Thursday 28 July 2016

[tinybgoat]

Apologies if this has already been linked to - it made me laugh ( there's a bit of swearing in the subtitles )

Boris' brexit HQ - " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


another one had me almost in tears - but I am in Sheffield

Changes to Sheffield bus routes - " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for that,
Where else would justify building a rapid transit relief route too allegedly make 2 bus routes faster (A1 & 69) , whilst in meantime scrapping one of them (A1,1 which at least, went to meadowhall ) and merging the other with a longer route & cutting it's frequency thereby showing that it's speed wasn't really an issue in the first place, before then replacing it with a new service (X1) running the original route except for use of shiny new pointless road adding meadowhall into it's route, presumably keeping or extending orginal total time journey ?
(rant over)

[gilsey]

Way off topic but I found it interesting.
Scientists Identify New Whale Species
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/ ... le-species" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RogerOThornhill]

Early election?

Can't see it. Difficult to manufacture given FTPA - backbenchers might feel nervous about their own seats is Brexit hasn't moved on very far and might well think that it's not worth taking the risk.

Highly embarrassing for May if she tries to arrange HoC vote and fails to get the result she wants to ensure election happens.

Repeal FTPA itself? Again - might well fail given that it's only a few years old.

Too many risks for an uncertain reward.

[StephenDolan]

If we're looking at GE in 2020, the combination of a fresh Brexit resolution (or still ongoing) and the boundary review could prove interesting for the parties split on remain /leave (IMHO).

I wonder what other events are to occur in 2016, there's still plenty of time for bad news for the government. Those police forces must make a decision eventually for starters.

[AnatolyKasparov]

You are surmising, Hugo.

Our actual PM is going to want to see hard evidence the Tories would do significantly better than in the last two GEs before even considering trying to force an early election. Saying "oh it will be OK because Labour will have a terrible campaign" really isn't her style.

And there is also the factor of Labour's now considerable advantage in numbers on the ground to consider, as well. Obviously that won't matter so much if the party is still a total basket case in all other respects, but if you think things will somehow get better once this contest is over (even a temporary truce) then it could be relevant.

Unless the Tories can be pretty *sure* of strengthening their position (and they now have virtually no more LibDem seats to gobble up, remember) they are better off waiting for the coming boundary changes - due in 2018 - which should strengthen their position without a single vote being cast.

[SpinningHugo]

If you ignore the source, this is a good dose of cold water for people of my kind of view

http://labour-uncut.co.uk/2016/07/21/10 ... more-20987" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[StephenDolan]

Official Leader of the opposition.

I'm struggling to find any backed up definition. From what I gather, it's usually the leader of the party with the second highest number of MPs.

My puzzlement relates to party,not grouping, collaboration of independent MPs, etc etc. Can anyone help with backed up evidence as to the process? Triple chocolate cookies as a reward.

[gilsey]

We probably had a link to this yesterday.
UK helicopter money: a solution in search of a problem
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Follow up:
Fiscal policy: a brief reply to Duncan Weldon
Eric Lonergan
http://www.philosophyofmoney.net/fiscal ... an-weldon/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The challenge facing fiscal stimulus is not financing, but that it doesn’t happen. Most of the developed world can’t agree how it do it politically. In the area of the world most in need of higher aggregate demand – the Eurozone – it’s illegal. Even Larry Summers has given up on infrastructure spending as a practical counter-cyclical stimulus. We really don’t want to have to wait for agreement on building airport terminals or high speed rail links to bring down unemployment. If that is our fate, depression beckons.

Now don’t get me wrong. We should have effective fiscal policy. We should be doing lots of spending on infrastructure and human capital. But so far, that appears a pipe dream. The political and institutional reality means that the only effective counter-cyclical agents are central banks. Perhaps, the new Conservative government or a reinvigorated Abe will prove otherwise – but I wouldn’t count on it.

The financing of fiscal policy is a distraction. The problem with fiscal policy is the apparent paralysis of the relevant authorities.

Hear, hear.

[frog222]

(The FT used to let you subscribe for free and get a few freebie articles per month, does it not do that any longer?)

I couldn't see an option to do so.

Woohoo !

I found my very old Free Registration password , and it still works .

In the beginnning it was 30 free reads, then shrank, and I don't know how many now.

Off to read .

[ohsocynical]

The shadow health secretary says the trust which runs hospitals in Peterborough and Stamford requires £650 million of government funding due to its PFI contract.

Diane Abbott was commenting after a piece from the Health Service Journal said the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is trying to secure a £25 million a year support package with NHS Improvement.

The main reasons were to address the cost of the Private Finance Initiative deal for construction/running costs at Peterborough City Hospital which opened in November 2010 at a cost of £289 million.

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news ... -1-7498973" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[JonnyT1234]

Repeal of FTPA? I can't see that getting through the Lords without a very long and very bloody fight. What legitimate reason could the government give now for binning it so soon after it was implemented? There is none that would pass muster with a belligerent upper house. Particularly as the sole reason for doing so would be purely to call an election early for the benefit of the Tories alone and not the electorate.

Labour opting for a vote of no confidence in the government solely to trigger an early election? In their current state? Pure, unadulterated fantasy imnsho. They need from now until 2020 to let as much dust as possible settle from whatever fallout there is post Corbyn/not Corbyn victory.

[AngryAsWell]

Reversing Brexit

https://www.project-syndicate.org/comme ... ky-2016-07" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[JonnyT1234]

Official Leader of the opposition.

I'm struggling to find any backed up definition. From what I gather, it's usually the leader of the party with the second highest number of MPs.

My puzzlement relates to party,not grouping, collaboration of independent MPs, etc etc. Can anyone help with backed up evidence as to the process? Triple chocolate cookies as a reward.

That one's easy. It's Boris Johnson. It's always Boris Johnson.

[PorFavor]

Reversing Brexit

https://www.project-syndicate.org/comme ... ky-2016-07" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Project Syndicate is a pretty good place to go for interesting ideas and views. I'm quite a fan.

[RogerOThornhill]

the coming boundary changes - due in 2018

Which, I argued before on here, is far less certain to happen now given that it included the reduction of the size of the HoC down to 600.

"Taking back control" and losing 73 MEPs in the process and reduce the size of the HoC makes little sense to me. Esp. as there's no indication that the size of the executive will be reduced.

[JonnyT1234]

The shadow health secretary says the trust which runs hospitals in Peterborough and Stamford requires £650 million of government funding due to its PFI contract.

On the topic of absolutely terrible financial deals with the private sector... Hinckley Point C. Just cannot believe they're actually going to go ahead with this. It's awful even if it's delivered and operational on schedule. When that schedule slips by 10 to 20 years, like it very definitely will, it's going to be mind-bogglingly bad. Can anyone understand the thinking behind it at all?

[JonnyT1234]

"Taking back control" and losing 73 MEPs in the process and reduce the size of the HoC makes little sense to me. Esp. as there's no indication that the size of the executive will be reduced.

Hello Roger. Meet the Tory Party. Tory Party meet Roger. You appear to be strangers to each other.

[RogerOThornhill]

"Taking back control" and losing 73 MEPs in the process and reduce the size of the HoC makes little sense to me. Esp. as there's no indication that the size of the executive will be reduced.

Hello Roger. Meet the Tory Party. Tory Party meet Roger. You appear to be strangers to each other.

Heh.

I appreciate that but think that Brexit was a game changer for this. Also, many Tory MPs are impacted by boundary changes and might not be best pleased at it.

Also, look at how many peers Cameron has added in the HoL over 6 years with more to come once they've taken out the obviously dodgy ones. The "cost of politics "argument falls flat when he's been shovelling many more peers in as fast as he could go.

[JonnyT1234]

Observation:

Owen Smith seems to be getting quite a bit of media attention at the moment and I know a lot of that has to do with him announcing his Leadership policies yesterday but will Jeremy Corbyn be getting the same level of media attention when he does the same??

Of course not. It's going to be a Smith love-fest from now on in. The only time Corbyn will get on screen is whenever it's an opportunity for some clueless pundit to tell us all how loopily hard left and unelectable he is. If we think the PLP hate Corbyn, remember that it's nothing compared to what the media's opinion of him is like.

[PorFavor]

Apologies if this has already been linked to - it made me laugh ( there's a bit of swearing in the subtitles )

Boris' brexit HQ - " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This doesn't make me laugh - it makes me angry and pissed off.

I watched this first a few days after the vote and all I felt was fear and now I watch it and all I feel is anger.

Boris has been rewarded for his part in this mess as he is now the UK's Foreign Secretary and he is off swanning off all over the World (today he is in Paris), no doubt staying in the best hotels with a massive expensive account (courtesy of us) and meeting with all those Heads of State. This makes me want to vomit.

The fact that all those lies were told should have made the referendum void and all those who participated in the lies, should have been shamed but alas, that is not the World we live in.

It made me laugh whilst I was watching it (light relief being a much needed thing so long as it doesn't perform the function of replacing genuine anger and the desire to change things - eg I remember how much we used to enjoy laughing at David Cameron). But afterwards, I was very conscious of the fact that the final laugh's on me.


Edited to add -

Although could it be that it's the penultimate laugh?

[AnatolyKasparov]

Observation:

Owen Smith seems to be getting quite a bit of media attention at the moment and I know a lot of that has to do with him announcing his Leadership policies yesterday but will Jeremy Corbyn be getting the same level of media attention when he does the same??

Of course not. It's going to be a Smith love-fest from now on in

Actually, I doubt it.

[ohsocynical]

Observation:

Owen Smith seems to be getting quite a bit of media attention at the moment and I know a lot of that has to do with him announcing his Leadership policies yesterday but will Jeremy Corbyn be getting the same level of media attention when he does the same??

I found this on Facebook. I had read a brief extract about the Orgreave accusation. This is a longer piece. Not sure if it's hearsay or word for word, but there has been a whisper many of Mr Smith's policies had already been put forward by Corbyn and MacDonnell.

>>>>Orgreave campaigner John Dunn also accused Mr Smith of shamelessly copying policies put forward by Jeremy Corbyn and claiming them as his own.
The event included an announcement by Mr Smith that he would introduce a Ministry of Labour if he led a Labour government — a proposal put forward by Jeremy Corbyn and reported in the Morning Star last year.

Earlier, in his address, Mr Smith shamelessly copied a series of policies which had been declared months earlier by Jeremy Corbyn and his team — and others from progressive group the Institute of Employment Rights (IER).
Mr Corbyn’s office graciously welcomed Mr Smith’s conversion to the Labour leader’s socialist policies.
A spokesperson said: “We are delighted that he has echoed John McDonnell’s call for the reinstatement of a Ministry of Labour, made last month at the IER, and Jeremy Corbyn’s call for a ban on exclusive workforce recruitment from abroad, made during the referendum campaign, among other policies.
“Owen’s speech shows the leadership that Jeremy Corbyn has demonstrated in placing economic justice and fairness back at the heart of Labour politics.”
IER director Carolyn Jones said: “We are pleased yet another Labour MP has adopted some of our ideas.”
IER chairman John Hendy QC added: “Our proposals for a Ministry of Labour will provide a voice for 31 million workers at the heart of government.”
When challenged, Mr Smith said that Mr McDonnell’s call for a Ministry of Labour had “passed [him] by.”<<<<<<

[Lost Soul]

Apologies if this has already been linked to - it made me laugh ( there's a bit of swearing in the subtitles )

Boris' brexit HQ - " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This doesn't make me laugh - it makes me angry and pissed off.

I watched this first a few days after the vote and all I felt was fear and now I watch it and all I feel is anger.

Boris has been rewarded for his part in this mess as he is now the UK's Foreign Secretary and he is off swanning off all over the World (today he is in Paris), no doubt staying in the best hotels with a massive expensive account (courtesy of us) and meeting with all those Heads of State. This makes me want to vomit.

The fact that all those lies were told should have made the referendum void and all those who participated in the lies, should have been shamed but alas, that is not the World we live in.

...but it's satire - social criticism can be humorous...

[PorFavor]

Observation:

Owen Smith seems to be getting quite a bit of media attention at the moment and I know a lot of that has to do with him announcing his Leadership policies yesterday but will Jeremy Corbyn be getting the same level of media attention when he does the same??

Of course not. It's going to be a Smith love-fest from now on in. The only time Corbyn will get on screen is whenever it's an opportunity for some clueless pundit to tell us all how loopily hard left and unelectable he is. If we think the PLP hate Corbyn, remember that it's nothing compared to what the media's opinion of him is like.

I think you might be right that Owen Smith will get most of the press attention. But I don't see it as likely to be a "love-fest". Especially if he looks like winning.

[JonnyT1234]

If you ignore the source, this is a good dose of cold water for people of my kind of view

http://labour-uncut.co.uk/2016/07/21/10 ... more-20987" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Must confess that this point makes me laugh in a very bitter fashion:

"8. Blair did not do enough to tackle inequality."

Bloody hell, Blair and Brown oversaw the biggest increase in inequality in modern political history. The country is divided into the haves and have nots in one of the most colossally unfair and completely unassailable ways in decades: the property owners and the never, ever will be property owners. And the bell curve for that has shifted so far over that it now includes a massive chunk of the middle classes in that latter set, and not just the working poor and workless.

Not only did they do bugger all to stop this, they bloody well encouraged it.

*Spits tacks*

[JonnyT1234]

Over at the PLB (note, I'm no longer reading it on a daily basis so don't really follow what's happening either ATL or BTL):

This will be the last day I’m writing the Politics live blog for a while. I’m away for much of August and I won’t be back writing the blog until the week beginning Monday 5 September (when the Commons starts sitting again), or possibly the week before.

Stephen Dolan asks BTL about live blogs during August. We’re not planning to run politics blogs every day, but I think there will be blogs on some days, depending on what events are happening and whether reporters are available.

Since it is my last day before the holidays, it is a good moment to thank those of you who comment BTL. Obviously some of the comments are unpleasant or bonkers, but thankfully they are in a minority and overall the comments contribute significantly to the success of the blog. Colleagues at the Guardian recognise that the quality of the debate here BTL is generally fairly high and I frequently learn things from what people have posted. I also appreciate reasoned criticism because I think that helps improve the quality of our journalism.

Have a good summer everyone.

Does that sound more like an Adieu to you than an Au revoir?

[SpinningHugo]

Blair and Brown oversaw the biggest increase in inequality in modern political history.*

Not by any metric you care to choose.

You can use gini or any other slicing you like. (see figure 6)


http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationa ... ending2015" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In periods of growth, and 1997-2008 we had strong growth, inequality tends to increase because those on fixed incomes (eg pensioners, those on benefits) do worse than those in work. Labour corrected for this using tax and spend.

Since 2008 growth has largely stalled, which is why inequality has not sky-rocketed as the Tories cut.

Every table you look at shows that the big increase in inequality occurred 1979-1990. Since then it is largely static.

[JonnyT1234]

I think you might be right that Owen Smith will get most of the press attention. But I don't see it as likely to be a "love-fest". Especially if he looks like winning.

I may be wrong but I think the press will lionise Smith until he wins. Then they'll demonise him. It is far too much of a risk for them for Corbyn to retain the leadership. He has a chance of winning a GE that way, even if it's only a slim one. If he isn't leader, he has zero chance.

[AnatolyKasparov]

He normally takes a summer break, but I have been wondering for a bit if AS might be looking to move on.

Despite fairly regular disagreements, I always liked the guy and he certainly wasn't why I stopped contributing to the Graun btl regularly.

[ohsocynical]

In defence of EU migrants: a plea to Theresa May

http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/07/de ... um=twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[JonnyT1234]

Blair and Brown oversaw the biggest increase in inequality in modern political history.*

Not by any metric you care to choose.

Read my comment Hugo. The division is not in terms of wealth, it's in terms of the potential for property ownership. For the first time in modern history, there's a significant proportion of the middle classes that will never, ever own their own home* due to a barrier to entry that has gone from being a small hurdle to being the Berlin Wall. I know because I'm one of them.

That squeezed middle that Miliband used to go on about is actually very, very real. Poverty of opportunity is also a form of inequality.

* of course it is possible that this will change but the only way it will bodes very, very badly for absolutely everyone: complete meltdown in the housing market. So while people may eventually be able to own their own home, their other circumstances will be dire.

Edit: and don't even get me started on how worthless my 'gold-plated' pension will be by the time I start drawing it. And my pension is a GOOD one by comparison to the majority's.

[ohsocynical]

Apologies if this has already been linked to - it made me laugh ( there's a bit of swearing in the subtitles )

Boris' brexit HQ - " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This doesn't make me laugh - it makes me angry and pissed off.

I watched this first a few days after the vote and all I felt was fear and now I watch it and all I feel is anger.

Boris has been rewarded for his part in this mess as he is now the UK's Foreign Secretary and he is off swanning off all over the World (today he is in Paris), no doubt staying in the best hotels with a massive expensive account (courtesy of us) and meeting with all those Heads of State. This makes me want to vomit.

The fact that all those lies were told should have made the referendum void and all those who participated in the lies, should have been shamed but alas, that is not the World we live in.

...but it's satire - social criticism can be humorous...

I think I must have a twisted sense of humour because it made me laugh out loud.

[ephemerid]

Am going to speak my mind:
I get mildly irritated every single time someone says they're not going to post here.
Why not just not post?

That's a very good question - I can't speak for anyone else, but this is my answer, tc.

This forum was set up originally as a "haven" from CIFs highhanded introduction of nesting; and, like Topsy, it just growed.

There are people here, me included, who see this as a home-from-home, as far as an online forum can be called such.
Some of us don't get out much (and we can't) because of health problems or because we care for others.
Some people are sporadic posters, but there's a group, you included, who are here regularly.

When people disappear for a while, regulars here get worried. I'd worry if I didn't see you for a while.
When Toby disappeared for a bit, we were reassured when he let us know that he was in hospital for a long stay; people sent chocs and messages. When Ohso was AWOL the other week, some of us were concerned because she has a lot on her plate and has had for some time. There are other examples, but I'm sure you get the drift.

That's one reason - and having been made welcome here since the forum began, I think it's rather lovely that people care.

The other is that I am not happy and you all know why. Whether you agree with that or not, I see no reason why I shouldn't express that view with honesty; I have also had several messages from people who agree with me but prefer not to post in public.

I hope that helps with the mild irritation. If not, I understand that Calamine Lotion is an efficacious nostrum.

xx

[SpinningHugo]

He normally takes a summer break, but I have been wondering for a bit if AS might be looking to move on.

Despite fairly regular disagreements, I always liked the guy and he certainly wasn't why I stopped contributing to the Graun btl regularly.

Not getting the political editor's job when Wintour left must have smarted. Watt left straightaway.

heather Stewart is ok, but I don't know who Anushka Asthana is.

There just aren't many good gigs in political journalism to get any longer.

[Rebecca]

Observation:

Owen Smith seems to be getting quite a bit of media attention at the moment and I know a lot of that has to do with him announcing his Leadership policies yesterday but will Jeremy Corbyn be getting the same level of media attention when he does the same??

I found this on Facebook. I had read a brief extract about the Orgreave accusation. This is a longer piece. Not sure if it's hearsay or word for word, but there has been a whisper many of Mr Smith's policies had already been put forward by Corbyn and MacDonnell.

>>>>Orgreave campaigner John Dunn also accused Mr Smith of shamelessly copying policies put forward by Jeremy Corbyn and claiming them as his own.
The event included an announcement by Mr Smith that he would introduce a Ministry of Labour if he led a Labour government — a proposal put forward by Jeremy Corbyn and reported in the Morning Star last year.

Earlier, in his address, Mr Smith shamelessly copied a series of policies which had been declared months earlier by Jeremy Corbyn and his team — and others from progressive group the Institute of Employment Rights (IER).
Mr Corbyn’s office graciously welcomed Mr Smith’s conversion to the Labour leader’s socialist policies.
A spokesperson said: “We are delighted that he has echoed John McDonnell’s call for the reinstatement of a Ministry of Labour, made last month at the IER, and Jeremy Corbyn’s call for a ban on exclusive workforce recruitment from abroad, made during the referendum campaign, among other policies.
“Owen’s speech shows the leadership that Jeremy Corbyn has demonstrated in placing economic justice and fairness back at the heart of Labour politics.”
IER director Carolyn Jones said: “We are pleased yet another Labour MP has adopted some of our ideas.”
IER chairman John Hendy QC added: “Our proposals for a Ministry of Labour will provide a voice for 31 million workers at the heart of government.”
When challenged, Mr Smith said that Mr McDonnell’s call for a Ministry of Labour had “passed [him] by.”<<<<<<

If this is true it reinforces my view that Smith is well shifty.
If he was truly passionate about workers' rights he would be involved with the IER,or at least keep up to date with their ideas,and McDonnells proposal for a MoL would not 'have passed him by'.
Maybe Smith needs to spend less time plotting and more time paying attention.C+ Owen,please stop copying.

[JonnyT1234]

He normally takes a summer break, but I have been wondering for a bit if AS might be looking to move on.

Despite fairly regular disagreements, I always liked the guy and he certainly wasn't why I stopped contributing to the Graun btl regularly.

All I think (well, know actually) is just how exhausting his job will actually be. Live coverage day-in, day-out is going to be mentally challenging even on a semi-irregular basis but practically all year round, barring a few brief holidays? It's quite amazing he's been able to stomach it this long to be honest.

[TobyLatimer]

Observation:

Owen Smith seems to be getting quite a bit of media attention at the moment and I know a lot of that has to do with him announcing his Leadership policies yesterday but will Jeremy Corbyn be getting the same level of media attention when he does the same??

I found this on Facebook. I had read a brief extract about the Orgreave accusation. This is a longer piece. Not sure if it's hearsay or word for word, but there has been a whisper many of Mr Smith's policies had already been put forward by Corbyn and MacDonnell.

>>>>Orgreave campaigner John Dunn also accused Mr Smith of shamelessly copying policies put forward by Jeremy Corbyn and claiming them as his own.
The event included an announcement by Mr Smith that he would introduce a Ministry of Labour if he led a Labour government — a proposal put forward by Jeremy Corbyn and reported in the Morning Star last year.

Earlier, in his address, Mr Smith shamelessly copied a series of policies which had been declared months earlier by Jeremy Corbyn and his team — and others from progressive group the Institute of Employment Rights (IER).
Mr Corbyn’s office graciously welcomed Mr Smith’s conversion to the Labour leader’s socialist policies.
A spokesperson said: “We are delighted that he has echoed John McDonnell’s call for the reinstatement of a Ministry of Labour, made last month at the IER, and Jeremy Corbyn’s call for a ban on exclusive workforce recruitment from abroad, made during the referendum campaign, among other policies.
“Owen’s speech shows the leadership that Jeremy Corbyn has demonstrated in placing economic justice and fairness back at the heart of Labour politics.”
IER director Carolyn Jones said: “We are pleased yet another Labour MP has adopted some of our ideas.”
IER chairman John Hendy QC added: “Our proposals for a Ministry of Labour will provide a voice for 31 million workers at the heart of government.”
When challenged, Mr Smith said that Mr McDonnell’s call for a Ministry of Labour had “passed [him] by.”<<<<<<

If this is true it reinforces my view that Smith is well shifty.
If he was truly passionate about workers' rights he would be involved with the IER,or at least keep up to date with their ideas,and McDonnells proposal for a MoL would not 'have passed him by'.
Maybe Smith needs to spend less time plotting and more time paying attention.C+ Owen,please stop copying.

CoYp1TYWIAAaz3-.jpg (116.49 KiB) Viewed 7809 times

CoYp1TYWIAAaz3-.jpg (116.49 KiB) Viewed 7809 times

[AnatolyKasparov]

He normally takes a summer break, but I have been wondering for a bit if AS might be looking to move on.

Despite fairly regular disagreements, I always liked the guy and he certainly wasn't why I stopped contributing to the Graun btl regularly.

Not getting the political editor's job when Wintour left must have smarted. Watt left straightaway.

heather Stewart is ok, but I don't know who Anushka Asthana is.

There just aren't many good gigs in political journalism to get any longer.

Former journalist for the Times and then Sky News, I believe. Considering that, she's not as bad as she might be tbh.

[SpinningHugo]

Blair and Brown oversaw the biggest increase in inequality in modern political history.*

Not by any metric you care to choose.

Read my comment Hugo. The division is not in terms of wealth, it's in terms of the potential for property ownership. For the first time in modern history, there's a significant proportion of the middle classes that will never, ever own their own home* due to a barrier to entry that has gone from being a small hurdle to being the Berlin Wall. I know because I'm one of them.

That squeezed middle that Miliband used to go on about is actually very, very real. Poverty of opportunity is also a form of inequality.

* of course it is possible that this will change but the only way it will bodes very, very badly for absolutely everyone: complete meltdown in the housing market. So while people may eventually be able to own their own home, their other circumstances will be dire.

Edit: and don't even get me started on how worthless my 'gold-plated' pension will be by the time I start drawing it. And my pension is a GOOD one by comparison to the majority's.

I agree with you about housing: but it isn't the same issue as that of inequality.

Housing is a tough issue. It is one that really deserves a "third way" or "New Labour" solution. that is: deregulation of planning coupled with massive infrastructure investment by the state. The problem is not an easy one to solve though (partly because where people want to live is already built on). Anyone who tells you it is or claims it can be solved by "building X thousand homes a year" is a bullshit merchant.

[PorFavor]

He normally takes a summer break, but I have been wondering for a bit if AS might be looking to move on.

Despite fairly regular disagreements, I always liked the guy and he certainly wasn't why I stopped contributing to the Graun btl regularly.

Yes, I like him despite thinking that he's been "changed" as the Guardian has, um, evolved. He's been quite generous to this site in terms of advertising its existence, too.

[PorFavor]

She[Lisa Duffy] has the backing of Suzanne Evans, the former Ukip deputy chair who cannot stand herself because she has been suspended from the party. (Politics Live, Guardian)

Self-loathing isn't healthy.

[RogerOThornhill]

Not getting the political editor's job when Wintour left must have smarted. Watt left straightaway.

Being appointed four months later to a Newsnight gig that is far better than the one he was tuned down for is hardly leaving "straightaway".

For a lawyer-type you're remarkable sloppy sometimes.

[PorFavor]

Turkey coup attempt: More than 130 media outlets shut (BBC News website)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36910556

[tinyclanger2]

When people disappear for a while, regulars here get worried. I'd worry if I didn't see you for a while.
When Toby disappeared for a bit, we were reassured when he let us know that he was in hospital for a long stay; people sent chocs and messages. When Ohso was AWOL the other week, some of us were concerned because she has a lot on her plate and has had for some time. There are other examples, but I'm sure you get the drift.

xx

Good point - thanks.

[PorFavor]

When people disappear for a while, regulars here get worried. I'd worry if I didn't see you for a while.
When Toby disappeared for a bit, we were reassured when he let us know that he was in hospital for a long stay; people sent chocs and messages. When Ohso was AWOL the other week, some of us were concerned because she has a lot on her plate and has had for some time. There are other examples, but I'm sure you get the drift.

xx

Good point - thanks.

After all, you even felt the need to tell us you were leaving to go and do the washing up. And I requested an ETR (estimated time of return) . . . .

[RogerOThornhill]

Turkey coup attempt: More than 130 media outlets shut (BBC News website)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36910556

I know there may well be things going on behind the scenes that we don;'t know about but I do wonder what is the point of NATO if one of its own members behaves like this with barely a squeak from that organisation's top brass.

[ephemerid]

This is how the revised benefit cap will affect claimants - from Autumn of this year.

London - single down from £350PW to £296.35PW (£53.65 cut); couples with/without children down from £500PW to £442.31 PW (£57.69cut)
Elsewhere - single down from £350PW to £257.69PW (£92.31 cut); couples as above down from £500PW to £384.62PW (£115.38 cut)

For Universal Credit, the cut will be built in to the monthly calculation and the relevant amount taken off Housing Benefit.

There is a very long list of benefits which are included in the cap - including child benefit, child tax credit, widowed parents allowance, many more.
The cap will not be imposed on households where a person is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance.

I hope the Trussell Trust, Save the Children, Oxfam, and the Red Cross are getting more parcels ready. They're going to need them.

[PorFavor]

Stepping Hill Hospital cuts jobs as it loses £75 a minute (BBC News website)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma ... r-36913045

And, apologies for detracting from the serious nature of the article, but I can't let this go by without comment -

"We [must] proactively address our financial situation now in order to have a good future going forward," she said.

So. No back to the future in Stepping, then.

[HindleA]

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/soci ... ip-changes" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



On 1 August 2016, the Social Security Advisory Committee welcomes 5 new members.
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The Minister for Welfare Reform, Lord Freud, has confirmed 5 new appointments to the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC):

Carl Emmerson
Dominic Morris
Charlotte Pickles
Liz Sayce
Victoria Todd


#It is great regret I am resigning from this post with immediate effect.I am going to spend more time with my insanity.It was an open competition apparently.

[RogerOThornhill]

Stepping Hill Hospital cuts jobs as it loses £75 a minute (BBC News website)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma ... r-36913045

And, apologies for detracting from the serious nature of the article, but I can't let this go by without comment -

"We [must] proactively address our financial situation now in order to have a good future going forward," she said.

So. No back to the future in Stepping, then.

Yes, that "going forward" is a pet hate - especially as you say in this case it's entirely surplus to requirements.

And "proactively" means that you would have addressed it before now which clearly isn't the case.