FlyTheNest

Eric_WLothian

May and Davis to travel to Brussels for urgent Brexit talks I hope they're not travelling to Brussels to talk to one another. After all, Theresa May went all the way to Florence to speak to British journalists. They must be expecting to be there for a while - NonOxCol just linked to a picture of th...

Eric_WLothian

Letter in the Indy: No Prime Minister is better than this Prime Minister The Eccentric Party propose that Britain adopts a radical new plan of replacing Theresa May with nobody at all and leaving the post permanently vacant. As plotting against the Prime Minister gathers strength, the country has la...

Eric_WLothian

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/statement-on-al-hijrah-school-judgement Government response Statement on Al-Hijrah school judgement Odd one that - where does it leave single sex schools I wonder? Yeah I thought that. Haven't seen the judges reasoning so wonder what the exact grounds for the ruli...

Eric_WLothian

HindleA wrote:Reminds me of an action man I had and you pulled a cord and got about six possible "responses"

I got an empty box for Christmas - Dad said it was an action man deserter.

(The old jokes are the best jokes).

Eric_WLothian

But... Tories aim to block full EU ban on bee-harming pesticides https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/22/tories-aim-block-full-eu-ban-bee-harming-pesticides" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; That's not going to help funding the arts in Edinburgh. How can I adopt o...

Eric_WLothian

More seriously, mass agriculture and the CAP hasn't been one of the EU's crowning glories has it? So there may be a little bit of truth hiding in Gove's monumental hypocrisy.... True - but we no longer have wine lakes and butter mountains (as far as I know) so I guess some progress has been made ov...

Eric_WLothian

I wish I had the insight of the Tories: The EU is to blame for the deaths of fish, birds, the honey bee, “small mammals” and even weekly bin collections, Michael Gove has claimed. The anti-Brussels Environment Secretary tore into the EU’s record on green issues as he insisted withdrawal would allow ...

Eric_WLothian

Here's a review from last year:- https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/nov/02/what-shadows-review-ian-mcdiarmid-enoch-powell" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Yes - It was the Birmingham Rep production but it was a different cast (apart from Ian Mcdiarmid) in Edinburgh. I ca...

Eric_WLothian

Saw a play last week ("What Shadows") about Enoch Powell and his "Rivers of Blood" Speech. The similarities between Powell and Johnson (attitudes and classical education) were staggering. The main difference - Powell lost his shadow cabinet job, Johnson is still peddling his prej...

Eric_WLothian

HindleA wrote:Hi Eric

Hi. (Been lurking on and off due to other distractions - Edinburgh Festivals, holidays, family birthdays etc).

Eric_WLothian

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41082916 Kezia Dugdale quits as Scottish Labour leader Yes just saw that. Any reason? It could for once genuinely be personal reasons. Hope so :-) Some speculation here: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/aug/29/kezia-dugdale-resigns-as...

Eric_WLothian

My experience in this area is a bit earlier than yours, I think. Although there were a few computer systems in jails, they were fairly primitive and usually unofficial. I'm sure the works officers had to account for their time and materials used, but at that time, most of those systems were paper b...

Eric_WLothian

I spent a miserable fortnight standing at the foot of a ladder in the rain out front on the road whilst people worked on the roof of the gatehouse. I used to live near Armley prison in Leeds and during some work saw exactly what you describe. Thoroughly miserable looking prison staff standing at th...

Eric_WLothian

Tap-in moment as something I actually know about falls into my lap. I worked as Operational Support Grade (OSG) in the Prison Service for my local jail's works department just before the turn of the century. It was a victorian jail and they had a governor grade in charge, two 'senior trades officer...

Eric_WLothian

I'm unhappy with my posts. I'm not denigrating the work of departmental commercial experts. If government requires commercial capability, departmental commercial experts are necessary staff. It's sometimes known as the 'intelligent customer'. If you know as much as the contractor, they can't pull t...

Eric_WLothian

That sounds very odd. There's not enough work in a prison to keep someone on site? There might be, in the bigger establishments - but this would generally not be in the interest of the contractor. An on-site person might be tempted to do work which was not specified in the contract. (And they would...

Eric_WLothian

What exactly is commercial capability and why does government require it, please? What are departmental commercial experts? What's the job description? Somebody who knows enough about the work to be outsourced, and how much it might reasonably cost, in order to prevent the contractor ripping the de...

Eric_WLothian

Outsourcing problems at the Ministry of Justice https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/blog/outsourcing-problems-prisons Anyone in the least bit surprised? About time this ideological fetish with outsourcing came to an end. I doubt it will though. How many people does it take to change a light b...

Eric_WLothian

AnatolyKasparov wrote:RIP Hywel Bennett.

...and Robert Hardy

Eric_WLothian

HindleA wrote:Lawnmowing turtle for sale.

Willing to emigrate?

http://www.scotsman.com/news/easyjet-ap ... -1-4519700" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Eric_WLothian

Giant, smelly ‘corpse flower’ blooms in Edinburgh

http://www.scotsman.com/news/giant-smel ... -1-4519741" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There's a whole host of political jokes and cartoons in there somewhere.

Eric_WLothian

Ms Davidson posted pictures of her visit to the farm in the middle of Edinburgh on twitter. They included a picture of her running through a field with her arms outstretched. “Great to visit @GorgieCityFarm in my constituency with the @ScotsTories team,” she tweeted, then added: “I was encouraged t...

Eric_WLothian

Tarquin in a strop again because of non-inclusion of household for eligibility to vote purposes.I have this every year.Even "sharing" any vote and involving him in the process doesn't really placate him.I can only offer shared disdain at the blatant discrimination and denial of rights. Wa...

Eric_WLothian

[quote="adam] I have had a electricity back up machine delivered to me - the kind of thing you plug in to your terribly important device so that if there's a power cut there is no interruption to your electricity supply - that I had never even heard of before today and that I certainly didn't ...

Eric_WLothian

PaulfromYorkshire wrote:
PorFavor wrote:Good morfternoon.
Hi - I reckon Eric needs some technical assistance

Fixed it - eventually - at the expense of a few levels of nesting.

Eric_WLothian

This is an exaggeration, of course, but leasehold is just a more obvious vestige of the serfdom and feudalism which still technically thoroughly underpins UK property law. Get involved in a dispute over your land and you'll probably find that at best you are 'A tenant of the freehold interest'. The...

Eric_WLothian

The pensions minister is facing criticism after suggesting that millions of women in their 60s who are facing cuts to their state pension could take up apprenticeships as a route to re-employment. https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/jul/05/women-hit-by-pension-age-change-can-take-up-apprenticesh...

Eric_WLothian

Full disclosure could...address the key issue of assessing how the duchy profits correspond to the actual needs of the Queen’s household. This was one of the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee report which scrutinised duchy revenues in 2005. In a damning phrase, it argued that the inc...

Eric_WLothian

Farage now on 'This Week'.

He must qualify for a BBC pension.

Eric_WLothian

Faisal Islam‏Verified account @faisalislam FMs Nicola Sturgeon & Carwyn Jones issue a joint statement saying they will refuse legislative consent to the the Repeal Bill, as it stands https://twitter.com/faisalislam/status/885469982972403712" onclick="window.open(this.href);return fals...

Eric_WLothian

Looks like some interesting times ahead - all of a sudden many people are going to claim to have known all about Euratom... Nick Boles MP‏Verified account @NickBoles Jul 9 More Compelling argument about Euratom by @edvaizey and @RachelReevesMP. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/08/must-save-v...

Eric_WLothian

Interesting article on the Grenfell inquiry from George Monbiot: The Grenfell inquiry will be a stitch-up. Here’s why ...Let me give you an example. On the morning of 14 June, as the tower blazed, an organisation called the Red Tape Initiative convened for its prearranged discussion about building r...

Eric_WLothian

PorFavor wrote:Out of a field of one, Vince Cable has overcome all the odds and is the favourite to win.

As somebody on HIGNFY said:
If Vince Cable becomes leader of the LibDems at the age of 74, at the next election he will be... 74.

Eric_WLothian

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40418266 Why do England's high-rises keep failing fire tests Scotland learned a lesson (to coin a phrase) in 1999. Unfortunately, it appears that the lesson wasn't necessarily learned elsewhere. In Scotland, a change to building regulations in 2005 made it mandatory for...

Eric_WLothian

Children must be taught British values at school to develop resilience against terror, says Ofsted chief 'Recent attacks in Westminster, London Bridge, Manchester and Finsbury Park have brought into stark relief the threats that we face', says Amanda Spielman http://www.independent.co.uk/news/educa...

Eric_WLothian

Graun live: EU citizens living in the UK should take “reassurance and confidence” from proposals for their post-Brexit status, Theresa May said on the second day of the EU summit in Brussels. I see the vacuous phrase approach continues. A nicely put response to what's being offered: http://www.inde...

Eric_WLothian

Agricultural Wages board abolished in 2013,still retains in Scotland,think Yes - although I don't think there's much difference between agricultural wages and the NMW. (But you do get a dog allowance for up to 4 dogs. It's not clear if you can claim for a 5th dog if the mother didn't want it). It a...

Eric_WLothian

HindleA wrote:Seeking clarification on red -headed/redheaded or either.I have seen both

Avoid conflict "auburn"

Eric_WLothian

As for this: Prince Harry has suggested no one in the Royal Family wants the throne. ... he said: “We are not doing this for ourselves but for the greater good of the people. All I can say is "don't put yourselves out on my behalf". Co-incidentally, there appear to be some real jobs for fr...

Eric_WLothian

The loud 'clunk' of another dropping penny: Brexit: Leave voter realises his fruit farms could collapse without EU migrant workers If EU labourers disappear 'I don't have a business. It's as simple as that,' says Harry Hall, whose company farms 1,100 acres http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi...

Eric_WLothian

At last - 'Hawkeye' is a real doctor: US actor Alan Alda, famous for his roles in M*A*S*H and The West Wing, has received an honorary degree from Dundee University for his work promoting the communication of science. The 81-year-old was made a Doctor of Law at a graduation ceremony in the city’s Cai...

Eric_WLothian

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/politics/1273183/scottish-parliament-power-block-brexit-great-repeal-bill-admits-may/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Scottish Parliament ‘could have power to block Brexit Great Repeal Bill’ admits May by DEREK HEALEYJune 21, 2017, ...

Eric_WLothian

HindleA wrote:Couldn't they do a video link or pre -record?

It'll probably be on TV in one of the Commons bars. The speech should be short, so with careful timing she'll only miss one race.

Eric_WLothian

RogerOThornhill wrote:So the government (sic) are going into the Queen's Speech having not yet secured a majority in the Commons?

Dearie me, the state of it...

Queen's speech during Ascot - somebody's not going to be over-pleased

Eric_WLothian

HindleA wrote:Already appointed me as possible Queen's speech writer,I think my old man wasn't a fucking dustman rendition swung it for me.

Why can't she write her own speech? What does she actually do all day? I'm sure Charles could supply the goat (at a discount from Duchy prices).

Eric_WLothian

Independent Live Blog Labour have won in Kensington for the first time in the constituency's history. After multiple recounts, the result has finally been declared after Emma Dent Coad won the seat by just 20 votes. That's a landslide: Stephen Gethins’s victory in North East Fife was secured with o...

Eric_WLothian

TM getting worried? Theresa May has warned Scots that the loss of just six seats will see her ousted from Downing Street on Thursday as a new poll shows Labour has closed the gap down to just one point. I would have thought she could have pencilled in a date with a firm nearer Downing Street: Speaki...

Eric_WLothian

Since Theresa May became home secretary in 2010 total police numbers in England and Wales have fallen by 46,700 or 19.5% https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/05/london-bridge-attack-theresa-may-answer-serious-questions-police-cuts" onclick="window.open(this.href);return fals...

Eric_WLothian

PorFavor wrote:I'm sure (am I?) she doesn't mean "the public sector" in the usual sense, but it was a bit of a careless thing to say.

Quite bizarre! As a former civil servant, I consider myself to be part of society.
Now I have a Monty Python-like vision of a Ministry of Extremism.

Eric_WLothian

May said there was “far too much tolerance of extremism in our country” and that she wanted to stamp it out. So we need to become far more robust in identifying it and stamping it out across the public sector and across society. (Guardian Live) She could start by stamping on Farage and his cronies.

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