realer living wage, the even realer living wage, and finally the wage rage that people aren't getting the honest, truly-to-God enhanced extra living wage with sugar, sprinkles and extra cream on top.
    Isn't the 'real' living wage thing because Osborne tried to steal the branding?
    no it's because uncontrolled immigration has suppressed wages for the lower paid so we're having to legislate higher wages for favoured groups.
    You're talking about something else. And also wrong - but that's a separate issue.
  • Options
    AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    TGOHF said:
    To be honest I'm not that worried if the baby box can survive and earth quake.
  • Options
    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,964
    rkrkrk said:

    rkrkrk said:

    Survation.


    @Survation
    9h9 hours ago
    More
    London Council Election Polling. On behalf of @4in10, 81% of Londoners Tell Survation Local Councils should pay the real living wage:

    LOL. First the minimum wage, then the living wage, and now the real living wage.

    Next comes the realer living wage, the even realer living wage, and finally the wage rage that people aren't getting the honest, truly-to-God enhanced extra living wage with sugar, sprinkles and extra cream on top.
    Isn't the 'real' living wage thing because Osborne tried to steal the branding?
    no it's because uncontrolled immigration has suppressed wages for the lower paid so we're having to legislate higher wages for favoured groups.
    You're talking about something else. And also wrong - but that's a separate issue.
    no I'm merely reminding you of the root causes

    and if you don't understand how supply and demand work then maybe it's time you did.
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,505
    welshowl said:

    welshowl said:

    nielh said:

    A friend of mine came from over from China last decade. Studied a masters degree in architecture. Upon graduation, he got a job with an architecture firm in London, first as an intern earning below minimum wage for a year or so. The company then sponsored him to get a visa to stay in the UK, he was earning aroun 25-30 k, and he worked for 5 years, increasingly on projects in China, where he had contacts and work experience. A decade on, he is running the business in so far as it relates to China, eventually returning there to open an office, dividing his time between the two countries. It is bringing in millions of pounds for this British architecture firm.

    You just can't train a British person for that kind of role, it isn't possible. But it isn't an uncommon story in the architectural sector. You have to listen to what these industries are saying, not rely on your own theories.

    Being in the EU and putting EU immigration first makes that much harder to do, so hopefully Brexit will open up these opportunities more.
    This is a category error. EU citizens are exercising their rights as citizens within a single market. Nobody thought the EU had any relevance at all to immigration policy before expansion.
    It didn't 1973 -2004 because freedom of movement (or was it right to work before it seemingly morphed) was between fairly even economies pre the Easy Jet age.

    Well it bloody well does now, of course. Anyone with half a brain could see the huge magnetic effect of a big wage disparity post 2004. And that would've been before the UK, Ireland, and Sweden alone gave full access at once.

    Blair et al of course did not possess half a brain.
    It's easy to forget the context of the early 2000s. Perhaps in isolation the decision not to impose transition controls was correct, but it was compounded by other policies.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/920182.stm

    Ms Roche told the IPPR that since the early 1970s the number of people emigrating has outstripped those entering the UK.

    Britain faces a demographic time-bomb, with a quarter of the population expected to be over the age of 65 by 2050, she said.

    Other countries such as the US, Canada and Australia have used immigration as an economic tool, Ms Roche added.
    Yes, Australia et al did. Good for them. Under their control. They did not subcontract it to SE Asia.
    We had a veto on expansion, we unilaterally chose to waive transition measures, and the bulk of inward migration was not from the EU anyway...

    If we'd had migration at the same rate as Australia the population would be over 100m.
  • Options
    david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,493
    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Big ranges of possible results though (which is surely the correct approach to forecasting something like this):
    https://twitter.com/StephenDFisher/status/991610185306296320

    Fisher goes -206 seats for the big three ?!

    March of the residents association ?
    Makes no sense, given that UKIP will be contributing around 120 seats to the pool. It doesn't inspire confidence.

    Note the table at the end of the article, showing the outcome vs forecasts in 2017. Rallings & Thrasher were miles out then.

    Executive summary: no-one has a clue!

    Edit: Ah yes, looks like a typo. That makes much more sense.
    Are there fewer seats in total this time? I think Birmingham has had its number of councillors cut - have other councils fared similarly / been merged / abolished?
    I don't think that the boundary changes in Leeds have resulted in a reduction in seats.
    No, Leeds hasn't (declaration of interest - I'm a candidate there this year).
    May I ask which ward?
    Middleton Park. I hope I'm not breaking any confidences when I say that I don't expect to be elected.
    Thanks. We can both be gallant losers then.
    I am hoping to beat the SDP candidate (isn't it amazing how some parties refuse to die). Where are you standing?
    I'm making up the numbers in one of the Craven wards.
    The world* will be watching: https://bradford.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/350298
    I think they'd be watching the wrong thing if they're looking for Sandy there. Although there is a Craven ward on Bradford council (Addingham, Steeton and Silsden mainly), I think he's referring to Craven District Council, which is in North Yorkshire?
  • Options
    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,906
    Living Wage
    Provisional Living Wage
    Real Living Wage
    Continuity Living Wage

    Living Wage Defence Association
    Living Wage Volunteer Force

    (Time for a rest!)
  • Options
    rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 7,952

    rkrkrk said:

    rkrkrk said:

    Survation.

    @Survation
    9h9 hours ago
    More
    London Council Election Polling. On behalf of @4in10, 81% of Londoners Tell Survation Local Councils should pay the real living wage:

    LOL. First the minimum wage, then the living wage, and now the real living wage.

    Next comes the realer living wage, the even realer living wage, and finally the wage rage that people aren't getting the honest, truly-to-God enhanced extra living wage with sugar, sprinkles and extra cream on top.
    Isn't the 'real' living wage thing because Osborne tried to steal the branding?
    no it's because uncontrolled immigration has suppressed wages for the lower paid so we're having to legislate higher wages for favoured groups.
    You're talking about something else. And also wrong - but that's a separate issue.
    no I'm merely reminding you of the root causes

    and if you don't understand how supply and demand work then maybe it's time you did.
    Better hand in my economics degrees then! :)
  • Options
    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,964
    rkrkrk said:

    rkrkrk said:

    rkrkrk said:

    Survation.

    @Survation
    9h9 hours ago
    More
    London Council Election Polling. On behalf of @4in10, 81% of Londoners Tell Survation Local Councils should pay the real living wage:

    LOL. First the minimum wage, then the living wage, and now the real living wage.

    Next comes the realer living wage, the even realer living wage, and finally the wage rage that people aren't getting the honest, truly-to-God enhanced extra living wage with sugar, sprinkles and extra cream on top.
    Isn't the 'real' living wage thing because Osborne tried to steal the branding?
    no it's because uncontrolled immigration has suppressed wages for the lower paid so we're having to legislate higher wages for favoured groups.
    You're talking about something else. And also wrong - but that's a separate issue.
    no I'm merely reminding you of the root causes

    and if you don't understand how supply and demand work then maybe it's time you did.
    Better hand in my economics degrees then! :)
    looks like it :-)
  • Options
    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,906

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Big ranges of possible results though (which is surely the correct approach to forecasting something like this):
    https://twitter.com/StephenDFisher/status/991610185306296320

    Fisher goes -206 seats for the big three ?!

    March of the residents association ?
    Makes no sense, given that UKIP will be contributing around 120 seats to the pool. It doesn't inspire confidence.

    Note the table at the end of the article, showing the outcome vs forecasts in 2017. Rallings & Thrasher were miles out then.

    Executive summary: no-one has a clue!

    Edit: Ah yes, looks like a typo. That makes much more sense.
    Are there fewer seats in total this time? I think Birmingham has had its number of councillors cut - have other councils fared similarly / been merged / abolished?
    I don't think that the boundary changes in Leeds have resulted in a reduction in seats.
    No, Leeds hasn't (declaration of interest - I'm a candidate there this year).
    May I ask which ward?
    Middleton Park. I hope I'm not breaking any confidences when I say that I don't expect to be elected.
    Thanks. We can both be gallant losers then.
    I am hoping to beat the SDP candidate (isn't it amazing how some parties refuse to die). Where are you standing?
    I'm making up the numbers in one of the Craven wards.
    The world* will be watching: https://bradford.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/350298
    I think they'd be watching the wrong thing if they're looking for Sandy there. Although there is a Craven ward on Bradford council (Addingham, Steeton and Silsden mainly), I think he's referring to Craven District Council, which is in North Yorkshire?
    Just to add to the confusion, there is also a Craven ward in Pendle.

    But yes, I'm standing in Craven, North Yorkshire.
  • Options
    AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670

    Survation.


    @Survation
    9h9 hours ago
    More
    London Council Election Polling. On behalf of @4in10, 81% of Londoners Tell Survation Local Councils should pay the real living wage:

    LOL. First the minimum wage, then the living wage, and now the real living wage.

    Next comes the realer living wage, the even realer living wage, and finally the wage rage that people aren't getting the honest, truly-to-God enhanced extra living wage with sugar, sprinkles and extra cream on top.
    It had to happen when Osborne co-opted the existing Living Wage tag for his Minimum Wage increase.
  • Options
    DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300

    This sort of thing goes down very well back home. Macron sees a gap (the withdrawal of Britain as a vehicle of influence in Europe) and he’s trying to fill it.

    His accent is awful though. Quite painful. “Fought” sounds like “fart”.
    Australians fought in the second world war as well but in talking about ww1 Macron's dog whistle is that Britain got thousands of Anzacs killed at Gallipoli.
  • Options
    Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820
    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.
  • Options
    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,964

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    the select committee just looks a shambles

    lots of posturing MPs trying to score points as Nicky Morgan tries to be Miss Whiplash
  • Options
    RoyalBlueRoyalBlue Posts: 3,223

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Big ranges of possible results though (which is surely the correct approach to forecasting something like this):
    https://twitter.com/StephenDFisher/status/991610185306296320

    Fisher goes -206 seats for the big three ?!

    March of the residents association ?
    Makes no sense, given that UKIP will be contributing around 120 seats to the pool. It doesn't inspire confidence.

    Note the table at the end of the article, showing the outcome vs forecasts in 2017. Rallings & Thrasher were miles out then.

    Executive summary: no-one has a clue!

    Edit: Ah yes, looks like a typo. That makes much more sense.
    Are there fewer seats in total this time? I think Birmingham has had its number of councillors cut - have other councils fared similarly / been merged / abolished?
    I don't think that the boundary changes in Leeds have resulted in a reduction in seats.
    No, Leeds hasn't (declaration of interest - I'm a candidate there this year).
    May I ask which ward?
    Middleton Park. I hope I'm not breaking any confidences when I say that I don't expect to be elected.
    Thanks. We can both be gallant losers then.
    I am hoping to beat the SDP candidate (isn't it amazing how some parties refuse to die). Where are you standing?
    I'm making up the numbers in one of the Craven wards.
    The world* will be watching: https://bradford.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/350298
    I think they'd be watching the wrong thing if they're looking for Sandy there. Although there is a Craven ward on Bradford council (Addingham, Steeton and Silsden mainly), I think he's referring to Craven District Council, which is in North Yorkshire?
    Just to add to the confusion, there is also a Craven ward in Pendle.

    But yes, I'm standing in Craven, North Yorkshire.
    Good luck, you old Bolshevik :wink:
  • Options
    edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,166
    nielh said:




    It would probably be closer to 50k.
    I agree money is not the only criteria - but it is the simplest to understand, easiest to implement, and perhaps fairest.

    I don't agree with that at all.

    For a start, there are major regional variations on salaries, largely based on the differences in wages between London and the regions. A 50k requirement would effectively limit immigration to very highly skilled and specialised jobs, and the financial services sector (and its various spin offs), mostly in London. It would not benefit many industries where there is a skill shortage eg architecture, or nursing. It would also arguably hold British people back, as there would be massive competition for jobs over a certain salary level. I don't see how that would be fair.

    I don't think that 'simple to understand' and 'easy to implement' should be the guiding principles for an immigration policy.
    The other thing to think about with immigration policy (and other visa stuff) is that other countries will tend to reciprocate, so whatever you do, you need to ask whether you'd want it applied to your own citizens.

    Taking away opportunities for British people on low and medium incomes to get better jobs overseas seems like a weird way to handle perceived loss of opportunities to those same people from foreign competition, but the British are already screwing those people with their "foreign spouses are a luxury lifestyle choice" policy, so maybe it's what the voters want.
  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 76,068

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    It's mostly working, I had one unsuccesful payment last week (Which I quickly redid). Anyway they're paying 5% on 1,500 (Effectively 3k since you can easily open a joint account) again so happy days.
  • Options
    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    AndyJS said:

    Any news or gossip on the local elections?

    Turnout may be "brisk"
  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 76,068

    transition measures, and the bulk of inward migration was not from the EU anyway...

    If we'd had migration at the same rate as Australia the population would be over 100m.

    Australia with their 3 ppl/sq mile and 200 sq metre houses ?
    That Australia ?
  • Options
    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    the select committee just looks a shambles

    lots of posturing MPs trying to score points as Nicky Morgan tries to be Miss Whiplash
    Indeed - trying to get their snippet on the evening news - these committee hearings have become devalued - all about the prima donna MPs being "tough" on a CEO who wouldn't know a server from a baseline.
  • Options
    TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,388
    Quincel said:

    Anyone know what the Survation London VI 51/31 would mean?

    On a uniform swing, Labour would take Barnet but nowhere else. Not that a uniform swing is expected, mind.
    They'd also take Tower Hamlets, but let's be honest, everyone already thinks they do
  • Options
    surbysurby Posts: 1,227
    TGOHF said:

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    the select committee just looks a shambles

    lots of posturing MPs trying to score points as Nicky Morgan tries to be Miss Whiplash
    Indeed - trying to get their snippet on the evening news - these committee hearings have become devalued - all about the prima donna MPs being "tough" on a CEO who wouldn't know a server from a baseline.
    The Select committees in this Parliament have been extremely good. High profile people chairing the committees. Yvette effectively outed Rudd. Sadly, the wrong Tory lost her job.
  • Options
    Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 60,581
    Just returned from hospital and my son in law and he is fine .

    I want to thank so many of you have expressed your kind words and it raises the spirit that so many on here have a generosity of spirit

    I have switched on Parliament channel and just witnessed the most extraordinary full on attack by Savid Javid against the labour front bench allowing members of the labour party to call him a 'coconut' or 'Uncle Tom'. He challenged Corbyn to stand up and denounce it and he remained in place. Diane Abbott stood up and muttered a few words.

  • Options
    surbysurby Posts: 1,227

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    How much about software do these bosses know ? I hope they can use a calculator. Sorry, they can. They know how to work out their bonuses.
  • Options
    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,964
    TGOHF said:

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    the select committee just looks a shambles

    lots of posturing MPs trying to score points as Nicky Morgan tries to be Miss Whiplash
    Indeed - trying to get their snippet on the evening news - these committee hearings have become devalued - all about the prima donna MPs being "tough" on a CEO who wouldn't know a server from a baseline.
    I find it a bit rich that MPs who couldn't run their own departments suddenly get to dawn halos.

    So TSB IT has flopped - not good , but will anyone be questioning ministers on how their NHS IT flop led to 270 premature deaths ? I suspect not.
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    edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,166

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    Dunno, there's something to be said for keeping the upper levels of management busy to keep them from distracting the unlucky sleep-deprived techies who are trying to actually fix the thing.
  • Options
    RhubarbRhubarb Posts: 359
    edited May 2018
    Another poll - and one that's been sat on for a while.

    https://twitter.com/NCPoliticsUK/status/991677756105744387
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    GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 20,904
    nielh said:

    I am not trying to defend the current system of free movement, in that regard you seem to misunderstand me. I am trying to challenge the view expressed by Gardenwalker and supported by others on here that we need to set an immigration policy based solely on an income threshold. My personal view is that there should be an income threshold, but it should be set quite low (so, somewhere between the minimum wage and the £50k suggested by Gardenwalker) and account for regional and sectoral variations.

    In my original post I suggested there would of course be skill- or industry-based exceptions.

    However, I do think policy should be simple to understand and easy to inplement. The whole problem with immigration, politically, is that’s a whole mountain of myth has built up around it. Light is a great disinfectant, let’s be open and honest about it.

    As to your stuff about unfair on the regions, I really don’t get it. Immigrants need jobs. We need immigrants to have jobs. They should simply go where the work is.
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    TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,388
    Rhubarb said:

    Another poll - and one that's been sat on for a while.

    https://twitter.com/NCPoliticsUK/status/991677756105744387

    sat on for a while is an understatement

    THREE WEEKS OLD should be in big shouty capitals
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    welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,460
    @williamglenn

    "We had a veto on expansion, we unilaterally chose to waive transition measures, and the bulk of inward migration was not from the EU anyway...

    If we'd had migration at the same rate as Australia the population would be over 100m"


    Yes we had a veto. Blair threw it away (and then threw more away with Lisbon despite promising a say). 23/6/16 was the first time we'd had a specific chance to comment on that decision. So amongst other things we voted to "unwaiver" so to speak. It was the most obvious symbol of the control and decision making we had carelessly given way.

    Australia has a continent to populate as you are well aware. Our needs in terms of immigration are not theirs. They may well wish to encourage lots of pineapple propagation specialists for their pizza industry (to just pluck one example out of thin air), for which our chilly climes would have little need.

    The point is, whom and how many they let in is under the democratic control of the Australian people, not carelessly farmed out without thinking about it (remember the "15K will come" fiasco?). Lucky country.
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    Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    Dunno, there's something to be said for keeping the upper levels of management busy to keep them from distracting the unlucky sleep-deprived techies who are trying to actually fix the thing.
    Good point.

    It's worse than that, though: TSB have called in lawyers to investigate what went wrong. God only knows why they think lawyers would have the faintest clue about this.
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    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,977

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    Dunno, there's something to be said for keeping the upper levels of management busy to keep them from distracting the unlucky sleep-deprived techies who are trying to actually fix the thing.
    +1
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    logical_songlogical_song Posts: 9,741

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    Dunno, there's something to be said for keeping the upper levels of management busy to keep them from distracting the unlucky sleep-deprived techies who are trying to actually fix the thing.
    Good point.

    It's worse than that, though: TSB have called in lawyers to investigate what went wrong. God only knows why they think lawyers would have the faintest clue about this.
    Fix the problem, not the blame!
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    GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 20,904
    This is really worth a read, and provides an answer to the question I was asked a week or so ago - why do I think Rees-Mogg is full of bullshit?

    See also his shift from anti-Lords reform a few years ago to “let’s burn the House down” stance today.
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 50,233

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    Dunno, there's something to be said for keeping the upper levels of management busy to keep them from distracting the unlucky sleep-deprived techies who are trying to actually fix the thing.
    ^^^^THIS :+1:
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    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,977
    Sandpit said:

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    Dunno, there's something to be said for keeping the upper levels of management busy to keep them from distracting the unlucky sleep-deprived techies who are trying to actually fix the thing.
    ^^^^THIS :+1:
    I always found it interesting working in IT consulting, especially when in business implementation teams.

    The toughest management meetings to be heard in were always the 'this is a problem/is going to be a problem'.

    The easiest ones in which to get a hearing were when the problem had manifested and suddenly management wants a solution.

    Of course, the easiest solution would have been to have listened to the 'this is a problem/is going to be a problem' meeting...
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,065
    Good afternoon, everyone.

    F1: wants a 10 year deal for a Miami street race:
    https://twitter.com/A_S12/status/991683092443291649
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    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    Dunno, there's something to be said for keeping the upper levels of management busy to keep them from distracting the unlucky sleep-deprived techies who are trying to actually fix the thing.
    Good point.

    It's worse than that, though: TSB have called in lawyers to investigate what went wrong. God only knows why they think lawyers would have the faintest clue about this.
    Perhaps the damage was malicious ?
  • Options
    JonathanDJonathanD Posts: 2,400

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    Dunno, there's something to be said for keeping the upper levels of management busy to keep them from distracting the unlucky sleep-deprived techies who are trying to actually fix the thing.
    Good point.

    It's worse than that, though: TSB have called in lawyers to investigate what went wrong. God only knows why they think lawyers would have the faintest clue about this.
    The TSB upper echelons don't need to focus on how to fix the software but do need to be quizzed on how they are going to compensate customers / ensure any wrongs are righted, etc.

    No overdraft charges for March / April are a good start - I just wish I had maxed out my account to take advantage ;-)
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    AnorakAnorak Posts: 6,621
    TGOHF said:

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    Dunno, there's something to be said for keeping the upper levels of management busy to keep them from distracting the unlucky sleep-deprived techies who are trying to actually fix the thing.
    Good point.

    It's worse than that, though: TSB have called in lawyers to investigate what went wrong. God only knows why they think lawyers would have the faintest clue about this.
    Perhaps the damage was malicious ?
    Then you need a policeman, not a lawyer!
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 76,068
    TGOHF said:

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    Dunno, there's something to be said for keeping the upper levels of management busy to keep them from distracting the unlucky sleep-deprived techies who are trying to actually fix the thing.
    Good point.

    It's worse than that, though: TSB have called in lawyers to investigate what went wrong. God only knows why they think lawyers would have the faintest clue about this.
    Perhaps the damage was malicious ?
    Doubtful, they were migrating systems.
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 50,233
    Mortimer said:

    Sandpit said:

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    Dunno, there's something to be said for keeping the upper levels of management busy to keep them from distracting the unlucky sleep-deprived techies who are trying to actually fix the thing.
    ^^^^THIS :+1:
    I always found it interesting working in IT consulting, especially when in business implementation teams.

    The toughest management meetings to be heard in were always the 'this is a problem/is going to be a problem'.

    The easiest ones in which to get a hearing were when the problem had manifested and suddenly management wants a solution.

    Of course, the easiest solution would have been to have listened to the 'this is a problem/is going to be a problem' meeting...
    The management types seem to think that the upgrade will just work perfectly because magic, reduce your project timescale, your QA budget and your downtime window - then be upset when something out of the ordinary happens, despite their being in the risk meetings arguing against all the mitigation that the project team wished to incorporate. Or maybe I’ve just been unlucky with my customers!
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,065
    Mr. Sandpit, sounds akin to the likes of May/Cooper when they bleat about some sort of magic filter or algorithm that will take all the badness away from the internet. Even as someone who has the technical aptitude of a potato, it's alarming how ignorant some politicians are about the most basic aspects of technology.
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    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,977

    Mr. Sandpit, sounds akin to the likes of May/Cooper when they bleat about some sort of magic filter or algorithm that will take all the badness away from the internet. Even as someone who has the technical aptitude of a potato, it's alarming how ignorant some politicians are about the most basic aspects of technology.

    Indeed Mr Dancer.

    I wonder if there are any IT consultant politicians? If so, maybe they should be given a job at the HO....
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    Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 49,760

    Rhubarb said:

    Another poll - and one that's been sat on for a while.

    https://twitter.com/NCPoliticsUK/status/991677756105744387

    sat on for a while is an understatement

    THREE WEEKS OLD should be in big shouty capitals
    Bloody Massive Gap!
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    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,977
    Anyone know when the cabinet Brexit committee meets?
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    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,505
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    Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 31,120

    This is really worth a read, and provides an answer to the question I was asked a week or so ago - why do I think Rees-Mogg is full of bullshit?

    See also his shift from anti-Lords reform a few years ago to “let’s burn the House down” stance today.
    It really isn't a good piece at all. It says nothing about Brexit or Brexiteers and everything about Massie and his own delusions and bigotry. One might as well recommend a piece entitled "Why all Europhiles are Communists and Traitors who pine for the days of the Soviet Union" It would be about as accurate analysis as this garbage.
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    Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 49,760
    The EU is a 1950s throwback whose origins date from the Treaty of Paris way back in 1951.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,065
    Mr. Glenn, no surprise, but still contemptible. May should get off the damned fence.

    If Labour had a leader who wasn't a wretch I'd probably be in a political No Man's Land right now. I'd still prefer that to having to vote blue because the red alternative is someone who can't be trusted in so many ways.
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 50,233
    Mortimer said:

    Mr. Sandpit, sounds akin to the likes of May/Cooper when they bleat about some sort of magic filter or algorithm that will take all the badness away from the internet. Even as someone who has the technical aptitude of a potato, it's alarming how ignorant some politicians are about the most basic aspects of technology.

    Indeed Mr Dancer.

    I wonder if there are any IT consultant politicians? If so, maybe they should be given a job at the HO....
    The only one I know of is Nick Palmer, who was an IT Director before he was an MP. More politicians with a technical background would indeed be very useful.
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    not_on_firenot_on_fire Posts: 4,352

    The EU is a 1950s throwback whose origins date from the Treaty of Paris way back in 1951.
    Pretty modern compared to Brexiteers' c.1850 worldview of the British Empire ruling the waves
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,065
    Mr. Fire, yet again a pro-Remain/pro-EU person raises the Empire and attributes that to the Leave side. The only people banging on about the Empire are Remainers who wish to paint the other side in a bad light. It's silly. You are a silly sausage.
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    rural_voterrural_voter Posts: 2,038
    Mortimer said:

    Mr. Sandpit, sounds akin to the likes of May/Cooper when they bleat about some sort of magic filter or algorithm that will take all the badness away from the internet. Even as someone who has the technical aptitude of a potato, it's alarming how ignorant some politicians are about the most basic aspects of technology.

    Indeed Mr Dancer.

    I wonder if there are any IT consultant politicians? If so, maybe they should be given a job at the HO....
    I did come across this ...

    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mps-accuse-founder-of-pro-brexit-legatum-institute-of-being-russian-agent-0wlwm5jfx

    A new MP too, using parliamentary privilege to name someone. Some of the old ones never get around to using it.
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    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,505

    Mr. Fire, yet again a pro-Remain/pro-EU person raises the Empire and attributes that to the Leave side. The only people banging on about the Empire are Remainers who wish to paint the other side in a bad light. It's silly. You are a silly sausage.

    Why did a Tory MP yesterday suggest we share our UN Security Council seat with Canada and Australia?
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    Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 60,581

    Mr. Fire, yet again a pro-Remain/pro-EU person raises the Empire and attributes that to the Leave side. The only people banging on about the Empire are Remainers who wish to paint the other side in a bad light. It's silly. You are a silly sausage.

    Why did a Tory MP yesterday suggest we share our UN Security Council seat with Canada and Australia?
    Wasn't Fox was it
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,505

    Mr. Fire, yet again a pro-Remain/pro-EU person raises the Empire and attributes that to the Leave side. The only people banging on about the Empire are Remainers who wish to paint the other side in a bad light. It's silly. You are a silly sausage.

    Why did a Tory MP yesterday suggest we share our UN Security Council seat with Canada and Australia?
    Wasn't Fox was it
    Bob Seely.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,065
    Mr. Voter, yeah, saw that headline the other day. A disturbing development.

    Mr. Glenn, idiocy. Those advocating the voluntary and needless surrender of authority and power are turnips.
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    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,505

    Mr. Glenn, idiocy. Those advocating the voluntary and needless surrender of authority and power are turnips.

    Does that statement not also apply to our place on the European Council?
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    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    Dunno, there's something to be said for keeping the upper levels of management busy to keep them from distracting the unlucky sleep-deprived techies who are trying to actually fix the thing.
    Good point.

    It's worse than that, though: TSB have called in lawyers to investigate what went wrong. God only knows why they think lawyers would have the faintest clue about this.
    That sounds to me like an excellent solution to any problem.
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    sarissasarissa Posts: 1,814
    Pulpstar said:

    I can't help feeling that it would be better if the bosses of TSB were working flat-out to sort out the mess, rather than being hauled before a Select Committee to explain why they haven't yet sorted out the mess.

    It's mostly working, I had one unsuccesful payment last week (Which I quickly redid). Anyway they're paying 5% on 1,500 (Effectively 3k since you can easily open a joint account) again so happy days.
    Except I can't log on to create /switch to this type of account....:-(
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    Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 49,760

    The EU is a 1950s throwback whose origins date from the Treaty of Paris way back in 1951.
    Pretty modern compared to Brexiteers' c.1850 worldview of the British Empire ruling the waves
    1850s? Weren't we allied with the French against the Russian Bear? :)
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    Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 49,760

    Mr. Fire, yet again a pro-Remain/pro-EU person raises the Empire and attributes that to the Leave side. The only people banging on about the Empire are Remainers who wish to paint the other side in a bad light. It's silly. You are a silly sausage.

    Why did a Tory MP yesterday suggest we share our UN Security Council seat with Canada and Australia?
    Wasn't Fox was it
    Bob Seely.
    Never 'eard of 'im :)
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    GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 20,904

    This is really worth a read, and provides an answer to the question I was asked a week or so ago - why do I think Rees-Mogg is full of bullshit?

    See also his shift from anti-Lords reform a few years ago to “let’s burn the House down” stance today.
    It really isn't a good piece at all. It says nothing about Brexit or Brexiteers and everything about Massie and his own delusions and bigotry. One might as well recommend a piece entitled "Why all Europhiles are Communists and Traitors who pine for the days of the Soviet Union" It would be about as accurate analysis as this garbage.
    Perhaps you didn’t read it, or perhaps you just failed to understand it.

    He is talking about Rees Mogg and Brexiter rhetoric, not Brexit per se.

    Or, do you go along with the new JRM line that our most positive future is to be Trump’s bitch?
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    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,409
    Sandpit said:

    Mortimer said:

    Mr. Sandpit, sounds akin to the likes of May/Cooper when they bleat about some sort of magic filter or algorithm that will take all the badness away from the internet. Even as someone who has the technical aptitude of a potato, it's alarming how ignorant some politicians are about the most basic aspects of technology.

    Indeed Mr Dancer.

    I wonder if there are any IT consultant politicians? If so, maybe they should be given a job at the HO....
    The only one I know of is Nick Palmer, who was an IT Director before he was an MP. More politicians with a technical background would indeed be very useful.
    Emma Nicholson was one I believe
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    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,409

    Mr. Voter, yeah, saw that headline the other day. A disturbing development.

    Mr. Glenn, idiocy. Those advocating the voluntary and needless surrender of authority and power are turnips.

    Also, how would it work? Rotation? What if Australia and us had different views on something?
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    Tissue_PriceTissue_Price Posts: 9,039
    Sandpit said:

    Mortimer said:

    Mr. Sandpit, sounds akin to the likes of May/Cooper when they bleat about some sort of magic filter or algorithm that will take all the badness away from the internet. Even as someone who has the technical aptitude of a potato, it's alarming how ignorant some politicians are about the most basic aspects of technology.

    Indeed Mr Dancer.

    I wonder if there are any IT consultant politicians? If so, maybe they should be given a job at the HO....
    The only one I know of is Nick Palmer, who was an IT Director before he was an MP. More politicians with a technical background would indeed be very useful.
    I second this.
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    Stark_DawningStark_Dawning Posts: 9,352
    Rees-Mogg's intentions are now laid bare: for Britain to be the 51st state of Trump's America.
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    Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 31,120

    The EU is a 1950s throwback whose origins date from the Treaty of Paris way back in 1951.
    Pretty modern compared to Brexiteers' c.1850 worldview of the British Empire ruling the waves
    Another moronic comment with no basis in fact
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,065
    Mr. 1000, well, quite. It's dumb.
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    surbysurby Posts: 1,227

    Mr. Fire, yet again a pro-Remain/pro-EU person raises the Empire and attributes that to the Leave side. The only people banging on about the Empire are Remainers who wish to paint the other side in a bad light. It's silly. You are a silly sausage.

    Why did a Tory MP yesterday suggest we share our UN Security Council seat with Canada and Australia?
    What about New Zealand ?
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    surbysurby Posts: 1,227
    Running out of long grass!
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    Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 31,120

    This is really worth a read, and provides an answer to the question I was asked a week or so ago - why do I think Rees-Mogg is full of bullshit?

    See also his shift from anti-Lords reform a few years ago to “let’s burn the House down” stance today.
    It really isn't a good piece at all. It says nothing about Brexit or Brexiteers and everything about Massie and his own delusions and bigotry. One might as well recommend a piece entitled "Why all Europhiles are Communists and Traitors who pine for the days of the Soviet Union" It would be about as accurate analysis as this garbage.
    Perhaps you didn’t read it, or perhaps you just failed to understand it.

    He is talking about Rees Mogg and Brexiter rhetoric, not Brexit per se.

    Or, do you go along with the new JRM line that our most positive future is to be Trump’s bitch?
    I did read it and I did understand what he was doing and it was not just directed at Rees Mogg. Nor would it be a reasonable characterisation of his views anyway. It is you who have misunderstood it or rather have accepted it because it matches your own misguided preconceptions.

    Now I am certainly not a Mogg fan as I dislike his religious views intensely and would not vote for him as PM. But this sort of idiotic characterisation which bears no relation to reality just shows how out of touch Massie and his ilk are.
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    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,505
    surby said:

    Running out of long grass!
    It's starting to feel as though Brexit will collapse before May runs out of long grass.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,065
    Mr. Surby/Mr. Glenn, indeed.
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    FF43FF43 Posts: 15,921

    It's not often that I agree with Jacob Rees-Mogg on Brexit matters, but I do think he and his fellow true-believers are right that the mooted 'Customs Partnership' idea is bonkers. It would involve charging EU external tariffs at our borders for imports from outside the EU, and then refunding them in part or entirely if we wanted to charge lower tariffs for goods used in the UK. It would also mean following EU regulations for imports, unless there was some complex scheme for tracking where things went.

    It seems to be a scheme which has virtually all of the disadvantages of a full customs union, but with an extra layer of massive administrative complication.

    More details here:

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/05/01/eurosceptic-tory-mps-say-customs-partnership-unworkable/

    The non-customs union customs union idea IS bonkers. I'm pretty sure Olly Robbins who apparently is promoting it knows that, although it's possible Theresa May does genuinely believe in six impossible things before Brexit. Leaver suspicion of the motives of those promoting the idea is well founded, I suspect. Having said that, I think we will end up in a customs union. It's a question of when people face up to the inevitable compromise.
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    David_EvershedDavid_Evershed Posts: 6,506
    Mortimer said:

    Mr. Sandpit, sounds akin to the likes of May/Cooper when they bleat about some sort of magic filter or algorithm that will take all the badness away from the internet. Even as someone who has the technical aptitude of a potato, it's alarming how ignorant some politicians are about the most basic aspects of technology.

    Indeed Mr Dancer.

    I wonder if there are any IT consultant politicians? If so, maybe they should be given a job at the HO....
    At today's treasury Select Committee we heard from the TSB CEO that the IT problem eminates from the Middleware which is the software that sits between the customer account files and the various systems which deal with branches, customer computers and mobile devices.

    If Mr Palmer is familiar with the middleware on IBM mainframes then perhaps he should offer his services to TSB.
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    Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 31,120

    Mr. Fire, yet again a pro-Remain/pro-EU person raises the Empire and attributes that to the Leave side. The only people banging on about the Empire are Remainers who wish to paint the other side in a bad light. It's silly. You are a silly sausage.

    I do sometimes think that there was a strain of Pro Europeanism in the Civil Service and in politics who saw joining the EEC as a way to replace the Empire. They thought we would naturally end up leading because we were so much better at it than Johnny foreigner.

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    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,977

    Mortimer said:

    Mr. Sandpit, sounds akin to the likes of May/Cooper when they bleat about some sort of magic filter or algorithm that will take all the badness away from the internet. Even as someone who has the technical aptitude of a potato, it's alarming how ignorant some politicians are about the most basic aspects of technology.

    Indeed Mr Dancer.

    I wonder if there are any IT consultant politicians? If so, maybe they should be given a job at the HO....
    At today's treasury Select Committee we heard from the TSB CEO that the IT problem eminates from the Middleware which is the software that sits between the customer account files and the various systems which deal with branches, customer computers and mobile devices.

    If Mr Palmer is familiar with the middleware on IBM mainframes then perhaps he should offer his services to TSB.
    Yuck. I'd hate to be involved in the meetings of the migration team, presently.....
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    TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,388
    Mortimer said:

    Mortimer said:

    Mr. Sandpit, sounds akin to the likes of May/Cooper when they bleat about some sort of magic filter or algorithm that will take all the badness away from the internet. Even as someone who has the technical aptitude of a potato, it's alarming how ignorant some politicians are about the most basic aspects of technology.

    Indeed Mr Dancer.

    I wonder if there are any IT consultant politicians? If so, maybe they should be given a job at the HO....
    At today's treasury Select Committee we heard from the TSB CEO that the IT problem eminates from the Middleware which is the software that sits between the customer account files and the various systems which deal with branches, customer computers and mobile devices.

    If Mr Palmer is familiar with the middleware on IBM mainframes then perhaps he should offer his services to TSB.
    Yuck. I'd hate to be involved in the meetings of the migration team, presently.....
    Surely migrating the systems of a major bank would be a stressful job even if it went to plan!
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    David_EvershedDavid_Evershed Posts: 6,506
    edited May 2018

    Mortimer said:

    Mortimer said:

    Mr. Sandpit, sounds akin to the likes of May/Cooper when they bleat about some sort of magic filter or algorithm that will take all the badness away from the internet. Even as someone who has the technical aptitude of a potato, it's alarming how ignorant some politicians are about the most basic aspects of technology.

    Indeed Mr Dancer.

    I wonder if there are any IT consultant politicians? If so, maybe they should be given a job at the HO....
    At today's treasury Select Committee we heard from the TSB CEO that the IT problem eminates from the Middleware which is the software that sits between the customer account files and the various systems which deal with branches, customer computers and mobile devices.

    If Mr Palmer is familiar with the middleware on IBM mainframes then perhaps he should offer his services to TSB.
    Yuck. I'd hate to be involved in the meetings of the migration team, presently.....
    Surely migrating the systems of a major bank would be a stressful job even if it went to plan!

    Not just when migrating the systems. On a day to day basis when the ATM cashpoints go down or the online system goes down there is tremendous pressure on those responsible.

    IT systems can have unknown unknowns.
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,580

    surby said:

    Running out of long grass!
    It's starting to feel as though Brexit will collapse before May runs out of long grass.
    No kidding - it is simply mind boggling that they still have not got decisions on major aspects, and surely raises the chances of things collapsing, even if that is still not the most likely outcome.
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 50,233
    edited May 2018

    Mortimer said:

    Mr. Sandpit, sounds akin to the likes of May/Cooper when they bleat about some sort of magic filter or algorithm that will take all the badness away from the internet. Even as someone who has the technical aptitude of a potato, it's alarming how ignorant some politicians are about the most basic aspects of technology.

    Indeed Mr Dancer.

    I wonder if there are any IT consultant politicians? If so, maybe they should be given a job at the HO....
    At today's treasury Select Committee we heard from the TSB CEO that the IT problem eminates from the Middleware which is the software that sits between the customer account files and the various systems which deal with branches, customer computers and mobile devices.

    If Mr Palmer is familiar with the middleware on IBM mainframes then perhaps he should offer his services to TSB.
    It’s almost always the ‘middleware’ interface layers between systems that cause the problems, as they can’t be bought off the shelf and are custom built for each implementation depending on the various systems in use. The IBM mainframe will be what runs the transactional database for the bank, the middleware will translate the modern database language from the web applications to the comparatively old database of the IBM back end.

    The problem is most likely caused by their being insufficiently able to replicate the live ‘production’ system in the test environment, so the problems didn’t get noticed until the changes went into production. As they were replacing one of the systems, there could have been an issue with the migration process itself, leaving a database in a messed-up state that had to be recovered.

    Pleased I’m not in their IT team this week!
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,580

    Good afternoon, everyone.

    F1: wants a 10 year deal for a Miami street race:
    https://twitter.com/A_S12/status/991683092443291649

    They truly hate non-street races, don't they?

    Bake is an exciting venue, so the way forward seems clear - drop Monaco, and take on Miami if it is a decent street circuit proposed.
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    David_EvershedDavid_Evershed Posts: 6,506
    FF43 said:

    It's not often that I agree with Jacob Rees-Mogg on Brexit matters, but I do think he and his fellow true-believers are right that the mooted 'Customs Partnership' idea is bonkers. It would involve charging EU external tariffs at our borders for imports from outside the EU, and then refunding them in part or entirely if we wanted to charge lower tariffs for goods used in the UK. It would also mean following EU regulations for imports, unless there was some complex scheme for tracking where things went.

    It seems to be a scheme which has virtually all of the disadvantages of a full customs union, but with an extra layer of massive administrative complication.

    More details here:

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/05/01/eurosceptic-tory-mps-say-customs-partnership-unworkable/

    The non-customs union customs union idea IS bonkers. I'm pretty sure Olly Robbins who apparently is promoting it knows that, although it's possible Theresa May does genuinely believe in six impossible things before Brexit. Leaver suspicion of the motives of those promoting the idea is well founded, I suspect. Having said that, I think we will end up in a customs union. It's a question of when people face up to the inevitable compromise.
    More inevitable is World Trade Organisation terms.

    We should have started with WTO and negotiated with the EU from that position.
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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,973

    Just returned from hospital and my son in law and he is fine .

    I want to thank so many of you have expressed your kind words and it raises the spirit that so many on here have a generosity of spirit

    I have switched on Parliament channel and just witnessed the most extraordinary full on attack by Savid Javid against the labour front bench allowing members of the labour party to call him a 'coconut' or 'Uncle Tom'. He challenged Corbyn to stand up and denounce it and he remained in place. Diane Abbott stood up and muttered a few words.

    Glad to hear your son in law is fine.

    Telegraph account of the clash:

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/05/02/sajid-javid-challenges-jeremy-corbyn-condemn-hard-left-activists/
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    Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 60,581
    kle4 said:

    surby said:

    Running out of long grass!
    It's starting to feel as though Brexit will collapse before May runs out of long grass.
    No kidding - it is simply mind boggling that they still have not got decisions on major aspects, and surely raises the chances of things collapsing, even if that is still not the most likely outcome.
    I think TM is running the time down to the HOC vote which will either confirm we leave the CU or remain in 'a' CU
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,065
    Mr. kle4, ha, I wouldn't mind dropping Monaco but it won't happen.

    Street circuits are convenient because there are a shitload of potential spectators right there already. They're mostly rubbish because they tend to be constricted and the corners are mostly right angles, which is terrible.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,065
    Mr. NorthWales, glad your son-in-law is ok.
This discussion has been closed.