I wonder if there is a feeling inside the Lib Dems that Browne has gone rogue? It's a surprise since it seemed from Clegg's conference that he was going to carry on hitting his head against a brick wall trying to change his party. Has he now realised that his party can't be changed and given up on it?
Like it or not, maybe he now realises it's his destiny to lead a party who's heart beats on the left.
And am I right in thinking that the phrase "He said that the commission thought it was difficult to see how the free market alone could resolve the capacity-demand imbalance in the South East." could mean that the state would have to pay?
So as we appraoch 3.00pm, we have the Tories doing much as predicted (nothing inspiring, nothing stupid), the LibDems being utter plonkers - Norman Baker, Susan Kramer, I ask you - and Ed massacring the Blairite innocents.
Balls was like a sailor on shore leave as education secretary in the run up to the last election. He was shamelessly pissing money all over the spot with the knowledge that he wouldnt have to pick up the bill. Something Gove will be pretty good at throwing back.
It's also not an attack that works so well coming from someone who's diverted a lot of money to increase school places in areas with excess space at the same time as there's a significant shortage in other areas.
Yes, the Tories really cut the amount of money going towards increasing school places...
"It therefore provided core capital funding to authorities totalling £400 million a year from 2007-08 to 2010-11, to help cover local growth in need for places....
Under its 2010 Spending Review settlement in October 2010, the Department doubled its specific core funding for new places to £800 million a year from 2011-12 to 2014-15"
My other point is that he's spending it in the wrong places... so increased spending as you cite above is all very nice, but the free school programme means that it's achieving less than it should.
The NAO link is good, as is the direct evidence given to the PAC by the DoE civil servants.
Also the Free Schools Program money is in addition to the Capital Funding for New School Places program. Add that money in and you have a 3 times increase in the money being spent by the Tories over Labour on new school places.
Its also worth noting what the NAO says about Balls's pet Building schools for the Future program
"The primary purpose of these two programmes was the refurbishment of existing schools"
This is the criticism of Balls, that he was wasting money and not prioritising properly.
Byrne out, Murphy down, Lewis (at least moved). Massacre of the Blairites.
tim? Happy?
Twigg was absolutely hopeless on Daily Politics during the party conference. He reminded me of Brown, but without the charm or charisma ...
Twigg's problem was that he agreed with Gove - and given that Gove had pinched 90% of Labour's academy policy - it left nowhere for Twigg to go bar ineffectual opposition he didn't have his heart in.
Twigg was useless anyway. For the reasons Plato argued a couple of posts away Byrne was always the first likely casuality but he gave a good conference speech
If true, I am surprised Murphy accepted International Development.
Matthew Sinclair @mjhsinclair MT @SkyNewsBreak: National Grid says risk of blackouts this Winter is at highest level since 2007 <- quick, close coal power plants!</p>
Were there blackouts from insufficient capacity in 2007?
Lol. Edmund Out-Platoing Plato.
You will notice that I very rarely use another's name in vain - if you'd like me to start with you, I'd be happy to do so.
If Ed Miliband has indeed demoted Jim Murphy, that will go down like a bag of sick in Scotland. Together with Douglas Alexander he is seen as one of the most able and intelligent Labour politicians. Obviously I hope to live long enough to see him lose his seat back to the Tories but he is a very good speaker though clearly by his accent very very Glaswegian.
If Ed Miliband has indeed demoted Jim Murphy, that will go down like a bag of sick in Scotland. Together with Douglas Alexander he is seen as one of the most able and intelligent Labour politicians. Obviously I hope to live long enough to see him lose his seat back to the Tories but he is a very good speaker though clearly by his accent very very Glaswegian.
If Ed Miliband has indeed demoted Jim Murphy, that will go down like a bag of sick in Scotland. Together with Douglas Alexander he is seen as one of the most able and intelligent Labour politicians. Obviously I hope to live long enough to see him lose his seat back to the Tories but he is a very good speaker though clearly by his accent very very Glaswegian.
He made a fool of himself over Falkirk and his accusations against Unite. I agree he's a good tv performer but he's an alleged Blairite which isn't too popular nowadays. I think Alexander has been pretty good, so I don't expect to see EdM moving him.
Jeremy Browne – a very nice and able Minister – has been sacked and replaced at the Home Office by Norman Baker. Norman Baker may also be a very nice man. But he’s also a conspiracy theorist. Literally...
How is it possible that a man who believes the British security services were either directly involved in murdering – or covering up the murder of – David Kelly now be a Minister at the Home Office with the sensitive security responsibilities that entails? Come to that, if Baker thinks mysterious hit squads and cover-up teams are on the loose, how is he going to feel working late at night in the bowels of the Home Office?
It’s a ludicrous appointment. What does Nick Clegg think he's doing?
Jeremy Browne – a very nice and able Minister – has been sacked and replaced at the Home Office by Norman Baker. Norman Baker may also be a very nice man. But he’s also a conspiracy theorist. Literally...
How is it possible that a man who believes the British security services were either directly involved in murdering – or covering up the murder of – David Kelly now be a Minister at the Home Office with the sensitive security responsibilities that entails? Come to that, if Baker thinks mysterious hit squads and cover-up teams are on the loose, how is he going to feel working late at night in the bowels of the Home Office?
It’s a ludicrous appointment. What does Nick Clegg think he's doing?
Hodges rather stupidly admits he hasn't read the book as he bashes it. Poor journalism.
Baker's conclusions may be stupid, self-serving or mad, but at least read the book before you come to that conclusion. And no, I haven't read it.
Jeremy Browne – a very nice and able Minister – has been sacked and replaced at the Home Office by Norman Baker. Norman Baker may also be a very nice man. But he’s also a conspiracy theorist. Literally...
How is it possible that a man who believes the British security services were either directly involved in murdering – or covering up the murder of – David Kelly now be a Minister at the Home Office with the sensitive security responsibilities that entails? Come to that, if Baker thinks mysterious hit squads and cover-up teams are on the loose, how is he going to feel working late at night in the bowels of the Home Office?
It’s a ludicrous appointment. What does Nick Clegg think he's doing?
The boy Hodges in the DT made me laugh.
What will happen to the Blairites? The Labour Left are in the ascendant, and they are looking for scalps. Unite's Len McCluskey has frequently called for Miliband to rid himself of apostates such as Liam Byrne, Stephen Twigg, and Jim Murphy. If Miliband were to do so, it would send a damaging signal that McCluskey is the man really pulling the shadow cabinet strings, so a mass cull is unlikely.
Scot Dario Franchitti had a massive crash at the Indycar race at Houston this weekend. He suffered a fractured spine and broken ankle, but it would have been much, much worse. A few spectators were hit by debris; none appear to be seriously injured.
1524: The Telegraph says both Liam Byrne and Stephen Twigg have been sacked in what it describes as a "Blairite bloodbath". It says Labour's current Shadow Treasury Minister Rachel Reeves is likely to replace Liam Byrne at the Department for work and Pensions.
So we have Liam Byrne who supported Universal Credit and Stephen Twigg who seemed largely to support free schools (at least in his own constituency) both sacked. We have Andy Burnham having once again made enough of a fuss at reshuffling time to make it difficult to get rid of him. And we have the competent Jim Murphy sidelined (surprised he took the job to be honest).
I think the one nation stuff was always a little fanciful. What we are now going to see is a much more direct attack from the left and consensus be damned. The Blairites are dead and the Brownites have finally won, after both the principals have left the stage.
If Ed Miliband has indeed demoted Jim Murphy, that will go down like a bag of sick in Scotland. Together with Douglas Alexander he is seen as one of the most able and intelligent Labour politicians. Obviously I hope to live long enough to see him lose his seat back to the Tories but he is a very good speaker though clearly by his accent very very Glaswegian.
He would accept anything on the greasy pole, likes the trough too much
"More than a dozen Muslim clerics have been caught agreeing to marry off girls as young as 14. Four imams are now under investigation, after they offered to arrange the illegal ceremonies.
"Undercover reporters, posing as the mother and brother of a 14-year-old, visited 56 mosques across the country and asked clerics to perform an Islamic marriage ceremony, known as a nika. Imams at 18 mosques agreed – including one who has advised the police. The preacher was prepared to arrange the nika despite being told that the ‘bride’ was being forced to move in with a man against her wishes."
It is extremely rare for an imam to also be an assistant registrar.
Therefore it would be illegal as a false marriage no matter what the ages of the people concerned. But, this is never enforced.
Should be interesting when they and parish priests refuse to "marry" gay couples. Then the solids will really hit the air conditioning.
Comments
Byrne out, Murphy down, Lewis (at least moved). Massacre of the Blairites.
tim? Happy?
@GuidoFawkes Here's Ed's letter to Liam Byrne:
Dear Liam,
We have to sack you. There's no money left.
Regards,
Ed
(HT @Bottom_To_Top )
Iain @Iain_33
Shadow Education Secretary Stephen Twigg sacked #reshuffle
Like it or not, maybe he now realises it's his destiny to lead a party who's heart beats on the left.
Only a provisional report, but still fuel on the fire:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24429443
And am I right in thinking that the phrase "He said that the commission thought it was difficult to see how the free market alone could resolve the capacity-demand imbalance in the South East." could mean that the state would have to pay?
The NAO link is good, as is the direct evidence given to the PAC by the DoE civil servants.
Also the Free Schools Program money is in addition to the Capital Funding for New School Places program. Add that money in and you have a 3 times increase in the money being spent by the Tories over Labour on new school places.
Its also worth noting what the NAO says about Balls's pet Building schools for the Future program
"The primary purpose of these two programmes was the refurbishment of existing schools"
This is the criticism of Balls, that he was wasting money and not prioritising properly.
I'll wait to see EdM's promotions, but doing down Twigg, Byrne, Lewis & Murphy looks like an attempt to split the party.
I have a lot of sympathy for him.
a good day to bury threats of legal action.
Byrne was always the first likely casuality but he gave a good conference speech
If true, I am surprised Murphy accepted International Development.
I don't think anyone care about Ivan Lewis.
After all the PR kerfuffle,
Cammo can't muffle
calls to see him go.
Jeremy Browne – a very nice and able Minister – has been sacked and replaced at the Home Office by Norman Baker. Norman Baker may also be a very nice man. But he’s also a conspiracy theorist. Literally...
How is it possible that a man who believes the British security services were either directly involved in murdering – or covering up the murder of – David Kelly now be a Minister at the Home Office with the sensitive security responsibilities that entails? Come to that, if Baker thinks mysterious hit squads and cover-up teams are on the loose, how is he going to feel working late at night in the bowels of the Home Office?
It’s a ludicrous appointment. What does Nick Clegg think he's doing?
'In further other news:
a good day to bury threats of legal action.'
Where is comedy Andy to-day?
Baker's conclusions may be stupid, self-serving or mad, but at least read the book before you come to that conclusion. And no, I haven't read it.
What will happen to the Blairites? The Labour Left are in the ascendant, and they are looking for scalps. Unite's Len McCluskey has frequently called for Miliband to rid himself of apostates such as Liam Byrne, Stephen Twigg, and Jim Murphy. If Miliband were to do so, it would send a damaging signal that McCluskey is the man really pulling the shadow cabinet strings, so a mass cull is unlikely.
oh wait.
Scot Dario Franchitti had a massive crash at the Indycar race at Houston this weekend. He suffered a fractured spine and broken ankle, but it would have been much, much worse. A few spectators were hit by debris; none appear to be seriously injured.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ3vw79o6n4&feature=youtu.be
Very, very lucky.
What is this garbage you oft-repeat about "using my name in vain". You are not God. This is a discussion forum FFS. Expect to be named or do one.
I think the one nation stuff was always a little fanciful. What we are now going to see is a much more direct attack from the left and consensus be damned. The Blairites are dead and the Brownites have finally won, after both the principals have left the stage.
\ Rachel Reeves becomes shadow work and pensions secretary, replacing Liam Byrne, who becomes shadow education minister.
Therefore it would be illegal as a false marriage no matter what the ages of the people concerned. But, this is never enforced.
Should be interesting when they and parish priests refuse to "marry" gay couples. Then the solids will really hit the air conditioning.