Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd November 2014

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 3:12 pm

I'm unable to access Page 2. When I press "Next" or "2" I get sent up to the top of page 1. So I'm submitting this random jotting in the hope that it will un-jam something.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 3:13 pm

And here I am . . . .

seeingclearly · Post by **seeingclearly** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 3:15 pm

ephemerid wrote:Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose........

Maximus, the company taking over from Atos for the WCA, has some very interesting members of staff in the UK.

Alasdair Emslie, whose company Health Management is a subsidiary of Maximus in the UK, is also working for OHAssist, which is the new name for Atos Healthcare's occupational health division in the UK.
Maximus and OHAssist (ie.Atos) run the government's Fit For Work programme in which someone calls a sick employee at home and decides that they should go back to work whatever their doctors say.

Professor Michael O'Donnell, is also a director of Health Management, and is a fairly new appointment - he was until recently a director of Atos Healthcare, something he has now removed from his LinkedIn profile. Maximus say he is not going to be involved in "administering the new contract" and they are "in the process of appointing a chief medical officer in this role".
O'Donnell also worked for Unum, and wrote this "We know that our views and understanding are not yet in the mainstream of doctor's thinking, but government policy is moving in the same direction, to a large extent being driven by our thinking and that of our close associates".

The DWP said this - "To make sure there is a seamless transfer from Atos, Maximus will inevitably draw on many of the existing Atos assessors. Mike O'Donnell is Medical Director of the Health Management Limited and will not be supporting Maximus in it's management of the work capability assessment contract".

So - what to deduce from all this?

Atos Healthcare is a subsidiary of Atos IT Services UK. Atos Healthcare continues to supply assessments to DWP under that name.
It used to supply occupational health services under that name to many large companies and government departments - that branch of the business is now called OHAssist.
Atos Healthcare has various links to Unum - despite the denials from both companies. Unum funds a research centre in Cardiff presided over by the ex-DWP medical chief Mansel Aylward who was instrumental in the development of the WCA, which is based on LIMA software pioneered by Unum and owned in the UK by Atos.

The Chief medical Officer of Unum was Michael O'Donnell, who then became CMO of Atos Healthcare, who is now working for Health Management.
He has written various papers in which he opines that the bio/psych/social model of illness and disability must be integrated into "welfare" as it is in insurance, and has stated that to do this it is necessary to have an adherent at the forefront of political influence - hence the investment by Unum into the research centre at Cardiff and the active promotion of Mansel Aylward.
The head honcho at Health Management is Alasdair Emslie, who works for Maximus in reality, and is now the President of the Society of Occupational Medicine - this is a charity, not to be confused with the Faculty of Occupational Medicine which is an accredited member of the Royal Colleges of Medicine and is the recognised statutory body for the specialty.

Staff working for Atos Healthcare will be moving to Maximus, as DWP has confirmed. Maximus denies so far that O'Donnell will be involved in the management of the WCA contract, but as their CMO in the UK I don't see how he can pretend that he won't be; and he has chosen to erase where possible his associations with Atos.
Tony Stalgis, who is the Service Delivery Director of OHAssist, has not chosen to erase his work history with Atos and his office is in the Head Office of Atos in Leeds. Lisa Allan hasn't hidden her background either - she's been with Atos since 2000, and now with OHAssist in the same job in the same place for a year.

All of these people belong to the same professional groups and all work for the same companies under different names and guises.
The companies and the people are all linked.
Maximus will be no different from Atos or Unum because the people people who lead it in the UK are the same people who led Atos and in some cases still do - nothing will change.

Exactly. It's been a nice pincer movement from the same claw. This has been decades in the making. Nothing will change with the change of company, nevertheless the instruction comes from government, who are, right now, wholly complicit. What has changed is the potential for intrusion into every aspect of people's lives, in work or not. Sickness clauses will get written into employment contracts for instance, and will override the work protections we now have.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 3:16 pm

ErnstRemarx wrote:
TheGrimSqueaker wrote:Morning all.

Radical enough for everybody?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29857849" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Me like. Me also like FibDem faux outrage. Those pricks brought their HoL disaster on themselves. They deserved what they got, and whilst I voted for AV in the referendum, I wasn't at all surprised that those two faced shystersgot an absolute shoeing from the electorate. The only surprise was that they were surprised. The sooner that party is destroyed for good, the better.

1% in Rochester - ONE PER CENT. Just four people out of over 1,000 surveyed there apparently - genuinely awesome

ErnstRemarx · Post by **ErnstRemarx** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 3:17 pm

PaulfromYorkshire wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
TheGrimSqueaker wrote:Morning all.

Radical enough for everybody?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29857849" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Yes, it's certainly that. But not sure it's the area I see as most immediately in need of some radical change ... or that will resonate with public. We could do with some of that radical thinking and action in other policy areas.

And trouble with reform / abolition of HoL as Lib Dems and coalition have found is that it has a tendency to suck a load of time and energy out for very little shift and return - so far. They are real limpets.
On the other hand it doesn't cost much. Rightly or wrongly Labour will only have policy proposals that do not require significant new funding, except for the NHS.

Part of me could get quite upset about this acceptance of austerity. On the other hand it seems to be forcing some interesting, creative thinking in Labour that may lead to some surprisingly good outcomes. I agree that Lords reform isn't an urgent priority for me. BUT a Senate representing the regions has to be an excellent idea in the longer term.

The new thinking thing is very true - particularly in local government. The senate idea is excellent. It's about bloody time that London was less represented, and that all representation was democratically generated.

As I said about EVEL (which is bollocks), you need to have regional voices or else the 'English' voice is simply the London/SE voice, and that means jack up here. This idea neatly kills two birds with one stone: Lords reform (abolition) and increased regionalism, without which devolved powers won't function.

As I said, me like. Not quite genius, but very much the way a socialist and democratic party should go.

Post by **refitman** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 3:22 pm

PorFavor wrote:I'm unable to access Page 2. When I press "Next" or "2" I get sent up to the top of page 1. So I'm submitting this random jotting in the hope that it will un-jam something.

That might have been me, adding 'Sunday' to the thread title.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 3:23 pm

pk1 wrote:Full Fact has an article about EU payments:

https://fullfact.org/europe/uk_pay_eu_b ... nomy-35944" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for this link, although it just poses more questions really, like how do universities contribute to GDP if they are funded by the state and why were our original estimations of GDP for 2002-2009 so very wrong? Our adjustment was enormous compared to other countries.

Having said that our GDP per capita is below that of both France and Germany and so is our net contribution to the EU so the sums we pay seem roughly proportionate. I'm not sure potential Ukip voters really grasp this.

pk1 · Post by **pk1** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 3:25 pm

refitman wrote:
PorFavor wrote:I'm unable to access Page 2. When I press "Next" or "2" I get sent up to the top of page 1. So I'm submitting this random jotting in the hope that it will un-jam something.
That might have been me, adding 'Sunday' to the thread title.

Adding Sunday ? Been on the bottle ?

seeingclearly · Post by **seeingclearly** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 3:27 pm

pk1 wrote:
seeingclearly wrote:Did anyone catch a Beeb report on police cautions this morning? Something to do with a Grayling announcement.....
The BBC has written it up:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29859758" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As far as I am aware this was never mentioned prior to today yet it comes into force today !

Grayling seems to slither under the radar as far as the media is concerned.

Thanks. It has a lot of implications for young people, especially those in areas where stop and search is used heavily. Very worrying. Especially the 'not mentioned before' aspect.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 3:32 pm

refitman wrote:
PorFavor wrote:I'm unable to access Page 2. When I press "Next" or "2" I get sent up to the top of page 1. So I'm submitting this random jotting in the hope that it will un-jam something.
That might have been me, adding 'Sunday' to the thread title.

That's all well and good - but did you or did you not chop down that cherry tree?

Tish · Post by **Tish** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 3:46 pm

seeingclearly wrote:
pk1 wrote:
seeingclearly wrote:Did anyone catch a Beeb report on police cautions this morning? Something to do with a Grayling announcement.....
The BBC has written it up:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29859758" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As far as I am aware this was never mentioned prior to today yet it comes into force today !

Grayling seems to slither under the radar as far as the media is concerned.

Thanks. It has a lot of implications for young people, especially those in areas where stop and search is used heavily. Very worrying. Especially the 'not mentioned before' aspect.

I wonder if it will encourage more people to go to court rather than just accept a caution for fairly trivial infringements of the law? Lots of young people don't seem to realise that police cautions aren't just a slap on the wrist, they linger on your record for years and can stop you travelling to some countries or working in certain professions. Maybe an unexpected side effect of this supposed "crackdown" will be fewer people being willing to just sign the paper to make it go away.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 4:25 pm

Tish wrote:
seeingclearly wrote:
pk1 wrote: The BBC has written it up:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29859758" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As far as I am aware this was never mentioned prior to today yet it comes into force today !

Grayling seems to slither under the radar as far as the media is concerned.

Thanks. It has a lot of implications for young people, especially those in areas where stop and search is used heavily. Very worrying. Especially the 'not mentioned before' aspect.
I wonder if it will encourage more people to go to court rather than just accept a caution for fairly trivial infringements of the law? Lots of young people don't seem to realise that police cautions aren't just a slap on the wrist, they linger on your record for years and can stop you travelling to some countries or working in certain professions. Maybe an unexpected side effect of this supposed "crackdown" will be fewer people being willing to just sign the paper to make it go away.

Yes - I think a lot of people have the mistaken belief that a caution is a trivial matter and it's not (and that isn't explained to them either when they are generously "offered" a caution). So the temptation to accept a caution - even when innocent - is often great just to avoid the stress of a court case.

Edited to make some semblance of sense.

Tish · Post by **Tish** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 5:05 pm

I've only just seen this, although it's dated yesterday, so sorry if already posted somewhere else. The Mail has finally reported all of the rumours and allegations about Leon Brittan, although in such a way as to suggest an MI5 smear (as Private Eye claimed 30 years ago). Whether that's just to protect themselves from legal action, or if that is the narrative that the Mail is planning on perusing, who knows, but its finally all coming out.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... abuse.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 5:14 pm

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:
AnatolyKasparov wrote:
TheGrimSqueaker wrote:Giselle, re. your Tom Watson request, can you ask him why he thinks it clever to be undermining the Labour Party in the run up to the General Election?
What has he been doing now??

I like him on the whole, but he can be infuriating......
Nothing specific, but give him time ...... I've kinda lost patience with him.

PorFavor, he made the mistake of giving money to a street beggar when there were lots of photographers around; needless to say this was a Bad Thing because:

a) he looked awkward doing it. Don't we all? I know I do, a mixture of guilt, anger & embarrassment that such a thing is necessary.
b) He only gave a coin (some are saying 2p) not paper money. Of course if he had stopped, pulled out his wallet and given a note he would have been accused of doing it for a photo op. And I don't know what coinage it was, but I rather suspect that may have been all he had in his pocket.

Now, the cynic in me thinks that part of the reason the usual damage control team has leaped into action is because Ed giving that money (however much it was) is in marked contrast to Sir George Young's alleged "the homeless are what you step over when you come out of the opera" and BoJo's no tolerance campaign against rough sleepers in London; he has, once again, shown his basic humanity and highlighted their own callousness.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/10 ... 82608.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

HuffPo are 'generally' quite non-partisan so this is a bit of a disappointment.

It's the first day of my first Movember, strange feeling being clean shaven after 13+ years of stubble

Post by **refitman** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 5:36 pm

StephenDolan wrote: It's the first day of my first Movember, strange feeling being clean shaven after 13+ years of stubble

You can take my beard from my cold, dead hands.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 5:37 pm

Zoe Williams @zoesqwilliams · 8h 8 hours ago
A loud bang could be heard as the defendant fainted in the dock and was attended to by prison officers. http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Pregnan ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

Pregnant mum jailed by Plymouth Magistrates over son's truancy

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 5:54 pm

Mark Watts @MarkWatts_1 · 4h 4 hours ago
Investigation into paedophile network at Westminster: fresh break @ExaroNews this weekend.
Shall tweet when we know when.

Eric_WLothian · Post by **Eric_WLothian** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 5:59 pm

On a lighter note, as it's the weekend, here's a warning about the unintended consequences of legislation:

A SCOTTISH supermarket has been forced to attach electronic security tags to baskets as tight-fisted shoppers refuse to stump up the new 5p charge for a carrier bag.
Bosses at the Asda store at Milton of Craigie in Dundee revealed a “large number” of shopping baskets have been snatched since the Scottish Government introduced the bag fee last month.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/t ... -1-3590856

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 6:04 pm

Eric_WLothian wrote:On a lighter note, as it's the weekend, here's a warning about the unintended consequences of legislation:

A SCOTTISH supermarket has been forced to attach electronic security tags to baskets as tight-fisted shoppers refuse to stump up the new 5p charge for a carrier bag.
Bosses at the Asda store at Milton of Craigie in Dundee revealed a “large number” of shopping baskets have been snatched since the Scottish Government introduced the bag fee last month.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/t ... -1-3590856

Blimey.
I don't remember that happening in Wales when we were the first to have the 5p bag levy.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 6:12 pm

yahyah wrote:
Eric_WLothian wrote:On a lighter note, as it's the weekend, here's a warning about the unintended consequences of legislation:

A SCOTTISH supermarket has been forced to attach electronic security tags to baskets as tight-fisted shoppers refuse to stump up the new 5p charge for a carrier bag.
Bosses at the Asda store at Milton of Craigie in Dundee revealed a “large number” of shopping baskets have been snatched since the Scottish Government introduced the bag fee last month.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/t ... -1-3590856

Blimey.
I don't remember that happening in Wales when we were the first to have the 5p bag levy.

It did though. We had weeks of there being no baskets at all in the Cardigan Tesco ... all stolen in lieu of a free bag. But it stopped pdq - people must have come to their senses. We certainly didn't have security tags introduced.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 6:15 pm

: People Are Afraid To TALK.jpg (125.43 KiB) Viewed 13796 times

Wondermark.com ‏@wondermarkfeed Oct 24
"People are afraid to TALK for fear of offending someone!" // #1071; Old Dog, Oldest Trick http://wondermark.com/1k71/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; pic.twitter.com/L8OP4FNPep

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 6:17 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
yahyah wrote:
Eric_WLothian wrote:On a lighter note, as it's the weekend, here's a warning about the unintended consequences of legislation:
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/t ... -1-3590856

Blimey.
I don't remember that happening in Wales when we were the first to have the 5p bag levy.
It did though. We had weeks of there being no baskets at all in the Cardigan Tesco ... all stolen in lieu of a free bag. But it stopped pdq - people must have come to their senses. We certainly didn't have security tags introduced.

We're better behaved in Lampeter

Seriously though, how long does it take to get used to carrying some fold up bags or keeping them in your car for the supermarket shop ?

Tish · Post by **Tish** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 6:22 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Zoe Williams @zoesqwilliams · 8h 8 hours ago
A loud bang could be heard as the defendant fainted in the dock and was attended to by prison officers. http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Pregnan ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …
Pregnant mum jailed by Plymouth Magistrates over son's truancy

What is the point of that! How is sending a persistant traunts pregnant mother to jail supposed to make things better in some way? Presumably the truanting child will be sent to foster care or a children's home while his mums in jail, along with any other school age children that she may have. Never mind the disruption that will cause to those kids education. These sort of stories infuriate me, pointless "don't we look tough" cock waving.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 6:27 pm

Tish wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
Zoe Williams @zoesqwilliams · 8h 8 hours ago
A loud bang could be heard as the defendant fainted in the dock and was attended to by prison officers. http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Pregnan ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …
Pregnant mum jailed by Plymouth Magistrates over son's truancy
What is the point of that! How is sending a persistant traunts pregnant mother to jail supposed to make things better in some way? Presumably the truanting child will be sent to foster care or a children's home while his mums in jail, along with any other school age children that she may have. Never mind the disruption that will cause to those kids education. These sort of stories infuriate me, pointless "don't we look tough" cock waving.

Thank you. Exactly what I thought Tish. I was too pissed off and exhausted by the futility of it all to make any comment.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 6:32 pm

yahyah wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
yahyah wrote:
Blimey.
I don't remember that happening in Wales when we were the first to have the 5p bag levy.
It did though. We had weeks of there being no baskets at all in the Cardigan Tesco ... all stolen in lieu of a free bag. But it stopped pdq - people must have come to their senses. We certainly didn't have security tags introduced.

We're better behaved in Lampeter

Seriously though, how long does it take to get used to carrying some fold up bags or keeping them in your car for the supermarket shop ?

Apparently 'tight Cardies' is a well known trait - or so I have been told by various locals who view it as a matter of some pride and some shopkeepers who don't.

Tish · Post by **Tish** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 6:33 pm

yahyah wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
yahyah wrote:
Blimey.
I don't remember that happening in Wales when we were the first to have the 5p bag levy.
It did though. We had weeks of there being no baskets at all in the Cardigan Tesco ... all stolen in lieu of a free bag. But it stopped pdq - people must have come to their senses. We certainly didn't have security tags introduced.

We're better behaved in Lampeter

Seriously though, how long does it take to get used to carrying some fold up bags or keeping them in your car for the supermarket shop ?

I have to confess, I never have reusable bags on me when I go shopping, mostly becouse I tend to pop in the shop on the way home from work, and I don't want to fill up my handbag with great big folded up shopping bags. But I don't think I'd actually steal a shopping basket, I'll probably just end up sucking it up and paying the 5p (and no doubt try to cram fifty things in one bag, only for it to split half way home and me end up chasing tins of tomatoes down the street).

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 6:54 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Zoe Williams @zoesqwilliams · 8h 8 hours ago
A loud bang could be heard as the defendant fainted in the dock and was attended to by prison officers. http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Pregnan ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …
Pregnant mum jailed by Plymouth Magistrates over son's truancy

Our school have "interventions" that they put in place for persistent truant's - first stage of which is finding out why the child is truanting (and making double sure there is no bullying involved.) I simply can't see them ever getting to this stage, it's appalling. There are no easy answers, but jail is definitely no answer at all.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 6:57 pm

Valerie Vaz MP ‏@Valerie_VazMP · 1h1 hour ago
#LabourDooorstep #togetherwekhan good session in Rochester lots of volunteers spreading Labour's message

I can't understand why the press keep saying Labour are not even trying in Rochester when I keep seeing tweets like above on my twitter feed.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 6:58 pm

Goodnight, everyone.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 7:00 pm

PorFavor wrote:Goodnight, everyone.

Night PF.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 7:25 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:Valerie Vaz MP ‏@Valerie_VazMP · 1h1 hour ago
#LabourDooorstep #togetherwekhan good session in Rochester lots of volunteers spreading Labour's message

I can't understand why the press keep saying Labour are not even trying in Rochester when I keep seeing tweets like above on my twitter feed.

Because it is not high profile, photo op stuff, it is substance over style which they don't understand. As per the discussion upthread, it could well be that the plan is to look at taking the seat in 2015, so now is all about groundwork; and, to be honest, I think the groundwork is being done very effectively.

@RR2, as others have said, an appalling story and jail really isn't the answer; and I'm sure I read somewhere that truancy has risen, not fallen, since Jack Straw *spit* introduced the policy. Mind boggling.

Night PF.

giselle97 · Post by **giselle97** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 7:26 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:
TheGrimSqueaker wrote:Giselle, re. your Tom Watson request, can you ask him why he thinks it clever to be undermining the Labour Party in the run up to the General Election?
What has he been doing now??

I like him on the whole, but he can be infuriating......

I dislike him and his arrogance, and constant bickering. I don't know if you have noticed but any good, positive or cheery news about the Labour Party, and EM in particular, is very often followed by this "little man" opening his mouth and getting a negative story published. I'd be very happy if someone could offer him a job outside of politics.

I'm glad you mentioned that he can be infuriating Anatoly.

giselle97 · Post by **giselle97** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 7:31 pm

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:yahyah, that can't be The Leader's mum; everybody knows Tories and Kippers (same thing really) reproduce through binary fission, like all bacteria.

Giselle, re. your Tom Watson request, can you ask him why he thinks it clever to be undermining the Labour Party in the run up to the General Election?

Hi TGS. Thanks for that and it will be my pleasure to do so. Will report back!

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 8:26 pm

12 years ???????????
Paraplegic who was subjected to horrific attack as he lay in bed found dead

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/pa ... ck-4546617" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
What the hell ? I despair

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 9:30 pm

Tizme and Tem Please post if you see the BBC "consultation" up and running

Green Party leader welcomes report of BBC public consultation on election debate guidelines

http://greenparty.org.uk/news/2014/11/0 ... uidelines/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 9:35 pm

General Election ‏@UKELECTIONS2015 · 17m17 minutes ago
Latest YouGov Polling

LABOUR 32%
CONSERVATIVES 31%
UKIP 18%
LIBDEMS 7%
GREENS 6%

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 10:48 pm

Look at that article and tell me who looks prime ministerial and who looks shady.
Abuse inquiry 'must start soon' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29861724" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 11:10 pm

yahyah wrote:Mark Watts @MarkWatts_1 · 4h 4 hours ago
Investigation into paedophile network at Westminster: fresh break @ExaroNews this weekend.
Shall tweet when we know when.

Specific investigation of "Dolphin Square".

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 11:19 pm

how do universities contribute to GDP if they are funded by the state

The state is still GDP. Or am I missing your point, Willow?

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 11:20 pm

This is what a feminist looks like t-shirt’: Fawcett Society Response

http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/2014/1 ... -response/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sat 01 Nov, 2014 11:47 pm

Long article but worth a read IMHO.About legal aid changes.

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v36/n21/frederick- ... r-ideology" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Government has not delegalised various classes of dispute; instead, various classes of people have been excluded from the legal system. Those who cannot afford justice must do without it.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sun 02 Nov, 2014 12:17 am

Horrific new allegations re abuse at Dolphin Square via Exaro News

http://www.exaronews.com/articles/5393/ ... hin-square

http://www.exaronews.com/articles/5394/ ... ly-violent

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sun 02 Nov, 2014 12:20 am

AngryAsWell wrote:Tizme and Tem Please post if you see the BBC "consultation" up and running
Green Party leader welcomes report of BBC public consultation on election debate guidelines

http://greenparty.org.uk/news/2014/11/0 ... uidelines/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That looks like potentially good news. Ta very much.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 02 Nov, 2014 1:19 am

Will Hutton in scathing form

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... tax-system" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"It is a fiction that Britain does not flourish because of high taxation and a bloated welfare state; neither is high or generous by international comparison. We do not flourish because too many of our elite, faithful to Cameron’s false morality, do not want to acknowledge the crucial interdependencies on which economic and social success is founded, and thus their own obligations to pay tax.

We are invited to deepen an already failed experiment in libertarian individualism in which we each become selfish atoms in a social nothingness. Society should roar back its refusal to connive in its self-immolation. These Tories are just plain wrong."

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Sun 02 Nov, 2014 3:13 am

Live Statement from NTSB re Virgin Spaceship Crash:

Vehicle Group are documenting the spread of spaceship wreckage, the Systems and Data Groups are collecting data from 6 cameras on the ship, 6 more data collectors, ground based cameras and data recorders so are gaining possession of more information than would normally be available because this test-flight was being so closely and comprehensively monitored. The Engine Group has looked at the engine flight data and the fuel tanks usage together with their data but have not yet looked at the engine itself. The lead crash investigators are taking interviews. Particular thanks to the County Sheriff and his team for their swift actions as first-responders, for rescuing the surviving member of the flight-team, and for effectively locating and securing the extensive crash site.

(I think I got it all...)

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 02 Nov, 2014 5:10 am

Mike Smithson thinks the Rochester and Strood byelection will be tighter than it appears.

http://www1.politicalbetting.com/index. ... s-suggest/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sun 02 Nov, 2014 9:35 am

Good morning.

Cameron will pay the EU its billions; Ukip will cost him much more
Farage is crazy enough to urge withdrawal from Europe, as are too many Tories, and the prime minister is running scared (William Keegan, Observer)

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... -much-more

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sun 02 Nov, 2014 10:08 am

NHS spending on agency nurses soars past £5.5bn
Government accused of ‘truly incompetent planning’ after years of training cuts push cost of temporary staff way over budget (Observer)

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014 ... urses-cuts

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sun 02 Nov, 2014 10:27 am

Legal aid cuts denied mother a fair hearing, says senior judge
‘If legal aid is being refused to people such as this, I am satisfied that injustices will occur,’ say family court judge Louise Hallam
http://www.theguardian.com/law/2014/nov ... ise-hallam
A senior family court judge has condemned the injustice of the newly pared-back legal aid system after an illiterate mother of four, with poor sight and hearing, was forced to represent herself in a court hearing over the custody of her children.

In an unusual step, Judge Louise Hallam warned that the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was not being given the opportunity of a fair trial and that she believed others around the country were also being let down.

Hallam told the hearing: “If legal aid is being refused to people such as this, I am satisfied that injustices will occur … Mothers in her situation should have proper and full access to the court with the assistance of legal advice.”...

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sun 02 Nov, 2014 10:49 am

HindleA wrote:Mike Smithson thinks the Rochester and Strood byelection will be tighter than it appears.

http://www1.politicalbetting.com/index. ... s-suggest/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He also thought UKIP would win the S Yorks PCC election - he's not infallible

Bookies odds have been shown to be sometimes wrong in recent weeks, too - but a fair bit of money has gone on this one and it all only points one way.