Saturday 31st January & Sunday 1st February 2015

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 8:42 am

Morning all.

This is an unexpected pleasure to be opening a thread!

String defence of Miliband on Today from Roy Hattersley when charged with the "It's 1992 all over again" - he came across very well and when Milburn's name came up - praise be! - Nuaghtie brought up his involvement with PwC and his enthusiasm for the private sector.

Right - time for shopping.

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 8:45 am

Morning all.

Was offline yesterday because of a problem with our ISP connection, so just catching up on your posts & other news.

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 8:49 am

RogerOThornhill wrote:Morning all.

This is an unexpected pleasure to be opening a thread!

String defence of Miliband on Today from Roy Hattersley when charged with the "It's 1992 all over again" - he came across very well and when Milburn's name came up - praise be! - Nuaghtie brought up his involvement with PwC and his enthusiasm for the private sector.

Right - time for shopping.

Finally! (About Today, not the opening of a thread

) Shame it took so long and the narrative has been set.

frightful_oik · Post by **frightful_oik** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 8:52 am

Was that the Greek Finance Minister again on Today having the temerity to challenge Sarah Montague's lazy assumptioms?

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 9:05 am

frightful_oik wrote:Was that the Greek Finance Minister again on Today having the temerity to challenge Sarah Montague's lazy assumptioms?

Twas indeed. Long may the Greeks show them up (lazy journos) for what they are.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 9:07 am

Speaking of journos. Here is the most respected political journalist in Britain on what he thinks Cameron will do re the debates:

My hunch - and it really is a hunch and not something I've been told - is that he'll keep the debates about debates going as long as possible until, at the last possible minute, offering to take part in one debate with multiple leaders just before the campaign begins.

He'll claim that the media's obsession with the story has proved that he is right to warn that debates during the campaign would crowd out the real issues.

Finally, he'll calculate that whilst many voters will conclude that he's, well, a little bit chicken, it won't bother them enough to change how they vote.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30999055

So no debate with Ed then. Wonder what the broadcasters will do to fill that spot?

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 9:11 am

Someone asked who Paul Murphy is the other day.

Mike Gapes MP ‏@MikeGapes 15m15 minutes ago Ilford, London
“@BBCPolitics: Paul Murphy is to stand down as Labour MP for Torfaen after 28 years in parliament. http://bbc.in/1EUeLHL" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ” a v good man

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 9:15 am

Owen Smith MP ‏@OwenSmithMP 8m8 minutes ago
I knew Grant Shapps was a fantasist but passion for make-believe reaches new heights in his prediction that Tories will win seats in Wales!

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 9:22 am

Scottish marine policy 'not fit for purpose', say MSPs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-s ... s-31056965

Toby Latimer · Post by **Toby Latimer** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 9:26 am

Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis dealt with Emily Maitlis too on Newsnight, telling her she was rude for interrupting.

Getting a bit tedious these jumped up BBC presenters like her & Wark who like to think that the programme is all about them

[youtube]BiIO4YciewU[/youtube]

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 9:42 am

@Toby

Emily Maitliss was alleged to be among BBC staff who minimised their tax by having their renumeration paid into 'compnies'.

''The BBC has admitted paying more than 6,000 freelance workers who register themselves as “personal service companies”, meaning they can be taxed as companies not individuals.
It has been reported that they include some of the BBC’s most well-known broadcasters, including newsreaders Fiona Bruce, Joanne Gosling, Emily Maitlis, Gavin Esler and Sophie Raworth.''
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvan ... dance.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

When will Maitlis and people like her realise they are part of the problem ?

Toby Latimer · Post by **Toby Latimer** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 9:59 am

yahyah wrote:@Toby

Emily Maitliss was alleged to be among BBC staff who minimised their tax by having their renumeration paid into 'compnies'.

''The BBC has admitted paying more than 6,000 freelance workers who register themselves as “personal service companies”, meaning they can be taxed as companies not individuals.
It has been reported that they include some of the BBC’s most well-known broadcasters, including newsreaders Fiona Bruce, Joanne Gosling, Emily Maitlis, Gavin Esler and Sophie Raworth.''
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvan ... dance.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

When will Maitlis and people like her realise they are part of the problem ?

Thanks yahyah, it's a pet hate of mine that we still have to pay for the BBC under the threat of prosecution and a £1000 fine. Their politics are so obviously biased in favour of the Tories, and it bugs me people like those mentioned above are milking it for all they can.

I'm sure if they were funded by adverts I wouldn't notice as much as I would have 30 or 40 years ago when there was only three channels.

Ads are everywhere nowadays, and easily avoidable with the remote control, or on the internet with ad-ons such as adblock, at least we wouldn't be funding it directly, with the threat of a fine hanging over us.

Toby Latimer · Post by **Toby Latimer** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 10:02 am

A television detector van on the streets of Mansfield 1963

: 1963_Television_Detedtor_Van.jpg (69.39 KiB) Viewed 13716 times

mikems · Post by **mikems** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 10:13 am

I'd rather abolish the current news and current affairs set up and replace it with something more democratic and independent. Than have adds on the BBC, that is.

pk1 · Post by **pk1** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 10:35 am

Read a post on UKPR last night, since moderated by (Tory supporting) Anthony Wells, that apparently a new smear campaign is to be launched tonight called 'Operation Super Smear' & aimed at Labour & the NHS in Wales.

Obviously I have no idea if this is true but surely even the Cons can't be that stupid - can they ?

The moderation of that post in itself is interesting & makes me wonder if indeed this campaign is to take place.

One might say 'oh well @AW was being pro-active in maintaining a non-partisan discussion on his site' but considering the first post says that the 'thought of a Labour/SNP coalition utterly repulsive' the. I don't think the non-partisan claims would stick.

Expect screaming headlines with only a smidgeon of reality in the Mail, the Scum on Sunday & the Express

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 10:35 am

Morning

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

March for Homes.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 10:48 am

mikems wrote:I'd rather abolish the current news and current affairs set up and replace it with something more democratic and independent. Than have adds on the BBC, that is.

Well quite. That Panorama expose of Apple was a very good use of TV license fee payers money as far as I'm concerned. Not to mention the high standard of children's telly, which probably wouldn't survive commercialisation. Once Labour win the election I think we can safely assume the BBC current affairs team will get back to doing what they are supposed to do - holding the government of the day to account. Meanwhile they're being shown up by Greek socialists and anyone wanting impartial news has switched to ITV news, which is at least consistent in not being very tough on any politicians of any party. Remember, whatever the right-wing bias that may appear in the BBC's output from time to time, the institution itself is a leftwing success story. As long as it remains funded by taxation and is producing world class comedy and drama, it is causing constant pain and distress to the right, who can't bear to see a nationalised industry thriving in the global marketplace.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 11:13 am

rebeccariots2 wrote:Speaking of journos. Here is the most respected political journalist in Britain on what he thinks Cameron will do re the debates:

My hunch - and it really is a hunch and not something I've been told - is that he'll keep the debates about debates going as long as possible until, at the last possible minute, offering to take part in one debate with multiple leaders just before the campaign begins.

He'll claim that the media's obsession with the story has proved that he is right to warn that debates during the campaign would crowd out the real issues.

Finally, he'll calculate that whilst many voters will conclude that he's, well, a little bit chicken, it won't bother them enough to change how they vote.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30999055
So no debate with Ed then. Wonder what the broadcasters will do to fill that spot?

Clegg could step in as the "pro government" representative?

Might be a goer too, as it would appeal to his undoubted vanity.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 11:13 am

http://jackofkent.com/2015/01/why-is-th ... -innocent/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"The Ministry of Justice is telling people with learning difficulties that they are guilty unless they can prove themselves innocent"

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 11:44 am

Morning all.

I shall let this piece speak for itself.

https://kittysjones.wordpress.com/2015/ ... s-exposed/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 11:49 am

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:Morning all.

I shall let this piece speak for itself.

https://kittysjones.wordpress.com/2015/ ... s-exposed/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Excellent.

Post by **refitman** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 11:57 am

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:Morning all.

I shall let this piece speak for itself.

https://kittysjones.wordpress.com/2015/ ... s-exposed/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Git, I was about to post that

Good piece backed up by some nice extracts from Hansard.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 11:59 am

Eric_WLothian · Post by **Eric_WLothian** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 12:17 pm

I’ve wanted to slap David Cameron, says Nick Clegg

Haven't we all?

http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/i-ve-wa ... -1-3675838

Next week "I've wanted to slap Nick Clegg, says David Cameron"

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 12:38 pm

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:Morning all.

I shall let this piece speak for itself.

https://kittysjones.wordpress.com/2015/ ... s-exposed/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Excellent !!!!!

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 12:39 pm

Eric_WLothian wrote:
I’ve wanted to slap David Cameron, says Nick Clegg
Haven't we all?

http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/i-ve-wa ... -1-3675838

Next week "I've wanted to slap Nick Clegg, says David Cameron"

That was Alex Brooker's penultimate question on The Last Leg, by which point Clegg was actually looking pretty shell shocked; you know he wouldn't normally give that honest an answer, so it was finny watching it slip out.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 12:42 pm

Re some of the indivduals discussed here yesterday:

I don't think the Owen Jones article was really that bad (he has certainly produced worse) But the real point is that despite disagreeing much of the time, he is genuinely one of the "good guys". He wants to see a Labour government this May and will be genuinely devastated if the Tories remain in power - anybody who doubts this should look at his almost Stakhanovite efforts recently on Twitter to counter Green disinformation and delusion (and the often witless abuse he got for doing so)

Sorry to see, too, that David Hare seems to have joined the ranks of the "useful idiots" - I always thought The Absence of War was a terrific work, which was often far too near to the truth of the later Kinnock years for comfort (as confirmed by some of those who were around then) As to why he has been exhumed now, don't forget that he was once a semi-regular contributor to the Graun - cronyism dies hard in the MSM.

I do get the impression that, unlike Jones, he won't be that bothered if Cameron is returned; a sad contrast to the fury with which he assailed Thatcher back in the day.

Toby Latimer · Post by **Toby Latimer** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 12:42 pm

"How to help your fellow human beings at the Calais migrant camps... at the Daily Mail's expense!

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/01 ... mg00000001" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

: ScreenShot00133.jpg (75.99 KiB) Viewed 13491 times

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 12:47 pm

RobertSnozers wrote:An American using the NHS

http://uk.businessinsider.com/an-americ ... nhs-2015-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Complaining about A&E waits? 'Akin to saying "this Rolls Royce isn't moving fast enough!"

Another excellent article

ErnstRemarx · Post by **ErnstRemarx** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 12:58 pm

An excellent summary article on the housing crisis:

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-8a ... MzONC40-g0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ErnstRemarx · Post by **ErnstRemarx** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 12:59 pm

Toby Latimer wrote:"How to help your fellow human beings at the Calais migrant camps... at the Daily Mail's expense!

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/01 ... mg00000001" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ScreenShot00133.jpg

Absolutely first class work there, and the digs at the Wail readership and the Wail's "humanitarian" stance are both pointed and very funny.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 1:29 pm

mikems wrote:I'd rather abolish the current news and current affairs set up and replace it with something more democratic and independent. Than have adds on the BBC, that is.

I've stopped caring if the BBC are privatized- I can watch nature documentaries on youtube for free.

But setting up something from scratch would be much better.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 1:33 pm

Iain Lee ‏@iainlee 2m2 minutes ago
I can't imagine anything worse than finishing s sentence with a rising inflection and not getting any applause on Any Questions.

No idea who means.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 1:41 pm

Fair bit of anger in London about good small music venues closing down.

http://thequietus.com/articles/16947-bu ... -interview" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Note this

Does Emily Thornberry's support count for nothing?

ST: I don't think it'll help. She was lovely and she came to meet us and all our promoters and she hung out with us for a couple of hours, she's a really nice lady. She's written a letter to various owners of the property leading the case and she did an early day motion in parliament last week. I don't think it's going to have any effect at all. I don't think she's even had a reply.

Not quite the stuck up figure made out then.

Johnson has a cultural advisor on £120k a year, called Munira Mirza. I've not notice her or he showing any interest in the problem.

The fact she was ex-Policy Exchange might have something to do with it.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 1:45 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:
mikems wrote:I'd rather abolish the current news and current affairs set up and replace it with something more democratic and independent. Than have adds on the BBC, that is.
I've stopped caring if the BBC are privatized- I can watch nature documentaries on youtube for free.

But setting up something from scratch would be much better.

The problem with the BBC is the problem with our whole society. If we can break down the stranglehold the privately educated wealthy elite have on positions of power in all areas of society - government, law, journalism - then the BBC will naturally follow. Axing the BBC hides the problem, it doesn't solve it, it merely moves the privately educated Oxbridge elite into other positions of journalistic power.

The BBC itself remains a beacon of socialist equality - we can all afford great telly. Journalism on the other hand is actually getting more elite, more unaccountable. I'd rather these BBC journos remain at the BBC, that Labour get into government and put someone impartial in charge of Ofcom and that they then all get kicked out for blatant political bias!

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 1:46 pm

Our daily dose of UKIP

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/herne-bay/n ... led-31097/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 1:48 pm

Willow904 wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:
mikems wrote:I'd rather abolish the current news and current affairs set up and replace it with something more democratic and independent. Than have adds on the BBC, that is.
I've stopped caring if the BBC are privatized- I can watch nature documentaries on youtube for free.

But setting up something from scratch would be much better.
The problem with the BBC is the problem with our whole society. If we can break down the stranglehold the privately educated wealthy elite have on positions of power in all areas of society - government, law, journalism - then the BBC will naturally follow. Axing the BBC hides the problem, it doesn't solve it, it merely moves the privately educated Oxbridge elite into other positions of journalistic power.

The BBC itself remains a beacon of socialist equality - we can all afford great telly. Journalism on the other hand is actually getting more elite, more unaccountable. I'd rather these BBC journos remain at the BBC, that Labour get into government and put someone impartial in charge of Ofcom and that they then all get kicked out for blatant political bias!

In the meantime do the Thatcher thing in reverse and put in a few decent governors?

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 1:52 pm

btw, that site, the Quietus is run by pal of mine. It's excellent.

danesclose · Post by **danesclose** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 1:53 pm

Afternoon all. Quite a sympathetic article in The Guardian today about Tory MP Sir John Randall closing his family store as he can't compete with rivals whose employees are on zero hour contracts (and to his credit he refuses to use ZHC)

http://www.theguardian.com/business/201 ... s-uxbridge" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 1:53 pm

If TE is around, could you do a longer post (or just copy and paste an earlier one) on the BT Broadband fiasco?

Cheers.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 1:57 pm

Randall has always come across as disturbingly decent for a Tory MP, tbh. He was one of the first of them (out of not many) to rebel over the Iraq war, too.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 2:01 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:Randall has always come across as disturbingly decent for a Tory MP, tbh. He was one of the first of them (out of not many) to rebel over the Iraq war, too.

Yes, he did.

Humfrey Mallins also did, and got to meet some Pakistani constituents through it and told Howard off for overdoing immigration.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 2:10 pm

Mike Smithson ‏@MSmithsonPB now3 seconds ago
Farage has net -51% approval rating in Opinium 1st time voters poll - even worse than Clegg on -44

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 2:11 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:
Willow904 wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote: I've stopped caring if the BBC are privatized- I can watch nature documentaries on youtube for free.

But setting up something from scratch would be much better.
The problem with the BBC is the problem with our whole society. If we can break down the stranglehold the privately educated wealthy elite have on positions of power in all areas of society - government, law, journalism - then the BBC will naturally follow. Axing the BBC hides the problem, it doesn't solve it, it merely moves the privately educated Oxbridge elite into other positions of journalistic power.

The BBC itself remains a beacon of socialist equality - we can all afford great telly. Journalism on the other hand is actually getting more elite, more unaccountable. I'd rather these BBC journos remain at the BBC, that Labour get into government and put someone impartial in charge of Ofcom and that they then all get kicked out for blatant political bias!
In the meantime do the Thatcher thing in reverse and put in a few decent governors?

Well if Chris Patten can be made Chairman of the BBC Trust by the Tories, I don't see why it can't work the other way. There was a story in the Independent last year that suggested the BBC had been "yielding to political pressure since the last election and allowing a right-wing bias to emerge in its journalism......Professor Justin Lewis, Dean of Research at Cardiff University and an experienced analyst of the BBC’s output, suggested that the BBC Trust had “played down” the findings, which were presented to the governing body last year." Perhaps with someone from the left in charge, the BBC Trust would have been more concerned about evidence suggesting an emerging right-wing bias in BBC news and current affairs? For me it's like the NHS. I'm not about to say let's not have an NHS anymore just because a Tory government is running it badly. It's what they want.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 2:11 pm

Iain Martin ‏@iainmartin1 2h2 hours ago
First time in eight years that a Tory canvasser has knocked on our door. It's almost as though there's an election on. But…

Iain Martin ‏@iainmartin1 2h2 hours ago
…Tory push round our way not just part of their national canvassing push today. Locally, Vince the Cable is in serious difficulty.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 2:13 pm

Mike Smithson ‏@MSmithsonPB 49s49 seconds ago
The 15% LAB lead amongst 1st time voters from Opinium compares with LAB & CON level pegging with this age group at GE10

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 2:22 pm

Willow904 wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:
Willow904 wrote: The problem with the BBC is the problem with our whole society. If we can break down the stranglehold the privately educated wealthy elite have on positions of power in all areas of society - government, law, journalism - then the BBC will naturally follow. Axing the BBC hides the problem, it doesn't solve it, it merely moves the privately educated Oxbridge elite into other positions of journalistic power.

The BBC itself remains a beacon of socialist equality - we can all afford great telly. Journalism on the other hand is actually getting more elite, more unaccountable. I'd rather these BBC journos remain at the BBC, that Labour get into government and put someone impartial in charge of Ofcom and that they then all get kicked out for blatant political bias!
In the meantime do the Thatcher thing in reverse and put in a few decent governors?
Well if Chris Patten can be made Chairman of the BBC Trust by the Tories, I don't see why it can't work the other way. There was a story in the Independent last year that suggested the BBC had been "yielding to political pressure since the last election and allowing a right-wing bias to emerge in its journalism......Professor Justin Lewis, Dean of Research at Cardiff University and an experienced analyst of the BBC’s output, suggested that the BBC Trust had “played down” the findings, which were presented to the governing body last year." Perhaps with someone from the left in charge, the BBC Trust would have been more concerned about evidence suggesting an emerging right-wing bias in BBC news and current affairs? For me it's like the NHS. I'm not about to say let's not have an NHS anymore just because a Tory government is running it badly. It's what they want.

Think it would be wise to have some governors with no history of support for Labour. Greg Dyke obviously had very wide broadcasting management experience, but he did look a bit like a crony appointment.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 2:24 pm

Mike Smithson ‏@MSmithsonPB 12 mins12 minutes ago

The 15% LAB lead amongst 1st time voters from Opinium compares with LAB & CON level pegging with this age group at GE10

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 2:26 pm

Mike Smithson ‏@MSmithsonPB 17 mins17 minutes ago

Farage has net -51% approval rating in Opinium 1st time voters poll - even worse than Clegg on -44 http://bit.ly/1zjBHjl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sat 31 Jan, 2015 2:31 pm

ErnstRemarx wrote:An excellent summary article on the housing crisis:

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-8a ... MzONC40-g0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Without good-quality housing, a person’s life chances are dramatically reduced.

Opening sentence. Exactly this. How is it possible for anyone to survive let alone thrive if they're scrambling for safe shelter? They can't.

...it is simply appalling that in the 21st century there are officially over 1.7 million people on housing waiting lists in England alone, and that according to Shelter there are 41,000 households that are officially homeless.

People’s life chances are being crushed because, as a country, we are failing to put a roof over their heads.
The simple fact of the matter is the housing crisis is getting worse. This is directly a result of the policies of the Conservative-led government.

Soon after taking office in 2010 the government announced that it was cutting the funding of new social housing by over 60 per cent. This was at a time when new-build council and social housing was simply not meeting demand.

Outstanding article, ErnstRemarx.
I can't like 'private landlord-ism' as it exists in this country at this time.
I'm not reproaching any one private landlord.
I'm specifically aggrieved the circumstances at this time make a piece of property with a home on it an attractive business opportunity.
I maintain it's ultimately not good for anyone involved.
No banning of private landlords, none of that, getting regular's peoples' housing needs straightened out will do most to sort out the private landlord housing industry.