Monday 1st December 2014

Post by **refitman** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 7:23 am

Morning all.

Post by **PaulfromYorkshire** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 7:53 am

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 94401.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

autumn-statement-bleak-borrowing-prediction-rocks-george-osbornes-deficit-hopes

george guessing · Post by **george guessing** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 7:55 am

Morning ,
hope dawns as well as Monday morninghttp://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/dec/ ... chers-find" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

george guessing · Post by **george guessing** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 8:08 am

Sorry ,
the above should be

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

plus

http://politicalbetting.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 8:11 am

Morning.

Clegg coming up on Radio 4 soon.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 9:11 am

george guessing wrote:Sorry ,
the above should be

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

plus

http://politicalbetting.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

from the political betting post

A key factor in Hallam is what Tory voters do. At GE10 they accounted for 23.5% of the vote in Hallam and some might just be receptive to a tactical message by the yellows. After all the big objective for the blues on May 7th is to stop the reds from chalking up enough gains to put EdM into Downing Street.

In fact the more that Labour, which just got 16% of the vote in 2010, look set to take the seat the more it could encourage efforts to stop them. A high profile student campaign against Clegg might be what saves him.

Just have to hope that those Sheffield Tory voters have also had a bellful of Cameron and don't want any more ... he doesn't seem to engender much love and affection in even the Tory faithful.

Morning all.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 9:16 am

I missed this from yesterday. Probably what Osborne and Hunt hoped for ... that yet another big U turn would get hidden by the NHS 2 billion (now you see it, now you don't) announcement.

Andy Slaughter MP ‏@hammersmithandy 13m13 minutes ago Hammersmith, London
If this is true - Hunt is bottling the downgrade of A&Es across England - it's a great victory for Save our Hospitals http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014 ... l-backlash" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

A&E overhaul shelved after warning over political backlash
NHS England plans delayed amid claims that concentrating specialist services into 40-70 hospitals would be ‘political suicide’
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014 ... l-backlash

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 9:28 am

Good morning.

I meant to post this (below) yesterday but managed not to. Still, better late than never, I suppose. I like William Keegan, as I believe I might have let slip before.

George Osborne has snared his party in its own austerity trap
The deficit has not been eliminated. Depressed living standards are barely rising. This is not ‘job done’, but a record of failure(Guardian)

http://www.theguardian.com/business/201 ... erity-trap

Apologies if it's a repeat.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 9:40 am

clive coleman ‏@colemancr 1h1 hour ago
Big day for Judicial Review reform. See my analysis piece on BBC News website. Who shot JR? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30226781" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

It's a very good piece.

... At the heart of the current controversy is a proposal that judges will be required to let public bodies escape the legal consequences of their unlawful action if they can persuade the court that it is highly likely that they would have taken the same action even if they had acted lawfully.

David Wolfe QC who specialises in judicial review cases says: "That 'get out of jail free' trump card would completely undermine the basic rule of law principle that public bodies, including the government itself, have to comply with the law like anyone else."...

Would have suited IDS and the DWP down to the ground re the compensation payments to Cate Reilly and so many others. No need even to have changed the law retrospectively to avoid paying them.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 9:46 am

Another apologies if we did this yesterday. I didn't see it ... and it makes my blood boil.

£1BILLION NHS sell-off scandal: Tory MP works for firm targeting huge health service deal
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/1b ... ry-4724959

A leading doctor has demanded Stephen Dorrell quit as either an MP or an adviser to a private firm targeting a lucrative NHS contract.

The Tory is in a conflict of interest row after taking up a post with KPMG which is considering bidding for a £1billion deal to manage the medical records of all patients.

Mr Dorrell quit as chairman of the powerful House of Commons Health Select Committee in June.

He told his local party he would step down at May’s general election because his new job was “incompatible” with his role as a £67,060-a-year MP.

But the Mirror can reveal he starts his new job on Monday and will be in both posts for six months.

The move sparked fury, with National Health Action party co-leader Dr Clive Peedell insisting Mr Dorrell can only do one role.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 9:57 am

: ToriesNastyTacticinThurrock.jpg (70.47 KiB) Viewed 17141 times

Tim Montgomerie ن @montie · 19h 19 hours ago
Well said @JGForsyth. Tory leaflet attack on @Tim_Aker indefensible http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/artic ... e-yet.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 10:08 am

George Eaton @georgeeaton · 1m 1 minute ago
Notable leader in The Economist endorsing Labour's stance on the deficit over the Tories': http://econ.st/1waAjim" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 10:31 am

Lord Ashcroft ‏@LordAshcroft 43m43 minutes ago
Populus online poll LAB 35% CON 32% LDEM 9% UKIP 14%

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 10:36 am

Ian Dunt @IanDunt · 2h 2 hours ago
Judicial review back in the Commons today. You can judge an MP by how they vote on this one http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analy ... rities-but" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 10:36 am

rebeccariots2 wrote:
George Eaton @georgeeaton · 1m 1 minute ago
Notable leader in The Economist endorsing Labour's stance on the deficit over the Tories': http://econ.st/1waAjim" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Morning
He can take a jump with this
"Britain’s fiscal problems are partly the result of over-generous spending on the old. They should pay off some of the debts instead of passing them all on to the young."

I left school at 15 and went straight into work, other than a few year spent self employed, I have worked ever since. So he can get his mitts off my - already belated - pension.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 10:41 am

Seems to be another version of Policies for People

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

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 10:55 am

AngryAsWell wrote:Seems to be another version of Policies for People

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

It does seem to be - no abolition of the Dept for Culture Media & Sports in there that I can see (that's my instant checker). Can't see a date on this one though.

And wonder why it's got Not To Be Printed embedded all over it?

I have saved as a jpg - but not sure how readable it will be. Useful to have a proper link to the attachment if anyone comes across it.

gilsey · Post by **gilsey** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 11:02 am

AngryAsWell wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
George Eaton @georgeeaton · 1m 1 minute ago
Notable leader in The Economist endorsing Labour's stance on the deficit over the Tories': http://econ.st/1waAjim" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Morning
He can take a jump with this
"Britain’s fiscal problems are partly the result of over-generous spending on the old. They should pay off some of the debts instead of passing them all on to the young."

I left school at 15 and went straight into work, other than a few year spent self employed, I have worked ever since. So he can get his mitts off my - already belated - pension.

What is he on? Job not done until we've impoverished pensioners as well?

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 11:08 am

gilsey wrote:
AngryAsWell wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
Morning
He can take a jump with this
"Britain’s fiscal problems are partly the result of over-generous spending on the old. They should pay off some of the debts instead of passing them all on to the young."

I left school at 15 and went straight into work, other than a few year spent self employed, I have worked ever since. So he can get his mitts off my - already belated - pension.
What is he on? Job not done until we've impoverished pensioners as well?

He needs to distinguish between those that have done well off the fat of the 80s/90s, via the multiple surges in house prices etc and those that haven't. Lumping all pensioners together is unproductive, it stokes the "age war".

Morning all btw.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 11:27 am

StephenDolan wrote:
gilsey wrote:
AngryAsWell wrote: Morning
He can take a jump with this
"Britain’s fiscal problems are partly the result of over-generous spending on the old. They should pay off some of the debts instead of passing them all on to the young."

I left school at 15 and went straight into work, other than a few year spent self employed, I have worked ever since. So he can get his mitts off my - already belated - pension.
What is he on? Job not done until we've impoverished pensioners as well?
He needs to distinguish between those that have done well off the fat of the 80s/90s, via the multiple surges in house prices etc and those that haven't. Lumping all pensioners together is unproductive, it stokes the "age war".

Morning all btw.

Lumping all pensioners in together is exactly what the Tories are planning to do with their pension reforms. At the moment the state pension is the bare minimum to maintain someone, bumped up with means-tested pension credits to a more reasonable amount for those with no other income. The Tories are planning to whack up the basic rate at great cost, giving extra money to those pensioners on good incomes which they currently give to only the poorest. As we all contribute to our pensions some may say this is more fair but personally I view the state pension scheme as a safety net for those who are unable to make provision for their old age, a basic backstop we can all rely on, with the welfare state providing extra for those who have no other income as happens now. Asking young people on low wages to provide more than the bare minimum for pensioners with incomes higher than their own doesn't seem right to me. It's a question of balance. After many years trying and succeeding to eradicate pensioner poverty we have recently hit a tipping point where working age poverty is now higher than pensioner poverty. As such it doesn't really seem a good time to be giving more money, as the Tories propose, to pensioners who don't need it, which is in no way to say anything should be taken away.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 11:34 am

Labour Policies ‏@LabourPolicies · Nov 29
If Labour form the next government, Ed Miliband will ban MPs from raking in cash on second jobs.

gilsey · Post by **gilsey** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 11:40 am

As it happens I think the new flat rate pension is about the only good thing the govt has done. We've had discussions here about citizens income, and the new pension is the nearest we're ever going to get to it.

Better-off people have already earned more than the new flat rate through SERPS and S2P, so there's no additional spending there. Just less means-testing for the poorer people, which is good news to me.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 11:58 am

Asked about the prospect of taking a government post after a Labour victory, Johnson said that might appeal.

“Disgracefully, and it is disgraceful because I won’t have done the heavy lifting, then I would be more interested. But I am not gagging for it,” he said.

Yes it is disgraceful Alan, and I for one hope Ed ignores you! You can sling your right wing hook as far as I'm concerned.
Beginning to think there might have been more to those rumors than I gave credit to.

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

Kam · Post by **Kam** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 11:59 am

Just thought I'd say hello again - a long absence and lost account details accounting for the radio silence

DonutHingeParty · Post by **DonutHingeParty** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 12:06 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
ToriesNastyTacticinThurrock.jpg

Tim Montgomerie ن @montie · 19h 19 hours ago
Well said @JGForsyth. Tory leaflet attack on @Tim_Aker indefensible http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/artic ... e-yet.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

I think it's perfectly valid that when a party tries to portray the A8 countries as sponging ne'er do wells, it's pointed out that one of their own (who presumably is not selling lucky heather and then fly tipping in a lay by on a daily basis) is from that country.

It'd be like a Conservative politician railing against homosexuality, and then finding out he was actually gay.

Or the 80's, as we also knew it.

DonutHingeParty · Post by **DonutHingeParty** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 12:07 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:Labour Policies ‏@LabourPolicies · Nov 29
If Labour form the next government, Ed Miliband will ban MPs from raking in cash on second jobs.

But will that include income from renting out property as well?

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 12:09 pm

Kam wrote:Just thought I'd say hello again - a long absence and lost account details accounting for the radio silence

Hi Kam nice to see you

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 12:09 pm

DonutHingeParty wrote:
AngryAsWell wrote:Labour Policies ‏@LabourPolicies · Nov 29
If Labour form the next government, Ed Miliband will ban MPs from raking in cash on second jobs.
But will that include income from renting out property as well?

I don't know but its a start.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 12:20 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:Asked about the prospect of taking a government post after a Labour victory, Johnson said that might appeal.

“Disgracefully, and it is disgraceful because I won’t have done the heavy lifting, then I would be more interested. But I am not gagging for it,” he said.

Yes it is disgraceful Alan, and I for one hope Ed ignores you! You can sling your right wing hook as far as I'm concerned.
Beginning to think there might have been more to those rumors than I gave credit to.

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

Not so sure. Johnson has always come across as lacking the ambition & drive required for the top roles; to me at least he always seems fundamentally lazy, he has found his niche and is quite happy to stay there - for those of you who used to watch The Bill he is Tosh Lines (but without the booze issues). IMO etc ......

TechnicalEphemera · Post by **TechnicalEphemera** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 12:31 pm

Willow904 wrote:
StephenDolan wrote:
gilsey wrote: What is he on? Job not done until we've impoverished pensioners as well?
He needs to distinguish between those that have done well off the fat of the 80s/90s, via the multiple surges in house prices etc and those that haven't. Lumping all pensioners together is unproductive, it stokes the "age war".

Morning all btw.
Lumping all pensioners in together is exactly what the Tories are planning to do with their pension reforms. At the moment the state pension is the bare minimum to maintain someone, bumped up with means-tested pension credits to a more reasonable amount for those with no other income. The Tories are planning to whack up the basic rate at great cost, giving extra money to those pensioners on good incomes which they currently give to only the poorest. As we all contribute to our pensions some may say this is more fair but personally I view the state pension scheme as a safety net for those who are unable to make provision for their old age, a basic backstop we can all rely on, with the welfare state providing extra for those who have no other income as happens now. Asking young people on low wages to provide more than the bare minimum for pensioners with incomes higher than their own doesn't seem right to me. It's a question of balance. After many years trying and succeeding to eradicate pensioner poverty we have recently hit a tipping point where working age poverty is now higher than pensioner poverty. As such it doesn't really seem a good time to be giving more money, as the Tories propose, to pensioners who don't need it, which is in no way to say anything should be taken away.

I completely agree with Willow on this. Everything the Economist article says is pretty much spot on. The Tory approach of hammering the working people to protect the wealthy retired has got to stop. There is in my view a multi track approach to this.

1. Reform pensions to make charges transparent and provide an absolute cap on what can be charged. The Tories and Lib Dems stopped progress on this because of city lobbying. Much of the city wealth is stolen from our pension pots. According to the Dutch pensioners would gain up to 1/3 of their pension value from this.
2. Taper state pension payments so that they are no longer universal. This will have to be done carefully, in part because pensions are poor value owing to 1.
3. End universal benefits like winter fuel, my Grandfather (Tory and comfortably off) used to try to give it back, when he failed it went to charity.
4. Invest in low cost public housing to end housing benefit and move the long term spending on working benefits down. This will take time to happen but you can borrow indefinitely as long as you can show a long term economic plan to turn it round.

To quote David Cameron - We can't go on like this.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 12:31 pm

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:
AngryAsWell wrote:Asked about the prospect of taking a government post after a Labour victory, Johnson said that might appeal.

“Disgracefully, and it is disgraceful because I won’t have done the heavy lifting, then I would be more interested. But I am not gagging for it,” he said.

Yes it is disgraceful Alan, and I for one hope Ed ignores you! You can sling your right wing hook as far as I'm concerned.
Beginning to think there might have been more to those rumors than I gave credit to.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... l-election" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Not so sure. Johnson has always come across as lacking the ambition & drive required for the top roles; to me at least he always seems fundamentally lazy, he has found his niche and is quite happy to stay there - for those of you who used to watch The Bill he is Tosh Lines (but without the booze issues). IMO etc ......

It took well over a week to deign it and I remember a smarmy little smile, and half head shake he gave Andrew Neil on This Week when first asked about it, followed by "Oo first I've heard of it" without a "No, categorically not".
Don't trust the man

Post by **refitman** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 12:33 pm

Mary Macleod's a charmer, isn't she?

DailySunday Politics ✔ @daily_politics
Follow

"I was not surprised he is stepping down, I think he's rarely in Westminster anyway" says @MaryMacleodMP on Gordon Brown standing down as MP

You won't be surprised to know she's a Tory.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 12:34 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:
TheGrimSqueaker wrote:
AngryAsWell wrote:Asked about the prospect of taking a government post after a Labour victory, Johnson said that might appeal.

“Disgracefully, and it is disgraceful because I won’t have done the heavy lifting, then I would be more interested. But I am not gagging for it,” he said.

Yes it is disgraceful Alan, and I for one hope Ed ignores you! You can sling your right wing hook as far as I'm concerned.
Beginning to think there might have been more to those rumors than I gave credit to.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... l-election" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Not so sure. Johnson has always come across as lacking the ambition & drive required for the top roles; to me at least he always seems fundamentally lazy, he has found his niche and is quite happy to stay there - for those of you who used to watch The Bill he is Tosh Lines (but without the booze issues). IMO etc ......
It took well over a week to deign it and I remember a smarmy little smile, and half head shake he gave Andrew Neil on This Week when first asked about it, followed by "Oo first I've heard of it" without a "No, categorically not".
Don't trust the man

Me neither. But still think he is too lazy.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 12:36 pm

gilsey wrote:As it happens I think the new flat rate pension is about the only good thing the govt has done. We've had discussions here about citizens income, and the new pension is the nearest we're ever going to get to it.

Better-off people have already earned more than the new flat rate through SERPS and S2P, so there's no additional spending there. Just less means-testing for the poorer people, which is good news to me.

But won't people who have paid serps be unhappy that people who haven't are now to get the same as them. People who maybe chose to bump up their private pension instead of paying serps? Several people here seem to think the Tories' plans for a flat rate pension is a good thing and I'm trying to work out why because I can't see it myself. Surely someone who has opted out of serps and put the money in a private pension will now get the extra on their state pension they haven't contributed for PLUS the benefit of extra money in a private pension. And means-testing isn't likely to go away with the new requirement of 35 qualifying years to get the state pension, is it? I'm sorry, but it was Osborne who came up with these pension changes, I just find it hard to believe it will be better for ordinary people.

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 12:38 pm

gilsey wrote:As it happens I think the new flat rate pension is about the only good thing the govt has done. We've had discussions here about citizens income, and the new pension is the nearest we're ever going to get to it.

Better-off people have already earned more than the new flat rate through SERPS and S2P, so there's no additional spending there. Just less means-testing for the poorer people, which is good news to me.

It looks good, but don't forget that the Coalition's new flat rate pension requires 35 years paying in.
Labour reduced the paying in requirement for state pension to 30 years some time ago.

I will not qualify for the full flat rate pension when I am 66, while having full entitlement under the current system.

diGriz · Post by **diGriz** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 12:44 pm

refitman wrote:Mary Macleod's a charmer, isn't she?
DailySunday Politics ✔ @daily_politics
Follow

"I was not surprised he is stepping down, I think he's rarely in Westminster anyway" says @MaryMacleodMP on Gordon Brown standing down as MP
You won't be surprised to know she's a Tory.

That annoys me, she knows full well ex-PMs spend less time there to prevent problems for the current party leadership. Major and Thatcher did the same. Cheap political points from a nobody.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 12:44 pm

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:
AngryAsWell wrote:
TheGrimSqueaker wrote: Not so sure. Johnson has always come across as lacking the ambition & drive required for the top roles; to me at least he always seems fundamentally lazy, he has found his niche and is quite happy to stay there - for those of you who used to watch The Bill he is Tosh Lines (but without the booze issues). IMO etc ......
It took well over a week to deign it and I remember a smarmy little smile, and half head shake he gave Andrew Neil on This Week when first asked about it, followed by "Oo first I've heard of it" without a "No, categorically not".
Don't trust the man
Me neither. But still think he is too lazy.

I just remember the way the press hammered him when he was shadow chancellor, all the gaffes (you may be right, too lazy to cram the material) and his rather genuine-seeming decision to resign because of the exposure of problems in his private life. I just got the very strong impression that he'd had just a small taste of what Ed's been getting from the press day in, day out, and decided it wasn't worth it.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 1:03 pm

Yes, I am prepared to give Alan J the benefit of the doubt over this.

He said he will be actively campaigning for the party as we get nearer the GE, which is good.

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 1:06 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:Yes, I am prepared to give Alan J the benefit of the doubt over this.

He said he will be actively campaigning for the party as we get nearer the GE, which is good.

Shouldn't that be a given as he is a Labour MP ?
Are there some who won't be actively campaigning for a Labour win ?

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 1:07 pm

Sarah Woolaston & Daniel Hannan doing their bit for the tory election campaign - lol
Will they have to resign for "sneering" at joe public in this "white van" type tweet I wonder ?

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

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 1:08 pm

yahyah wrote:
AnatolyKasparov wrote:Yes, I am prepared to give Alan J the benefit of the doubt over this.

He said he will be actively campaigning for the party as we get nearer the GE, which is good.

Shouldn't that be a given as he is a Labour MP ?
Are there some who won't be actively campaigning for a Labour win ?

You do sometimes have to wonder, especially with Danczuk's pronouncements.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 1:09 pm

Good-afternoon, my friends. I'm having a rough time just now; a lot is going on in my family & feelings of powerlessness aren't comfortable to accept but there's only so much anyone can do. It's hard - it's been hard for so long for too many, not just me.

I'm keeping up with news reports from the ONS, NAO, Labour policy announcements, my friends' news here & May 2015. Please keep me in your thoughts. Thank you, my friends.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 1:13 pm

citizenJA wrote:Good-afternoon, my friends. I'm having a rough time just now; a lot is going on in my family & feelings of powerlessness aren't comfortable to accept but there's only so much anyone can do. It's hard - it's been hard for so long for too many, not just me.

I'm keeping up with news reports from the ONS, NAO, Labour policy announcements, my friends' news here & May 2015. Please keep me in your thoughts. Thank you, my friends.

Hope things improve for you soon JA, thinking of you

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 1:15 pm

For @citizenJA & anyone else having a difficult time at the moment

[& hope RebeccaRiot's cat had a good excuse for the mayhem last night]

Kam · Post by **Kam** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 1:17 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:Sarah Woolaston & Daniel Hannan doing their bit for the tory election campaign - lol
Will they have to resign for "sneering" at joe public in this "white van" type tweet I wonder ?

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

Said as much in the tweet chain https://twitter.com/KamBharath/status/5 ... 5859239936 but normal rules don't apply to them, surprises me that Woolaston has engaged in this as she *seemed* to be one of the more rational types. Does seem to have a whiff of CCHQ about it.

Kam

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 1:18 pm

citizenJA wrote:Good-afternoon, my friends. I'm having a rough time just now; a lot is going on in my family & feelings of powerlessness aren't comfortable to accept but there's only so much anyone can do. It's hard - it's been hard for so long for too many, not just me.

I'm keeping up with news reports from the ONS, NAO, Labour policy announcements, my friends' news here & May 2015. Please keep me in your thoughts. Thank you, my friends.

Hang on in there JA, shout if there is anything anybody can do to help.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 1:20 pm

Kam wrote:
AngryAsWell wrote:Sarah Woolaston & Daniel Hannan doing their bit for the tory election campaign - lol
Will they have to resign for "sneering" at joe public in this "white van" type tweet I wonder ?

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

Said as much in the tweet chain https://twitter.com/KamBharath/status/5 ... 5859239936 but normal rules don't apply to them, surprises me that Woolaston has engaged in this as she *seemed* to be one of the more rational types. Does seem to have a whiff of CCHQ about it.

Kam

There are times when Sarah Wollaston comes across as very sensible, almost reasonable, but then comes out with bilge like that just to remind you she is a Tory after all. Seen her do it before, so I think the opinions are (sadly) her own.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 1:24 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:Sarah Woolaston & Daniel Hannan doing their bit for the tory election campaign - lol
Will they have to resign for "sneering" at joe public in this "white van" type tweet I wonder
Sarah Wollaston MPVerified account
‏@drwollastonmp
@DanHannanMEP pretty clear they have no grasp of the economy either

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Someone tweet Dr. Wollaston the Economist article advising her party to check their maths.
Britain’s public finances
Check your sums, guys
Britain still faces big fiscal challenges.
The Conservatives have the wrong plan for dealing with them

http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/2 ... ?frsc=dg|d" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 1:27 pm

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:
citizenJA wrote:Good-afternoon, my friends. I'm having a rough time just now; a lot is going on in my family & feelings of powerlessness aren't comfortable to accept but there's only so much anyone can do. It's hard - it's been hard for so long for too many, not just me.

I'm keeping up with news reports from the ONS, NAO, Labour policy announcements, my friends' news here & May 2015. Please keep me in your thoughts. Thank you, my friends.
Hang on in there JA, shout if there is anything anybody can do to help.

thank you

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Mon 01 Dec, 2014 1:29 pm

It seems that Gordon Brown will formally announce he is standing down as an MP in the next few hours.

This has caused an utterly forseeable troll invasion at the other place - the new "unholy alliance" of tribal Tories and CyberNats in full view