Thursday, 18th December 2014

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 12:50 pm

Freeda Brocks 15m ago
todays documents show that 26 of the 56 observed kills hit the badgers in the abdomen/pelvis area. The target area is heart/lungs.

If this is so ..... the humaneness failing is far, far, far worse than in the first cull. This is just disgusting. It cannot be allowed to continue.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 12:50 pm

About that "Northern Hub" - we are already doing it actually.
University of Manchester named one of country's top research centres
A staggering 83 per cent of research at the university is judged to be ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ according to a report

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ys-8306438" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 1:04 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?

No, he just values genuine pluralism and democracy.

The OP's view of Cuba used to be faithfully repeated by certain people a quarter century ago about Eastern Europe.

We then found out how true it actually was.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 1:16 pm

Andy Sawford MP ‏@AndySawfordMP 31s32 seconds ago
Pickles lost battle with Treasury & DWP on local welfare assistance, there will be no money next year to help the most vulnerable people

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 1:19 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:
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?
No, he just values genuine pluralism and democracy.

The OP's view of Cuba used to be faithfully repeated by certain people a quarter century ago about Eastern Europe.

We then found out how true it actually was.

I probably should have read it in context, would have made more sense. But ..... well, you know the rest.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 1:23 pm

I think Mikems basic point that Cuba has been under threat from America is correct though. It's a "war economy" with some international tourism, and it makes some sense to be run as such.

It's not like everywhere round there's doing brilliantly.

It might be facing a few problems because Venezuela will struggle to keep up the oil it supplies to Cuba.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 1:26 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:
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?
No, he just values genuine pluralism and democracy.

The OP's view of Cuba used to be faithfully repeated by certain people a quarter century ago about Eastern Europe.

We then found out how true it actually was.

Yet it was Cuba who led the fight against Ebola sending teams of doctors - and supplies - to West Africa whist "the west" thought about how to stop it spreading to their own countries.
Not bad for a dictatorship country, for which Ebola posed very little risk.
"Cuba leads fight against Ebola in Africa as west frets about border security
The island nation has sent hundreds of health workers to help control the deadly infection while richer countries worry about their security – instead of heeding UN warnings that vastly increased resources are urgently needed"
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/o ... ola-africa" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

mikems · Post by **mikems** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 1:26 pm

What is 'genuiine' pluralism and democracy when your country is being attacked and blockaded?

Is the USA - with its two party system of millionaire candidate elections, genuine pluralism and democracy? Because that is the system Jones wants Cuba to adopt. What sort of left-winger would want that without even considering the reality in Cuba?

Cuba, unlike the eastern European states, really does have a participatory democracy. It involves millions of people in hundreds of thousands of meetings about the constitution and new economic arrangements. When have we ever had anythng like that in our wonderful pluralist (i.e dominated by capital) democracy?

Jones, like so many wanting to avoid attack from the right, ignores reality and fails to defend the Cuban people. He sides with those cynics who call for 'pluralism' in the hope of getting rid of real democracy i.e. the people driving the process, as happens in Cuba.

Of course, if your only information is from our media, then it is hardly surprising to think Cuba is a dictatorship. That's how Venezeula, with its pluralist multi-party democracy is also described by the right, who don't give a toss about any of it, just money and ruling.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 1:30 pm

"But it’s not the first time that Cuba has provided the lion’s share of medical relief following a humanitarian disaster. Four years ago, after the devastating earthquake in impoverished Haiti, Cuba sent the largest medical contingent and cared for 40% of the victims. In the aftermath of the Kashmir earthquake of 2005, Cuba sent 2,400 medical workers to Pakistan and treated more than 70% of those affected; they also left behind 32 field hospitals and donated a thousand medical scholarships."
Cuba’s extraordinary global medical record shames the US blockade

From Ebola to earthquakes, Havana’s doctors have saved millions. Obama must lift this embargo
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... kade-ebola" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 1:32 pm

I wonder if this overture by America has happened because Cuba could be weakened by Venezuealan oil being cut back?

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 1:35 pm

Another interesting Cuba article
“Cuba is world-famous for its ability to train outstanding doctors and nurses,” said WHO director Margaret Chan in a Sept. press conference announcing Cuba’s surge of health care workers. In the same meeting, Cuban Minister of Health Roberto Morales Ojeda called on all countries to “join the struggle against this disease.”
http://time.com/3556670/ebola-cuba/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

mikems · Post by **mikems** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 1:38 pm

Tubby,

Cuba is part of the ALBA trading block and also a member of Petrocaribe. These aren't market based trading institutions so aren't effected by swings in world market prices. Oil is exchanged by Venezeula at preferential prices in exchange for other aid or trade from the receiving country. In Cuba's case it has provided thousands of medical workers to staff and help form a health service in Venezuela, which, before Chavez, despite being a genuine pluralist democracy with multi-party elections, had no public health or education services or social security despite being an oil rich country. These trading institutions have protected member countries from economic problems from swings in market prices.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 1:54 pm

Link to Dilnot letters to Nicky Morgan as regards education statements to the House and to J Portes as regards Govt. Press release regarding the Benefit Cap.

http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/r ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 1:54 pm

Sorry to keep digging these up but the more I read about Cuba the more I think we have a lot to learn from them
"In the Pakistan relief operation the US and Europe dispatched medical teams. Each had a base camp with most doctors deployed for a month. The Cubans, however, deployed seven major base camps, operated 32 field hospitals and stayed for six months.

Bruno Rodriguez, who is now Cuba's foreign minister, headed the mission - living in the mountains of Pakistan for more than six months."
"Cuba's aid ignored by the media?
Cuban doctors were first to provide relief in Haiti, but received little press coverage."
http://www.aljazeera.com/focus/2010/01/ ... 70782.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 1:55 pm

Sorry double post.

mikems · Post by **mikems** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 1:57 pm

AngryAsWell,

I read that they left the field hospitals behind when they left as a gift.

mikems · Post by **mikems** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:02 pm

Here's another amazing initiative that is mostly unknown :

http://themudreport.blogspot.co.uk/2010 ... racle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:07 pm

From the Badger Trust website: http://badgertrust.org.uk/news/posts/20 ... stmas.aspx

Government attempt to bury badger bad news over Christmas

Thursday December 18, 2014

The Government today has released the results of the 2014 badger culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset.

In a clear attempt to bury bad news over Christmas, the report paints a picture of a disastrous policy which has clearly failed on scientific, economic and humaneness grounds.

Although 341 badgers were killed in Somerset which met the minimum target figure, the target has been criticised as "rubbish" and"unbelievably easy" by a leading expert. Only 274 were killed in Gloucestershire from a minimum target of 615.

Commenting on the publication of the report Dominic Dyer CEO of the Badger Trust and Policy Advisor at Care for the Wild said:

"Despite spending millions of pounds of tax payers money the DEFRA Chief Veterinary Officer admits for the first time today that the badger cull is failing.

Despite the many recommendations of the Independent Expert Panel from 2013, the standards of training and competence of the cull contractors continues to fall short, badger cull targets have not been met in Gloucestershire and many badgers have taken up to 5 minutes to suffer long painful deaths.

A recent MORI poll showed that badger culling was the fifth most common issue of complaint to MPs in the last 12 months.

This was backed up by a ComRes poll from the Badger Trust and Care for the Wild that shows 9 out of 10 people believe badger culling is cruel and should stop in favour of cattle based measures to reduce the spread of bovine TB.

It's now time for the Government to admit it has got it wrong and bring an end to this disastrous cruel policy once and for all.

It should now follow the example of Wales and introduce annual TB testing for cattle combined with tighter bio security and cattle control movements, with compliance linked to CAP single payments for farmers. This policy has delivered a 48% drop in the number of cattle slaughtered for TB in Wales in the last 5 years without killing any badgers at all.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:14 pm

Mikems,

Venezuela despite these deals operates in an international capitalist market, and has an 11.5% deficit already, and the oil price has plunged further. The most obvious way to improve that is by selling more of its production on the open market. The deal with Cuba is good value for both (one swimming in oil, one that produces excess doctors) but that's not the point. It'll probably need to sell more oil.

Cuba might reach an understanding with Venezuela to loan it doctors while the oil price recovers, but it would feel the pinch in the meantime.

mikems · Post by **mikems** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:15 pm

Finally, political parties in Cuba (from wiki) :

This article lists political parties in Cuba. No party is permitted to campaign or endorse candidates for election, including the Communist Party. Candidates are elected on an individual referendum basis without formal party involvement, though elected assemblies predominantly consist of members of the dominant party alongside non-affiliated candidates.[1]

Cuban Liberal Movement (Partido Liberal Nacional de Cuba)
Cuban Liberal Union (Unión Liberal Cubana, member LI)
Christian Democratic Party of Cuba (Partido Demócrata Cristiano de Cuba)
Cuban Democratic Socialist Current (Corriente Socialista Democratica Cubana)
Democratic Social-Revolutionary Party of Cuba (Partido Social-Revolucionario Democrático de Cuba)
Democratic Solidarity Party (Partido Solidaridad Democrática, member LI)
Social Democratic Co-ordination of Cuba (Coordinadora Social Demócrata de Cuba)
Orthodox Renovation Party (Partido de la Renovación Ortodoxa)

As a result, political rallies by opposition parties occur sporadically on the island.[2]

Cuban law also stipulates that it is punishable to receive funds from a foreign government for purposes of a political organization.[3]

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:15 pm

The language used by Lord Ashcroft to spin his polling results is ridiculous. As is the headline. These aren't the top Labour targets, yet they're polling well.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:19 pm

mikems wrote:AngryAsWell,

I read that they left the field hospitals behind when they left as a gift.

They did, and scholarships to help train locals for the future
"they also left behind 32 field hospitals and donated a thousand medical scholarships"

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:21 pm

Venezuela seems to have pretty bad economic problems.

I'm not sure it's been protected against anything. It's basically chucked oil money about. Brazil has done much better, as has Bolivia.

mikems · Post by **mikems** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:23 pm

Venezuela despite these deals operates in an international capitalist market, and has an 11.5% deficit already, and the oil price has plunged further. The most obvious way to improve that is by selling more of its production on the open market. The deal with Cuba is good value for both (one swimming in oil, one that produces excess doctors) but that's not the point. It'll probably need to sell more oil.

It doesn't deal entirely in a capitalist market. It deals on reciprical trade bases with many countries in Latin America and the rest of the world including China and Vietnam. You may be right that the Venezuelan leadership may want to sell more oil on the open market, but it won't breach its ALBA commitments.

Of course, it is not immune to outside economic pressures, but it is not going to ditch its main programmes of regional integration and independence to deal with a cyclical economic problem of lack of demand in the world economy.

mikems · Post by **mikems** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:28 pm

Venezuela seems to have pretty bad economic problems.

The choice in Venezeula is not to have some sort of liberal social democracy or the current system. It is the current system, under attack from those who own the bulk of wealth and the USA, or the old system of corrupt rule and oppression masquerading as democracy.

Venezuela does have bad economic problems, but none of them are going to be solved by abandoning their future to the vagaries of world markets. Quite the opposite.

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:29 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:Venezuela seems to have pretty bad economic problems.

I'm not sure it's been protected against anything. It's basically chucked oil money about. Brazil has done much better, as has Bolivia.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:29 pm

Very good statement from Network For Animals re the appalling badger cull results and the government's 'determination' to continue culling despite all ... Couple of extracts here:

Network For Animals see it as no coincidence that today, Thursday 18th December, unchallengeable in parliament, Elizabeth Truss and the Conservative government have released the results of their controversial 2014 badger cull.The reported figures make clear that the Gloucestershire cull was an even greater failure than last year, and that in Somerset not even the midpoint of the government's targets could be reached:

...
The UK Chief Veterinary Officer has stated that culling should continue in Somerset for the next two years, but acknowledged that it should only take place in Gloucestershire if training, assessment, planning, monitoring and delivery can be improved, otherwise benefits of reducing disease in cattle may not be realised. Based upon this, Network For Animals see absolutely no case to expand the cull beyond Somerset and Gloucestershire during 2015, and without significant measures being made clear in the public domain, Network For Animals see no option but for a further cull in Gloucestershire to be called off.

In the past two years, the actions of the Department for Environment under Elizabeth Truss and Owen Paterson have resulted in the death of 2386 badgers. Network for Animals view each of these lives to be a tragic loss, and call for the rhetoric of culling to be drawn to a close, and vaccination projects seized as the humane, cost effective alternative.

- See more at: http://www.networkforanimals.org/news/2 ... 4Lvzv.dpuf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:38 pm

mikems wrote:
Venezuela despite these deals operates in an international capitalist market, and has an 11.5% deficit already, and the oil price has plunged further. The most obvious way to improve that is by selling more of its production on the open market. The deal with Cuba is good value for both (one swimming in oil, one that produces excess doctors) but that's not the point. It'll probably need to sell more oil.
It doesn't deal entirely in a capitalist market. It deals on reciprical trade bases with many countries in Latin America and the rest of the world including China and Vietnam. You may be right that the Venezuelan leadership may want to sell more oil on the open market, but it won't breach its ALBA commitments.

Of course, it is not immune to outside economic pressures, but it is not going to ditch its main programmes of regional integration and independence to deal with a cyclical economic problem of lack of demand in the world economy.

It's not really regional integration. Only 4 out of the top 20 countries in Latin America by GDP are in it, and none of the top 4.

Venezuela's problems are a bit more than cyclical, when you compare it to the rest of the ALBA members, especially Bolivia which is doing well. The other members are surely going to have to cut it some slack with its oil.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:45 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Angela Eagle ‏@angelaeagle 17m17 minutes ago
UKIP nativity play: the 3 wise men have been sent back where they came from & they've told the Virgin Mary to stop breast feeding in public

And the Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, were lodged in an offshore tax haven.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:46 pm

mikems wrote:
Venezuela seems to have pretty bad economic problems.
The choice in Venezeula is not to have some sort of liberal social democracy or the current system. It is the current system, under attack from those who own the bulk of wealth and the USA, or the old system of corrupt rule and oppression masquerading as democracy.

Venezuela does have bad economic problems, but none of them are going to be solved by abandoning their future to the vagaries of world markets. Quite the opposite.

But it has a route out of those vagaries, its oil. Production peaked in 1999, as far as I can see. With more investment in the past, that could be considerably higher now.

If you think I'm arguing for the old world of high production and squalid poverty, I'm not. Bolivia and Brazil have made big improvements that look more sustainable.

Venezuela has fallen right into the Dutch disease trap.

mikems · Post by **mikems** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:49 pm

I'm sure you are more up to speed with the details than I am, Tubby. I only keep up with the headlines from the region. From Telesur mainly. I don't trust the coverage in the Guardian or any of our other media outlets.

Also, I didn't say Venezuela's problems are cyclical, but that the world economy is cyclical. Venezuela's economic problems are exacerbated by low oil prices now, just as they were eased when oil was trading at much higher rates. If the price of oil stays as low as it is, many other countries, including some projected independent Scotland, as has been pointed out here, will have them too.

mikems · Post by **mikems** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 2:54 pm

The problem is that Venezuela has not been free to simply change the way it does things without considerable, and violent, opposition. In many ways its options, like Cuba's, are restricted by the simple weight of opposition the government faces. It tried to adopt an entirely voluntary and democratic approach to fundamental change and was targetted with a US backed coup and the abduction of the president.

In contrast, Brazil and Bolivia have had different expriences and, as a result, now have different options open to them. But, let's not forget, both Brazil and Bolivia have had governments overthrown in the past and are not immune to renewed coup attempts.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 3:14 pm

Sadiq Khan MP ‏@SadiqKhan 8m8 minutes ago
Today's Signing of the #probation privatisation contracts is a bad day for public safety " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 3:29 pm

StephenDolan wrote:The language used by Lord Ashcroft to spin his polling results is ridiculous. As is the headline. These aren't the top Labour targets, yet they're polling well.

Overall it is the lowest pro-Labour swing in these groups of surveys, though - the Pendle score in particular is rather disappointing (as are the Labour-UKIP findings - it confirms G Grimsby is their best hope of a gain from us, though)

But as Smithson says, they were done a few weeks ago.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 3:48 pm

Jamie Reed ‏@jreedmp 1m1 minute ago Birmingham, West Midlands
The country's top doctors have named Andrew Lansley as the worst Health Secretary ever. Ever. Think about that.

Except it isn't funny - at all.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 3:52 pm

Matthew d'Ancona to join the Guardian as columnist
Former Spectator editor’s column to begin in new year
http://www.theguardian.com/gnm-press-of ... -columnist

Well - is it just a rather big error of my memory .... or wasn't Matthew d'Ancona writing for the Telegraph most recently ... and was one of those whose services were no longer required in their recent cull? But in this piece there is absolutely no mention of being published in the Telegraph.

He was one of their better contributors though.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 3:56 pm

Thought my above comment would stir up a bit of a hornets nest

Nobody with any sense denies that the US has treated Cuba disgracefully ever since Castro F came to power (though equally, the regime has become adept at using the "Yanqui" bogeyman to put off widely desired reforms) or that the government there has done some good things.

But for the left to have any hope of success, democracy really *is* the only way. Alternatives are at times tempting, but always fall short in the end without political freedom.

Most people in Cuba don't want a return to the days of Batista, I am pretty confident of that.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 3:57 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Matthew d'Ancona to join the Guardian as columnist
Former Spectator editor’s column to begin in new year
http://www.theguardian.com/gnm-press-of ... -columnist
Well - is it just a rather big error of my memory .... or wasn't Matthew d'Ancona writing for the Telegraph most recently ... and was one of those whose services were no longer required in their recent cull? But in this piece there is absolutely no mention of being published in the Telegraph.

He was one of their better contributors though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_d'Ancona" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

frightful_oik · Post by **frightful_oik** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 3:57 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Matthew d'Ancona to join the Guardian as columnist
Former Spectator editor’s column to begin in new year
http://www.theguardian.com/gnm-press-of ... -columnist
Well - is it just a rather big error of my memory .... or wasn't Matthew d'Ancona writing for the Telegraph most recently ... and was one of those whose services were no longer required in their recent cull? But in this piece there is absolutely no mention of being published in the Telegraph.

He was one of their better contributors though.

Consolidates the Graun's swing to the right.

Post by **refitman** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 4:01 pm

frightful_oik wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
Matthew d'Ancona to join the Guardian as columnist
Former Spectator editor’s column to begin in new year
http://www.theguardian.com/gnm-press-of ... -columnist
Well - is it just a rather big error of my memory .... or wasn't Matthew d'Ancona writing for the Telegraph most recently ... and was one of those whose services were no longer required in their recent cull? But in this piece there is absolutely no mention of being published in the Telegraph.

He was one of their better contributors though.
Consolidates the Graun's swing to the right.

They'll be hiring DFH and Toady next

danesclose · Post by **danesclose** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 4:04 pm

frightful_oik wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
Matthew d'Ancona to join the Guardian as columnist
Former Spectator editor’s column to begin in new year
http://www.theguardian.com/gnm-press-of ... -columnist
Well - is it just a rather big error of my memory .... or wasn't Matthew d'Ancona writing for the Telegraph most recently ... and was one of those whose services were no longer required in their recent cull? But in this piece there is absolutely no mention of being published in the Telegraph.

He was one of their better contributors though.
Consolidates the Graun's swing to the right.

D’Ancona’s Sunday Telegraph column is treated as the best insight into Cameronism by Conservative MPs

From totalpolitics.com. Says it all really.
I wonder if he's being lined up to replace Rusbridger?

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 4:09 pm

refitman wrote:
frightful_oik wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote: Well - is it just a rather big error of my memory .... or wasn't Matthew d'Ancona writing for the Telegraph most recently ... and was one of those whose services were no longer required in their recent cull? But in this piece there is absolutely no mention of being published in the Telegraph.

He was one of their better contributors though.
Consolidates the Graun's swing to the right.
They'll be hiring DFH and Toady next

Don't. Even. Jest.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 4:10 pm

Anyone see that Hunt managed to shoehorn in a Mid Staffs reference to Burnham's A&E question earlier?

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publi ... known/184/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Finally, if the right hon. Gentleman is worried about poor care, why is he still saying it was wrong to have a public inquiry into Mid Staffs? This is what Julie Bailey, the Mid Staffs campaigner, said this week about his comments:

“It is very worrying, because if he becomes Health Secretary again at the election it is clear we would go straight back to the old days of covering up.”

I've been treating the trolls to some Mid Staffs facts on the Graun article - one even told me that the original Francis 2010 reports was:

That was a closed internal report without publication

After I gave him the link, he's simply ignored it and given me the Lansley report - Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 4:15 pm

Jesus.

Not even brave enough to accuse Burnham of covering up himself, quoting Bailey.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 4:18 pm

mikems wrote:I'm sure you are more up to speed with the details than I am, Tubby. I only keep up with the headlines from the region. From Telesur mainly. I don't trust the coverage in the Guardian or any of our other media outlets.

Also, I didn't say Venezuela's problems are cyclical, but that the world economy is cyclical. Venezuela's economic problems are exacerbated by low oil prices now, just as they were eased when oil was trading at much higher rates. If the price of oil stays as low as it is, many other countries, including some projected independent Scotland, as has been pointed out here, will have them too.

Yes, and Russia, of course.

It must be very hard not to spend every penny on social problems when you get a windfall like Venezuela, so I guess it's easy for me here to say "why didn't you spend some more on X?". I'm sympathetic to that. I think they're due a favour from others in ALBA. Cuban doctors are needed in Venezuela.

I don't think you need to bother too much about media stuff on Venezuela, and I agree with you lots of it shouldn't be trusted. The horrible figures come from their government figures.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 4:22 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:
StephenDolan wrote:The language used by Lord Ashcroft to spin his polling results is ridiculous. As is the headline. These aren't the top Labour targets, yet they're polling well.
Overall it is the lowest pro-Labour swing in these groups of surveys, though - the Pendle score in particular is rather disappointing (as are the Labour-UKIP findings - it confirms G Grimsby is their best hope of a gain from us, though)

But as Smithson says, they were done a few weeks ago.

Hadn't expected Plymouth Moor View to be in play, though. I guess working class Tory collapse in places like that is pretty serious.

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 4:24 pm

Hunt just tweeted this.. Not that one, Tristram Hunt.

http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/r ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 4:24 pm

Please somebody post some good news.

I'm having one of those days ... one bit of bad news after another. Well actually it started yesterday when I saw in our local paper that the Electoral Commission are consulting on the boundary changes which would chuck North Pembs in with Ceredigion ---- bye bye any chance of Labour representation if it comes to pass, hello Plaid Cymru (uuuugggghhh) or Lib Dem (double uuuugggghhh). Now we've got Matthew d'Ancona coming in to big up the right wing support team at the G. Badgers are going to be killed all over the country regardless the lack of any moral or scientific basis if these Tories and Lib Dems get back in .........

And I have just cancelled the order of the Xmas present I had bought for Mr Riots as I have no confidence it will be delivered. Waited in today as notified. When the hour slot for delivery passed I saw that the email from the delivery co (DPD) had been updated to say they had failed to find our address and to wait for further notification from them. I attempted to ring the supplier as if DPD have failed to find us once, they are unlikely to succeed another time so wanted to arrange an alternative pick up point or give more instructions. I was told the delivery co claim they have been ringing me all day .... the phone is 6 inches away, I've been in all day. That lie made me decide to cancel immediately. Mr Riots will have to be told ...

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 4:31 pm

RogerOThornhill wrote:Anyone see that Hunt managed to shoehorn in a Mid Staffs reference to Burnham's A&E question earlier?

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publi ... known/184/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Finally, if the right hon. Gentleman is worried about poor care, why is he still saying it was wrong to have a public inquiry into Mid Staffs? This is what Julie Bailey, the Mid Staffs campaigner, said this week about his comments:

“It is very worrying, because if he becomes Health Secretary again at the election it is clear we would go straight back to the old days of covering up.”

I've been treating the trolls to some Mid Staffs facts on the Graun article - one even told me that the original Francis 2010 reports was:

That was a closed internal report without publication
After I gave him the link, he's simply ignored it and given me the Lansley report - Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

Those commentators below the line, Roger, they know they're wrong. I've had a particularly hard day today. I'm disgusted with the lies - my head aches.

frightful_oik · Post by **frightful_oik** » Thu 18 Dec, 2014 4:32 pm

Nice to see those struggling areas in the Home Counties doing a bit better:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30537288