FlyTheNest

Tubby Isaacs

Leaving aside Brexit, which we've done before, I think "government in waiting" is a hubristic gift to the actual government. Last year I remember being told by pretty much everyone that Labour was not behaving like 'a Government in waiting'....and that Corbyn was awful because Labour were...

Tubby Isaacs

He then made sure we were reminded that the Tories are in charge and Labour will respond when they present their proposals, something such a divided party is clearly a long way from doing. Hardly "government in waiting", is it? Then again, I'd be very happy for them to drop that talk, loo...

Tubby Isaacs

Leaving aside Brexit, which we've done before, I think "government in waiting" is a hubristic gift to the actual government.

Tubby Isaacs

He then made sure we were reminded that the Tories are in charge and Labour will respond when they present their proposals, something such a divided party is clearly a long way from doing. Hardly "government in waiting", is it? Then again, I'd be very happy for them to drop that talk, loo...

Tubby Isaacs

Money spent on shifting factory production from Britain to rEU is money that could be spent on R&D, dividends, cutting taxes, whatever. If the UK wants to go for the status quo, it'll get it. The problem is purely a UK political one, and, to be fair, very formidable. Leavers have been smart in e...

Tubby Isaacs

The EU would be delighted to have things as similar to now as possible. Change is major hassle.

There are different customs unions already. The one with San Marino includes agricultural products. The ones with Turkey and Andorra don't. One with the UK would include them.

Tubby Isaacs

I worry about this "don't use labels" approach is that the EU seems pretty definite that the labels represent the only options for Britain.

Tubby Isaacs

I didn't say that it mirrored the EEA exactly, or that it was in the EEA.

In the referendum campaign, everybody thought that Single Market meant the EEA.

Tubby Isaacs

Switzerland's got bilaterals that achieve a similar result to the EEA.

Tubby Isaacs

When's a journo going to ask about the "EEA" instead of the "Single Market"?

But even being generous to Labour, the "Single Market" when I hear it, suggests to me the EEA, not the EU.

It may be smart and strategic, but its' not entirely honest.

Tubby Isaacs

Carillion crisis looms for government as time runs out for refinancing deal Opposition parties demand to know why ministers such as Chris Grayling continued to hand contracts to failing contractor (Guardian) With special thanks to Chris Grayling. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jan/13/gov...

Tubby Isaacs

I had Veolia in Tower Hamlets. They were very good.

Tubby Isaacs

So the banks are going to wind up with the PFI contracts?

Tubby Isaacs

I've got a worry with Labour that "savings from taking in house" is going to be the new "crack down on tax avoidance" ie a balancing figure stuck into the manifesto to avoid having putting taxes up.

Sure, there'll be savings to be had. But there'll likely be problems too.

Tubby Isaacs

Just as the 1950-70 were dogmatic nationalizing years, we are now in the 'free market delivers all' dogma - my standard view is that we are handing massive amounts of taxpayer money to private companies (many paying no tax in the UK) of foreign Governments because of this dogma The question is do t...

Tubby Isaacs

It is impossible for us to judge the reality of outsourcing, does it give value for money and what we are on the hook for unless we see what is in the contracts Unfortunately, we never seem to and even the NAO has no real visibility either https://www.ft.com/content/69c31024-4af1-11e3-8c4c-00144fea...

Tubby Isaacs

I mentioned Wren-Lewis as one of Labour's "wise men". Owning up to modest overspending doesn't mean you have to back Osborne. Inflation has different components. You can't do much about world oil prices which effect everybody. A referendum that just effects you is totally different. People...

Tubby Isaacs

Critics of outsourcing can't have it both ways. "Carillon going bust shows outsourcing doesn't work." "Virgins profits shows outsourcing doesn't work." Carillon will almost certainly go into a CVA. The shareholders will lose. Just like with Railtrack. Not a problem unless you're...

Tubby Isaacs

From the FT about Carillion: Carillion has been struggling for survival since last July, when soaring debts and huge writedowns on the value of several old contracts sparked the first in a series of profit warnings and the departure of its chief executive. Assuming these contracts are with the gove...

Tubby Isaacs

AnatolyKasparov wrote:He hasn't repeated it has he, I suspect JMcD might have got a fair amount of stick behind the scenes for that.

That's true.

Tubby Isaacs

And austerity is something of which there are considerable variations in size and distribution. But Labour MPs agreeing with the need for austerity, and blaming the Labour 'over-spending' in the Brown years allowed the cover Osborne needed Once the 'credit card is maxed out' and the 'we will be lik...

Tubby Isaacs

And austerity is something of which there are considerable variations in size and distribution. But Labour MPs agreeing with the need for austerity, and blaming the Labour 'over-spending' in the Brown years allowed the cover Osborne needed Once the 'credit card is maxed out' and the 'we will be lik...

Tubby Isaacs

From the FT about Carillion: Carillion has been struggling for survival since last July, when soaring debts and huge writedowns on the value of several old contracts sparked the first in a series of profit warnings and the departure of its chief executive. Assuming these contracts are with the gover...

Tubby Isaacs

On a more positive note, I'm delighted with the appointment of a Minister for Buses. One thing that irritates me with rail is the delays with getting smart ticketing going across the network. The DfT (who've had big departmental cost cuts) ought to have got this done yonks ago. I don't know how hard...

Tubby Isaacs

And austerity is something of which there are considerable variations in size and distribution.

Tubby Isaacs

The acute problem is current Tory policies.....Brexit didn't force them to destroy the NHS Brexit won't force any govt to destroy the NHS afterwards, either, and I'm getting sick of seeing remainers say it will as if that's a clinching argument, it's Project Fear all over again and it didn't work v...

Tubby Isaacs

Night, PF!

Tubby Isaacs

I see outward looking, the world doesn't end at Europe, bring on the world, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson attacked Sadiq Khan, but didn't say anything about Trump being very rude about Africa- where I believe there are a few Commonwealth countries.

Tubby Isaacs

Night, Citizen!

Tubby Isaacs

PaulfromYorkshire wrote:And Jezza has obviously been reading FTN because there is a shadow minister for buses

That is a very good idea.

Tubby Isaacs

That wouldn't be Farage's motive. Brexit goes ahead, goes badly, he just says Theresa May is a "liberal" or whatever.

I do like Glower without responsibility!

Tubby Isaacs

The best thing for Leave to do is boycott the second referendum, on the grounds that the Prime Minister said the last one was final.

Tubby Isaacs

Some of it definitely is ideological. Railtrack was about as pseudo-private as you can get, yet it went bankrupt. The shareholders lost their money. I don't see why Carillion should be any different. I know they're important in your hometown, and I really hope it doesn't come to that. PFIs are ofte...

Tubby Isaacs

Laura Pidock on the frontbench.

Tubby Isaacs

Adita Chakraborty opines The dirty secret of PFI and all government attempts to pass public services into the private realm is that the shareholders make profits while the taxpayers remain on the hook for any losses. in an article about Carillion heading for bankruptcy. I'm worried about this sort ...

Tubby Isaacs

Adita Chakraborty opines The dirty secret of PFI and all government attempts to pass public services into the private realm is that the shareholders make profits while the taxpayers remain on the hook for any losses. in an article about Carillion heading for bankruptcy. I'm worried about this sort o...

Tubby Isaacs

Yep, it's been good stuff.

Tubby Isaacs

Also, in your link the person who wrote it spoke of 'rampant anti-semitism at OULC' - the report said no such thing and said there were some isolated cases that were badly handled On this subject there is a lot of sensitivity and strong and polarised opinions - I would suggest that posters be very,...

Tubby Isaacs

Labour is also expected to take the opportunity to bring on some of the MPs who joined the Commons in 2017, such as Laura Pidcock and Dan Carden. Oh Christ. Forget her political positioning just for a moment, Pidcock is clearly very talented. It's her Partridge among the farmers act with rail exper...

Tubby Isaacs

Beating Roger to it. https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/ark-reports-ps4m-loss-and-relies-loans-between-its-schools-cover" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Ark reports £4m loss and relies on loans between its schools to cover deficits I'm not sure I'd be happy a...

Tubby Isaacs

It isn't quite how I remembered it. But crass and stupid certainly covers it. Don't bother with him. Walking liability. http://everydayantisemitism.com/2016/02/18/former-british-labour-mp-links-antisemitism-to-brutal-israelis/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Former Labour MP...

Tubby Isaacs

The funny thing is that the tax thing Williamson clodhopped all over is addressing something I want addressed- that we need tax rises starting fairly low down the scale to pay for what we need. In the old days, of course, Labour in London would have considered very seriously a 20% rates rise to make...

Tubby Isaacs

Don't waste your time with Williamson. On one occasion, IIRC, he responded to a tweet about anti-Semitism with something about how bad Israel was. Stupid and crass. He can't even keep his mouth shut and keep off other people's brief.

Tubby Isaacs

Lucas is hopeless on rail. Didn't even know franchises on the ECML paid the government.

Tubby Isaacs

Labour is also expected to take the opportunity to bring on some of the MPs who joined the Commons in 2017, such as Laura Pidcock and Dan Carden.

Oh Christ.

Tubby Isaacs

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jan/11/chris-williamson-quits-labour-frontbench-after-double-council-tax-call" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Chris Williamson quits Labour frontbench after 'double council tax' call Who could have guessed he'd be a walking liability...

Tubby Isaacs

Tubby Isaacs

I think it's a silly idea, but it's the job of backbenchers and Lib Dems to fly kites.

Tubby Isaacs

Ah thanks. He's finished.

Tubby Isaacs

Oh dear... Toby Young - The REAL Reason He Went http://zelo-street.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/toby-young-real-reason-he-went.html What Tobes knew, but many of his cheerleaders clearly did not, was that the contents of the latest Private Eye magazine (#1461, on sale at all good news outlets for just £2....

Search found 9954 matches