Thursday 31st March 2016

[HindleA]

The E-petition site is currently unavailable due to essential.maintenance.

[rebeccariots2]

By eck we're close.

[rebeccariots2]

Last 100 to go.

[Lonewolfie]

100,002

[rebeccariots2]

100,001 signatures

Bingo!

[Lonewolfie]

Snap

[rebeccariots2]

Right the dogs will get a walk now. Then I have the delightful job of sorting out the carpet where one of them was sick - as a dog - last night. Eeeuw.

[citizenJA]

France, Germany, Netherlands and Italy get to have steel industries but Dave doesn't want the UK to have nice things.

[HindleA]

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


Government's plan for secure power generation 'unfit for purpose': report

[HindleA]

http://www.ft.com/fastft/2016/03/31/uk- ... forecasts/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


U.K Current Account Deficit balloons beyond forcasts.

[PorFavor]

Completely off the point but -

For anyone who can get TV Freeview Channel 81, the Ken Russell early short, "Amelia and the Angel", is on at 7pm tonight. I really urge you to watch it (I think it's available on-line if you're not a TV watcher\owner) - it's magical. There's something a bit "bagpussy" about it.

[PorFavor]

100,001 signatures

Bingo!

Let's hope that, even if it doesn't result in a recall, the press gets onto it.

[citizenJA]

There seem to be rather a lot of political commentators that aren't tweeting about the steel situation. The silence is deafening. Holidays didn't get in the way of the summer of Get Ed.

Yes, this is extremely important - I hadn't realised how important. Apologies for my ignorance.
Other nations within the EU have steel industries. It seems mad for the UK not to.

EurWORK - European Observatory of Working Life
Industrial relations in the steel industry
Jean-Marie Beguin

"In the two last decades, the steel sector in Europe has undergone important changes,
marked by privatisation, internationalisation and concentration into a small number of
large multinationals, accompanied by a transformation of working practices and major
job losses in many countries.

Looking at 16 countries, this comparative study examines: the recent development
of the steel industry; changes in employment levels and practices; the organisation,
activities and views of employers and trade unions; the position and role of governments;
and the structure and content of collective bargaining."

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/observat ... l-industry" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Outstanding resource, the link above. Clear, straightforward, and readable steel industry information.
Which countries privatised when, who owns them now. Interestingly, Greece and Finland are the only
countries with state controlled steel industries. The article is over a decade old and Greece was under
intense pressure to privatise their steel industry at the time of the report - 2005. I haven't looked into
more detail yet.

"The first privatisation was that of British Steel in the UK, in the 1980s.
It then merged with the Dutch Hoogovens in 1999 to become Corus."

[PorFavor]

George Osborne
✔
‎@George_Osborne

In Paris for G20 talks on uncertainty in global economy. Discussing risks to monetary system - and I have also raised vital issue of steel
10:38 AM - 31 Mar 2016 (Business Live, Guardian)

Big deal.

[rebeccariots2]

George Osborne
✔
‎@George_Osborne

In Paris for G20 talks on uncertainty in global economy. Discussing risks to monetary system - and I have also raised vital issue of steel
10:38 AM - 31 Mar 2016 (Business Live, Guardian)

Big deal.

Yeah - as in 'don't you dare suggest higher tariffs for Chinese steel and spoil our best friends relationship with them' ...

[rebeccariots2]

That sick sorting still awaits. Sigh.

[PorFavor]

More than 100,000 people have now signed the petition calling for MPs to be recalled from the Easter holiday to debate the steel crisis.

It was only set up yesterday, by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Hitting 100,000 signatures means that parliament must now consider debating the petition.

There’s just one snag - MPs are currently on recess, so they can’t really consider it right now..... (Business Live, Guardian)

Well, quite. But I think the petition was set up to highlight the government's general uselessness and arrogant unwillingness to be held to account. I hope it's had some success in that respect.



Edited

To add attribution for quote

[citizenJA]

http://www.ft.com/fastft/2016/03/31/uk- ... forecasts/


U.K Current Account Deficit balloons beyond forcasts.

Osborne jerking off about UK social security provision and public infrastructure 'maxing out the UK credit card' when
it's UK investments abroad and trade with other nations comprising "the country's ability to pay its way in the world".

"For the year as a whole the picture was also bleak, with the annual deficit rising to 5.3 per cent of GDP – again an unwelcome new record.
The current account, or the country’s ability to pay its way in the world, is comprised of the trade balance, plus earnings from investments
held overseas. The latest decline was driven both by the country’s worsening trade position and by a further fall in receipts from investments
abroad."

(my emphasis)

Closing up UK shop everywhere but London, letting workers go, keeping UK people untrained and/or in
debt, without skills and a future are the economically illiterate Tory Chancellor's contributions to the nation.

[citizenJA]

http://www.theguardian.com/business/201 ... ppr-report


Government's plan for secure power generation 'unfit for purpose': report

Is there no end to this Tory madness?!

[citizenJA]

Morbubble afteralltinoon...

On steel...anyone remember Forgemasters?...from 2010...you'd think a longtermeconomicplan thingy would've catered for long term economic planning and investment...

The coalition government announced today it will be axing £2bn worth of projects, including a loan that would have helped a British engineering firm build steel components for next generation nuclear reactors.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander told parliament that Sheffield Forgemasters would no longer be granted a £80m loan that was promised by the Labour government in March this year to help buy and install a 15,000-tonne forging press for developing large steel components for next generation nuclear reactors.

...and...

Business secretary Vince Cable confirmed that several key programmes supporting innovation and low carbon technology would go ahead.
These programmes include the £2.6m Bristol and Bath Science Park, £12m for the International Space Innovation Centre in Harwell, £75m for the Discovery Research Ship, £11.5m for the National Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) Offshore Wind Blade Test Site in Blyth, £18.5m for the NaREC Offshore Wind Turbine Test Site, £12.4m for Offshore Wind Demonstration and Development and £30m for Offshore Wind, Mitsubishi Collaborative R&D.

https://www.theengineer.co.uk/governmen ... ress-loan/

...so how are the 'low carbon innovation key programmes' and 'next generation nuclear reactors' going? Hello? Anyone seen SlimyDaveGidiotJavid? No? Perhaps they're buried under all the 'green cr4p'

TBF, personally, I'm not a fan of 'loans' like this (direct investment/grants always seem more efficient to me) - but the advantage of governement investment is clear to the governments of other coutries across the world (Japan, France, Germany, Italy and China for example) and actually has facts and evidence to support the notion that it benefits the wider economy - and, whilst I'm not for nuclear power, perhaps one of our erstwhile hardworking journos could ask why, if 'noocleer' is so important to Gidiot and Clouncy, they cr4pped on a project that might've seen Britain exporting...'cos Exporting is GREAT, dontcha know)

Nice to know Clouncy's having a 'meeting'...will anyone in the meeting actually know....well, anything, really ...and of course, nationalisation isn't the answer - can't have guvmint munny going anywhere but Thatchers little airheads and their sycophants, now can we.

Thank you for tying this all together for me. Your post is most welcome. It helps me understand
the consequences of government policies and the leadership different governments deliver.

[citizenJA]

Morbubble afteralltinoon...

Nice to know Clouncy's having a 'meeting'...will anyone in the meeting actually know....well, anything, really ...and of course, nationalisation isn't the answer - can't have guvmint munny going anywhere but Thatchers little airheads and their sycophants, now can we.

Hard to believe that the Tories have had 6 years to get their 'march of the makers' going .... and here's the result of their efforts. Well maybe it's not hard to believe - but sadly much of the country did and voted for them. I am returning to an alternative vision of London and the South East being declared a separate state - allowing the rest of UK to get on and try to make policies that work for us.

(my edit of Lonewolfie's original post)

London and the South are a separate state from the rest of the UK.
Tory government would rather prefer not having it done officially.
They'd not be able to raid the North when convenient.

The Tory party received over eleven million votes out of an electorate of nearly fifty million.
Tory's worthless leadership, outright disregard of manifesto promises and alarming inadequacies
of UK first-past-the-post voting system create debatable democratic legitimacy.

[PorFavor]

I notice that the BBC TV news unceremoniously cut short David Cameron's ramblings. Even they think they're only worthy of a perfunctory airing, it would appear.

[HindleA]

And it is goodnight from him.RIP

[HindleA]

Council Tax Levels 2016/17
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistic ... 16-to-2017" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[refitman]

And it is goodnight from him.RIP

Language Timothy!

[PorFavor]

And it is goodnight from him.RIP

Language Timothy!

The theme music for "Sorry" was pretty good, I recall.

[tinybgoat]

And it is goodnight from him.RIP

It was revealed in a government survey published today that the Prime Minister is doing the work of two men. Laurel and Hardy.

[NonOxCol]

And it is goodnight from him.RIP

Language Timothy!

I would imagine "Fuck off 2016" or similar is trending in the UK about now.

Honestly cannot remember a year like it.

[PorFavor]

And it is goodnight from him.RIP

Should we expect a "Tweet" from David Cameron?

[Temulkar]

And it is goodnight from him.RIP

Language Timothy!

The theme music for "Sorry" was pretty good, I recall.

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[PorFavor]

Language Timothy!

The theme music for "Sorry" was pretty good, I recall.

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thank you!

[Temulkar]

The theme music for "Sorry" was pretty good, I recall.

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thank you!

As a 45 year old looking after my ailing mother, I often empathise with Timothy.

[AnatolyKasparov]

And it is goodnight from him.RIP

Language Timothy!

I would imagine "Fuck off 2016" or similar is trending in the UK about now.

Honestly cannot remember a year like it.

Wholly irrational I know, but it feels as if our childhood/youth is being taken away......

[refitman]

Language Timothy!

The theme music for "Sorry" was pretty good, I recall.

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[youtube]GJQ-ZircSO0[/youtube]

[PorFavor]

Language Timothy!

I would imagine "Fuck off 2016" or similar is trending in the UK about now.

Honestly cannot remember a year like it.

Wholly irrational I know, but it feels as if our childhood/youth is being taken away......

I feel the same way. Almost a sense of panic sets in - similar to how I felt when, at some point, I realised that we were losing all the people who were a real live "stories to tell" connection to the 1800s.

Edited - comma

[PorFavor]

Telegraph: Business secretary took daughter to Australia

The Daily Telegraph are reporting that business secretary Sajid Javid took his teenage daughter on his aborted trip to Australia. (Business Live, Guardian)

[PorFavor]

Javid not back in action until Friday

Business secretary Sajid Javid’s journey back from Australia is taking longer than hoped.

Westminster journalists are reporting that Javid will not be reporting for duty in the steel crisis until tomorrow. (Business Live, Guardian)

[AnatolyKasparov]

I would imagine "Fuck off 2016" or similar is trending in the UK about now.

Honestly cannot remember a year like it.

Wholly irrational I know, but it feels as if our childhood/youth is being taken away......

I feel the same way. Almost a sense of panic sets in - similar to how I felt when, at some point, I realised that we were losing all the people who were a real live "stories to tell" connection to the 1800s.

Edited - comma

There are still some very old people about who knew those who had experienced the US Civil War when they were children - indeed, probably a handful who can say that of the Irish potato famine. I wonder when the last such "link" to the Napoleonic era passed away?

[HindleA]

How 3ft 10in tall George took on the Government over benefit cut and won

http://m.derbytelegraph.co.uk/George-Co ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[StephenDolan]

Apologies if posted already, HOC on the British steel industry.
http://researchbriefings.files.parliame ... P-7317.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[HindleA]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/201 ... ith-china/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Britain sacrifices steel industry to curry favour with China

[Willow904]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/201 ... ith-china/


Britain sacrifices steel industry to curry favour with China

So Gordon Brown saves the world from an imploding financial system, while Cameron and Osborne veto EU anti-dumping measures and potentially destroy western European civilsation......and people will still vote Tory because they think they're better on the economy

[Temulkar]

Wholly irrational I know, but it feels as if our childhood/youth is being taken away......

I feel the same way. Almost a sense of panic sets in - similar to how I felt when, at some point, I realised that we were losing all the people who were a real live "stories to tell" connection to the 1800s.

Edited - comma

There are still some very old people about who knew those who had experienced the US Civil War when they were children - indeed, probably a handful who can say that of the Irish potato famine. I wonder when the last such "link" to the Napoleonic era passed away?

If I recall correctly the last widows pensions for the American Civil War ended in around 2007 - women who had married old men at the turn of the 20th century were still collecting from the US govt for their hisbands military career 140 years previous. Thats quite mental

[StephenDolan]

I feel the same way. Almost a sense of panic sets in - similar to how I felt when, at some point, I realised that we were losing all the people who were a real live "stories to tell" connection to the 1800s.

Edited - comma

There are still some very old people about who knew those who had experienced the US Civil War when they were children - indeed, probably a handful who can say that of the Irish potato famine. I wonder when the last such "link" to the Napoleonic era passed away?

If I recall correctly the last widows pensions for the American Civil War ended in around 2007 - women who had married old men at the turn of the 20th century were still collecting from the US govt for their hisbands military career 140 years previous. Thats quite mental

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Martin wow!

[Rebecca]

A lovely story in the Guardian.Just to make a change from the universal,general misery.
A 5 year old girl wrote to Durham police,asking why they didn't use cats as well as dogs to fight crime.
Durham Police Chief sent a handwritten letter back,which included a drawing of his own cat,saying it was a good idea which he would pass onto an inspector.
(sorry,too lazy/stupid to do links)

[refitman]

I feel the same way. Almost a sense of panic sets in - similar to how I felt when, at some point, I realised that we were losing all the people who were a real live "stories to tell" connection to the 1800s.

Edited - comma

There are still some very old people about who knew those who had experienced the US Civil War when they were children - indeed, probably a handful who can say that of the Irish potato famine. I wonder when the last such "link" to the Napoleonic era passed away?

If I recall correctly the last widows pensions for the American Civil War ended in around 2007 - women who had married old men at the turn of the 20th century were still collecting from the US govt for their hisbands military career 140 years previous. Thats quite mental

The BBC have a short piece on a woman who is older than the Irish State: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35906246" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Temulkar]

There are still some very old people about who knew those who had experienced the US Civil War when they were children - indeed, probably a handful who can say that of the Irish potato famine. I wonder when the last such "link" to the Napoleonic era passed away?

If I recall correctly the last widows pensions for the American Civil War ended in around 2007 - women who had married old men at the turn of the 20th century were still collecting from the US govt for their hisbands military career 140 years previous. Thats quite mental

The BBC have a short piece on a woman who is older than the Irish State: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35906246" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yeah and millions of indians around who were born under the Raj.

[PorFavor]

There are still some very old people about who knew those who had experienced the US Civil War when they were children - indeed, probably a handful who can say that of the Irish potato famine. I wonder when the last such "link" to the Napoleonic era passed away?

If I recall correctly the last widows pensions for the American Civil War ended in around 2007 - women who had married old men at the turn of the 20th century were still collecting from the US govt for their hisbands military career 140 years previous. Thats quite mental

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Martin wow!

Er - this?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Martin" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(Although I now know everything I wanted to know about the place, Alberta, but was afraid to ask.)

[Temulkar]

One that inspired my novel was William Hiseland 1620-1733. He fought for the King at Edgehill in 1642, and was still a senior NCO under Marlborough at Malplaquet in 70 years later. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hiseland" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Temulkar]

If I recall correctly the last widows pensions for the American Civil War ended in around 2007 - women who had married old men at the turn of the 20th century were still collecting from the US govt for their hisbands military career 140 years previous. Thats quite mental

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Martin wow!

Er - this?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Martin" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(Although I now know everything I wanted to know about the place, Alberta, but was afraid to ask.)

I was concieved in Acme Alberta.