FlyTheNest

I'm sure there was a thread here!

Not a great night for the Tories in the by-elections!

@britainelects

Rogate (Chichester) result:

LDEM: 55.8% (+55.8)
CON: 40.1% (-27.3)
LAB: 2.6% (+2.6)
GRN: 1.5% (-18.2)

LibDem GAIN from Con


Middleton Cheney (South Northamptonshire) result:

CON: 42.1% (-21.6)
LDEM: 34.1% (+34.1)
LAB: 19.7% (+19.7)
GRN: 4.1% (+4.1)

Conservative HOLD.


St Olaves (St Edmundsbury) result:

LAB: 58.6% (+27.0)
CON: 24.1% (-6.5)
IND: 12.4% (+12.4)
LDEM: 5.0% (+5.0)

Labour HOLD.

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/25627" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Benefit sanctions inquiry launched

Isle of Man set to scrap its you're iller than we thought,tough shit assessments.

https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/i ... work-test/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sorry,should be tough love,of course.

Morning all.

Thread about Enoch...

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

That second one about Powell recruiting from the Commonwealth to come and work in the NHS is well-known now but still startling given his later stance.

And Labour don't come out of this well either.

The Facebook/Cambridge Analytica story trundles on:

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

This was nicked and embellished but may be the best joke you'll see today...

Allison
‏@AllieLia
Follow Follow @AllieLia
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A woman is sitting at her deceased husband’s funeral. A man leans in to her and asks, “Do you mind if I say a word?”.

“No, go right ahead”, the woman replies.

The man stands, clears his throat, says “Plethora”, and sits back down.

“Thanks”, the woman says, “that means a lot”

Not sure this came as a surprise.

Firms relabelling low-skilled jobs as apprenticeships, says report

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-43739963

Fast food giants, coffee shops and retailers are relabelling low-skilled jobs as apprenticeships and gaining subsidies for training, a report says.

The study by centre-right think tank Reform says many firms have rebranded existing roles after being obliged to contribute cash to on-the-job training.

It adds that 40% of government-approved apprenticeship standards do not meet a traditional definition of them.

The government says "quality" is at the heart of its apprenticeship reforms.

No, it was all about hitting a 3m target.

Wait - can't be that - Labour's target culture had been swept away right?

Just happened to be next to each other on my Twitter feed...

I did comment yesterday about Trump's lack of "consistency" on quite a few things. It does make you wonder.....

Matthew Austin
‏

@Fertweetssake
5h5 hours ago
More
Replying to @AngelaRayner
May's avoiding vote as if MPs vote as their constituents desire, vote will be lost. If they vote with the government, it won't go down well with consituents & local election results, already predicted to be poor, may suffer. Avoiding a vote is least bad of 3 bad options.
#Syria

Well, this is excellent news.

UCU
‏Verified account
@ucu
36m36 minutes ago
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BREAKING NEWS: The vice-chancellor of @Openuniversity Peter Horrocks has resigned.

The people I know were very much against what he was trying to do to the OU.

RogerOThornhill wrote:Well, this is excellent news.

UCU
‏Verified account
@ucu
36m36 minutes ago
More
BREAKING NEWS: The vice-chancellor of @Openuniversity Peter Horrocks has resigned.

The people I know were very much against what he was trying to do to the OU.

Also on HE news, the result of the UCU ballot is due this afternoon to decide whether industrial action will resume, meaning strikes next week in some universities.

gilsey wrote:Matthew Austin
‏

@Fertweetssake
5h5 hours ago
More
Replying to @AngelaRayner
May's avoiding vote as if MPs vote as their constituents desire, vote will be lost. If they vote with the government, it won't go down well with consituents & local election results, already predicted to be poor, may suffer. Avoiding a vote is least bad of 3 bad options.
#Syria

I think dodging a vote in the Commons will also be highly unpopular.

Or a clean sweep for the Tories....

http://www.killamarsh-pc.gov.uk/news/20 ... ion-result" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Even at Guido's place the majority of comments on the "Diane Abbott Car-crash" thread are against the gesture bombing which is being slowly gestated ...

All assuming, of course, that Donald Trump actually takes some kind of action.

Which can't be relied upon.

And even if he does take some action, it is by no means certain it would be any more extensive than his previous response to use of chemical weapons and thus May's support without a vote may not be such a risk.

The Russians and Russian point of view are getting a lot of airtime today. Why is that?

HindleA wrote:Or a clean sweep for the Tories....

http://www.killamarsh-pc.gov.uk/news/20 ... ion-result" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Town/parish council level, doesn't count

Not exactly what you would call a watertight case, but in the absence of any other plausible explanation, I still feel it's more than enough circumstantial evidence to enact the Magnitsky amendment asap

https://www.buzzfeed.com/amphtml/emilya ... ssion=true" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Britain Has Set Out Its Most Detailed Explanation Yet For Why It Believes Russia Is Responsible For The Salisbury Poisoning

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

Garvan Walshe
‏

@garvanwalshe
20m20 minutes ago
More
2. The trap is the anti-immigrant ratchet. Immigration is not a problem in the UK, only its perception is, and it’s a perception not related to reality.

gilsey wrote:Matthew Austin
‏

@Fertweetssake
5h5 hours ago
More
Replying to @AngelaRayner
May's avoiding vote as if MPs vote as their constituents desire, vote will be lost. If they vote with the government, it won't go down well with consituents & local election results, already predicted to be poor, may suffer. Avoiding a vote is least bad of 3 bad options.
#Syria

I wish governmental leadership would act in the best interests of country and people

gilsey wrote:

Garvan Walshe
‏
@garvanwalshe
20m20 minutes ago
More
2. The trap is the anti-immigrant ratchet. Immigration is not a problem in the UK, only its perception is, and it’s a perception not related to reality.

Exactly

Willow904 wrote:All assuming, of course, that Donald Trump actually takes some kind of action.

Which can't be relied upon.

And even if he does take some action, it is by no means certain it would be any more extensive than his previous response to use of chemical weapons and thus May's support without a vote may not be such a risk.

The Russians and Russian point of view are getting a lot of airtime today. Why is that?

Watch out for official data coming out today, everyone

HindleA wrote:Or a clean sweep for the Tories....

http://www.killamarsh-pc.gov.uk/news/20 ... ion-result" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A clean sweep for Tories
A clean sweep of Tories

just musing...

Good-afternoon, everyone

AnatolyKasparov wrote:

gilsey wrote:Matthew Austin
‏

@Fertweetssake
5h5 hours ago
More
Replying to @AngelaRayner
May's avoiding vote as if MPs vote as their constituents desire, vote will be lost. If they vote with the government, it won't go down well with consituents & local election results, already predicted to be poor, may suffer. Avoiding a vote is least bad of 3 bad options.
#Syria

I think dodging a vote in the Commons will also be highly unpopular.

Also, if there's no vote, and it all goes tits up, Theresa May and the Government will be the can-carriers.


Edited to remove unnecessary words.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/216539" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

/2018/apr/13/commonwealth-citizens-harassment-british-immigration-policy

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

Oh - just seen this!

Tory backbenchers fear the minority government could be at risk if May acts without MPs’ support and things go wrong. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA

Theresa May is under increasing pressure from her own backbenchers to cancel Monday’s business in parliament to make time for a full-scale debate and vote on intervention in Syria.

“The government owes it to parliament to come and explain,” said Bob Seely, the Isle of Wight Conservative MP who says he is sceptical about intervention. “Articulating their case in a chamber full of critical voices is good for the government. If it can’t, then maybe it shouldn’t be doing it.”

Tory backbenchers fear that if May approves a military strike without parliamentary support and it goes wrong, perhaps through civilian casualties or the loss of a British plane, she could jeopardise her minority government.
Syria mediators take centre stage as moment for rapid strike passes
Read more

Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general, said on Friday: “If it all goes terribly wrong then the government will be in difficulties. It will then have chucked at it that it hasn’t consulted parliament.(Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... ria-debate

frog222 wrote:https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/216539

/2018/apr/13/commonwealth-citizens-harassment-british-immigration-policy

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

Very good article by Gary Younge.

It's the first I've seen on this topic that has cast this squarely against the backdrop of UKIP topping the EU elections in 2014 and the subsequent push to Brexit. The Tory party bowing to minority pressure from the right, trying to prove their Ukippy credentials to stem the flow of votes. I don't think anyone doubts those credentials now.

PorFavor wrote:Oh - just seen this!

Tory backbenchers fear the minority government could be at risk if May acts without MPs’ support and things go wrong. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA

Theresa May is under increasing pressure from her own backbenchers to cancel Monday’s business in parliament to make time for a full-scale debate and vote on intervention in Syria.

“The government owes it to parliament to come and explain,” said Bob Seely, the Isle of Wight Conservative MP who says he is sceptical about intervention. “Articulating their case in a chamber full of critical voices is good for the government. If it can’t, then maybe it shouldn’t be doing it.”

Tory backbenchers fear that if May approves a military strike without parliamentary support and it goes wrong, perhaps through civilian casualties or the loss of a British plane, she could jeopardise her minority government.
Syria mediators take centre stage as moment for rapid strike passes
Read more

Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general, said on Friday: “If it all goes terribly wrong then the government will be in difficulties. It will then have chucked at it that it hasn’t consulted parliament.(Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... ria-debate

Tory backbenchers seem to have a bit of a soft spot for Assad. Interesting that neither Cameron or May can get a majority to back bombing him, as opposed to Hussein, Gaddafi and Isis.

Willow904 wrote:

PorFavor wrote:Oh - just seen this!

Tory backbenchers fear the minority government could be at risk if May acts without MPs’ support and things go wrong. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA

Theresa May is under increasing pressure from her own backbenchers to cancel Monday’s business in parliament to make time for a full-scale debate and vote on intervention in Syria.

“The government owes it to parliament to come and explain,” said Bob Seely, the Isle of Wight Conservative MP who says he is sceptical about intervention. “Articulating their case in a chamber full of critical voices is good for the government. If it can’t, then maybe it shouldn’t be doing it.”

Tory backbenchers fear that if May approves a military strike without parliamentary support and it goes wrong, perhaps through civilian casualties or the loss of a British plane, she could jeopardise her minority government.
Syria mediators take centre stage as moment for rapid strike passes
Read more

Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general, said on Friday: “If it all goes terribly wrong then the government will be in difficulties. It will then have chucked at it that it hasn’t consulted parliament.(Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... ria-debate

Tory backbenchers seem to have a bit of a soft spot for Assad. Interesting that neither Cameron or May can get a majority to back bombing him, as opposed to Hussein, Gaddafi and Isis.

Mrs Assad (and her connections)?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asma_al-Assad

Willow904 wrote:

PorFavor wrote:Oh - just seen this!

Tory backbenchers fear the minority government could be at risk if May acts without MPs’ support and things go wrong. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA

Theresa May is under increasing pressure from her own backbenchers to cancel Monday’s business in parliament to make time for a full-scale debate and vote on intervention in Syria.

“The government owes it to parliament to come and explain,” said Bob Seely, the Isle of Wight Conservative MP who says he is sceptical about intervention. “Articulating their case in a chamber full of critical voices is good for the government. If it can’t, then maybe it shouldn’t be doing it.”

Tory backbenchers fear that if May approves a military strike without parliamentary support and it goes wrong, perhaps through civilian casualties or the loss of a British plane, she could jeopardise her minority government.
Syria mediators take centre stage as moment for rapid strike passes
Read more

Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general, said on Friday: “If it all goes terribly wrong then the government will be in difficulties. It will then have chucked at it that it hasn’t consulted parliament.(Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... ria-debate

Tory backbenchers seem to have a bit of a soft spot for Assad. Interesting that neither Cameron or May can get a majority to back bombing him, as opposed to Hussein, Gaddafi and Isis.

Mrs Assad (and her connections)?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asma_al-Assad

Willow904 wrote:

PorFavor wrote:Oh - just seen this!

Tory backbenchers fear the minority government could be at risk if May acts without MPs’ support and things go wrong. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA

Theresa May is under increasing pressure from her own backbenchers to cancel Monday’s business in parliament to make time for a full-scale debate and vote on intervention in Syria.

“The government owes it to parliament to come and explain,” said Bob Seely, the Isle of Wight Conservative MP who says he is sceptical about intervention. “Articulating their case in a chamber full of critical voices is good for the government. If it can’t, then maybe it shouldn’t be doing it.”

Tory backbenchers fear that if May approves a military strike without parliamentary support and it goes wrong, perhaps through civilian casualties or the loss of a British plane, she could jeopardise her minority government.
Syria mediators take centre stage as moment for rapid strike passes
Read more

Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general, said on Friday: “If it all goes terribly wrong then the government will be in difficulties. It will then have chucked at it that it hasn’t consulted parliament.(Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... ria-debate

Tory backbenchers seem to have a bit of a soft spot for Assad. Interesting that neither Cameron or May can get a majority to back bombing him, as opposed to Hussein, Gaddafi and Isis.

Mrs Assad (and her connections)?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asma_al-Assad

What's the collective term for Squirrels?

PorFavor wrote:What's the collective term for Squirrels?

I think it's a PorFavor of squirrels.

Vote Leave broke spending limits 'on industrial scale', says ex-employee

Mark Gettleson is third whistleblower to come forward to make claim over EU referendum spending
(Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... -gettleson

Following on from earlier, following a ballot of all members UCU have called off the strike at Universities.

Students will need to be up and at their lectures next Monday

PorFavor wrote:What's the collective term for Squirrels?

The information in your posts above is important enough to justify its being posted three times.

This bloke doesn't like Trump. Understatement.

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

Woman told to speak English in London tube attack

Police search for two women after racially motivated assault on Spanish-speaking passenger
(Guardian)

No doubt Nigel Farage is (genuinely) proud of himself.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... in-england

Three local council byelections yesterday:

South Northamptonshire DC - Tory hold, though the LibDems ran them fairly close in their first outing here in modern times. This two member ward split 1Ind/1C in 2003 before electing the same combination unopposed in 2007 before the Tories took the Independent seat in 2011, again without any actual contest. This at least changed in 2015 when the Tory slate saw off a sole Indy by about 60-40, compared to which they dropped by nearly 20 points this time. LibDems not that far behind as already said, followed by Labour who had some success here into the 1990s but now had to be content with almost exactly 20% in their first appearance here since 2003. Greens last with a relatively modest 20%.

Chichester DC - LibDems went a bit better in this one, taking a previously safe Tory ward with 55% of the vote. This single member division has had various opponents since being created for the 2003 elections, but until now the common factor has been its unvarying reliability for the Tories (this includes an unopposed return for them in a previous 2010 byelection) but despite not having stood here since 2007 the LibDems stormed home now as the Tories dropped by over 25 points compared with 2015. Labour got less than 3% in this deeply unpromising terrain, but that was still almost twice what the Greens achieved - a massive drop since around 20% and second place three years ago.

St Edmundsbury DC - Labour hold with close to 60 per cent of the poll in a ward which split 1Ind/1Lab last time with the Tories only just behind. In 2003 and 2007 two Labour members had been safely returned here in straight fights with the Tories, but one of their councillors then defected to the Greens and in 2011 split the "left" vote sufficiently to let an Independent in - they duly consolidated their position in the most recent 2015 contest. This time round, though, Tories dropped to less than a quarter of the vote - beaten by well over 2 to 1 - and the sitting Indy failed to add much lustre to their hopeful this time as they finished a poor third. LibDems failed to perform any miracles here in their first showing since the 1990s, last with a pretty modest 5%.

Three contests again next week, which concludes things until the regular elections at the beginning of May.

@AnatolyKasparov

I was prevented thanking you in the time-honoured fashion by those damn' squirrels.

Oh. See what I mean? They've really got it in for me.

Haircut.
Even the price increase didn't induce a panic attack,though still some way of double figures,pound wise.

Delayed purchase of weekly bus ticket and walked the few miles.

Ex miner,swears like a trooper.

PF likes most things in treble,I am reliably informed.

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

Whilst kicking the sick/disabled in the nethers.
British values
Christian.