Thursday 16th October 2014

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 2:18 pm

PaulfromYorkshire wrote:@pk1 yep sure looks like it

@letsskip Refitman has disabled the "these people have already posted" thing by popular request. I guess it will lead to a little more snapping

Okey dokey!

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 2:24 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:Fair play to this lot. Needed saying.

http://politicalscrapbook.net/2014/10/d ... son-again/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

DAVID CAMERON INVOKES HIS DISABLED SON AS A POLITICAL SHIELD (AGAIN)
An MP needs to say this.

I had a chuckle earlier at the expense of the assorted ratbags who ''work'' for Staines trying to muster outrage at that article, them of all people.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 2:31 pm

I'm hearing on the BBC news that David Freud (whilst not having resigned) hasn't turned up for work at the DWP. Apparently, (in the BBC reporter's words) he has "gone to ground today".

pk1 · Post by **pk1** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 2:35 pm

QT:

On the panel are

* Jeremy Hunt
* Angela Eagle
* Ming Campbell
* Isabel Oakeshott
* Giles Fraser.

so including Dimbleby that makes 5 tories, Angela Eagle & Giles Fraser.

If I look at the TV schedule, it tells me that Charlie Kennedy & Amanda Platell are tonight's guests so I have no idea what the bloody hell is going on.

pk1 · Post by **pk1** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 2:37 pm

PorFavor wrote:I'm hearing on the BBC news that David Freud (whilst not having resigned) hasn't turned up for work at the DWP. Apparently, (in the BBC reporter's words) he has "gone to ground today".

It was said yesterday that he was due in today but had been 'stood down'

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 2:38 pm

PorFavor wrote:I'm hearing on the BBC news that David Freud (whilst not having resigned) hasn't turned up for work at the DWP. Apparently, (in the BBC reporter's words) he has "gone to ground today".

Brave man.

All he'd have to do is walk in and out of the office.

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 2:39 pm

Isn't that what used to be called 'gardening leave' ?

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 2:46 pm

pk1 wrote:QT:

On the panel are

* Jeremy Hunt
* Angela Eagle
* Ming Campbell
* Isabel Oakeshott
* Giles Fraser.

so including Dimbleby that makes 5 tories, Angela Eagle & Giles Fraser.

If I look at the TV schedule, it tells me that Charlie Kennedy & Amanda Platell are tonight's guests so I have no idea what the bloody hell is going on.

I need an early night, that's sorted it.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 2:48 pm

Tory byelection hopeful backs Ukip’s points system for EU migrants
Anna Firth, one of two women pitching to stand in Rochester and Strood, told hustings ‘fruit pickers in Romania’ should be barred

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... u-migrants

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 2:50 pm

The Telegraph have Freud apologising to Cameron.

Yeah, that's it. Cameron, he's the injured party.

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 2:55 pm

RobertSnozers wrote:
pk1 wrote:
PorFavor wrote:I'm hearing on the BBC news that David Freud (whilst not having resigned) hasn't turned up for work at the DWP. Apparently, (in the BBC reporter's words) he has "gone to ground today".
It was said yesterday that he was due in today but had been 'stood down'
What does that even mean?

Code for 'shifted out of the way until this unfortunate business has blown over'?

Labour should be snapping at the Tories' heels until they have to get rid of Freud or come out in support.

Jackie Doyle-Price, her of the puny majority in Thurrock has hardly covered herself in glory today either..

pk1 · Post by **pk1** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:00 pm

RobertSnozers wrote:
pk1 wrote:
PorFavor wrote:I'm hearing on the BBC news that David Freud (whilst not having resigned) hasn't turned up for work at the DWP. Apparently, (in the BBC reporter's words) he has "gone to ground today".
It was said yesterday that he was due in today but had been 'stood down'
What does that even mean?

Code for 'shifted out of the way until this unfortunate business has blown over'?

Labour should be snapping at the Tories' heels until they have to get rid of Freud or come out in support.

Funny you should say that.

I responded to a comment at the Graun by @swalzby who said, in part:

Part of me is glad the Tories are given a bit of their own medicines( twisting words, taking them out of context to attack an opponent) but a bit sad the Labour is the one doing it.

My response to her/him was:

If Labour hadn't been doing it, the cries from the usual suspects would be 'why isn't Labour doing this ? Freud is atrocious if that's what he believes. Why isn't Miliband demanding Freud's sacking ?'

(I would post up the link but the comment link thingy doesn't work with that damn beta crap they insist on using on Andrews blog)

Ed was on Sky news earlier reiterating Cameron should get shot of Freud but it seems that it doesn't matter what EM says or does, he can't do anything right for being wrong with some people !

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:00 pm

letsskiptotheleft wrote:
RobertSnozers wrote:
pk1 wrote: It was said yesterday that he was due in today but had been 'stood down'
What does that even mean?

Code for 'shifted out of the way until this unfortunate business has blown over'?

Labour should be snapping at the Tories' heels until they have to get rid of Freud or come out in support.
Jackie Doyle-Price, her of the puny majority in Thurrock has hardly covered herself in glory today either..

Excellent. She keeps popping up on my Twitter.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:03 pm

Like Freud, she's not without a point there, but idiotic to try and make it on Twitter at all.

And she loudly joined in with her neighbour Stephen Barclay's attempt to fit up Burnham with selective leaks.

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:06 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:Like Freud, she's not without a point there, but idiotic to try and make it on Twitter at all.

And she loudly joined in with her neighbour Stephen Barclay's attempt to fit up Burnham with selective leaks.

Yes, why didn't she just put her head down and keep her trap shut?

Sure this has been linked, but still, hilarious that the Kippers have lost out on funding to the tune of a million quid a year, from the EU of all things, laugh, I nearly wet myself!

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... e-brussels" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:09 pm

pk1 wrote:
PorFavor wrote:I'm hearing on the BBC news that David Freud (whilst not having resigned) hasn't turned up for work at the DWP. Apparently, (in the BBC reporter's words) he has "gone to ground today".
It was said yesterday that he was due in today but had been 'stood down'

Of course, that's what you do with someone in whom you have complete confidence. I found the following at something called Thesaurus.com. I've bolded some of my favourites although, included in the listing below, are also some suggestions that David Freud should follow. Preferably before he gets any richer.

Common Informal Synonyms for stood down
verb give up, let go

abandon
abdicate
cede
drop out
forgo
hand over
quit
renounce
surrender
vacate
waive

withdraw
yield
abnegate
cast
desert
discard
ditch
drop
dump
forbear
forsake

forswear
kick
leave
release
repudiate
resign
sacrifice
shed
back down
cast off
cut loose
drop like hot potato
kiss good-bye
lay aside
opt out
quit cold turkey
retire from
stand down
swear off
take the oath
take the pledge

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:12 pm

Incredible that they couldn't find a bigger group than that.

DonutHingeParty · Post by **DonutHingeParty** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:17 pm

letsskiptotheleft wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:Like Freud, she's not without a point there, but idiotic to try and make it on Twitter at all.

And she loudly joined in with her neighbour Stephen Barclay's attempt to fit up Burnham with selective leaks.
Yes, why didn't she just put her head down and keep her trap shut?

Sure this has been linked, but still, hilarious that the Kippers have lost out on funding to the tune of a million quid a year, from the EU of all things, laugh, I nearly wet myself!

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... e-brussels" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Doesn't need saying again, but Farage is a bloody idiot. There's no political incoherence in asking a member who wants to attend as part of an EU trade delegation to dissociate herself from a group whose stated interest is the disbandment of the EU.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:18 pm

Jackie Doyle-PriceVerified account
‏@JackieDP
Indeed we are the workers party @CarolineFlintMP we want everyone to have the dignity of work. Lets have action not noise

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:20 pm

Paterson reckons fracking could be a boon to remote and poor areas of the country, now I suppose by poor he means areas not too dissimilar to mine.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ ... -of-the-uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It could also be a boon for the richer areas, but we can't have that can we?

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:23 pm

letsskiptotheleft wrote:Paterson reckons fracking could be a boon to remote and poor areas of the country, now I suppose by poor he means areas not too dissimilar to mine.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ ... -of-the-uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It could also be a boon for the richer areas, but we can't have that can we?

I'm worried he might mean areas like mine!

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:34 pm

You know all those cash poor people going to flattened by the Mansion Tax?

Er, they've already been promised protection.

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/20 ... ansion-tax" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sure, the man in the street doesn't have to believe Balls, but his own MPs really ought to give him some slack.

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:38 pm

Don't like fracking? You must be getting funding from Putin...

http://thischangeseverything.org/how-pu ... -in-texas/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:45 pm

From Warwick a couple of days ago.

http://www.theguardian.com/education/20 ... d-big-cuts" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

University-led teacher training to be smashed on the say-so of Gove crony, Charlie Taylor.

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:47 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:You know all those cash poor people going to flattened by the Mansion Tax?

Er, they've already been promised protection.

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/20 ... ansion-tax" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sure, the man in the street doesn't have to believe Balls, but his own MPs really ought to give him some slack.

How many of the houses over £2m have had their value increase earned by their owners?

pk1 · Post by **pk1** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:55 pm

As if Andrew Sparrow was looking in, here's his latest update:

Ipsos MORI has released some polling on the tax policies backed by the main UK parties at their party conferences.

All four policies polled were popular, but the one with the highest approval rating was increasing the basic rate personal allowance.

Here are the figures.

Increasing the personal allowance to £12,500 (Lib Dems and Conservatives)

Support: 85%

Oppose: 9%

Net approval: 76%

Increasing the 40% tax threshold to £50,000 (Conservatives)

Support: 64%

Oppose: 22%

Net approval: 42%

Mansion tax on homes worth more than £2m (Lib Dems and Labour)

Support: 63%

Oppose: 26%

Net approval: 37%

Increasing the top rate of tax to 50% (Labour)

Support: 61%

Oppose: 30%

Net approval: 31%

It should be noted that in some respects an exact comparison is unfair. The first two measures are tax cuts. The last two are tax rises.

Ipsos MORI also found that all four policies became less popular when respondents were told about the party or parties supporting them.

So, personal tax cuts = good, tax cuts/increases for others = good. Associated with specific parties then support decreases for those same cuts/increases !

Shows how utterly perverse us humans are

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 3:59 pm

StephenDolan wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:You know all those cash poor people going to flattened by the Mansion Tax?

Er, they've already been promised protection.

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/20 ... ansion-tax" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sure, the man in the street doesn't have to believe Balls, but his own MPs really ought to give him some slack.
How many of the houses over £2m have had their value increase earned by their owners?

Was that taken into account by the 1991 valuations for the Council Tax?

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 4:15 pm

Happy memories of the Titan that was Jeremy Browne from his university friend.

http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-jere ... 42937.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 4:17 pm

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate Southern Water?

Well, I received a typically rubbish missive today from which the following is a quote:

"My team has advised me that your payment plan [I pay monthly, as does my hilarious old friend IP Daily] is not up to date. I recognise that your account is in credit but advise you continue to make payments in accordance with the plan to clear future bills.

If you do not bring your payment plan up to date within the next 7 days your payment plan will be cancelled."

I'll just sign my bank account over to them, shall I?

I feel marginally better now, having vented my spleen.

Edited "a" for "I"

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 4:21 pm

Still paying out. Substantial damages to David Walliams.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/o ... king-claim" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 4:34 pm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/pers ... -tank.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Why don't they just hand out cyanide tabs once you reach a certain age and be done with it?

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 4:40 pm

letsskiptotheleft wrote:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/pers ... -tank.html

Why don't they just hand out cyanide tabs once you reach a certain age and be done with it?

Pensions industry complaining that too many people aren't going to leave their money with them under the new rules and need some more commission?

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 5:37 pm

"Welfare spending cap plans hit by rising housing and IB bills"

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... t-42338147" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Apparently the blindingly obvious was "unforeseen"

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 5:39 pm

letsskiptotheleft wrote:Another stat from the polling is that Labour are polling higher in the marginal seats than what is being recorded nationally, could be a crumb of comfort that?

Jacob Rees-Twat say UKIP and the Tories are basically the same, he does like to state the obvious doesn't he?

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/mai ... 3U.twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

vox populi, vox dei, what?

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 5:46 pm

PorFavor wrote: Really just a touch of (possibly misplaced) levity

I often misplace levity.

Perhaps that's why I'm such a miserable get.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 5:51 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:
PorFavor wrote: Really just a touch of (possibly misplaced) levity
I often misplace levity.

Perhaps that's why I'm such a miserable get.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 6:03 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:
PorFavor wrote: Really just a touch of (possibly misplaced) levity
I often misplace levity.

Perhaps that's why I'm such a miserable get.

It is probably down the back of the sofa, whenever I lose anything it usually ends up there.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 6:06 pm

RIP AH Halsey

http://www.theguardian.com/education/20 ... /ah-halsey" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 6:14 pm

Am continuing to explore the paradox of the "Europe"-hating southwest farmer.

Have discovered southwestfarmer.co.uk, but given:
http://www.southwestfarmer.co.uk/news/n ... astating_/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Many British companies currently benefit from the EU's largesse in the form of subsidies or research and development grants," he said. "These include farmers, engineers, automotive developers, fishermen and the Welsh regions. The loss of these funds could be devastating as it would leave Britons competing with still-subsidised Europeans.

Which only makes the antipathy even more bewildering.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 6:50 pm

RogerOThornhill wrote:
letsskiptotheleft wrote:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/pers ... -tank.html

Why don't they just hand out cyanide tabs once you reach a certain age and be done with it?
Pensions industry complaining that too many people aren't going to leave their money with them under the new rules and need some more commission?

Ahhh. Bless.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 6:51 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:Am continuing to explore the paradox of the "Europe"-hating southwest farmer.

Have discovered southwestfarmer.co.uk, but given:
http://www.southwestfarmer.co.uk/news/n ... astating_/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Many British companies currently benefit from the EU's largesse in the form of subsidies or research and development grants," he said. "These include farmers, engineers, automotive developers, fishermen and the Welsh regions. The loss of these funds could be devastating as it would leave Britons competing with still-subsidised Europeans.
Which only makes the antipathy even more bewildering.

Is it because of quotas? Only allowed to grow, fish or produce a given amount?

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 7:37 pm

The non-lefty Martin Wolf continues to talk sense on the economy.

Targeting a budget balance, while borrowing for infrastructure investment, is reasonable

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2bcb670a-5485 ... z3GFVmlKlt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This sort of talk would have him crucified by Sarah Montague and other "Mediamacro" experts as lacking "credibility".

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 7:41 pm

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... mbers-club" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

£25,000 for a sculpture of Cameron riding a bike anyone? Come on, it would help awfully?!

After all they can hardly tap up Len, can they?

(And yes, they did say that)

onebuttonmonkey · Post by **onebuttonmonkey** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 7:42 pm

Evening all.

It appears I'm wearing a t-shirt that says "shameless, self-promotion corner", and - you'll be ever so surprised to hear - it also looks like I've got a link to some furious (if formulaic) shouting about BBCQT. Erm. I'll just post it here and hope you don't hate me for the presumption of doing so:

http://onebuttonmonkey.com/obm/2014/10/ ... wbury.html

It's better than the version in the Graun because; (a) it's not in the Graun's awful Beta comments, and (b) it calls Jeremy Hunt more names than the G version.

Right. It's a glass of rum and a cigarette for me.

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 7:44 pm

Has there ever been a worse Justice Minister? Help me out cos I am struggling here.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... ge-inmates" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

onebuttonmonkey · Post by **onebuttonmonkey** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 7:57 pm

letsskiptotheleft wrote:Has there ever been a worse Justice Minister? Help me out cos I am struggling here.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... ge-inmates" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I sincerely think there hasn't. Only one other was found guilty of contempt while in her post. Nothing she's done has worked. The only defence anyone could think of for her the other day is "she confronted the police." Erm. Yeah. Right.

Edit: for being so rubbish at typing I had to edit it again just to correct my corrected typing.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 7:58 pm

letsskiptotheleft wrote:Has there ever been a worse Justice Minister? Help me out cos I am struggling here.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... ge-inmates" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nice row with judges and the human rights brigade.

The minister quoted is in the Tory seat 4th most vulnerable to UKIP, on the Suffolk coast.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 8:03 pm

Meanwhile from the Attorney General they sacked...

http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/polit ... -are-wrong" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 8:21 pm

Peter Hitchen's, is to be blunt, a strange bod, disapproves of the privatisation of state assets, of the de-industrialisation of vast areas of this country, all things I can agree with. He then of course spoils it by living in the 50s, the evil threatening us from the EU, his obsession with immigration.

http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/ ... tion-.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He's the Mail's version of Oborne, at times brilliant, yes I did write that, mainly for his withering attacks on Tories, and unlike Oborne he never finds time to praise Empty,he's strange one.

There is a lot of which I agree with here, unlike a lot of journalists he doesn't kow-tow to the emails which get sent out from Con Headquarters to attack Miliband, yes it does happen, he confirmed it once.

Post by **refitman** » Thu 16 Oct, 2014 8:25 pm

Good dog! They seem to have fixed the Beta comments (still looks crap). I can now view unthreaded, oldest first and comment and recommend.

Now, if they'd started with this...