Skip to content

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » YouGov polling finds the NHS is the only area where more pe

135

Comments

  • The BBC really skating on "thin-ice" on their coverage of the migrant crisis. BBC reporter just said "Hungary's reputation is in tatters" should they really be making comments like that.

    Simon McCoy almost losing it again interviewing a chap who I think was the Hungarian Ambassador. The Ambassador reported that some migrants were throwing their children over the gate and had to be taken into hospital. Pretty desperate stuff.
  • isamisam Posts: 42,616
    edited September 2015
    SeanT said:

    JEO said:

    SeanT

    Did you find evidence of the BBC cutting out the "Allah Akhbar" chants?

    Yes. They cut it out. I watched the BBC Ten and they played exactly the same footage, but with the sound muted. So you didn't hear the jihadist war-chants. Why mute the sound when it is such crucial evidence that these refugees might not be the cuddly victims we are led to believe?

    I don't usually join in the rightwing BBC bashing. I think it generally does its best (though it is bloated and needs serious reform). But this was a clear cut and provable case or astonishing editorial bias. Journalism so warped it amounts to lies. And on a hugely important issue.

    Absofeckinglutely disgraceful
    Jesus Sean don't you read the morning threads?!

    Muslims chucking rocks at police and shouting "Allah Akhbar" a the Hungarian border is the same stamp as a vicar praising God for a sunny morning when he goes for a bike ride round Niceness-by-the-Wold
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453

    And as for Corbyn, as far back as July he's said he's campaign to stay in the EU. I don't see how this is news or a massive shock.

    Because he was asked the question earlier this week and fudged the answer.
  • PaulyPauly Posts: 897
    Scott_P said:

    @MrHarryCole: Wonder why new Corbyn spinner Kevin Slocombe wanted to delete his Twitter account? http://t.co/f3cqn0rzvO

    Is that the same Kevin Slocombe who is head of communications at the Communication Workers Union? So basically he is in the pocket of the unions...
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,180
    MikeL said:

    Cyclefree said:

    I still can't believe this has really happened, and it's endless - we're on Day 5.

    The Privy Council stuff is overdone IMO. I don't like Corbyn but it's well known he's a republican and it's fair enough for him to have some quibbles about what's involved. It's not the substance that matters. It's the fact that the stories about him are about trivial matters ("will he kneel?" "He can't do his buttons up.") rather than about him and his political vision.

    I also think his appeal - "free money for all / attack the rich" - is more popular with some than we might suppose. Countering it will take a little more skill than simply assuming that people will see his policies to be obvious nonsense. See, for instance, this - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11871261/Why-should-I-pay-for-Jeremy-Corbyns-friend-Claire-to-have-so-many-children-tax-credits-PMQs.html

    People will always squeal when money is taken away even if they should never have been given it in the first place. Remember all the wailing that went on here when child benefit was taken away from higher rate tax payers. You'd have thought - from reading some posts - that Herod was at large in the country.

    That article is spot on.

    It needs to be emphasised again and again and again - tax credits are not primarily about supporting people with low pay - they are about supporting people with children.

    The basics:

    - Single person earning £15k - gets zero tax credits (today, before the cuts). Zero.

    - Single person with two children earning £32k - gets tax credits.

    Stop then and think. If both parents (with two children) are present and both earning - even if they both earn just £16,500 (for total family earnings of £33k) - they'll get zero tax credits as well!

    (The cut-off for a family with two children is just under £33k).

    So without children you get nothing (unless on very low earnings - about £14k downwards).

    Couples together with only up to two children also get nothing if both are earning and combined get £33k - still a low salary - only £16,500 each.

    And huge tax credits are paid to single earners with children, even on average salaries - and people earning much more with large numbers of children (income cut-off point rises with every extra child).
    This article hits the spot here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11871261/Why-should-I-pay-for-Jeremy-Corbyns-friend-Claire-to-have-so-many-children-tax-credits-PMQs.html
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Mine only eats deli counter roast beef, or a bit of smoked salmon if given a choice.

    She will crunch Royal Canin kitten biscuits despite being 7yrs old if I ignore her. I've never had such a picky bloody eater - others loved chinese takeaways, pizza and would kill for a chicken drumstick or packet of beefy crisps.
    MattW said:

    *Claps*

    MTimT said:

    "This secretive, archaic institution is a loophole in our constitutional safety net"

    What a hilarious and idiotic thing to say. Since the change in the Canadian constitution, when has the Privy Council done anything of the slightest significance, and in that its role was essentially ceremonial?

    snip
    We really do need the like button back. Damn good post, Msr Le Marquis. Labour are about as relevant to serious political discourse at the moment as the mewings of my cat.

    And what does your cat think of the Labour party?

    I am not too sure, Mr. Hopkins, he is welsh, you see, and so sometimes difficult to understand. However, based on his attitude to property rights, which can be summed by "my chicken is mine and you should give me yours too", I think he might quite approve of some of the Labour ideas.
    Mr Llama, you have made an unconscionable mistake, and one most unlike you.

    Approving of "my chicken is mine and you should give me yours too" means he is a Lib Dem.

    Labour would be : "My chicken is mine, your chicken is mine, and when we run out of chicken we'll print more chicken".
    I am fairly sure, though, that his version of printing more chicken means I should just provide it (i.e. it's someone else's job to actually earn the cash to pay for his benefits) - doesn't that make him more Labour than Lib Dem?
    I think ours wouldn't eat chicken.

    It gets Aldi tuna half anf half with Aldi dried catfood. It eats the tuna and goes away for 2 hours until it is clear no more tuna is arriving. Then it eats the catfood. Then it comes back with the same offended look it had before it got the first lot.

    When Aldi ran out of catfood it ate nothing and caught mice for 2 days rather than go Tesco.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    Pauly said:

    Is that the same Kevin Slocombe who is head of communications at the Communication Workers Union? So basically he is in the pocket of the unions...

    Was...

    @PickardJE: Former union communications officer Kevin Slocombe has been appointed press spokesman for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
  • JEOJEO Posts: 3,656

    The BBC really skating on "thin-ice" on their coverage of the migrant crisis. BBC reporter just said "Hungary's reputation is in tatters" should they really be making comments like that.

    Simon McCoy almost losing it again interviewing a chap who I think was the Hungarian Ambassador. The Ambassador reported that some migrants were throwing their children over the gate and had to be taken into hospital. Pretty desperate stuff.

    I was watching them the other day and the correspondent referred to the migrants, as a group, as "refugees" when clearly they had no knowledge that they all came from warzones. Almost every close-up is of a woman or child, when 80% of them are young adult males. I haven't seen any coverage of the Syrian passports being bought and sold, the effect of migrants on existing neighbourhood populations in Germany and Sweden. And now they are editing out sound from clips of rioters because they shout "Allah Akhbar".

    Its bias on this issue has been utterly astonishing. The government needs to come down on them like a ton of bricks.
  • @Scott_P Yesterday he also ruled out campaigning for OUT, so it must have been on either Monday or Tuesday. What did he say?
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    I agree with Nick Cohen, it doesn't matter - the Corbynistas won't accept the blame, it'll be someone else's fault no matter how long they get to make it *work*
    Pauly said:

    BBC now reporting on defection rumours...
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34283161
    I'd prefer it if Corbyn fails on his own terms, otherwise the far-left will still be blaming the MSM and the defectors instead of their crazy policies. :(

  • PaulyPauly Posts: 897
    Scott_P said:

    Pauly said:

    Is that the same Kevin Slocombe who is head of communications at the Communication Workers Union? So basically he is in the pocket of the unions...

    Was...

    @PickardJE: Former union communications officer Kevin Slocombe has been appointed press spokesman for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
    Well he still is, except now his message has a national platform and LOTO to voice it for him... :D
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,180
    justin124 said:

    John_M said:

    I still can't believe this has really happened, and it's endless - we're on Day 5.

    What I find most incredulous is Corbyn's claim not to have been aware. But no, we're told by supporters he's genuine!

    Genuine asshat
    He did only get 2 Es. He's not the sharpest knife in the draw.
    It has to be said though that 2 Es from the late 1960s would at least be the equivalent of 2 Cs - maybe Bs - in today's terms after allowing for grade inflation.
    That just reminds you how worthless 2C's are nowadays.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    When Corbyn’s PMQs by email initiative falls apart, he will have no option other than to go for straightforward attacks on the Tory record and the traditional approach of trying to win an argument in the chambering which the Prime Minister gets the last word. Nothing in Corbyn’s record or demeanour suggests he will be the slightest use at winning such arguments. At which point Cameron and the Tories will smash him to bits.

    Harsh language? Unfair? No, give it a rest. No-one forced this man to stand for the Labour leadership. He occupies a vitally important position in the UK’s constitutional arrangements and he (one presumes) wants to be Prime Minister. The future of a once great party and the need in a democracy for a proper opposition is at stake. He deserves everything he gets.
    http://www.capx.co/calamity-corbyn-will-be-smashed-to-pieces-by-the-tories/
  • Pauly said:

    BBC now reporting on defection rumours...
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34283161
    I'd prefer it if Corbyn fails on his own terms, otherwise the far-left will still be blaming the MSM and the defectors instead of their crazy policies. :(


    Things are so bad in Labour that they want to join the LibDems?

  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Nonsense. Grade inflation started in a serious way under Blair.
    justin124 said:

    John_M said:

    I still can't believe this has really happened, and it's endless - we're on Day 5.

    What I find most incredulous is Corbyn's claim not to have been aware. But no, we're told by supporters he's genuine!

    Genuine asshat
    He did only get 2 Es. He's not the sharpest knife in the draw.
    It has to be said though that 2 Es from the late 1960s would at least be the equivalent of 2 Cs - maybe Bs - in today's terms after allowing for grade inflation.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453

    @Scott_P Yesterday he also ruled out campaigning for OUT, so it must have been on either Monday or Tuesday. What did he say?

    Jeremy Corbyn has come under fire from senior party figures and rivals for the Labour leadership after refusing to rule out campaigning to take the UK out of the EU.

    At the latest leadership hustings in Warrington on Saturday, the leftwing candidate said his decision would depend on whether David Cameron was able to change the EU for the better.

    In recent weeks, Corbyn has refused several times to make clear whether he would, as Labour leader, campaign to stay in or get out, and has said merely that the EU is imperfect and needs reform.
    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/25/jeremy-corbyn-draws-fire-position-future-britain-eu-membership
  • Alan Roden @AlanRoden

    UKIP will tomorrow launch a campaign for September 18th to be named "Union Day" with an "annual celebration" #indyref
  • justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527
    felix said:

    justin124 said:

    John_M said:

    I still can't believe this has really happened, and it's endless - we're on Day 5.

    What I find most incredulous is Corbyn's claim not to have been aware. But no, we're told by supporters he's genuine!

    Genuine asshat
    He did only get 2 Es. He's not the sharpest knife in the draw.
    It has to be said though that 2 Es from the late 1960s would at least be the equivalent of 2 Cs - maybe Bs - in today's terms after allowing for grade inflation.
    That just reminds you how worthless 2C's are nowadays.
    I don't disagree. Also worth remembering that back in the 60s and 70s some 30% of Alevel students failed to get an E. Nowadays over 95 % manage an E or higher.
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,180

    Pauly said:

    BBC now reporting on defection rumours...
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34283161
    I'd prefer it if Corbyn fails on his own terms, otherwise the far-left will still be blaming the MSM and the defectors instead of their crazy policies. :(


    Things are so bad in Labour that they want to join the LibDems?

    Lol - my thought exactly.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    You can reach out and feel his warmth.
    Scott_P said:

    @MrHarryCole: Wonder why new Corbyn spinner Kevin Slocombe wanted to delete his Twitter account? http://t.co/f3cqn0rzvO

  • Alan Roden @AlanRoden

    UKIP will tomorrow launch a campaign for September 18th to be named "Union Day" with an "annual celebration" #indyref

    Is that Unite the Union?

    :lol:
  • Scott_P said:

    @Scott_P Yesterday he also ruled out campaigning for OUT, so it must have been on either Monday or Tuesday. What did he say?

    Jeremy Corbyn has come under fire from senior party figures and rivals for the Labour leadership after refusing to rule out campaigning to take the UK out of the EU.

    At the latest leadership hustings in Warrington on Saturday, the leftwing candidate said his decision would depend on whether David Cameron was able to change the EU for the better.

    In recent weeks, Corbyn has refused several times to make clear whether he would, as Labour leader, campaign to stay in or get out, and has said merely that the EU is imperfect and needs reform.
    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/25/jeremy-corbyn-draws-fire-position-future-britain-eu-membership

    That's odd, given his previous statements, and his current statements. I think Corbyn has the same problem as Miliband in that his positions lack clarity and are prone to chopping and changing.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Isn't he a member passim/currently of CPGB?
    Pauly said:

    Scott_P said:

    @MrHarryCole: Wonder why new Corbyn spinner Kevin Slocombe wanted to delete his Twitter account? http://t.co/f3cqn0rzvO

    Is that the same Kevin Slocombe who is head of communications at the Communication Workers Union? So basically he is in the pocket of the unions...
  • justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527

    Nonsense. Grade inflation started in a serious way under Blair.

    justin124 said:

    John_M said:

    I still can't believe this has really happened, and it's endless - we're on Day 5.

    What I find most incredulous is Corbyn's claim not to have been aware. But no, we're told by supporters he's genuine!

    Genuine asshat
    He did only get 2 Es. He's not the sharpest knife in the draw.
    It has to be said though that 2 Es from the late 1960s would at least be the equivalent of 2 Cs - maybe Bs - in today's terms after allowing for grade inflation.
    I am actually agreeing with you ! Although serious grade inflation dates back to at least the late 1980s with the shift from relative marking to absolute marking.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,707

    Alan Roden @AlanRoden

    UKIP will tomorrow launch a campaign for September 18th to be named "Union Day" with an "annual celebration" #indyref

    Is that Unite the Union?

    :lol:
    European Union day, surely?
  • justin124 said:

    Nonsense. Grade inflation started in a serious way under Blair.

    justin124 said:

    John_M said:

    I still can't believe this has really happened, and it's endless - we're on Day 5.

    What I find most incredulous is Corbyn's claim not to have been aware. But no, we're told by supporters he's genuine!

    Genuine asshat
    He did only get 2 Es. He's not the sharpest knife in the draw.
    It has to be said though that 2 Es from the late 1960s would at least be the equivalent of 2 Cs - maybe Bs - in today's terms after allowing for grade inflation.
    I am actually agreeing with you ! Although serious grade inflation dates back to at least the late 1980s with the shift from relative marking to absolute marking.
    If that's the case then rather hilariously some people on PB (who no doubt complain about today's generation inflated/worthless grades) would have had their own grades inflated to some degree as well.
  • taffystaffys Posts: 9,753
    I think Corbyn has the same problem as Miliband in that his positions lack clarity and are prone to chopping and changing.

    You have to wonder whether that is deliberate though. In his heart of hearts, Corbyn probably knows the voters won't go for what he really wants to do.

    Same with Milliband.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @BBCNormanS: Labour leader @jeremycorbyn tells @FT he backs an EU Transaction Tax on the banks
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    I do!

    I'm not keen on ants - but a tank full of another small insect that'd eat little leftovers would be rather cool. My greyhounds ate almost everything [loved brioche rolls], and if they didn't fancy it - my angora goats would pick up the slack.

    Mine only eats deli counter roast beef, or a bit of smoked salmon if given a choice.

    She will crunch Royal Canin kitten biscuits despite being 7yrs old if I ignore her. I've never had such a picky bloody eater - others loved chinese takeaways, pizza and would kill for a chicken drumstick or packet of beefy crisps.

    MattW said:

    *Claps*

    MTimT said:

    snip

    snip
    We really do need the like button back. Damn good post, Msr Le Marquis. Labour are about as relevant to serious political discourse at the moment as the mewings of my cat.

    And what does your cat think of the Labour party?

    I am not too sure, Mr. Hopkins, he is welsh, you see, and so sometimes difficult to understand. However, based on his attitude to property rights, which can be summed by "my chicken is mine and you should give me yours too", I think he might quite approve of some of the Labour ideas.
    Mr Llama, you have made an unconscionable mistake, and one most unlike you.

    Approving of "my chicken is mine and you should give me yours too" means he is a Lib Dem.

    Labour would be : "My chicken is mine, your chicken is mine, and when we run out of chicken we'll print more chicken".
    I am fairly sure, though, that his version of printing more chicken means I should just provide it (i.e. it's someone else's job to actually earn the cash to pay for his benefits) - doesn't that make him more Labour than Lib Dem?
    I think ours wouldn't eat chicken.

    It gets Aldi tuna half anf half with Aldi dried catfood. It eats the tuna and goes away for 2 hours until it is clear no more tuna is arriving. Then it eats the catfood. Then it comes back with the same offended look it had before it got the first lot.

    When Aldi ran out of catfood it ate nothing and caught mice for 2 days rather than go Tesco.
    Do you get the feeling your animals eat better than you do?

    I've often been tempted to get a formicarium, so I have something to feed the breadcrumbs, plus autumn's crop of dead moths and craneflies, to.
  • JEO said:

    The BBC really skating on "thin-ice" on their coverage of the migrant crisis. BBC reporter just said "Hungary's reputation is in tatters" should they really be making comments like that.

    Simon McCoy almost losing it again interviewing a chap who I think was the Hungarian Ambassador. The Ambassador reported that some migrants were throwing their children over the gate and had to be taken into hospital. Pretty desperate stuff.

    I was watching them the other day and the correspondent referred to the migrants, as a group, as "refugees" when clearly they had no knowledge that they all came from warzones. Almost every close-up is of a woman or child, when 80% of them are young adult males. I haven't seen any coverage of the Syrian passports being bought and sold, the effect of migrants on existing neighbourhood populations in Germany and Sweden. And now they are editing out sound from clips of rioters because they shout "Allah Akhbar".

    Its bias on this issue has been utterly astonishing. The government needs to come down on them like a ton of bricks.
    Both the BBC and Sky seem to be constantly focussing on the children's suffering (which is absolutely dreadful) rather than forensic examination of the large groups of men, their origin and whether they really are refugees. Their spokespeople always take the side of the migrants and there is no balance. They never interrogate these so called officials as to what they would do, how have they ascertained origin of travel and whether they are economic migrants or genuine refugees. They never demand to know why Countries are just waving them through rather than registering them in dereliction of their duty. I believe their one sided reporting (for whatever reason) is a betrayal of their journalism and more importantly is creating an atmosphere that can only end in tears and adversly effect the very children we all want to help
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    He was saying whatever he fancied on Sunday - some came out of discussions thinking he was agin the EU, others that he was pro-EU. It was only a matter of a couple of days before he had to stop dissembling and take a position.

    Another silly unforced error that makes others mistrust him. Day 5.

    Scott_P said:

    @Scott_P Yesterday he also ruled out campaigning for OUT, so it must have been on either Monday or Tuesday. What did he say?

    Jeremy Corbyn has come under fire from senior party figures and rivals for the Labour leadership after refusing to rule out campaigning to take the UK out of the EU.

    At the latest leadership hustings in Warrington on Saturday, the leftwing candidate said his decision would depend on whether David Cameron was able to change the EU for the better.

    In recent weeks, Corbyn has refused several times to make clear whether he would, as Labour leader, campaign to stay in or get out, and has said merely that the EU is imperfect and needs reform.
    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/25/jeremy-corbyn-draws-fire-position-future-britain-eu-membership
    That's odd, given his previous statements, and his current statements. I think Corbyn has the same problem as Miliband in that his positions lack clarity and are prone to chopping and changing.

  • John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503
    taffys said:

    I think Corbyn has the same problem as Miliband in that his positions lack clarity and are prone to chopping and changing.

    You have to wonder whether that is deliberate though. In his heart of hearts, Corbyn probably knows the voters won't go for what he really wants to do.

    Same with Milliband.

    Which is entirely the electorate's fault. Stupid electorate.

    Don't forget, we're all sheeple brainwashed by the Murdoch media (which most no longer read), or, failing that, greedy selfish, racist, anti-gay islamophobes in thrall to archaic, undemocratic institutions like the monarchy.

    One day, there will be a better electorate and they will finally understand.
  • taffys said:

    I think Corbyn has the same problem as Miliband in that his positions lack clarity and are prone to chopping and changing.

    You have to wonder whether that is deliberate though. In his heart of hearts, Corbyn probably knows the voters won't go for what he really wants to do.

    Same with Milliband.

    Out of all of Corbyn's political views, I actually think arguing OUT would be the least politically toxic. I think Corbyn opting to argue for IN, is due to much of the Labour party faithful, especially the Labour party establishment being quite Pro-EU. Given how his leadership has started, I doubt Corbyn wants to cause more disunity, so the easiest thing is to stay with a Pro-EU position.
  • TCPoliticalBettingTCPoliticalBetting Posts: 10,819
    edited September 2015
    How stupid are Labour MPs? They stuck with Brown even after his ratings took the party into some of their lowest ratings. They stuck by Miliband even though his ratings were appallingly bad and they were regularly losing in Scotland. Then some helped Corbyn get onto the slate because they clearly did not understand how left wing their members were......
  • justin124 said:

    Nonsense. Grade inflation started in a serious way under Blair.

    justin124 said:

    John_M said:

    I still can't believe this has really happened, and it's endless - we're on Day 5.

    What I find most incredulous is Corbyn's claim not to have been aware. But no, we're told by supporters he's genuine!

    Genuine asshat
    He did only get 2 Es. He's not the sharpest knife in the draw.
    It has to be said though that 2 Es from the late 1960s would at least be the equivalent of 2 Cs - maybe Bs - in today's terms after allowing for grade inflation.
    I am actually agreeing with you ! Although serious grade inflation dates back to at least the late 1980s with the shift from relative marking to absolute marking.
    If that's the case then rather hilariously some people on PB (who no doubt complain about today's generation inflated/worthless grades) would have had their own grades inflated to some degree as well.
    One thing I found disturbing when teaching.

    An A-level Further Maths set in the 2000s would often struggle with O-level questions from the 1980s. Now obviously I picked the harder ones, but still.

    They were okay with their own A-level, but those who looked at the S-level/STEP papers got a fright. Funnily enough they don't seem to have changed in difficulty since the 80s.
    A major complicating factor is that O level papers I have seen gave a choice of O level questions. My father, who was a good school (and got top grades in his favourite subjects), admits he could never have answered some of the questions.
  • JEOJEO Posts: 3,656
    "Refugees"

    http://tinyurl.com/oottfb5

    Mohammad Khaled is one of the asylum seekers who arrived by bus to Frederiksberg asylum accommodation during the night of Thursday. The asylum seekers had received information that they were on their way to Hedemora, but that did not happen, which busload of asylum seekers are dissatisfied with.

    "When we arrived here, we realized that it is far from civilization, shops, hospitals and schools. We need somewhere to study and have a good life. We came to Sweden because it would be "Freedom Land". We believe they have lied to us" says Mohammad.
  • He was saying whatever he fancied on Sunday - some came out of discussions thinking he was agin the EU, others that he was pro-EU. It was only a matter of a couple of days before he had to stop dissembling and take a position.

    Another silly unforced error that makes others mistrust him. Day 5.

    Scott_P said:

    @Scott_P Yesterday he also ruled out campaigning for OUT, so it must have been on either Monday or Tuesday. What did he say?

    Jeremy Corbyn has come under fire from senior party figures and rivals for the Labour leadership after refusing to rule out campaigning to take the UK out of the EU.

    At the latest leadership hustings in Warrington on Saturday, the leftwing candidate said his decision would depend on whether David Cameron was able to change the EU for the better.

    In recent weeks, Corbyn has refused several times to make clear whether he would, as Labour leader, campaign to stay in or get out, and has said merely that the EU is imperfect and needs reform.
    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/25/jeremy-corbyn-draws-fire-position-future-britain-eu-membership
    That's odd, given his previous statements, and his current statements. I think Corbyn has the same problem as Miliband in that his positions lack clarity and are prone to chopping and changing.


    Unlike 'hug a hoodie', 'greenest ever', 'green crap' Dave.
  • RecidivistRecidivist Posts: 4,679
    Scott_P said:

    Pauly said:

    Is that the same Kevin Slocombe who is head of communications at the Communication Workers Union? So basically he is in the pocket of the unions...

    Was...

    @PickardJE: Former union communications officer Kevin Slocombe has been appointed press spokesman for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
    He was the communications officer for the communications workers' union? I suppose somebody has to be....
  • The_ApocalypseThe_Apocalypse Posts: 7,831
    edited September 2015

    justin124 said:

    Nonsense. Grade inflation started in a serious way under Blair.

    justin124 said:

    John_M said:

    I still can't believe this has really happened, and it's endless - we're on Day 5.

    What I find most incredulous is Corbyn's claim not to have been aware. But no, we're told by supporters he's genuine!

    Genuine asshat
    He did only get 2 Es. He's not the sharpest knife in the draw.
    It has to be said though that 2 Es from the late 1960s would at least be the equivalent of 2 Cs - maybe Bs - in today's terms after allowing for grade inflation.
    I am actually agreeing with you ! Although serious grade inflation dates back to at least the late 1980s with the shift from relative marking to absolute marking.
    If that's the case then rather hilariously some people on PB (who no doubt complain about today's generation inflated/worthless grades) would have had their own grades inflated to some degree as well.
    One thing I found disturbing when teaching.

    An A-level Further Maths set in the 2000s would often struggle with O-level questions from the 1980s. Now obviously I picked the harder ones, but still.

    They were okay with their own A-level, but those who looked at the S-level/STEP papers got a fright. Funnily enough they don't seem to have changed in difficulty since the 80s.
    Hmmmm that's very interesting - even back that far! Going to school, I always got the impression that Maths was an especially iffy subject for teachers.
  • AnorakAnorak Posts: 6,621
    edited September 2015
    MTimT said:

    Anorak said:

    Cyclefree said:

    I see the Saudis have offered to build 200 mosques in Germany. That's an offer to refuse.

    taffys said:

    Out of 1700 British mosques, just 2 teach modernist versions of Islam:

    http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9230671/who-runs-our-mosques/

    Utterly depressing.

    Yeah: they should be told to take the migrants instead.
    But what migrant human in their right mind would want to end up in the KSA?
    Nine million people at the last count.

    There is a lot of contradictory information about how many Syrians. See

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrians_in_Saudi_Arabia
    Indeed, I don't know the actual figures, but visiting KSA you'd get the impression that there are more migrants than natives in the country.
    Absolutely. but 99.9% are there temporarily before returning to Pakistan/Bangladesh/Indonesia. As a Syrian looking for somewhere to settle, it would - for most - be a temporary refuge at best.

    [I've spent far too much time working there - it's an utter shithole if you're anything other than arabic, sunni, devout, male and straight.]
  • Good evening, everyone.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    I did my A Levels in 1985. Getting AAA was unusual even at my school, which was typically in the top of the pile for results. I just can't take results seriously anymore - they're so out of kilter with my experience of *good*.

    Nonsense. Grade inflation started in a serious way under Blair.

    justin124 said:

    John_M said:

    I still can't believe this has really happened, and it's endless - we're on Day 5.

    What I find most incredulous is Corbyn's claim not to have been aware. But no, we're told by supporters he's genuine!

    Genuine asshat
    He did only get 2 Es. He's not the sharpest knife in the draw.
    It has to be said though that 2 Es from the late 1960s would at least be the equivalent of 2 Cs - maybe Bs - in today's terms after allowing for grade inflation.
    If you want a definitive date, a good call might be 1987. From 1963 (when the A-E grades were introduced to replace distinction/pass/fail) to 1986, grades were norm-referenced (i.e. cut-offs were set so that grades awarded allocated in fixed proportions), since then they have been standard-referenced (i.e. theoretically, cut-offs are set to produce similar standards from year to year even though the grades might vary). Even by 1997 the grades awarded had shifted substantially, though the breakdown has shifted even more radically since.

    See this table and the easier-to-digest graph below.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,707
    edited September 2015

    He was saying whatever he fancied on Sunday - some came out of discussions thinking he was agin the EU, others that he was pro-EU. It was only a matter of a couple of days before he had to stop dissembling and take a position.

    Another silly unforced error that makes others mistrust him. Day 5.

    Scott_P said:

    @Scott_P Yesterday he also ruled out campaigning for OUT, so it must have been on either Monday or Tuesday. What did he say?

    Jeremy Corbyn has come under fire from senior party figures and rivals for the Labour leadership after refusing to rule out campaigning to take the UK out of the EU.

    At the latest leadership hustings in Warrington on Saturday, the leftwing candidate said his decision would depend on whether David Cameron was able to change the EU for the better.

    In recent weeks, Corbyn has refused several times to make clear whether he would, as Labour leader, campaign to stay in or get out, and has said merely that the EU is imperfect and needs reform.
    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/25/jeremy-corbyn-draws-fire-position-future-britain-eu-membership
    That's odd, given his previous statements, and his current statements. I think Corbyn has the same problem as Miliband in that his positions lack clarity and are prone to chopping and changing.
    Unlike 'hug a hoodie', 'greenest ever', 'green crap' Dave.

    Pragmatic and sensible decisions. :D
  • I'd love to be a fly on the wall during the Trident discussions. They've surely got to get a position on that nailed down?

    Presumably the party will continue to support Trident and Jeremy Corbyn will as usual rebel against the party whip. It's the new way of doing politics.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 56,384
    I feel a new superlative coming: bad, worse, Corbyn.
  • MP_SEMP_SE Posts: 3,642
    Scott_P said:

    @iainmartin1: One of the few things Corbyn got right was not to give Cameron a blank cheque on EU. He's just done so.

    @JohnRentoul: He might as well just go and join the Tories @iainmartin1

    The EU have been slowly killing off trade unions. Corbyn and the rest of the Labour Party are morons if they think there is any chance of a Social Europe.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453

    Presumably the party will continue to support Trident and Jeremy Corbyn will as usual rebel against the party whip. It's the new way of doing politics.

    https://twitter.com/robertshrimsley/status/644544509985071105
  • @Plato I get the feeling Corbyn doesn't want to be leader of the Labour party. This whole thing is a bit much for him.
  • JEOJEO Posts: 3,656

    taffys said:

    I think Corbyn has the same problem as Miliband in that his positions lack clarity and are prone to chopping and changing.

    You have to wonder whether that is deliberate though. In his heart of hearts, Corbyn probably knows the voters won't go for what he really wants to do.

    Same with Milliband.

    Out of all of Corbyn's political views, I actually think arguing OUT would be the least politically toxic. I think Corbyn opting to argue for IN, is due to much of the Labour party faithful, especially the Labour party establishment being quite Pro-EU. Given how his leadership has started, I doubt Corbyn wants to cause more disunity, so the easiest thing is to stay with a Pro-EU position.
    The Leave side should want the unions on their side, but is probably best off avoiding being associated with Corbyn. He'll be so toxic by 2017.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @HuffPostUK: This millionaire Labour donor is offering to fund MPs to defect from Jeremy Corbyn http://t.co/7e3TbNL3Vr http://t.co/KumuqXjn6S

    @thetimes: Top Labour donor slams Corbyn victory and says he will pay MPs to quit party http://t.co/5dt93zyBbE http://t.co/Wz1ESSJqna
  • watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474
    edited September 2015
    JEO said:

    "Refugees"

    http://tinyurl.com/oottfb5

    Mohammad Khaled is one of the asylum seekers who arrived by bus to Frederiksberg asylum accommodation during the night of Thursday. The asylum seekers had received information that they were on their way to Hedemora, but that did not happen, which busload of asylum seekers are dissatisfied with.

    "When we arrived here, we realized that it is far from civilization, shops, hospitals and schools. We need somewhere to study and have a good life. We came to Sweden because it would be "Freedom Land". We believe they have lied to us" says Mohammad.

    'Where are the sexy blonde women we were expecting to greet us?'

    Perhaps the Swedes should bomb the area, to remind him what he's missing back home.
  • JEOJEO Posts: 3,656

    Alan Roden @AlanRoden

    UKIP will tomorrow launch a campaign for September 18th to be named "Union Day" with an "annual celebration" #indyref

    Is that Unite the Union?

    :lol:
    Why September the 18th? The best celebrations are held in hot weather. It's the date of the Hannoverian succession - is that why they have chosen it?
  • RecidivistRecidivist Posts: 4,679
    The Yougov poll to me reads much like you'd have got with any of the four candidates. Labour has a poor image and Corbyn hasn't done anything to improve it. I don't think there is much sign that his left wing stance is doing him either any good or any harm.
  • I did my A Levels in 1985. Getting AAA was unusual even at my school, which was typically in the top of the pile for results. I just can't take results seriously anymore - they're so out of kilter with my experience of *good*.

    Nonsense. Grade inflation started in a serious way under Blair.

    justin124 said:

    John_M said:

    I still can't believe this has really happened, and it's endless - we're on Day 5.

    What I find most incredulous is Corbyn's claim not to have been aware. But no, we're told by supporters he's genuine!

    Genuine asshat
    He did only get 2 Es. He's not the sharpest knife in the draw.
    It has to be said though that 2 Es from the late 1960s would at least be the equivalent of 2 Cs - maybe Bs - in today's terms after allowing for grade inflation.
    If you want a definitive date, a good call might be 1987. From 1963 (when the A-E grades were introduced to replace distinction/pass/fail) to 1986, grades were norm-referenced (i.e. cut-offs were set so that grades awarded allocated in fixed proportions), since then they have been standard-referenced (i.e. theoretically, cut-offs are set to produce similar standards from year to year even though the grades might vary). Even by 1997 the grades awarded had shifted substantially, though the breakdown has shifted even more radically since.

    See this table and the easier-to-digest graph below.
    I was a couple of years before you in 83 for A levels. My daughter is 14 and just started her GCSE studies and I despair at some of the questions she is being asked.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Still they can enjoy the warm weather :wink:
    JEO said:

    "Refugees"

    http://tinyurl.com/oottfb5

    Mohammad Khaled is one of the asylum seekers who arrived by bus to Frederiksberg asylum accommodation during the night of Thursday. The asylum seekers had received information that they were on their way to Hedemora, but that did not happen, which busload of asylum seekers are dissatisfied with.

    "When we arrived here, we realized that it is far from civilization, shops, hospitals and schools. We need somewhere to study and have a good life. We came to Sweden because it would be "Freedom Land". We believe they have lied to us" says Mohammad.

  • JEO said:

    taffys said:

    I think Corbyn has the same problem as Miliband in that his positions lack clarity and are prone to chopping and changing.

    You have to wonder whether that is deliberate though. In his heart of hearts, Corbyn probably knows the voters won't go for what he really wants to do.

    Same with Milliband.

    Out of all of Corbyn's political views, I actually think arguing OUT would be the least politically toxic. I think Corbyn opting to argue for IN, is due to much of the Labour party faithful, especially the Labour party establishment being quite Pro-EU. Given how his leadership has started, I doubt Corbyn wants to cause more disunity, so the easiest thing is to stay with a Pro-EU position.
    The Leave side should want the unions on their side, but is probably best off avoiding being associated with Corbyn. He'll be so toxic by 2017.
    The dilemma for OUT is to find a figure who isn't politically toxic to lead their cause!
  • PaulyPauly Posts: 897

    JEO said:

    taffys said:

    I think Corbyn has the same problem as Miliband in that his positions lack clarity and are prone to chopping and changing.

    You have to wonder whether that is deliberate though. In his heart of hearts, Corbyn probably knows the voters won't go for what he really wants to do.

    Same with Milliband.

    Out of all of Corbyn's political views, I actually think arguing OUT would be the least politically toxic. I think Corbyn opting to argue for IN, is due to much of the Labour party faithful, especially the Labour party establishment being quite Pro-EU. Given how his leadership has started, I doubt Corbyn wants to cause more disunity, so the easiest thing is to stay with a Pro-EU position.
    The Leave side should want the unions on their side, but is probably best off avoiding being associated with Corbyn. He'll be so toxic by 2017.
    The dilemma for OUT is to find a figure who isn't politically toxic to lead their cause!
    Daniel Hannan is their man, but he's so far off the radar they'll never choose him...
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    You're on a roll this afternoon :smiley:

    I'd love to be a fly on the wall during the Trident discussions. They've surely got to get a position on that nailed down?

    Presumably the party will continue to support Trident and Jeremy Corbyn will as usual rebel against the party whip. It's the new way of doing politics.
  • F1: Button will either drive for McLaren, or leave the sport:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/34282314

    May be of interest for those betting on the driver market.
  • JEOJEO Posts: 3,656

    JEO said:

    taffys said:

    I think Corbyn has the same problem as Miliband in that his positions lack clarity and are prone to chopping and changing.

    You have to wonder whether that is deliberate though. In his heart of hearts, Corbyn probably knows the voters won't go for what he really wants to do.

    Same with Milliband.

    Out of all of Corbyn's political views, I actually think arguing OUT would be the least politically toxic. I think Corbyn opting to argue for IN, is due to much of the Labour party faithful, especially the Labour party establishment being quite Pro-EU. Given how his leadership has started, I doubt Corbyn wants to cause more disunity, so the easiest thing is to stay with a Pro-EU position.
    The Leave side should want the unions on their side, but is probably best off avoiding being associated with Corbyn. He'll be so toxic by 2017.
    The dilemma for OUT is to find a figure who isn't politically toxic to lead their cause!
    Kate Hoey.
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,180

    justin124 said:

    Nonsense. Grade inflation started in a serious way under Blair.

    justin124 said:

    John_M said:

    I still can't believe this has really happened, and it's endless - we're on Day 5.

    What I find most incredulous is Corbyn's claim not to have been aware. But no, we're told by supporters he's genuine!

    Genuine asshat
    He did only get 2 Es. He's not the sharpest knife in the draw.
    It has to be said though that 2 Es from the late 1960s would at least be the equivalent of 2 Cs - maybe Bs - in today's terms after allowing for grade inflation.
    I am actually agreeing with you ! Although serious grade inflation dates back to at least the late 1980s with the shift from relative marking to absolute marking.
    If that's the case then rather hilariously some people on PB (who no doubt complain about today's generation inflated/worthless grades) would have had their own grades inflated to some degree as well.
    Correct - I reckon my AAB in 1972 should be rhodium plated supernovas today :)
  • You're on a roll this afternoon :smiley:

    I'd love to be a fly on the wall during the Trident discussions. They've surely got to get a position on that nailed down?

    Presumably the party will continue to support Trident and Jeremy Corbyn will as usual rebel against the party whip. It's the new way of doing politics.
    There's so much ammunition!
  • Speaking of AAA grades, I got A*AA in my A-Levels, (which came as a huge shock on the day). All of my subjects were essayed based ones. One thing I do hope, is that if any PBers have kids doing GCSEs and A-levels, and they do well, they don't tell their kids on results day to not celebrate because of 'grade inflation'. You can only work with what you got, and for many people I knew GCSES and A-Levels were a stressful time and not easy peasy.
  • JEO said:

    taffys said:

    I think Corbyn has the same problem as Miliband in that his positions lack clarity and are prone to chopping and changing.

    You have to wonder whether that is deliberate though. In his heart of hearts, Corbyn probably knows the voters won't go for what he really wants to do.

    Same with Milliband.

    Out of all of Corbyn's political views, I actually think arguing OUT would be the least politically toxic. I think Corbyn opting to argue for IN, is due to much of the Labour party faithful, especially the Labour party establishment being quite Pro-EU. Given how his leadership has started, I doubt Corbyn wants to cause more disunity, so the easiest thing is to stay with a Pro-EU position.
    The Leave side should want the unions on their side, but is probably best off avoiding being associated with Corbyn. He'll be so toxic by 2017.
    The dilemma for OUT is to find a figure who isn't politically toxic to lead their cause!
    David Cameron. The country will do what he says anyway, so they should probably be focusing on persuading him.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,751
    Scott_P said:

    @BBCNormanS: Labour leader @jeremycorbyn tells @FT he backs an EU Transaction Tax on the banks

    It's not a tax on banks. It's a tax on transactions. It's like VAT. Your pension fund buys shares; a tax is levied. That is charged to you, the future pensioner. Everyone who has a pension, which is not paid out of government revenue, will be affected.

  • MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034
    justin124 said:

    felix said:

    justin124 said:

    John_M said:

    I still can't believe this has really happened, and it's endless - we're on Day 5.

    What I find most incredulous is Corbyn's claim not to have been aware. But no, we're told by supporters he's genuine!

    Genuine asshat
    He did only get 2 Es. He's not the sharpest knife in the draw.
    It has to be said though that 2 Es from the late 1960s would at least be the equivalent of 2 Cs - maybe Bs - in today's terms after allowing for grade inflation.
    That just reminds you how worthless 2C's are nowadays.
    I don't disagree. Also worth remembering that back in the 60s and 70s some 30% of Alevel students failed to get an E. Nowadays over 95 % manage an E or higher.
    Surely, that just shows how much better the education system is today? ;)
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 61,405
    Cyclefree said:

    Scott_P said:

    @BBCNormanS: Labour leader @jeremycorbyn tells @FT he backs an EU Transaction Tax on the banks

    It's not a tax on banks. It's a tax on transactions. It's like VAT. Your pension fund buys shares; a tax is levied. That is charged to you, the future pensioner. Everyone who has a pension, which is not paid out of government revenue, will be affected.

    NO! The Robin Hood Tax will raised gazillions from bankers without affecting anyone in the real world at all.

    Don't you know anything?
  • HurstLlamaHurstLlama Posts: 9,098

    justin124 said:

    Nonsense. Grade inflation started in a serious way under Blair.

    justin124 said:

    John_M said:

    I still can't believe this has really happened, and it's endless - we're on Day 5.

    What I find most incredulous is Corbyn's claim not to have been aware. But no, we're told by supporters he's genuine!

    Genuine asshat
    He did only get 2 Es. He's not the sharpest knife in the draw.
    It has to be said though that 2 Es from the late 1960s would at least be the equivalent of 2 Cs - maybe Bs - in today's terms after allowing for grade inflation.
    I am actually agreeing with you ! Although serious grade inflation dates back to at least the late 1980s with the shift from relative marking to absolute marking.
    If that's the case then rather hilariously some people on PB (who no doubt complain about today's generation inflated/worthless grades) would have had their own grades inflated to some degree as well.
    One thing I found disturbing when teaching.

    An A-level Further Maths set in the 2000s would often struggle with O-level questions from the 1980s. Now obviously I picked the harder ones, but still.

    They were okay with their own A-level, but those who looked at the S-level/STEP papers got a fright. Funnily enough they don't seem to have changed in difficulty since the 80s.
    Mr. Ears, I used to have a maths text book aimed at 14 year olds in the 1940s. It contained mathematics which 10 years ago was not even in the A level syllabus never mind GCSE, and I am not talking about how to use a slide-rule (hands-up those who know, without using Google, what a slide-rule is). However, modern GCSE and A level papers contain maths that probably wasn't even discovered seventy years ago, or if it was then it was judged too esoteric for normal people to know about).

    So, whilst I feel for university lecturers having to spend time in year one covering stuff that previous generations of students would have known and been good at, I am not sure a direct comparison of content is any real indicator of relative difficulty of school exam papers..
  • JEOJEO Posts: 3,656
    Pauly said:

    JEO said:

    taffys said:

    I think Corbyn has the same problem as Miliband in that his positions lack clarity and are prone to chopping and changing.

    You have to wonder whether that is deliberate though. In his heart of hearts, Corbyn probably knows the voters won't go for what he really wants to do.

    Same with Milliband.

    Out of all of Corbyn's political views, I actually think arguing OUT would be the least politically toxic. I think Corbyn opting to argue for IN, is due to much of the Labour party faithful, especially the Labour party establishment being quite Pro-EU. Given how his leadership has started, I doubt Corbyn wants to cause more disunity, so the easiest thing is to stay with a Pro-EU position.
    The Leave side should want the unions on their side, but is probably best off avoiding being associated with Corbyn. He'll be so toxic by 2017.
    The dilemma for OUT is to find a figure who isn't politically toxic to lead their cause!
    Daniel Hannan is their man, but he's so far off the radar they'll never choose him...
    No. Dan Hannan appeals to us Tories but not many others. He'll also be demonised as the man that bashed the NHS on Fox News.
  • Miss Cyclefree, quite, but even worse is that Robin Hood wanted low taxation. Calling it a Robin Hood Tax is like having a Casanova Chastity Belt, or a Dalai Lama Flamethrower.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    I really like Dan Hannan, but he's got that surgeon manner - he doesn't come across as warm/fuzzy enough for most. I'd be uncomfortable with him dissecting his opponents so forensically on Daytime TV.
    Pauly said:

    JEO said:

    taffys said:

    I think Corbyn has the same problem as Miliband in that his positions lack clarity and are prone to chopping and changing.

    You have to wonder whether that is deliberate though. In his heart of hearts, Corbyn probably knows the voters won't go for what he really wants to do.

    Same with Milliband.

    Out of all of Corbyn's political views, I actually think arguing OUT would be the least politically toxic. I think Corbyn opting to argue for IN, is due to much of the Labour party faithful, especially the Labour party establishment being quite Pro-EU. Given how his leadership has started, I doubt Corbyn wants to cause more disunity, so the easiest thing is to stay with a Pro-EU position.
    The Leave side should want the unions on their side, but is probably best off avoiding being associated with Corbyn. He'll be so toxic by 2017.
    The dilemma for OUT is to find a figure who isn't politically toxic to lead their cause!
    Daniel Hannan is their man, but he's so far off the radar they'll never choose him...
  • John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503

    Speaking of AAA grades, I got A*AA in my A-Levels, (which came as a huge shock on the day). All of my subjects were essayed based ones. One thing I do hope, is that if any PBers have kids doing GCSEs and A-levels, and they do well, they don't tell their kids on results day to not celebrate because of 'grade inflation'. You can only work with what you got, and for many people I knew GCSES and A-Levels were a stressful time and not easy peasy.

    Grade inflation was one of our forbidden topics while the kids were slogging through their GCSE/A-levels - we didn't see it as particularly helpful ;).

    However, I do wish they'd stuck with relative grading rather than absolute; it would render this particular argument moot.
  • @Pauly Dan Hannan is actually quite a good choice. But he seems to be one of those Tories, like you say who almost seems forgotten by many.

    @JEO I like Kate Hoey, but I can't see her wanting to lead the OUT cause. But maybe she'll surprise us all?

  • taffystaffys Posts: 9,753
    ''Where are the sexy blonde women we were expecting to greet us?''

    There is a strange attitude of self-entitlement to some of these migrants, isn;t there?
  • JEOJEO Posts: 3,656

    Still they can enjoy the warm weather :wink:

    JEO said:

    "Refugees"

    http://tinyurl.com/oottfb5

    Mohammad Khaled is one of the asylum seekers who arrived by bus to Frederiksberg asylum accommodation during the night of Thursday. The asylum seekers had received information that they were on their way to Hedemora, but that did not happen, which busload of asylum seekers are dissatisfied with.

    "When we arrived here, we realized that it is far from civilization, shops, hospitals and schools. We need somewhere to study and have a good life. We came to Sweden because it would be "Freedom Land". We believe they have lied to us" says Mohammad.

    It's the entitlement of it. "We need this, and you can provide it". And this is the entitlement they have right now. Can you imagine what will happen ten, fifteen years down the line?

    A lot of them will get fed of the conformist culture in Sweden and Germany and want to move to a diverse metropolis where people of all ethnic groups carve out their niche. Where could that be?
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @MrHarryCole: Corbyn elected on a promise of “straight talking, honest politics”.

    Spinner's first action was to erase his Twitter: http://t.co/Etn9l9iLaD
  • rcs1000 said:

    Cyclefree said:

    Scott_P said:

    @BBCNormanS: Labour leader @jeremycorbyn tells @FT he backs an EU Transaction Tax on the banks

    It's not a tax on banks. It's a tax on transactions. It's like VAT. Your pension fund buys shares; a tax is levied. That is charged to you, the future pensioner. Everyone who has a pension, which is not paid out of government revenue, will be affected.

    NO! The Robin Hood Tax will raised gazillions from bankers without affecting anyone in the real world at all.

    Don't you know anything?
    Other than the thousand of jobs lost in London's financial industry
  • MP_SEMP_SE Posts: 3,642

    JEO said:

    taffys said:

    I think Corbyn has the same problem as Miliband in that his positions lack clarity and are prone to chopping and changing.

    You have to wonder whether that is deliberate though. In his heart of hearts, Corbyn probably knows the voters won't go for what he really wants to do.

    Same with Milliband.

    Out of all of Corbyn's political views, I actually think arguing OUT would be the least politically toxic. I think Corbyn opting to argue for IN, is due to much of the Labour party faithful, especially the Labour party establishment being quite Pro-EU. Given how his leadership has started, I doubt Corbyn wants to cause more disunity, so the easiest thing is to stay with a Pro-EU position.
    The Leave side should want the unions on their side, but is probably best off avoiding being associated with Corbyn. He'll be so toxic by 2017.
    The dilemma for OUT is to find a figure who isn't politically toxic to lead their cause!
    Jim Mellon, reasonably charasmatic and not a politician.
  • John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503
    MTimT said:

    justin124 said:

    felix said:

    justin124 said:

    John_M said:

    I still can't believe this has really happened, and it's endless - we're on Day 5.

    What I find most incredulous is Corbyn's claim not to have been aware. But no, we're told by supporters he's genuine!

    Genuine asshat
    He did only get 2 Es. He's not the sharpest knife in the draw.
    It has to be said though that 2 Es from the late 1960s would at least be the equivalent of 2 Cs - maybe Bs - in today's terms after allowing for grade inflation.
    That just reminds you how worthless 2C's are nowadays.
    I don't disagree. Also worth remembering that back in the 60s and 70s some 30% of Alevel students failed to get an E. Nowadays over 95 % manage an E or higher.
    Surely, that just shows how much better the education system is today? ;)
    No, it shows the children are smarter. How could they not be, springing from the loins of ubermensch like us?
  • MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034



    Do you get the feeling your animals eat better than you do?

    I've often been tempted to get a formicarium, so I have something to feed the breadcrumbs, plus autumn's crop of dead moths and craneflies, to.

    Our barn cats get an exotic, organic, farm-fresh diet of voles, mice, bats and barn swallows.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,751
    edited September 2015

    Miss Cyclefree, quite, but even worse is that Robin Hood wanted low taxation. Calling it a Robin Hood Tax is like having a Casanova Chastity Belt, or a Dalai Lama Flamethrower.

    Mr Dancer: we can expect more of this nonsense from Mr Murphy who is as clueless and unpleasant as Matt W described so eloquently earlier on the thread.

    Murphy is one who wants the sort of taxation of companies which is completely forbidden by the EU's Single Market. I can guarantee that he will come up with all sorts of superficially attractive but daft proposals, then when it is pointed out that his proposals are illegal under EU law, he will go off and sulk. Rinse and repeat.

    The only thing Murphy is any good at is self-promotion.
  • taffystaffys Posts: 9,753
    Jim Mellon, reasonably charasmatic and not a politician.

    Is David David an outer?

    He always does his best to annoy DC in any way he can.
  • John_M said:

    Speaking of AAA grades, I got A*AA in my A-Levels, (which came as a huge shock on the day). All of my subjects were essayed based ones. One thing I do hope, is that if any PBers have kids doing GCSEs and A-levels, and they do well, they don't tell their kids on results day to not celebrate because of 'grade inflation'. You can only work with what you got, and for many people I knew GCSES and A-Levels were a stressful time and not easy peasy.

    Grade inflation was one of our forbidden topics while the kids were slogging through their GCSE/A-levels - we didn't see it as particularly helpful ;).

    However, I do wish they'd stuck with relative grading rather than absolute; it would render this particular argument moot.
    Yeah. I know if someone had told me while I was stressing about exams 'your grades will be worthless anyway' I'd probably have cried.

    @MyBurningEars I don't see why (3 should happen. I don't think of myself as better than parents for my results - I thank them very much for all the support they gave me! Those results helped my self-esteem immeasurably at the time (which was at rock bottom) and gave me a reason to believe I wasn't a piece of rubbish.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    I agree about entitlement. I expected the migrants to get grumpy around Day 4 of waiting at the various borders, I was wrong - 36hrs max and they're kicking off/breaking fences.

    Not my idea of a guest to welcome in.
    JEO said:

    Still they can enjoy the warm weather :wink:

    JEO said:

    "Refugees"

    http://tinyurl.com/oottfb5

    Mohammad Khaled is one of the asylum seekers who arrived by bus to Frederiksberg asylum accommodation during the night of Thursday. The asylum seekers had received information that they were on their way to Hedemora, but that did not happen, which busload of asylum seekers are dissatisfied with.

    "When we arrived here, we realized that it is far from civilization, shops, hospitals and schools. We need somewhere to study and have a good life. We came to Sweden because it would be "Freedom Land". We believe they have lied to us" says Mohammad.

    It's the entitlement of it. "We need this, and you can provide it". And this is the entitlement they have right now. Can you imagine what will happen ten, fifteen years down the line?

    A lot of them will get fed of the conformist culture in Sweden and Germany and want to move to a diverse metropolis where people of all ethnic groups carve out their niche. Where could that be?
  • Speaking of AAA grades, I got A*AA in my A-Levels, (which came as a huge shock on the day). All of my subjects were essayed based ones. One thing I do hope, is that if any PBers have kids doing GCSEs and A-levels, and they do well, they don't tell their kids on results day to not celebrate because of 'grade inflation'. You can only work with what you got, and for many people I knew GCSES and A-Levels were a stressful time and not easy peasy.

    1) Don't tell them while they're revising, it'll annoy them and if they get in a bad mood they're less likely to revise anyway.
    2) Don't tell them on results day. Whatever results they got, this will make them feel even worse on a day they should hopefully be celebrating.
    3) Later in life, when they're grown up enough to take it, rub it in. Really rub it in. It is very important indeed to stop people being too big for their boots, or thinking that their parents are useless just because they got worse grades 30 years ago.
    The best point for (3) is when they've starting posting to political blogs, I reckon. So, Miss Apocalypse, congrats on your BCC (as adjusted to 1997, the best year to take A-levels in).
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 3,989

    justin124 said:

    Nonsense. Grade inflation started in a serious way under Blair.

    justin124 said:

    John_M said:

    I still can't believe this has really happened, and it's endless - we're on Day 5.

    What I find most incredulous is Corbyn's claim not to have been aware. But no, we're told by supporters he's genuine!

    Genuine asshat
    He did only get 2 Es. He's not the sharpest knife in the draw.
    It has to be said though that 2 Es from the late 1960s would at least be the equivalent of 2 Cs - maybe Bs - in today's terms after allowing for grade inflation.
    I am actually agreeing with you ! Although serious grade inflation dates back to at least the late 1980s with the shift from relative marking to absolute marking.
    If that's the case then rather hilariously some people on PB (who no doubt complain about today's generation inflated/worthless grades) would have had their own grades inflated to some degree as well.
    One thing I found disturbing when teaching.

    An A-level Further Maths set in the 2000s would often struggle with O-level questions from the 1980s. Now obviously I picked the harder ones, but still.

    They were okay with their own A-level, but those who looked at the S-level/STEP papers got a fright. Funnily enough they don't seem to have changed in difficulty since the 80s.
    A major complicating factor is that O level papers I have seen gave a choice of O level questions. My father, who was a good school (and got top grades in his favourite subjects), admits he could never have answered some of the questions.
    I sat O level papers that looked like that, but actually it was making allowance for different syllabuses - no pupils covered all the subject-matter in a paper.
  • @Tissue_Price I can't see Cameron arguing for OUT.

    @MP_SE Who is Jim Mellon?
  • @Tissue_Price I can't see Cameron arguing for OUT.

    Then I doubt OUT will win.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Yowzer - that's a cracking perk
    Lucky Mr Slocombe was lent more than £187,000 to buy a property in Bristol in July 2008: “According to Land Registry documents, almost all of the mortgages levy interest at three-quarters of the Bank’s base rate.

    “This means most of the CWU’s leaders may be paying 0.375% on their mortgages. According to Moneyfacts, the price-comparison website, the typical rate on a two-year fixed mortgage is currently 5.08%.”
    Scott_P said:

    @MrHarryCole: Corbyn elected on a promise of “straight talking, honest politics”.

    Spinner's first action was to erase his Twitter: http://t.co/Etn9l9iLaD

  • RecidivistRecidivist Posts: 4,679
    I have just checked, because I don't remember Blair getting a bounce in the opinion polls. He didn't - Labour were already on an upward trajectory.

    http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/historical-polls/voting-intention-1992-1997

    Interestingly, the only explanation for the Tories' woes in recent years that fits the facts is that they lost their reputation for economic competence due to the ERM debacle, and without that they didn't have much else to sell. It makes you realise why they go on about how bad Labour are at managing the economy so much.

    In fact I think it has now got to the stage that that the Tories have forgotten it is simply a marketing strategy and even believe it themselves - which is a bit frightening.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 56,384
    Pauly said:

    Scott_P said:

    @Jack_Blanchard_: Official - Labour will campaign for Britain to stay in Europe. Jeremy Corbyn just sent this email to every Labour MP: http://t.co/m7oVbjt1Du

    I feel like Corbyn has just backstabbed all of the eurosceptic Labour vote he swept up and just compromised one of his core principles worse than Blair pretending to be left-wing.

    EDIT: Also Chuka Umunna out of the cabinet for no reason now apparently...
    I bet he is gutted. Not.

    Those that must be worried are those that were foolish enough to say yes. They look really stupid right now.
  • Speaking of AAA grades, I got A*AA in my A-Levels, (which came as a huge shock on the day). All of my subjects were essayed based ones. One thing I do hope, is that if any PBers have kids doing GCSEs and A-levels, and they do well, they don't tell their kids on results day to not celebrate because of 'grade inflation'. You can only work with what you got, and for many people I knew GCSES and A-Levels were a stressful time and not easy peasy.

    1) Don't tell them while they're revising, it'll annoy them and if they get in a bad mood they're less likely to revise anyway.
    2) Don't tell them on results day. Whatever results they got, this will make them feel even worse on a day they should hopefully be celebrating.
    3) Later in life, when they're grown up enough to take it, rub it in. Really rub it in. It is very important indeed to stop people being too big for their boots, or thinking that their parents are useless just because they got worse grades 30 years ago.
    The best point for (3) is when they've starting posting to political blogs, I reckon. So, Miss Apocalypse, congrats on your BCC (as adjusted to 1997, the best year to take A-levels in).
    I'll stick with A*AA :)

    What's odd is that all the grade inflation assertions appear to always reference kids going to state, and not private schools.
  • MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034

    Speaking of AAA grades, I got A*AA in my A-Levels, (which came as a huge shock on the day). All of my subjects were essayed based ones. One thing I do hope, is that if any PBers have kids doing GCSEs and A-levels, and they do well, they don't tell their kids on results day to not celebrate because of 'grade inflation'. You can only work with what you got, and for many people I knew GCSES and A-Levels were a stressful time and not easy peasy.

    It would be a rare phenomenon for a parent not to celebrate a kid's good grades, regardless of context. Except my dad. In 1977, I got As in Maths, Chemistry, Physics and Biology, and an E in Advanced Maths (ok, I goofed off most of the classes, aced the pure maths paper but froze on the applied paper, my one and only bad exam ever).

    My father's reaction was "What happened with the E?"
  • taffystaffys Posts: 9,753
    ''I agree about entitlement.'

    Perhaps the entitlement comes from the traffickers who are profiting from this trade.

    Its not as if they are going to say Europe is crap!
  • HurstLlamaHurstLlama Posts: 9,098
    @MyBurningEars

    "Do you get the feeling your animals eat better than you do?"

    Not this evening! He has turned his nose up at North Atlantic Prawns from M&S so instead of Beans on Toast guess what I have got for tea*? He can polish off the Waitrose roast chicken, which to be fair I bought for him (only a fiver - cheaper than cat food).

    * I'm not sure about eating the food the cat didn't want as a concept but on this occasion at least I will put my concerns aside.
  • MP_SEMP_SE Posts: 3,642

    @Tissue_Price I can't see Cameron arguing for OUT.

    @MP_SE Who is Jim Mellon?

    A fund manager/businessman.
  • Mr. T, sounds jarringly bad, as reactions go.
  • watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474
    JEO said:

    Still they can enjoy the warm weather :wink:

    JEO said:

    "Refugees"

    http://tinyurl.com/oottfb5

    Mohammad Khaled is one of the asylum seekers who arrived by bus to Frederiksberg asylum accommodation during the night of Thursday. The asylum seekers had received information that they were on their way to Hedemora, but that did not happen, which busload of asylum seekers are dissatisfied with.

    "When we arrived here, we realized that it is far from civilization, shops, hospitals and schools. We need somewhere to study and have a good life. We came to Sweden because it would be "Freedom Land". We believe they have lied to us" says Mohammad.

    It's the entitlement of it. "We need this, and you can provide it". And this is the entitlement they have right now. Can you imagine what will happen ten, fifteen years down the line?

    Well, the really disillusioned ones might turn on the host.

  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 40,750
    rcs1000 said:

    Cyclefree said:

    Scott_P said:

    @BBCNormanS: Labour leader @jeremycorbyn tells @FT he backs an EU Transaction Tax on the banks

    It's not a tax on banks. It's a tax on transactions. It's like VAT. Your pension fund buys shares; a tax is levied. That is charged to you, the future pensioner. Everyone who has a pension, which is not paid out of government revenue, will be affected.

    NO! The Robin Hood Tax will raised gazillions from bankers without affecting anyone in the real world at all.

    Don't you know anything?
    Free money! It's like People's QE but better as it hits BANKERS!
  • I agree about entitlement. I expected the migrants to get grumpy around Day 4 of waiting at the various borders, I was wrong - 36hrs max and they're kicking off/breaking fences.

    Not my idea of a guest to welcome in.

    JEO said:

    Still they can enjoy the warm weather :wink:

    JEO said:

    "Refugees"

    http://tinyurl.com/oottfb5

    Mohammad Khaled is one of the asylum seekers who arrived by bus to Frederiksberg asylum accommodation during the night of Thursday. The asylum seekers had received information that they were on their way to Hedemora, but that did not happen, which busload of asylum seekers are dissatisfied with.

    "When we arrived here, we realized that it is far from civilization, shops, hospitals and schools. We need somewhere to study and have a good life. We came to Sweden because it would be "Freedom Land". We believe they have lied to us" says Mohammad.

    It's the entitlement of it. "We need this, and you can provide it". And this is the entitlement they have right now. Can you imagine what will happen ten, fifteen years down the line?

    A lot of them will get fed of the conformist culture in Sweden and Germany and want to move to a diverse metropolis where people of all ethnic groups carve out their niche. Where could that be?
    It'll be interesting to see how this pans out next. If Croatia and/or Slovenia block their borders then the options become:

    - Get to the Adriatic and try to get a boat to Italy
    - Go into Romania, go round or through Transylvania, then into Ukraine, then Slovakia or Poland
    - Go back to Greece and claim asylum there.
Sign In or Register to comment.