politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The Grammar School policy is un-Conservative and will appea
Comments
-
In return for which pension he has an oath or similar of loyalty to the EU not the Queen if their interests diverge, like all retired eu servants, and which pension he will forfeit if he breaks that 'oath'Moses_ said:
Wasn't Clegg a big cheese in the EU at one point? I do believe he gets a very good pension from them as well. Anyway to your point about Cleggs 2nd paper.....logical_song said:Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526
0 -
not_on_fire said:
Experiments such as this are usually ruled out on ethics grounds. What happens to the kids whose futures get screwed if the experiment turns out to be a disaster? This isn't experimenting on micercs1000 said:This is an area where there should be no argument, no discussion and no debate. There should certainly be no recycling of anecdote.
Instead, this is where evidence based policymaking should be used. Let's choose an LEA - perhaps two or three - and have an experiment. Decide on the terms of success: the proportion of pupils achieving very good marks, an improvement in social mobility; and also the terms of failure - i.e. do we have a very detrimental effect on the 80% of pupils who don't go to the grammar school.
Then run the tests. You decide on the criteria ahead of time, and you test the hypothesis of whether it works. We should probably test MaxPB's suggestion too, and maybe one or two others.
All the arguments and discussion and analysis in the world is no substitute for hard data. Let's get the data.
We have a bit of a natural experiment already- places like Kent, Linconshire, Buckinghamshire and Trafford. Accepting that it's not a perfect sample of the UK as a whole, we can still look at the current outcomes.
The signs aren't good; there's not much sign that having grammar schools in an area improves overall results, and the good outcomes get skewed towards a very small number of people right at the top. Kent and Linconshire in particular have problems with struggling non-grammar schools which are very hard to turn round. Furthermore, it's very hard to make a school middle-class parent proof.0 -
As scandals go, it’s pretty tame, claiming British companies have grown fat and lazy should be regarded as a wakeup call, and to say managers are more concerned with playing golf is no more than what has been repeated on PB for years. - That said, I have no idea what talent he has shown in the past that warrants his return to a ministerial position, perhaps his appointment really was based on clearing up the mess he helped create. Personally I’d prefer a competent individual less prone to gaffs in his place, but MummaMaya obviously has her own plans.John_M said:Good morning all.
No dog in this hunt, so don't care about grammar schools.
I see Fox is living up to my low expectations. However, as the story is based on reportage, I can't see it living beyond a couple of news cycles. If the story is true, then it's probably based on businesses not cartwheeling with joy at the prospect of hard Brexit.0 -
STV, surely? With a ballot paper about 50m long with hundreds of students.Paul_Bedfordshire said:
Maybe instead of an entrance exam the pupils could be selected by an AV vote of the goverors and teachersEssexit said:Are grammar schools the new AV?
0 -
"reality based community" is what people think of themselves as in areas that voted Yes to AV.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.another_richard said:
Its likely to be very good politically for May.kle4 said:Education is one of those areas I don't quite understand why ut needs to be so very complicated. But leaving that aside, apparently not all conservatives will like the plan, the opposition parties will love this fight and so apparently with the educational establishment, so if it happens at all it will probably be a fudge.
So as figurehead policies go to define the tone of her premiership it doesn't seem that amazing for May, but the early options might be limited and she needs something to inspire the troops for more awkward times to come.
It's a popular policy to the public and I suspect especially so to people who might vote Conservative.
Its opposed by Labour and Tory posh boys.
So it should gain May support from the anti-establishment mood which is so strong at present.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.0 -
Nick Clegg has rather a history of NOT knowing what he's talking about.rottenborough said:
Clegg was secretary to Leon Brittan, when he was EU TRADE commissioner. So he might know what he is talking about.Moses_ said:
Wasn't Clegg a big cheese in the EU at one point? I do believe he gets a very good pension from them as well. Anyway to your point about Cleggs 2nd paper.....logical_song said:Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7620041.stm
0 -
If the debate comes down to fact versus superstition, then it is no real debate.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.another_richard said:
Its likely to be very good politically for May.kle4 said:Education is one of those areas I don't quite understand why ut needs to be so very complicated. But leaving that aside, apparently not all conservatives will like the plan, the opposition parties will love this fight and so apparently with the educational establishment, so if it happens at all it will probably be a fudge.
So as figurehead policies go to define the tone of her premiership it doesn't seem that amazing for May, but the early options might be limited and she needs something to inspire the troops for more awkward times to come.
It's a popular policy to the public and I suspect especially so to people who might vote Conservative.
Its opposed by Labour and Tory posh boys.
So it should gain May support from the anti-establishment mood which is so strong at present.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.
Where's your evidence that the grammar system supports improved outcomes and/or improved social mobility?0 -
Political debate generally involves rival forms of superstition.Gardenwalker said:
If the debate comes down to fact versus superstition, then it is no real debate.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.another_richard said:
Its likely to be very good politically for May.kle4 said:Education is one of those areas I don't quite understand why ut needs to be so very complicated. But leaving that aside, apparently not all conservatives will like the plan, the opposition parties will love this fight and so apparently with the educational establishment, so if it happens at all it will probably be a fudge.
So as figurehead policies go to define the tone of her premiership it doesn't seem that amazing for May, but the early options might be limited and she needs something to inspire the troops for more awkward times to come.
It's a popular policy to the public and I suspect especially so to people who might vote Conservative.
Its opposed by Labour and Tory posh boys.
So it should gain May support from the anti-establishment mood which is so strong at present.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.
Where's your evidence that the grammar system supports improved outcomes and/or improved social mobility?0 -
I think May's cabinet appointments were made to show that she 'got' the Brexit vote. Personally, I don't think she needed to - people are more phlegmatic than they're given credit for, and squawking on Twitter does not an insurrection make.SimonStClare said:
As scandals go, it’s pretty tame, claiming British companies have grown fat and lazy should be regarded as a wakeup call, and to say managers are more concerned with playing golf is no more than what has been repeated on PB for years. - That said, I have no idea what talent he has shown in the past that warrants his return to a ministerial position, perhaps his appointment really was based on clearing up the mess he helped create. Personally I’d prefer a competent individual less prone to gaffs in his place, but MummaMaya obviously has her own plans.John_M said:Good morning all.
No dog in this hunt, so don't care about grammar schools.
I see Fox is living up to my low expectations. However, as the story is based on reportage, I can't see it living beyond a couple of news cycles. If the story is true, then it's probably based on businesses not cartwheeling with joy at the prospect of hard Brexit.
It's a smear story, so no legs, but I also absolutely believe its the kind of bumptious remark Fox would make i.e. it's a kind of Platonic smear.0 -
The fat and lazy part, you can pass off as banter. More worrying is the bit where he complains about FDI.SimonStClare said:
As scandals go, it’s pretty tame, claiming British companies have grown fat and lazy should be regarded as a wakeup call, and to say managers are more concerned with playing golf is no more than what has been repeated on PB for years. - That said, I have no idea what talent he has shown in the past that warrants his return to a ministerial position, perhaps his appointment really was based on clearing up the mess he helped create. Personally I’d prefer a competent individual less prone to gaffs in his place, but MummaMaya obviously has her own plans.John_M said:Good morning all.
No dog in this hunt, so don't care about grammar schools.
I see Fox is living up to my low expectations. However, as the story is based on reportage, I can't see it living beyond a couple of news cycles. If the story is true, then it's probably based on businesses not cartwheeling with joy at the prospect of hard Brexit.
He clearly has no understanding of the dynamics and economics of trade.
Thank God he's not the Trade Secretary.
Oh sh*t.
0 -
The problem with Hinkley C was that it was designed at specified at a time when there was virtually no LNG in the world, the UK's natural gas output was declining (and no one had heard of shale gas), and before solar became a viable power source.another_richard said:
Hinckley C is clearly government meddling as the government has set the price its output would be charged at.DavidL said:
How is Hinckley C meddling? It is another very difficult decision to be sure, one that will impact on our competitiveness as a nation for several decades one way or another. Will we have too little base load without it or will we have too expensive power with it?another_richard said:
Governments meddle.DavidL said:
The government has more important things to do than to muck about with educational structures once again. There has been too much of that already and a significant period of settling in is called for.another_richard said:Do I take it that those Conservative supporters here who oppose creating new grammar schools are also in favour in abolishing the existing grammar schools ?
And if not why not ?
Do I take it you're opposed to City Region Mayors, HS2, Hinckley C and all the other detritus of Osborne's meddling mania ?
If this government's educational meddling is restricted to new grammar schools - probably no more than a dozen nationwide - then you should be very satisfied.
There are too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
And there are always too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
Yet frivolities are what governments concentrate on because they're easier and quicker or someone's vanity project.
0 -
And they're also the 'progressive majority'.Sean_F said:
"reality based community" is what people think of themselves as in areas that voted Yes to AV.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.another_richard said:
Its likely to be very good politically for May.kle4 said:Education is one of those areas I don't quite understand why ut needs to be so very complicated. But leaving that aside, apparently not all conservatives will like the plan, the opposition parties will love this fight and so apparently with the educational establishment, so if it happens at all it will probably be a fudge.
So as figurehead policies go to define the tone of her premiership it doesn't seem that amazing for May, but the early options might be limited and she needs something to inspire the troops for more awkward times to come.
It's a popular policy to the public and I suspect especially so to people who might vote Conservative.
Its opposed by Labour and Tory posh boys.
So it should gain May support from the anti-establishment mood which is so strong at present.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.
I wonder if the 'reality based community' of Camden, Islington, Lambeth etc still think that after having been defeated in two general elections and two referendums in the last six years.
0 -
Ok. So you have no evidence. Good to know.Sean_F said:
Political debate generally involves rival forms of superstition.Gardenwalker said:
If the debate comes down to fact versus superstition, then it is no real debate.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.another_richard said:
Its likely to be very good politically for May.kle4 said:Education is one of those areas I don't quite understand why ut needs to be so very complicated. But leaving that aside, apparently not all conservatives will like the plan, the opposition parties will love this fight and so apparently with the educational establishment, so if it happens at all it will probably be a fudge.
So as figurehead policies go to define the tone of her premiership it doesn't seem that amazing for May, but the early options might be limited and she needs something to inspire the troops for more awkward times to come.
It's a popular policy to the public and I suspect especially so to people who might vote Conservative.
Its opposed by Labour and Tory posh boys.
So it should gain May support from the anti-establishment mood which is so strong at present.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.
Where's your evidence that the grammar system supports improved outcomes and/or improved social mobility?
0 -
Yes, whatever. I'm just a centrist Conservative. No need to win over people like me. No sir.Sean_F said:
"reality based community" is what people think of themselves as in areas that voted Yes to AV.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.another_richard said:
Its likely to be very good politically for May.kle4 said:Education is one of those areas I don't quite understand why ut needs to be so very complicated. But leaving that aside, apparently not all conservatives will like the plan, the opposition parties will love this fight and so apparently with the educational establishment, so if it happens at all it will probably be a fudge.
So as figurehead policies go to define the tone of her premiership it doesn't seem that amazing for May, but the early options might be limited and she needs something to inspire the troops for more awkward times to come.
It's a popular policy to the public and I suspect especially so to people who might vote Conservative.
Its opposed by Labour and Tory posh boys.
So it should gain May support from the anti-establishment mood which is so strong at present.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.0 -
Its clearly now the wrong project from the wrong time period.rcs1000 said:
The problem with Hinkley C was that it was designed at specified at a time when there was virtually no LNG in the world, the UK's natural gas output was declining (and no one had heard of shale gas), and before solar became a viable power source.another_richard said:
Hinckley C is clearly government meddling as the government has set the price its output would be charged at.DavidL said:
How is Hinckley C meddling? It is another very difficult decision to be sure, one that will impact on our competitiveness as a nation for several decades one way or another. Will we have too little base load without it or will we have too expensive power with it?another_richard said:
Governments meddle.DavidL said:
The government has more important things to do than to muck about with educational structures once again. There has been too much of that already and a significant period of settling in is called for.another_richard said:Do I take it that those Conservative supporters here who oppose creating new grammar schools are also in favour in abolishing the existing grammar schools ?
And if not why not ?
Do I take it you're opposed to City Region Mayors, HS2, Hinckley C and all the other detritus of Osborne's meddling mania ?
If this government's educational meddling is restricted to new grammar schools - probably no more than a dozen nationwide - then you should be very satisfied.
There are too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
And there are always too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
Yet frivolities are what governments concentrate on because they're easier and quicker or someone's vanity project.
And the only thing which has stopped Hinkley C from been cancelled has been government meddling.
0 -
Really? I thought you were a LD or soft Labour from your posts.Gardenwalker said:
Yes, whatever. I'm just a centrist Conservative. No need to win over people like me. No sir.Sean_F said:
"reality based community" is what people think of themselves as in areas that voted Yes to AV.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.another_richard said:
Its likely to be very good politically for May.kle4 said:Education is one of those areas I don't quite understand why ut needs to be so very complicated. But leaving that aside, apparently not all conservatives will like the plan, the opposition parties will love this fight and so apparently with the educational establishment, so if it happens at all it will probably be a fudge.
So as figurehead policies go to define the tone of her premiership it doesn't seem that amazing for May, but the early options might be limited and she needs something to inspire the troops for more awkward times to come.
It's a popular policy to the public and I suspect especially so to people who might vote Conservative.
Its opposed by Labour and Tory posh boys.
So it should gain May support from the anti-establishment mood which is so strong at present.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.0 -
Mr. Richard, Clegg also claimed an EU army was a fantasy or a myth when he got crushed by Farage in their debates.0
-
Guess it depends which angle you're looking from. I identify right, but live in a very left liberal area. This perhaps reinforces my own sense of identity, but subtly drags me leftwards.PlatoSaid said:
Really? I thought you were a LD or soft Labour from your posts.Gardenwalker said:
Yes, whatever. I'm just a centrist Conservative. No need to win over people like me. No sir.Sean_F said:
"reality based community" is what people think of themselves as in areas that voted Yes to AV.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.another_richard said:
Its likely to be very good politically for May.kle4 said:Education is one of those areas I don't quite understand why ut needs to be so very complicated. But leaving that aside, apparently not all conservatives will like the plan, the opposition parties will love this fight and so apparently with the educational establishment, so if it happens at all it will probably be a fudge.
So as figurehead policies go to define the tone of her premiership it doesn't seem that amazing for May, but the early options might be limited and she needs something to inspire the troops for more awkward times to come.
It's a popular policy to the public and I suspect especially so to people who might vote Conservative.
Its opposed by Labour and Tory posh boys.
So it should gain May support from the anti-establishment mood which is so strong at present.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.
0 -
Actually May doesn't need to win you over, as (from your point of view) there's no alternative to the Conservatives.Gardenwalker said:
Yes, whatever. I'm just a centrist Conservative. No need to win over people like me. No sir.Sean_F said:
"reality based community" is what people think of themselves as in areas that voted Yes to AV.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.another_richard said:
Its likely to be very good politically for May.kle4 said:Education is one of those areas I don't quite understand why ut needs to be so very complicated. But leaving that aside, apparently not all conservatives will like the plan, the opposition parties will love this fight and so apparently with the educational establishment, so if it happens at all it will probably be a fudge.
So as figurehead policies go to define the tone of her premiership it doesn't seem that amazing for May, but the early options might be limited and she needs something to inspire the troops for more awkward times to come.
It's a popular policy to the public and I suspect especially so to people who might vote Conservative.
Its opposed by Labour and Tory posh boys.
So it should gain May support from the anti-establishment mood which is so strong at present.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.0 -
I was not a doom and gloom monger, and think the rot will take a while to be visible, but wasn't the above projection predicated on A50 being invoked the next day as promised by the PM?another_richard said:For those who now are claiming that immediate job losses weren't promised if Leave won here's something from the day AFTER the referendum:
‘ If you perchance thought that your London banking job would be safe with Britain outside the European Union, you were seemingly wrong. Consultants working for leading strategy firms in London say banks have activated their contingency plans and that the London job cuts are about to come thick and fast.
“You’re looking at anything from 50,000 to 70,000 London finance jobs being moved overseas in the next 12 months,” predicts one consultant working with one of the top finance strategy firms in the City. “Jobs are going to be cut, and those cuts are going to start next week.” ‘
http://news.efinancialcareers.com/uk-en/248265/london-banking-redundancies-brexit/
Eleven full weeks after the Leave vote and do we have any announcements of 'those cuts are going to start next week' ?
If that article is correct there should have been 10-15,000 job cuts already.0 -
Sadly true.Sean_F said:
Actually May doesn't need to win you over, as (from your point of view) there's no alternative to the Conservatives.Gardenwalker said:
Yes, whatever. I'm just a centrist Conservative. No need to win over people like me. No sir.Sean_F said:
"reality based community" is what people think of themselves as in areas that voted Yes to AV.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.another_richard said:
Its likely to be very good politically for May.kle4 said:Education is one of those areas I don't quite understand why ut needs to be so very complicated. But leaving that aside, apparently not all conservatives will like the plan, the opposition parties will love this fight and so apparently with the educational establishment, so if it happens at all it will probably be a fudge.
So as figurehead policies go to define the tone of her premiership it doesn't seem that amazing for May, but the early options might be limited and she needs something to inspire the troops for more awkward times to come.
It's a popular policy to the public and I suspect especially so to people who might vote Conservative.
Its opposed by Labour and Tory posh boys.
So it should gain May support from the anti-establishment mood which is so strong at present.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.
But if she advocates policy on no evidence she'll quickly lose the immense goodwill she has as the seemingly last sane one standing, and get caught up in internal bunfighting.
She has fantastic political capital right now and my hope is that she uses it to address some of our systemic challenges as a nation.0 -
... and Osborne running things. Now that he has gone there is an opportunity to take sensible decisions on Hinkley. But Mrs May and her people have misshandled the communication.another_richard said:
Its clearly now the wrong project from the wrong time period.rcs1000 said:
The problem with Hinkley C was that it was designed at specified at a time when there was virtually no LNG in the world, the UK's natural gas output was declining (and no one had heard of shale gas), and before solar became a viable power source.another_richard said:
Hinckley C is clearly government meddling as the government has set the price its output would be charged at.DavidL said:
How is Hinckley C meddling? It is another very difficult decision to be sure, one that will impact on our competitiveness as a nation for several decades one way or another. Will we have too little base load without it or will we have too expensive power with it?another_richard said:
Governments meddle.DavidL said:
The government has more important things to do than to muck about with educational structures once again. There has been too much of that already and a significant period of settling in is called for.another_richard said:Do I take it that those Conservative supporters here who oppose creating new grammar schools are also in favour in abolishing the existing grammar schools ?
And if not why not ?
Do I take it you're opposed to City Region Mayors, HS2, Hinckley C and all the other detritus of Osborne's meddling mania ?
If this government's educational meddling is restricted to new grammar schools - probably no more than a dozen nationwide - then you should be very satisfied.
There are too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
And there are always too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
Yet frivolities are what governments concentrate on because they're easier and quicker or someone's vanity project.
And the only thing which has stopped Hinkley C from been cancelled has been government meddling.
0 -
Apart from anything else..Gardenwalker said:
The fat and lazy part, you can pass off as banter. More worrying is the bit where he complains about FDI.SimonStClare said:
As scandals go, it’s pretty tame, claiming British companies have grown fat and lazy should be regarded as a wakeup call, and to say managers are more concerned with playing golf is no more than what has been repeated on PB for years. - That said, I have no idea what talent he has shown in the past that warrants his return to a ministerial position, perhaps his appointment really was based on clearing up the mess he helped create. Personally I’d prefer a competent individual less prone to gaffs in his place, but MummaMaya obviously has her own plans.John_M said:Good morning all.
No dog in this hunt, so don't care about grammar schools.
I see Fox is living up to my low expectations. However, as the story is based on reportage, I can't see it living beyond a couple of news cycles. If the story is true, then it's probably based on businesses not cartwheeling with joy at the prospect of hard Brexit.
He clearly has no understanding of the dynamics and economics of trade.
Thank God he's not the Trade Secretary.
Oh sh*t.
https://twitter.com/asentance/status/774519460292067329
I'm quite sure that in other circumstances (eg talking down to dreadful Euro w*gs) Fox would be happy to crow about those stats.-1 -
If he's right, it's good that we are leaving now as it would only be more difficult to leave in the future.rottenborough said:
Clegg was secretary to Leon Brittan, when he was EU TRADE commissioner. So he might know what he is talking about.Moses_ said:
Wasn't Clegg a big cheese in the EU at one point? I do believe he gets a very good pension from them as well. Anyway to your point about Cleggs 2nd paper.....logical_song said:Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?14733315260 -
Further to the last comment - the polls are for 3 different time periods and at first glance confirm swing to Trump since end of August.0
-
I'm sure we're due a recession at some point between now and 2020, simply because we've had six years of growth.foxinsoxuk said:
I was not a doom and gloom monger, and think the rot will take a while to be visible, but wasn't the above projection predicated on A50 being invoked the next day as promised by the PM?another_richard said:For those who now are claiming that immediate job losses weren't promised if Leave won here's something from the day AFTER the referendum:
‘ If you perchance thought that your London banking job would be safe with Britain outside the European Union, you were seemingly wrong. Consultants working for leading strategy firms in London say banks have activated their contingency plans and that the London job cuts are about to come thick and fast.
“You’re looking at anything from 50,000 to 70,000 London finance jobs being moved overseas in the next 12 months,” predicts one consultant working with one of the top finance strategy firms in the City. “Jobs are going to be cut, and those cuts are going to start next week.” ‘
http://news.efinancialcareers.com/uk-en/248265/london-banking-redundancies-brexit/
Eleven full weeks after the Leave vote and do we have any announcements of 'those cuts are going to start next week' ?
If that article is correct there should have been 10-15,000 job cuts already.0 -
To be fair, it's possible to sound like an LD and yet lead the Conservative Party for 11 years.PlatoSaid said:
Really? I thought you were a LD or soft Labour from your posts.Gardenwalker said:
Yes, whatever. I'm just a centrist Conservative. No need to win over people like me. No sir.Sean_F said:
"reality based community" is what people think of themselves as in areas that voted Yes to AV.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.another_richard said:
Its likely to be very good politically for May.kle4 said:Education is one of those areas I don't quite understand why ut needs to be so very complicated. But leaving that aside, apparently not all conservatives will like the plan, the opposition parties will love this fight and so apparently with the educational establishment, so if it happens at all it will probably be a fudge.
So as figurehead policies go to define the tone of her premiership it doesn't seem that amazing for May, but the early options might be limited and she needs something to inspire the troops for more awkward times to come.
It's a popular policy to the public and I suspect especially so to people who might vote Conservative.
Its opposed by Labour and Tory posh boys.
So it should gain May support from the anti-establishment mood which is so strong at present.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.0 -
Essexit said:
To be fair, it's possible to sound like an LD and yet lead the Conservative Party for 11 years.PlatoSaid said:
Really? I thought you were a LD or soft Labour from your posts.Gardenwalker said:
Yes, whatever. I'm just a centrist Conservative. No need to win over people like me. No sir.Sean_F said:
"reality based community" is what people think of themselves as in areas that voted Yes to AV.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.another_richard said:
Its likely to be very good politically for May.kle4 said:Education is one of those areas I don't quite understand why ut needs to be so very complicated. But leaving that aside, apparently not all conservatives will like the plan, the opposition parties will love this fight and so apparently with the educational establishment, so if it happens at all it will probably be a fudge.
So as figurehead policies go to define the tone of her premiership it doesn't seem that amazing for May, but the early options might be limited and she needs something to inspire the troops for more awkward times to come.
It's a popular policy to the public and I suspect especially so to people who might vote Conservative.
Its opposed by Labour and Tory posh boys.
So it should gain May support from the anti-establishment mood which is so strong at present.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.
0 -
The Sun article about Keith Vaz has obviously been carefully lawyered and is worth an equally careful read.0
-
Take the City out and see what happens.Theuniondivvie said:
Apart from anything else..Gardenwalker said:
The fat and lazy part, you can pass off as banter. More worrying is the bit where he complains about FDI.SimonStClare said:
As scandals go, it’s pretty tame, claiming British companies have grown fat and lazy should be regarded as a wakeup call, and to say managers are more concerned with playing golf is no more than what has been repeated on PB for years. - That said, I have no idea what talent he has shown in the past that warrants his return to a ministerial position, perhaps his appointment really was based on clearing up the mess he helped create. Personally I’d prefer a competent individual less prone to gaffs in his place, but MummaMaya obviously has her own plans.John_M said:Good morning all.
No dog in this hunt, so don't care about grammar schools.
I see Fox is living up to my low expectations. However, as the story is based on reportage, I can't see it living beyond a couple of news cycles. If the story is true, then it's probably based on businesses not cartwheeling with joy at the prospect of hard Brexit.
He clearly has no understanding of the dynamics and economics of trade.
Thank God he's not the Trade Secretary.
Oh sh*t.
https://twitter.com/asentance/status/774519460292067329
I'm quite sure that in other circumstances (eg talking down to dreadful Euro w*gs) Fox would be happy to crow about those stats.
0 -
Yes, Clinton ahead in Kansas sounds about right.weejonnie said:538 released a google survey.
Florida: Trump +9
North Carolina: Trump +9
Iowa: Clinton +6
Arizona: Tie
New Hampshire: Clinton +14
New Mexico: Trump +3
Nevada: Clinton +1
Ohio: Trump +6
Kansas : Clinton +2
Pennsylvania: Trump +2
(Low samples in most of these - but interesting).0 -
Commentators always ignore the counterfactual - as the former Governor of the Bank of England would say.Sean_F said:
I'm sure we're due a recession at some point between now and 2020, simply because we've had six years of growth.foxinsoxuk said:
I was not a doom and gloom monger, and think the rot will take a while to be visible, but wasn't the above projection predicated on A50 being invoked the next day as promised by the PM?another_richard said:For those who now are claiming that immediate job losses weren't promised if Leave won here's something from the day AFTER the referendum:
‘ If you perchance thought that your London banking job would be safe with Britain outside the European Union, you were seemingly wrong. Consultants working for leading strategy firms in London say banks have activated their contingency plans and that the London job cuts are about to come thick and fast.
“You’re looking at anything from 50,000 to 70,000 London finance jobs being moved overseas in the next 12 months,” predicts one consultant working with one of the top finance strategy firms in the City. “Jobs are going to be cut, and those cuts are going to start next week.” ‘
http://news.efinancialcareers.com/uk-en/248265/london-banking-redundancies-brexit/
Eleven full weeks after the Leave vote and do we have any announcements of 'those cuts are going to start next week' ?
If that article is correct there should have been 10-15,000 job cuts already.0 -
Any economic bad news will be Brexit bad news from now until eternity. It's the 21st century 'Fatcha'.David_Evershed said:
Commentators always ignore the counterfactual - as the former Governor of the Bank of England would say.Sean_F said:
I'm sure we're due a recession at some point between now and 2020, simply because we've had six years of growth.foxinsoxuk said:
I was not a doom and gloom monger, and think the rot will take a while to be visible, but wasn't the above projection predicated on A50 being invoked the next day as promised by the PM?another_richard said:For those who now are claiming that immediate job losses weren't promised if Leave won here's something from the day AFTER the referendum:
‘ If you perchance thought that your London banking job would be safe with Britain outside the European Union, you were seemingly wrong. Consultants working for leading strategy firms in London say banks have activated their contingency plans and that the London job cuts are about to come thick and fast.
“You’re looking at anything from 50,000 to 70,000 London finance jobs being moved overseas in the next 12 months,” predicts one consultant working with one of the top finance strategy firms in the City. “Jobs are going to be cut, and those cuts are going to start next week.” ‘
http://news.efinancialcareers.com/uk-en/248265/london-banking-redundancies-brexit/
Eleven full weeks after the Leave vote and do we have any announcements of 'those cuts are going to start next week' ?
If that article is correct there should have been 10-15,000 job cuts already.0 -
Theuniondivvie said:
Apart from anything else..Gardenwalker said:
The fat and lazy part, you can pass off as banter. More worrying is the bit where he complains about FDI.SimonStClare said:
As scandals go, it’s pretty tame, claiming British companies have grown fat and lazy should be regarded as a wakeup call, and to say managers are more concerned with playing golf is no more than what has been repeated on PB for years. - That said, I have no idea what talent he has shown in the past that warrants his return to a ministerial position, perhaps his appointment really was based on clearing up the mess he helped create. Personally I’d prefer a competent individual less prone to gaffs in his place, but MummaMaya obviously has her own plans.John_M said:Good morning all.
No dog in this hunt, so don't care about grammar schools.
I see Fox is living up to my low expectations. However, as the story is based on reportage, I can't see it living beyond a couple of news cycles. If the story is true, then it's probably based on businesses not cartwheeling with joy at the prospect of hard Brexit.
He clearly has no understanding of the dynamics and economics of trade.
Thank God he's not the Trade Secretary.
Oh sh*t.
https://twitter.com/asentance/status/774519460292067329
I'm quite sure that in other circumstances (eg talking down to dreadful Euro w*gs) Fox would be happy to crow about those stats.
At latest exchange rates it looks like we are fourth rather than third out of seven.
0 -
One person's fact is another person's superstition.Gardenwalker said:
If the debate comes down to fact versus superstition, then it is no real debate.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.another_richard said:
Its likely to be very good politically for May.kle4 said:Education is one of those areas I don't quite understand why ut needs to be so very complicated. But leaving that aside, apparently not all conservatives will like the plan, the opposition parties will love this fight and so apparently with the educational establishment, so if it happens at all it will probably be a fudge.
So as figurehead policies go to define the tone of her premiership it doesn't seem that amazing for May, but the early options might be limited and she needs something to inspire the troops for more awkward times to come.
It's a popular policy to the public and I suspect especially so to people who might vote Conservative.
Its opposed by Labour and Tory posh boys.
So it should gain May support from the anti-establishment mood which is so strong at present.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.
Where's your evidence that the grammar system supports improved outcomes and/or improved social mobility?
This year's fact is the past's and/or future's superstition.
This area's superstition is that area's fact.
In reality any new grammar schools are likely to be in a handful of Conservative controlled areas.
Now they might be beneficial or they might not be.
But some people - almost all of whom don't live in the areas that would be affected - are very opposed to finding out whether they would be beneficial or not.
And its the opposition of such people which is so politically advantageous to May.
0 -
Some significant regional variations
ONS
Rates of suicide were highest in Wales and Yorkshire & Humber https://t.co/NllXgNyrJs #WorldSuicidePreventionDay https://t.co/BJbQLRtqMd0 -
Hinkley was most recently supported by Amber Rudd and Ledsom when they were at the Dept of Energy. Both now moved away from Energy matters.another_richard said:
Its clearly now the wrong project from the wrong time period.rcs1000 said:
The problem with Hinkley C was that it was designed at specified at a time when there was virtually no LNG in the world, the UK's natural gas output was declining (and no one had heard of shale gas), and before solar became a viable power source.another_richard said:
Hinckley C is clearly government meddling as the government has set the price its output would be charged at.DavidL said:
How is Hinckley C meddling? It is another very difficult decision to be sure, one that will impact on our competitiveness as a nation for several decades one way or another. Will we have too little base load without it or will we have too expensive power with it?another_richard said:
Governments meddle.DavidL said:
The government has more important things to do than to muck about with educational structures once again. There has been too much of that already and a significant period of settling in is called for.another_richard said:Do I take it that those Conservative supporters here who oppose creating new grammar schools are also in favour in abolishing the existing grammar schools ?
And if not why not ?
Do I take it you're opposed to City Region Mayors, HS2, Hinckley C and all the other detritus of Osborne's meddling mania ?
If this government's educational meddling is restricted to new grammar schools - probably no more than a dozen nationwide - then you should be very satisfied.
There are too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
And there are always too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
Yet frivolities are what governments concentrate on because they're easier and quicker or someone's vanity project.
And the only thing which has stopped Hinkley C from been cancelled has been government meddling.
0 -
Sean_F said:
Political debate generally involves rival forms of superstition.Gardenwalker said:
If the debate comes down to fact versus superstition, then it is no real debate.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.another_richard said:
Its likely to be very good politically for May.kle4 said:Education is one of those areas I don't quite understand why ut needs to be so very complicated. But leaving that aside, apparently not all conservatives will like the plan, the opposition parties will love this fight and so apparently with the educational establishment, so if it happens at all it will probably be a fudge.
So as figurehead policies go to define the tone of her premiership it doesn't seem that amazing for May, but the early options might be limited and she needs something to inspire the troops for more awkward times to come.
It's a popular policy to the public and I suspect especially so to people who might vote Conservative.
Its opposed by Labour and Tory posh boys.
So it should gain May support from the anti-establishment mood which is so strong at present.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.
Where's your evidence that the grammar system supports improved outcomes and/or improved social mobility?
When you believe in things that you don't understand / Then you suffer / Superstition ain't the way…
Stevie Wonder0 -
Something doesn't compute about those figures. Using this source, the UK exports less as a percentage of its GDP outside of the EU than Eurozone countries, even when Germany is excluded, and much less when you consider all exports including to elsewhere in the EU. There is no reason to exclude Germany or exports to the EU, of courseTheuniondivvie said:
Apart from anything else..
https://twitter.com/asentance/status/774519460292067329
I'm quite sure that in other circumstances (eg talking down to dreadful Euro w*gs) Fox would be happy to crow about those stats.
http://exporthelp.europa.eu/thdapp/display.htm?page=st/st_Statistics.html&docType=main&languageId=en
Liam Fox, who says "If you want to share in the prosperity of our country, you have a duty to contribute to the prosperity of our country." while promoting a Brexit that will directly lead to LESS prosperity, is an idiot. He does have a point however. We are not as good as we could be at exporting. It doesn't have much to do with the EU. Being members of the EU and the Euro doesn't stop our competitors being better at exporting than we are.
I believe leaving the EU is a mistake, but it's going ahead and we have to make the best of it. I also believe in making the most of a good crisis. This is stuff we should be dealing with anyway. Maybe Brexit will galvanise us into action. The problem, though, is that the Leave camp think Brexit is the sunlit uplands and there isn't a crisis to make the most of.
0 -
@logical_song
Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526'
Shorthand from an arch europhile that whatever we do it will be worse than being in the EU and it will be impossible to get any meaningful agreement from these spiteful Europeans.
Clegg's obviously bitter that his EU job prospects are zero.
0 -
Link?AlastairMeeks said:The Sun article about Keith Vaz has obviously been carefully lawyered and is worth an equally careful read.
0 -
The Sun says:
ALL top politicians of modern times have made a pitch to Sun readers.
None since Maggie Thatcher has done so as convincingly as Theresa May yesterday.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1759192/theresa-may-promises-brave-new-school-system-to-reshape-britain-for-ordinary-working-class-people/0 -
Gardenwalker said:
If the debate comes down to fact versus superstition, then it is no real debate.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.another_richard said:
Its likely to be very good politically for May.kle4 said:Education is one of those areas I don't quite understand why ut needs to be so very complicated. But leaving that aside, apparently not all conservatives will like the plan, the opposition parties will love this fight and so apparently with the educational establishment, so if it happens at all it will probably be a fudge.
So as figurehead policies go to define the tone of her premiership it doesn't seem that amazing for May, but the early options might be limited and she needs something to inspire the troops for more awkward times to come.
It's a popular policy to the public and I suspect especially so to people who might vote Conservative.
Its opposed by Labour and Tory posh boys.
So it should gain May support from the anti-establishment mood which is so strong at present.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.
Where's your evidence that the grammar system supports improved outcomes and/or improved social mobility?
The evidence is those of us who went to grammar school.
However, I was the only child to go to the grammar from my junior school and I don't think anyone had ever gone before, although there was a rumour that one child had previously passed the 11 plus but chose to stay with his mates at a church school.
What is needed is for proper coaching of children in school for the 11 plus test so as to equal their opportunities against those privately coached.
0 -
another_richard said:
Nick Clegg has rather a history of NOT knowing what he's talking about.rottenborough said:
Clegg was secretary to Leon Brittan, when he was EU TRADE commissioner. So he might know what he is talking about.Moses_ said:
Wasn't Clegg a big cheese in the EU at one point? I do believe he gets a very good pension from them as well. Anyway to your point about Cleggs 2nd paper.....logical_song said:Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7620041.stm
Clegg has a poor head for figures and frequently struggles with financial numbers - a blind spot.
Strange when he otherwise seems to have a glowing academic record.0 -
But the Sun also says:CarlottaVance said:The Sun says:
ALL top politicians of modern times have made a pitch to Sun readers.
None since Maggie Thatcher has done so as convincingly as Theresa May yesterday.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1759192/theresa-may-promises-brave-new-school-system-to-reshape-britain-for-ordinary-working-class-people/
"It is absolutely crucial the PM does not overlook those for whom a grammar isn’t right."0 -
I take your point on the likely limited scope of any new grammars.another_richard said:
One person's fact is another person's superstition.Gardenwalker said:
If the debate comes down to fact versus superstition, then it is no real debate.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.
Where's your evidence that the grammar system supports improved outcomes and/or improved social mobility?
This year's fact is the past's and/or future's superstition.
This area's superstition is that area's fact.
In reality any new grammar schools are likely to be in a handful of Conservative controlled areas.
Now they might be beneficial or they might not be.
But some people - almost all of whom don't live in the areas that would be affected - are very opposed to finding out whether they would be beneficial or not.
And its the opposition of such people which is so politically advantageous to May.
But I don't get why it is politically advantageous for May to generate opposition of this sort. If this is to be a government against the London metro chattering classes - fine, and long overdue - but I'm not convinced that hostility to grammars really does divide the country so neatly.
The anti-grammarians are not all public school educated snooty lefties a la Harman. There's a lot of us, including many with a working class/lower middle class background.0 -
The simple problem is that eceryone discusses grammar schools in isolation. If course dividing people into "bright" and "not bright" is divisive and unhelpful especially if the split is perceived as arbitrary/unjustTOPPING said:
Grammar schools are not my specialist subject. Study after study have found they don't do what they are trumpeted as doing. @Richard_Tyndall mentioned a Sutton Trust report which said they do indeed aid social mobility (I think, he might have been making a related point). Having turbo googled a bit I can't find it. Although there are plenty like this Grammar Schools widen the gap betwen rich and pooranother_richard said:Do I take it that those Conservative supporters here who oppose creating new grammar schools are also in favour in abolishing the existing grammar schools ?
And if not why not ?
So would I seek to abolish existing grammar schools? It seems even with their imperfections it might be too disruptive to do so, but if they don't do what they are supposed to do, then I wouldn't be against making them into free schools or somesuch.
however as part of a well thought out system - academically selective schools, techical/STEM schools, schools for kids with specific talents (e.g. music), etc it can play an important role.0 -
The people for whom the grammar school policy is a vote changing issue either will change to Tory because of it or were not going to vote Tory anyway.Gardenwalker said:
I take your point on the likely limited scope of any new grammars.another_richard said:
One person's fact is another person's superstition.Gardenwalker said:
If the debate comes down to fact versus superstition, then it is no real debate.another_richard said:
When you used the phrase 'reality-based community' you lost the argument in all those areas which were blue on the referendum map.Gardenwalker said:
Totally bonkers.
There is no great demand in the country to bring back grammars. This is pure Tory nostalgism - see also national service.
It is opposed by everyone in the reality-based community, which includes the mainstream media.
With disquiet in her own party, this seems like a major mis-step. Don't see she can get a majority in parliament, and certainly not in the Lords. And hardly good reason to call a general election on.
What's more, she's personally taken this on.
Her own Ed Sec is unconvinced.
May is marking her cards as someone who takes a very long time to make a decision - and then ignores all the evidence in favour of a policy last seriously debated twenty years ago.
I fully expect the next big announcement to be the return of the cones hotline.
And that's why this issue is good for May politically.
Where's your evidence that the grammar system supports improved outcomes and/or improved social mobility?
This year's fact is the past's and/or future's superstition.
This area's superstition is that area's fact.
In reality any new grammar schools are likely to be in a handful of Conservative controlled areas.
Now they might be beneficial or they might not be.
But some people - almost all of whom don't live in the areas that would be affected - are very opposed to finding out whether they would be beneficial or not.
And its the opposition of such people which is so politically advantageous to May.
But I don't get why it is politically advantageous for May to generate opposition of this sort. If this is to be a government against the London metro chattering classes - fine, and long overdue - but I'm not convinced that hostility to grammars really does divide the country so neatly.
The anti-grammarians are not all public school educated snooty lefties a la Harman. There's a lot of us, including many with a working class/lower middle class background.
It is a win:no lose policy.0 -
Re. Grammers. The Sun is happy, the left are in uproar and reaction on PB is "mixed". This policy (which MIGHT be voted down by Commons but certainly WILL be voted down by the Lords) might also also give Theresa the cover she needs to have an "emergency" election if she desires it.
I's say job done.
Re. Dr Fox. There is of course some merit in what he's said about UK business leaders (remember the vast majority of these CEO's were lined up against Brexit) but this probably isn't the time to voice it.
That said, a well aimed kick up the ARSE now and again never hurt anyone... I'm sure these CEO's dish it out to their staff on a regular basis after all...0 -
Actually, I think that he is looking more statesman like with time.john_zims said:@logical_song
Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526'
Shorthand from an arch europhile that whatever we do it will be worse than being in the EU and it will be impossible to get any meaningful agreement from these spiteful Europeans.
Clegg's obviously bitter that his EU job prospects are zero.
Increasingly the Coalition looks like a golden age of mostly sane government, Clegg is young and well presented. If Farron fails to make progress then in 2020 Clegg could easily return as Leader.0 -
"Grammar Schools" was a small part of a wide ranging speech yesterday. The way people have focused on this single element suggests an astute politician behind it...rottenborough said:
But the Sun also says:CarlottaVance said:The Sun says:
ALL top politicians of modern times have made a pitch to Sun readers.
None since Maggie Thatcher has done so as convincingly as Theresa May yesterday.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1759192/theresa-may-promises-brave-new-school-system-to-reshape-britain-for-ordinary-working-class-people/
"It is absolutely crucial the PM does not overlook those for whom a grammar isn’t right."0 -
Mr Evershed,
"When you believe in things that you don't understand / Then you suffer / Superstition ain't the way… Stevie Wonder."
A wise man.
Yet we believe in quantum theory even though Feynman said. "If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don't understand quantum mechanics", and no one has ever claimed to really understand it.
Multiverses, the nature of time, and what exactly is contained in a vacuum? As the Copenhagen interpretation hints at ... "Shut up and do the maths."
Infinities? Cantor had a mathematical go but no one has tamed them really, even mathematics.
I always had doubts about field theory. Is everything entangled and does space really exist?
Science gets along by saying we're just a species that evolved on an odd planet with special characteristics. So our brain can't grasp these difficult concepts. Isn't it good we have maths that can hint at eleven dimensions - concepts we'll never understand.0 -
Yes but apart from cursory nods it seems that those announcing the policy make the same mistake.Charles said:
The simple problem is that eceryone discusses grammar schools in isolation. If course dividing people into "bright" and "not bright" is divisive and unhelpful especially if the split is perceived as arbitrary/unjustTOPPING said:
Grammar schools are not my specialist subject. Study after study have found they don't do what they are trumpeted as doing. @Richard_Tyndall mentioned a Sutton Trust report which said they do indeed aid social mobility (I think, he might have been making a related point). Having turbo googled a bit I can't find it. Although there are plenty like this Grammar Schools widen the gap betwen rich and pooranother_richard said:Do I take it that those Conservative supporters here who oppose creating new grammar schools are also in favour in abolishing the existing grammar schools ?
And if not why not ?
So would I seek to abolish existing grammar schools? It seems even with their imperfections it might be too disruptive to do so, but if they don't do what they are supposed to do, then I wouldn't be against making them into free schools or somesuch.
however as part of a well thought out system - academically selective schools, techical/STEM schools, schools for kids with specific talents (e.g. music), etc it can play an important role.
Whole new integrated education system? I get it albeit it's more tinkering.
But May just announced the grammar school bit.0 -
I'm not sure that this is entirely fair. If not amongst the politicians, then certainly amongst the media commentariat there has been a fair share of admissions of both surprise and relief that the Brexit shock has not - so far - been greater than it has. Many were expecting worse.FF43 said:
Something doesn't compute about those figures. Using this source, the UK exports less as a percentage of its GDP outside of the EU than Eurozone countries, even when Germany is excluded, and much less when you consider all exports including to elsewhere in the EU. There is no reason to exclude Germany or exports to the EU, of courseTheuniondivvie said:
Apart from anything else..
https://twitter.com/asentance/status/774519460292067329
I'm quite sure that in other circumstances (eg talking down to dreadful Euro w*gs) Fox would be happy to crow about those stats.
http://exporthelp.europa.eu/thdapp/display.htm?page=st/st_Statistics.html&docType=main&languageId=en
Liam Fox, who says "If you want to share in the prosperity of our country, you have a duty to contribute to the prosperity of our country." while promoting a Brexit that will directly lead to LESS prosperity, is an idiot. He does have a point however. We are not as good as we could be at exporting. It doesn't have much to do with the EU. Being members of the EU and the Euro doesn't stop our competitors being better at exporting than we are.
I believe leaving the EU is a mistake, but it's going ahead and we have to make the best of it. I also believe in making the most of a good crisis. This is stuff we should be dealing with anyway. Maybe Brexit will galvanise us into action. The problem, though, is that the Leave camp think Brexit is the sunlit uplands and there isn't a crisis to make the most of.
Most Leavers are aware that success outside of the EU is not guaranteed, that it requires hard work and the right policies, and that there are liable to be setbacks along the way. The fact that they regard Brexit as an upheaval, but above all as both an opportunity and a source of relief, rather than as some epoch-making crisis, should not automatically be construed as a blind, Panglossian faith in the future.
The British population does not consist entirely of weeping, grief-stricken Europhiles and tub-thumping hardline nationalists. Most of us are in various places in between the two extremes, are we not?0 -
Centrists don't have anywhere to go, it's true.Mortimer said:
The people for whom the grammar school policy is a vote changing issue either will change to Tory because of it or were not going to vote Tory anyway.Gardenwalker said:
I take your point on the likely limited scope of any new grammars.
But I don't get why it is politically advantageous for May to generate opposition of this sort. If this is to be a government against the London metro chattering classes - fine, and long overdue - but I'm not convinced that hostility to grammars really does divide the country so neatly.
The anti-grammarians are not all public school educated snooty lefties a la Harman. There's a lot of us, including many with a working class/lower middle class background.
It is a win:no lose policy.
But we can sit on our hands.
The great opp. for May right now is to park her tanks on Labour's lawn, on behalf of the left behind - the hard working families and those outside London and its hinterland.
As she said:
It means taking on some big challenges, tackling some vested interests. Overcoming barriers that have been constructed over many years.
A pro-grammar position, valuable maybe as a dog-whistle to Ukippers, alienates more than it attracts. If May really is to take on the big challenges, she needs to do so with the centrists behind her.0 -
Seems highly unlikely. And even if he did then whom, outside of the circles of politics and of political anoraks, would very much notice or care?foxinsoxuk said:
Actually, I think that he is looking more statesman like with time.john_zims said:@logical_song
Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526'
Shorthand from an arch europhile that whatever we do it will be worse than being in the EU and it will be impossible to get any meaningful agreement from these spiteful Europeans.
Clegg's obviously bitter that his EU job prospects are zero.
Increasingly the Coalition looks like a golden age of mostly sane government, Clegg is young and well presented. If Farron fails to make progress then in 2020 Clegg could easily return as Leader.
The Lib Dems are a minor party again. Like the Greens, outside of the handful of places where they are still influential in local government, they matter not a jot.0 -
Did you read any of Clegg's memoir extracts? He comes across as embarrassingly naive.Black_Rook said:
Seems highly unlikely. And even if he did then whom, outside of the circles of politics and of political anoraks, would very much notice or care?foxinsoxuk said:
Actually, I think that he is looking more statesman like with time.john_zims said:@logical_song
Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526'
Shorthand from an arch europhile that whatever we do it will be worse than being in the EU and it will be impossible to get any meaningful agreement from these spiteful Europeans.
Clegg's obviously bitter that his EU job prospects are zero.
Increasingly the Coalition looks like a golden age of mostly sane government, Clegg is young and well presented. If Farron fails to make progress then in 2020 Clegg could easily return as Leader.
The Lib Dems are a minor party again. Like the Greens, outside of the handful of places where they are still influential in local government, they matter not a jot.
On the other hand, imagine having Cable and Huhne as your conniving deputies.
0 -
Except they have enormous potential, given the vacuum that is opening up for a non-Tory alternative as Labour self-immolate.Black_Rook said:
Seems highly unlikely. And even if he did then whom, outside of the circles of politics and of political anoraks, would very much notice or care?foxinsoxuk said:
Actually, I think that he is looking more statesman like with time.john_zims said:@logical_song
Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526'
Shorthand from an arch europhile that whatever we do it will be worse than being in the EU and it will be impossible to get any meaningful agreement from these spiteful Europeans.
Clegg's obviously bitter that his EU job prospects are zero.
Increasingly the Coalition looks like a golden age of mostly sane government, Clegg is young and well presented. If Farron fails to make progress then in 2020 Clegg could easily return as Leader.
The Lib Dems are a minor party again. Like the Greens, outside of the handful of places where they are still influential in local government, they matter not a jot.
0 -
And way more people will read the very positive Sun leader today, than saw the speech yesterday.CarlottaVance said:
"Grammar Schools" was a small part of a wide ranging speech yesterday. The way people have focused on this single element suggests an astute politician behind it...rottenborough said:
But the Sun also says:CarlottaVance said:The Sun says:
ALL top politicians of modern times have made a pitch to Sun readers.
None since Maggie Thatcher has done so as convincingly as Theresa May yesterday.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1759192/theresa-may-promises-brave-new-school-system-to-reshape-britain-for-ordinary-working-class-people/
"It is absolutely crucial the PM does not overlook those for whom a grammar isn’t right."
The new PM has got the biggest selling newspaper very much on side, in the first week back. Job done.0 -
David Herdson = TINO
0 -
-
If selection is to have a scheme for non academic selection then it does need a positive option for these children. Possibly education aimed at apprenticeships or technical skills as in Germany (where the Bismarkean system looks much better than our welfare state).TOPPING said:
Yes but apart from cursory nods it seems that those announcing the policy make the same mistake.Charles said:
The simple problem is that eceryone discusses grammar schools in isolation. If course dividing people into "bright" and "not bright" is divisive and unhelpful especially if the split is perceived as arbitrary/unjustTOPPING said:
Grammar schools are not my specialist subject. Study after study have found they don't do what they are trumpeted as doing. @Richard_Tyndall mentioned a Sutton Trust report which said they do indeed aid social mobility (I think, he might have been making a related point). Having turbo googled a bit I can't find it. Although there are plenty like this Grammar Schools widen the gap betwen rich and pooranother_richard said:Do I take it that those Conservative supporters here who oppose creating new grammar schools are also in favour in abolishing the existing grammar schools ?
And if not why not ?
So would I seek to abolish existing grammar schools? It seems even with their imperfections it might be too disruptive to do so, but if they don't do what they are supposed to do, then I wouldn't be against making them into free schools or somesuch.
however as part of a well thought out system - academically selective schools, techical/STEM schools, schools for kids with specific talents (e.g. music), etc it can play an important role.
Whole new integrated education system? I get it albeit it's more tinkering.
But May just announced the grammar school bit.
In practice though it sounds as if there is little planning of this, and these children will be left to their own feral devices. That may well suit their parents as no hassle involved but is probably not good for society.
Secondary Moderns did not work before and are probably going to be worse in the future. The nature of the job market has changed over the last 50 years.0 -
I certainly valued my own grammar school in the late '50s. But the 11+ didn't do a lot for those of my family who didn't "pass".
I know little of secondary education now, although there is a Comprehensive with Sixth form, fed by a Middle School structure, in Dorset which seems to be performing rather well.
But the real danger to education, in the broadest sense, is the destruction of libraries.0 -
I guess you missed the vox pops with people in poorer areas on the school run yesterday. And the you gov 25-39 subsamples.Gardenwalker said:
Centrists don't have anywhere to go, it's true.Mortimer said:
The people for whom the grammar school policy is a vote changing issue either will change to Tory because of it or were not going to vote Tory anyway.Gardenwalker said:
I take your point on the likely limited scope of any new grammars.
But I don't get why it is politically advantageous for May to generate opposition of this sort. If this is to be a government against the London metro chattering classes - fine, and long overdue - but I'm not convinced that hostility to grammars really does divide the country so neatly.
The anti-grammarians are not all public school educated snooty lefties a la Harman. There's a lot of us, including many with a working class/lower middle class background.
It is a win:no lose policy.
But we can sit on our hands.
The great opp. for May right now is to park her tanks on Labour's lawn, on behalf of the left behind - the hard working families and those outside London and its hinterland.
As she said:
It means taking on some big challenges, tackling some vested interests. Overcoming barriers that have been constructed over many years.
A pro-grammar position, valuable maybe as a dog-whistle to Ukippers, alienates more than it attracts. If May really is to take on the big challenges, she needs to do so with the centrists behind her.
Both areas in which us Tories can improve our vote. May has rightly spotted that in the wake of the Brexit vote, tilting to the democratic social liberals gets no votes. Grammar schools firmly put May on the lawn of aspirational C1s and C2s.0 -
I don't think Clegg will ever overcome his unfavourables. Mostly because they are likely highest with those who have ever voted LD.Black_Rook said:
Seems highly unlikely. And even if he did then whom, outside of the circles of politics and of political anoraks, would very much notice or care?foxinsoxuk said:
Actually, I think that he is looking more statesman like with time.john_zims said:@logical_song
Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526'
Shorthand from an arch europhile that whatever we do it will be worse than being in the EU and it will be impossible to get any meaningful agreement from these spiteful Europeans.
Clegg's obviously bitter that his EU job prospects are zero.
Increasingly the Coalition looks like a golden age of mostly sane government, Clegg is young and well presented. If Farron fails to make progress then in 2020 Clegg could easily return as Leader.
The Lib Dems are a minor party again. Like the Greens, outside of the handful of places where they are still influential in local government, they matter not a jot.0 -
Labour councils cutting libraries mostly, isn't it?agingjb said:I certainly valued my own grammar school in the late '50s. But the 11+ didn't do a lot for those of my family who didn't "pass".
I know little of secondary education now, although there is a Comprehensive with Sixth form, fed by a Middle School structure, in Dorset which seems to be performing rather well.
But the real danger to education, in the broadest sense, is the destruction of libraries.
The internet really supersedes central libraries. The sadness was the closure of branch libraries.0 -
Agreed 100%another_richard said:
Its clearly now the wrong project from the wrong time period.rcs1000 said:
The problem with Hinkley C was that it was designed at specified at a time when there was virtually no LNG in the world, the UK's natural gas output was declining (and no one had heard of shale gas), and before solar became a viable power source.another_richard said:
Hinckley C is clearly government meddling as the government has set the price its output would be charged at.DavidL said:
How is Hinckley C meddling? It is another very difficult decision to be sure, one that will impact on our competitiveness as a nation for several decades one way or another. Will we have too little base load without it or will we have too expensive power with it?another_richard said:
Governments meddle.DavidL said:
The government has more important things to do than to muck about with educational structures once again. There has been too much of that already and a significant period of settling in is called for.another_richard said:Do I take it that those Conservative supporters here who oppose creating new grammar schools are also in favour in abolishing the existing grammar schools ?
And if not why not ?
Do I take it you're opposed to City Region Mayors, HS2, Hinckley C and all the other detritus of Osborne's meddling mania ?
If this government's educational meddling is restricted to new grammar schools - probably no more than a dozen nationwide - then you should be very satisfied.
There are too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
And there are always too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
Yet frivolities are what governments concentrate on because they're easier and quicker or someone's vanity project.
And the only thing which has stopped Hinkley C from been cancelled has been government meddling.0 -
I rather think the opposite. Grammars are likely to attract more voters than they repel.Gardenwalker said:
Centrists don't have anywhere to go, it's true.Mortimer said:
The people for whom the grammar school policy is a vote changing issue either will change to Tory because of it or were not going to vote Tory anyway.Gardenwalker said:
I take your point on the likely limited scope of any new grammars.
But I don't get why it is politically advantageous for May to generate opposition of this sort. If this is to be a government against the London metro chattering classes - fine, and long overdue - but I'm not convinced that hostility to grammars really does divide the country so neatly.
The anti-grammarians are not all public school educated snooty lefties a la Harman. There's a lot of us, including many with a working class/lower middle class background.
It is a win:no lose policy.
But we can sit on our hands.
The great opp. for May right now is to park her tanks on Labour's lawn, on behalf of the left behind - the hard working families and those outside London and its hinterland.
As she said:
It means taking on some big challenges, tackling some vested interests. Overcoming barriers that have been constructed over many years.
A pro-grammar position, valuable maybe as a dog-whistle to Ukippers, alienates more than it attracts. If May really is to take on the big challenges, she needs to do so with the centrists behind her.
And the Conservatives are in the perfect position not to have to worry about the fluid, politically uncommitted floating vote. It's not merely that they have nowhere to go, it's that the moderate (i.e. non left-liberal) majority of the middle class have an active incentive to vote for the Conservatives. It's why the Yellow Tory vote deserted the Lib Dems en masse in 2015 and ruined them.
Moderate voters need to keep backing the Tories to ensure that Labour can never return to power at the head of a coalition of the defeated, and a coalition in which Scottish Nationalism would be pulling the strings at that. The imperative has only increased hugely since the last election, with the replacement of Miliband with Corbyn.
Nothing short of a zombie apocalypse is likely to drive the 37% of voters who backed Cameron out of the Tory camp before the next election, whenever that is. That alone would be enough to win narrowly now, or comfortably after the boundary reforms. And nobody thinks it likely that Corbyn will attract enough voters to match even the 31% that Miliband managed last time.
For May, capturing voters from Ukip and what's left of the Labour core is not about winning the next election, it's about winning the one after that. A Tory landslide would practically guarantee the party another ten years in office.0 -
Clegg's wife is a lawyer in trade matters so would also have been able to provide input to the article. Maybe they will end up as trade advisors to the government.john_zims said:@logical_song
Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526'
Shorthand from an arch europhile that whatever we do it will be worse than being in the EU and it will be impossible to get any meaningful agreement from these spiteful Europeans.
Clegg's obviously bitter that his EU job prospects are zero.
However, the article is somewhat biased by including in the EU figures trade deals under negotiation (eg with the USA) along with those in place.0 -
The decision of May to call a halt to it was brave - not in the Hackeresque sense, but truly, actually brave. I am most impressed.rcs1000 said:
Agreed 100%another_richard said:
Its clearly now the wrong project from the wrong time period.rcs1000 said:
The problem with Hinkley C was that it was designed at specified at a time when there was virtually no LNG in the world, the UK's natural gas output was declining (and no one had heard of shale gas), and before solar became a viable power source.another_richard said:
Hinckley C is clearly government meddling as the government has set the price its output would be charged at.DavidL said:
How is Hinckley C meddling? It is another very difficult decision to be sure, one that will impact on our competitiveness as a nation for several decades one way or another. Will we have too little base load without it or will we have too expensive power with it?another_richard said:
Governments meddle.DavidL said:
The government has more important things to do than to muck about with educational structures once again. There has been too much of that already and a significant period of settling in is called for.another_richard said:Do I take it that those Conservative supporters here who oppose creating new grammar schools are also in favour in abolishing the existing grammar schools ?
And if not why not ?
Do I take it you're opposed to City Region Mayors, HS2, Hinckley C and all the other detritus of Osborne's meddling mania ?
If this government's educational meddling is restricted to new grammar schools - probably no more than a dozen nationwide - then you should be very satisfied.
There are too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
And there are always too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
Yet frivolities are what governments concentrate on because they're easier and quicker or someone's vanity project.
And the only thing which has stopped Hinkley C from been cancelled has been government meddling.0 -
Agreed 110%rcs1000 said:
Agreed 100%another_richard said:
Its clearly now the wrong project from the wrong time period.rcs1000 said:
The problem with Hinkley C was that it was designed at specified at a time when there was virtually no LNG in the world, the UK's natural gas output was declining (and no one had heard of shale gas), and before solar became a viable power source.another_richard said:
Hinckley C is clearly government meddling as the government has set the price its output would be charged at.DavidL said:
How is Hinckley C meddling? It is another very difficult decision to be sure, one that will impact on our competitiveness as a nation for several decades one way or another. Will we have too little base load without it or will we have too expensive power with it?another_richard said:
Governments meddle.DavidL said:
The government has more important things to do than to muck about with educational structures once again. There has been too much of that already and a significant period of settling in is called for.another_richard said:Do I take it that those Conservative supporters here who oppose creating new grammar schools are also in favour in abolishing the existing grammar schools ?
And if not why not ?
Do I take it you're opposed to City Region Mayors, HS2, Hinckley C and all the other detritus of Osborne's meddling mania ?
If this government's educational meddling is restricted to new grammar schools - probably no more than a dozen nationwide - then you should be very satisfied.
There are too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
And there are always too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
Yet frivolities are what governments concentrate on because they're easier and quicker or someone's vanity project.
And the only thing which has stopped Hinkley C from been cancelled has been government meddling.
(Using French figures).0 -
Could not have put it better. Absolutely this.Black_Rook said:
I rather think the opposite. Grammars are likely to attract more voters than they repel.Gardenwalker said:
Centrists don't have anywhere to go, it's true.Mortimer said:
The people for whom the grammar school policy is a vote changing issue either will change to Tory because of it or were not going to vote Tory anyway.Gardenwalker said:
But I don't get why it is politically advantageous for May to generate opposition of this sort. If this is to be a government against the London metro chattering classes - fine, and long overdue - but I'm not convinced that hostility to grammars really does divide the country so neatly.
The anti-grammarians are not all public school educated snooty lefties a la Harman. There's a lot of us, including many with a working class/lower middle class background.
It is a win:no lose policy.
But we can sit on our hands.
The great opp. for May right now is to park her tanks on Labour's lawn, on behalf of the left behind - the hard working families and those outside London and its hinterland.
As she said:
It means taking on some big challenges, tackling some vested interests. Overcoming barriers that have been constructed over many years.
A pro-grammar position, valuable maybe as a dog-whistle to Ukippers, alienates more than it attracts. If May really is to take on the big challenges, she needs to do so with the centrists behind her.
And the Conservatives are in the perfect position not to have to worry about the fluid, politically uncommitted floating vote. It's not merely that they have nowhere to go, it's that the moderate (i.e. non left-liberal) majority of the middle class have an active incentive to vote for the Conservatives. It's why the Yellow Tory vote deserted the Lib Dems en masse in 2015 and ruined them.
Moderate voters need to keep backing the Tories to ensure that Labour can never return to power at the head of a coalition of the defeated, and a coalition in which Scottish Nationalism would be pulling the strings at that. The imperative has only increased hugely since the last election, with the replacement of Miliband with Corbyn.
Nothing short of a zombie apocalypse is likely to drive the 37% of voters who backed Cameron out of the Tory camp before the next election, whenever that is. That alone would be enough to win narrowly now, or comfortably after the boundary reforms. And nobody thinks it likely that Corbyn will attract enough voters to match even the 31% that Miliband managed last time.
For May, capturing voters from Ukip and what's left of the Labour core is not about winning the next election, it's about winning the one after that. A Tory landslide would practically guarantee the party another ten years in office.0 -
Sunil_Prasannan said:
David Herdson = TINO
Should that be the feminine version TINA?
Did Latin words have gender related endings, I can' remember?
0 -
Mr. Evershed, yes, they do. Gender, declension, case and plural/singular all change the endings.
Hence "Et tu, Brute?", because the vocative of Brutus is Brute.0 -
Nonsense. The Victorian idea of a place with a massive load of books where one goes to educate one self is totally outdated. We now have this thing called the internet, which can provide more information in many different ways. For kids, something like Khan academy is a far superior resource than a massive pile of GCSE textbooks.agingjb said:But the real danger to education, in the broadest sense, is the destruction of libraries.
Even university libraries are massively reducing the amount of physical books they carry, instead their job is often managing the wide ranging subscriptions for journals and e-versions of texts, while academics don't actually set foot in the physical location because they access all this information via their pc.0 -
PlatoSaid said:
LOL presumably the author doesn't eat pizzas or other "culturally appropriated" foods. Or clothes that originated in other countries. Perhaps she should drop using idioms and expressions that are actually other peoples. Mind you that wouldn't leave her with much language she could use. Hmm not a bad idea.
0 -
Am I alone in thinking that Lionel Shriver was a bloke?0
-
Ohhhh Betty I think I have a problem.....
Botched parking attempt leaves car dangling
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/373271620 -
The poor dear, she certainly doesn’t take kindly to reality, piercing her safe-space existence.PlatoSaid said:
She reminds me of a PB regular who appears never to have experience a differing opinion in her life and gets in a huff when others question her dogmata.
0 -
Have you already forgotten how the LDs spent half the time pretending to be in opposition?foxinsoxuk said:
Actually, I think that he is looking more statesman like with time.john_zims said:@logical_song
Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526'
Shorthand from an arch europhile that whatever we do it will be worse than being in the EU and it will be impossible to get any meaningful agreement from these spiteful Europeans.
Clegg's obviously bitter that his EU job prospects are zero.
Increasingly the Coalition looks like a golden age of mostly sane government, Clegg is young and well presented. If Farron fails to make progress then in 2020 Clegg could easily return as Leader.0 -
I'm tempted to say that I'd rather have my eyes gouged out with a blunt stick, but I'm sure that they can't have been that bad. But no, I much prefer reading about history than modern politics. Make of that what you will.Gardenwalker said:
Did you read any of Clegg's memoir extracts? He comes across as embarrassingly naive.Black_Rook said:
Seems highly unlikely. And even if he did then whom, outside of the circles of politics and of political anoraks, would very much notice or care?foxinsoxuk said:
Actually, I think that he is looking more statesman like with time.john_zims said:@logical_song
Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526'
Shorthand from an arch europhile that whatever we do it will be worse than being in the EU and it will be impossible to get any meaningful agreement from these spiteful Europeans.
Clegg's obviously bitter that his EU job prospects are zero.
Increasingly the Coalition looks like a golden age of mostly sane government, Clegg is young and well presented. If Farron fails to make progress then in 2020 Clegg could easily return as Leader.
The Lib Dems are a minor party again. Like the Greens, outside of the handful of places where they are still influential in local government, they matter not a jot.
On the other hand, imagine having Cable and Huhne as your conniving deputies.
I don't think that the man deserves most of the vilification that has been heaped upon him by the screaming lefties, though. Almost everyone was in a panic about the Great Recession back in 2010, a stable administration was called for, and the only Government made viable by the election result was the Con/Lib Coalition. Clegg had no real choice, after all those years that his party spent extoling the virtues of coalitions and balanced parliaments, but as soon as he made the pact with the devil he was doomed. A salutary lesson about the pratfalls of PR.0 -
FrancisUrquhart said:
Ohhhh Betty I think I have a problem.....
Botched parking attempt leaves car dangling
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/37327162
Was that Jeremy Corbyn trying to prove the car park was ram-packed?
0 -
Oh well. It seems politicians want to dispense with books, and leave it all to the internet.
So why have schools?
0 -
Ditto.Mortimer said:
Could not have put it better. Absolutely this.Black_Rook said:
I rather think the opposite. Grammars are likely to attract more voters than they repel.Gardenwalker said:
snipMortimer said:Gardenwalker said:
snip
And the Conservatives are in the perfect position not to have to worry about the fluid, politically uncommitted floating vote. It's not merely that they have nowhere to go, it's that the moderate (i.e. non left-liberal) majority of the middle class have an active incentive to vote for the Conservatives. It's why the Yellow Tory vote deserted the Lib Dems en masse in 2015 and ruined them.
Moderate voters need to keep backing the Tories to ensure that Labour can never return to power at the head of a coalition of the defeated, and a coalition in which Scottish Nationalism would be pulling the strings at that. The imperative has only increased hugely since the last election, with the replacement of Miliband with Corbyn.
Nothing short of a zombie apocalypse is likely to drive the 37% of voters who backed Cameron out of the Tory camp before the next election, whenever that is. That alone would be enough to win narrowly now, or comfortably after the boundary reforms. And nobody thinks it likely that Corbyn will attract enough voters to match even the 31% that Miliband managed last time.
For May, capturing voters from Ukip and what's left of the Labour core is not about winning the next election, it's about winning the one after that. A Tory landslide would practically guarantee the party another ten years in office.
Regarding grammars - it's all about the brand. They're associated with discipline, good grades, keen pupils with parents who care about education, teachers who rarely go on strike or take politically correct stances. Kids are expected to do their homework and parents care that they do. They'll also support the enforcement of uniform/haircut policy.
That's the attraction. Now of course there are lots of comprehensive schools who share these characteristics - but it's not what their brand is associated with. Academies are a halfway house between the two. Academies/Free Schools are for parents who actually wanted a grammar type environment but couldn't get it before and/or are ideologically opposed to the 11+ as was.
The aim is obviously to make all types of schools *good* - how a parent defines *good* is the real issue. Some want academic success, others a wide variety of social backgrounds mixing, or a particular strength in certain areas or whatever. More the merrier I say provided they meet national standards set by HMG.0 -
Though she's only paused it, not cancelled it. We wait to see the actual outcome.Mortimer said:
The decision of May to call a halt to it was brave - not in the Hackeresque sense, but truly, actually brave. I am most impressed.rcs1000 said:
Agreed 100%another_richard said:
Its clearly now the wrong project from the wrong time period.rcs1000 said:
The problem with Hinkley C was that it was designed at specified at a time when there was virtually no LNG in the world, the UK's natural gas output was declining (and no one had heard of shale gas), and before solar became a viable power source.another_richard said:
Hinckley C is clearly government meddling as the government has set the price its output would be charged at.DavidL said:
How is Hinckley C meddling? It is another very difficult decision to be sure, one that will impact on our competitiveness as a nation for several decades one way or another. Will we have too little base load without it or will we have too expensive power with it?another_richard said:
Governments meddle.DavidL said:
The government has more important things to do than to muck about with educational structures once again. There has been too much of that already and a significant period of settling in is called for.another_richard said:Do I take it that those Conservative supporters here who oppose creating new grammar schools are also in favour in abolishing the existing grammar schools ?
And if not why not ?
Do I take it you're opposed to City Region Mayors, HS2, Hinckley C and all the other detritus of Osborne's meddling mania ?
If this government's educational meddling is restricted to new grammar schools - probably no more than a dozen nationwide - then you should be very satisfied.
There are too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
And there are always too many serious questions in the intray to waste time and political energy on frivolities.
Yet frivolities are what governments concentrate on because they're easier and quicker or someone's vanity project.
And the only thing which has stopped Hinkley C from been cancelled has been government meddling.0 -
Agreed. More sinned against than sinning.Black_Rook said:
I'm tempted to say that I'd rather have my eyes gouged out with a blunt stick, but I'm sure that they can't have been that bad. But no, I much prefer reading about history than modern politics. Make of that what you will.Gardenwalker said:
Did you read any of Clegg's memoir extracts? He comes across as embarrassingly naive.Black_Rook said:
Seems highly unlikely. And even if he did then whom, outside of the circles of politics and of political anoraks, would very much notice or care?foxinsoxuk said:
Actually, I think that he is looking more statesman like with time.john_zims said:@logical_song
Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526'
Shorthand from an arch europhile that whatever we do it will be worse than being in the EU and it will be impossible to get any meaningful agreement from these spiteful Europeans.
Clegg's obviously bitter that his EU job prospects are zero.
Increasingly the Coalition looks like a golden age of mostly sane government, Clegg is young and well presented. If Farron fails to make progress then in 2020 Clegg could easily return as Leader.
The Lib Dems are a minor party again. Like the Greens, outside of the handful of places where they are still influential in local government, they matter not a jot.
On the other hand, imagine having Cable and Huhne as your conniving deputies.
I don't think that the man deserves most of the vilification that has been heaped upon him by the screaming lefties, though. Almost everyone was in a panic about the Great Recession back in 2010, a stable administration was called for, and the only Government made viable by the election result was the Con/Lib Coalition. Clegg had no real choice, after all those years that his party spent extoling the virtues of coalitions and balanced parliaments, but as soon as he made the pact with the devil he was doomed. A salutary lesson about the pratfalls of PR.
But the LDs are finished, and this took place on Clegg's watch. It's clear that even if optimally positioned between Corbyn's Kool-Aiders and the headbanging Brexiteers, they have neither the intellectual chops, the political talent, or the balls, to actually achieve anything.0 -
Maybe Clegg will become a national treasure - at which point he could emerge as Lib Dem leader again.Black_Rook said:
I'm tempted to say that I'd rather have my eyes gouged out with a blunt stick, but I'm sure that they can't have been that bad. But no, I much prefer reading about history than modern politics. Make of that what you will.Gardenwalker said:
Did you read any of Clegg's memoir extracts? He comes across as embarrassingly naive.Black_Rook said:
Seems highly unlikely. And even if he did then whom, outside of the circles of politics and of political anoraks, would very much notice or care?foxinsoxuk said:
Actually, I think that he is looking more statesman like with time.john_zims said:@logical_song
Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526'
Shorthand from an arch europhile that whatever we do it will be worse than being in the EU and it will be impossible to get any meaningful agreement from these spiteful Europeans.
Clegg's obviously bitter that his EU job prospects are zero.
Increasingly the Coalition looks like a golden age of mostly sane government, Clegg is young and well presented. If Farron fails to make progress then in 2020 Clegg could easily return as Leader.
The Lib Dems are a minor party again. Like the Greens, outside of the handful of places where they are still influential in local government, they matter not a jot.
On the other hand, imagine having Cable and Huhne as your conniving deputies.
I don't think that the man deserves most of the vilification that has been heaped upon him by the screaming lefties, though. Almost everyone was in a panic about the Great Recession back in 2010, a stable administration was called for, and the only Government made viable by the election result was the Con/Lib Coalition. Clegg had no real choice, after all those years that his party spent extoling the virtues of coalitions and balanced parliaments, but as soon as he made the pact with the devil he was doomed. A salutary lesson about the pratfalls of PR.
Did Grimmond and Paddy Ashdown ever reach the heights of being a national treasure?0 -
Pew did some research on public library use in the USA - IIRC only about 25% used it to read books, the rest were college kids surfing with free Wifi/homework in a quiet environment - and a small % of refuge types enjoying the central heating.FrancisUrquhart said:
Nonsense. The Victorian idea of a place with a massive load of books where one goes to educate one self is totally outdated. We now have this thing called the internet, which can provide more information in many different ways. For kids, something like Khan academy is a far superior resource than a massive pile of GCSE textbooks.agingjb said:But the real danger to education, in the broadest sense, is the destruction of libraries.
Even university libraries are massively reducing the amount of physical books they carry, instead their job is often managing the wide ranging subscriptions for journals and e-versions of texts, while academics don't actually set foot in the physical location because they access all this information via their pc.0 -
The Coalition was not perfect, but we are now seeing what an unrestrained Tory government is like for the first time in decades. Many of the best ministers were LD, perhaps because most came via local government rather than the SPADocracy (Clegg being a rare exception).ThreeQuidder said:
Have you already forgotten how the LDs spent half the time pretending to be in opposition?foxinsoxuk said:
Actually, I think that he is looking more statesman like with time.john_zims said:@logical_song
Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526'
Shorthand from an arch europhile that whatever we do it will be worse than being in the EU and it will be impossible to get any meaningful agreement from these spiteful Europeans.
Clegg's obviously bitter that his EU job prospects are zero.
Increasingly the Coalition looks like a golden age of mostly sane government, Clegg is young and well presented. If Farron fails to make progress then in 2020 Clegg could easily return as Leader.
0 -
PlatoSaid said:
Pew did some research on public library use in the USA - IIRC only about 25% used it to read books, the rest were college kids surfing with free Wifi/homework in a quiet environment - and a small % of refuge types enjoying the central heating.FrancisUrquhart said:
Nonsense. The Victorian idea of a place with a massive load of books where one goes to educate one self is totally outdated. We now have this thing called the internet, which can provide more information in many different ways. For kids, something like Khan academy is a far superior resource than a massive pile of GCSE textbooks.agingjb said:But the real danger to education, in the broadest sense, is the destruction of libraries.
Even university libraries are massively reducing the amount of physical books they carry, instead their job is often managing the wide ranging subscriptions for journals and e-versions of texts, while academics don't actually set foot in the physical location because they access all this information via their pc.
As a child I met my grandmother in the library once. She said she had gone in to get warm, not read books. 0 -
I don't know why so many are angry at Fox, it's the first thing he's said that I agree with. There is far too much truth in his comments to ignore. British businesses and managers have become lazy in chasing opportunity. We've seen some improvements in the last few years, but overall attitudes towards exporting in smaller and medium sized companies are still poor.
As for dropping tariffs, doing so on a bilateral basis with certain countries who we know aren't interested in industrial subsidies would be a good step forwards, but I'm not in favour of unilateral trade disarmament.0 -
I did some consulting with Birmingham Central Library about 15 years ago. The library seemed only to be used by the long term unemployed, refugees etc. In turn, Birmingham increasingly focused towards the needs of this group, further alienating a mainstream audience.PlatoSaid said:
Pew did some research on public library use in the USA - IIRC only about 25% used it to read books, the rest were college kids surfing with free Wifi/homework in a quiet environment - and a small % of refuge types enjoying the central heating.FrancisUrquhart said:
Nonsense. The Victorian idea of a place with a massive load of books where one goes to educate one self is totally outdated. We now have this thing called the internet, which can provide more information in many different ways. For kids, something like Khan academy is a far superior resource than a massive pile of GCSE textbooks.agingjb said:But the real danger to education, in the broadest sense, is the destruction of libraries.
Even university libraries are massively reducing the amount of physical books they carry, instead their job is often managing the wide ranging subscriptions for journals and e-versions of texts, while academics don't actually set foot in the physical location because they access all this information via their pc.
Things may have changed since they built the new library.
In the Internet age of course we need far fewer libraries, but they still have a role. Nothing beats a well stocked and curated library for the discovery of new worlds.
The book trade is finally getting this too, hence improvements in Waterstones since Daunt took charge.0 -
I'm not sure that's true: it's more fair to say that Vince Cable and Tim Farron pretended to be in opposition. And there are a fair number of Conservative backbenchers who seem to be permanently in opposition too.ThreeQuidder said:
Have you already forgotten how the LDs spent half the time pretending to be in opposition?foxinsoxuk said:
Actually, I think that he is looking more statesman like with time.john_zims said:@logical_song
Ian Dunt ✔ @IanDunt
Clegg's 2nd paper on Brexit is a brilliant and readable 8-page description of the truck that's about to hit us
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/libdems/mailings/4093/attachments/original/International_trade.pdf?1473331526'
Shorthand from an arch europhile that whatever we do it will be worse than being in the EU and it will be impossible to get any meaningful agreement from these spiteful Europeans.
Clegg's obviously bitter that his EU job prospects are zero.
Increasingly the Coalition looks like a golden age of mostly sane government, Clegg is young and well presented. If Farron fails to make progress then in 2020 Clegg could easily return as Leader.0 -
Poor kids with chaotic or overcrowded homes, disruptive siblings or parents, and nowhere to stdy in peace benefit from libraries. Not only do they allow a decent shot at academic subjects, but also they normalise tranquility, diligence and study. Often it is the only place where they can find this. They also meet like-minded people and learn that they are not as weird as they feel. I spent a lot of time in libraries, and still do.PlatoSaid said:
Pew did some research on public library use in the USA - IIRC only about 25% used it to read books, the rest were college kids surfing with free Wifi/homework in a quiet environment - and a small % of refuge types enjoying the central heating.FrancisUrquhart said:
Nonsense. The Victorian idea of a place with a massive load of books where one goes to educate one self is totally outdated. We now have this thing called the internet, which can provide more information in many different ways. For kids, something like Khan academy is a far superior resource than a massive pile of GCSE textbooks.agingjb said:But the real danger to education, in the broadest sense, is the destruction of libraries.
Even university libraries are massively reducing the amount of physical books they carry, instead their job is often managing the wide ranging subscriptions for journals and e-versions of texts, while academics don't actually set foot in the physical location because they access all this information via their pc.0 -
Interested to hear people's thoughts on just why UK managers are lazy in chasing these opportunities.MaxPB said:I don't know why so many are angry at Fox, it's the first thing he's said that I agree with. There is far too much truth in his comments to ignore. British businesses and managers have become lazy in chasing opportunity. We've seen some improvements in the last few years, but overall attitudes towards exporting in smaller and medium sized companies are still poor.
As for dropping tariffs, doing so on a bilateral basis with certain countries who we know aren't interested in industrial subsidies would be a good step forwards, but I'm not in favour of unilateral trade disarmament.
I don't have a view on this, but you do hear it a lot.0 -
We need more libraries in the Internet age. So people can be reminded what a book is. I am only half joking.Gardenwalker said:
I did some consulting with Birmingham Central Library about 15 years ago. The library seemed only to be used by the long term unemployed, refugees etc. In turn, Birmingham increasingly focused towards the needs of this group, further alienating a mainstream audience.PlatoSaid said:
Pew did some research on public library use in the USA - IIRC only about 25% used it to read books, the rest were college kids surfing with free Wifi/homework in a quiet environment - and a small % of refuge types enjoying the central heating.FrancisUrquhart said:
Nonsense. The Victorian idea of a place with a massive load of books where one goes to educate one self is totally outdated. We now have this thing called the internet, which can provide more information in many different ways. For kids, something like Khan academy is a far superior resource than a massive pile of GCSE textbooks.agingjb said:But the real danger to education, in the broadest sense, is the destruction of libraries.
Even university libraries are massively reducing the amount of physical books they carry, instead their job is often managing the wide ranging subscriptions for journals and e-versions of texts, while academics don't actually set foot in the physical location because they access all this information via their pc.
Things may have changed since they built the new library.
In the Internet age of course we need far fewer libraries, but they still have a role. Nothing beats a well stocked and curated library for the discovery of new worlds.
The book trade is finally getting this too, hence improvements in Waterstones since Daunt took charge.0 -
Regarding my questions FPT.
* There were rumours of privately commissioned (hedge-fund?) polls on or near polling day on June 23rd. Did anybody ever track these down, or can point to a link?
* has anybody got a primary source for the Leave.eu poll[1] of 22-23rd June?
If anybody can help (as CarlottaVance pointed out, the poll is not on Leave.eu's website) I'd be grateful
[1] h ttps://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/746086000514969604/photo/10 -
I've never been to Aussie but I gather that as a culture it is not renowned for a safe space type experience. Sledging for example.SimonStClare said:
The poor dear, she certainly doesn’t take kindly to reality, piercing her safe-space existence.PlatoSaid said:
She reminds me of a PB regular who appears never to have experience a differing opinion in her life and gets in a huff when others question her dogmata.0 -
It's unravelling. Fox's appalling slander on Britain's movers and shakers has made him look like the most ill-informed, snarling-at-the-modern-world, Trumpite blowhard. One more gaffe like that and he's out.0
