Wednesday 22nd April 2015

[ephemerid]

seeingclearly - I was a DEA at a jobcentre for a while.
My line manager was a senior DEA and he was brilliant.

He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of local provision of care/support services, and knew the DWP/benefit stuff inside out.
I had the medical knowledge from my nursing career, and between us we did a good job, I think.

When I left (having been moved about to other depts and hating every minute) I wasn't replaced.
He ended up with a massive caseload from other jobcentres and wasn't able to give the same attention to his claimants.
He left too, in the end; offered a really good promotion and gave it all up. He wasn't replaced either.

Personally, I think what is needed is a complete rethink.

At the new claim stage, if medical evidence is submitted of a terminal or degenerative condition, there is no need for further assessment.
It is pointless insisting that someone with, say, a slow-growing brain tumour which cannot be operated on or treated, gets an assessment at 13 weeks. This person is going to die; and although it may take some time, it's a waste of time and money and it's pointlessly cruel to put someone through assessments and reassessments when it is known they will die.
It is also pointless to do the same with people who have debilitating and disabling degenerative conditions like MS. They may have periods of remission when they can do some work if they feel well enough, but the decline is irreversible and they will always get worse eventually.
The same applies to lots of other chronic illnesses.
If these people were identified at the new claim stage, and at the 13-week point where the WCA comes in were asked to provide some evidence that they will not get better instead, that should be enough to ensure a long-term award of benefit - and maybe a repeat of this every few years or so. That would save a lot of money and avoid a lot of distress.

I think the WCA should be abolished - but if we must have it, then they need to get rid of LIMA and find another way to do it.
First, I think that if a person produces medical evidence that they cannot work due to illness, and DWP confirmss this with the claimant's GP or other health professionals involved in the claimant's care (eg. specialist consultants, CPNs, physios, etc.) there's no need for a WCA.
If there is some likelihood that the claimant can work, and/or if they want to, then an occupational assessment could be done, and that is the sort of thing that specialist medics or therapists can do, with input from a DEA who can suggest what support for working would be suitable.

The fact is that there are broadly 2 sorts of people on ESA.
More than half of them are people who often don't even get to the 13 week point, because they were only ever claiming temporarily while they recover from a short-term illness or injury. Many have jobs, but either don't have sick pay entitlement or have run out of SSP. Cancer patients fall into this category if their treatment goes on longer than expected; or people who have broken limbs, major abdominal surgery, or anything that involves a long convalescence. Pointless assessing them as they won't claim for long.
There are also a lot of people, again about half, who have long-term or permanent illness. One of the reasons why more people are being allocated to the Support Group is because people on long-term Incapacity Benefit have been "migrated" to ESA, and surprise surprise, they really are ill.
If my idea was implemented, these people wouldn't need a WCA either.

We have excellent health care in this country. If it is acceptable for a GP to supply medical evidence which supports an award of ESA for 3 months, why can't that same doctor continue to provide evidence? GPs won't just sign people off forever - they have legal and professional standards to comply with, and most are reluctant to write people off if they think they don't need to.

If people who are claiming ESA long term and want to work when able then there should be the facility for them to do so. The only reason they don't is because Permitted Work is being abolished; and under the conditions for claiming ESA, once you have demonstrated capability for work (even if it's only an hour now and then) you have failed to meet the conditions and have effectively declared your fitness to work.
The IB system was much more likely to encourage people who want to work like this when able.

One thing that the LIMA system and the WCA it dictates that needs to change is this - there is no part of the assessment which allows claimants to
get points or whatever based on how they feel. This matters, because some physical illness and most mental illnesses involve having times when you feel awful. Whether through drug side effects, problems like nausea/dizziness/sleepiness/breathing problems etc. these symptoms are real and although they may not be constant they matter - and the WCA takes no account of them.

I'm not sure what the answer is - but if we had a sensible evidence-based assessment at the new claims stage, with follow up as time goes on, we could certainly prevent many people going through unnecessary assessments and reassessments.

Ho hum.....

[ohsocynical]

Boris must be looking at Cameron and wishing all sorts of disasters on him so he can step in.

It'll be a right old ruckus because Osborne is the one who, for a long time, has assumed the post would be his.
I think I read of a similar pact between Osborne and Cameron as between Brown and Blair.
But really who has the capability and the strength of will to take over? They're a total shambles. All the names we hear mentioned as likely contenders are bloody useless and certainly don't have a good reputation.

Boris although very clever [and he is] is another Dave. Lazy, and thinks he's entitled.

[ephemerid]

For anyone who doesn't know what "LIMA" is - it is Logic Integrated Medical Assessment.

It comes from a warped interpretation of a bio/psych/social model of disability and illness. This model was very fashionable in the 90s but has been discredited by many since. Unum took it to ridiculous lengths to deny medical insurance claims in the US.

LIMA is software based on an algorithm which is designed to detect the smallest ability and use that to deny disability. Hence the ability to press a button on a phone makes you a person with manual dexterity ergo you can work.

[ohsocynical]

So - a leaflet came today from Bracknell Forest Council.

Here are a few of the points.

Universal Credit is coming to the area between Sept and Nov 2015, so it's time to start getting ready for it.
At first it will only affect new single job seeker Allowance claimants. For all other benefit Claimants the exact roll out in Bracknell has not yet been announced.

A single monthly payment paid in arrears directly into the claimants bank account. Initially claims will take seven weeks to come though so claimants will need to manage and budget their money during this time

Universal credit can only be claimed online.

Seven weeks before you get your benefit and you're supposed to manage?

[ohsocynical]

Is Boris Johnson now -

the Conservative Party's Frontman's frontman?

Imagine having to go around with the bloke who wants your job at your elbow.

[ohsocynical]

Rabih Chaaban ‏@ChaabanRabih 2 hrs2 hours ago Enfield, London

Tory's personnel attack on Ed Miliband backfires; they are now Deleting all web accounts 'mocking Ed Miliband #GE2015

http://politicalscrapbook.net/2015/04/t ... nd-stroke-

A bit late I'd say. They're rather slow on the uptake this lot of Tories...

[ephemerid]

Boris must be looking at Cameron and wishing all sorts of disasters on him so he can step in.

It'll be a right old ruckus because Osborne is the one who, for a long time, has assumed the post would be his.
I think I read of a similar pact between Osborne and Cameron as between Brown and Blair.
But really who has the capability and the strength of will to take over? They're a total shambles. All the names we hear mentioned as likely contenders are bloody useless and certainly don't have a good reputation.

Boris although very clever [and he is] is another Dave. Lazy, and thinks he's entitled.

Philip Hammond.
I've been saying for a long time that he will take over. He's very clever, very snide, and extremely dangerous, IMHO.
Or - Chris Grayling.
He's been very quiet - but he is a nasty piece of work who shouldn't be under-estimated.

The Tories have tried to modernise and be nice; that was what Cameron was for, and not only did he fail to win the election last time, it looks as though he will fail this time (even if he gets enough votes to form a minority government).

Despite all the attacks on the welfare state etc. and all the cosying up to big business, some Tories think the current shower haven't gone far enough.

Having had a young, "modern", allegedly attractive leader with apparent good PR skills (LOL) they will go for someone serious and businesslike. The media tart stuff hasn't worked.
Old-style patrician one-nation Tories are thin on the ground at Westminster now; and the 2010 intake was very right-wing - look at Patel, Raab, Truss, Skidmore, Kwarteng, the Britannia Unchained mob, or McVey as examples of what I mean.

I doubt that they will want someone like Boris. I suspect the most likely thing will be that they will keep Cameron if he wins, as he has promised he'll go at some point; he will be replaced with a "safe pair of hands" with right-wing views.

I don't think Theresa May has the goods. Hammond or Grayling. That's my bet.

[ohsocynical]

Now someone's come up with #nigelettes.

[TheGrimSqueaker]

Now someone's come up with #nigelettes.

Is that the UKIP version of Tourettes? Could explain so much.

[PorFavor]

@ ephemerid

I agree with you about Philip Hammond. But I don't think I'd write off Theresa May. Who do you reckon would be a front-runnner from the Britannia mob? They seem to me to exist as a swarm, or a miasma - although that doesn't mean I discount them.

[danesclose]

Boris must be looking at Cameron and wishing all sorts of disasters on him so he can step in.

It'll be a right old ruckus because Osborne is the one who, for a long time, has assumed the post would be his.
I think I read of a similar pact between Osborne and Cameron as between Brown and Blair.
But really who has the capability and the strength of will to take over? They're a total shambles. All the names we hear mentioned as likely contenders are bloody useless and certainly don't have a good reputation.

Boris although very clever [and he is] is another Dave. Lazy, and thinks he's entitled.

I don't get this genius of Boris Johnson cult (no offense Ohso).
He was an absolute disaster when he was a (junior) shadow minister under Michael Howard

[ohsocynical]

Tom Flynn ‏@tom4camberwell 18 mins18 minutes ago Camberwell, London

This just gets funnier. The "13yo" behind @Cameronettes follows the head of the civil service. And Newt Gingrich...

[danesclose]

@ ephemerid

I agree with you about Philip Hammond. But I don't think I'd write off Theresa May. Who do you reckon would be a front-runnner from the Britannia mob? They seem to me to exist as a swarm, or a miasma - although that doesn't mean I discount them.

Likewise I've always thought that Hammond could be the John Major de nos jours

[ohsocynical]

Boris must be looking at Cameron and wishing all sorts of disasters on him so he can step in.

It'll be a right old ruckus because Osborne is the one who, for a long time, has assumed the post would be his.
I think I read of a similar pact between Osborne and Cameron as between Brown and Blair.
But really who has the capability and the strength of will to take over? They're a total shambles. All the names we hear mentioned as likely contenders are bloody useless and certainly don't have a good reputation.

Boris although very clever [and he is] is another Dave. Lazy, and thinks he's entitled.

I don't get this genius of Boris Johnson cult (no offense Ohso).
He was an absolute disaster when he was a (junior) shadow minister under Michael Howard

I'm not on about his political career. He's one of those that thinks he's entitled.

He's very well read, and despite going to Eton, clever. The buffoon persona is pretty calculated I'd say.

[PorFavor]

I may be looking for sanity where there is none - but do I detect a note of derision creeping in to the BBC's treatment of David Cameron's Scottish obsession?

[tinyclanger2]

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/com ... 96366.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Mark Steel is a star

[Spacedone]

A new ComRes poll of 10 UKIP-CON targets has been released that ostensibly appears to show that UKIP aren't doing well.





However...

Rob Ford (Britain) @robfordmancs
Not good results for ukip in this ComRes but an odd selection of seats:lumps together key targets with ultra safe Con seats ukip not chasing

Rob Ford (Britain) ‏@robfordmancs 8 mins8 minutes ago
Sittingbourne & Sheppey: Con 2010 50% E Worthing & Shoreham - Con 49% both well off seats with few "left behind" voters.Ukip targets? Hardly

For some reason ComRes decided to include a few ultra-safe Conservative seats in their poll of UKIP-CON targets. I question the veracity of the poll results given that those ultra-safe seats are going to skew the results to make it look like the Tories are doing better than they are and everyone else worse.

[citizenJA]

"[Ed Miliband]...already said there won’t be a coalition, but that doesn’t seem to be enough. Cameron’s demand appears to be that whenever an SNP member speaks in the House of Commons, Labour not only ignores them, but plays a compilation of drum ‘n’ bass tracks, while Miliband shouts,“These next beats going out to all da English in da house,” to show they don’t recognise the SNP coup."

- Mark Steel
The Independent

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/com ... 96366.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[citizenJA]

@Spacedone

For some reason ComRes decided to include a few ultra-safe Conservative seats in their poll of UKIP-CON targets. I question the veracity of the poll results given that those ultra-safe seats are going to skew the results to make it look like the Tories are doing better than they are and everyone else worse.

So do I.

[rebeccariots2]

Evening peeps. This story really does hit a new low in campaign tactics ... and I thought we had already seen lower than low.

Campden Hill Conservatives stroke poster: Sick Twitter account compares Ed Miliband to brain damage victim
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ca ... ar_twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A Tory Twitter account has sparked outrage by comparing Ed Miliband to a stroke victim.

The offensive image appeared last night on the official account for Campden ward in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

It mocks the Stroke Association's Act FAST poster - illustrating each of the charity's three signs of a stroke, 'Face, Arms and Speech', with a picture of Ed Miliband.

The fourth message then declares T stands for: "Time to LOL".

The account shared the poster with the word 'haha', then told one horrified Twitter user: 'love you too'.

Of course they are denying it had anything to do with them ... their account must have been hacked .... yada yada yada and more yada.

It's a day for barely credible denials.

[Spacedone]

@Spacedone

For some reason ComRes decided to include a few ultra-safe Conservative seats in their poll of UKIP-CON targets. I question the veracity of the poll results given that those ultra-safe seats are going to skew the results to make it look like the Tories are doing better than they are and everyone else worse.

So do I.

I asked Rob Ford if the choice of seats skewed the results

Rob Ford (Britain) ‏@robfordmancs 57 secs58 seconds ago
@oddballwoofwoof @MSmithsonPB yes they would as all three are safe seats with popular incumbents and weak ukip demographics

In other words, file under garbage. It's a ten seat poll of just 1000 people and almost a third of the seats included should not appear in any poll labelled UKIP Target Seats.

[pk1]

A new ComRes poll of 10 UKIP-CON targets has been released that ostensibly appears to show that UKIP aren't doing well.





However...

Rob Ford (Britain) @robfordmancs
Not good results for ukip in this ComRes but an odd selection of seats:lumps together key targets with ultra safe Con seats ukip not chasing

Rob Ford (Britain) ‏@robfordmancs 8 mins8 minutes ago
Sittingbourne & Sheppey: Con 2010 50% E Worthing & Shoreham - Con 49% both well off seats with few "left behind" voters.Ukip targets? Hardly

For some reason ComRes decided to include a few ultra-safe Conservative seats in their poll of UKIP-CON targets. I question the veracity of the poll results given that those ultra-safe seats are going to skew the results to make it look like the Tories are doing better than they are and everyone else worse.

I live in the East Worthing & Shoreham constituency & haven't even had a Ukip leaflet, let alone a door knock or phone call.

[rebeccariots2]

Isabel Hardman ‏@IsabelHardman 2m2 minutes ago
"I don’t know what more I can do.” What David Cameron told @FraserNelson and @JGForsyth http://specc.ie/1biXsqj" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ah diddums - Cameron says he is working his socks off on the campaign ... he doesn't know what more he could do.

The Prime Minister is aware of the criticism and finds it ‘frustrating’. ‘I feel I have worked my socks off for the last ten years to get to this point,’ he says. ‘I feel we are on the brink of something amazing in our country. If I don’t succeed on 7 May I will be furious more for my country — but furious for myself.’ He says this quietly, not crossly, as if he has been confronting his own political mortality. ‘We have done so much to get so far — I do not want to pull back now.’ And then, a promise to do better: ‘If I need to do more to communicate that I will.’...

He accepts that the revolutionary character of his government is not widely appreciated. ‘I think it is very undersold in many ways,’ he says. He doesn’t say by whom. He later refers to the government’s ‘quiet revolution: pro-work, pro-saving, pro-enterprise’.

Now I understand where Fraser Nelson got his stupid attack line from that he used in yesterday's Newsnight welfare debate - he kept claiming the Tories had created a welfare revolution and that they had reversed Labour's anti work stance to become pro-work. It didn't sound credible then ... and it sounds even less credible coming from Cameron's mouth.

[TheGrimSqueaker]

@Spacedone

For some reason ComRes decided to include a few ultra-safe Conservative seats in their poll of UKIP-CON targets. I question the veracity of the poll results given that those ultra-safe seats are going to skew the results to make it look like the Tories are doing better than they are and everyone else worse.

So do I.

I asked Rob Ford if the choice of seats skewed the results

Rob Ford (Britain) ‏@robfordmancs 57 secs58 seconds ago
@oddballwoofwoof @MSmithsonPB yes they would as all three are safe seats with popular incumbents and weak ukip demographics

In other words, file under garbage. It's a ten seat poll of just 1000 people and almost a third of the seats included should not appear in any poll labelled UKIP Target Seats.

It has got la Mensch so excited she has stopped pushing her one woman campaign to prove that #Milifandom is being run by the Labour Party.

[danesclose]

Boris must be looking at Cameron and wishing all sorts of disasters on him so he can step in.

It'll be a right old ruckus because Osborne is the one who, for a long time, has assumed the post would be his.
I think I read of a similar pact between Osborne and Cameron as between Brown and Blair.
But really who has the capability and the strength of will to take over? They're a total shambles. All the names we hear mentioned as likely contenders are bloody useless and certainly don't have a good reputation.

Boris although very clever [and he is] is another Dave. Lazy, and thinks he's entitled.

I don't get this genius of Boris Johnson cult (no offense Ohso).
He was an absolute disaster when he was a (junior) shadow minister under Michael Howard

He was less well known and Tories generally were pretty unpopular. I hope to be proved wrong but I still think that a lot of people don't pay that much attention to politics and tend to vote for people they like the look or sound of (that seems to be slightly less prevalent this time, but only slightly) and the affable persona Johnson likes to adopt is what most people see.

Good points, however I'm convinced that once he was stood at the Dispatch box in the HoC, having to behave in a statesman-like fashion people would see him for the buffoon he is

[ohsocynical]

Recommended by Martin Rowson.

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

[TheGrimSqueaker]

Isabel Hardman ‏@IsabelHardman 2m2 minutes ago
"I don’t know what more I can do.” What David Cameron told @FraserNelson and @JGForsyth http://specc.ie/1biXsqj" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ah diddums - Cameron says he is working his socks off on the campaign ... he doesn't know what more he could do.

The Prime Minister is aware of the criticism and finds it ‘frustrating’. ‘I feel I have worked my socks off for the last ten years to get to this point,’ he says. ‘I feel we are on the brink of something amazing in our country. If I don’t succeed on 7 May I will be furious more for my country — but furious for myself.’ He says this quietly, not crossly, as if he has been confronting his own political mortality. ‘We have done so much to get so far — I do not want to pull back now.’ And then, a promise to do better: ‘If I need to do more to communicate that I will.’...

He accepts that the revolutionary character of his government is not widely appreciated. ‘I think it is very undersold in many ways,’ he says. He doesn’t say by whom. He later refers to the government’s ‘quiet revolution: pro-work, pro-saving, pro-enterprise’.

Now I understand where Fraser Nelson got his stupid attack line from that he used in yesterday's Newsnight welfare debate - he kept claiming the Tories had created a welfare revolution and that they had reversed Labour's anti work stance to become pro-work. It didn't sound credible then ... and it sounds even less credible coming from Cameron's mouth.

Sparrow reckons that Spectator piece is illuminating and insightful. At the risk of repeating myself, that could explain so much.

[frightful_oik]

Recommended by Martin Rowson.

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

Very good. If you click a few times it does eventually go to a page.

[refitman]

Let's see if my comment passes moderation.

Post it here for those of us that don't stray BTL over there - pwetty please....

It's just a comment and a link to the Yougov poll you used:

Refitman says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
April 22, 2015 at 12:36 pm

Right to buy in particular is so attractive to tenants in social housing, the financial incentive so great, that Labour now runs the real risk of disproportionately boosting the Tory vote if canvassers continue to blitz social housing developments.

Have you actually read any of the polling on RTB? Yougov polling a few days ago had 52% opposed to the policy, compared to 39% in favour.

https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/04/19/labour-lead-3/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nope, didn't make it through moderation.

[tinyclanger2]

But we shouldn’t be surprised that the Murdoch press is vigilant and on the lookout for coups. Because if there’s one thing Rupert Murdoch can’t stand, it’s an unelected and unaccountable body trying to undermine and influence a democratic election according to what suits its own financial interests. Murdoch can’t abide those types at all.

[howsillyofme1]

Evening everybody after a prolonged absence

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/a ... f-migrants" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If this article and BTL comments are anything to go by what a despicable place Britain is becoming and it is not surprising Empty Dave and his revolting 'policies' gain traction

This place is an oasis in this desert of compassion

I feel ashamed to share the same nationality as this scum!

[diGriz]

Iain Dale on LBC still flogging a dead horse over the SNP thing. Even a few minutes critical thinking shows that there is absolutely nothing the SNP can do to hinder Labour. Our media are out of control.

[citizenJA]

Isabel Hardman ‏@IsabelHardman 2m2 minutes ago
"I don’t know what more I can do.” What David Cameron told @FraserNelson and @JGForsyth http://specc.ie/1biXsqj" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ah diddums - Cameron says he is working his socks off on the campaign ... he doesn't know what more he could do.

The Prime Minister is aware of the criticism and finds it ‘frustrating’. ‘I feel I have worked my socks off for the last ten years to get to this point,’ he says. ‘I feel we are on the brink of something amazing in our country. If I don’t succeed on 7 May I will be furious more for my country — but furious for myself.’ He says this quietly, not crossly, as if he has been confronting his own political mortality. ‘We have done so much to get so far — I do not want to pull back now.’ And then, a promise to do better: ‘If I need to do more to communicate that I will.’...

He accepts that the revolutionary character of his government is not widely appreciated. ‘I think it is very undersold in many ways,’ he says. He doesn’t say by whom. He later refers to the government’s ‘quiet revolution: pro-work, pro-saving, pro-enterprise’.

Now I understand where Fraser Nelson got his stupid attack line from that he used in yesterday's Newsnight welfare debate - he kept claiming the Tories had created a welfare revolution and that they had reversed Labour's anti work stance to become pro-work. It didn't sound credible then ... and it sounds even less credible coming from Cameron's mouth.

Sparrow reckons that Spectator piece is illuminating and insightful. At the risk of repeating myself, that could explain so much.

Is this a serious piece in the Spectator? Really? It's so much horse shit.

[citizenJA]

Iain Dale on LBC still flogging a dead horse over the SNP thing. Even a few minutes critical thinking shows that there is absolutely nothing the SNP can do to hinder Labour. Our media are out of control.

Cameron looks forward to Tories picking up some seats in Scotland, according to the F. Nelson & J. Forsyth in the Spectator article.

[tinyclanger2]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 96401.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Meanwhile in the Independent:

Ed Miliband has moved to reassure One Direction that he is not about to replace them as teenage girls’ new obsession, despite a sudden outpouring of passion for the Labour leader from smitten teenagers on Twitter.

That Red Hot Ed stuff really worked well for the Tories didn't it.

[TheGrimSqueaker]

Iain Dale on LBC still flogging a dead horse over the SNP thing. Even a few minutes critical thinking shows that there is absolutely nothing the SNP can do to hinder Labour. Our media are out of control.

Cameron looks forward to Tories picking up some seats in Scotland, according to the F. Nelson & J. Forsyth in the Spectator article.

Unless they are going into the furniture moving business ......

[ohsocynical]

IFS ‏@TheIFS 3 hrs3 hours ago

Tomorrow: IFS briefing on public finance plans #labour #conservative #libdems & #snp. Watch from 10am here:

http://bit.ly/1K4bGaO

For those who like figures....

[letsskiptotheleft]

Not for the first time Gordon nails it. (19.12)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/election-2015-32412532" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[refitman]

Right, have just spoken to the hosting company and it seems that we were still maxing out the resources allocated. I have bumped us up another tier and, fingers crossed, it should fix the site slow-down problems (it's a considerable upgrade).

Please keep an eye-out for slow-downs/lack of access and let me know. It's hard for me to keep a permanent eye on it at work.

It seems we're just too damn popular

[refitman]

Post it here for those of us that don't stray BTL over there - pwetty please....

It's just a comment and a link to the Yougov poll you used:

Refitman says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
April 22, 2015 at 12:36 pm

Right to buy in particular is so attractive to tenants in social housing, the financial incentive so great, that Labour now runs the real risk of disproportionately boosting the Tory vote if canvassers continue to blitz social housing developments.

Have you actually read any of the polling on RTB? Yougov polling a few days ago had 52% opposed to the policy, compared to 39% in favour.

https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/04/19/labour-lead-3/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

WTF ?? There is no reason why they should moderate your comment - unless the Graun wish to leave readers in ignorance of the facts.....!

The comment was on Labour-uncut.

[refitman]

Reasons to be Cheerful Part III

Ed is officially cool #Milifandom
Grant Shapps
Dave caught out having an off camera dig at Alex Salmond

You missed Clegg's tumble-weed Shapps joke.

Clegg who?

Fair do's to the Lib Dems, their press release about Shapps was good:


(I'm going to finish reading page 2 soon!)

[AngryAsWell]

Right, have just spoken to the hosting company and it seems that we were still maxing out the resources allocated. I have bumped us up another tier and, fingers crossed, it should fix the site slow-down problems (it's a considerable upgrade).

Please keep an eye-out for slow-downs/lack of access and let me know. It's hard for me to keep a permanent eye on it at work.

It seems we're just too damn popular

Did the upgrade cost anything? If so what's the best way to get a donation to you?
Thank you so much for doing it

[utopiandreams]

Iain Dale on LBC still flogging a dead horse over the SNP thing. Even a few minutes critical thinking shows that there is absolutely nothing the SNP can do to hinder Labour. Our media are out of control.

Cameron looks forward to Tories picking up some seats in Scotland, according to the F. Nelson & J. Forsyth in the Spectator article.

Of course he does, гражданка. Why else do you think he elected to wear his kilt for the Page Three photo-shoot? I don't know if any of you noticed but now that the Tories are the party of the worker, the splash is scheduled to coincide with International Workers' Day.

[refitman]

Right, have just spoken to the hosting company and it seems that we were still maxing out the resources allocated. I have bumped us up another tier and, fingers crossed, it should fix the site slow-down problems (it's a considerable upgrade).

Please keep an eye-out for slow-downs/lack of access and let me know. It's hard for me to keep a permanent eye on it at work.

It seems we're just too damn popular

Did the upgrade cost anything? If so what's the best way to get a donation to you?
Thank you so much for doing it

No donations necessary, just keep being friendly to each other and making this a great site to visit.

[refitman]

Right, have just spoken to the hosting company and it seems that we were still maxing out the resources allocated. I have bumped us up another tier and, fingers crossed, it should fix the site slow-down problems (it's a considerable upgrade).

Please keep an eye-out for slow-downs/lack of access and let me know. It's hard for me to keep a permanent eye on it at work.

It seems we're just too damn popular

Did the upgrade cost anything? If so what's the best way to get a donation to you?
Thank you so much for doing it

No donations necessary, just keep being friendly to each other and making this a great site to visit.

[rebeccariots2]

Chris Bryant 2015 retweeted
Barnaby Edwards ‏@BarnabyEdwards 19m19 minutes ago
I urge you to turn over to BBC1 right now: Nigel Farage is falling to pieces on air.

[refitman]

Chris Bryant 2015 retweeted
Barnaby Edwards ‏@BarnabyEdwards 19m19 minutes ago
I urge you to turn over to BBC1 right now: Nigel Farage is falling to pieces on air.

From the Graun:

In a particularly heated exchange in tonight’s leader interviews appearance, Farage accuses Evan Davis of being a member of the “metropolitan elite”.

Davis recalls a Ukip candidate who tweeted suggesting that Mo Farah was an African from Somalia and asks Farage if it is patriotic to support the athlete when he won his gold medals in the London 2012 Olympics.

The discussion escalates and Farage hits out at Davis:

It’s very interesting that you do what everybody in the liberal metropolitan elite does. You pick up a comment from somebody in Ukip made on Facebook, probably late at night. What you never do is challenge the other leaders about why their elected councillors and officials.

[refitman]

Apologies if this has already been posted, I've been jumping back and forwards and have probably missed a few posts.

Here is the Cameron Newsbeat "Ask The Leaders".

*Edit*

I suppose you'll be wanting a link then. I don't know...grumblegrumble.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05pr3ht" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[frightful_oik]

Thanks refitman. If you ever need a donation let me know.

[ohsocynical]

Right, have just spoken to the hosting company and it seems that we were still maxing out the resources allocated. I have bumped us up another tier and, fingers crossed, it should fix the site slow-down problems (it's a considerable upgrade).

Please keep an eye-out for slow-downs/lack of access and let me know. It's hard for me to keep a permanent eye on it at work.

It seems we're just too damn popular

Did the upgrade cost anything? If so what's the best way to get a donation to you?
Thank you so much for doing it

No donations necessary, just keep being friendly to each other and making this a great site to visit.

Thank you...