Thursday, 18th December 2014

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 6:55 pm

citizenJA wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
diGriz wrote: This should be a major, major story in the press should it not?
Oh for some leaked pics of that 'rave'. Dad dancing to the trillionth power ...
oh, thanks a lot, RR2, wonderful imagery that - sorry, sorry - it's the LibDem Hour.

Imagine it to Abba - Dave swaying to Dancing Queen - even better.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 6:57 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:Some snowy owls. From Twitter.

Quite delightful Tubby. And they're still alive! I'm sure that's all down to the Lib Dems preventing the Tories from doing their worst.

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:01 pm

Ouch! If you're a Tory that is..

http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehous ... e-we-like/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:03 pm

Still

James Chapman (Mail) retweeted
Christopher Hope @christopherhope · 6m 6 minutes ago
The Conservative Party's treatment of Nick Timothy looks outrageous. What's going on @grantshapps? He would make a fine MP.

Paul Goodman ‏@PaulGoodmanCH 1h1 hour ago
Gather Stephen Parkinson, one of Theresa May's other SpAds, also suspended from the candidates' list for the same reason as N.Timothy.

Sean Kemp ‏@Sean_Kemp 1h1 hour ago
@PaulGoodmanCH This is absurd, they shouldn't have even asked them.

James Chapman (Mail)
‏@jameschappers
@Sean_Kemp @PaulGoodmanCH Tory HQ claiming Cabinet Office approved spad telephone canvassing which is surprising, looking at code of conduct

Sean Kemp ‏@Sean_Kemp 1h1 hour ago
@jameschappers @PaulGoodmanCH Really? That's a fairly significant change to have done on the sly without even updating the code in public.

new_politics ‏@cicero_101 52m52 minutes ago
@jameschappers @PaulGoodmanCH @Sean_Kemp breach of election law?? see donation in kind and 'impermissible donations' @metpoliceuk #PPERA : )

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:12 pm

yahyah wrote:

Almost feel sorry for him. He looks like he's going to cry.

His body language is screaming dejection...What a mess he's made of it.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:12 pm

Aaah ... light bulb on.

Paul Goodman @PaulGoodmanCH · 4h 4 hours ago
Theresa May’s SpAd claims to have been removed from candidates list after refusing to break the SpAds code of conduct http://bit.ly/1sJpBiz" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This has quite a big pong about it.

Editing to add: Now I've read that Conservative Home piece in full ... it has an even bigger stench about it. No wonder people are asking for a proper response from Shapps.

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:15 pm

Not a snowballs in hell chance of something similar happening in this country, here they moan about beavers taking over a tiny stretch of river..

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

diGriz · Post by **diGriz** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:16 pm

ohsocynical wrote:
yahyah wrote:

Almost feel sorry for him. He looks like he's going to cry.
His body language is screaming dejection...What a mess he's made of it.

Go through the motions, go through the motions and focus on the peerage.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:20 pm

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:21 pm

Looks like a couple of poor Tory seats pissed away to UKIP there.

I think that's Thanet getting hammered there, isn't it?

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:23 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:Looks like a couple of poor Tory seats pissed away to UKIP there.

Yes, just what I was thinking. They've already given up in some places then ...

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:24 pm

letsskiptotheleft wrote:Ouch! If you're a Tory that is..

http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehous ... e-we-like/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The fatal contradiction at the heart of the Tory message: there is no money, except for people we like.

The single biggest thing preventing a thumping Labour victory is Ed Miliband.

Bullshit.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:24 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:Aaah ... light bulb on.

Paul Goodman @PaulGoodmanCH · 4h 4 hours ago
Theresa May’s SpAd claims to have been removed from candidates list after refusing to break the SpAds code of conduct http://bit.ly/1sJpBiz" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This has quite a big pong about it.

Editing to add: Now I've read that Conservative Home piece in full ... it has an even bigger stench about it. No wonder people are asking for a proper response from Shapps.

They'd be better off asking Jeffrey Archer.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:24 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:Looks like a couple of poor Tory seats pissed away to UKIP there.

I think that's Thanet getting hammered there, isn't it?

And Lincolnshire's been given the V sign too.

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:27 pm

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:
mikems wrote:A lot of hysteria from the right today about the US/Cuba diplomatic agreement. Owen Jones joining in claiming that embargoed and threatened Cuba is a 'dictatorship'. Funny dictatorship that is run by mass participation and non-party elections.

Never mind. It is a dictatorship because corrupt western governments say it is and 'left-wingers' currying favour will fall into line. Fuck 'em. I support the Cuban people and their government - it's not a dictatorship, it is a country living under permanent threat from the world hyperpower and subjected to regular economic, political and military attack, including from state sponsored terrorism.

What the right want, and won't get, is multi-party elections that they can fund and corrupt. The Cuban people aren't that stupid and have learnt enough these last fifty years not to be bought by their enemies.
Blimey, isn't Saint Owen a bit off message there? What happened to solidarity and all that?

St Owen of Oxford

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:29 pm

Martin Rowson @MartinRowson · 2h 2 hours ago
As we can't afford safety nets, libraries or local services, how can we afford @George_Osborne? What is George's net cost to economy anyway?

Martin Rowson @MartinRowson · 2h 2 hours ago
I mean, can't we outsource Osborne to some well-meaning ex-crim from G4S or something? If they don't turn up, it'll be even cheaper.

Martin Rowson @MartinRowson · 2h 2 hours ago
Or simply learn to live without George Osborne altogether, along with what tolerating him in public life says about our national decline...

Martin Rowson @MartinRowson · 2h 2 hours ago
Personally I think something like a salamander or skink attached by an elastic band to a slide-rule would suffice on replacing Osborne front

Martin Rowson @MartinRowson · 1h 1 hour ago
Think of millions saved on Dettol, moping up all that vomit every time Osborne appears on TV. We could build bridge to moon with money saved

Oh I needed that. Thank you Rowson.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:29 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:Looks like a couple of poor Tory seats pissed away to UKIP there.

I think that's Thanet getting hammered there, isn't it?
And Lincolnshire's been given the V sign too.

Yep. Poor area (for quite a while). Lots of EU immigrants. Here's a big cut.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:30 pm

Cuts of 6.4% for us and neighbouring Chesterfield,consistent.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:30 pm

Goodnight, everyone.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:31 pm

Hey ... maybe some proper good news.

Sadiq Khan MP ‏@SadiqKhan 5m5 minutes ago
Great news! #NewEra looks set to be sold to a housing association so the fantastic community can be kept together http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014 ... -westbrook" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

(And PS Tubby - I rather like Sadiq Khan for Mayor of London too).

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:32 pm

PorFavor wrote:Goodnight, everyone.

Night PF.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:33 pm

HindleA wrote:Cuts of 6.4% for us and neighbouring Chesterfield,consistent.

5% for us in Tower Hamlets.

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:37 pm

http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablo ... -authority" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

danesclose · Post by **danesclose** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:45 pm

rearofthestore wrote:
Kevin Maguire ‏@Kevin_Maguire 3m3 minutes ago
So Cameron left early Northern Ireland peace talks early to go to an Ibiza-style rave for his wife's 40th in Chequers. FFS
As is often said on this forum this man is contemptible . I can't imagine Brown, Blair, Major (or even Thatcher for that matter) showing such indifference to the responsibilities of high office.

Presume Osborne got them all sorted for E's & Whizz

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:46 pm

Channel 4 news now. Janice Atkinson Ukip MEP .... report on her having been taken to court by the Child Support Agency twice for refusing to cough up £ to support her children living with former husband.

Editing to add:

Michael Crick ‏@MichaelLCrick 33m33 minutes ago
On #c4news shortly, we reveal top Ukip MEP whom CSA has twice taken to court for maintenance arrears in past 2 years, & still owes £2,200+

diGriz · Post by **diGriz** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 7:49 pm

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... t-harrison

George Osborne’s top adviser receives 18% pay rise
Records show salary of Rupert Harrison, a chief architect of public sector pay freezes, rose to £95,000 over the last year

frightful_oik · Post by **frightful_oik** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 8:05 pm

This Aldridge and Brownhills thing; I expect it will get as much coverage as Labour-Falkirk did. No?!

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 8:30 pm

frightful_oik wrote:This Aldridge and Brownhills thing; I expect it will get as much coverage as Labour-Falkirk did. No?!

Nick Clegg was very vocal about Falkirk.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 8:45 pm

letsskiptotheleft wrote:http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablo ... -authority

Some inner v outer London stuff going on there. Outer has done better, except potless Barking and Dagenham.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 8:56 pm

citizenJA wrote:
letsskiptotheleft wrote:Ouch! If you're a Tory that is..

http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehous ... e-we-like/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The fatal contradiction at the heart of the Tory message: there is no money, except for people we like.

The single biggest thing preventing a thumping Labour victory is Ed Miliband.
Bullshit.

Or as Mr Ohso says - Horse puckey.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 8:58 pm

PorFavor wrote:Goodnight, everyone.

Night PF

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 9:06 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:Channel 4 news now. Janice Atkinson Ukip MEP .... report on her having been taken to court by the Child Support Agency twice for refusing to cough up £ to support her children living with former husband.

Editing to add:
Michael Crick ‏@MichaelLCrick 33m33 minutes ago
On #c4news shortly, we reveal top Ukip MEP whom CSA has twice taken to court for maintenance arrears in past 2 years, & still owes £2,200+

Is that is Janice "Ting Tong" Atkinson, author of UKIP's welfare policy, vocal critic of parents sponging off the state and not paying their own way? Why, I do believe it is.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 9:09 pm

Goodnight, everyone.

Love,
JA

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 9:11 pm

Remember that old "Asian countries do well in PISA tests therefore we need to visit their countries and copy their schools"?

Well...maybe there's more going on there than that simplistic line.

http://johnjerrim.com/2014/10/09/why-do ... l-at-pisa/

What are the implications of these findings for us here in the UK? Well, every time international assessments like PISA are released, we hear about the lessons to be learned from the high performing East Asian economies. This has led to us comparing our curriculum to those in Singapore and Hong Kong (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... -RR178.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;), and sending delegations to observe teaching methods in East Asian schools (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/expe ... s-in-maths" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).

Yet many of the key reasons why East Asian children excel are cultural, and therefore beyond the control of schools. Therefore, what PISA 2012 really teaches us is that parents and familial culture matter a great deal, and that our middling performance in such international comparisons captures a lot more than just the ‘performance’ of our education system, teachers and schools.

How much did all those jollies cost I wonder?

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 9:14 pm

Anyone could have told them you can't copy places that are very different to you.

Save the money and go to Ireland if you want to see a country that does well in PISA.

TechnicalEphemera · Post by **TechnicalEphemera** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 9:15 pm

How exactly has Cameron allowed himself to be caught up in something so petty? He is damaging his reputation and effectively corrupting civil servants.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 34589.html

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 9:22 pm

Theresa May is a mixed bag, but she shot down Gove nicely and has the whip hand over Cameron now.

She looked very lightweight to me before. Got her wrong.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 9:29 pm

TechnicalEphemera wrote:How exactly has Cameron allowed himself to be caught up in something so petty? He is damaging his reputation and effectively corrupting civil servants.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 34589.html

Because he has no political judgement whatsoever...but then we knew that already.

It's the same reasoning as had him thinking that hiring someone who had resigned over phone-hacking at paper he edited wouldn't do any harm...or that making a recent 40 year tax exile party treasurer would be a great idea.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 9:31 pm

Night PF. Night CJA.

TechnicalEphemera wrote:How exactly has Cameron allowed himself to be caught up in something so petty? He is damaging his reputation and effectively corrupting civil servants.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 34589.html

How has he got caught up in it? Because their whole ethos is that silly things like rules don't apply to people like them! Cameron's attitude here is just another example of my pet hobby horse, the politicisation of the Civil Service, which is something Labour are going to have to deal with if they come to office next year. Congratulations have to go to Nick Timothy and Stephen Parkinson for displaying principles & backbone and also (this said through gritted teeth) to Mrs May for actually doing the right thing for once in her life.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 9:48 pm

I hadn't made the connection...but someone else had.

The academy that managed to be conned out of £1.1m went into special measure this week...and their two sponsors have pulled out.

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/1 ... ed/?ref=mr

A TROUBLED school has been placed into special measures after receiving the lowest rating of ‘inadequate’ during its latest Ofsted inspection.

The performance of St Aldhelm’s Academy in Herbert Avenue, Poole, which was inspected in October, has been described as having ‘declined substantially since the previous inspection’ in October 2012 and rated then as ‘requiring improvement’.

but wait. The local MP thinks everything is in hand.

Conor Burns, Bournemouth West MP, said: “This is a bad report and there’s no disguising that reality. However, it’s not unpredictable.

“I’m confident that the urgent measures necessary to turn around the situation at St Aldhelm’s are already well advanced and will become clear in the weeks and months ahead.”

which roughly translates as "I haven't got a clue but am hoping for the best"

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 10:14 pm

Murdered Crimewatch presenter Jill Dando 'tried to get bosses to investigate alleged paeodphile ring inside the BBC but no one wanted to know'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z3MI3TNh1F" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
The net is getting wider....

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 10:21 pm

Sacked academy headteacher exam cheat.

That sounds like a Fall song.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/11677458 ... gistration" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 10:22 pm

RogerOThornhill wrote:
TechnicalEphemera wrote:How exactly has Cameron allowed himself to be caught up in something so petty? He is damaging his reputation and effectively corrupting civil servants.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 34589.html
Because he has no political judgement whatsoever...but then we knew that already.

It's the same reasoning as had him thinking that hiring someone who had resigned over phone-hacking at paper he edited wouldn't do any harm...or that making a recent 40 year tax exile party treasurer would be a great idea.

And no sense of what's appropriate in government at all. As far as he's concerned, it's all his to do what he likes with.

danesclose · Post by **danesclose** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 10:30 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:
RogerOThornhill wrote:
TechnicalEphemera wrote:How exactly has Cameron allowed himself to be caught up in something so petty? He is damaging his reputation and effectively corrupting civil servants.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 34589.html
Because he has no political judgement whatsoever...but then we knew that already.

It's the same reasoning as had him thinking that hiring someone who had resigned over phone-hacking at paper he edited wouldn't do any harm...or that making a recent 40 year tax exile party treasurer would be a great idea.
And no sense of what's appropriate in government at all. As far as he's concerned, it's all his to do what he likes with.

There's a link from that Indy article to one which claims the Tories have accepted a donation of £75k from a chap called Mile Lynch, who's being investigated for massive fraud

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 34500.html

diGriz · Post by **diGriz** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 10:42 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:Murdered Crimewatch presenter Jill Dando 'tried to get bosses to investigate alleged paeodphile ring inside the BBC but no one wanted to know'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z3MI3TNh1F" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
The net is getting wider....

Well it makes sense in this context, I could never really understand what the motive would have been to kill her.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 10:43 pm

Toby Perkins MP retweeted
Dr Éoin Clarke ‏@LabourEoin 3m3 minutes ago
YouGov's last poll of 2014 just released. It shows Labour have jumped to their joint highest poll lead (5%) in 84 days. Merry Christmas all.

Toby Perkins MP retweeted
NumbrCrunchrPolitics ‏@NCPoliticsUK 4m4 minutes ago
YouGov:

CON 30 (-3)
LAB 35 (+2)
LIB 6 (-2)
UKIP 16 (+2)
GRN 8 (+1)

Fieldwork 17th to 18th

LAB 5 pts ahead of CON
GRN 2 pts ahead of LIB

Yippydee doodah, and all that.

Tizme1 · Post by **Tizme1** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 10:44 pm

Evening all,

Sorry rather late in the day but as promised, these are the 12 seats the Greens are targeting;

Brighton
Bristol West
Norwich South
Cambridge
St Ives
Solihull
Holburn and St Pancras
Sheffield Central
Liverpool Riverside
Oxford East
York Central
Reading East

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 10:44 pm

diGriz wrote:
AngryAsWell wrote:Murdered Crimewatch presenter Jill Dando 'tried to get bosses to investigate alleged paeodphile ring inside the BBC but no one wanted to know'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z3MI3TNh1F" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
The net is getting wider....
Well it makes sense in this context, I could never really understand what the motive would have been to kill her.

Now I am flabbergasted ... but as you say ... it could actually make sense where none seemed to be. And yet I don't really want it to.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 10:53 pm

Tizme1 wrote:Evening all,

Sorry rather late in the day but as promised, these are the 12 seats the Greens are targeting;

Brighton
Bristol West
Norwich South
Cambridge
St Ives
Solihull
Holburn and St Pancras
Sheffield Central
Liverpool Riverside
Oxford East
York Central
Reading East

Thank you Tizme. Is Natalie Bennett the Green candidate for Holborn & St Pancras again? Those should be some interesting hustings if so.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 10:57 pm

Tizme1 wrote:Evening all,

Sorry rather late in the day but as promised, these are the 12 seats the Greens are targeting;

Brighton
Bristol West
Norwich South
Cambridge
St Ives
Solihull
Holburn and St Pancras
Sheffield Central
Liverpool Riverside
Oxford East
York Central
Reading East

Thanks! Fair play for not targetting Stroud, where you're strong locally but which has a left-wing Labour candidate.

It's a very studenty list though, isn't it?