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rottenborough said:

Allan said:

Reaching a new low.
James Chapman‏ @jameschappers 2m
"Where is @borisjohnson? Is he with his wife? #byebyebozo #thedemocrats"

Not exactly launching a new party in an edifying way.

The contrast between Chapman's rantings on Twitter supposedly to launch "The Democrats" and the classy "Gang of Four" press conference to launch the SDP couldn't be starker.

Chapman isn't fit to lick Jenkins' boots.

tlg86 said:

That was a very odd 120 seconds of football in Hoffenheim.

Hoffenheim miss a penalty.

Allan said:

Reaching a new low.
James Chapman‏ @jameschappers 2m
"Where is @borisjohnson? Is he with his wife? #byebyebozo #thedemocrats"

Now deleted?

I think it's time to go out and stock up on some more popcorn...

Sandpit said:

rottenborough said:

Sandpit said:

Allan said:

Reaching a new low.
James Chapman‏ @jameschappers 2m
"Where is @borisjohnson? Is he with his wife? #byebyebozo #thedemocrats"

Feeling very sorry for Mrs Chapman right now, they're supposed to be on holiday together.

Guido is suggesting that all hasn't been well with Chappers for quite a while.

Not sure that can be relied on, as Chappers and Guido are at war judging by the last week's tweets.

Still, it is a bizarre form of holiday.

Yeah, he's quickly losing friends all over the media, quite what his new employer Bell Pottinger think of all this I wouldn't want to hazard a guess.

He might simply be unwell.

Philip_Thompson said:

rottenborough said:

Allan said:

Reaching a new low.
James Chapman‏ @jameschappers 2m
"Where is @borisjohnson? Is he with his wife? #byebyebozo #thedemocrats"

Not exactly launching a new party in an edifying way.

The contrast between Chapman's rantings on Twitter supposedly to launch "The Democrats" and the classy "Gang of Four" press conference to launch the SDP couldn't be starker.

Chapman isn't fit to lick Jenkins' boots.

Are we sure someone hasn't put him up to this just to kill off any chance of a new centre party?

PeterC said:

Omnium said:

nichomar said:

OT what are JRM 's views and voting record on gay rights, abortion and other social issues? Whilst not a bar to the tory leadership might restrict his appeal to the younger voter.

The advantage of JRM is that he's clever, and clever people have sensible opinions. I'd bet that he is very straightforward about all those issues.

I've long mentioned JRM as a potential next leader - I now don't think it'll happen though. I don't think he wants to be PM, and would only take the job in times of national crisis etc (aka Post Corbyn, and if Corbyn gets elected to run a stamp club then there should be a Tory purge).

As I understand it JRM is personally loyal to the teaching of the Church on social matters. He does not however seek to impose it on society as a whole because (I assume) he is not in favour of a theocratic state. That is a moderate and wholly defensible position imo.

And his public comments on social matters were a lot better than Tim Farron managed before the election.
Edit: @ThreeQuidder makes the same point.

A homeless man hailed as a hero after helping in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena bomb has been charged with stealing the credit card of one of the victims.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/15/homeless-hero-charged-with-theft-from-victim-of-manchester-bombing-chris-parker

As Trump would say SADDDDDD

dixiedean said:

Off topic, but the youngest's school has decided a new uniform is necessary. Complete change of colours and of PE kit. Available from one supplier only. £150, and the perfectly serviceable old uniform is wasted.
Is it any wonder people feel the economy isn't working for them? We can afford it, although I'd rather not, but many others won't find it easy.
Edit.
Being completely new of course there are no second hand or hand me downs for the less well off.

Apologies to those who have replied, but I have been away amateur sleuthing re this so will try to answer all in one post.
Was wrong about one thing, it is available from 2 suppliers. Colour me not shocked, but the pricing is identical (!).
The school has relented and allowed years 10 and 11 to continue with the old PE kit (but not uniform). No use to me as youngest is Year 8. The school say he'll need new PE kit as he grows. I say he has a brother who already has numerous sizes of PE kit and uniform now destined for the Charity Shop.
Worse, they have gendered the PE kit. Previously, it was all blue with white edging (Chelsea-ish). Now it resembles a Jackson Pollock if he was only allowed 24 shades of blue, The boys is predominantly dark, the girls lighter.
This is a clear attempt to prevent anyone buying from other sources, as well as stopping hand-me-downs between different sex siblings.
Anyway, I thought we were supposed to be encouraging girls to partake in sport? Team GB don't have gendered kit in the athletics. Mark out girls as part of a different team?
The school is not yet an Academy, but is "transitioning to one." (Insert your own joke).

This is blatant price gouging. Maybe an investigation of this could be a positive and popular free market policy the Govt. could adopt?


Ps, The £150 is before shirts, trousers and shoes, which remain mercifully logo free!

PeterC said:

Omnium said:

nichomar said:

OT what are JRM 's views and voting record on gay rights, abortion and other social issues? Whilst not a bar to the tory leadership might restrict his appeal to the younger voter.

The advantage of JRM is that he's clever, and clever people have sensible opinions. I'd bet that he is very straightforward about all those issues.

I've long mentioned JRM as a potential next leader - I now don't think it'll happen though. I don't think he wants to be PM, and would only take the job in times of national crisis etc (aka Post Corbyn, and if Corbyn gets elected to run a stamp club then there should be a Tory purge).

As I understand it JRM is personally loyal to the teaching of the Church on social matters. He does not however seek to impose it on society as a whole because (I assume) he is not in favour of a theocratic state. That is a moderate and wholly defensible position imo.

So very similar to Tim Farron then...

felix said:

Bizarre the amount of time wasted here and elsewhere on a drunken hack journalist on a day when the government produced interesting proposals re Brexit which have been welcomed by the Irish PM. Rubbish on twitter is a given but this site used to be more thoughtful and rational.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. The people who were used to getting their own way lost, and seem to be clinging on to the musings of a man losing his mind on twitter for some light at the end of the tunnel

Mortimer said:

dixiedean said:

dixiedean said:

Off topic, but the youngest's school has decided a new uniform is necessary. Complete change of colours and of PE kit. Available from one supplier only. £150, and the perfectly serviceable old uniform is wasted.
Is it any wonder people feel the economy isn't working for them? We can afford it, although I'd rather not, but many others won't find it easy.
Edit.
Being completely new of course there are no second hand or hand me downs for the less well off.

Apologies to those who have replied, but I have been away amateur sleuthing re this so will try to answer all in one post.
Was wrong about one thing, it is available from 2 suppliers. Colour me not shocked, but the pricing is identical (!).
The school has relented and allowed years 10 and 11 to continue with the old PE kit (but not uniform). No use to me as youngest is Year 8. The school say he'll need new PE kit as he grows. I say he has a brother who already has numerous sizes of PE kit and uniform now destined for the Charity Shop.
Worse, they have gendered the PE kit. Previously, it was all blue with white edging (Chelsea-ish). Now it resembles a Jackson Pollock if he was only allowed 24 shades of blue, The boys is predominantly dark, the girls lighter.
This is a clear attempt to prevent anyone buying from other sources, as well as stopping hand-me-downs between different sex siblings.
Anyway, I thought we were supposed to be encouraging girls to partake in sport? Team GB don't have gendered kit in the athletics. Mark out girls as part of a different team?
The school is not yet an Academy, but is "transitioning to one." (Insert your own joke).

This is blatant price gouging. Maybe an investigation of this could be a positive and popular free market policy the Govt. could adopt?


Ps, The £150 is before shirts, trousers and shoes, which remain mercifully logo free!

Is this a state school? Sounds absolutely bizaare...

I suspect that such a uniform policy may be an attempt to create a school ethos and spirit, perhaps in order to become an academy.

The cynic in me does wonder whether it is designed to be covertly selective by income and parental co-operation, by keeping out those who either cannot afford the kit list, or lack the discipline to get children to adhere to it. It may be inherently socially discriminatory.

Benpointer said:

isam said:

felix said:

Bizarre the amount of time wasted here and elsewhere on a drunken hack journalist on a day when the government produced interesting proposals re Brexit which have been welcomed by the Irish PM. Rubbish on twitter is a given but this site used to be more thoughtful and rational.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. The people who were used to getting their own way lost, and seem to be clinging on to the musings of a man losing his mind on twitter for some light at the end of the tunnel

Yeah right! The people who are used to getting their own way are the Tory party.

From 1991-2016 it was Europhiles from Labour, the Lib Dems and the Conservative Party that had their own way. Then they lost...

foxinsoxuk said:

PeterC said:

Omnium said:

nichomar said:

OT what are JRM 's views and voting record on gay rights, abortion and other social issues? Whilst not a bar to the tory leadership might restrict his appeal to the younger voter.

The advantage of JRM is that he's clever, and clever people have sensible opinions. I'd bet that he is very straightforward about all those issues.

I've long mentioned JRM as a potential next leader - I now don't think it'll happen though. I don't think he wants to be PM, and would only take the job in times of national crisis etc (aka Post Corbyn, and if Corbyn gets elected to run a stamp club then there should be a Tory purge).

As I understand it JRM is personally loyal to the teaching of the Church on social matters. He does not however seek to impose it on society as a whole because (I assume) he is not in favour of a theocratic state. That is a moderate and wholly defensible position imo.

So very similar to Tim Farron then...

Farron should have told the PC brigade to get lost.

isam said:

Benpointer said:

isam said:

felix said:

Bizarre the amount of time wasted here and elsewhere on a drunken hack journalist on a day when the government produced interesting proposals re Brexit which have been welcomed by the Irish PM. Rubbish on twitter is a given but this site used to be more thoughtful and rational.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. The people who were used to getting their own way lost, and seem to be clinging on to the musings of a man losing his mind on twitter for some light at the end of the tunnel

Yeah right! The people who are used to getting their own way are the Tory party.

From 1991-2016 it was Europhiles from Labour, the Lib Dems and the Conservative Party that had their own way. Then they lost...

I'd have preferred it if we had remained, as you can no doubt guess, but the Leave/Remain division is no longer of much significance imo - we are back to Tory versus Labour ,that's the big division in this country.

Cookie said:

Benpointer said:

felix said:

Bizarre the amount of time wasted here and elsewhere on a drunken hack journalist on a day when the government produced interesting proposals re Brexit which have been welcomed by the Irish PM. Rubbish on twitter is a given but this site used to be more thoughtful and rational.

+1

.... What do the Democrats stand for that the Lib Dems do not?

The national anthem?

dixiedean said:

Mortimer said:

dixiedean said:

dixiedean said:

Off topic, but the youngest's school has decided a new uniform is necessary. Complete change of colours and of PE kit. Available from one supplier only. £150, and the perfectly serviceable old uniform is wasted.
Is it any wonder people feel the economy isn't working for them? We can afford it, although I'd rather not, but many others won't find it easy.
Edit.
Being completely new of course there are no second hand or hand me downs for the less well off.

Apologies to those who have replied, but I have been away amateur sleuthing re this so will try to answer all in one post.
Was wrong about one thing, it is available from 2 suppliers. Colour me not shocked, but the pricing is identical (!).
The school has relented and allowed years 10 and 11 to continue with the old PE kit (but not uniform). No use to me as youngest is Year 8. The school say he'll need new PE kit as he grows. I say he has a brother who already has numerous sizes of PE kit and uniform now destined for the Charity Shop.
Worse, they have gendered the PE kit. Previously, it was all blue with white edging (Chelsea-ish). Now it resembles a Jackson Pollock if he was only allowed 24 shades of blue, The boys is predominantly dark, the girls lighter.
This is a clear attempt to prevent anyone buying from other sources, as well as stopping hand-me-downs between different sex siblings.
Anyway, I thought we were supposed to be encouraging girls to partake in sport? Team GB don't have gendered kit in the athletics. Mark out girls as part of a different team?
The school is not yet an Academy, but is "transitioning to one." (Insert your own joke).

This is blatant price gouging. Maybe an investigation of this could be a positive and popular free market policy the Govt. could adopt?


Ps, The £150 is before shirts, trousers and shoes, which remain mercifully logo free!

Is this a state school? Sounds absolutely bizaare...

It is. I blithely ignored youngest when he said I'll need new uniform...till today!

That is pretty poor show of the school. Time for a parents revolt?

Benpointer said:

isam said:

felix said:

Bizarre the amount of time wasted here and elsewhere on a drunken hack journalist on a day when the government produced interesting proposals re Brexit which have been welcomed by the Irish PM. Rubbish on twitter is a given but this site used to be more thoughtful and rational.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. The people who were used to getting their own way lost, and seem to be clinging on to the musings of a man losing his mind on twitter for some light at the end of the tunnel

Yeah right! The people who are used to getting their own way are the Tory party.

Not just Tories but all who take the Establishment Consensus as a credo de rigueur. On the EU they have been routed and have been thoroughly disorientated by the experience. SeanT calls it ' brexychosis' or brexomania'.

foxinsoxuk said:

Mortimer said:

dixiedean said:

dixiedean said:

Off topic, but the youngest's school has decided a new uniform is necessary. Complete change of colours and of PE kit. Available from one supplier only. £150, and the perfectly serviceable old uniform is wasted.
Is it any wonder people feel the economy isn't working for them? We can afford it, although I'd rather not, but many others won't find it easy.
Edit.
Being completely new of course there are no second hand or hand me downs for the less well off.

Apologies to those who have replied, but I have been away amateur sleuthing re this so will try to answer all in one post.
Was wrong about one thing, it is available from 2 suppliers. Colour me not shocked, but the pricing is identical (!).
The school has relented and allowed years 10 and 11 to continue with the old PE kit (but not uniform). No use to me as youngest is Year 8. The school say he'll need new PE kit as he grows. I say he has a brother who already has numerous sizes of PE kit and uniform now destined for the Charity Shop.
Worse, they have gendered the PE kit. Previously, it was all blue with white edging (Chelsea-ish). Now it resembles a Jackson Pollock if he was only allowed 24 shades of blue, The boys is predominantly dark, the girls lighter.
This is a clear attempt to prevent anyone buying from other sources, as well as stopping hand-me-downs between different sex siblings.
Anyway, I thought we were supposed to be encouraging girls to partake in sport? Team GB don't have gendered kit in the athletics. Mark out girls as part of a different team?
The school is not yet an Academy, but is "transitioning to one." (Insert your own joke).

This is blatant price gouging. Maybe an investigation of this could be a positive and popular free market policy the Govt. could adopt?


Ps, The £150 is before shirts, trousers and shoes, which remain mercifully logo free!

Is this a state school? Sounds absolutely bizaare...

I suspect that such a uniform policy may be an attempt to create a school ethos and spirit, perhaps in order to become an academy.

The cynic in me does wonder whether it is designed to be covertly selective by income and parental co-operation, by keeping out those who either cannot afford the kit list, or lack the discipline to get children to adhere to it. It may be inherently socially discriminatory.

We are lucky enough to be able to afford it. There was a time when we couldn't. We used to buy second hand, which is obviously not an option for anyone now.
If they want to socially select like this, they'll have trouble round here. The next nearest Secondary is 12 miles away, after that it is 35 miles, so there aren't any competitors.

PClipp said:

Benpointer said:

Philip_Thompson said:

rottenborough said:

Not exactly launching a new party in an edifying way.

The contrast between Chapman's rantings on Twitter supposedly to launch "The Democrats" and the classy "Gang of Four" press conference to launch the SDP couldn't be starker.
Chapman isn't fit to lick Jenkins' boots.

Are we sure someone hasn't put him up to this just to kill off any chance of a new centre party?

Sounds likely.

I don't think out politics are sophisticated enough for that sort of thing.

Sandpit said:

rottenborough said:

Sandpit said:

Allan said:

Reaching a new low.
James Chapman‏ @jameschappers 2m
"Where is @borisjohnson? Is he with his wife? #byebyebozo #thedemocrats"

Feeling very sorry for Mrs Chapman right now, they're supposed to be on holiday together.

Guido is suggesting that all hasn't been well with Chappers for quite a while.

Not sure that can be relied on, as Chappers and Guido are at war judging by the last week's tweets.

Still, it is a bizarre form of holiday.

Yeah, he's quickly losing friends all over the media, quite what his new employer Bell Pottinger think of all this I wouldn't want to hazard a guess.

I think you wrote "new", when you meant "soon to be ex".

williamglenn said:

isam said:

Benpointer said:

isam said:

felix said:

Bizarre the amount of time wasted here and elsewhere on a drunken hack journalist on a day when the government produced interesting proposals re Brexit which have been welcomed by the Irish PM. Rubbish on twitter is a given but this site used to be more thoughtful and rational.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. The people who were used to getting their own way lost, and seem to be clinging on to the musings of a man losing his mind on twitter for some light at the end of the tunnel

Yeah right! The people who are used to getting their own way are the Tory party.

From 1991-2016 it was Europhiles from Labour, the Lib Dems and the Conservative Party that had their own way. Then they lost...

Take it from a Europhile: we were losing throughout most of that period. It's the vote last June that has given the pro-European cause new impetus in this country.

First you insult them,
then you dismiss them,
then you lose to them,
then you win?

AnneJGP said:

dixiedean said:

(snip)

We are lucky enough to be able to afford it. There was a time when we couldn't. We used to buy second hand, which is obviously not an option for anyone now.
If they want to socially select like this, they'll have trouble round here. The next nearest Secondary is 12 miles away, after that it is 35 miles, so there aren't any competitors.

If there are in fact parents who can't afford it, what is the school proposing to do with those pupils? Send them home, yes, but to what purpose? Sending them home doesn't make money available where there is none.

Indeed. This is a reasonably well-off area, and of course (most) parents will make sacrifices. However, being unable to afford it marks one out even more in an area where most can.

PeterC said:

Benpointer said:

isam said:

felix said:

Bizarre the amount of time wasted here and elsewhere on a drunken hack journalist on a day when the government produced interesting proposals re Brexit which have been welcomed by the Irish PM. Rubbish on twitter is a given but this site used to be more thoughtful and rational.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. The people who were used to getting their own way lost, and seem to be clinging on to the musings of a man losing his mind on twitter for some light at the end of the tunnel

Yeah right! The people who are used to getting their own way are the Tory party.

Not just Tories but all who take the Establishment Consensus as a credo de rigueur. On the EU they have been routed and have been thoroughly disorientated by the experience. SeanT calls it ' brexychosis' or brexomania'.

You mean the Establishment that JRM, BoJo, Dacre, the Barclay Bros, Murdoch etc. etc. are not part of?

Btw SeanT doesn't call it anything anymore, he flounced off remember!

dixiedean said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Mortimer said:

dixiedean said:

dixiedean said:

Apologies to those who have replied, but I have been away amateur sleuthing re this so will try to answer all in one post.
Was wrong about one thing, it is available from 2 suppliers. Colour me not shocked, but the pricing is identical (!).
The school has relented and allowed years 10 and 11 to continue with the old PE kit (but not uniform). No use to me as youngest is Year 8. The school say he'll need new PE kit as he grows. I say he has a brother who already has numerous sizes of PE kit and uniform now destined for the Charity Shop.
Worse, they have gendered the PE kit. Previously, it was all blue with white edging (Chelsea-ish). Now it resembles a Jackson Pollock if he was only allowed 24 shades of blue, The boys is predominantly dark, the girls lighter.
This is a clear attempt to prevent anyone buying from other sources, as well as stopping hand-me-downs between different sex siblings.
Anyway, I thought we were supposed to be encouraging girls to partake in sport? Team GB don't have gendered kit in the athletics. Mark out girls as part of a different team?
The school is not yet an Academy, but is "transitioning to one." (Insert your own joke).

This is blatant price gouging. Maybe an investigation of this could be a positive and popular free market policy the Govt. could adopt?


Ps, The £150 is before shirts, trousers and shoes, which remain mercifully logo free!

Is this a state school? Sounds absolutely bizaare...

I suspect that such a uniform policy may be an attempt to create a school ethos and spirit, perhaps in order to become an academy.

The cynic in me does wonder whether it is designed to be covertly selective by income and parental co-operation, by keeping out those who either cannot afford the kit list, or lack the discipline to get children to adhere to it. It may be inherently socially discriminatory.

We are lucky enough to be able to afford it. There was a time when we couldn't. We used to buy second hand, which is obviously not an option for anyone now.
If they want to socially select like this, they'll have trouble round here. The next nearest Secondary is 12 miles away, after that it is 35 miles, so there aren't any competitors.

Sounds like a good case to write a letter to the local paper, with a copy to your MP. There will be numerous other parents not as able to afford the new uniforms as yourselves.

The sub-head of this is hilarious:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/aug/15/two-stage-brexit-strategy-derided-by-uk-and-eu-politicians

Another way to put it would be: Government plan supported by those whom it will impact.

Mortimer said:

The sub-head of this is hilarious:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/aug/15/two-stage-brexit-strategy-derided-by-uk-and-eu-politicians

Another way to put it would be: Government plan supported by those whom it will impact.

Business leaders responded favourably to the plan, with the CBI welcoming it as a “critical first step forward”.

nielh said:

PClipp said:

Benpointer said:

Philip_Thompson said:

rottenborough said:

Not exactly launching a new party in an edifying way.

The contrast between Chapman's rantings on Twitter supposedly to launch "The Democrats" and the classy "Gang of Four" press conference to launch the SDP couldn't be starker.
Chapman isn't fit to lick Jenkins' boots.

Are we sure someone hasn't put him up to this just to kill off any chance of a new centre party?

Sounds likely.

I have been thinking the same thing, but I think this has legs.
How else do you expect the new centre party going to happen? The world is different to the early 80's. No one is bothered about press conferences these days. No one cares about failed politicians. Its a different world. Its totally missing the point to keep mentioning the SDP and assuming that history constantly repeats itself. Since 2016 it has been proved wrong time and time again. Corbyn,Brexit, Trump, Macron, . etc etc etc. Blair kept trying to have press conferences on Brexit and no one cared. Tony Blair. Former PM. respected member of the progressive establishment, etc.
The energy for a new centre party has to come from somewhere else.
Maybe this is some guy having a breakdown. Maybe it will all come to nothing. But how else do you expect this to happen? High profile defections and press conferences just aren't going to cut it. It has to be something that happens on social media. It also has to be brutal in its rhetoric to cut through to people.
I read an article by Dominic Cummings: he said that eventually a new party will be set up that 'ploughs the same ground as Corbyn'. That is what this could be.

Lol. No.

https://twitter.com/jbarro/status/897553272722083842

https://twitter.com/nycjayjay/status/897241147998969860

dixiedean said:

dixiedean said:

Off topic, but the youngest's school has decided a new uniform is necessary. Complete change of colours and of PE kit. Available from one supplier only. £150, and the perfectly serviceable old uniform is wasted.
Is it any wonder people feel the economy isn't working for them? We can afford it, although I'd rather not, but many others won't find it easy.
Edit.
Being completely new of course there are no second hand or hand me downs for the less well off.

Apologies to those who have replied, but I have been away amateur sleuthing re this so will try to answer all in one post.
Was wrong about one thing, it is available from 2 suppliers. Colour me not shocked, but the pricing is identical (!).
The school has relented and allowed years 10 and 11 to continue with the old PE kit (but not uniform). No use to me as youngest is Year 8. The school say he'll need new PE kit as he grows. I say he has a brother who already has numerous sizes of PE kit and uniform now destined for the Charity Shop.
Worse, they have gendered the PE kit. Previously, it was all blue with white edging (Chelsea-ish). Now it resembles a Jackson Pollock if he was only allowed 24 shades of blue, The boys is predominantly dark, the girls lighter.
This is a clear attempt to prevent anyone buying from other sources, as well as stopping hand-me-downs between different sex siblings.
Anyway, I thought we were supposed to be encouraging girls to partake in sport? Team GB don't have gendered kit in the athletics. Mark out girls as part of a different team?
The school is not yet an Academy, but is "transitioning to one." (Insert your own joke).

This is blatant price gouging. Maybe an investigation of this could be a positive and popular free market policy the Govt. could adopt?


Ps, The £150 is before shirts, trousers and shoes, which remain mercifully logo free!

The school's uniform policy appears not to follow government guidance in the matter:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/514978/School_Uniform_Guidance.pdf
I would suggest a formal complaint to the governing body, and if you or anyone else is feeling particularly feisty, the local press, and MP.
Normally I have a great deal of sympathy with school management and governing bodies, but this seems quite unreasonable.

(FWIW, I've never really liked the whole school uniform thing, as its worst aspects seem to be an obesession of the worst type of school leaders).

Scott_P said:

Trump is giving a press conference...

https://twitter.com/jamiemaxwell86/status/897553258390183936

That's the thing about Trump - whenever you think he's hit the bottom, he always surprises you by going lower.

Benpointer said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Mortimer said:

williamglenn said:

isam said:

Benpointer said:

isam said:

felix said:

Bizarre the amount of time wasted here and elsewhere on a drunken hack journalist on a day when the government produced interesting proposals re Brexit which have been welcomed by the Irish PM. Rubbish on twitter is a given but this site used to be more thoughtful and rational.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. The people who were used to getting their own way lost, and seem to be clinging on to the musings of a man losing his mind on twitter for some light at the end of the tunnel

Yeah right! The people who are used to getting their own way are the Tory party.

From 1991-2016 it was Europhiles from Labour, the Lib Dems and the Conservative Party that had their own way. Then they lost...

Take it from a Europhile: we were losing throughout most of that period. It's the vote last June that has given the pro-European cause new impetus in this country.

Aaaaand back in the real world, we're leaving the EU.

I don't think WG is right in that the government will back off Brexit, despite an epidemic of cold feet. Too much face is invested, and so Brexit will happen, and pretty nailed on as WTO Brexit IMO.

He is right about the hardening pro EU sentiment though. It will grow and grow so within a decade or so we will be pursuing an application to rejoin.

I don't think it will be via a new party, but via existing ones, and validated by a join referendum. Our centuries old hokey-cokey of involvement in European affairs is not going to end. It is an unchangeable part of our geography.

+1 makes sense. More sound analysis from the old Fox!

I think it more likely that it will become like Jacobitism, or Roman Catholicism in the 17th century. A romantic dream for a minority, but outside of mainstream politics.

Scott_P said:

Trump is giving a press conference...

https://twitter.com/jamiemaxwell86/status/897553258390183936

Nah. No way. I want to see the full quote.

Not even Trump.

No.

Nae chance.

https://twitter.com/bbcjonsopel/status/897559452605452289

Alistair said:

Nah. No way. I want to see the full quote.

Not even Trump.

No.

Nae chance.

https://twitter.com/justinhendrix/status/897555081272463362

https://twitter.com/paul__johnson/status/897559595102732289

williamglenn said:

hps://twitter.com/paul__johnson/status/897559595102732289

'Opposite sides of a negotiation ridicule each others' positions' in shocking news twist.

https://twitter.com/DrDavidDuke/status/897559892164304896

Benpointer said:

Sandpit said:

Benpointer said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Mortimer said:

dixiedean said:

dixiedean said:

Being completely new of course there are no second hand or hand me downs for the less well off.

This is blatant price gouging. Maybe an investigation of this could be a positive and popular free market policy the Govt. could adopt?


Ps, The £150 is before shirts, trousers and shoes, which remain mercifully logo free!

Is this a state school? Sounds absolutely bizaare...

I suspect that such a uniform policy may be an attempt to create a school ethos and spirit, perhaps in order to become an academy.

The cynic in me does wonder whether it is designed to be covertly selective by income and parental co-operation, by keeping out those who either cannot afford the kit list, or lack the discipline to get children to adhere to it. It may be inherently socially discriminatory.

But at least @Sandpit should be happy... "Ethos, uniform, discipline, parental engagement and most importantly aspiration all cost nothing." apparently.

The enforcement of standards and ethos in the school costs nothing from the education budget. What this school is doing is taking the piss out of the parents and they should be called out on it.

Yes agreed - I was just teasing

This is not a new practice though... In the 70s I made it to the local grammar school and the uniform had to be bought from one supplier in the town at an outrageous (for us) cost. My mother (single mum, on benefits) couldn't afford it, so she pinched the badge from my uncle's old school blazer and sewed it on the cheapest one she could buy in Woolies. It was an obvious fake, as several Masters enjoyed pointing out - but it did. Funnily enough I never forgot that!

Very innovative! My old school used to have a 'Thrift Shop' where second hand uniform could be picked up for a fraction of the price of new kit. That worked well for most things, and saved my family a fortune over the years.

TheScreamingEagles said:

https://twitter.com/DrDavidDuke/status/897559892164304896

I keep thinking this virtual reality matrix we're all living in has some kind of 'hyper-improbability bug'.

kle4 said:

It's nice how Trump can bring so many people together. In opposition to him. But we have so much more of him to come, in all probability.

https://twitter.com/rupertmyers/status/897561562243883008

Crickey I go out for a nice dinner and come back to find Trump has gone nuclear...Perhaps that's a poor choice of words...

Scott_P said:

kle4 said:

It's nice how Trump can bring so many people together. In opposition to him. But we have so much more of him to come, in all probability.

https://twitter.com/rupertmyers/status/897561562243883008

I believe these days american presidents get libraries made after their terms end? I'd bet good money Trump has already prepared the plans for his memorial.

Benpointer said:

Sandpit said:

Benpointer said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Mortimer said:

dixiedean said:

dixiedean said:

Being completely new of course there are no second hand or hand me downs for the less well off.

This is blatant price gouging. Maybe an investigation of this could be a positive and popular free market policy the Govt. could adopt?


Ps, The £150 is before shirts, trousers and shoes, which remain mercifully logo free!

Is this a state school? Sounds absolutely bizaare...

I suspect that such a uniform policy may be an attempt to create a school ethos and spirit, perhaps in order to become an academy.

The cynic in me does wonder whether it is designed to be covertly selective by income and parental co-operation, by keeping out those who either cannot afford the kit list, or lack the discipline to get children to adhere to it. It may be inherently socially discriminatory.

But at least @Sandpit should be happy... "Ethos, uniform, discipline, parental engagement and most importantly aspiration all cost nothing." apparently.

The enforcement of standards and ethos in the school costs nothing from the education budget. What this school is doing is taking the piss out of the parents and they should be called out on it.

Yes agreed - I was just teasing

This is not a new practice though... In the 70s I made it to the local grammar school and the uniform had to be bought from one supplier in the town at an outrageous (for us) cost. My mother (single mum, on benefits) couldn't afford it, so she pinched the badge from my uncle's old school blazer and sewed it on the cheapest one she could buy in Woolies. It was an obvious fake, as several Masters enjoyed pointing out - but it did. Funnily enough I never forgot that!

I have a horrible feeling that not only was there a sole supplier specified by the school, but my blazer had the badge woven into the pocket.

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/sunpolitics/status/897563824651255808

As long as it is not endless, what does it bloody matter to them?

https://twitter.com/helenlewis/status/897562893440372736

dr_spyn said:

Benpointer said:

Sandpit said:

Benpointer said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Mortimer said:

dixiedean said:

dixiedean said:

Being completely new of course there are no second hand or hand me downs for the less well off.

This is blatant price gouging. Maybe an investigation of this could be a positive and popular free market policy the Govt. could adopt?


Ps, The £150 is before shirts, trousers and shoes, which remain mercifully logo free!

Is this a state school? Sounds absolutely bizaare...

I suspect that such a uniform policy may be an attempt to create a school ethos and spirit, perhaps in order to become an academy.

The cynic in me does wonder whether it is designed to be covertly selective by income and parental co-operation, by keeping out those who either cannot afford the kit list, or lack the discipline to get children to adhere to it. It may be inherently socially discriminatory.

But at least @Sandpit should be happy... "Ethos, uniform, discipline, parental engagement and most importantly aspiration all cost nothing." apparently.

The enforcement of standards and ethos in the school costs nothing from the education budget. What this school is doing is taking the piss out of the parents and they should be called out on it.

Yes agreed - I was just teasing

This is not a new practice though... In the 70s I made it to the local grammar school and the uniform had to be bought from one supplier in the town at an outrageous (for us) cost. My mother (single mum, on benefits) couldn't afford it, so she pinched the badge from my uncle's old school blazer and sewed it on the cheapest one she could buy in Woolies. It was an obvious fake, as several Masters enjoyed pointing out - but it did. Funnily enough I never forgot that!

I have a horrible feeling that not only was there a sole supplier specified by the school, but my blazer had the badge woven into the pocket.

Actually, I think ours was the same (Hastings Grammar if anyone remembers!). I think my mum swapped the whole pocket.

In any event, she's not the world's best sewer, bless her, so no one was fooled!

Sean_F said:

kle4 said:

It's nice how Trump can bring so many people together. In opposition to him. But we have so much more of him to come, in all probability.

Increasingly, I think the US is like Spain in 1936,

Well that doesn't bode well

Sean_F said:

kle4 said:

It's nice how Trump can bring so many people together. In opposition to him. But we have so much more of him to come, in all probability.

Increasingly, I think the US is like Spain in 1936,

Ironically this dispute in Charlottesville was the legacy of Civil War, but too often we see the roots of the next war in the embers of the last.

dr_spyn said:

Lovers of chamber music might note that an usher from The Wigmore Hall is on The Front Page of The Express.

https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/897563840329678850

Well done her.

Amazed to see The Express ever so slightly obsessed with house prices lol!