Friday 12th June 2015

[ohsocynical]

I think the Labour party needs to do some soul searching. They're evidently not in tune with many of their members.

Crunch time methinks.

[danesclose]

Did they say the same thing about John Major when he stayed for the full length of the 1997-2001 parliament?

Oh of course...not.

And I'm sure everyone remembers how the papers supported Gordon Brown's decision not to appear in the Commons too often

[AnatolyKasparov]

Corbyn clearly has support and should be on the ballot (regardless of that tbh, just as a matter of principle)

But I wouldn't take voodoo polls seriously, especially not at LabourList which is a notorious hangout of Tory trolls (their similar poll 5 years ago had Abbott "winning")

[RogerOThornhill]

Corbyn will be pushing 71 at the time of the next election.

Just sayin'...

[ohsocynical]

Corbyn will be pushing 71 at the time of the next election.

Just sayin'...

From experience, being 71 doesn't put you over the hill. You might huff and puff a bit but as long as he can get the party back on the right track and perhaps [please God] give us a win it doesn't have to be for the long haul...

And sorry, but I don't think youngsters [as compared to myself] have made such a good job of it.

[RogerOThornhill]

Corbyn will be pushing 71 at the time of the next election.

Just sayin'...

From experience, being 71 doesn't put you over the hill. You might huff and puff a bit but as long as he can get the party back on the right track and perhaps [please God] give us a win it doesn't have to be for the long haul...

And sorry, but I don't think youngsters [as compared to myself] have made such a good job of it.

Sorry didn't mean to offend and I hesitated before I posted but...would the electorate go for someone in their 70s?

We've got used to candidates in their 40s and faced with a candidate some years older and past retirement age might be too much.

I also think he might have some ideological baggage from the 80s that will be used against him.

Don't get me wrong - it's great that he's standing as it seems to be the only way of getting a left position talked about but actually electing him as leader? Not sure.

[AnatolyKasparov]

I basically agree with Roger on all counts - ageism is no more acceptable than any other "ism", but there is little doubt the electorate have got used to younger politicians.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Ming Campbell got treated as though he were some doddery old fool.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I see that some Tory MPs are talking about city schools being overfunded. They've got a point about London which has been turned around, but Birmingham won't fancy a load of cuts.

The pupil premium's got to be in the line of fire too.

[RogerOThornhill]

I see that some Tory MPs are talking about city schools being overfunded. They've got a point about London which has been turned around, but Birmingham won't fancy a load of cuts.

The pupil premium's got to be in the line of fire too.

Yes, there's three questions on the card for the first session of Education questions on Monday - this is something they failed to sort out last time and simply patched it up. Now they've got to clear up their own mess...time to blame Labour again I guess.

[ohsocynical]

Corbyn will be pushing 71 at the time of the next election.

Just sayin'...

From experience, being 71 doesn't put you over the hill. You might huff and puff a bit but as long as he can get the party back on the right track and perhaps [please God] give us a win it doesn't have to be for the long haul...

And sorry, but I don't think youngsters [as compared to myself] have made such a good job of it.

Sorry didn't mean to offend and I hesitated before I posted but...would the electorate go for someone in their 70s?

We've got used to candidates in their 40s and faced with a candidate some years older and past retirement age might be too much.

I also think he might have some ideological baggage from the 80s that will be used against him.

Don't get me wrong - it's great that he's standing as it seems to be the only way of getting a left position talked about but actually electing him as leader? Not sure.

No worries. You didn't offend...

I do think it would be nice to see some of the more known Labour MPs, enthusiastically supporting him or if not him someone - anyone who is a true socialist. There are some serious, genuine Lab supporters on Twitter that are adamant the left needs a stronger voice.

I remain disappointed in the youngsters. They don't seem to have the breadth of vision needed to carry us though these hard times.
I was all for them to start off with, but now think you really do need to have done everything with the T-shirt.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I see that some Tory MPs are talking about city schools being overfunded. They've got a point about London which has been turned around, but Birmingham won't fancy a load of cuts.

The pupil premium's got to be in the line of fire too.

Yes, there's three questions on the card for the first session of Education questions on Monday - this is something they failed to sort out last time and simply patched it up. Now they've got to clear up their own mess...time to blame Labour again I guess.

Clearing up the Lib Dem mess, no doubt.

Osborne told Robin Walker in the Budget/Autumn Statement years ago that he was sorting it out.

[ohsocynical]

Mrs VB ‏@MrsVB 7 mins7 minutes ago

#COR Blimey Mary Creagh has pulled out of the Labour leadership race. Even less choice now. #ComeOnCorbyn

[TechnicalEphemera]

Mrs VB ‏@MrsVB 7 mins7 minutes ago

#COR Blimey Mary Creagh has pulled out of the Labour leadership race. Even less choice now. #ComeOnCorbyn

Look there is no way Corbyn should be permitted to get on the ballot, he is unelectable. Much as we wish he wasn't he sadly is.

Unlike the previous elections there is nothing to stop him scraping home even if 80% of the parliamentary party have no confidence in him. IDS should be a warning to all as to the consequences of putting an unelectable leader on a ballot.

[RogerOThornhill]

Oh dear...

Academics attack George Osborne budget surplus proposal

http://www.theguardian.com/business/201 ... s-proposal" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

George Osborne’s plan to enshrine permanent budget surpluses in law is a political gimmick that ignores “basic economics”, a group of academic economists has warned .

Responding to the chancellor’s Mansion House speech earlier this week, they said a law forcing the government to cut spending or raise taxes every year to generate a budget surplus would suck the economy dry and within a few years could trigger another credit crunch.

In a letter to the Guardian, coordinated by the Centre for Labour and Social Studies, 77 of the bestknown academic economists, including French economist Thomas Piketty and Cambridge professor Ha-Joon Chang, said the chancellor was turning a blind eye to the complexities of a 21st-century economy that demanded governments remain flexible and responsive to changing global events.

and that bit about Osborne giving the OBR the job of deciding what was 'normal'?

But, in a first blow to his plan, the OBR said it would be for parliament to devise a definition, while its boss Robert Chote described the plan as “ambitious”

They were never going to like that - that's a very political decision.

I love that Chote very-Yes Prime Ministerial "ambitious" - translates as "it's rubbish and will never work"

[Tubby Isaacs]

Good point made there about private sector debt.

The Plan A envisaged very big increases in personal debt to drive the growth.

[citizenJA]

Oh dear...

Academics attack George Osborne budget surplus proposal

http://www.theguardian.com/business/201 ... s-proposal" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

George Osborne’s plan to enshrine permanent budget surpluses in law is a political gimmick that ignores “basic economics”, a group of academic economists has warned .

Responding to the chancellor’s Mansion House speech earlier this week, they said a law forcing the government to cut spending or raise taxes every year to generate a budget surplus would suck the economy dry and within a few years could trigger another credit crunch.

In a letter to the Guardian, coordinated by the Centre for Labour and Social Studies, 77 of the bestknown academic economists, including French economist Thomas Piketty and Cambridge professor Ha-Joon Chang, said the chancellor was turning a blind eye to the complexities of a 21st-century economy that demanded governments remain flexible and responsive to changing global events.

and that bit about Osborne giving the OBR the job of deciding what was 'normal'?

But, in a first blow to his plan, the OBR said it would be for parliament to devise a definition, while its boss Robert Chote described the plan as “ambitious”

They were never going to like that - that's a very political decision.

I love that Chote very-Yes Prime Ministerial "ambitious" - translates as "it's rubbish and will never work"

Yep. I've been reading the contributions below the line. Lots of Tory supporters or slaves or whatever the hell they are making as much sense as Jeffrey.

'He's been elected! You can't deny he's been elected!'

No, no one's denying that busta hasn't been returned to government. Tory Chancellor Jeff has been in the driver's seat for over five years & continues failure economic policy ideas one after the other. His latest idea forced the OBR to declare the White Queen is off his head.

[TechnicalEphemera]

Oh dear...

Academics attack George Osborne budget surplus proposal

http://www.theguardian.com/business/201 ... s-proposal" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

George Osborne’s plan to enshrine permanent budget surpluses in law is a political gimmick that ignores “basic economics”, a group of academic economists has warned .

Responding to the chancellor’s Mansion House speech earlier this week, they said a law forcing the government to cut spending or raise taxes every year to generate a budget surplus would suck the economy dry and within a few years could trigger another credit crunch.

In a letter to the Guardian, coordinated by the Centre for Labour and Social Studies, 77 of the bestknown academic economists, including French economist Thomas Piketty and Cambridge professor Ha-Joon Chang, said the chancellor was turning a blind eye to the complexities of a 21st-century economy that demanded governments remain flexible and responsive to changing global events.

and that bit about Osborne giving the OBR the job of deciding what was 'normal'?

But, in a first blow to his plan, the OBR said it would be for parliament to devise a definition, while its boss Robert Chote described the plan as “ambitious”

They were never going to like that - that's a very political decision.

I love that Chote very-Yes Prime Ministerial "ambitious" - translates as "it's rubbish and will never work"

Yep. I've been reading the contributions below the line. Lots of Tory supporters or slaves or whatever the hell they are making as much sense as Jeffrey.

'He's been elected! You can't deny he's been elected!'

No, no one's denying that busta hasn't been returned to government. Tory Chancellor Jeff has been in the driver's seat for over five years & continues failure economic policy ideas one after the other. His latest idea forced the OBR to declare the White Queen is off his head.

Is ambitious OBR speak for bat shit crazy?

Any Labour politician who doesn't repeatedly and noisily nail this fuckwit to the wall for utter stupidity should be ejected from the party.

[letsskiptotheleft]

Quite fancy a trip to France next summer...

[citizenJA]

Good point made there about private sector debt.

The Plan A envisaged very big increases in personal debt to drive the growth.

Yep.
Sovereign nation economics & household economics aren't the same.
Students in Manchester protest against having to take economics courses telling stories instead of explaining modern economic systems - those course belonging to social history, not applied economics classes.

Undergraduates at Manchester University propose overhaul of orthodox teachings to embrace alternative theories

Again, I'm reminded of Galileo in the sixteenth century taking notes on observable phenomena - explaining how celestial bodies are functioning in reality rather than accepting made up stories about the movement & position of the Earth & Sun. Gideon does remind me of an uptight sixteenth century Cardinal liking to hold feet to the fire until the retraction is secured.

[citizenJA]

Have we seen this article? Yesterday's Guardian - I had to spend ten minutes searching for it finally looking in my computer's history because I couldn't find it again through the G's funky web search. How many important stories just go missing.

Ageing UK population will increase strain on public spending, OBR warns

The financial cost of Britain’s ageing population will require a fresh £20bn wave of spending cuts or tax increases from 2020 to bring the national debt back to pre-recession levels in 50 years time, the government’s public finances watchdog has said.

Long-term projections by the Office for Budget Responsibility show that the second round of austerity due to be detailed by George Osborne in next month’s budget will not be sufficient to reduce debt to 40% of national income – its level before the economy entered its deepest postwar slump.

The OBR said that by 2065, 26% of the population of England and Wales would be more than 65 years old, up from 18% today, increasing the cost of pensions, health and social care.

http://www.theguardian.com/business/201 ... -obr-warns" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The NAO have released some Social Care reports recently too.

http://www.nao.org.uk/report/care-act-f ... e-reforms/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.nao.org.uk/report/local-gove ... w-burdens/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[citizenJA]

goodnight, everyone.
love
cJA

[Tubby Isaacs]

The NAO have released some Social Care reports recently too.

http://www.nao.org.uk/report/care-act-f ... e-reforms/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.nao.org.uk/report/local-gove ... w-burdens/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheers.

See that they say the DoH set the reforms up well. But over to LAs who have no money.

[RogerOThornhill]

Apparently it is "Arise, Sir Van Morrison..."

[StephenDolan]

Evening all.

After a holiday away from t'Internet and social media I've returned to see my Labour Party membership has arrived. Let's hope I don't bin it too soon. Can't say I'm too enamoured with the Cooper and Burnham etc text messages and emails.

[tinyclanger2]

Evening all.

After a holiday away from t'Internet and social media I've returned to see my Labour Party membership has arrived. Let's hope I don't bin it too soon. Can't say I'm too enamoured with the Cooper and Burnham etc text messages and emails.

I replied to Cooper's e-mail today, though not under any illusion that anyone would either read it or give a ^^^^.

[Hobiejoe]

Sir Simon Hughes.

For services to oleaginous bigotry, one presumes. The straight choice for a knighthood.

[tinyclanger2]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media ... 16561.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
TCC in Travelodge ad

[LadyCentauria]

Sir Simon Hughes.

For services to oleaginous bigotry, one presumes. The straight choice for a knighthood.

I'm happier about Sir Karl Jenkins and Sir Van Morrison, mind.

Yep. And still no sign of the 2015 Dissolution Honours List, which Cameron has 'postponed.' They're usually announced pretty swiftly after a General Election.