Thursday 5th February 2015

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 5:41 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:I've just seen Ephemerid and Giselle's tweets to Matt Chorley over his Mail article on Cameron.

Go gals.

Is that the same Matt Chorley who was obstensibly anti-Tory/Cameron in his Independent days, and now churns out fawning pro-Hamface bilge (and vicious anti-Ed stuff, natch) in his present abode? I do believe that it is, strangely enough

An important thing to remember is that many hacks don't actually have any very deep political convictions themselves, so just go with the media herd and/or do as they are told by their bosses. It is merely a parlour game to lots of them, and it shows.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 5:41 pm

: OGRFPG and Osborne Surveying Plebs.jpg (51.42 KiB) Viewed 9839 times

If it looks like an undertaker, walks like an undertaker ....

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 5:45 pm

Ah cheers, PK.

Well spotted.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 5:47 pm

Andrew Griffiths MP ‏@agriffithsmp 8m8 minutes ago
.@almurray & I are united in our love of Great British beer! Best beer in the world!

Andrew Griffiths MP retweeted
Al Murray FUKP ‏@almurray 7m7 minutes ago
@agriffithsmp do we have our first defector to @FUKPnews?

Andrew Griffiths MP ‏@agriffithsmp 6m6 minutes ago
Perhaps we could have a lock in abs discuss? @almurray @FUKPnews

Nigel Andre ‏@andrenigel07 3m3 minutes ago
@agriffithsmp @almurray @FUKPnews yeah! At House Of Parliament prices!

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 5:49 pm

We've got to be very careful.

Reckon there'll be a few attempts at creating false media storms, as would have happened over that misquote of Mark Spencer.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 5:55 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:I've just seen Ephemerid and Giselle's tweets to Matt Chorley over his Mail article on Cameron.

Go gals.
Is that the same Matt Chorley who was obstensibly anti-Tory/Cameron in his Independent days, and now churns out fawning pro-Hamface bilge (and vicious anti-Ed stuff, natch) in his present abode? I do believe that it is, strangely enough

An important thing to remember is that many hacks don't actually have any very deep political convictions themselves, so just go with the media herd and/or do as they are told by their bosses. It is merely a parlour game to lots of them, and it shows.

As I always say, what lots of hacks didn't like about the Tories was their obvious toxicity on eg gay rights. Cameron's managed to get rid of lots of that, so he's procured a much friendlier media.

And of course they love the idea of the "centrist" leader taking on "extremists". Though some would say privatizing probation was extreme, that doesn't really matter to hacks.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 5:57 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
OGRFPG and Osborne Surveying Plebs.jpg
If it looks like an undertaker, walks like an undertaker ....

They look like they've just walked straight out of a Jane Austen novel. I nominate Osborne as the vain, but rather vulgar, Mr Elton from Emma. David Cameron is clearly the dashing but dastardly smooth operator that is Mr Wickham from Pride and Prejudice.

pk1 · Post by **pk1** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 5:58 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:We've got to be very careful.

Reckon there'll be a few attempts at creating false media storms, as would have happened over that misquote of Mark Spencer.

Isabel Hardman has written a piece on the responses of Spencer to Lisa Nandy

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

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 5:59 pm

Good article on what Spencer said here, by Isabel Hardman. She is unimpressed. But he didn't say what that "quote" suggested.

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

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 6:23 pm

Work and Pensions Committee
Oral evidence: Benefit sanctions policy beyond the Oakley
Review, HC 814
Wednesday 4 February 2015

Witnesses: Rt Hon Esther McVey MP, Minister of State for Employment, Department for
Work and Pensions, and Chris Hayes, Labour Market Strategy Director, DWP, gave
evidence

http://data.parliament.uk/writteneviden ... /17970.pdf

Just finished reading it. Does this government understand people do care about what they're saying? They're not going to be able to say the things said in that transcript & not be held responsible for it.

edited to add -

I'm beside myself after reading the transcript. Utterly beside myself. No heart, liars, despicable, low-down human beings. Caught out telling bold-faced lies. Unacceptable behaviour.

pk1 · Post by **pk1** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 6:24 pm

Ed M being interviewed on mansion tax by Ian Axton (the same one that got Cameron in a stew)

http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/upd ... nsion-tax/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 6:34 pm

Local Tory candidate backs Nicky Morgan.

Durham Free School respond in comical school masterly terms.

Durham Free School
‏@DurhamFreeSch
Disappointing @rmlcoulson - are there any politicians who can set a good example to our pupils about truth and transparency? @cmartinLD

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 6:38 pm

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 6:38 pm

Head hits out over drop in GCSE grades

CHANGES in examinations will mean that schools can only improve at the expense of each other, according to a head teacher in the town.

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/ ... e-grades-/

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 6:40 pm

ohsocynical wrote:
Head hits out over drop in GCSE grades

CHANGES in examinations will mean that schools can only improve at the expense of each other, according to a head teacher in the town.

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/ ... e-grades-/

Good point, well made.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 6:44 pm

Reading ‘in middle of housing crisis’

MORE THAN three-quarters of a million pounds has been spent on emergency accommodation for people on the council house waiting list in the past nine months — plunging the town into what councillors are calling “the biggest housing crisis of this generation”.

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/ ... ng-crisis/

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 6:56 pm

Helen Goodman ‏@HelenGoodmanMP 1m1 minute ago
3 Tory MPs late for poverty debate D Raab, M James +C HeatonHarris- yet all support sanctions for lateness @IsabelHardman @JasonBeattie

Toby Latimer · Post by **Toby Latimer** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 6:59 pm

Careful what you say on Twitter

Maximus will monitor social media

http://worktestwhistleblower.blogspot.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

: ScreenShot00183.jpg (83.78 KiB) Viewed 9760 times

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:00 pm

Cost of heating may be behind high death rate

http://www.independent.co.uk/money/spen ... 24242.html

May be? You can bet your boots it is.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:02 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:Local Tory candidate backs Nicky Morgan.

Durham Free School respond in comical school masterly terms.

Durham Free School
‏@DurhamFreeSch
Disappointing @rmlcoulson - are there any politicians who can set a good example to our pupils about truth and transparency? @cmartinLD

I must admit that I did like that Dennis Sewell article in the Spectator - good at leaving out small details like that pretty damning report from the Education Funding Agency from November.

And the Labour MP who he accused of snitching to the Dfe (which is the way it works with Free Schools I thought...) happened to be Pat Glass, ex deputy director of eduction in two boroughs, and who sits right next to Graham Stuart of the Edu Select Committee...not exactly uninformed in matters of schooling...

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:10 pm

@Ernst

You might be interested in the Welsh Govt proposals to shake up councils in Wales ... not only do they want big reform of the authority boundaries and structures - from 22 councils currently to 12 in future - they are also proposing the following:

Council elections every five years, not four as at present
Maximum five terms - 25 years - for councillors
Maximum two terms - 10 years - for council leaders and cabinet members
Pay councillors in line with those on similar sized councils elsewhere in the UK
Public sector employers to give staff unpaid leave to carry out duties as councillors, and other employers encouraged to do the same
Council leaders and chief executives given a duty to promote and respect diversity
Youth councils to be set up by each authority

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-31097569

The minister is quoted as saying term limits for councillors will break up "the old boys' club". A mere 25 years to be set as a time limit ... that should shake em up good and proper, eh? Risible.

But at least they are proposing to sort out the exorbitant pay scales - as we noted yesterday.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:21 pm

Looks like some nasty stuff going on between Labour councillors and Andrew Percy MP. I hope what he is tweeting is not correct.

https://twitter.com/andrewpercy

Andrew Percy @andrewpercy · 5h 5 hours ago
As I've always said we are facing the most disgusting, personalised and nasty labour campaign locally.

Andrew Percy @andrewpercy · 6h 6 hours ago
Disgusted that a Labour Cllr on North Lincs and here in Brigg and Goole would write in such a way. The recipient is deeply upset for it.

Nicky · Post by **Nicky** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:23 pm

yahyah wrote:

That LibDem delusional smug fest photo op, on budget day, was actually disrupted in spectacular style. Investigative journalist Sonia Poulton (former Mail journalist!) chases Danny Alexander across College Green asking him to answer why he's complicit with the austerity lie. Before that, though, her friend Bill asked Clegg about child abuse cover ups and Leon Brittan (his former boss in Brussels).

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

Love this site and finally decided to register just to share this video ...

Not sure how to embed the video?

frightful_oik · Post by **frightful_oik** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:31 pm

Welcome Nicky!

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:34 pm

mikems wrote:Had some good news about my son yesterday. Attentive readers may remember that he was made redundant last year and has not been able to get a penny out of DWP in all that time.

I won't bore you with the details but it turns out he was sanctioned before he had made a claim. He was supposed to have filled in a form which had not been sent to him.

Finally spoke to someone a couple of weeks ago and gave them a proper blast.

Yesterday he was phoned and told that their decisions had been reversed and he would have his backdated claim paid in full. Which is a huge relief to me since I have had to support him out of my own ESA money, which is barely enough for me to live on.

Very relieved for both you and your son – at least someone in the DWP has their head screwed on the correct way around

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:34 pm

New winter flu vaccine given to millions barely works, according to public health officials
This is because of a mismatch between the strain of flu used in the vaccine and the strain that is chiefly circulating this year.

Doctors have been told to quickly prescribe antiviral drugs in cases of flu in vulnerable patients.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style ... 27186.html

Nicky · Post by **Nicky** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:35 pm

citizenJA wrote:
AnatolyKasparov wrote:I see over at the other place that Hugo has managed two new "identities" in a single day - is this a record?
It's so obvious.

Just had a look at LabourList and he's made an appearance there as well. LabourList has a huge troll infestation problem - it's very off putting.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:35 pm

Hi Nicky. Hope you like it here

Nicky · Post by **Nicky** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:36 pm

frightful_oik wrote:Welcome Nicky!

Thanks!

Nicky · Post by **Nicky** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:37 pm

ohsocynical wrote:Hi Nicky. Hope you like it here

Thanks ohso. I post on Twitter as well as Nicky2806 - we follow each other as a matter of fact

Toby Latimer · Post by **Toby Latimer** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:38 pm

08;15 Last night. Just hours after McVey had lied, bullshitted and blustered her way through the W&P committee, making David Clapsons's sister cry in the process - it's reassuring to see Rachel with her finger on the pulse of the days events

: ScreenShot00184.jpg (39.26 KiB) Viewed 9721 times

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:42 pm

Nicky wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:Hi Nicky. Hope you like it here
Thanks ohso. I post on Twitter as well as Nicky2806 - we follow each other as a matter of fact

It's such a small world

Nicky · Post by **Nicky** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:43 pm

ohsocynical wrote:
Nicky wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:Hi Nicky. Hope you like it here
Thanks ohso. I post on Twitter as well as Nicky2806 - we follow each other as a matter of fact
It's such a small world

It is indeed.

Toby Latimer · Post by **Toby Latimer** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:44 pm

Nicky wrote:
yahyah wrote:
That LibDem delusional smug fest photo op, on budget day, was actually disrupted in spectacular style. Investigative journalist Sonia Poulton (former Mail journalist!) chases Danny Alexander across College Green asking him to answer why he's complicit with the austerity lie. Before that, though, her friend Bill asked Clegg about child abuse cover ups and Leon Brittan (his former boss in Brussels).

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

Love this site and finally decided to register just to share this video ...

Not sure how to embed the video?

Hello Nicky, there is a guide here for embedding videos

http://flythenest.org/viewtopic.php?p=5800#p5800" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:45 pm

Michael Nixon ‏@michaelnixon70 55 secs
TNS poll 5th Feb.

LAB 33%
CON 27%,
UKIP 18%
GRN 8%
LDEM 6%, ,

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:45 pm

Welcome from me as well Nicky.

So glad we're getting some new posters .... the more the merrier.

Editing to add: That's a corker of a video too. Nick Clegg looked petrified.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:49 pm

Nicky wrote:
frightful_oik wrote:Welcome Nicky!
Thanks!

Welcome, Nicky.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:55 pm

Michael Nixon ‏@michaelnixon70 2 mins2 minutes ago
Electoral calculus
Current Prediction: Labour short 28 of majority
Votes Pred
Lab 298, Con 265. Lib dem 16,Ukip 1

More
Michael Nixon ‏@michaelnixon70 34 secs
@michaelnixon70
SNP 50

Toby Latimer · Post by **Toby Latimer** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:58 pm

RobertSnozers wrote:
Toby Latimer wrote:08;15 Last night. Just hours after McVey had lied, bullshitted and blustered her way through the W&P committee, making David Clapsons's sister cry in the process - it's reassuring to see Rachel with her finger on the pulse of the days events
She doesn't do herself any favoura, does she?

Certainly not on this brief. She's in the wrong post in my opinion, for some reason she comes across as only being half interested, with her eye on a career move if the chance occurred. She seems nice enough, but a tad out of her depth. IDS makes mincemeat of her tbh, and again only my opinion but i actually preferred Liam Byrne, who toward the end of his tenure was showing signs of listening to the campaigners at the time.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 7:58 pm

Emily Ashton ‏@elashton 57m57 minutes ago
Michael Gove warns that @AlexSalmond could be deputy PM or chancellor in a Lab/SNP coalition: "The risks are real." http://www.buzzfeed.com/emilyashton/mic ... n?s=mobile" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

Aaaarrrrgggh. We're going to have this nitwit doing loads of media for the next 3 months. Ghastly. Make him disappear.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 8:00 pm

RobertSnozers wrote:
pk1 wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:We've got to be very careful.

Reckon there'll be a few attempts at creating false media storms, as would have happened over that misquote of Mark Spencer.
Isabel Hardman has written a piece on the responses of Spencer to Lisa Nandy

http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehous ... its-worst/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
My God. I believe he actually thought that 'learning difficulties' meant 'ill-educated'!

And these people are in charge. Of us.

This was the classic of that mindset. Bear in mind the school with this special needs policy was only vetoed by the DfE fairly late in the day.

http://www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk/2 ... ds-policy/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 8:03 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Emily Ashton ‏@elashton 57m57 minutes ago
Michael Gove warns that @AlexSalmond could be deputy PM or chancellor in a Lab/SNP coalition: "The risks are real." http://www.buzzfeed.com/emilyashton/mic ... n?s=mobile" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …
Aaaarrrrgggh. We're going to have this nitwit doing loads of media for the next 3 months. Ghastly. Make him disappear.

Which of course is totally different to Danny Alexander getting that role if Tory-Lib arithmetic adds up.

Post by **refitman** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 8:05 pm

@Nicky - hello *waves*

Also "hello" to SallyFran, who also joined today.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 8:06 pm

Nicky wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:
Nicky wrote: Thanks ohso. I post on Twitter as well as Nicky2806 - we follow each other as a matter of fact
It's such a small world
It is indeed.

I prefer to think of it as "Great minds ....."

Hi Nicky.

diGriz · Post by **diGriz** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 8:07 pm

Toby Latimer wrote:
RobertSnozers wrote:
Toby Latimer wrote:08;15 Last night. Just hours after McVey had lied, bullshitted and blustered her way through the W&P committee, making David Clapsons's sister cry in the process - it's reassuring to see Rachel with her finger on the pulse of the days events
She doesn't do herself any favoura, does she?
Certainly not on this brief. She's in the wrong post in my opinion, for some reason she comes across as only being half interested, with her eye on a career move if the chance occurred. She seems nice enough, but a tad out of her depth. IDS makes mincemeat of her tbh, and again only my opinion but i actually preferred Liam Byrne, who toward the end of his tenure was showing signs of listening to the campaigners at the time.

I think she's allowed to have a life.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 8:16 pm

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:
Nicky wrote:
ohsocynical wrote: It's such a small world
It is indeed.
I prefer to think of it as "Great minds ....."

Hi Nicky.

Dear Dan. Flattery etc

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 8:18 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
Emily Ashton ‏@elashton 57m57 minutes ago
Michael Gove warns that @AlexSalmond could be deputy PM or chancellor in a Lab/SNP coalition: "The risks are real." http://www.buzzfeed.com/emilyashton/mic ... n?s=mobile" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …
Aaaarrrrgggh. We're going to have this nitwit doing loads of media for the next 3 months. Ghastly. Make him disappear.
Which of course is totally different to Danny Alexander getting that role if Tory-Lib arithmetic adds up.

Can you imagine? Sadly I can. Like having a damp flannel on the bench.

pk1 · Post by **pk1** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 8:25 pm

diGriz wrote:
Toby Latimer wrote:
RobertSnozers wrote: She doesn't do herself any favoura, does she?
Certainly not on this brief. She's in the wrong post in my opinion, for some reason she comes across as only being half interested, with her eye on a career move if the chance occurred. She seems nice enough, but a tad out of her depth. IDS makes mincemeat of her tbh, and again only my opinion but i actually preferred Liam Byrne, who toward the end of his tenure was showing signs of listening to the campaigners at the time.
I think she's allowed to have a life.

I agree. The offending tweet was posted at 8.15pm & RR had already given a speech at Bloombergs in the morning, attended PMQs then spoken on WatO so getting the evening off deserved in my book - then again, some people think our MPs should always be 'on the job' (minds out of the gutter please !)

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 8:37 pm

Never liked this bloke much.

Ed West ‏@edwest 37m37 minutes ago
If British people wanted to pressure their gvnt to take more Syrians, one way might be to pledge to put one up

I asked him to pony up his spare change for the nukes he wants.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 05 Feb, 2015 8:50 pm

'Patronising' Tory MP Mark Spencer Accused Of Wanting The Poor To Starve In The Dark
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/02 ... mg00000067

Good - it hasn't gone unnoticed.