Labour govts always spend less on welfare than Tory govts and always will.
Because Labour inherit improving economies and the Tories inherit deteriorating ones......
This government inherited a growing economy and falling unemployment.
Are you seriously arguing that the economy was in a better state in 2010 than 1997?
No, I am stating as a matter of fact that contrary to the assertion you previously made this government did not inherit a declining economy. It inherited a growing one.
I didn't say 'declining' -I said 'deteriorating' - the public finances were a disaster, and getting worse.....like 1979.......
The economy was not deteriorating as you claimed, it was growing.
It was a bubble which deflated as soon as the taps were turned off.....the finances were unsustainable....
Good. So we now agree the economy was growing in May 2010.
No - it was an unsustainable pre-election bubble - the fundamentals of the economy - including details like deficit....were f*cked....
I am stating as a matter of fact that contrary to the assertion you previously made this government did not inherit a declining economy. It inherited a growing one.
As much a sign of a lively economy as when a corpse farts due to expanding gases of putrefaction.
The economy was engineered for a 15 minute gasp for air ahead of the election by the most political of Chancellors/Prime Ministers. To suggest that the UK economy was on the right path when Labour left office is just risible. More to the point, the voters know this.
When a car is travelling at 100mph it cannot stop immediately. Brakes can be applied and the vehicle decelerate but the process tends not to be linear. Sadly the same is true of government expenditure.
As any partially educated person would understand it is not the first-derivative of the curve that informs but the second. If the rate-of-change in the rate-of-change is moving in the correct direction you can be more sure that the steps being undertaken are going to achieve the desired results.
So, along with defence, foreign-affairs, economics and politics we can add the void of mathematics to Wee-Timmy's CV. But he is a "good" puntah, no...?
To be serious - Labour are sending a lot of mixed messages at the moment - and it's only a matter of time before they start to clash and clatter. They are 'lurching'all over the place.
Running to and fro across the road tends to result in being run over.
Good to know that if I spent everything I could up to my overdraft, maxed my credit cards, borrowed from friends and family until they turned me away, that SO considers my finances would be in an admirable position.
Labour fecked the economy. End of.
Have you missed the fact that spending is rising in the fourth year of this parliament?
Good to know that if I spent everything I could up to my overdraft, maxed my credit cards, borrowed from friends and family until they turned me away, that SO considers my finances would be in an admirable position.
Labour fecked the economy. End of.
Have you missed the fact that spending is rising in the fourth year of this parliament?
A single data point - lol same dead horse flogging.
Over 600,000 unemployed immigrants on benefits in the UK. I'd laugh myself sick if it wasn't so sad and tragic for this country.
You haven't read the article, have you?
The study states “the vast majority of migrants move to find (or take up) employment”. The report concludes that “the budgetary impact” of claims by “non-active” EU migrants “on national welfare budgets is very low” and adds: “The same is true for costs associated with the take-up of health care by this group.”
Over 600,000 unemployed immigrants on benefits in the UK. I'd laugh myself sick if it wasn't so sad and tragic for this country.
You haven't read the article, have you?
The study states “the vast majority of migrants move to find (or take up) employment”. The report concludes that “the budgetary impact” of claims by “non-active” EU migrants “on national welfare budgets is very low” and adds: “The same is true for costs associated with the take-up of health care by this group.”
SouthamObserver lives in a fantasy world of his own. I think YOU should peruse the article most diligently
Over 600,000 unemployed immigrants on benefits in the UK. I'd laugh myself sick if it wasn't so sad and tragic for this country.
You haven't read the article, have you?
The study states “the vast majority of migrants move to find (or take up) employment”. The report concludes that “the budgetary impact” of claims by “non-active” EU migrants “on national welfare budgets is very low” and adds: “The same is true for costs associated with the take-up of health care by this group.”
SouthamObserver lives in a fantasy world of his own. I think YOU should peruse the article most diligently
Over 600,000 unemployed immigrants on benefits in the UK. I'd laugh myself sick if it wasn't so sad and tragic for this country.
You haven't read the article, have you?
The study states “the vast majority of migrants move to find (or take up) employment”. The report concludes that “the budgetary impact” of claims by “non-active” EU migrants “on national welfare budgets is very low” and adds: “The same is true for costs associated with the take-up of health care by this group.”
SouthamObserver lives in a fantasy world of his own. I think YOU should peruse the article most diligently
That'll be a No then.
Thats all right then SO. Turn your eyes to the wall, my dear while the immigrants go by.
Over 600,000 unemployed immigrants on benefits in the UK. I'd laugh myself sick if it wasn't so sad and tragic for this country.
You haven't read the article, have you?
The study states “the vast majority of migrants move to find (or take up) employment”. The report concludes that “the budgetary impact” of claims by “non-active” EU migrants “on national welfare budgets is very low” and adds: “The same is true for costs associated with the take-up of health care by this group.”
SouthamObserver lives in a fantasy world of his own. I think YOU should peruse the article most diligently
That'll be a No then.
Thats all right then SO. Turn your eyes to the wall, my dear while the immigrants go by.
It's not really my fault that you have not read (or maybe not understood) the article. It categorically does not state that there are, in your words, "Over 600,000 unemployed immigrants on benefits in the UK". Sorry, but that is just a matter of fact.
Over 600,000 unemployed immigrants on benefits in the UK. I'd laugh myself sick if it wasn't so sad and tragic for this country.
You haven't read the article, have you?
The study states “the vast majority of migrants move to find (or take up) employment”. The report concludes that “the budgetary impact” of claims by “non-active” EU migrants “on national welfare budgets is very low” and adds: “The same is true for costs associated with the take-up of health care by this group.”
SouthamObserver lives in a fantasy world of his own. I think YOU should peruse the article most diligently
That'll be a No then.
Thats all right then SO. Turn your eyes to the wall, my dear while the immigrants go by.
It's not really my fault that you have not read (or maybe not understood) the article. It categorically does not state that there are, in your words, "Over 600,000 unemployed immigrants on benefits in the UK". Sorry, but that is just a matter of fact.
If a couple with 2 children migrate to the UK to take up employment , Mike K would count the 2 children as unemployed immigrants on benefits .
Good to know that if I spent everything I could up to my overdraft, maxed my credit cards, borrowed from friends and family until they turned me away, that SO considers my finances would be in an admirable position.
Labour fecked the economy. End of.
Have you missed the fact that spending is rising in the fourth year of this parliament?
Good to know that if I spent everything I could up to my overdraft, maxed my credit cards, borrowed from friends and family until they turned me away, that SO considers my finances would be in an admirable position.
Labour fecked the economy. End of.
Have you missed the fact that spending is rising in the fourth year of this parliament?
A single data point - lol same dead horse flogging.
Repeating "single data point" over and over makes about as much sense as your belief that Labour were favourites in your own constituency in 2010. ie none.
Tim would blame the salvage team for a drop in takings at the upper deck bar on the Costa Concordia.
Over 600,000 unemployed immigrants on benefits in the UK. I'd laugh myself sick if it wasn't so sad and tragic for this country.
That's not what it says. It says 600,000 "non-active", which the Telegraph don't give us the definition of, but it presumably includes all kinds of non-job-seeking people like stay-at-home mums, pensionerw and students.
They then give you percentage increases for unemployment without the actual numbers in the hope of making people who aren't pay attention think the whole article is about the unemployed, so they link to them and send thel traffic.
Oh that is right, you don't believe I am Scottish or a Tory voter. The Conservatives just won a local by election in Scotland last Thursday, increasing their vote by 18%. In the other local by election in Govan, they trailed well behind, but they did increase their vote share by 1.4%. And believe me, that is real progress in Govan!
Every last one - your number is A Made Up Number. There are no Scottish Tories and all of those zero are on here tonight. Extraordinary.
It's the number who voted Tory in Scotland in 2010.
Given turnout was 63.8% , the actual number of Scottish Tories is likely to be ~ 650,000
Nonsense - there are the square root of zero Scottish Tories and every last one of those are on here tonight.
A preposterous suggestion. There are precisely 0.00 Tories in Caledonia, and the full complement of those reside on PB.com every last zero of them.
In 2010 there were 412,855 Tory voters in Scotland an increase of 1% on 2005. That was 50,000 fewer than the LibDems and 80,000 fewer than the SNP. There are a great many Tories in Scotland and they are finally starting to stand up and be counted once more.
Poppycock. There is a reverse surge on - the number of Scottish Tories has increased from zero in Summer 2012 to fully nought today. There was a vacuum of Toryism in Scotland but this has transformed into complete nothingness. It's an interesting trend.
John Rentoul @JohnRentoul "No one wants to be playing on Miliband’s turf": Tory minister repeats Lynton Crosby's line. Good by @JGForsyth dailymail.co.uk/debate/article…
"I have a Cambridge PhD, I don't need to be told about standards, says tieless Tristram Hunt "
This is a small, but malignant, gem of intellectual snobbery and arrogance.
A number of people have already commented that Tristram went to an independent school. Normally, I'd accept as an argument that the choice of school is often a parental one, and so it need not necessarily be a prime facie case of hypocrisy on Tristram's part.
But, in the case of Tristram, his father is a Labour politician and peer (Baron Hunt of Chesterton) and a former Labour leader of Cambridge City Council. This is a Labour family.
So, it is strange that Tristram nonetheless went to a School for Fops and Toffs.
Have to say, I don't see this choice of Shadow Secretary for State working out too well for Labour. If a Tory had said "I have a Cambridge PhD, I don't need to be told about standards" he would already be dead.
From Ed Milibands second biggest fan - John Rentoul:
"Ed Miliband's preparing to serve two terms. In opposition The Shadow Cabinet reshuffle wasn't just a cull of the Blairites, it was the suppression of the Ballsites too."
"That was because Ed Miliband was not reshuffling his team to win the next election, but to save his job if he loses, so that he can try again, as Kinnock did in 1992. And we know what happened then."
BBCSundayMorningLive @bbcsml Our poll result: 95% of people who responded said Yes the #EDL does represent a view that needs to be heard, while 5% said No. #bbcsml
Over 600,000 unemployed immigrants on benefits in the UK. I'd laugh myself sick if it wasn't so sad and tragic for this country.
That's not what it says. It says 600,000 "non-active", which the Telegraph don't give us the definition of, but it presumably includes all kinds of non-job-seeking people like stay-at-home mums, pensionerw and students.
They then give you percentage increases for unemployment without the actual numbers in the hope of making people who aren't pay attention think the whole article is about the unemployed, so they link to them and send thel traffic.
A very misleading article by the DT no doubt intended to stir up the kippers who read the nimbygraph. A few weeks ago in answer to similar questions the govt said they don't have records about which UK resident nationalities take benefits of any kind. How did the EU gather its data?
Oh that is right, you don't believe I am Scottish or a Tory voter. The Conservatives just won a local by election in Scotland last Thursday, increasing their vote by 18%. In the other local by election in Govan, they trailed well behind, but they did increase their vote share by 1.4%. And believe me, that is real progress in Govan!
Every last one - your number is A Made Up Number. There are no Scottish Tories and all of those zero are on here tonight. Extraordinary.
It's the number who voted Tory in Scotland in 2010.
Given turnout was 63.8% , the actual number of Scottish Tories is likely to be ~ 650,000
Nonsense - there are the square root of zero Scottish Tories and every last one of those are on here tonight.
A preposterous suggestion. There are precisely 0.00 Tories in Caledonia, and the full complement of those reside on PB.com every last zero of them.
In 2010 there were 412,855 Tory voters in Scotland an increase of 1% on 2005. That was 50,000 fewer than the LibDems and 80,000 fewer than the SNP. There are a great many Tories in Scotland and they are finally starting to stand up and be counted once more.
Poppycock. There is a reverse surge on - the number of Scottish Tories has increased from zero in Summer 2012 to fully nought today. There was a vacuum of Toryism in Scotland but this has transformed into complete nothingness. It's an interesting trend.
You're on (not much) stronger ground trying to argue that a 'hard pressed' £75k household are 'middle income'......
Lion-o @PompeyGoat So if you're a parent in an area of plentiful sh-t schools you won't be able to do anything about it under a Labour govt. #KnowYourPlace
"It is almost impossible to exaggerate the loathing that the BBC feels for the Daily Mail – and its readers. I once remarked at a corporation seminar on the visceral contempt that I had heard BBC news personnel express for “Right-wing” papers, the Mail and the Sun in particular: had it occurred to them, I asked, to compare the relative circulations of the papers which they despised, with the ones they embraced (ie The Guardian, The Independent, etc) and to ask themselves what proportion of the licence-fee payers they were serving?
But, of course, that was missing the point. The BBC approach to news is aimed precisely at those people who read the papers that are hated by its staff. It is intended to offer an alternative vision of reality in which immigration is not a threat to anyone, patriotism is a joke, religious belief (as opposed to ethnic identity) is not taken seriously, conflicting cultural values never create social problems and government spending is inherently virtuous..." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/10374036/The-BBC-foists-on-us-a-skewed-version-of-reality.html
So you just saw George Osborne's best man and £50 million, naturally assumed the worst, and instantly just added them together?
This is great news for any pension funds and other investors like Charities who are managed by this hedge fund, they will benefit from such an astute investment.
"Can you provide a link to where George's best man made a cool £50 million, or did you just make it up?"
Here you go......
"George Osborne's best man is among the employees of a hedge fund company that is set to make millions for its investors after landing a £50million stake in Royal Mail.""
Like most Mail readers textural analysis isn't my strong point. I just read it that George's mate made a cool £50,000.000. isn't that what the Mail does and why we Tories love and quote it so often?
only a blinkered Tory could conflate rich Tories fleecing the public as being beneficial for the poor of the country, so stupid you could not make it up in your wildest dreams. Reality is a public asset was sold off on the cheap and rich Tories and their pals milked it.
The plebgate story just confirms what anyone independently-minded knew: it was a stitch-up.
I'm glad I backed the right horse on this from the beginning. There was something about the story that just didn't quite add up. As time went on, it started to unravel - the genius bit being the secret recording the meeting with the police federation, which stitched them up.
Does anyone (aside from the increasingly ludicrous Roger) still believe the original story?
Edit: my money was on it not being an organised conspiracy. I thought something happened, a lie was told by officer(s), and that lie was extended by others without central control. If it had been organised then Mitchell wouldn't have stood a chance. This story may have to make me change my mind on that, depending on the detail.
he got exactly what he deserved, he was an obnoxious git.
Oh that is right, you don't believe I am Scottish or a Tory voter. The Conservatives just won a local by election in Scotland last Thursday, increasing their vote by 18%. In the other local by election in Govan, they trailed well behind, but they did increase their vote share by 1.4%. And believe me, that is real progress in Govan!
Every last one - your number is A Made Up Number. There are no Scottish Tories and all of those zero are on here tonight. Extraordinary.
It's the number who voted Tory in Scotland in 2010.
Given turnout was 63.8% , the actual number of Scottish Tories is likely to be ~ 650,000
Nonsense - there are the square root of zero Scottish Tories and every last one of those are on here tonight.
A preposterous suggestion. There are precisely 0.00 Tories in Caledonia, and the full complement of those reside on PB.com every last zero of them.
In 2010 there were 412,855 Tory voters in Scotland an increase of 1% on 2005. That was 50,000 fewer than the LibDems and 80,000 fewer than the SNP. There are a great many Tories in Scotland and they are finally starting to stand up and be counted once more.
It is ridiculous that our voting system means that those Scottish Tories return just one MP. It totally skews political conversation and debate, as well as perceptions of Scotland externally.
Agree totally , it is one too many and the sooner it is zero the better
The plebgate story just confirms what anyone independently-minded knew: it was a stitch-up.
I'm glad I backed the right horse on this from the beginning. There was something about the story that just didn't quite add up. As time went on, it started to unravel - the genius bit being the secret recording the meeting with the police federation, which stitched them up.
Does anyone (aside from the increasingly ludicrous Roger) still believe the original story?
Edit: my money was on it not being an organised conspiracy. I thought something happened, a lie was told by officer(s), and that lie was extended by others without central control. If it had been organised then Mitchell wouldn't have stood a chance. This story may have to make me change my mind on that, depending on the detail.
he got exactly what he deserved, he was an obnoxious git.
So just because you think he was an obnoxious git, the police were right to allegedly invent a story about him, leak information to the press and ruin his career?
In the New Stateman George Eaton says PB Tories 'the left' got the Miliband reshuffle wrong:
"When Liam Byrne and Stephen Twigg, two "Blairite" figures, were sacked from the shadow cabinet earlier this week, there was undisguised glee on the left. After months of "Tory-lite" policy on welfare and education, it was thought that their departures heralded a new direction.
It is this hope that explains the outrage that has greeted the first interviews given by their replacements Rachel Reeves and Tristram Hunt."
Labour might start with transparency. It would be nice to know how much funding free schools get and how some of them end up with demographics that do not reflect the areas in which they are situated. A level of planning would also be good, so that taxpayers are not funding their establishment in areas where there are already sufficient school places.
The "planning" point is the only one I fundamentally disagree with you on.
It's only by allowing the opening of a new school, ParentLedLovelySchool, even if there are surplus places in ReallyBadSchool that you can improve the system.
If you force children to go to ReallyBadSchool against their parents' wishes then you are basically saying that their education doesn't matter because it is more important that the system is "efficient"
(On the others, I'm a fan of transparency generally. And on demographics, provided they are keeping to the rules set down by the government then I don't really care. If there is a really egregious case you may want to check they are keeping to the rules, but unless there is a systemic problem then it isn't a major issue.)
One of the problems is that many of the schools are not being opened in opposition to ReallyBadSchool. If there are no options but appalling schools in an area, then the best thing to do is to shut them down and to start again. Throwing millions at a new school just because some parents would like their kids to learn Latin is not an efficient use of a finite resource. But we would learn a lot more if there were a level of transparency in the system, which currently there is not.
Of course, I forgot. SO knows better than the parents what their kids should learn.
There is more than ebough money in the system to give everyó kid a fantastic education. What is failing is the system that doesn't support and encourage innovation and experimentation, support the good teachers and help the bad improve. Variety, and allowing schools to specialise, without the interference of central "planners" is what will drive standards.
The plebgate story just confirms what anyone independently-minded knew: it was a stitch-up.
I'm glad I backed the right horse on this from the beginning. There was something about the story that just didn't quite add up. As time went on, it started to unravel - the genius bit being the secret recording the meeting with the police federation, which stitched them up.
Does anyone (aside from the increasingly ludicrous Roger) still believe the original story?
Edit: my money was on it not being an organised conspiracy. I thought something happened, a lie was told by officer(s), and that lie was extended by others without central control. If it had been organised then Mitchell wouldn't have stood a chance. This story may have to make me change my mind on that, depending on the detail.
he got exactly what he deserved, he was an obnoxious git.
So just because you think he was an obnoxious git, the police were right to allegedly invent a story about him, leak information to the press and ruin his career?
It's a view, I suppose.
He would have trod on you or anybody else if it suited him so I personally don't care a jot , these people only care when they are getting the booting , never when they are dishing it out day after day. He is still coining it in and no doubt his chums will get him back to the bigger trough as soon as possible. People I feel sorry for are the poor and disabled that creeps like him impoverish on a whim without a thought or care to what they are doing, whilst filling their own pockets.
EDit: These guys do this as part of their daily chores , they are happy to ruin anyone opposed to them.
Of course, I forgot. SO knows better than the parents what their kids should learn.
There is more than ebough money in the system to give everyó kid a fantastic education. What is failing is the system that doesn't support and encourage innovation and experimentation, support the good teachers and help the bad improve. Variety, and allowing schools to specialise, without the interference of central "planners" is what will drive standards.
In a world of restricted resources, my view is that, yes, we should not be spending a lot more money (how much more we don't know because Gove won't tell us) on building schools to compete with other schools that are doing a good job. And if schools are doing a bad job they should be closed down and the money they take up reallocated.
I think UKIP's 2014 campaign depends on a noticeable wave of immigration from Romania and Bulgaria after immigration restrictions lapse in Jan 2014.
UKIP's polling will inevitably improve with the focus the euro elections will bring and the increased coverage following their previous performances in these elections.
Labour govts always spend less on welfare than Tory govts and always will.
Because Labour inherit improving economies and the Tories inherit deteriorating ones......
This government inherited a growing economy and falling unemployment.
Are you seriously arguing that the economy was in a better state in 2010 than 1997?
No, I am stating as a matter of fact that contrary to the assertion you previously made this government did not inherit a declining economy. It inherited a growing one.
It is relatively easy to grow the top line by throwing money at the situation. I am sure if you cut your prices in half volumes in your business would go up.
But in your business that wouldn't be sustainable in the medium term. And Labour achieved the growth that they did by taking on more and more debt.
Osborne's challenge was to reduce the deficit as fast as possible without crashing the economy. He's done okay.
The plebgate story just confirms what anyone independently-minded knew: it was a stitch-up.
I'm glad I backed the right horse on this from the beginning. There was something about the story that just didn't quite add up. As time went on, it started to unravel - the genius bit being the secret recording the meeting with the police federation, which stitched them up.
Does anyone (aside from the increasingly ludicrous Roger) still believe the original story?
Edit: my money was on it not being an organised conspiracy. I thought something happened, a lie was told by officer(s), and that lie was extended by others without central control. If it had been organised then Mitchell wouldn't have stood a chance. This story may have to make me change my mind on that, depending on the detail.
he got exactly what he deserved, he was an obnoxious git.
So just because you think he was an obnoxious git, the police were right to allegedly invent a story about him, leak information to the press and ruin his career?
It's a view, I suppose.
He would have trod on you or anybody else if it suited him so I personally don't care a jot , these people only care when they are getting the booting , never when they are dishing it out day after day. He is still coining it in and no doubt his chums will get him back to the bigger trough as soon as possible. People I feel sorry for are the poor and disabled that creeps like him impoverish on a whim without a thought or care to what they are doing, whilst filling their own pockets.
EDit: These guys do this as part of their daily chores , they are happy to ruin anyone opposed to them.
Sorry I'm confused now. Which party are we slagging off? The description fits all of them.
The plebgate story just confirms what anyone independently-minded knew: it was a stitch-up.
I'm glad I backed the right horse on this from the beginning. There was something about the story that just didn't quite add up. As time went on, it started to unravel - the genius bit being the secret recording the meeting with the police federation, which stitched them up.
Does anyone (aside from the increasingly ludicrous Roger) still believe the original story?
Edit: my money was on it not being an organised conspiracy. I thought something happened, a lie was told by officer(s), and that lie was extended by others without central control. If it had been organised then Mitchell wouldn't have stood a chance. This story may have to make me change my mind on that, depending on the detail.
he got exactly what he deserved, he was an obnoxious git.
So just because you think he was an obnoxious git, the police were right to allegedly invent a story about him, leak information to the press and ruin his career?
Oh, I was a bit disappointed E2 is better IMO but I have no idea where its going.
Supernatural has just resumed for S9 and after an epic end to S8 - it was a bit of damp squib. If other PBers are looking for a long running show with humour, drama, FX and lots of biblical pee-taking, this is it.
How many times do you get so many British actors playing angels, the King of Hell etc so amusingly? Or so many gay jokes after series fans think these two *brothers* ought to get a room...
It's the number who voted Tory in Scotland in 2010.
Given turnout was 63.8% , the actual number of Scottish Tories is likely to be ~ 650,000
That analysis is so wrong it is likely to be something written by seanT. Were you "tired" when you wrote that Carlotta...?
at least emotional
Neither, but thank you for asking......
......so you reckon its more than 650,000 Tories in Scotland?
LOL, you would have had to be very emotional indeed to get to that number, someone has added a Zero I think.
I know numbers are not an SNP strong suit, but if 412,855 voted Conservative in the 2010 GE in Scotland on a 63.8% turnout.....how many do you think there might be in total?
The plebgate story just confirms what anyone independently-minded knew: it was a stitch-up.
I'm glad I backed the right horse on this from the beginning. There was something about the story that just didn't quite add up. As time went on, it started to unravel - the genius bit being the secret recording the meeting with the police federation, which stitched them up.
Does anyone (aside from the increasingly ludicrous Roger) still believe the original story?
Edit: my money was on it not being an organised conspiracy. I thought something happened, a lie was told by officer(s), and that lie was extended by others without central control. If it had been organised then Mitchell wouldn't have stood a chance. This story may have to make me change my mind on that, depending on the detail.
he got exactly what he deserved, he was an obnoxious git.
So just because you think he was an obnoxious git, the police were right to allegedly invent a story about him, leak information to the press and ruin his career?
It's a view, I suppose.
That's how the police work isn't it?
The depressing thing about this is that: 1) it's completely unshocking that the police seem to have lied then rallied around the liar with more lies. 2) despite this happening to a minister of the Crown standing in front of CCTV - who knows what it's like for the rest - nobody plans to do anything about it. 3) meanwhile we're giving people working for intelligence agencies huge amounts of secretive, arbitrary power that they could use to bully ministers, judges or anybody else.
For anybody that is interested in real debate on the Independence Referendum. Excellent video and frightening the questions asked by some of the university students as part of it, hard to believe they have been in education for at least 13 years. Robertson was poor and had little to offer. http://wingsoverscotland.com/how-its-done/
The plebgate story just confirms what anyone independently-minded knew: it was a stitch-up.
I'm glad I backed the right horse on this from the beginning. There was something about the story that just didn't quite add up. As time went on, it started to unravel - the genius bit being the secret recording the meeting with the police federation, which stitched them up.
Does anyone (aside from the increasingly ludicrous Roger) still believe the original story?
Edit: my money was on it not being an organised conspiracy. I thought something happened, a lie was told by officer(s), and that lie was extended by others without central control. If it had been organised then Mitchell wouldn't have stood a chance. This story may have to make me change my mind on that, depending on the detail.
he got exactly what he deserved, he was an obnoxious git.
So just because you think he was an obnoxious git, the police were right to allegedly invent a story about him, leak information to the press and ruin his career?
It's a view, I suppose.
He would have trod on you or anybody else if it suited him so I personally don't care a jot , these people only care when they are getting the booting , never when they are dishing it out day after day. He is still coining it in and no doubt his chums will get him back to the bigger trough as soon as possible. People I feel sorry for are the poor and disabled that creeps like him impoverish on a whim without a thought or care to what they are doing, whilst filling their own pockets.
EDit: These guys do this as part of their daily chores , they are happy to ruin anyone opposed to them.
Sorry I'm confused now. Which party are we slagging off? The description fits all of them.
Rog, I agree, just happened to be Mitchell in this case but as you say you could apply it to all 3 major parties , who are in reality all in it together
"An officer has alleged that there was a stitch up involving Police Protection Officers to bring down Andrew Mitchell and toxify the Tories"
I just don't believe it. I can believe one officer might jeopardize their career to damage a politician they've never met but not four. It's fantasy.
I can Why Cameron sat on the evidence Is the question
Maybe he didn't know about it. But if he did, the obvious, terrifying explanation is: The Prime Minister of Great Britain didn't expose wrongdoing by the police against his own minister because he was scared of what the police would do to him.
It's the number who voted Tory in Scotland in 2010.
Given turnout was 63.8% , the actual number of Scottish Tories is likely to be ~ 650,000
That analysis is so wrong it is likely to be something written by seanT. Were you "tired" when you wrote that Carlotta...?
at least emotional
Neither, but thank you for asking......
......so you reckon its more than 650,000 Tories in Scotland?
LOL, you would have had to be very emotional indeed to get to that number, someone has added a Zero I think.
I know numbers are not an SNP strong suit, but if 412,855 voted Conservative in the 2010 GE in Scotland on a 63.8% turnout.....how many do you think there might be in total?
A lot less that 650,000 as their representation on all fronts show, one MP and almost totally list MP's in Holyrood. Their only saving grace is their dummies the LD's have committed suicide and the Tories will benefit from their meltdown. It will not make a noticeable difference though , they will remain a fringe party in Scotland whilst they are sock puppets for Westminster and appoint 2nd rate numpties.
The plebgate story just confirms what anyone independently-minded knew: it was a stitch-up.
I'm glad I backed the right horse on this from the beginning. There was something about the story that just didn't quite add up. As time went on, it started to unravel - the genius bit being the secret recording the meeting with the police federation, which stitched them up.
Does anyone (aside from the increasingly ludicrous Roger) still believe the original story?
Edit: my money was on it not being an organised conspiracy. I thought something happened, a lie was told by officer(s), and that lie was extended by others without central control. If it had been organised then Mitchell wouldn't have stood a chance. This story may have to make me change my mind on that, depending on the detail.
he got exactly what he deserved, he was an obnoxious git.
So just because you think he was an obnoxious git, the police were right to allegedly invent a story about him, leak information to the press and ruin his career?
It's a view, I suppose.
That's how the police work isn't it?
The depressing thing about this is that: 1) it's completely unshocking that the police seem to have lied then rallied around the liar with more lies. 2) despite this happening to a minister of the Crown standing in front of CCTV - who knows what it's like for the rest - nobody plans to do anything about it. 3) meanwhile we're giving people working for intelligence agencies huge amounts of secretive, arbitrary power that they could use to bully ministers, judges or anybody else.
It's the number who voted Tory in Scotland in 2010.
Given turnout was 63.8% , the actual number of Scottish Tories is likely to be ~ 650,000
That analysis is so wrong it is likely to be something written by seanT. Were you "tired" when you wrote that Carlotta...?
at least emotional
Neither, but thank you for asking......
......so you reckon its more than 650,000 Tories in Scotland?
LOL, you would have had to be very emotional indeed to get to that number, someone has added a Zero I think.
I know numbers are not an SNP strong suit, but if 412,855 voted Conservative in the 2010 GE in Scotland on a 63.8% turnout.....how many do you think there might be in total?
So non voters are now to be counted? It's a (desperate) theory I suppose. If the actual members can't be ersed to turn up to their conference, straws must be clutched.
'Such is the decline of the once-mighty Conservative party in Scotland that it only laid out 240 seats for members attending its annual conference – and still struggled to fill them.'
* Westminster Debt is Harming Scotland's Economy * Defence in an Independent Scotland; Spend Less to Get More * Scotland's Got Talent. It needs political power * 12 Defence Facts the No Campaign Don't want you to know
Their Goals:
"We also believe that when people take the time to investigate the facts it becomes clear that Scotland’s economy, our business community and our nation as a whole will be better off as an independent country."
Of course, I forgot. SO knows better than the parents what their kids should learn.
There is more than ebough money in the system to give everyó kid a fantastic education. What is failing is the system that doesn't support and encourage innovation and experimentation, support the good teachers and help the bad improve. Variety, and allowing schools to specialise, without the interference of central "planners" is what will drive standards.
In a world of restricted resources, my view is that, yes, we should not be spending a lot more money (how much more we don't know because Gove won't tell us) on building schools to compete with other schools that are doing a good job. And if schools are doing a bad job they should be closed down and the money they take up reallocated.
So you close down the bad school. Where do you move the kids siwhile you are creating the new one? You've already decided there shouldn't be any spare capacity in the system.
More to the point your system encourages mediocrity. The good have no incentive and no flexibility to improve. The bad may get closed (although the likelihood is that local politics and the lack of spare places will prevent that). And the mediocre just trundle along giving a crap education to another generation of poor kids. How is that supposed to be a good thing?
"And if schools are doing a bad job they should be closed down and the money they take up reallocated."
You have described the state of most schools in Wales, except that Labour is not closing them down and reallocating the money - can you explain why not?
A lot less that 650,000 as their representation on all fronts show, one MP and almost totally list MP's in Holyrood.
All that shows is that the hundreds of thousands of Scottish Tories are more evenly spread throughout the country than is optimal under fptp.
Dream on , they are a fringe party and will remain that way for a long while after independence till they get their act together and start having any interest in Scotland whatsoever
Do have a similar explanation as to why they won similar number in Holyrood.
"And if schools are doing a bad job they should be closed down and the money they take up reallocated."
You have described the state of most schools in Wales, except that Labour is not closing them down and reallocating the money - can you explain why not?
Of course, I forgot. SO knows better than the parents what their kids should learn.
There is more than ebough money in the system to give everyó kid a fantastic education. What is failing is the system that doesn't support and encourage innovation and experimentation, support the good teachers and help the bad improve. Variety, and allowing schools to specialise, without the interference of central "planners" is what will drive standards.
In a world of restricted resources, my view is that, yes, we should not be spending a lot more money (how much more we don't know because Gove won't tell us) on building schools to compete with other schools that are doing a good job. And if schools are doing a bad job they should be closed down and the money they take up reallocated.
So you close down the bad school. Where do you move the kids siwhile you are creating the new one? You've already decided there shouldn't be any spare capacity in the system.
More to the point your system encourages mediocrity. The good have no incentive and no flexibility to improve. The bad may get closed (although the likelihood is that local politics and the lack of spare places will prevent that). And the mediocre just trundle along giving a crap education to another generation of poor kids. How is that supposed to be a good thing?
I'd have thought not being closed down is a pretty strong incentive to improve.
Where do kids go while we are waiting for the free school to be built?
* Westminster Debt is Harming Scotland's Economy * Defence in an Independent Scotland; Spend Less to Get More * Scotland's Got Talent. It needs political power * 12 Defence Facts the No Campaign Don't want you to know
Their Goals:
"We also believe that when people take the time to investigate the facts it becomes clear that Scotland’s economy, our business community and our nation as a whole will be better off as an independent country."
No, not partisan at all.....
Did you watch the debate and see what the union had to offer, real positive thinking versus Westminster negativity and fear.
A lot less that 650,000 as their representation on all fronts show, one MP and almost totally list MP's in Holyrood.
All that shows is that the hundreds of thousands of Scottish Tories are more evenly spread throughout the country than is optimal under fptp.
Dream on , they are a fringe party and will remain that way for a long while after independence till they get their act together and start having any interest in Scotland whatsoever
I'm not dreaming - they did get 400k+ votes in Scotland in 2010 and they would have returned more MPs there with a more concentrated vote distribution.
A lot less that 650,000 as their representation on all fronts show, one MP and almost totally list MP's in Holyrood.
All that shows is that the hundreds of thousands of Scottish Tories are more evenly spread throughout the country than is optimal under fptp.
Dream on , they are a fringe party and will remain that way for a long while after independence till they get their act together and start having any interest in Scotland whatsoever
Do have a similar explanation as to why they won similar number in Holyrood.
Tweeddale West by-election result: @Conservatives 43% (+18%); Lab 8% (-1%); LD 25% (-10%); SNP 13% (-9%); Ukip 1.6%; Oth 12%
Looks like the Scottish Tories are getting their act together. SNP and LD vote continues to collapse.
I think the explanation is simpler than that. Cameron is so paranoid about his poshness problem that he sat on the evidence rather than getting involved in Plebgate and hoped it would all go away.
'In an article in the Sunday Times, the whistleblower states: "On the 18th September, 2012 Mr Mitchell had also insisted on being let out through the main gate. Following this [officer X] said to the other officers: 'Right, we can stitch him up'."""
A few random thoughts;
1. Mitchell always accepted his language was inappropriate. The only thing he denied was using the word 'pleb'.
2. One officer inventing or exaggerating a story against a loud-mouthed minister is plausible. That more than two were prepared to risk their livelihoods reputation and a lengthy prison sentence without any tangible gain turns it into a conspiracy theory worthy of Tapestry.
3. No one risks their livelihoods and a prison sentence without serious personal gain. In this instance there is none that is obvious.
4. If this whistleblower is what the Times claim him to be the story would have been relayed to the police not the Times. This makes it professional suicide
5. If the conspiracy had been as obvious as the Times suggests the case would have been sown up within a few days.
Of course, I forgot. SO knows better than the parents what their kids should learn.
There is more than ebough money in the system to give everyó kid a fantastic education. What is failing is the system that doesn't support and encourage innovation and experimentation, support the good teachers and help the bad improve. Variety, and allowing schools to specialise, without the interference of central "planners" is what will drive standards.
In a world of restricted resources, my view is that, yes, we should not be spending a lot more money (how much more we don't know because Gove won't tell us) on building schools to compete with other schools that are doing a good job. And if schools are doing a bad job they should be closed down and the money they take up reallocated.
So you close down the bad school. Where do you move the kids siwhile you are creating the new one? You've already decided there shouldn't be any spare capacity in the system.
More to the point your system encourages mediocrity. The good have no incentive and no flexibility to improve. The bad may get closed (although the likelihood is that local politics and the lack of spare places will prevent that). And the mediocre just trundle along giving a crap education to another generation of poor kids. How is that supposed to be a good thing?
I'd have thought not being closed down is a pretty strong incentive to improve.
Where do kids go while we are waiting for the free school to be built?
So you are closing down mediocre schools as well now?
The reality of life is a negative threat (closure) is sufficient to get people to perform to a minimum threshold, not to excel. For excellence you need a positive carrot.
Kids unfortunately have to carry on going to existing sub-par schools while the free schools are being built. But luckily, as they are allowed to repurpose existing buildings it is much faster. Moreover, the existing schools are not being closed, so kids can still get educated, if not the the level I'd like to see.
2. One officer inventing or exaggerating a story against a loud-mouthed minister is plausible. That more than two were prepared to risk their livelihoods reputation and a lengthy prison sentence without any tangible gain turns it into a conspiracy theory worthy of Tapestry.
Sticking up for your mates could be seen as a 'tangible gain'
"An officer has alleged that there was a stitch up involving Police Protection Officers to bring down Andrew Mitchell and toxify the Tories"
I just don't believe it. I can believe one officer might jeopardize their career to damage a politician they've never met but not four. It's fantasy.
I can Why Cameron sat on the evidence Is the question
Maybe he didn't know about it. But if he did, the obvious, terrifying explanation is: The Prime Minister of Great Britain didn't expose wrongdoing by the police against his own minister because he was scared of what the police would do to him.
Where's Tapestry when you need him?
I think the explanation is simpler than that. Cameron is so paranoid about his poshness problem that he sat on the evidence rather than getting involved in Plebgate and hoped it would all go away.
Nothing to do with being posh, tim. It is all about fairness.
Cameron recognised the police had made a mistake and wanted to give them a second chance.
That's why he gave the Police an extra two years to find Madeleine McCann.
2. One officer inventing or exaggerating a story against a loud-mouthed minister is plausible. That more than two were prepared to risk their livelihoods reputation and a lengthy prison sentence without any tangible gain turns it into a conspiracy theory worthy of Tapestry.
3. No one risks their livelihoods and a prison sentence without serious personal gain. In this instance there is none that is obvious.
A lot less that 650,000 as their representation on all fronts show, one MP and almost totally list MP's in Holyrood.
All that shows is that the hundreds of thousands of Scottish Tories are more evenly spread throughout the country than is optimal under fptp.
Dream on , they are a fringe party and will remain that way for a long while after independence till they get their act together and start having any interest in Scotland whatsoever
Do have a similar explanation as to why they won similar number in Holyrood.
Tweeddale West by-election result: @Conservatives 43% (+18%); Lab 8% (-1%); LD 25% (-10%); SNP 13% (-9%); Ukip 1.6%; Oth 12%
Looks like the Scottish Tories are getting their act together. SNP and LD vote continues to collapse.
Hold the presses, righty weathervane scampers after SCons when his first choice UKIP are hilariously useless.
2. One officer inventing or exaggerating a story against a loud-mouthed minister is plausible. That more than two were prepared to risk their livelihoods reputation and a lengthy prison sentence without any tangible gain turns it into a conspiracy theory worthy of Tapestry.
Sticking up for your mates could be seen as a 'tangible gain'
Right, and if you're in an organization where loyalty is valued, that may give you a tangible payoff in future.
A lot less that 650,000 as their representation on all fronts show, one MP and almost totally list MP's in Holyrood.
All that shows is that the hundreds of thousands of Scottish Tories are more evenly spread throughout the country than is optimal under fptp.
Dream on , they are a fringe party and will remain that way for a long while after independence till they get their act together and start having any interest in Scotland whatsoever
I'm not dreaming - they did get 400k+ votes in Scotland in 2010 and they would have returned more MPs there with a more concentrated vote distribution.
My grandmother would have been my grandfather if she had had testicles springs to mind. If you read the papers they have 1 MP and a few derisory list MPs at Holyrood. Bit like football saying we should have won when in fact they had been beaten.
A lot less that 650,000 as their representation on all fronts show, one MP and almost totally list MP's in Holyrood.
All that shows is that the hundreds of thousands of Scottish Tories are more evenly spread throughout the country than is optimal under fptp.
Dream on , they are a fringe party and will remain that way for a long while after independence till they get their act together and start having any interest in Scotland whatsoever
Do have a similar explanation as to why they won similar number in Holyrood.
Tweeddale West by-election result: @Conservatives 43% (+18%); Lab 8% (-1%); LD 25% (-10%); SNP 13% (-9%); Ukip 1.6%; Oth 12%
Looks like the Scottish Tories are getting their act together. SNP and LD vote continues to collapse.
Wow , they have a handful of local councillors , the surge is on
@Charles - What is the positive carrot in the creation of a free school if the bad school knows it will exist whatever happens? In your scenario it never has an incentive to improve and will continue to take resources from the system. So, instead of spending a lot more money on two schools - one of which aspires to be as good as possible, the other which has no reason to be anything other than crap - why not spend slightly less on one good school? If the kids are going to be in the poor school anyway, surely we want it to be improving as rapidly as possible, rather than just waiting for another one to be built. It is much easier and faster to replace a head teacher, bring in new teaching staff and introduce a new curriculum, if necessary, than it is to build an entirely new school from scratch. I am afraid there really is no magic money tree; we have to watch every penny.
"An officer has alleged that there was a stitch up involving Police Protection Officers to bring down Andrew Mitchell and toxify the Tories"
I just don't believe it. I can believe one officer might jeopardize their career to damage a politician they've never met but not four. It's fantasy.
I can Why Cameron sat on the evidence Is the question
Maybe he didn't know about it. But if he did, the obvious, terrifying explanation is: The Prime Minister of Great Britain didn't expose wrongdoing by the police against his own minister because he was scared of what the police would do to him.
Where's Tapestry when you need him?
I think the explanation is simpler than that. Cameron is so paranoid about his poshness problem that he sat on the evidence rather than getting involved in Plebgate and hoped it would all go away.
That's why he gave the Police an extra two years to find Madeleine McCann.
I remember someone telling us that was a complete waste of time and just a stunt - who was that, again?
Oh that is right, you don't believe I am Scottish or a Tory voter. The Conservatives just won a local by election in Scotland last Thursday, increasing their vote by 18%. In the other local by election in Govan, they trailed well behind, but they did increase their vote share by 1.4%. And believe me, that is real progress in Govan!
Every last one - your number is A Made Up Number. There are no Scottish Tories and all of those zero are on here tonight. Extraordinary.
It's the number who voted Tory in Scotland in 2010.
Given turnout was 63.8% , the actual number of Scottish Tories is likely to be ~ 650,000
Nonsense - there are the square root of zero Scottish Tories and every last one of those are on here tonight.
A preposterous suggestion. There are precisely 0.00 Tories in Caledonia, and the full complement of those reside on PB.com every last zero of them.
In 2010 there were 412,855 Tory voters in Scotland an increase of 1% on 2005. That was 50,000 fewer than the LibDems and 80,000 fewer than the SNP. There are a great many Tories in Scotland and they are finally starting to stand up and be counted once more.
Poppycock. There is a reverse surge on - the number of Scottish Tories has increased from zero in Summer 2012 to fully nought today. There was a vacuum of Toryism in Scotland but this has transformed into complete nothingness. It's an interesting trend.
You're on (not much) stronger ground trying to argue that a 'hard pressed' £75k household are 'middle income'......
Interestingly, the number of Scottish Tory households on £75k is precisely nil. This is because there are exactly zero Scots Tories. And every last one of that zero is on PB.
'In an article in the Sunday Times, the whistleblower states: "On the 18th September, 2012 Mr Mitchell had also insisted on being let out through the main gate. Following this [officer X] said to the other officers: 'Right, we can stitch him up'."""
A few random thoughts;
1. Mitchell always accepted his language was inappropriate. The only thing he denied was using the word 'pleb'.
2. One officer inventing or exaggerating a story against a loud-mouthed minister is plausible. That more than two were prepared to risk their livelihoods reputation and a lengthy prison sentence without any tangible gain turns it into a conspiracy theory worthy of Tapestry.
3. No one risks their livelihoods and a prison sentence without serious personal gain. In this instance there is none that is obvious.
4. If this whistleblower is what the Times claim him to be the story would have been relayed to the police not the Times. This makes it professional suicide
5. If the conspiracy had been as obvious as the Times suggests the case would have been sown up within a few days.
You really are desperate, aren't you?
you class half a dozen or so officers lying in the Mitchell mess as being "a conspiracy theory worthy of Tapestry".
The police are very adept at finding miscreants in their own ranks.
A police officer I know had a colleague who dabbled in soft drugs. The officer was uncovered and suspended pending charges.
His colleagues and acquaintances were informed that the suspended officer had been under surveillance for some time. Anyone who knew of his dabbling would be instantly dismissed.
All those who didn't confess to knowing of his dabbling but where the information nonetheless came to light (through the surveillance) would be dismissed and charged.
The inquisition has nothing on the police when they get the bit between their teeth
Very curious stuff regarding Natalie Rowe. Police say they got a tip off that there were drugs in her property. Appears nothing was found. She will shortly be publishing her book, likely to be full of embarrassing revelations for Mr Osborne
To be serious - Labour are sending a lot of mixed messages at the moment - and it's only a matter of time before they start to clash and clatter. They are 'lurching'all over the place.
Carlotta, I would agree with that totally, it's that placebo effect that I find really interesting when it comes to homoeopathy or drug studies. But I think that Josias also hits on another aspect of that in his post when he talks about mental health as the physical aspects of someone suffering from a long term medical condition.
This was 4 years ago...she must be a very slow writer! And then at the height of the whole phone hacking, she popped up again making some very wild claims (on Australian TV), before disappearing without ever backing them up.
Comments
The economy was engineered for a 15 minute gasp for air ahead of the election by the most political of Chancellors/Prime Ministers. To suggest that the UK economy was on the right path when Labour left office is just risible. More to the point, the voters know this.
As any partially educated person would understand it is not the first-derivative of the curve that informs but the second. If the rate-of-change in the rate-of-change is moving in the correct direction you can be more sure that the steps being undertaken are going to achieve the desired results.
So, along with defence, foreign-affairs, economics and politics we can add the void of mathematics to Wee-Timmy's CV. But he is a "good" puntah, no...?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/10375358/True-scale-of-European-immigration.html
Over 600,000 unemployed immigrants on benefits in the UK. I'd laugh myself sick if it wasn't so sad and tragic for this country.
The study states “the vast majority of migrants move to find (or take up) employment”. The report concludes that “the budgetary impact” of claims by “non-active” EU migrants “on national welfare budgets is very low” and adds: “The same is true for costs associated with the take-up of health care by this group.”
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BWax4NrCQAA3iyM.jpg:large
Turn your eyes to the wall, my dear
while the immigrants go by.
Waah waah - martini sales are down...
My money is on both mind you.
They then give you percentage increases for unemployment without the actual numbers in the hope of making people who aren't pay attention think the whole article is about the unemployed, so they link to them and send thel traffic.
"No one wants to be playing on Miliband’s turf": Tory minister repeats Lynton Crosby's line. Good by @JGForsyth dailymail.co.uk/debate/article…
This is a small, but malignant, gem of intellectual snobbery and arrogance.
A number of people have already commented that Tristram went to an independent school. Normally, I'd accept as an argument that the choice of school is often a parental one, and so it need not necessarily be a prime facie case of hypocrisy on Tristram's part.
But, in the case of Tristram, his father is a Labour politician and peer (Baron Hunt of Chesterton) and a former Labour leader of Cambridge City Council. This is a Labour family.
So, it is strange that Tristram nonetheless went to a School for Fops and Toffs.
Have to say, I don't see this choice of Shadow Secretary for State working out too well for Labour. If a Tory had said "I have a Cambridge PhD, I don't need to be told about standards" he would already be dead.
Lab: 35% (+4) [+4]
UKIP: 22% (-8) [nc]
Con: 21% (+1) [-3]
LD: 11% (+3) [nc]
Grn: 5% (-1) [-1]
http://survation.com/2013/05/how-has-political-opinion-changed-since-before-the-local-elections-fieldwork-may-17th-18th/
"Ed Miliband's preparing to serve two terms. In opposition
The Shadow Cabinet reshuffle wasn't just a cull of the Blairites, it was the suppression of the Ballsites too."
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/ed-milibands-preparing-to-serve-two-terms-in-opposition-8876361.html
"That was because Ed Miliband was not reshuffling his team to win the next election, but to save his job if he loses, so that he can try again, as Kinnock did in 1992. And we know what happened then."
BBCSundayMorningLive @bbcsml
Our poll result: 95% of people who responded said Yes the #EDL does represent a view that needs to be heard, while 5% said No. #bbcsml
http://markreckons.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/royal-mail-privatisation-opposition.html
Lion-o @PompeyGoat
So if you're a parent in an area of plentiful sh-t schools you won't be able to do anything about it under a Labour govt. #KnowYourPlace
Dan Hodges @DPJHodges 3m
Don't think Hunt and Reeves interventions will be only strengthening of Labour centre we'll see this coming week.
'This government inherited a growing economy and falling unemployment.'
Based on an unsustainable pre election spending splurge by Brown with no cuts or had you conveniently forgotten?
http://labourlist.org/2013/10/a-good-school-place-for-every-parent-in-every-community-thats-labours-mission/
I'm not sure I'm much wiser......
Toby Young questions:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyyoung/100241113/a-few-questions-about-labours-new-free-schools-policy/
"It is almost impossible to exaggerate the loathing that the BBC feels for the Daily Mail – and its readers. I once remarked at a corporation seminar on the visceral contempt that I had heard BBC news personnel express for “Right-wing” papers, the Mail and the Sun in particular: had it occurred to them, I asked, to compare the relative circulations of the papers which they despised, with the ones they embraced (ie The Guardian, The Independent, etc) and to ask themselves what proportion of the licence-fee payers they were serving?
But, of course, that was missing the point. The BBC approach to news is aimed precisely at those people who read the papers that are hated by its staff. It is intended to offer an alternative vision of reality in which immigration is not a threat to anyone, patriotism is a joke, religious belief (as opposed to ethnic identity) is not taken seriously, conflicting cultural values never create social problems and government spending is inherently virtuous..." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/10374036/The-BBC-foists-on-us-a-skewed-version-of-reality.html
patently @patently
Life as a patent attorney. Good news is, I get to be Dogbert #Dilbert
http://t.co/aVX6GEeSvZ
Reality is a public asset was sold off on the cheap and rich Tories and their pals milked it.
It's a view, I suppose.
"When Liam Byrne and Stephen Twigg, two "Blairite" figures, were sacked from the shadow cabinet earlier this week, there was undisguised glee on the left. After months of "Tory-lite" policy on welfare and education, it was thought that their departures heralded a new direction.
It is this hope that explains the outrage that has greeted the first interviews given by their replacements Rachel Reeves and Tristram Hunt."
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/10/labour-stances-welfare-and-free-schools-prove-it-wasnt-blairites-holding-miliband-h
......so you reckon its more than 650,000 Tories in Scotland?
There is more than ebough money in the system to give everyó kid a fantastic education. What is failing is the system that doesn't support and encourage innovation and experimentation, support the good teachers and help the bad improve. Variety, and allowing schools to specialise, without the interference of central "planners" is what will drive standards.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/homeland/4od
People I feel sorry for are the poor and disabled that creeps like him impoverish on a whim without a thought or care to what they are doing, whilst filling their own pockets.
EDit: These guys do this as part of their daily chores , they are happy to ruin anyone opposed to them.
There is more than ebough money in the system to give everyó kid a fantastic education. What is failing is the system that doesn't support and encourage innovation and experimentation, support the good teachers and help the bad improve. Variety, and allowing schools to specialise, without the interference of central "planners" is what will drive standards.
In a world of restricted resources, my view is that, yes, we should not be spending a lot more money (how much more we don't know because Gove won't tell us) on building schools to compete with other schools that are doing a good job. And if schools are doing a bad job they should be closed down and the money they take up reallocated.
But in your business that wouldn't be sustainable in the medium term. And Labour achieved the growth that they did by taking on more and more debt.
Osborne's challenge was to reduce the deficit as fast as possible without crashing the economy. He's done okay.
Supernatural has just resumed for S9 and after an epic end to S8 - it was a bit of damp squib. If other PBers are looking for a long running show with humour, drama, FX and lots of biblical pee-taking, this is it.
How many times do you get so many British actors playing angels, the King of Hell etc so amusingly? Or so many gay jokes after series fans think these two *brothers* ought to get a room...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4xcu9XPzpg
1) it's completely unshocking that the police seem to have lied then rallied around the liar with more lies.
2) despite this happening to a minister of the Crown standing in front of CCTV - who knows what it's like for the rest - nobody plans to do anything about it.
3) meanwhile we're giving people working for intelligence agencies huge amounts of secretive, arbitrary power that they could use to bully ministers, judges or anybody else.
http://wingsoverscotland.com/how-its-done/
http://www.businessforscotland.co.uk/yes-winning-63-to-33-after-three-post-debate-polls/
Note : It is not a partisan view either
Where's Tapestry when you need him?
'Such is the decline of the once-mighty Conservative party in Scotland that it only laid out 240 seats for members attending its annual conference – and still struggled to fill them.'
http://tinyurl.com/kswflwg
* Westminster Debt is Harming Scotland's Economy
* Defence in an Independent Scotland; Spend Less to Get More
* Scotland's Got Talent. It needs political power
* 12 Defence Facts the No Campaign Don't want you to know
Their Goals:
"We also believe that when people take the time to investigate the facts it becomes clear that Scotland’s economy, our business community and our nation as a whole will be better off as an independent country."
No, not partisan at all.....
So you close down the bad school. Where do you move the kids siwhile you are creating the new one? You've already decided there shouldn't be any spare capacity in the system.
More to the point your system encourages mediocrity. The good have no incentive and no flexibility to improve. The bad may get closed (although the likelihood is that local politics and the lack of spare places will prevent that). And the mediocre just trundle along giving a crap education to another generation of poor kids. How is that supposed to be a good thing?
"And if schools are doing a bad job they should be closed down and the money they take up reallocated."
You have described the state of most schools in Wales, except that Labour is not closing them down and reallocating the money - can you explain why not?
Dream on , they are a fringe party and will remain that way for a long while after independence till they get their act together and start having any interest in Scotland whatsoever
Do have a similar explanation as to why they won similar number in Holyrood.
More to the point your system encourages mediocrity. The good have no incentive and no flexibility to improve. The bad may get closed (although the likelihood is that local politics and the lack of spare places will prevent that). And the mediocre just trundle along giving a crap education to another generation of poor kids. How is that supposed to be a good thing?
I'd have thought not being closed down is a pretty strong incentive to improve.
Where do kids go while we are waiting for the free school to be built?
Looks like the Scottish Tories are getting their act together. SNP and LD vote continues to collapse.
Tim Swinyard @TimSwinyard
I assume Ed Balls disagrees with Rachel Reeve's tough stance on benefits?: youtube.com/watch?v=a7L-SM…
'In an article in the Sunday Times, the whistleblower states: "On the 18th September, 2012 Mr Mitchell had also insisted on being let out through the main gate. Following this [officer X] said to the other officers: 'Right, we can stitch him up'."""
A few random thoughts;
1. Mitchell always accepted his language was inappropriate. The only thing he denied was using the word 'pleb'.
2. One officer inventing or exaggerating a story against a loud-mouthed minister is plausible. That more than two were prepared to risk their livelihoods reputation and a lengthy prison sentence without any tangible gain turns it into a conspiracy theory worthy of Tapestry.
3. No one risks their livelihoods and a prison sentence without serious personal gain. In this instance there is none that is obvious.
4. If this whistleblower is what the Times claim him to be the story would have been relayed to the police not the Times. This makes it professional suicide
5. If the conspiracy had been as obvious as the Times suggests the case would have been sown up within a few days.
3% Tories think DC doing a bad job
24% Lib Dems think NC is doing a bad job
26% Lab think EM doing a bad job
Where do kids go while we are waiting for the free school to be built?
So you are closing down mediocre schools as well now?
The reality of life is a negative threat (closure) is sufficient to get people to perform to a minimum threshold, not to excel. For excellence you need a positive carrot.
Kids unfortunately have to carry on going to existing sub-par schools while the free schools are being built. But luckily, as they are allowed to repurpose existing buildings it is much faster. Moreover, the existing schools are not being closed, so kids can still get educated, if not the the level I'd like to see.
Cameron recognised the police had made a mistake and wanted to give them a second chance.
That's why he gave the Police an extra two years to find Madeleine McCann.
2001: 360,658
2005: 369,388
2010: 412,855
you class half a dozen or so officers lying in the Mitchell mess as being "a conspiracy theory worthy of Tapestry".
In which case, how do you class Hillsborough?
http://hillsborough.independent.gov.uk/report/Section-1/summary/page-13/
1979: 916,155
1983: 801,487
1987: 713,081
1992: 751,950
1997: 493,059
The police are very adept at finding miscreants in their own ranks.
A police officer I know had a colleague who dabbled in soft drugs. The officer was uncovered and suspended pending charges.
His colleagues and acquaintances were informed that the suspended officer had been under surveillance for some time. Anyone who knew of his dabbling would be instantly dismissed.
All those who didn't confess to knowing of his dabbling but where the information nonetheless came to light (through the surveillance) would be dismissed and charged.
The inquisition has nothing on the police when they get the bit between their teeth
"She will shortly be publishing her book, likely to be full of embarrassing revelations for Mr Osborne"
It might be embarrassing to have to explain himself to his mother and wife but amongst the general public I can't see it doing him anything but good.
Mind you - you could say use the bankers bonus tax AGAIN - that seems to always be a line to try from Labour
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-scandal-vice-madam-to-name-389053
This was 4 years ago...she must be a very slow writer! And then at the height of the whole phone hacking, she popped up again making some very wild claims (on Australian TV), before disappearing without ever backing them up.