Wednesday 2nd March 2016

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 2:27 pm

Very interesting in the Supreme Court for those interested at the moment on human rights legislation

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 2:33 pm

PorFavor wrote:
AnatolyKasparov wrote:Apparently there was a PMQs today.

It is claimed that Cameron responded to Corbyn by making an oh so witty "joke" about Varoufakis - as if Jez is personally responsible for him or something.

Nothing new there, then
Didn't you appreciate the "Acropolis Now" quip? That was a good 'un and totally relevant. Oh (as you know) the comment about Varoufakis having ruined the Greek economy showed such a breadth of knowledge of Greek politics. David Cameron is a wit and a genius.

We need an ordinary, sincere person for leadership.

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 2:38 pm

In response to a Written Question from Corri Wilson (SNP) yesterday on people with cancer being able to access financial support for as long as they need it -

Priti Patel -
"Most ESA claimants with cancer will be placed in the Support Group" and "People with long term health conditions can also claim PIP"

Both of these statements are manifestly untrue.
Macmillan has submitted evidence on this, and the truth is that although the decision-making guidance is that people on chemo should be in the SG, many are not; also, once the more invasive therapies are done with, claimants who were in the SG get moved to WRAG.

What is also happening is this - say a person with Parkinsons' is claiming due to that, if they go on to develop cancer they are recorded in the DWP figures as having Parkinsons. Their primary reason for claiming does not change - unless they make a completely new claim.
The stats show that X number of people have a neurological condition when in fact their most pressing problem at that time is something else.

Of course, Patel doesn't know any of this because she is as thick as a brick and is there to regurgitate what IDS tells her.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 2:45 pm

Regardless "most" necessarilly means zero financial support/allowance for the recognised extra costs of being ill until at best PIP -a significant time away

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 2:57 pm

D.Gaffney and J Portes skewering T.Harris and the above mentioned article on twitter..

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 3:01 pm

"DWP guy arguing that #bedroomtax is Ok because domestic abuse survivors in 3-bed houses might find a 1-bed becomes available nearby"

...and again.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 3:03 pm

Haven't followed it thoroughly but no new arguments from DWP side as far as I have seen.

Vordy · Post by **Vordy** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 3:23 pm

Hello to all.Hope all are well,especially those who have been having problems.

Neo-Liberalism – Invisible Fascism?

Source:

http://radicalsoapbox.com/is-neo-libera ... ism-light/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 3:53 pm

I like J.Portes,he is relentless in pursuing the correcting of errors.

GetYou · Post by **GetYou** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 3:55 pm

More passionate writing from Mr Void:

https://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/2016/0 ... al-worker/

This is how your money is being spent. Manufacturing evidence to make politicians look good with no thought at all for the real needs of families who are genuinely in trouble. Who by the way mostly just need more money.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 4:11 pm

Tom Harris cleared off from the Twitter thread where Portes and Gaffney showed he was talking rubbish..

Alas, not cleared off from Twitter. He's just retweeted his article with made up numbers out again.

What a scumbag.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 4:16 pm

He threatened to quit the party recently - terrific shame he didn't.

Can't he just be kicked out? Even better if John "fetishisation of participation" McTernan goes with him as well

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 4:24 pm

Supreme Court decision in 8-12 weeks(ahem)

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 4:32 pm

The enormity of it has just hit me. Apologies and -

Good morfternoon!

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 4:40 pm

Whew. What weird and wonderful weather.

Mr Ohso and I decided we'd had enough of being on the inside looking out. We wanted to feel it. We wanted wind and rain lashing our faces, and what better place for that, than on a beach.
So, we packed sandwiches, a flask, raincoats and towels and spent a couple of hours at Hayling Island.
On the way there was heavy sleet. When we got there the sun came out, and on the way home we went through a wall of hailstones.
Apart from Mr Ohso nearly being blown off his feet, and a bunch of seagulls clog dancing on the roof of the car as they waited for the remains of our lunch, the best part of the day was stopping off at a couple of charity shops on the Island.
Found a load of good books. And they were cheaper than in Bracknell or Reading. I have one in front of me right now. "The Devil In The Marshalsea - Murder Stalks The Debtors Prison" by Antonia Hodgson.

Can't wait for bedtime !

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 4:43 pm

Adam Johnson found guilty on one count of serious sexual offences with a minor, acquitted on the other. Significant custodial sentence still virtually certain.

ScarletGas · Post by **ScarletGas** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 4:50 pm

Could the BBC political output get any more establishment/government friendly?

YES! Solid rumour is Tom Newton-Dunn (of the Sun) has been offered role of Newsnight political editor in succession to Allegra Stratton. He of the reported claims of bullying, stealing other journalists stories, and dodgy statistics to embellish stories.

Yipes-La Kuenssberg and him. It will be even more of a propaganda fest.

Looks like I will not be viewing Newsnight (and maybe other BBC political or news output) for any balanced reporting any time soon.

Vordy · Post by **Vordy** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 5:23 pm

neo-liberalism/ capitalism, fascism and psychopathy - that I think needs more intellectual clarification.

A long,interesting article.Link posted below.

http://leedanielhughes.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... scism.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

gilsey · Post by **gilsey** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 5:43 pm

This is nice.
Why have councils fallen out of love with outsourcing vital services?
From flood responses in Cumbria to IT in Essex – more than one in three public-private partnership deals return in house, finds Guardian survey
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016 ... p-in-house" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Instead of the cost-efficiencies hoped for, Cumbria’s councillors say they tussled with contractors and lacked the bargaining power to keep prices down. They say that the private companies could name the price for any additional out-of-contract services that arose. When the contracts for highways and roadworks went up for renewal between 2011 and 2012, the Conservative council leader Eddie Martin fought off political pressure and brought all highways and road operations back in house.

“I was leading a very committed group of Conservatives and it was somewhat anathema to think about insourcing,” says Martin. “The government says that outsourcing is everything, but while it might get you an initial cheaper price, that price simply doesn’t last, you lose flexibility, and it causes a great deal of unrest.” Now, Cumbria estimates it saves £1.8m each year on highway and road services. And when disaster strikes, like the recent floods, it says it can deploy staff in a heartbeat.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 5:48 pm

A new report reveals 42 per cent of the children's services staff in Reading are agency staff

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local- ... e-10971656

Re Agency Britain.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 5:58 pm

Vordy wrote:neo-liberalism/ capitalism, fascism and psychopathy - that I think needs more intellectual clarification.

A long,interesting article.Link posted below.

http://leedanielhughes.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... scism.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Makes chilling sense.

utopiandreams · Post by **utopiandreams** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 6:03 pm

gilsey wrote:This is nice.
Why have councils fallen out of love with outsourcing vital services?
From flood responses in Cumbria to IT in Essex – more than one in three public-private partnership deals return in house, finds Guardian survey
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016 ... p-in-house" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Instead of the cost-efficiencies hoped for, Cumbria’s councillors say they tussled with contractors and lacked the bargaining power to keep prices down. They say that the private companies could name the price for any additional out-of-contract services that arose. When the contracts for highways and roadworks went up for renewal between 2011 and 2012, the Conservative council leader Eddie Martin fought off political pressure and brought all highways and road operations back in house.

“I was leading a very committed group of Conservatives and it was somewhat anathema to think about insourcing,” says Martin. “The government says that outsourcing is everything, but while it might get you an initial cheaper price, that price simply doesn’t last, you lose flexibility, and it causes a great deal of unrest.” Now, Cumbria estimates it saves £1.8m each year on highway and road services. And when disaster strikes, like the recent floods, it says it can deploy staff in a heartbeat.

Thanks, gilsey. After reading that Eddie Martin quote I couldn't help myself but add the following btl.

About time coming from a Tory but what he doesn't say about the initial cheaper price is that the apparent savings usually come from other government departments such as in work benefits, not to mention the diminished working conditions of the staff. Neither are the staff recompensed once prices do start to go up to cover exorbitant director fees or off-shore profits, not to mention the odd sinecure.

nickyinnorfolk · Post by **nickyinnorfolk** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 6:16 pm

RobertSnozers wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
StephenDolan wrote:Caught PMQs. Cameron's joke attempt was pitiful. Surprised to hear a snappy phrase from Corbyn.

Agency Britain works on multiple fronts, work insecurity and spiraling costs for public sector organisations. Could this be, a... theme?
I thought exactly the same re 'Agency Britain'. He should keep on using that - people will get what it means immediately. Natalie Bennett has already tweeted her support for Corbyn re that line of questioning and that phrase.
It's actually a lot better than 'cost of living crisis'.

Someone was impressed by Cameron's pitiful joke:

After George Osborne yesterday mocked Labour’s recruitment of Yanis Varoufakis and Paul Mason (“Chairman Mao was dead and Mickey Mouse was busy”), it should have been obvious to Jeremy Corbyn that David Cameron would have his own fun today. But when the moment inevitably came (“He is the Greek finance minister who left the economy in ruins ... It’s Acropolis Now”), the Labour leader had no riposte or witty retort. “That is not much help to the 41,000 children who are benefiting from what they promised by the government” he flatly replied. “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts,” tweeted Labour MP and Corbyn critic Tom Blenkinsop. After that moment, Cameron was in control.

George Eaton in the supposedly leftie New Statesman. It didn't seem to occur to him that Corbyn was bringing the exchange back to the very serious question he'd raised. It's typical of those within the Westminster Bubble that they see politics as a sort of sitcom and game of crass brinkmanship. And they all seem to have a man crush on the oleaginous Cameron.

In short ... Eaton's an idiot

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 6:17 pm

Michael Crick ‏@MichaelLCrick Mar 1
I understand Conservative Board discussed #C4News election expense reports for about 10 mins & 7-8 people spoke. Board confident within law

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 6:32 pm

Just seen an item on BBC News about St.Nicola of Sturgeon's plans to increase council tax.

It's actually a very good idea in the case of Scotland - and would only apply to the highest bands.

Cue yummy mummies complaining that another £10 a week would be sooooo hard to find (if they're affected, they've got huge homes)

No mention that the childcare their toddlers are enjoying is free. That would cost a bit more than £10 a week south of the border.....

Post by **refitman** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 6:47 pm

RobertSnozers wrote:
RogerOThornhill wrote:
RobertSnozers wrote:My God, Toby Young is an idiot
He openly admitted to turning into a Tory cheerleader a while ago - his opinion isn't worth worrying about on any subject.
He was on the Today programme in a debate about the Oscars and 'political correctness'. I actually heard him say that Hollywood's liberal bias was such that it is making films about McCarthyism when the real problem now is 'liberal McCarthyism', demonstrated by Charlotte Rampling being 'blacklisted' for saying that a boycott of the Oscars would be 'white racism'.

Not sure where to start with this. For a start, comparing a bit of a social media backlash against Rampling for some fairly crass statements (which she quickly backtracked from) with the treatment of suspected communists in '50s America is... well, I suppose it's the kind of toss you expect Young to come out with.

He had a piece in the Spectator the other day about this: http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/01/tell ... -you-down/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (trigger warning: contains previously unseen levels of ignorance and idiocy)

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 6:56 pm

Debbie Abrahams has been AWESOME in the ESA debate.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 6:57 pm

Owen Smith ‏@OwenSmith_MP 4m4 minutes ago
Owen Smith Retweeted PoliticsHome
Ha! You know you're winning the argument when your opponents are reduced to cheap, personal insult...

PoliticsHomeVerified account
‏@politicshome
IDS blasts 'pathetic' Labour response to pensions review: http://bit.ly/1QmADCt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 7:01 pm

Mirror Politics Retweeted
Dan Bloom ‏@danbloom1 52m52 minutes ago
Exclusive - @heidiallen75 writes why she will rebel over #ESACuts tonight and wants Tory colleagues to join her http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/to ... ar_twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 7:02 pm

ephemerid wrote:Just seen an item on BBC News about St.Nicola of Sturgeon's plans to increase council tax.

It's actually a very good idea in the case of Scotland - and would only apply to the highest bands.

Cue yummy mummies complaining that another £10 a week would be sooooo hard to find (if they're affected, they've got huge homes)

No mention that the childcare their toddlers are enjoying is free. That would cost a bit more than £10 a week south of the border.....

It consequently doesn't raise anything like enough money for Scotland. Well under a third of the Labour and Lib Dem income tax proposals.

It's a good example of the limited power of taxing only the better off. Labour and the Lib Dems have understood you need middle class rises too.

They'll probably suffer for that at the election, despite Scotland alledgedly being so unlike us UKIPpy English.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 7:08 pm

Owen Jones ‏@OwenJones84 31m31 minutes ago
Locked myself out my house, submitted column late, broke my bike lights, stood people up, and there are still hours to go

Those sort of days are awful.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 7:13 pm

There's also the rather jarring fact that the SNP have promised to get rid of council tax for 9 years because it's so unfair. Turns out it's fine if you fiddle around a bit with differentials!

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 7:34 pm

ohsocynical wrote:Whew. What weird and wonderful weather.

Mr Ohso and I decided we'd had enough of being on the inside looking out. We wanted to feel it. We wanted wind and rain lashing our faces, and what better place for that, than on a beach.
So, we packed sandwiches, a flask, raincoats and towels and spent a couple of hours at Hayling Island.
On the way there was heavy sleet. When we got there the sun came out, and on the way home we went through a wall of hailstones.
Apart from Mr Ohso nearly being blown off his feet, and a bunch of seagulls clog dancing on the roof of the car as they waited for the remains of our lunch, the best part of the day was stopping off at a couple of charity shops on the Island.
Found a load of good books. And they were cheaper than in Bracknell or Reading. I have one in front of me right now. "The Devil In The Marshalsea - Murder Stalks The Debtors Prison" by Antonia Hodgson.

Can't wait for bedtime !

That is living!
An inspiration to me, Ohso.

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 7:39 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:
ephemerid wrote:Just seen an item on BBC News about St.Nicola of Sturgeon's plans to increase council tax.

It's actually a very good idea in the case of Scotland - and would only apply to the highest bands.

Cue yummy mummies complaining that another £10 a week would be sooooo hard to find (if they're affected, they've got huge homes)

No mention that the childcare their toddlers are enjoying is free. That would cost a bit more than £10 a week south of the border.....
It consequently doesn't raise anything like enough money for Scotland. Well under a third of the Labour and Lib Dem income tax proposals.

It's a good example of the limited power of taxing only the better off. Labour and the Lib Dems have understood you need middle class rises too.

They'll probably suffer for that at the election, despite Scotland alledgedly being so unlike us UKIPpy English.

The SNP do actually intend to do something with income tax too.

I'm not a particular fan, but credit where it's due.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 7:41 pm

Jo Stevens MP ‏@JoStevensLabour 22m22 minutes ago
In the chamber & there are Tories here in dinner suits who've just voted to cut benefit payments to disabled people #ESAWrag

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 7:44 pm

ephemerid wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:
ephemerid wrote:Just seen an item on BBC News about St.Nicola of Sturgeon's plans to increase council tax.

It's actually a very good idea in the case of Scotland - and would only apply to the highest bands.

Cue yummy mummies complaining that another £10 a week would be sooooo hard to find (if they're affected, they've got huge homes)

No mention that the childcare their toddlers are enjoying is free. That would cost a bit more than £10 a week south of the border.....
It consequently doesn't raise anything like enough money for Scotland. Well under a third of the Labour and Lib Dem income tax proposals.

It's a good example of the limited power of taxing only the better off. Labour and the Lib Dems have understood you need middle class rises too.

They'll probably suffer for that at the election, despite Scotland alledgedly being so unlike us UKIPpy English.

The SNP do actually intend to do something with income tax too.

I'm not a particular fan, but credit where it's due.

Credit for raising less than a third of the money the Lib Dems propose?

There's an election coming. Surely they have to say now what they'll do with income tax?

They were going to scrap council tax in 2007 and replace it with 3p on income tax (and loads of big cuts, which they told everyone councils could find easily).

The BBC report sounds like dream coverage for them. They raise less money, less progressively than the red and yellow Tories, and get to sound brave, standing up to rich people.

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 7:44 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Jo Stevens MP ‏@JoStevensLabour 22m22 minutes ago
In the chamber & there are Tories here in dinner suits who've just voted to cut benefit payments to disabled people #ESAWrag

Sickening.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 7:49 pm

Angela Rayner MP ‏@AngelaRayner 3m3 minutes ago
Tory MPs vote against Lord's amendment by 309 to 274 which would allow a thorough analysis on impact to disabled people, same old Tories!

They seem to have large majorities on some of these votes ... how is that happening - are there some parties not in the HoC for this vote?

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 7:50 pm

Only 3 Tories rebelled - the vote not to assess the impact of the ESA WRAG cut was won by 309 votes.

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 7:52 pm

Heidi Allen, Stephen McPartland, Jason McCartney - thank you.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 7:58 pm

When you have thirty years of collusive misrepresentation this is tragically the inevitable result,all parties are culpable no matter who happened to be in power when the direction continued,a lot of feigned outrage from people who would have done exactly the same,and we are not done yet.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 7:58 pm

Faisal Islam ‏@faisalislam 4m4 minutes ago
Three is clearly a small rebellion, but noteworthy - it's more than rebelled in the Commons against tax credits, later u-turned on.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 8:13 pm

Paul Waugh ‏@paulwaugh 4m4 minutes ago
HuffPost exclusive: @MarkSerwotka and @MattWrack have been readmitted to the Labour party. http://huff.to/1T8ENBs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 8:20 pm

"so put your peanuts in my tin and thank the almighty you're not in the state I'm in"

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 8:27 pm

"75 % of peanut takers found not to need peanuts"

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 8:32 pm

The strange death of Labour Scotland
The long, inexorable decline of the party of Keir Hardie and Gordon Brown.
By Tom Devine
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk ... r-scotland" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 8:38 pm

Don't know if she voted, but Lady Sylvia Hermon is one of the Independents, and usually votes with Labour.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 8:48 pm

Vote will be here soon :-
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publi ... known/794/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 8:49 pm

Jeez. Lord Ridley of Northern Rock just claimed that the EU had some responsibility for Russian aggression in Ukraine for including military matters in discussions.

That's pure Stop The War. Ukraine should just sit there and hope it doesn't upset Russia.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Wed 02 Mar, 2016 8:52 pm

Ridley's argument seems to be that all the international cooperation in Europe is nothing to do with the EU because they involve non-EU members as well.