Wednesday 1st July 2015

Post by **refitman** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 7:11 am

Morning all.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 8:26 am

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015 ... eremy-hunt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

People should consider inviting elderly strangers to live with them for a while to reduce isolation and the number of pensioners dying a “lonely death”, the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, will say in a speech.

He will also urge people to keep in closer touch with older relatives, friends and neighbours. Hunt will highlight the case of a man found in Edinburgh last week three years after he died, and the eight council-funded “lonely funerals” a day in England, half of which involve over-65s.

This is definitely one of those things where society has changed and I didn't notice. When I was growing up, all the widowed pensioners who lived on their own seemed to end up in the council retirement bungalows - those semi-detached ones with the rails down the front path and nowhere for a car, with a warden on hand to call an ambulance if they fell. I suppose they've all been sold off and are now rented out by private landlords to eastern european imigrants or something. Yet another comparison to Japan in this article, btw. We definitely seem to have hit a kind of economic cul-de-sac as the limits of economic growth is reached and no one yet seems to have a solution for the two tier society that develops as a result leaving more and more people behind facing low pay combined with high cost of living, while public services collapse under the weight of a growing elderly population.

Lonewolfie · Post by **Lonewolfie** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 8:40 am

Morafterneve all...

An assessment by the four children’s commissioners of the UK, the first full-scale review for seven years, called on the government to reconsider its deep welfare cuts, voiced “serious concerns” about children being denied access to justice in the courts, and called on ministers to rethink plans to repeal the Human Rights Act.

...to which Clouncy, Gidiot and the Monsters of Murkydochia answer...

The government equalities office declined to comment on the report. A spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions said: “This report ignores the fact that the proportion of individuals in relative poverty is now at the lowest level since the mid-1980s. The best route out of poverty is work and this government makes no apology for its efforts to raise incomes by expanding employment opportunities.
“Our reforms to the welfare system are focused on making work pay and our reforms to the tax system are allowing people to keep more of what they earn.”

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015 ... are_btn_tw

...so that's OK then...but hang on - what's this?

The plight of millions of poor children in Britain – with the number in poverty set to rise by a million over the next five years – has been branded unacceptable by the Government’s own watchdog on children’s rights.
The number of children living in poverty is predicted to increase to 4.7m by 2020, according to a new report by the Children’s Commissioners for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is being submitted to the United Nations today, as part of a review of Britain’s performance on children’s rights.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 56156.html

...and as some of those children are likely to be vulnerable and have cause or need to use LA/Health Childrens Services, it's a good job TCBBAC has the same iron grip on detail and oversight as ever.....oh

More than two thirds of contracts held by outsourcing firms are not being scrutinised properly by the government, the public spending watchdog has found.
The National Audit Office examined £35bn worth of public contracts held by private firms and found that just 31% allowed profit margins to be scrutinised by Whitehall.
The move comes in the wake of a series of difficult contracts that have highlighted the government’s difficulties in managing complex outsourcing deals.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... two-thirds

So the creche in Downing Street have tendered 'big and complex' outsourcing deals that they don't understand and can't manage (I don't think it's that actually - more a case of having been advised/trained to include 'Commercial in Confidence' clauses, specifically so that they (the contracts and the companies) don't have to be scrutinised)...but they're really really competent and know exactly what they're doing - so much so that as we've seen, they need no evidence or facts - not even any need to take advice from their own advisers. (As a little aside, slightly less than 5% of the budget there would pay the (alleged) Greek 'debt')

Edit to add -

Following considerable public opposition in May to initial proposals, the government issued a revised regulation. It does not stop private sector companies from getting contracts to provide child protection and other children’s social services. What they will now have to do is set up a not-for-profit subsidiary to provide the services. Money can then be made for the parent company by charging its subsidiary for management, administration and estates services at a cost determined by the parent company. This is how the big companies such as G4S and Serco, which thrive on government contracts, will be able to generate their profit.

http://www.theguardian.com/social-care- ... -ray-jones

...so hopefully the above makes more sense

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 9:43 am

Heathrow to be expanded.

As decided 6 years ago by anti-business Labour. Strong leader Cameron about to U-turn.

Funny old game.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 10:02 am

Anatomy of a legal strike: How lawyers are bringing the system to its knees
http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2015/07 ... -the-syste" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The direct action by law professionals against the cuts in legal aid kicks in today ... it may be starting relatively quietly but this explanation of what will happen means things should get louder and more noticeable pretty quickly.

The duty solicitor will still be working. Solicitors are contractually obliged to continue to cover their duty slots. But those who know the lawyer they want will not be able to get their help. Instead, they'll likely be given a leaflet from striking lawyers which reads:

"Until the government agree to pay us a fee that allows us to properly represent you and do the best we can for you, [we] will not be attending police stations.

"The law provides that the government make a solicitor available to you and the police must ask you before the interview if you want one.

"If you cannot have a solicitor then the police might ask you to waive your right to one. The choice is yours of course but you do not have to be interviewed without a solicitor. This might mean the police cannot interview you at all."

Gove is going to work his magic in yet another department ... lawyers are the latest to feel his lurve. (What did the justice department do to deserve Grayling and Gove?)

For most solicitors, this is about showing the government how reliant it is on their goodwill for the system to work. Every day they work pro-bono, as Michael Gove urged wealthy law firms to do. They are just not recognised for it. Instead, they say their fees are cut over and over again until it becomes commercially impossible to continue.

"They've privatised prisoner transport and court interpreters," one solicitor tells me, as an example. "We used to have a van per court to pick up prisoners. Now there's just one van full stop. They go round picking up prisoners and then drop them off at courts one by one. It takes ages. We sit there at court waiting until 1pm, not getting paid.

"Or take interpreters. Capita sends one to two or three courts. We wait all day for them and don't get paid. Sometimes the case gets adjourned for the next day and we don't get paid at all. One fee: that's what a solicitor is paid. But we sit there, waiting with our client so we don't leave them alone and anxious in court."

That goodwill is about to be taken away. The creaky courts system is about to see what happens when the people who strive to keep it together withdraw their labour. Over the next few day's we'll see if it can handle that level of disruption.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 10:17 am

Morning.

http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/2015/07/wh ... tE.twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Why are the self-employed included in employment statistics, but excluded from earnings figures?

Being able to keep people out of both the Unemployment Stats (because they are self-employed) as well as keeping them out of the average wage figures (because they are self employed) provides a very useful black hole to both ignore and not ignore a growing cohort of low paid UK workers.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 10:43 am

HindleA wrote:Morning.

http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/2015/07/wh ... tE.twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Why are the self-employed included in employment statistics, but excluded from earnings figures?

Being able to keep people out of both the Unemployment Stats (because they are self-employed) as well as keeping them out of the average wage figures (because they are self employed) provides a very useful black hole to both ignore and not ignore a growing cohort of low paid UK workers.

Well observed HindleA. This is the government of black holes.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 10:47 am

refitman wrote:Morning all.

Good-morning, friends.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 10:52 am

Nia Griffith ‏@NiaGriffithMP 14m14 minutes ago
Powerful speeches @DavidHansonMP @IanCLucas @MarkTamiMP attacking Govt's ill-prepared plans to stop WelshMPs voting on issues vital to Wales

Lest we forget Wales is also affected by Cameron's EVEL trick ...

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 10:53 am

Tubby Isaacs wrote:Heathrow to be expanded.

As decided 6 years ago by anti-business Labour. Strong leader Cameron about to U-turn.

Funny old game.

Zac Goldsmith's "bluff" (if you can use that term) called, then? And can he still be the Tory mayoral candidate next year??

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 10:54 am

Hot gusting winds blowing pollution into the flat
Power tools blazed up outside the window for what purpose I don't know
The sound feels like steel rods hammered into my head
Toxic air, throat rebelling, nose full of substance I didn't ask for
It your air I'm just trying to breathe it, Tory Ministers

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 10:56 am

P.S.
My husband is walking to the GP as I type
Cough won't go away

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 11:01 am

HindleA wrote:Morning.

http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/2015/07/wh ... tE.twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Why are the self-employed included in employment statistics, but excluded from earnings figures?

Being able to keep people out of both the Unemployment Stats (because they are self-employed) as well as keeping them out of the average wage figures (because they are self employed) provides a very useful black hole to both ignore and not ignore a growing cohort of low paid UK workers.

And still Tory government can't flee the facts from the ONS.

"In 2013/14, median disposable income was £500 (or 2.0%) lower than in 2007/08, while GDP per person in 2013/14 was 3.1% below its 2007/08 level. Most of the decrease in the value of the median disposable income occurred between 2009/10 and 2012/13, with median incomes in 2012/13 £1,200 (or 4.9%) lower in real terms than in 2009/10."

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/household ... old-income" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

gilsey · Post by **gilsey** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 11:07 am

Tubby Isaacs wrote:Heathrow to be expanded.

As decided 6 years ago by anti-business Labour. Strong leader Cameron about to U-turn.

Funny old game.

Nice quote from FoE on AS blog

This report vacillates over a false choice - expansion at Heathrow or Gatwick - when neither can be allowed if we’re to stop runaway global warming.........
The UK will be a laughing stock if it turns up at crucial climate talks in Paris later this year, claiming global leadership while at home having nodded through new runways, killed its onshore wind industry and foisted fracking on communities that don’t want it.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 11:10 am

Morning all.

Laura McInerney has written a piece on the Education Bill.

http://schoolsweek.co.uk/5-things-bothe ... efinition/

3. Regional Schools Commissioners decide if a coasting school’s improvement plan is credible enough to save it from forced academy conversion. Regional Schools Commissioners are evaluated on the number of schools they turn into academies. HMMMM.

The public know that regional schools commissioners are evaluated in their job on the basis of how many schools they convert. They know this because we revealed it last year after a freedom of information request. But it raises a serious conflict of interest.

Asked about it today in the committee session, regional schools commissioner Tim Coulson admitted that performance indicators do change behaviour. (As the whole point of the coasting bill is to change school behaviour via indicators, he didn’t really have a choice). If true, why should we expect regional schools commissioners not to force a school to academise whenever they can?

The Regional Commissioners are being put in the same position as the Local Authorities were - that of champion of their schools and in charge of their oversight.

How can it be right that they have a performance measure which is about converting as many schools to academies as possible?

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 11:16 am

Lonewolfie

"More than two thirds of contracts held by outsourcing firms are not being scrutinised properly by the government, the public spending watchdog has found. The National Audit Office examined £35bn worth of public contracts held by private firms and found that just 31% allowed profit margins to be scrutinised by Whitehall. The move comes in the wake of a series of difficult contracts that have highlighted the government’s difficulties in managing complex outsourcing deals."

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... two-thirds" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Correct.
These Tory leaders aren't only cruel, they're an unintelligent set of useless know-nothings calling themselves government.

...neither the Cabinet Office nor HM Treasury currently monitors how Pay by Results (PbR) is operating across government.
Nor is there a systematic collection or evaluation of information about how effectively Pay by Results (PbR) is working.
Without a central repository of knowledge and a strong evidence base to refer to, Pay by Results (PbR) schemes may be poorly designed and implemented and commissioners are in danger of ‘reinventing the wheel’ for each new scheme.

- National Audit Office (NAO)
Outcome-based payment schemes: government’s use of payment by results
19 June 2015

http://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/upload ... ummary.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Eric_WLothian · Post by **Eric_WLothian** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 11:25 am

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Nia Griffith ‏@NiaGriffithMP 14m14 minutes ago
Powerful speeches @DavidHansonMP @IanCLucas @MarkTamiMP attacking Govt's ill-prepared plans to stop WelshMPs voting on issues vital to Wales
Lest we forget Wales is also affected by Cameron's EVEL trick ...

...and presumably NI?

I wait with bated breath to hear which legislation only affects England, given the knock-on funding implications for the devolved parliaments.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 11:28 am

gilsey wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:Heathrow to be expanded.

As decided 6 years ago by anti-business Labour. Strong leader Cameron about to U-turn.

Funny old game.
Nice quote from FoE on AS blog
This report vacillates over a false choice - expansion at Heathrow or Gatwick - when neither can be allowed if we’re to stop runaway global warming.........
The UK will be a laughing stock if it turns up at crucial climate talks in Paris later this year, claiming global leadership while at home having nodded through new runways, killed its onshore wind industry and foisted fracking on communities that don’t want it.

Yes.
Tory government have been formerly asked to explain why they've cut funding for onshore wind & their overall unfathomable energy strategy for the UK given emissions targets.

"The government must explain how its withdrawal of support from onshore windfarms will affect the cost of meeting greenhouse gas emissions targets, and urgently set out plans for alternative electricity generation, its statutory advisors on climate change have said."

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

An aside - Lord Deben, also known as John Gummer, former Tory MP for Mad Cow Disease, is one of the committee asking government to explain it's incoherent energy strategies.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 11:29 am

Jim Pickard retweeted
Jason Groves ‏@JasonGroves1 3h3 hours ago
Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye says 3rd runway proposal is v.different to the one Cameron vetoed: 'We hv u-turned so the PM doesn't hv to'

That sounds like a phrase cooked up and rehearsed over a country supper.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 11:31 am

James Tapsfield ‏@JamesTapsfield 5m5 minutes ago
Iain Duncan Smith among 19 MPs who had official credit cards suspended this year after running up expenses debts, Ipsa discloses under FOI

Too many expensive breakfasts and changes of underpants?

Eric_WLothian · Post by **Eric_WLothian** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 11:36 am

rebeccariots2 wrote:
James Tapsfield ‏@JamesTapsfield 5m5 minutes ago
Iain Duncan Smith among 19 MPs who had official credit cards suspended this year after running up expenses debts, Ipsa discloses under FOI
Too many expensive breakfasts and changes of underpants?

MPs running up expenses debts while students run up expensive debts:

Across the UK, almost 32,000 students are using payday loans and similar high-interest debt to fund everyday living costs, the Unite Students Insight Report found.
But in Scotland the total is said to be 6,339 - almost 3 per cent of all students.
The figures are based on a survey of more than 8,500 university applicants, undergraduates and postgraduate students across the UK.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/education/ ... -1-3817620

Eric_WLothian · Post by **Eric_WLothian** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 11:46 am

And on a lighter note (and pardon my juvenile sense of humour) - under IDS in the register of members' interests:

I have accepted honorary life membership of Pratt’s Club as a Special Member, 14 Park Place, London SW1A 1LP.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... 150608.pdf

How very appropriate.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 11:47 am

Eric_WLothian wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
James Tapsfield ‏@JamesTapsfield 5m5 minutes ago
Iain Duncan Smith among 19 MPs who had official credit cards suspended this year after running up expenses debts, Ipsa discloses under FOI
Too many expensive breakfasts and changes of underpants?
MPs running up expenses debts while students run up expensive debts:

Across the UK, almost 32,000 students are using payday loans and similar high-interest debt to fund everyday living costs, the Unite Students Insight Report found.
But in Scotland the total is said to be 6,339 - almost 3 per cent of all students.
The figures are based on a survey of more than 8,500 university applicants, undergraduates and postgraduate students across the UK.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/education/ ... -1-3817620

And only yesterday the UK government spokesperson - Jo Johnson - refused to rule out further rises in tuition fees. It is shameful how people don't seem to have woken up to the way debt is being shifted to individuals / public and away from the institutions.

Heard a really nasty programme on Radio 4 the other day about female students who are signing up to contracts with 'sugar daddies' to pay their fees and living expenses while at university.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 11:49 am

Rob Merrick ‏@Rob_Merrick 4m4 minutes ago
Rob Merrick retweeted James Tapsfield
"Mr Duncan Smith has backed pre-paid cards for benefits claimants to stop them spending money on wrong things...."

Good point. Let's see the HoC credit card being restricted to certain shops and certain products - and with a pre set cap on it.

Eric_WLothian · Post by **Eric_WLothian** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 11:57 am

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Rob Merrick ‏@Rob_Merrick 4m4 minutes ago
Rob Merrick retweeted James Tapsfield
"Mr Duncan Smith has backed pre-paid cards for benefits claimants to stop them spending money on wrong things...."
Good point. Let's see the HoC credit card being restricted to certain shops and certain products - and with a pre set cap on it.

Better still, give them debit cards linked to an HoC bank account. When they've emptied the account, card payments would be declined by the bank. Simple way of capping benefits (a phrase that seems vaguely familiar).

Eric_WLothian · Post by **Eric_WLothian** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 11:58 am

Aaarg ... 666... I thought he'd resigned...

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 11:59 am

Post something else quickly Eric ... get rid of that avatar pronto - please!

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 12:01 pm

Simon Danczuk ‏@SimonDanczuk 3m3 minutes ago
Liz Kendall and Caroline Flint are the team to fear, say Conservative councillors http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/20 ... ouncillors" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

I agree but for very different reasons.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 12:05 pm

Eric_WLothian wrote:Aaarg ... 666... I thought he'd resigned...

He lives on BEYOND THE GRAVE!!

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 12:06 pm

Eric_WLothian wrote:Aaarg ... 666... I thought he'd resigned...

I nominate this response to morphing into the Beast as the finest I've read thus far

Post by **PaulfromYorkshire** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 12:07 pm

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 12:08 pm

Labour Productivity, Q1 (Jan to Mar) 2015
Released today
1 July 2015

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/productiv ... bq115.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"UK labour productivity as measured by output per hour grew by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2015 compared with the previous quarter. This measure is 1.3% higher than the same period in 2014, the fastest annual growth since Q1 2012."

"wooohoooo!", says Chancellor Jeff, "Growth of 0.3%! 1.3% higher than last year! I don't realise how scary that is while I'm whistling," says Tory minister.

"Whole economy unit labour costs decreased by 0.6% on the quarter and were 0.9% higher than a year ago. Growth of labour costs per hour remains subdued. Output per hour in the manufacturing and production sectors fell on the quarter and on the year. Output per hour grew in the services sector, though estimates of individual service industries were more mixed."

"Okay, spin that bit some prior to publication" says Tory government.

"New for this release is an Industry Spotlight section, focusing on productivity in Information and communication services. This shows a pronounced slowdown in productivity in telecommunications services in recent years, after very strong growth prior to the economic downturn."

"Seriously, someone shut this project down, now," ToryGov exclaim & issue their own ToryReport:

"We don't accept that"

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 12:15 pm

God damn modem giving me no end of trouble for nearly thirty-six hours.
Throwing it against the wall seemed to help.
My husband brought me a piping hot brandy toddy with honey & lemon for medicinal purposes.
It was the best thing I've ever tasted in my life.
Better now.

Eric_WLothian · Post by **Eric_WLothian** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 12:19 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote: Heard a really nasty programme on Radio 4 the other day about female students who are signing up to contracts with 'sugar daddies' to pay their fees and living expenses while at university.

I had a vague recollection of that cropping up some time ago.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11 ... 03303.html

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 12:21 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
James Tapsfield ‏@JamesTapsfield 5m5 minutes ago
Iain Duncan Smith among 19 MPs who had official credit cards suspended this year after running up expenses debts, Ipsa discloses under FOI
Too many expensive breakfasts and changes of underpants?

Coffin carriers during the day time don't come cheap.

edited:
Due to the increasingly huge number of people required to haul his Nosferatu self around during the day time, IDS has maxed out his credit card.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 12:29 pm

Eric_WLothian wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote: Heard a really nasty programme on Radio 4 the other day about female students who are signing up to contracts with 'sugar daddies' to pay their fees and living expenses while at university.
I had a vague recollection of that cropping up some time ago.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11 ... 03303.html

More information chronicling activity utterly wrong taking place in our country.
What I gotta do to get educated?

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 12:46 pm

@citizenJA

Hello.

It's taken a while, and a lot of soul-searching, but I'm now persuaded by you to move to Reading!

Good morfternoon, everyone.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 12:46 pm

Eric_WLothian wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote: Heard a really nasty programme on Radio 4 the other day about female students who are signing up to contracts with 'sugar daddies' to pay their fees and living expenses while at university.
I had a vague recollection of that cropping up some time ago.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11 ... 03303.html

These stories pop up every few years, and look suspiciously like older men wank fantasies. "Students stripping" is another.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 12:51 pm

RogerOThornhill wrote:Morning all.

Laura McInerney has written a piece on the Education Bill.

http://schoolsweek.co.uk/5-things-bothe ... efinition/

3. Regional Schools Commissioners decide if a coasting school’s improvement plan is credible enough to save it from forced academy conversion. Regional Schools Commissioners are evaluated on the number of schools they turn into academies. HMMMM.

The public know that regional schools commissioners are evaluated in their job on the basis of how many schools they convert. They know this because we revealed it last year after a freedom of information request. But it raises a serious conflict of interest.

Asked about it today in the committee session, regional schools commissioner Tim Coulson admitted that performance indicators do change behaviour. (As the whole point of the coasting bill is to change school behaviour via indicators, he didn’t really have a choice). If true, why should we expect regional schools commissioners not to force a school to academise whenever they can?

The Regional Commissioners are being put in the same position as the Local Authorities were - that of champion of their schools and in charge of their oversight.

How can it be right that they have a performance measure which is about converting as many schools to academies as possible?

Good lord.

This is like having probation companies recalling people to prisons that they run.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 12:51 pm

We've just had Alok Sharma doing a bit of LEA (sic) bashing and the inevitable cheerleading on academies from the PM.

Ten academies in Reading.

Can they intervene when they're seen to be failing?

Of course not.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 12:53 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Jim Pickard retweeted
Jason Groves ‏@JasonGroves1 3h3 hours ago
Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye says 3rd runway proposal is v.different to the one Cameron vetoed: 'We hv u-turned so the PM doesn't hv to'
That sounds like a phrase cooked up and rehearsed over a country supper.

I think Cameron said no 3rd runway at all, didn't he?

Some bloke on Today was making this weak-sounding argument. Probably same one.

"Please PM, extend my airport, I've spare you your blushes..."

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 12:55 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:Heathrow to be expanded.

As decided 6 years ago by anti-business Labour. Strong leader Cameron about to U-turn.

Funny old game.
Zac Goldsmith's "bluff" (if you can use that term) called, then? And can he still be the Tory mayoral candidate next year??

He might be getting bored with politics anyway.

London Mayor won't really matter with Heathrow Expansion. Nice job for a "character who stands up to his own party".

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 1:02 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:
Eric_WLothian wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote: Heard a really nasty programme on Radio 4 the other day about female students who are signing up to contracts with 'sugar daddies' to pay their fees and living expenses while at university.
I had a vague recollection of that cropping up some time ago.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11 ... 03303.html
These stories pop up every few years, and look suspiciously like older men wank fantasies. "Students stripping" is another.

Only this time its a bit more organised...

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

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

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 1:06 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:
Eric_WLothian wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote: Heard a really nasty programme on Radio 4 the other day about female students who are signing up to contracts with 'sugar daddies' to pay their fees and living expenses while at university.
I had a vague recollection of that cropping up some time ago.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11 ... 03303.html
These stories pop up every few years, and look suspiciously like older men wank fantasies. "Students stripping" is another.

I know what you mean. The story of high student costs is just as easily told via the rising numbers of sensible stay-at-home students who choose to go to a local university so they can save on accommodation costs which, at about 20%, is probably far more statistically significant than the numbers that choose the sugar daddy route, but don't make for as eye-catching a headline.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 1:15 pm

George Eaton ‏@georgeeaton 60m60 minutes ago
Harman's fine Heathrow gag ("Boris won't let him land") likely the work of her aide and former stand-up Ayeesha Hazarika.

George Eaton ‏@georgeeaton 1h1 hour ago
A sure sign that Cameron is in trouble when he changes the subject. Harman doing very well. #PMQs

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 1:17 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:
Eric_WLothian wrote: I had a vague recollection of that cropping up some time ago.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11 ... 03303.html
These stories pop up every few years, and look suspiciously like older men wank fantasies. "Students stripping" is another.
Only this time its a bit more organised...

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

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

And programme I heard was presented, researched and, I believe, produced by women. 'Sordid' best sums up the impression I was left with.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 1:21 pm

Paul Waugh ‏@paulwaugh 34s34 seconds ago
Sounded like a top tale, but IDS's credit card has NOT been cancelled. IPSA made an error with him and several other MPs

Oh. Skid marks.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 1:24 pm

James Tapsfield ‏@JamesTapsfield 50s50 seconds ago
@paulwaugh Ipsa still insists it was suspended, IDS team citing a different incident

Hah. Reverse skid marks.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 1:25 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Paul Waugh ‏@paulwaugh 34s34 seconds ago
Sounded like a top tale, but IDS's credit card has NOT been cancelled. IPSA made an error with him and several other MPs
Oh. Skid marks.

Sorry - but are we still on the subject of underpants, or have we moved on?

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 01 Jul, 2015 1:28 pm

PorFavor wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
Paul Waugh ‏@paulwaugh 34s34 seconds ago
Sounded like a top tale, but IDS's credit card has NOT been cancelled. IPSA made an error with him and several other MPs
Oh. Skid marks.
Sorry - but are we still on the subject of underpants, or have we moved on?

I am moving us on - keeping with the story as it develops - through the entirely appropriate use of skid marks.