Saturday, 17th December and Sunday, 18th December 2016

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 8:09 am

Good morfternoon.

Post by **PaulfromYorkshire** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 8:40 am

Morning!

Liz Truss getting grief on Twitter for saying the prison rioters will "face the full force of the law"

I'd missed this gem from a couple of weeks back

Liz Truss Says ‘Barking Dogs Deter Drones’ In Latest ‘Viral’ Soundbite
From the minister who wished hedgehogs ‘a very happy Christmas’.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/l ... mg00000004" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **PaulfromYorkshire** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 9:00 am

Angela Rayner MP Retweeted The Independent
Tories killing Badgers on an industrial scale. 10,000 badgers slaughtered with the minister saying we will carry on

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 80316.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 10:55 am

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/ ... -escalates" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The head of Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, Jarosław Kaczyński, left parliament in the early hours of Saturday after police forcefully removed protesters blocking their exit from, television footage showed.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 12:14 pm

Poland going the way of Hungary?

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 12:21 pm

Muslim woman dragged on ground by her hijab in east London assault
Metropolitan police seeking two white males aged 17 to 19 after young woman attacked in Chingford shopping precinct

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... on-assault" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sigh.
I hate what this country has become

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 12:25 pm

Brexit and price hikes push up the cost of Christmas for Britons

Pound’s slump and rising production costs mean consumers are feeling the pinch as they stock up for the festive season (Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... as-britons

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 12:37 pm

The case for a European minimum income scheme for jobseekers

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2016/ ... obseekers/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(Reading again, it's complicated)

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 12:49 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:The case for a European minimum income scheme for jobseekers

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2016/ ... obseekers/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(Reading again, it's complicated)

You're telling me!

nickyinnorfolk · Post by **nickyinnorfolk** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 12:57 pm

Michael Sheen to quit acting to fight fascism

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/peopl ... 81151.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good for him

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 1:28 pm

Good-afternoon, everyone.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 1:50 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:Poland going the way of Hungary?

I think the story is more about the members of the Polish public who are trying to stop Poland going the way of Hungary.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 1:50 pm

Jonathan Bartley good on BBCaq today.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 2:44 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:Muslim woman dragged on ground by her hijab in east London assault
Metropolitan police seeking two white males aged 17 to 19 after young woman attacked in Chingford shopping precinct

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... on-assault" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sigh.
I hate what this country has become

Arseholes like this have always existed, it may yet ultimately prove a good thing that events are making them more visible.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 4:32 pm

Donald Trump accuses China of 'unpresidented' act over US navy drone

President-elect makes spelling error in belligerent tweet (Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/201 ... navy-drone

As much as that pains me, his written English is the least of my worries where he's concerned. Unless, of course, when in office, he sends "Tweets" which are of a dangerous nature because they are misconstrued.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 4:43 pm

That some "liberals" seem more bothered about this spelling mistake than some of the things Trump has said and done, helps explain how he won tbh.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 5:51 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:That some "liberals" seem more bothered about this spelling mistake than some of the things Trump has said and done, helps explain how he won tbh.

True enough - but then again, a lot of us laughed at Nigel Farage and Ukip.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 6:16 pm

Southern trains 'cancelled despite drivers being free'

Southern has been accused of cancelling trains and blaming industrial action even though drivers were available.

The train company is embroiled in a bitter dispute with the RMT union and Aslef over driver-only operated trains.

Aslef, which represents drivers, has said services from Eastbourne and into London Bridge have been cancelled even though drivers were free. (BBC News website)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-38353405

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 6:55 pm

Brexit Britain has the deepest faultlines of any country I have known
British society needs modernisation but instead Brits will be busy rebuilding bridges they are about to tear down

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... are_btn_tw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

nickyinnorfolk · Post by **nickyinnorfolk** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 6:56 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:Jonathan Bartley good on BBCaq today.

Yes he was. Dawn Butler good as well. David Gawke and Esther McVey (thought we'd seen the last of her) spouting the usual drivel.

Bartley made point that there's always money for tax breaks for the rich, and money to spend on Brexit, despite the government claiming money is short for social care.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 7:15 pm

nickyinnorfolk wrote:
AngryAsWell wrote:Jonathan Bartley good on BBCaq today.
Yes he was. Dawn Butler good as well. David Gawke and Esther McVey (thought we'd seen the last of her) spouting the usual drivel.

Bartley made point that there's always money for tax breaks for the rich, and money to spend on Brexit, despite the government claiming money is short for social care.

I'm still surprised how quickly IDS' accusation that Osborne was unfairly cutting welfare to fund tax cuts for the rich was glossed over. I swear the voting public used to be more against such regressive policies, requiring the Tories to dress up and disguise their attempts to transfer money from the poor to the rich, but now it seems it's not just acceptable, but popular too.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 8:08 pm

Theresa May’s bunker: only the meekest courtiers are allowed in
Nick Cohen

"The recent sycophantic interviews show that the prime minister’s stubbornness and parochialism leave her ill-equipped for Brexit negotiations

No one as yet seems to realise that EU countries have a strategic interest in keeping the union together. They cannot give Britain generous terms because it would encourage others to leave. Politics trumps economics, in Europe as everywhere else. (If it did not, we would not have voted to leave.)

If we are not to be stuck with disastrous terms, we need a cosmopolitan leader, who has the imagination to see other points of view and the intelligence to make compromises. Instead we have Theresa May. She is not “reserved and modest” but obstinate and uncomprehending. Doubtless, all the Tories she has humiliated will turn on her when the realities of Brexit spin apart the competing interests of small towns and big businesses in the Conservative coalition.

Don’t feel sorry for her then. Feel sorry for your country, your neighbours and, in all likelihood, yourself."

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... iew-brexit" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 8:47 pm

Better schools, no investment needed? The Tories’ maths doesn’t add up
Lola Okolosie

In moving funding from London across England, Justine Greening has robbed Peter to pay Paul and done nothing to solve the real problem

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... are_btn_tw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 8:52 pm

‏@MSmithsonPB
Tonight’s Local By-Election summary
CON lose all 4 seats being defended 3 to the LDs & one to IND. Worst election night TMay's leadership

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

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 9:12 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:Better schools, no investment needed? The Tories’ maths doesn’t add up
Lola Okolosie

In moving funding from London across England, Justine Greening has robbed Peter to pay Paul and done nothing to solve the real problem

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... are_btn_tw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And a fairly scathing piece including the same subject by Laura McInerney.

School funding, grammars... 2016 has been ridiculous

http://schoolsweek.co.uk/school-funding ... idiculous/

The release – finally! – of the national funding formula was a relief, although the fact it coincided with the National Audit Office (NAO) telling the education department off for its obliqueness around the scale of cuts facing the sector was ironic.

It is fair comment from the NAO, though. The government have been so busy sticking to the line that schools were not going to be worse off in terms of funding they failed to help leaders prepare. This is why we are now in a situation where schools are spending more than they have in their coffers – a situation which cannot last indefinitely. While local authorities were previously able to spread cash around in order to cover lean times, standalone academies and those in small trusts simply don’t have the reserve to do so. They are having to turn to Treasury coffers which won’t keep handing over cash on the never-never.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 9:19 pm

#AusterityChristmasSongs

https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusterityCh ... s?src=hash" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 10:49 pm

Coyne can feck off. That is all. Night folks.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 11:24 pm

Not had much to say today other than posting links, that's because I'm despairing about how we can even - at some point - begin to repair the industrial scale harm that is being inflicted on this country, and our most vulnerable people.
Where to start?
NHS? Social Care? Schools? Disability crimes (including government ones) ? Law & order? Racial hatred (how to tackle that one...) ? Transport & infrastructure? Housing? Rent controls? Getting back some standing in EU?
Not to mention the world wide Environmental time bomb waiting in the wings.....?
I feel we are breaking down as a society.
Keep posting folks, one day we will need to start that re building process together.
As CJA says :
Love to all

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 17 Dec, 2016 11:29 pm

As if to confirm my above post this is the 1st post on my twitter time line (which I re tweeted)
Marisa MS ‏@MarisaSeville Dec 2
Angel of grief
Rome.

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

Edit to correct link

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 1:50 am

https://www.theguardian.com/society/201 ... s-mps-told" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Do not wash your hands of NHS and social care problems, MPs told

‘Problems should not be devolved to areas without resources to manage them’ says public accounts committee

http://www.parliament.uk/business/commi ... hed-16-17/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 9:10 am

Morning all. (again)

Farage banned from speaking to government ministers. Boohoo.

Why should he be in discussions with them? What right does he have? He's not an MP, still. How often do we think Sturgeon speaks directly to individual government ministers?

Nigel Farage: No 10 has banned ministers from talking to me

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... king-to-me" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Talking about a bridge across the Atlantic, that sounds remarkably like...?

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 9:17 am

British business and the trade union movement have made an unprecedented joint demand to Theresa May to guarantee immediately the rights of European Union migrants to remain in the UK, warning that further uncertainty will inflict serious damage on the British economy.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ant-rights" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

3.2 million EU citizens in the UK (what's that - 10 percent of the working population?); plus 1.2 million Brits in Europe. facing economic and social uncertainty.

gilsey · Post by **gilsey** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 10:28 am

StephenDolan wrote: Nigel Farage: No 10 has banned ministers from talking to me

The government has got one thing right, I suppose we should be grateful.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 10:37 am

Good grief, where to start with this?

British values oath proposed for public office holders

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38355373

Civil servants and other holders of public office should swear an oath to British values, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has said.

Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Javid said people could not play a "positive role" in public life unless they accepted basic values.

These included democracy, equality and freedom of speech, he said.

Mr Javid's intervention comes after a report by Dame Louise Casey warned of increasing ethnic segregation.
'Challenge attitudes'

Mr Javid's proposals would mean every new recruit in the public sector, including councillors, school governors and civil servants would be expected to commit to the oath, which may have to be read out loud before starting the role.

This could extend to those working in the NHS and the BBC.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 10:43 am

Casey's snake oil charlatanry still has some adherents, then.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 10:53 am

Unite challenger: ‘We have to focus on how to grow unions, not influence in Westminster’ (Observer)

I've never had much success with onions, myself.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... emy-corbyn

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 10:54 am

Oh - good morfternoon.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 10:58 am

Good-morning, everyone.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 11:41 am

British values oath
Tory party martinets can f*** right off

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 12:15 pm

Jeremy Corbyn 'walks out' of Labour Christmas party after MPs sing Tony Blair anthem
Labour MPs have denied the reports

So why report on it !???

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 82541.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 12:15 pm

Latest poll from Opinium gives the Tories a 7 point lead. I'm not going to pretend that is "good", but if polls generally show the Tories doing no better than at the last GE then the already shrinking chances of an early election surely have to recede further (though IMO Richmond Park was maybe a near fatal blow to that)

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 12:19 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:Jeremy Corbyn 'walks out' of Labour Christmas party after MPs sing Tony Blair anthem
Labour MPs have denied the reports

So why report on it !???

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 82541.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Jess Phillips MP ‏@jessphillips 12h12 hours ago
Jess Phillips MP Retweeted Mirror Politics
Can I just say as someone who was there this did not happen

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 12:26 pm

Anyway, even if the story has some truth it doesn't follow that Corbyn "walked (or, still less "stormed") out".

It has been claimed he had another engagement to go to, and MPs were fully aware of this.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 12:52 pm

Michael Sheen denies rumours he is swapping acting for activism

Welsh actor writes in blog that he is not ‘leaving Hollywood ’ but that he would like to focus more on politics (Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/201 ... r-activism

gilsey · Post by **gilsey** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 1:47 pm

‘Shocking’ rise in number of homeless children in B&Bs at Christmas
https://www.theguardian.com/society/201 ... cking-rise" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Why does the G have to put 'Shocking' in quotation marks? Genuine question.
I know Shelter did say it, but there's no reason why the G can't say it as well.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 1:49 pm

RogerOThornhill wrote:Good grief, where to start with this?

British values oath proposed for public office holders

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38355373

Civil servants and other holders of public office should swear an oath to British values, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has said.

Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Javid said people could not play a "positive role" in public life unless they accepted basic values.

These included democracy, equality and freedom of speech, he said.

Mr Javid's intervention comes after a report by Dame Louise Casey warned of increasing ethnic segregation.
'Challenge attitudes'

Mr Javid's proposals would mean every new recruit in the public sector, including councillors, school governors and civil servants would be expected to commit to the oath, which may have to be read out loud before starting the role.

This could extend to those working in the NHS and the BBC.

Mike Butcher ‏@mikebutcher 17m17 minutes ago
It's pretty rich to ask public servants to swear an oath of loyalty when we don't even have a written constitution or Bill of Rights.

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

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 2:12 pm

TRIVIA ALERT
(trademark clanger i know, what with the only thing I've ever commented on being Theresa's May's trousers)

One bit of good news:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style ... 80301.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Beard trend is finally over

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 2:17 pm

Europe is puzzled by Brexit and our MPs who call for 'managed migration'. Why, they wonder, doesn’t our Government instead work out how to reorganise the UK’s labour market to support jobs, training and fair pay for British workers, which would reduce low-pay employers’ preferences for foreign workers?
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/bre ... 82581.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Indeed.

Hobiejoe · Post by **Hobiejoe** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 3:59 pm

Last week's Desert Island Discs castaway, Davina McCall. This week Bruce Springsteen.

From the ridiculous to the sublime.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0855znp#play

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sun 18 Dec, 2016 4:05 pm

Hull prison 'on brink of riot' after inmates arrive from HMP Birmingham

Prison Officers’ Association says jail in lockdown after 15 inmates involved in Birmingham riot torched CCTV cameras (Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/society/201 ... birmingham