Saturday, July 18th - Sunday, July 19th 2015

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 4:47 pm

Mirror Politics ‏@MirrorPolitics 40m40 minutes ago
Jeremy Hunt's appeal to NHS staff has backfired disastrously http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/je ... ar_twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

The letter to Cameron from a doctor that is reprinted in this article is exceptional ...

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 4:52 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:
SpinningHugo wrote:
AnatolyKasparov wrote: Ed, bless him, thought that the essential decency of the British people would see through it all
.
It is one of life's ironies that many of those who were the staunchest defenders of Ed now attribute defeat to his not making the arguments well enough.
No, he didn't fight dirty enough. Whatever else you say about them, both AB and YC know how to when needed, and hopefully will

I rate Yvette Cooper's ability to fight dirty far more highly than I do Andy Burnham's, which is one of the reasons she's probably going to get my vote.

Although, having said that, I'd have Ed Miliband back in a heartbeat.

Edited

Get "me" vote? Er - "my" vote. And for the record, Liz Kendall gets me goat.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 4:59 pm

Burnham knows that one of the main threats to him being a success as Labour leader is his "baggage", so I (maybe naively) expect that he will be quite effective in dealing with it.

utopiandreams · Post by **utopiandreams** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 5:06 pm

ohsocynical wrote:... And reading that Liz's relatives and friends voted Tory puts her at even more of a disadvantage. Sorry, but it does.

No need for 'sorry', ohso. I don't know how she's a contender.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 5:10 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Mirror Politics ‏@MirrorPolitics 40m40 minutes ago
Jeremy Hunt's appeal to NHS staff has backfired disastrously http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/je ... ar_twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …
The letter to Cameron from a doctor that is reprinted in this article is exceptional ...

Well done Hunt! Tweeting a picture of a whiteboard with patients' personal details on it.

utopiandreams · Post by **utopiandreams** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 5:27 pm

ohsocynical wrote:
utopiandreams wrote:
It's just as well I didn't reply to your phone cleaning post yesterday. I thought you'd meant cleaning so was going to joke about what setting you'd used. Trust all goes well, btw

I'm an absolute philistine when it comes to mobile phones and Mr Ohso is even worse if that's possible.
It's why we stick to cheap ones that do nothing but make phone calls.

I did get him a Google iPad [I think that's what it was called]with some unused Curry's vouchers a few weeks ago when I suspected something a bit horrible might be happening to him, and for a 74 year old who's never used a computer or complicated phone, he's taken to it quite well. Stops him sitting around worrying...

Like I said though, it's a good job the iPad doesn't fit in any of his pockets because I never check them when I chuck his clothes in the wash.

I never really bothered about mobiles and had my first one for years as I always had my laptop with me. That was until a mobile phone recycling company used my services and insisted I upgrade. No charge so how could I refuse. Nowadays I have a Galaxy something or other largely for testing internet services to mobile devices but lent it to one of my eldest as he was out of work and had broken his. Don't ask about his work, it sounds like one that should have gone to tribunal but then I doubt I have the full facts. Anyway he's working again so I should get it back soon.

But I'm perfectly happy with the one I use, besides it's always charged up, which is more than I can say for youngsters with their gadgets nowadays. What use is a phone with a flat battery?

Edit: Blimey I forgot what I was going to say and that was tut, tut for not checking pockets. Talking of poor memory, I was summoned to Alton Towers yesterday to pick someone up who was stranded; their mobile was about to go flat when they texted. Anyway I ended up at Trentham Gardens instead of Alton Towers, it being so long since I'd been, with no way of contacting them..

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 5:44 pm

Has anyone yet been able to unearth the solution to the Liz Kendall\Leicester West CLP mystery?

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 5:54 pm

PorFavor wrote:Has anyone yet been able to unearth the solution to the Liz Kendall\Leicester West CLP mystery?

I haven't....

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 5:54 pm

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/c1d99db4-2bf0 ... z3gMCgFASy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Disabled man fights back after care package cut in half

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 6:05 pm

I see Gove's talking about abolishing automatic early release. At the moment prisoners serving less than 4 years get early release automatically, whereas those with longer sentences have to apply to the Parole Board.

That is illogical. But surely he can't abolish it completely, given all the extra work for the Parole Board that would involve and extra prison places. Gove is the sort of person, with his Mr Logic hat on, who might abolish it, I suppose. But I don't think he will. He'll more likely say its automatic for eg sentences of under 3 years.

Cue judges imposing sentences just below the threshold rather than just over it....

utopiandreams · Post by **utopiandreams** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 6:07 pm

@ohsocynical

I must be going senile or something because I forgot something else, not that it's important. Anyway for a technophile I'm not that familiar with tablets, my 2 year old granddaughter shows me up.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 6:10 pm

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... 150720.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Welfare and Work Bill Second Reading tomorrow.

I note the support of Kate Green to the imposition of an interest bearing loan in lieu of housing support for homeowners.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 6:18 pm

Too late to harm us,blows raspberry.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 6:23 pm

HindleA wrote:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... 150720.htm

Welfare and Work Bill Second Reading tomorrow.

I note the support of Kate Green to the imposition of an interest bearing loan in lieu of housing support for homeowners.

Ye gads HindleA - I hear your disgust and share it. Wish there was something I could do to make the Reeves, Greens and others supposed to understand and represent the hardships that this and the last government are inflicting on people down on their luck .... but there isn't.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 6:25 pm

Too late to harm us,blows raspberry.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 6:32 pm

RR2
Lack of accounting for the situational context that truly offends and more the symbolic kick in the teeth,tbh.In many cases,it saves money,given the alternatives.Sacrificed at the altar of skewed thinking and morals IMHO.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 6:49 pm

Making it harder to account for sickness/disability/caring responsibilities in the most cost effective and humane way ,whatever type of housing is such utter stupidity,merely further putting stress elsewhere.They got a bargain with us,as many,a small investment,but "fairness"(or rather a distorted view)must be seen to be done,no matter the consequences.

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 7:11 pm

HindleA wrote:https://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/2015/0 ... onditions/

DWP Hires Miracle Lifestyle Guru Who Claims 95% Success Rate In Curing Mental Health Conditions

Neuro Linguistic Programming. Aspirational psychobabble.

To be delivered by an unqualified plonker with not one professional health care qualification.

In Wales. Only in Wales.

I can feel a complaint to that nice Carwyn Jones coming on.......

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 7:25 pm

My next door neighbour has been having some work done to her place. We learnt today that she's had her one bedroom turned into two, and fenced in her front garden because her mother who is disabled due to a stroke, is coming to live with her. The fence is to keep her mother's little dog in.

We are always reading about not being a caring society, but there are some that still do.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 7:27 pm

HindleA wrote:Too late to harm us,blows raspberry.

A lovely wet raspberry with knobs on

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 7:29 pm

ohsocynical wrote:
HindleA wrote:Too late to harm us,blows raspberry.
A lovely wet raspberry with knobs on

I have been boiling raspberries today for jam - make that a boiling hot, lovely wet raspberry with knobs on.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 7:45 pm

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

Re 'Labour's lost voters'.

What strikes me reading this is that anyone who switches from Labour to Tory (or, indeed, vice versa) has no ideological basis for voting. This narrows motivation exceedingly and thus the explanation for their current support for the Tories becomes easier to guess, my guess being house prices.

Tory voters abandoned Major after a period of high interest rates making mortgages expensive, followed by a house price crash which left many in negative equity.

A period of rising house prices followed under Labour, keeping these voters happy and Labour voting. Recession led to a few swinging back to the Tories in 2010. 5 years of Osborne throwing the kitchen sink at the mortgage market to keep house prices up and the rest of the Major switchers are back in the Tory fold.

As the way to woo these voters is, imo, economically irresponsible, I see no mileage in chasing them. If Osborne discovers it isn't possible to artificially prop up house prices indefinitely, they may end up coming back to Labour regardless anyway as they lose faith in the Tories ability to protect their asset.

I still feel that Burnham or Cooper offer Labour's best chance by focusing on winning back left wing support from Ukip, SNP and Greens.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 7:50 pm

Ms Kendall gave a wide-ranging interview to the Mail on Sunday, saying it would be 'ridiculous' to have Jeremy Corbyn in her shadow cabinet.
Ms Kendall has come closer than any candidate to ruling out having Jeremy Corbyn in her shadow cabinet.

She told a leadership hustings today: "I don't think Jeremy's and my politics is anything like the same".
But Andy Burnham suggested there'd be a role for the radical left-winger. "Maybe not shadow chancellor," he joked. "But I think he's said things in this contest that are important."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/la ... ll-6097207

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 7:59 pm

Mike Fraser ‏@MIkef45 · 6s6 seconds ago
Liz Kendall tells journalist to f*** off after asking about her weight http://ind.pn/1HCDRgD" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 99838.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nice - though I do take her point that a male contender would never be asked this kind of question.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 8:04 pm

Guardian politicsVerified account
‏@GdnPolitics David Cameron ‘making up Syria policy on the hoof’ - senior Tory http://d.gu.com/BZR0jV" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 8:45 pm

Abby Tomlinson
A level student, Ed Miliband fan, Labour Party activist, intersectional feminist
The Politics of Fear: Why I'm Getting Sick of the Labour Leadership Contest

Well said young lady!
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/abby-to ... 18710.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 9:05 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:Abby Tomlinson
A level student, Ed Miliband fan, Labour Party activist, intersectional feminist
The Politics of Fear: Why I'm Getting Sick of the Labour Leadership Contest

Well said young lady!
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/abby-to ... 18710.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yup, she's nailed it. That's pretty much how I feel about it too.

TechnicalEphemera · Post by **TechnicalEphemera** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 9:07 pm

My top tip to Kendall, if your friends vote Tory ditch them and get some new friends. Life is too short to spend it with tossers.

I generally avoid the terminally selfish, the evil, and the clueless in my social circles. I know plenty of Tory voters, I just don't bother to socialise with them.

TechnicalEphemera · Post by **TechnicalEphemera** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 9:08 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:Mike Fraser ‏@MIkef45 · 6s6 seconds ago
Liz Kendall tells journalist to f*** off after asking about her weight http://ind.pn/1HCDRgD" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 99838.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nice - though I do take her point that a male contender would never be asked this kind of question.

Fair play to the woman, frankly she should have gone the full Prescott on the journo.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 9:33 pm

TechnicalEphemera wrote:My top tip to Kendall, if your friends vote Tory ditch them and get some new friends. Life is too short to spend it with tossers.

I generally avoid the terminally selfish, the evil, and the clueless in my social circles. I know plenty of Tory voters, I just don't bother to socialise with them.

It made me wonder what they talk about. The Cons have interfered with so many aspects of our lives.

SpinningHugo · Post by **SpinningHugo** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 9:49 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:
SpinningHugo wrote:
AnatolyKasparov wrote: Ed, bless him, thought that the essential decency of the British people would see through it all
.
It is one of life's ironies that many of those who were the staunchest defenders of Ed now attribute defeat to his not making the arguments well enough.
No, he didn't fight dirty enough. Whatever else you say about them, both AB and YC know how to when needed, and hopefully will

No argument from me that Cooper is better than Miliband.

That is why I wanted her to replace him in 2013 to give us a chance.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 9:56 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:Well saying what will happen in 2020 is a mug's game (despite the utter certainty of so many that total Tory hegemony is assured for the forseeable)

Tories managed a tiny increase in their overall share this time by cannibalising their coalition partners in the most brutal and ruthless way, and using extremely effective targeting techniques that blindsided the opposition. The former will certainly not apply five years from now, and the latter may well not either (ie other parties may catch up)

And the likelihood of major economic turbulence in this parliament is pretty high I would say......

Correct.

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 10:05 pm

Late evening all.

Finally caught up with the Andrew Neil debate. Impressed with Cooper, she seems to be targeting her attacks on Burnham, has Kendall been dismissed by the others?

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 10:06 pm

ohsocynical wrote:
TechnicalEphemera wrote:My top tip to Kendall, if your friends vote Tory ditch them and get some new friends. Life is too short to spend it with tossers.

I generally avoid the terminally selfish, the evil, and the clueless in my social circles. I know plenty of Tory voters, I just don't bother to socialise with them.
It made me wonder what they talk about. The Cons have interfered with so many aspects of our lives.

I won't pick fights with any Tory supporter or voter but if asked I won't hesitate to let them know they've made a destructive, regressive choice. I will explain how the policies of current Tory government have cost lives, wasted resources & put a lot people in jeopardy - over five & a half years now & counting of insane sell-off of public infrastructure, harmed people least able to defend themselves when their support is taken away, the energy policies chosen by current Tory government makes no economic or scientific sense, more support of fossil fuel industry & a withdrawal of renewable energy investment.

I could go on, of course, I won't here now. Current Tory government won't benefit anyone - not Tory supporters & voters & not Tory leadership either. Our economic, social & political infrastructure - all of it, our country & people, are in the hands of irresponsible, selfish, arrogant, ignorant men & women who make up the current Tory party. They're bad leaders using the worst judgement & have made the lives of people materially worse for absolutely no reason - it's totally unnecessary, the suffering they're causing.

I'm going back to my theatre theory - it's bizarre, Kendall's Tory friends, family & her ridiculous leadership campaign not making any kind of Labour party sense - it's a set up. The entire Labour party is setting up Corbyn as Labour leader using twenty-first century media polarity. It's the most cost effective way to get the message to anyone wanting a fair government.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 10:14 pm

So the Guardian has George Osborne writing opinion pieces for them now. That 'in praise of IDS' obviously didn't go far enough. In this one Osborne is stating why 'moderate' Labour MPs should support his welfare cuts (I am not going to call them reforms).

James Chapman ‏@jameschappers 5m5 minutes ago
RT "@KathViner Calling all progressives: help us reform the welfare state - @George_Osborne writes in the Guardian" http://gu.com/p/4annx/stw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

One good thing (maybe connected to Rusbridger's departure?) is that we haven't had to endure anything from Huhne for a while.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 10:23 pm

StephenDolan wrote:Late evening all.

Finally caught up with the Andrew Neil debate. Impressed with Cooper, she seems to be targeting her attacks on Burnham, has Kendall been dismissed by the others?

Cooper seems to have the confidence to remain quiet and not interrupt - unlike Kendall who seems too often to be butting in, trying to speak over, or making quick ripostes that are unnecessary - and it comes across as a bit panicky.

At least Neil had clearly thought seriously about the format of questions in advance - the structure and framing of specific points around the individual candidates made for much better viewing than the awful Kuennsberg hosted programme a few weeks back.

Eric_WLothian · Post by **Eric_WLothian** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 10:30 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:I see Gove's talking about abolishing automatic early release. At the moment prisoners serving less than 4 years get early release automatically, whereas those with longer sentences have to apply to the Parole Board.

That is illogical. But surely he can't abolish it completely, given all the extra work for the Parole Board that would involve and extra prison places. Gove is the sort of person, with his Mr Logic hat on, who might abolish it, I suppose. But I don't think he will. He'll more likely say its automatic for eg sentences of under 3 years.

Cue judges imposing sentences just below the threshold rather than just over it....

and there are still people who say the SNP are left-wing despite giving the Tories policy ideas:

The Scottish government has announced it is ending automatic early release for prisoners jailed for more than four years.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-31109682

(Feb 2015)

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 10:33 pm

The electrification of the rail line from London to Swansea could take longer than planned, Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb has indicated.
The project is due to be completed by 2018, but there have been delays in the electrification of the network around the UK.
Mr Crabb said the upgrade commitment was "rock solid" but it might not be completed on time.
Network Rail said a review of its five-year investment plan was under way.
Speaking to BBC's Sunday Politics Wales programme, Mr Crabb said: "We can guarantee that it's going to be electrified through to Swansea. That commitment is there, it's rock solid.
"Network Rail has got a lot of balls in the air at the moment.
"If they've got themselves into problems in terms of delivering some of these projects to a particular timetable, you know, it's for them to come forward and explain that.
"The importance is that we secure a strong political commitment to finishing the project and getting that electrification through to Swansea.
"Whether that happens in accordance with exactly the timetable that we want it to and we envisaged, I'm not here to say that that will be the case but, clearly, we're going to finish the project and it won't be too far out of the original timetable."
It is the first indication yet about potential delays to the Swansea project.

Nothing to do with the government then?

Eric_WLothian · Post by **Eric_WLothian** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 10:35 pm

Sorry if this has been picked up earlier but:

UK will help destroy Islamic State, David Cameron tells US...
...Speaking about the UK's possible role in fighting the group, Mr Cameron told NBC: "I want Britain to do more. I'll always have to take my parliament with me.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33584548

HIS f*****g parliament?

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 10:42 pm

Eric_WLothian wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:I see Gove's talking about abolishing automatic early release. At the moment prisoners serving less than 4 years get early release automatically, whereas those with longer sentences have to apply to the Parole Board.

That is illogical. But surely he can't abolish it completely, given all the extra work for the Parole Board that would involve and extra prison places. Gove is the sort of person, with his Mr Logic hat on, who might abolish it, I suppose. But I don't think he will. He'll more likely say its automatic for eg sentences of under 3 years.

Cue judges imposing sentences just below the threshold rather than just over it....
and there are still people who say the SNP are left-wing despite giving the Tories policy ideas:
The Scottish government has announced it is ending automatic early release for prisoners jailed for more than four years.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-31109682
(Feb 2015)

Wow.

That's a nice waste of money there.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 10:46 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:
The electrification of the rail line from London to Swansea could take longer than planned, Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb has indicated.
The project is due to be completed by 2018, but there have been delays in the electrification of the network around the UK.
Mr Crabb said the upgrade commitment was "rock solid" but it might not be completed on time.
Network Rail said a review of its five-year investment plan was under way.
Speaking to BBC's Sunday Politics Wales programme, Mr Crabb said: "We can guarantee that it's going to be electrified through to Swansea. That commitment is there, it's rock solid.
"Network Rail has got a lot of balls in the air at the moment.
"If they've got themselves into problems in terms of delivering some of these projects to a particular timetable, you know, it's for them to come forward and explain that.
"The importance is that we secure a strong political commitment to finishing the project and getting that electrification through to Swansea.
"Whether that happens in accordance with exactly the timetable that we want it to and we envisaged, I'm not here to say that that will be the case but, clearly, we're going to finish the project and it won't be too far out of the original timetable."
It is the first indication yet about potential delays to the Swansea project.
Nothing to do with the government then?

Current Tory government are irresponsible, cruel, mendacious & unprofessional.
They are bad leaders.
Nation & people suffer with bad leadership in government.

Eric_WLothian · Post by **Eric_WLothian** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 10:48 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:
Eric_WLothian wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:I see Gove's talking about abolishing automatic early release. At the moment prisoners serving less than 4 years get early release automatically, whereas those with longer sentences have to apply to the Parole Board.

That is illogical. But surely he can't abolish it completely, given all the extra work for the Parole Board that would involve and extra prison places. Gove is the sort of person, with his Mr Logic hat on, who might abolish it, I suppose. But I don't think he will. He'll more likely say its automatic for eg sentences of under 3 years.

Cue judges imposing sentences just below the threshold rather than just over it....
and there are still people who say the SNP are left-wing despite giving the Tories policy ideas:
The Scottish government has announced it is ending automatic early release for prisoners jailed for more than four years.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-31109682
(Feb 2015)
Wow.

That's a nice waste of money there.

after state guardian for all 0-18 year olds - supervising a few hundred released prisoners should be a doddle.

The SNP and economics don't inhabit the same world!

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 10:50 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:
The electrification of the rail line from London to Swansea could take longer than planned, Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb has indicated.
The project is due to be completed by 2018, but there have been delays in the electrification of the network around the UK.
Mr Crabb said the upgrade commitment was "rock solid" but it might not be completed on time.
Network Rail said a review of its five-year investment plan was under way.
Speaking to BBC's Sunday Politics Wales programme, Mr Crabb said: "We can guarantee that it's going to be electrified through to Swansea. That commitment is there, it's rock solid.
"Network Rail has got a lot of balls in the air at the moment.
"If they've got themselves into problems in terms of delivering some of these projects to a particular timetable, you know, it's for them to come forward and explain that.
"The importance is that we secure a strong political commitment to finishing the project and getting that electrification through to Swansea.
"Whether that happens in accordance with exactly the timetable that we want it to and we envisaged, I'm not here to say that that will be the case but, clearly, we're going to finish the project and it won't be too far out of the original timetable."
It is the first indication yet about potential delays to the Swansea project.
Nothing to do with the government then?

I had to switch Crabb off earlier today ... it's always nothing to do with his government ... the only people to blame are the Welsh Labour government ... yada, yada, yada. He was on TV whingeing on about the M4 relief road - and this rail project.

One of our long time oldy Labour activists is always reminding us at branch meetings that he has still not found a constituent who has an answer to 'What has Stephen Crabb ever done for Pembrokeshire?'.

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 10:55 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Mirror Politics ‏@MirrorPolitics 40m40 minutes ago
Jeremy Hunt's appeal to NHS staff has backfired disastrously http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/je ... ar_twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …
The letter to Cameron from a doctor that is reprinted in this article is exceptional ...

Mirror have done a pretty funny poll to go with that article:
Q: Should doctors work seven days a week?
A1: They already do
A2: They definitely already do
A3: I think they already do
A4: I'm Jeremy Hunt and I'm not sure about this whole thing
~~:rolf:~~ Edit: Oops, I meant

(rofl)... Rolfing is summat different - although, it might involve rolling around on the floor...

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 11:02 pm

Jonathan Portes ‏@jdportes 14m14 minutes ago Islington, London
Chancellor claims 2.7m people on minimum wage gain £5K each. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... its-system" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; … Figures look hopelessly wrong. Source @ToryTreasury?

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 11:10 pm

Eric_WLothian wrote:
after state guardian for all 0-18 year olds - supervising a few hundred released prisoners should be a doddle.

The SNP and economics don't inhabit the same world!

The cost is more that they have to keep more people in prison and prepare and decide their cases. At the moment, people under 4 years come out automatically.

Eric_WLothian · Post by **Eric_WLothian** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 11:34 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:
Eric_WLothian wrote:
after state guardian for all 0-18 year olds - supervising a few hundred released prisoners should be a doddle.

The SNP and economics don't inhabit the same world!
The cost is more that they have to keep more people in prison and prepare and decide their cases. At the moment, people under 4 years come out automatically.

That, to quote Captain Mainwaring, is defeatist talk. Think like a Tory/Nat - around 30% of criminals reoffend so there will be longer periods between offences. Savings in court time, prison admission and discharge procedures, police time, benefits...

Costs outweigh the savings? ...err ...um

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Sun 19 Jul, 2015 11:40 pm

Rule no 1 - do not ever argue with an acknowledged expert

This is about a possible ditching of the Universal Free School Meals policy.

https://twitter.com/Samfr/status/622709528237330432

Toby Young ‏@toadmeister 12h12 hours ago
@Samfr I hope so. Primaries that have made school meals compulsory have to pay for 15% of the “free” ones for children in Reception and KS1

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Mon 20 Jul, 2015 1:02 am

rebeccariots2 wrote:
StephenDolan wrote:Late evening all.

Finally caught up with the Andrew Neil debate. Impressed with Cooper, she seems to be targeting her attacks on Burnham, has Kendall been dismissed by the others?
Cooper seems to have the confidence to remain quiet and not interrupt - unlike Kendall who seems too often to be butting in, trying to speak over, or making quick ripostes that are unnecessary - and it comes across as a bit panicky.

At least Neil had clearly thought seriously about the format of questions in advance - the structure and framing of specific points around the individual candidates made for much better viewing than the awful Kuennsberg hosted programme a few weeks back.

Kendall keeps glancing back to her notes, too, on her seemingly endless interruptions - as if she's got too long a list of 'things I must get in'. I find her deeply annoying and rude - but she probably thinks she's determined and outspoken. It detracts from the few things she says that I could, possibly, agree with.

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Mon 20 Jul, 2015 1:19 am

Eric_WLothian wrote:Sorry if this has been picked up earlier but:

UK will help destroy Islamic State, David Cameron tells US...
...Speaking about the UK's possible role in fighting the group, Mr Cameron told NBC: "I want Britain to do more. I'll always have to take my parliament with me.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33584548
HIS f*****g parliament?

That pissed me orf, too!