FlyTheNest

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.

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.

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.

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

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;

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.

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.

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'.

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.

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

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.

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;

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; …

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.....

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

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 !

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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;

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;