Tuesday 12 th January 2016

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 2:12 am

Morning.
http://www.parliament.uk/business/commi ... ndpensions" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Welfare reforms risk leading people into severe hardship report finds

Time-limited Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are clearly inadequate protection for some groups of people the Government did not intend its welfare reforms to affect, but who cannot reasonably be expected to take steps to mitigate the effects. Such groups should be exempted

Rot

NAO report.
https://www.nao.org.uk/report/local-welfare-provision/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 2:13 am

Housing Bill continues today

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016 ... ses-labour" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tory bill could cost UK nearly 200,000 council houses, warns Labour

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 7:57 am

Morning.

The Western Mail say Carwyn failed to land the killer blow in his debate against Farage.

There's a video, along with the report here:
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/polit ... g-10718537" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

TobyLatimer · Post by **TobyLatimer** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 8:01 am

'Murderer!' - Iain Duncan Smith confronted by furious protest as he visits Job Centre.

Mr Duncan Smith held up a copy of the Daily Mail to shield his face, as his blacked out Range Rover was blocked in the driveway of the centre by the pack of angry activists.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mu ... ar_twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

: ScreenShot01397.jpg (99.34 KiB) Viewed 10489 times

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 8:02 am

Solidarity with the junior doctors

utopiandreams · Post by **utopiandreams** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 8:14 am

Given that Hunt's only talent is lying through his teeth one wonders what Cameron may have in store for him next. Surely he cannot carry on as Health Secretary.

I also have a suggestion for Leigh Day after the scurrilous manner they were spoken of in the House. I believe there are victims of bullying that may be happy to speak to them.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 8:36 am

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/john-he ... 59910.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Even Tory Ministers Are Ashamed of This Housing Bill

John Healey

TobyLatimer · Post by **TobyLatimer** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 9:13 am

It’s horrible. This is an institution I’ve given most of my spare time to for 27 years, as have 10s of 1000s of other volunteers. I grew up believing, and still believe, Labour is the last best hope of a better life for ordinary people, and in power is a lifeline for the poorest and most needy. Millions of people invest all their hopes for a better country and a fairer future in our party.

And right now it isn’t there for them

http://labourlist.org/2016/01/it-feels- ... you-think/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

: ScreenShot01398.jpg (77.55 KiB) Viewed 10399 times

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 9:14 am

HindleA wrote:http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/john-he ... 59910.html

Even Tory Ministers Are Ashamed of This Housing Bill

John Healey

That's more like it, attack attack attack.
Morning all.

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 9:15 am

[quote="HindleA"]

Time-limited Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are clearly inadequate protection for some groups of people the Government did not intend its welfare reforms to affect, but who cannot reasonably be expected to take steps to mitigate the effects. Such groups should be exempted

Rot

Rot indeed, A.

The government intended for their reforms to affect as many people as possible. They deliberately refused to assess impact.
They also had every intention of scrapping DHPs over time, and are reducing the amount they grant LAs to cover the cost.

If the Select Committee seriously believes that the hardship caused by these reforms is unintended, they are deluded.

Before the bedroom tax was implemented, it was known that it would affect people with disabilities and their carers disproportionately.
That is why DWP refused to do a full impact assessment - they knew what the effects of bedroom tax and other reforms would be.

Devolving hardship support to LAs without giving them the cash to deliver it was also deliberate - the Tories know that the poorer councils haven't a hope in hell of covering the need, and abolishing the social fund/crisis loans would cause severe hardship.

IDS will not be deflected from his mission by a few reports and some polite questions at a Select Committee. He will do exactly what he wants, he will be allowed to make a total clusterfuck of social security, and people will continue to suffer.

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 9:18 am

TobyLatimer wrote:
It’s horrible. This is an institution I’ve given most of my spare time to for 27 years, as have 10s of 1000s of other volunteers. I grew up believing, and still believe, Labour is the last best hope of a better life for ordinary people, and in power is a lifeline for the poorest and most needy. Millions of people invest all their hopes for a better country and a fairer future in our party.

And right now it isn’t there for them

http://labourlist.org/2016/01/it-feels- ... you-think/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ScreenShot01398.jpg

" And driven by someone who was quite a difficult passenger and definitely shouldn’t have a driving license and is joining in the row instead of looking at the road ahead."

Blame Corbyn. Sigh.

TobyLatimer · Post by **TobyLatimer** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 9:22 am

I love Jeremy, but he's not a leader. I regret voting for him.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 9:31 am

Morning.

Just want to remind all those who are - quite understandably - feeling demoralised and faint of heart re the Labour party antics of this written in November 2015. What a terribly prescient piece this was .... and horribly borne out by the described tactics of slur and undermining ascribed to a shadow minister source that both yahyah and I heard on Radio 4 recently. It seems to be a war of attrition with the members perceived as collateral damage.

Right wing Labour MPs have launched a full-scale coup against Jeremy Corbyn, and against the members of the party they represent, writes Oliver Tickell. Their plan is simple - backed by mainstream media, to discredit him so utterly that even his supporters turn against him - and elect a new 'heir to Blair' leader.

So here's the plan: seize on any perceived weakness and attack, attack, attack. Hit hard, hit often, in public and in private. Backed up by the entire spectrum of Britain's 'mainstream' media who are only to happy to join those Labour MPs in puttting the boot in.

And the objective is clear: kill Corbyn. Wipe him out. Discredit him so utterly that not only will MPs and media unite against him, but even his supporters in the wider Labour Party will lose faith and either leave the party in disgust, or refuse to re-elect him after the leadership challenge they are building up to.

http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_c ... is_on.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Don't let the buggers get you down.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 9:32 am

incidentally, I do like the irony of people spending time on Twitter and complaining bitterly about other people not working...

TobyLatimer · Post by **TobyLatimer** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 9:41 am

rebeccariots2 wrote:Morning.

Just want to remind all those who are - quite understandably - feeling demoralised and faint of heart re the Labour party antics of this written in November 2015. What a terribly prescient piece this was .... and horribly borne out by the described tactics of slur and undermining ascribed to a shadow minister source that both yahyah and I heard on Radio 4 recently. It seems to be a war of attrition with the members perceived as collateral damage.

Right wing Labour MPs have launched a full-scale coup against Jeremy Corbyn, and against the members of the party they represent, writes Oliver Tickell. Their plan is simple - backed by mainstream media, to discredit him so utterly that even his supporters turn against him - and elect a new 'heir to Blair' leader.

So here's the plan: seize on any perceived weakness and attack, attack, attack. Hit hard, hit often, in public and in private. Backed up by the entire spectrum of Britain's 'mainstream' media who are only to happy to join those Labour MPs in puttting the boot in.

And the objective is clear: kill Corbyn. Wipe him out. Discredit him so utterly that not only will MPs and media unite against him, but even his supporters in the wider Labour Party will lose faith and either leave the party in disgust, or refuse to re-elect him after the leadership challenge they are building up to.
http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_c ... is_on.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Don't let the buggers get you down.

I feel that it goes deeper than that, when he did the tour of the country last summer and people were queuing round the block at town halls to hear him i was full of hope. If he had told us then that he would be bringing idiots like Abbott & Livingstone back in to the fold, and hiring the worse than useless Milne I doubt very much I would have voted for him.

Not to mention the many self inflicted wounds. He's not helping himself, and ultimately not helping people who invested in him.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 9:42 am

TUC Press Office ‏@TUCnews 13h13 hours ago
If eballoting is okay for selecting a candidate for the mayor of London, I don't see how we can rule it out -Tory Peer Lord Balfe on #TUbill

utopiandreams · Post by **utopiandreams** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 9:44 am

Just popped back because I've learned two new words today... and because I've had a smile put on my face (I've generally been taking a break from politics; apart from taking things steady I must not get worked up). Anyway under John Crace's 'David Cameron leads MPs in a charade of smoke and mirrors' (http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... nd-mirrors) I came across a comment by Paul C. Dickie that contained the aptly chosen word 'kakistocracy'.

Wondering whether this could be the same dickie as devondickie that I used to see btl at the Telegraph I followed the link to his profile page. Having only had a quick look I very much doubt he is, nonetheless I came across 'snollygoster', another new word to me.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 9:51 am

TobyLatimer wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:Morning.

Just want to remind all those who are - quite understandably - feeling demoralised and faint of heart re the Labour party antics of this written in November 2015. What a terribly prescient piece this was .... and horribly borne out by the described tactics of slur and undermining ascribed to a shadow minister source that both yahyah and I heard on Radio 4 recently. It seems to be a war of attrition with the members perceived as collateral damage.

Right wing Labour MPs have launched a full-scale coup against Jeremy Corbyn, and against the members of the party they represent, writes Oliver Tickell. Their plan is simple - backed by mainstream media, to discredit him so utterly that even his supporters turn against him - and elect a new 'heir to Blair' leader.

So here's the plan: seize on any perceived weakness and attack, attack, attack. Hit hard, hit often, in public and in private. Backed up by the entire spectrum of Britain's 'mainstream' media who are only to happy to join those Labour MPs in puttting the boot in.

And the objective is clear: kill Corbyn. Wipe him out. Discredit him so utterly that not only will MPs and media unite against him, but even his supporters in the wider Labour Party will lose faith and either leave the party in disgust, or refuse to re-elect him after the leadership challenge they are building up to.
http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_c ... is_on.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Don't let the buggers get you down.

I feel that it goes deeper than that, when he did the tour of the country last summer and people were queuing round the block at town halls to hear him i was full of hope. If he had told us then that he would be bringing idiots like Abbott & Livingstone back in to the fold, and hiring the worse than useless Milne I doubt very much I would have voted for him.

Not to mention the many self inflicted wounds. He's not helping himself, and ultimately not helping people who invested in him.

Understand your frustration with him and them Toby - especially with Livingstone. But I honestly think this war of attrition would have happened pretty much regardless of who Corbyn had appointed. I've not forgotten the ones who regularly popped up to have a go at Ed Miliband - and before that the disgraceful behaviour and bickering under Brown.

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 9:51 am

" My advice to my own party leadership is that they should take less notice of the London-centric, hard-left political class who sit around in their £1 million mansions, eating their croissants at breakfast and seeking to lay the foundations for a socialist revolution"

Dave Watts in the House of Lords.

Helpful.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 10:02 am

MichaelWhite ‏@MichaelWhite 2h2 hours ago
Good to hear a cheery Nick Clegg on R4 Today discussing educational inequality. NC's earnestness is both attractive & slightly off putting

Christopher Hope ‏@christopherhope 2h2 hours ago
Nick Clegg has worst voting record in the House of Commons since the general election - via @Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... ction.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

Tickled me to see these tweets one after the other - random synchronicity.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 10:10 am

Just to cheer you all up. The news we have all been waiting for - daring to hope this beautiful romance will blossom ....

Beth Rigby ‏@BethRigby 3h3 hours ago
Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall announce their engagement | The Times http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/medi ... 662743.ece" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

utopiandreams · Post by **utopiandreams** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 10:10 am

@ephemerid

Whilst agreeing with you, ephe, it's not just the DWP. Since Cameron rose to power not one government impact assessment or risk register that I have seen has been fit for purpose, should one exist at all. I cannot honestly say that I have previous ones to compare to but have seen local ones back in the day when my parents worked in local government plus quite a few when mentoring final OU degree database projects. I find it hard to believe that current standards are typical of the civil service or government generally, which makes me suspicious of their intent, i.e. not to disclose uncomfortable truths.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 10:22 am

Lots of good stuff in Warwick Mansell's latest diary.

http://www.theguardian.com/education/20 ... experience

Including this from a CEO position at an academy trust which pretty much sums up where we're heading.

School Partnership Trust Academies (SPTA), England’s fourth-largest chain with 43 academies, advertised for candidates to take over from the recently departed Sir Paul Edwards shortly before Christmas. The advert said: “We seek an ambitious and inspirational chief executive … you will be a visionary leader, commercial in outlook, with a passion for our work. Schools or education experience is not considered essential. This is about innovative leadership of a £130m distributed organisation.”

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 10:24 am

rebeccariots2 wrote:Just to cheer you all up. The news we have all been waiting for - daring to hope this beautiful romance will blossom ....

Beth Rigby ‏@BethRigby 3h3 hours ago
Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall announce their engagement | The Times http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/medi ... 662743.ece" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

Oh God. The mind boggles...

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 10:27 am

Guardian -
"Hospitals forced to postpone 4,000 operations as junior doctors, bar those in emergency care, walk out"

Ephemerid -
"Hospitals in ENGLAND postpone 4,000 elective operations - and NHS England statistics show that 15,000 elective procedures are cancelled every month under normal conditions, representing 0.8% of usual elective activity."

Hunt knows perfectly well that the impact of this strike on elective surgery is actually very small. I appreciate that this is no consolation if you are the person whose surgery is cancelled - but the truth is that cancellations are a fact of life in the NHS across the UK.
The most common causes of such cancellations in NHS England are a lack of acute beds and theatres blocked by urgent emergency cases. In Scotland and Wales, the most common cause is patients cancelling or postponing their elective procedures.

NHS England stats also show that when these 15,000 procedures (per month) are cancelled, in most cases it is not postponement as such, as no arrangements are made to re-book the procedures within 28 days (which is the target for all cancellations).

The strike in England today has been inevitable ever since Hunt refused to negotiate in good faith. I certainly feel sorry for those who have had to wait for the surgery they were booked for today; but the blame lies not with the doctors but with Hunt.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 10:28 am

Robert Peston ✔ @Peston
So Gov source tells me @David_Cameron will offer @BorisJohnson "top 5" cabinet job to buy his support in EU ref " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 10:31 am

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Robert Peston ✔ @Peston
So Gov source tells me @David_Cameron will offer @BorisJohnson "top 5" cabinet job to buy his support in EU ref " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Given that referendum might well be this year, that means a reshuffle of some sort albeit a small one.

Unless Boris as Poo-Bah...the Lord High Everything Else.

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 10:33 am

rebeccariots2 wrote:Just to cheer you all up. The news we have all been waiting for - daring to hope this beautiful romance will blossom ....

Beth Rigby ‏@BethRigby 3h3 hours ago
Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall announce their engagement | The Times http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/medi ... 662743.ece" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

Jerry's trading up. Again.

Bryan Ferry's net worth - $50 Million. Mick Jagger - $300 Million.

Old Uncle Rupe - $12.5 Billion.

It's love, is what it is. Obviously.

Who wouldn't want to snuggle up to the dashing handsome Rupert?
Even retired supermodels need someone gorgeous to cuddle.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 10:40 am

TobyLatimer wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:Morning.

Just want to remind all those who are - quite understandably - feeling demoralised and faint of heart re the Labour party antics of this written in November 2015. What a terribly prescient piece this was .... and horribly borne out by the described tactics of slur and undermining ascribed to a shadow minister source that both yahyah and I heard on Radio 4 recently. It seems to be a war of attrition with the members perceived as collateral damage.

Right wing Labour MPs have launched a full-scale coup against Jeremy Corbyn, and against the members of the party they represent, writes Oliver Tickell. Their plan is simple - backed by mainstream media, to discredit him so utterly that even his supporters turn against him - and elect a new 'heir to Blair' leader.

So here's the plan: seize on any perceived weakness and attack, attack, attack. Hit hard, hit often, in public and in private. Backed up by the entire spectrum of Britain's 'mainstream' media who are only to happy to join those Labour MPs in puttting the boot in.

And the objective is clear: kill Corbyn. Wipe him out. Discredit him so utterly that not only will MPs and media unite against him, but even his supporters in the wider Labour Party will lose faith and either leave the party in disgust, or refuse to re-elect him after the leadership challenge they are building up to.
http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_c ... is_on.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Don't let the buggers get you down.

I feel that it goes deeper than that, when he did the tour of the country last summer and people were queuing round the block at town halls to hear him i was full of hope. If he had told us then that he would be bringing idiots like Abbott & Livingstone back in to the fold, and hiring the worse than useless Milne I doubt very much I would have voted for him.

Not to mention the many self inflicted wounds. He's not helping himself, and ultimately not helping people who invested in him.

The thing is Toby. Who else was there?
I didn't fancy any of them much, then like you, liked what I saw of him. His aims and ideals were pretty much mine. They still are.

I refuse to give my vote to someone who vaguely fits my ideal and that doesn't just mean politically. I mean morally.

I'm sticking with it because if he should manage to sort them out then he needs a medal. If he can't, then I'll stop my membership and won't ever vote again, because there won't be a political party I feel I can support. I certainly won't give my money or backing to a party that isn't doing the job it's supposed to do.

I feel very sorry for some of the new intake and those Corbyn has given jobs to. They are trying and it's just beginning to show but I fear the odds are stacked against them.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 10:41 am

http://www.theguardian.com/business/liv ... iness-live" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

UK manufacturing output falls again

Industrial production shank by 0.7% month-on-month, according to the Office for National Statistics. That’s the biggest drop since January 2013, and much worse than expected.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 10:45 am

HindleA wrote:http://www.theguardian.com/business/liv ... iness-live

UK manufacturing output falls again

Industrial production shank by 0.7% month-on-month, according to the Office for National Statistics. That’s the biggest drop since January 2013, and much worse than expected.

Ah, but worse than expected by who?

We could have told them...

Rebecca · Post by **Rebecca** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 10:51 am

ohsocynical wrote:
TobyLatimer wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:Morning.

Just want to remind all those who are - quite understandably - feeling demoralised and faint of heart re the Labour party antics of this written in November 2015. What a terribly prescient piece this was .... and horribly borne out by the described tactics of slur and undermining ascribed to a shadow minister source that both yahyah and I heard on Radio 4 recently. It seems to be a war of attrition with the members perceived as collateral damage.
http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_c ... is_on.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Don't let the buggers get you down.

I feel that it goes deeper than that, when he did the tour of the country last summer and people were queuing round the block at town halls to hear him i was full of hope. If he had told us then that he would be bringing idiots like Abbott & Livingstone back in to the fold, and hiring the worse than useless Milne I doubt very much I would have voted for him.

Not to mention the many self inflicted wounds. He's not helping himself, and ultimately not helping people who invested in him.
The thing is Toby. Who else was there?
I didn't fancy any of them much, then like you, liked what I saw of him. His aims and ideals were pretty much mine. They still are.

I refuse to give my vote to someone who vaguely fits my ideal and that doesn't just mean politically. I mean morally.

I'm sticking with it because if he should manage to sort them out then he needs a medal. If he can't, then I'll stop my membership and won't ever vote again, because there won't be a political party I feel I can support. I certainly won't give my money or backing to a party that isn't doing the job it's supposed to do.

I feel very sorry for some of the new intake and those Corbyn has given jobs to. They are trying and it's just beginning to show but I fear the odds are stacked against them.

That's exactly how I feel Mrs Ohso.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 10:52 am

TobyLatimer wrote:I love Jeremy, but he's not a leader. I regret voting for him.

I didn't vote for him, but oddly am prepared to cut him a bit more slack than you seemingly are.

A man in his mid 60s with no previous experience of running things, and mostly on the fringes of his party for three decades - did anybody expect it to be plain sailing? He has made mistakes and misjudgements, but anything as grievous as Harman saying Labour shouldn't oppose Tory benefits plans??

I suppose the real reason I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt still is that the behaviour of many of his opponents has been so outrageous.

It is they who threaten Labour's future - maybe even mortally - not him.

Rebecca · Post by **Rebecca** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 10:58 am

[youtube]7cSAKlu0OlU[/youtube]Posting a ytube clip of David Bowie singing Wild is the Wind.I know he didn't write it,but how beautiful.I so loved that album.
Bit of a pain chez moi,I am NOT ALLOWED to listen to Bowie.Yesterday,two chords into Oh you pretty things, from Old Grey Whistle,my daughter had a meltdown which lasted on and off all day.
So the music is swimming around in my head.

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 11:10 am

utopiandreams wrote:@ephemerid

Whilst agreeing with you, ephe, it's not just the DWP. Since Cameron rose to power not one government impact assessment or risk register that I have seen has been fit for purpose, should one exist at all. I cannot honestly say that I have previous ones to compare to but have seen local ones back in the day when my parents worked in local government plus quite a few when mentoring final OU degree database projects. I find it hard to believe that current standards are typical of the civil service or government generally, which makes me suspicious of their intent, i.e. not to disclose uncomfortable truths.

You're right, of course.

I know a bit more about DWP and NHS issues than other stuff - but all this lying and obfuscation is ubiquitous.

Ministers lie to the House; SPADs and "spokespersons" lie to the media; we are being lied to on a massive scale.
I've been saying this since 2010 - as have we all.

The "intent" is not only to hide truth, it's to disseminate propaganda. The "intent" is fascistic, IMHO.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 11:21 am

Christopher Hope ‏@christopherhope 50m50 minutes ago
Tax avoidance and evasion is 'not part of my remit', says Angela Knight, new head of the Office for Tax Simplification

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 11:22 am

Telegraph FinanceVerified account
‏@TeleFinance
Pound plunges to five-year low as manufacturing performance worse than anyone expected http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/3272 ... um=twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 11:24 am

Jack Blanchard ‏@Jack_Blanchard_ 33m33 minutes ago
Osborne's new tax guru Angela Knight apologises for the years she spent defending Libor with the BBA. "I wish it never happened. I'm sorry."

Oh that's alright then Angela. It's not like you could have done anything about it .... ever .... in the roles you have had .... is it?

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 11:26 am

Evening Standard ‏@standardnews 6m6 minutes ago
Jailed: Accountant to the stars who conned taxman of £1m http://bit.ly/1RIGZgy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 11:43 am

Alex Cunningham ‏@ACunninghamMP 2m2 minutes ago
DEFRA Minister confirmed today they stand by manifesto pledge to have free vote on hunting foxes with dogs - Government Bill Government time

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 12:14 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Alex Cunningham ‏@ACunninghamMP 2m2 minutes ago
DEFRA Minister confirmed today they stand by manifesto pledge to have free vote on hunting foxes with dogs - Government Bill Government time

Yes, but when?

A very moveable feast, this one.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 12:24 pm

BP set to shed 600 North Sea jobs

The job losses amount to about a fifth of BP's North Sea workforce.

The move comes a day after oil firm Petrofac announced up to 160 UK jobs could go under a restructuring plan.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-s ... s-35291874" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

gilsey · Post by **gilsey** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 12:26 pm

Norman Smith on News24 just now saying the outcome of the junior doctors dispute ultimately depends on public opinion.

If it did, there wouldn't be a strike, *unt would have backed off months ago.

Sky News reporting from Ipswich Hospital couldn't find a patient who didn't support the strike.

Incidentally, did you all see the wonderful poster at the previous march, 'I'm not a gynaecologist but I know a Hunt when I see one'.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 12:26 pm

Jack Blanchard ‏@Jack_Blanchard_ 18m18 minutes ago
Angela Knight says she will maintain her various PLC directorships despite her new job in the Treasury. "I've still got to feed the family."

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 12:27 pm

@for RR2

Watchman ‏@_watchman 37 secs38 seconds ago

I wonder what attracted Jerry Hall to the multi millionaire media mogul?

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 12:28 pm

Mary Wilson, spouse of Harold, is 100 years old today

Only found out the other day (when this was mentioned) that Eden's wife when he was PM - actually a few years younger than Mrs Wilson - is also still alive.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 12:31 pm

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 12:45 pm

Paul Waugh ‏@paulwaugh 9m9 minutes ago
No10 spksmen plays hardball re strike: "If you hv a stroke at the wkend the mortality rate is 20% higher. Newborn deaths are 7% more likely"

Paul Waugh ‏@paulwaugh 7m7 minutes ago
When I asked if those stats on stroke/newborn deaths had any evidence of causal link with staffing levels, No10: "It's what the stats are."

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 12:53 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Paul Waugh ‏@paulwaugh 9m9 minutes ago
No10 spksmen plays hardball re strike: "If you hv a stroke at the wkend the mortality rate is 20% higher. Newborn deaths are 7% more likely"

Paul Waugh ‏@paulwaugh 7m7 minutes ago
When I asked if those stats on stroke/newborn deaths had any evidence of causal link with staffing levels, No10: "It's what the stats are."

Staffing in maternity units are no different at any time to any other. There is no link with staffing - a correlation not causation used by the statistically dimwitted. And yes, I asked the other half a while back about this...

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Tue 12 Jan, 2016 12:56 pm

So - Dr.Roger Stedman, Medical Director of Sandwell General Hospital, writes to junior doctors planning to strike - "Dear Doctor in Training....."

He claims Sandwell is at "escalation level 4" and this means the doctors based on wards must attend work - this is so that they can discharge patients who are blocking beds and look after the patients in the 50 new beds opened just yesterday in order to accommodate "increased activity" which he says has only been a problem over the past 2 days. Yeah, right. Like demand for beds never increases in the winter.

SGH must already have been at a crisis point before the planned action was confirmed - this stuff does not happen overnight unless there is some sort of major incident. The letter says that the City hospital site is not affected - so why aren't these allegedly increased numbers of people needing care re-routed there? Bringing doctors in on the pretext of discharging patients who can't be sent home is just bollocks.

This is a politically-motivated stunt to discredit junior doctors. The BMA knows it, and has issued a statement saying that the strike action should continue until NHS England has confirmed (and the BMA has agreed) that "a major unpredictable incident is taking place in a specific trust".

No such major unpredictable incident is taking place. There are several "level 4 escalations" and 13 trusts in special measures as things are.
This is situation normal in NHS England.