politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Concern about the EU jumps to 4th in the latest Ipsos-MORI

Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

Speedy said:

Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

O/T
LAPD confirms a knife was found buried at former home of #OJSimpson

What is the statute of limitation for murder in California ?
OJ Simpson is still in jail in Nevada so he can't escape.

CNN saying double jeopardy rules apply. Will prevent a prosecution.

So even if it's proven that he committed the murders no one will be ever able to prosecute him.

LAPD now giving a press conference.

I've seen a few episodes and it's very low quality TV movie stuff.

Isn't he banged up for robbery of his sports memorabilia?

Wonder if any Not Guilty verdict will ever surpass his for WTF?!

FrancisUrquhart said:

Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

O/T
LAPD confirms a knife was found buried at former home of #OJSimpson

Interesting timing given the TV show on at the moment.

Speedy said:

Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

Speedy said:

Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

O/T
LAPD confirms a knife was found buried at former home of #OJSimpson

What is the statute of limitation for murder in California ?
OJ Simpson is still in jail in Nevada so he can't escape.

CNN saying double jeopardy rules apply. Will prevent a prosecution.

So even if it's proven that he committed the murders no one will be ever able to prosecute him.

CNN were saying that even if OJ said 'I did it' a prosecution would not be possible.

Danny565 said:

felix said:

Danny565 said:

flightpath01 said:

Danny565 said:

Meanwhile, the Conservatives continue to demonstrate their supposedly "compassionate" "one nation" credentials.

A friend in the mental health support group I go to, who suffers from diagnosed clinical depression, had serious suicidal feelings six months ago, and on a typical day suffers anxiety serious enough that he often can't even go to the shop down the road, has been declared fit for work and will be denied sickness benefits with immediate effect.

A complete joke

Did Ian Duncan Smith carry out the assessment personally?

Do you think people who have severe depression should be denied benefits?

What are your qualifications to assess suitability for work? Anecdote is always a very cheap and tawdry way to make political points. Maybe you should e-mail to Jeremy for PMQs.

Seeing the person regularly, seeing how his illness prevents him from doing even basic everyday things like going to the shops, knowing from my own experience of depression a few years ago how impossible it would've been for me to work at that time.

There may well be more Tory activists who would like to see people like your friend dead than there are people like your friend. Since the activists won't admit it (in precisely those words, though one of the ones in my locality, now passed on, actually did have the guts to do so in a similar situation) it's hard to tell.

And, of course, there are Trots who want to break the law as well.

***

Edit: for the avoidance of doubt, I agree totally with Plato's comment.

Danny565 said:

felix said:

Danny565 said:

flightpath01 said:

Danny565 said:

Meanwhile, the Conservatives continue to demonstrate their supposedly "compassionate" "one nation" credentials.

A friend in the mental health support group I go to, who suffers from diagnosed clinical depression, had serious suicidal feelings six months ago, and on a typical day suffers anxiety serious enough that he often can't even go to the shop down the road, has been declared fit for work and will be denied sickness benefits with immediate effect.

A complete joke

Did Ian Duncan Smith carry out the assessment personally?

Do you think people who have severe depression should be denied benefits?

What are your qualifications to assess suitability for work? Anecdote is always a very cheap and tawdry way to make political points. Maybe you should e-mail to Jeremy for PMQs.

Seeing the person regularly, seeing how his illness prevents him from doing even basic everyday things like going to the shops, knowing from my own experience of depression a few years ago how impossible it would've been for me to work at that time.

Don't you think it should be a professionally trained person making the determination? You can see how you may be biased.

Speedy said:

Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

Speedy said:

Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

O/T
LAPD confirms a knife was found buried at former home of #OJSimpson

What is the statute of limitation for murder in California ?
OJ Simpson is still in jail in Nevada so he can't escape.

CNN saying double jeopardy rules apply. Will prevent a prosecution.

So even if it's proven that he committed the murders no one will be ever able to prosecute him.

So prosecute him with assault with a deadly weapon, malicious wounding, Murder 2 as a result of diminished responsibility, etc.

Plato_Says said:

An appeal to Atos, supporting documentation from his mental health specialist/diagnosis, GP endorsement and filling in the form correctly with assistance from the local mental health team should be the immediate action.

There's no reason for rejection if the proper evidence is there.

It's nothing to do with Evil Tories since its been in place for years.

Danny565 said:

felix said:

Danny565 said:

flightpath01 said:

Danny565 said:

Meanwhile, the Conservatives continue to demonstrate their supposedly "compassionate" "one nation" credentials.

A friend in the mental health support group I go to, who suffers from diagnosed clinical depression, had serious suicidal feelings six months ago, and on a typical day suffers anxiety serious enough that he often can't even go to the shop down the road, has been declared fit for work and will be denied sickness benefits with immediate effect.

A complete joke

Did Ian Duncan Smith carry out the assessment personally?

Do you think people who have severe depression should be denied benefits?

What are your qualifications to assess suitability for work? Anecdote is always a very cheap and tawdry way to make political points. Maybe you should e-mail to Jeremy for PMQs.

Seeing the person regularly, seeing how his illness prevents him from doing even basic everyday things like going to the shops, knowing from my own experience of depression a few years ago how impossible it would've been for me to work at that time.

Your friend should consider joining: http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

A few pounds a year, but excellent advice, detailed guides on applying for ESA, PIP etc and an online forum of support from other sufferers.

One of the issues with newish ESA/PIP seems to be on the mental health side. It is very hard to obtain the necessary points and it is all about points, at least as far as the application form goes. The work assessment interview is another kettle of fish.

His attempted escape on the freeway was hilarious. Made Bronco a famous name.

https://youtu.be/HcyyCi2b2AY

Charles said:

Speedy said:

Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

Speedy said:

Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

O/T
LAPD confirms a knife was found buried at former home of #OJSimpson

What is the statute of limitation for murder in California ?
OJ Simpson is still in jail in Nevada so he can't escape.

CNN saying double jeopardy rules apply. Will prevent a prosecution.

So even if it's proven that he committed the murders no one will be ever able to prosecute him.

So prosecute him with assault with a deadly weapon, malicious wounding, Murder 2 as a result of diminished responsibility, etc.

RobD said:

Speedy said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

This knife wasn't just found, it was found years ago. Construction worker handed it in....

http://www.tmz.com/2016/03/04/oj-simpson-knife-found-murders-nicole-brown/

Probably in 1998.

It's amazing how a gossip site has so many details that the police press conference is trying to suppress for investigative reasons.
The big reason why OJ Simpson was not convicted was because the media frenzy undermined the investigation and the prosecution, including a key witness being unable to testify in the trial because he sold his story to the press.

What was the cop thinking of when he decided to keep it?

A little keepsake

Pulpstar said:

RobD said:

Speedy said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

This knife wasn't just found, it was found years ago. Construction worker handed it in....

http://www.tmz.com/2016/03/04/oj-simpson-knife-found-murders-nicole-brown/

Probably in 1998.

It's amazing how a gossip site has so many details that the police press conference is trying to suppress for investigative reasons.
The big reason why OJ Simpson was not convicted was because the media frenzy undermined the investigation and the prosecution, including a key witness being unable to testify in the trial because he sold his story to the press.

What was the cop thinking of when he decided to keep it?

A little keepsake

Utterly gobsmacked. And they knew of its significance since they asked for the case number to engrave on its frame (another WTF).

Danny, has your friend tried CBT?? It has worked wonders for a couple of my friends with anxiety.

rottenborough said:

Plato_Says said:

An appeal to Atos, supporting documentation from his mental health specialist/diagnosis, GP endorsement and filling in the form correctly with assistance from the local mental health team should be the immediate action.

There's no reason for rejection if the proper evidence is there.

It's nothing to do with Evil Tories since its been in place for years.

Danny565 said:

felix said:

Danny565 said:

flightpath01 said:

Danny565 said:

Meanwhile, the Conservatives continue to demonstrate their supposedly "compassionate" "one nation" credentials.

A friend in the mental health support group I go to, who suffers from diagnosed clinical depression, had serious suicidal feelings six months ago, and on a typical day suffers anxiety serious enough that he often can't even go to the shop down the road, has been declared fit for work and will be denied sickness benefits with immediate effect.

A complete joke

Did Ian Duncan Smith carry out the assessment personally?

Do you think people who have severe depression should be denied benefits?

What are your qualifications to assess suitability for work? Anecdote is always a very cheap and tawdry way to make political points. Maybe you should e-mail to Jeremy for PMQs.

Seeing the person regularly, seeing how his illness prevents him from doing even basic everyday things like going to the shops, knowing from my own experience of depression a few years ago how impossible it would've been for me to work at that time.

Your friend should consider joining: http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

A few pounds a year, but excellent advice, detailed guides on applying for ESA, PIP etc and an online forum of support from other sufferers.

One of the issues with newish ESA/PIP seems to be on the mental health side. It is very hard to obtain the necessary points and it is all about points, at least as far as the application form goes. The work assessment interview is another kettle of fish.

There can never be objective fairness in the whole DWP area - when Lloyd George introduced the Old Age Pension, did he get the qualifying age right? How could he tell? Imagine a poll which showed that a majority of electors disapproved of benefits to the mentally ill. What would you expect the SoS of the day to do with it?

RobD said:

Speedy said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

This knife wasn't just found, it was found years ago. Construction worker handed it in....

http://www.tmz.com/2016/03/04/oj-simpson-knife-found-murders-nicole-brown/

Probably in 1998.

It's amazing how a gossip site has so many details that the police press conference is trying to suppress for investigative reasons.
The big reason why OJ Simpson was not convicted was because the media frenzy undermined the investigation and the prosecution, including a key witness being unable to testify in the trial because he sold his story to the press.

What was the cop thinking of when he decided to keep it?

The police spokesman in the press conference said that he thought that the case was closed.

On topic, 23% of people this week named the EU referendum as one of the things they remembered from the news. You feel for those people who notice it in the news but who don't think that it's important. It would be interesting to see these mapped onto a Venn diagram.

Danny565 said:

chestnut said:

Presumably, he was assessed by a trained doctor rather than a politician?

Nope - DWP civil servants and their "assessors", under central targets to reduce the numbers of benefit claimants by any means necessary, overruled the judgement of his GP and counsellor.

It is a general misconception that doctors are involved in ESA/PIP processes. The first stage is, as you say, assessment of a paper form by DWP and their assessors (who pretty much follow a points scoring system and a computer programme). However, to even get to that point your GP needs to have signed you off sick.

Even the work capability assessment is carried out by medically-related people such as nurses and physiotherapists. There are few medical doctors involved and few would be prepared to do this kind of work to be honest.

Innocent_Abroad said:

rottenborough said:

Plato_Says said:

An appeal to Atos, supporting documentation from his mental health specialist/diagnosis, GP endorsement and filling in the form correctly with assistance from the local mental health team should be the immediate action.

There's no reason for rejection if the proper evidence is there.

It's nothing to do with Evil Tories since its been in place for years.

Danny565 said:

felix said:

Danny565 said:

flightpath01 said:

Danny565 said:

Meanwhile, the Conservatives continue to demonstrate their supposedly "compassionate" "one nation" credentials.

A friend in the mental health support group I go to, who suffers from diagnosed clinical depression, had serious suicidal feelings six months ago, and on a typical day suffers anxiety serious enough that he often can't even go to the shop down the road, has been declared fit for work and will be denied sickness benefits with immediate effect.

A complete joke

Did Ian Duncan Smith carry out the assessment personally?

Do you think people who have severe depression should be denied benefits?

What are your qualifications to assess suitability for work? Anecdote is always a very cheap and tawdry way to make political points. Maybe you should e-mail to Jeremy for PMQs.

Seeing the person regularly, seeing how his illness prevents him from doing even basic everyday things like going to the shops, knowing from my own experience of depression a few years ago how impossible it would've been for me to work at that time.

Your friend should consider joining: http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

A few pounds a year, but excellent advice, detailed guides on applying for ESA, PIP etc and an online forum of support from other sufferers.

One of the issues with newish ESA/PIP seems to be on the mental health side. It is very hard to obtain the necessary points and it is all about points, at least as far as the application form goes. The work assessment interview is another kettle of fish.

There can never be objective fairness in the whole DWP area - when Lloyd George introduced the Old Age Pension, did he get the qualifying age right? How could he tell? Imagine a poll which showed that a majority of electors disapproved of benefits to the mentally ill. What would you expect the SoS of the day to do with it?

My issue with all this is at least two things. Firstly, in so many cases it appears the DWP overrule the views of the person's own GP, who signed them off sick from work in the first place and knows the case. Secondly, physical stuff is taken more seriously than mental health issues.

rottenborough said:

Innocent_Abroad said:

rottenborough said:

Plato_Says said:

An appeal to Atos, supporting documentation from his mental health specialist/diagnosis, GP endorsement and filling in the form correctly with assistance from the local mental health team should be the immediate action.

There's no reason for rejection if the proper evidence is there.

It's nothing to do with Evil Tories since its been in place for years.

Danny565 said:

felix said:

Danny565 said:

flightpath01 said:

Danny565 said:

Meanwhile, the Conservatives continue to demonstrate their supposedly "compassionate" "one nation" credentials.

A friend in the mental health support group I go to, who suffers from diagnosed clinical depression, had serious suicidal feelings six months ago, and on road, has been declared fit for work and will be denied sickness benefits with immediate effect.

A complete joke

Did Ian Duncan Smith carry out the assessment personally?

Do you think people who have severe depression should be denied benefits?

What are your qualifications to assess suitability for work? Anecdote is always a very cheap and tawdry way to make political points. Maybe you should e-mail to Jeremy for PMQs.

Your friend should consider joining: http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

A few pounds a year, but excellent advice, detailed guides on applying for ESA, PIP etc and an online forum of support from other sufferers.

. The work assessment interview is another kettle of fish.

There can never be objective fairness in the whole DWP area - when Lloyd George introduced the Old Age Pension, did he get the qualifying age right? How could he tell? Imagine a poll which showed that a majority of electors disapproved of benefits to the mentally ill. What would you expect the SoS of the day to do with it?

My issue with all this is at least two things. Firstly, in so many cases it appears the DWP overrule the views of the person's own GP, who signed them off sick from work in the first place and knows the case. Secondly, physical stuff is taken more seriously than mental health issues.

There will no doubt be cases where a GP does what makes for a quiet life, not what is right. (Think approaching retirement, emigration etc etc) The DWP is quite right to make an assessment in principle - the particular rule book of the day may be wrong, of course.

On the second point, the DWP is behaving as the people at large would wish it to. It's an education issue - I don't know of any politician who would disagree.

CNN
Spain has seized 20,000 ISIS and al-Nusra uniforms "able to equip an army" https://t.co/5nyiD8lCpi https://t.co/eETqykuRkZ

Speedy said:

Plato_Says said:

His attempted escape on the freeway was hilarious. Made Bronco a famous name.

https://youtu.be/HcyyCi2b2AY

Charles said:

Speedy said:

Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

Speedy said:

Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

O/T
LAPD confirms a knife was found buried at former home of #OJSimpson

What is the statute of limitation for murder in California ?
OJ Simpson is still in jail in Nevada so he can't escape.

CNN saying double jeopardy rules apply. Will prevent a prosecution.

So even if it's proven that he committed the murders no one will be ever able to prosecute him.

So prosecute him with assault with a deadly weapon, malicious wounding, Murder 2 as a result of diminished responsibility, etc.

There was plenty of evidence and witnesses that proved that he did it, including his attempt to escape and attempted suicide to escape arrest, including a prior attempt to murder his ex.

The case is a testament of how the media can mess up the conviction of a criminal, including the racial element of the jurors.

If the glove don't fit you can't convict.
If he was so obviously guilty why did the trial take an eternity and the verdict delivered in an instant?
He may have done it. But the LAPD and the DA made a total fist of it. Not to mention the crime scene investigators.

felix said:

Danny565 said:

felix said:

Danny565 said:

felix said:

Danny565 said:

flightpath01 said:

Danny565 said:

Meanwhile, the Conservatives continue to demonstrate their supposedly "compassionate" "one nation" credentials.

A friend in the mental health support group I go to, who suffers from diagnosed clinical depression, had serious fits with immediate effect.

A complete joke

Did Ian Duncan Smith carry out the assessment personally?

Do you think people who have severe depression should be denied benefits?

What are your qualifications to assess suitability for work? Anecdote is always a very cheap and tawdry way to make political points. Maybe you should e-mail to Jeremy for PMQs.

it would've been for me to work at that time.

In other words none - except your own bias which you fail to recognize. Surely the sensible thing if you are concerned would be to encourage him to appeal instead of fixating about evil Tories.

I am only "biased" in the same way that a business-owner would be "biased" when talking about what makes a successful business, an author would be "biased" when talking about books, a musician would be "biased" when talking about music. Is it not a statement of the obvious that people who have had a certain condition, will have more knowledge of the limitations of such a condition than most people?

For what it's worth, he is appealing, though what he's supposed to do for money in the meantime is anyone's guess.

Surely mental illness is quite complex and varied. You started from a premise of criticizing the 'compassionate conservatives´ - displaying your bias from the start. You only mentioned the appeal process as an afterthought. I'm afraid it is difficult to take the rest seriously after that.

Danny has always been one of the most independent thinkers on here, often deviating from party line or left wing ideology. Its almost certain that a good friend of someone with mental illness would know what they are capable better than any professional seeing them for a few half hour visits.

We also know there was a study by a university that showed these private providers, who are incentivised to turn people down, often get it wrong. Why do conservatives who always say the state is useless have complete faith in the states system to be accurate in these assessments??

"ICameron says this is "classic Labour - dock people's pay, hand some of it back to them and ask them to thank you for it".

He conclude: "Let us drape ourselves in the red white and saltire blue". "

This is quoted in The Telegraph - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/eureferendum/12182988/Lord-Tebbit-Cameron-should-step-down-if-Britain-votes-to-leave-EU.html

Has Cameron actually asked the Scots to drape themselves in the "Red, White and Saltire Blue?

If so why can't the English drape themselves in the Union Flag - or the flag of St George - Instead of the Blue and gold of the EU?

And what is different from what he accuses Labour of Doing and what the EU are doing?

He is bonkers to make such a statement it will be thrown back at him with vengeance.

TGOHF said:

Norman is storming

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/eureferendum/12182988/Lord-Tebbit-Cameron-should-step-down-if-Britain-votes-to-leave-EU.html

I don't believe that Cameron was at Murrayfield in 1990. He gets more and more like Tony " wor Jackie " Blair by the hour.

rottenborough said:

Danny565 said:

chestnut said:

Danny565 said:

chestnut said:

Danny565 said:

chestnut said:

Presumably, he was assessed by a trained doctor rather than a politician?

Nope - DWP civil servants and their "assessors", under central targets to reduce the numbers of benefit claimants by any means necessary, overruled the judgement of his GP and counsellor.

The DWP 'assessors' work on the basis of the scores of medical reports, don't they?

Yes, but very often a skewed interpretation of what the medical reports say

The fact that he is occasionally capable of going to the shops was interpreted in the DWP's reasoning as "you are capable of leaving the house, therefore you are capable of leaving the house for employment". The fact he is capable of showering and dressing most (though not every) days was interpreted as "you are capable of maintaining a daily routine, therefore you can do the things required in employment". The fact he could attend GP appointments, the asseessment with the DWP, and our support group sessions, was interpreted as "you are capable of socialising with people, therefore you will be capable of socialising with people in employment".

Has he been placed in the Support Group or the Work Related Activity one?

He was in the Support Group previously, but has now been told he's not eligible for either the Support Group or the Work Related Activity group, and would have to apply for standard Jobseekers Allowance (and the consequent requirements to seek work) in order to get any money.

**

@rottenborough thanks for that site, it looks like it has some really useful info - I'll pass it on.

Blimey. I've not heard of that before. I thought you were moved from Support Group to Work-related, not straight to JSA, if they saw fit. Definitely worth checking that one with Citizens Advice or someone.

Nope you can go straight from Support Group to fit for work. The initial appeal is a reconsideration by DWP staff, if that is unsuccessful you can appeal to the Courts and Tribunal Service and go back on ESA but only at the lower assessment level.

Plato_Says said:

Golly - video

Anti migrant protesters in Slovenia chant "Donald Trump, Donald Trump!" @MELANIATRUMP https://t.co/bM6fAp9On7 via @_AltRight_

Donald's wife is, of course, Slovenian

rcs1000 said:

Plato_Says said:

Golly - video

Anti migrant protesters in Slovenia chant "Donald Trump, Donald Trump!" @MELANIATRUMP https://t.co/bM6fAp9On7 via @_AltRight_

Donald's wife is, of course, Slovenian

Slovene.

FrancisUrquhart said:

And today's asylum seeker violent crime report...

A 19-year-old migrant has died after being stabbed in the throat during a brawl at a Swedish refugee hostel.

Police say they are still investigating the motive for the killing but have arrested three suspects, all of whom are also asylum seekers.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3476665/Three-migrants-arrested-asylum-seeker-19-killed-stabbed-throat-brawl-refugee-centre-Sweden.html

Fight at refugee hostel results in refugees as prime suspects shock. Good to see the Swedish po!ice are on the ball.

Louisiana poll — Trafalgar Group

Trump 44
Cruz 26
Rubio 15
Carson 6
Kasich 5

https://t.co/kR3GMzlTuR

Speedy said:

Also a poll from Kansas without Carson, pre debate though:

Trump 35
Cruz 29
Rubio 17
Kasich 13

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4lhKxf9pMitZjBsU0tIVEY2ZGM/view?pref=2&pli=1

Cruz is going to win Kansas it seems.

Kansa is a caucus, right? So, very unpredictable.

Richard_Nabavi said:

Speedy said:

Also a poll from Kansas without Carson, pre debate though:

Trump 35
Cruz 29
Rubio 17
Kasich 13

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4lhKxf9pMitZjBsU0tIVEY2ZGM/view?pref=2&pli=1

Cruz is going to win Kansas it seems.

Kansa is a caucus, right? So, very unpredictable.

And only registered republicans are allowed in, no independents.
So if Cruz is only 6 points behind he is going to win it.

AlastairMeeks said:

Evening all. Have I missed any excitement?

I see that Boris Johnson has earned the disdain of Simon Heffer:

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2016/03/even-boris-s-senior-colleagues-dread-tory-activists-handing-him-keys-downing

Simon Heffer has a past with Boris. He worked for Boris when Boris edited the Spectator. Boris took all the heat for the infamous Spectator article about Liverpool.

In October 2004 Michael Howard ordered Johnson to go to Liverpool and issue a public apology for an article anonymously authored by Simon Heffer that Johnson had published in The Spectator; in the article, Heffer had claimed that the crowds at the Hillsborough disaster had contributed towards the incident and that Liverpool had an excessive predilection for reliance on the welfare state.

anothernick said:

felix said:

AlastairMeeks said:

Evening all. Have I missed any excitement?

I see that Boris Johnson has earned the disdain of Simon Heffer:

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2016/03/even-boris-s-senior-colleagues-dread-tory-activists-handing-him-keys-downing

To be fair that raises Boris in my estimation.

He didn't do himself any favours by his narcissistic prevarication over the EU ref. He made it obvious that he took the side that he genuinely believes is the best one for him personally. Most of his opponents took the side they genuinely believe is the best one for the country.

Agree, I was a Boris fan, but not any more. As for Tebbit and IDS, they are yesterdays men. Edit,actually last century men.

Someone has just bet £10k on POTUS Donald @ 5.2

Pong said:

Someone has just bet £10k on POTUS Donald @ 5.2

I don't know yet the impact of the debate on the polls, but it was an embarrassing affair for those involved.

On other news the man who publicly declared that he is fasting for Ted Cruz announces that he will assassinate Donald Trump:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/03/glenn-beck-stabbing-donald-trump-220268#ixzz41xfoy4x4

Glenn Beck is not an ordinary cuckoo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mItj4bA9Rn4

TCPoliticalBetting said:

AlastairMeeks said:

Evening all. Have I missed any excitement?

I see that Boris Johnson has earned the disdain of Simon Heffer:

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2016/03/even-boris-s-senior-colleagues-dread-tory-activists-handing-him-keys-downing

Simon Heffer has a past with Boris. He worked for Boris when Boris edited the Spectator. Boris took all the heat for the infamous Spectator article about Liverpool.

In October 2004 Michael Howard ordered Johnson to go to Liverpool and issue a public apology for an article anonymously authored by Simon Heffer that Johnson had published in The Spectator; in the article, Heffer had claimed that the crowds at the Hillsborough disaster had contributed towards the incident and that Liverpool had an excessive predilection for reliance on the welfare state.

I didn't know that. I knew about the liverpool article but did not know Heffer wrote it.
It's a funny world where people like Heffer can earn a living spouting the shite they do.

felix said:

NorfolkTilIDie said:

felix said:

Danny565 said:

felix said:

Danny565 said:

felix said:

Danny565 said:

flightpath01 said:

Danny565 said:

Meanwhile, the Conservatives continue to demonstrate their supposedly "compassionate" "one nation" credentials.

A friend in the mental health support group I go to, who suffers from diagnosed clinical depression, had serious fits with immediate effect.

A complete joke

Did Ian Duncan Smith carry out the assessment personally?

Do you think people who have severe depression should be denied benefits?

What are your qualifications to assess suitability for work? Anecdote is always a very cheap and tawdry way to make political points. Maybe you should e-mail to Jeremy for PMQs.

it would've been for me to work at that time.

In other words none - except your own bias which you fail to recognize. Surely the sensible thing if you are concerned would be to encourage him to appeal instead of fixating about evil Tories.

I am only "biased" in the same way that a business-owner would be "biased" when talking about what makes a successful business, an author would be "biased" when talking about books, a musician would be "biased" when talking about music. Is it not a statement of the obvious that people who have had a certain condition, will have more knowledge of the limitations of such a condition than most people?

For what it's worth, he is appealing, though what he's supposed to do for money in the meantime is anyone's guess.

Surely mental illness is quite complex and varied. You started from a premise of criticizing the 'compassionate conservatives´ - displaying your bias from the start. You only mentioned the appeal process as an afterthought. I'm afraid it is difficult to take the rest seriously after that.

Danny has always been one of the most independent thinkers on here, often deviating from party line or left wing ideology. Its almost certain that a good friend of someone with mental illness would know what they are capable better than any professional seeing them for a few half hour visits.

We also know there was a study by a university that showed these private providers, who are incentivised to turn people down, often get it wrong. Why do conservatives who always say the state is useless have complete faith in the states system to be accurate in these assessments??

On that basis we presumably need 12 rapists on a rape trial jury to 'assess' innocence or guilt.

What's important in a trial of course is the evidence.

@JeremyCliffe: Remarkable brinksmanship in Madrid tonight. Podemos has just vetoed a social democrat-liberal coalition. Means new elections, prob in June.

Charles said:

taffys said:

Is there any knock on effect lower down the chain, Mr Charles?

Flats yes, houses to a less extent.

But, to be honest, we've tended to focus more on the prime/super-prime (but not oligarch-led) segment of the market than lower so my insight is more limited

If you want insight to the shitty end of the spectrum, may I offer my humble self.

For the past four months, the housing market has been royally fucked by Osborne's announcement of BTL stamp duty changes in the Autumn statement. Instead of "with immediate effect" he said they will take place "on April 1st". As a result every BTL landlord with two pennies piled in and drove prices up like crazy: flats that went for £150K in mid 2014 are now on at £190K, houses at £150K in early 2015 now at £210K. January and Feb was proper squitty bum time: I saw one house go on the market at 10am and was sold by 6pm at 7K over asking price. Yikes.

Problem is, that door swings both ways. It's now March 4th and the odds on completing a sale by April 1st are pretty low.If you fill out all your forms in time a good lawyer can complete in 21 days (auctions usually complete in 28) but that is rare. So wheras BTL landlords piled in in November, they are now piling out with the same alacrity, causing quite a few reductions. It won't reverse the boom - sellers drop slower than buyers rise - but it is a correction.

Easter is March 27th this year and bonuses will be in April paypackets, so I expect normal service to resume in April (unless we Brexit). But between now and then you can pick up some bargains.

TCPoliticalBetting said:

AlastairMeeks said:

Evening all. Have I missed any excitement?

I see that Boris Johnson has earned the disdain of Simon Heffer:

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2016/03/even-boris-s-senior-colleagues-dread-tory-activists-handing-him-keys-downing

Simon Heffer has a past with Boris. He worked for Boris when Boris edited the Spectator. Boris took all the heat for the infamous Spectator article about Liverpool.

In October 2004 Michael Howard ordered Johnson to go to Liverpool and issue a public apology for an article anonymously authored by Simon Heffer that Johnson had published in The Spectator; in the article, Heffer had claimed that the crowds at the Hillsborough disaster had contributed towards the incident and that Liverpool had an excessive predilection for reliance on the welfare state.

Did they not contribute to it? I don't see how they couldn't have.

MonikerDiCanio said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Scott_P said:

@PickardJE: Exclusive: Head of British Chambers suspended after backing Brexit against wishes of members https://t.co/sCFoDLL5Zp

I was very surprised he was so strident and not surprised he has been suspended, not least if 60% of your members have an opposite view he should be super diplomatic

So Cameron should be suspended for going against the wishes of the majority of conservative members.

He is prime minister of the entire nation. You do not seem to have grasped the nature of this government thingy.

flightpath01 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

TCPoliticalBetting said:

AlastairMeeks said:

Evening all. Have I missed any excitement?

I see that Boris Johnson has earned the disdain of Simon Heffer:

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2016/03/even-boris-s-senior-colleagues-dread-tory-activists-handing-him-keys-downing

Simon Heffer has a past with Boris. He worked for Boris when Boris edited the Spectator. Boris took all the heat for the infamous Spectator article about Liverpool.

In October 2004 Michael Howard ordered Johnson to go to Liverpool and issue a public apology for an article anonymously authored by Simon Heffer that Johnson had published in The Spectator; in the article, Heffer had claimed that the crowds at the Hillsborough disaster had contributed towards the incident and that Liverpool had an excessive predilection for reliance on the welfare state.

Did they not contribute to it? I don't see how they couldn't have.

Not sure you should have said that.

Why?

Sean_F said:

Scott_P said:

@PickardJE: Exclusive: Head of British Chambers suspended after backing Brexit against wishes of members https://t.co/sCFoDLL5Zp

We clearly can't allow people to express their own opinions.

Yes. It should be a job for life with no performance criteria...

Sean_F said:

Scott_P said:

@PickardJE: Exclusive: Head of British Chambers suspended after backing Brexit against wishes of members https://t.co/sCFoDLL5Zp

We clearly can't allow people to express their own opinions.

Of course he can express a personal opinion but not in his capacity as head of the BCC

Luckyguy1983 said:

flightpath01 said:

MonikerDiCanio said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Scott_P said:

@PickardJE: Exclusive: Head of British Chambers suspended after backing Brexit against wishes of members https://t.co/sCFoDLL5Zp

I was very surprised he was so strident and not surprised he has been suspended, not least if 60% of your members have an opposite view he should be super diplomatic

So Cameron should be suspended for going against the wishes of the majority of conservative members.

He is prime minister of the entire nation. You do not seem to have grasped the nature of this government thingy.

And the Head of the Chambers of Commerce is there to serve the best interests of British business.

As required by 60% of the membership

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

flightpath01 said:

MonikerDiCanio said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Scott_P said:

@PickardJE: Exclusive: Head of British Chambers suspended after backing Brexit against wishes of members https://t.co/sCFoDLL5Zp

I was very surprised he was so strident and not surprised he has been suspended, not least if 60% of your members have an opposite view he should be super diplomatic

So Cameron should be suspended for going against the wishes of the majority of conservative members.

He is prime minister of the entire nation. You do not seem to have grasped the nature of this government thingy.

And the Head of the Chambers of Commerce is there to serve the best interests of British business.

As required by 60% of the membership

Cobblers. He made a speech where he told the truth. He made the speech as no-one but himself. Are you suggesting he should have misrepresented his own assessment? What a very odd view.

'A BCC spokesperson confirmed the group's neutral stance to City A.M. today, saying: "The BCC will not be campaigning for either side ahead of the EU referendum. The BCC will survey chamber member companies across the UK, report their diverse views, and inform the debate.

"The BCC’s director general has been very clear where his remarks reflect his personal assessment, rather than the position of the BCC," the spokesperson added'
http://www.cityam.com/235844/eu-referendum-british-chambers-of-commerce-bcc-john-longworth-says-in-out-vote-offers-a-choice-between-the-devil-and-the-deep-blue-sea