Wednesday 20th December 2017
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Welcome to FTN. New posters are welcome to join the conversation. You can follow us on Twitter @FlythenestHaven You are responsible for the content you post. This is a public forum. Treat it as if you are speaking in a crowded room. Site admin and Moderators are volunteers who will respond as quickly as they are able to when made aware of any complaints. Please do not post copyrighted material without the original authors permission.
Wednesday 20th December 2017
Morning all.
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/24857" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.parliament.uk/business/commi ... committee/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Guide" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Channel 5
http://www.parliament.uk/business/commi ... committee/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Guide" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Channel 5
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Tragically farcical of course,recommendations basically make more like DLA,a,Tory introduction tweaked appropriately according to evidence,not perfect but sane.
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Worth a repeat
https://jennymorrisnet.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... ments.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Personal Independence Payments: 'Statistical norms' and the fight to come.
https://jennymorrisnet.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... ments.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Personal Independence Payments: 'Statistical norms' and the fight to come.
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Have spent money,feeling distinctly queasy,though offsetbecause it was taken from an early opening of a given Christmas present,there are cogent reasons as to why I ask for cash/vouchers,as long as you keep a record you can limit the damage by the recycling method.
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
HindleA wrote:Have spent money,feeling distinctly queasy,though offsetbecause it was taken from an early opening of a given Christmas present,there are cogent reasons as to why I ask for cash/vouchers,as long as you keep a record you can limit the damage by the recycling method.
Just to let you know - when you're doing my present - cash is ok.
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Good morfternoon.
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Bah humbug,I hate New Year even more,especially the horrendous headaches/hangovers,I haven't imbibed since a pint was about 60p but some sort of transference from the drinkers.
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
PF -o.k.I have some Yuan,just sitting there..
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
https://mainlymacro.blogspot.co.uk/2017 ... rexit.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The political consequences of Brexit Transition
The political consequences of Brexit Transition
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/24858" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/new ... ut-on-free" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/new ... ut-on-free" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
They've finally had to call in some experts - who all say, essentially, the whole thing's crap.1m ago 10:28
The Commons Brexit committee is taking evidence from three academics and specialists this morning: Professor Michael Dougan, professor of European Law and Jean Monnet Chair in EU Law, University of Liverpool; Professor Anand Menon, director of UK in a Changing Europe; and Stephen Booth, director of policy and research at Open Europe. (Politics Live, Guardian)
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Most people I know don't like it.HindleA wrote:Bah humbug,I hate New Year even more
"IS TONTY BLAIR BEHIND THIS???!!!!111???!!!"
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
A fantastically passionate defence of the NHS by Corbyn at PMQs.
But Centrist Dads on Twitter criticise him for not leading on Brexit. I despair.
But Centrist Dads on Twitter criticise him for not leading on Brexit. I despair.
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Brexit obsessives obsess over Brexit shocker.
"IS TONTY BLAIR BEHIND THIS???!!!!111???!!!"
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Good-afternoon, everyone
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Good afternoon to you too. Quiet day?
"IS TONTY BLAIR BEHIND THIS???!!!!111???!!!"
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
@citizenJA
Hello, there!
Hello, there!
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Solve homelessness overnight by providing varying sizes of actual shoeboxes,not on the street doesn't count,apparently.
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
I've not seen the Twitter responses. Brexit is of paramount importance but I ask anyone dissatisfied with Tory/UKIP/DUP government responding with this please, keep criticism productive. I might be mistaken in this case by urging greater caution prior posting. Every person matters, voicing anxiety is everyone's right and duty. Step back a bit, note your critique and refrain from sounding off until after a walk. I remind everyone, given current political realities (first past the post), people wanting a civilisation worth the name need vote as one. That's my advice.PaulfromYorkshire wrote:A fantastically passionate defence of the NHS by Corbyn at PMQs.
But Centrist Dads on Twitter criticise him for not leading on Brexit. I despair.
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Howdy! Everything okay? I hope you're well, PorFavor. I needn't remind you the power of the written word. I ask your patience if I'm done something grammatically incorrect.PorFavor wrote:@citizenJA
Hello, there!
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/no ... irms-53670" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
No higher-value asset payments in 2018/19, Javid confirms
Councils will not be forced to sell off any higher-value council homes before at least April 2019, communities secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed.
Under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, introduced by David Cameron’s government, local authorities are expected to pay a levy to government which they make up through selling their most valuable homes when they become vacant.
The policy was intended to fund an extension of the Right to Buy to housing association tenants.
However, it has yet to be implemented and there have been few recent announcements on the levy, leading councils to warn that the resulting uncertainty is making it difficult to form Housing Revenue Account business plans.
Mr Javid has now revealed in a letter to a London councillor that “local authorities will not be expected to make a payment in 2017/18 or in 2018/19”.
Councils’ fears about the sell-off have been heightened since the Autumn Budget last month, when it was revealed that a pilot of the Right to Buy extension will take place in the Midlands from July 2018, funded by the Treasury.
It had previously been rumoured that ministers had dropped the two policies.
“Forcing councils to sell off much-needed council homes makes no sense,” said Diarmaid Ward, executive member for housing and development at Islington Council, who received Mr Javid’s letter.
“The secretary of state’s announcement that councils will not have to make payments for two years is a big win for our campaign, but we need the government to drop this policy altogether.”
Islington estimates it would be made to sell around 300 homes a year under the high-value asset levy
No higher-value asset payments in 2018/19, Javid confirms
Councils will not be forced to sell off any higher-value council homes before at least April 2019, communities secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed.
Under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, introduced by David Cameron’s government, local authorities are expected to pay a levy to government which they make up through selling their most valuable homes when they become vacant.
The policy was intended to fund an extension of the Right to Buy to housing association tenants.
However, it has yet to be implemented and there have been few recent announcements on the levy, leading councils to warn that the resulting uncertainty is making it difficult to form Housing Revenue Account business plans.
Mr Javid has now revealed in a letter to a London councillor that “local authorities will not be expected to make a payment in 2017/18 or in 2018/19”.
Councils’ fears about the sell-off have been heightened since the Autumn Budget last month, when it was revealed that a pilot of the Right to Buy extension will take place in the Midlands from July 2018, funded by the Treasury.
It had previously been rumoured that ministers had dropped the two policies.
“Forcing councils to sell off much-needed council homes makes no sense,” said Diarmaid Ward, executive member for housing and development at Islington Council, who received Mr Javid’s letter.
“The secretary of state’s announcement that councils will not have to make payments for two years is a big win for our campaign, but we need the government to drop this policy altogether.”
Islington estimates it would be made to sell around 300 homes a year under the high-value asset levy
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
"What hon. Members opposite really want is that private enterprise shall set up new industries where it likes in any part of the country, and that the poor people shall migrate to those industries, and have to put up with the bad housing conditions that would exist."
- from Mr Aneurin Bevan's maiden speech
Labour MP for Ebbw Vale
16 July 1929
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/comm ... 16_HOC_449" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Apologies for taking an hour to respondAnatolyKasparov wrote:Good afternoon to you too. Quiet day?
I'm recovering from a cold
Mr citizen has some time away from work
It's wonderful, holiday time
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Going on a hundred years and socialist MPs still got to plead for better housing, industry and community investment
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Council tax bills could rise by £100 a year as government relaxes cap
Local authorities are to be allowed to raise council tax by up to 5.99% next year, after a further relaxation of the government-imposed cap to address shortfalls in funding for social care. Families across the UK could see their bills rise by up to £100 a year as a result of the announcement, which will also see councils increasing the charge without holding local referendums.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/201 ... ajid-javid" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Who ends up in a tougher spot by VAT and Council Tax increases? People on small incomes end up paying disproportionately more than others. There's no way out of paying it, either.
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Tories nationally by default increased/introduced previously exempt from Council Tax liability whilst locally increased charges for any social care and related essential equipment maintenance costs.We were luckier than most with previous agreements/arrangements,the "we've reduced CT" stuff when it was targetedly increased "protecting the vulnerable "by reducing income by various you couldn't avoid means did stick in the craw a bit.
Last edited by HindleA on Wed 20 Dec, 2017 3:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
From National Audit Office (NAO) on their website today
Implementing the UK’s exit from the European Union
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General
Sir Amyas Morse KCB
Comptroller & Auditor General National Audit Office (NAO)
Leaving the EU will impact on all of Defra’s key areas of work
The EU is a substantial source of funding for a range of policies in Defra’s portfolio
EU institutions carry out regulatory functions in a number of Defra’s areas of responsibility
- In 2016-17, Defra received income of £3.3 billion from the EU. Exiting the
EU means the Department must take on greater responsibility for future
funding in a range of policy areas.
- Defra must find ways to ease the transition from EU-based systems to
domestic ones to facilitate the ‘smooth and orderly exit’ it is seeking to
achieve. EU Exit will require the Department to find alternative regulatory
solutions to replace those currently carried out by EU institutions...
https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploa ... ffairs.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.nao.org.uk/report/implement ... l-affairs/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
That's just one on the scaleThe scale of Defra’s task
• Defra received income of £3.3 billion in 2016-17
from the EU, mostly to reimburse direct payments
made to farmers under the Common Agricultural
Policy. Exiting the EU means Defra must take
on greater responsibility for future funding in
a range of policy areas (including agriculture
and fisheries). It must also develop alternative
regulatory arrangements to replace those
currently carried out by EU institutions.
https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploa ... ffairs.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Not content with the challenge of anthropogenic climate change, an inadequate resource distribution system and a sustainable alternative to plastic, Tory government decide to Brexit.
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
I thought you might like to know that Mr Ohso has just had another checkup and is still clear of bladder and bowel cancer.
We are so grateful to the doctors and nurses at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading I'd give them a pay rise from my own pocket if I could...
A happy and peaceful Christmas everyone...
We are so grateful to the doctors and nurses at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading I'd give them a pay rise from my own pocket if I could...
A happy and peaceful Christmas everyone...
We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. – Aesop
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Good to hear,nice to "see you".Same to you.
(Bah humbug)
(Bah humbug)
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Ten local council byelections last week:
Waverley DC - the first of two contests held last Wednesday saw a LibDem gain from Tory in a ward where they did not even stand two years ago; however this is a little misleading given that (as with elsewhere on this authority) there was past LibDem strength here - they won both seats in this ward back in 2003 and only narrowly lost them to the Tories in 2007. This win was a narrow one with a relatively modest 38% of the vote - but that was still a swing of some 14% away from the Tories since the last LibDem showing here in 2011. Labour took advantage of their absence to take a respectable second place in 2015 but were back in 3rd and down about 5 points (similar to the Tories) now. Greens took over 5% in their first outing here since 2003.
Exeter DC - the other poll held a week ago saw a Labour hold in a ward that only dates from last year in its present form, when boundary changes saw two previous divisions - one safely Labour and the other a key marginal - basically merged. 2016 duly saw three Labour councillors returned, beating the Tories by 2 to 1, and the result was similar now - a 5 point increase for Labour seeing them comfortably over the 50 per cent mark and with a tiny swing to them overall. LibDems managed a small increase, overtaking the Greens who fell modestly. UKIP last on 2%, more than halved on last year.
Newcastle-under-Lyme DC - two vacancies here, in a council which has recently made headlines for the wrong reasons - its recently chaotic handling of electoral matters (most infamously, of course, at this year's GE) led to the then Labour leadership taking the blame and being replaced by a Tory-led coalition ahead of all-out elections on new boundaries next year. It is quite possible this had an effect on the results, both good for the Tories - the first saw Labour only narrowly hold a usually safe ward (only lost by them to the Tories at the nadir - both locally and nationally - that was 2008) with just over half the vote whilst the Tories took advantage of no UKIP candidate (they ran Labour close here in 2014 and still finished a decent second last time around) to more than double their vote and finish only a few points behind, LibDems last on 3% which was almost unchanged on last time. The other seat saw a Tory gain from Labour after it only voted for the reds by six votes in a straight fight last year - as that result suggests this is a long standing "bellwether" which after returning two LibDems in 2002 has alternated between Labour and Tory in equal numbers (Lab in 2004, 2011, a previous by-election [a gain] later in 2011, 2012 and the squeak last year - Con in 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010 in yet another by-election, and 2015) This time round an Independent intervened and scored 17%, and Labour's vote was hit more than the Tories meaning the latter narrowly won with a 2% swing since last year - though it was actually a significant pro-Labour move since the previous Tory win in 2015.
Wigan - Labour hold with a modest increase since last year (taking the above the 40 per cent mark) and only a little swing against them from the second placed localists the "Shevington Independents". This ward elected three Labour councillors in the all-out elections back in 2004, but the Tories just missed out on taking a seat by a handful of votes and proceeded to win in 2006, 2007 and 2008. However, there was then a split in the local Tory group and "Wigan Independent Conservatives" proceeded to damage the Tories in several areas including this one, enabling Labour to win this ward in every election since 2010 despite the fact that WIC's and official Tories often outpolled them. In recent years the WIC's have rebranded as localists, and it was under that banner they finished runners up last year - UKIP tied them for second in 2014 and still came a respectable third last time, but their absence now enabled the Tories to double their vote to 23%. Greens with less than 2%, halved since a year ago but still ahead of the LibDems whose first showing since 2010 netted them just 0.9%.
Torbay - LibDem hold with a 14 point increase to take them into the high 50s. This is one of their few strongholds in this volatile unitary - they have won both seats here without fail since 2003, and only in 2007 were they really tested by the Tories - but their poor result here in June means this result will still come as a relief. As is often the case recently, Tories took advantage of UKIP vacating the field by advancing themselves (though there was still a clear pro-LibDem swing overall) Labour's top candidate managed to edge out the second placed Tory two years ago, but they dropped to not much over 10% now, whilst the Greens dropped from 7% then to less than 1% now.
Welwyn Hatfield DC - LibDem hold, in a ward which has been basically a fight between them and the Tories since it split 2C/1LD back in the 2008 all-out elections, the LibDems held their seat by a handful of votes in 2010 but the Tories then won in 2011/12/14 (taking the LibDem seat) and 2015 before yet another boundary change for 2016 - when this unchanged ward again split 2C/1LD, the LibDems taking the third seat with just 5 votes to spare. They did rather better than that now, a swing of over 12% and an increase of 16 points taking them to over half the vote. Labour, always also-rans here, may be pleased to have dropped just a few points in the circumstances - indeed the Greens, down by two thirds to 2%, suffered more.
Barnsley - Labour hold with almost exactly 2 in 3 of those voting. That may make this seem like a permanently safe ward, but that has not always been the case - in the 2004 all-outs it split 2Lab/1Ind and the Barnsley Independent Group (BIG) proceeded to win it in both 2007 and 2008. Since 2010 it has been Labour as BIG faded - they last stood in 2014, but then came third as UKIP ran Labour close here in their "annus mirabilis" and they also finished a clear second in both 2015 and 2016. This time round, though, their absence did not seem to predominantly benefit the Tories - whilst they doubled their vote with a 10 point increase, Labour increased by fully 15% to make it a modest swing to them overall. LibDems took a respectable 14% in what was only their second outing here on these boundaries (the previous occasion was 2008)
Salford - Labour hold, a 9 point increase taking them from just under half the vote to approaching 60%. This ward duly returned 3 Labour members back in 2004, but the LibDems were competitive in that period and actually won in 2008 - only for their vote (as in many similar areas) to basically vanish during the coalition years. As was often quite frequently the case, to at least some degree the resultant vacuum was filled by UKIP - they took a good second in 2014 and held onto that spot more distantly in 2015 and 2016. But yet again, they declined to stand this time and the Tories duly got a double figure increase and moved from 4th last year to 2nd (still very distantly) now. LibDems took 12% in their first contest here since 2012, followed by the Greens who held steady on last year (quite rare for them to do that in by-elections save for target wards) Just behind in last was an Independent on 5%, half of what a different Indy had scored in getting 3rd place a year ago.
Torridge DC - this final review of 2017 concludes by visiting a ward which is centred on the only place in the UK to officially include an exclamation mark in its name (of course, I refer to the Devon seaside village of Westward Ho!) and in this time of seasonal cheer the "HoHoHos!" went to the Independents, the first placed of whom took this seat from the Tories on a big swing and 47% of the vote. Since 2003, including a previous 2004 by-election, this ward was won by non-party candidates before the Tories finally took it on GE day in 2015 - the dubious circumstances of the incumbent being forced to resign won't have helped them, but seeing their share more than halved to less than 20% will still have stung a bit. Greens came a respectable third two years ago, but surprisingly didn't bother now - in their absence a rather more crowded field than usual saw UKIP emerge as "best of the rest" on 13% (a good score for them these days) followed by the LibDems, another Independent and finally Labour with 5%.
As already said that's it for this year electorally speaking, but 2018 starts early with a contest on the 4th January.
Seasons greetings![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
Waverley DC - the first of two contests held last Wednesday saw a LibDem gain from Tory in a ward where they did not even stand two years ago; however this is a little misleading given that (as with elsewhere on this authority) there was past LibDem strength here - they won both seats in this ward back in 2003 and only narrowly lost them to the Tories in 2007. This win was a narrow one with a relatively modest 38% of the vote - but that was still a swing of some 14% away from the Tories since the last LibDem showing here in 2011. Labour took advantage of their absence to take a respectable second place in 2015 but were back in 3rd and down about 5 points (similar to the Tories) now. Greens took over 5% in their first outing here since 2003.
Exeter DC - the other poll held a week ago saw a Labour hold in a ward that only dates from last year in its present form, when boundary changes saw two previous divisions - one safely Labour and the other a key marginal - basically merged. 2016 duly saw three Labour councillors returned, beating the Tories by 2 to 1, and the result was similar now - a 5 point increase for Labour seeing them comfortably over the 50 per cent mark and with a tiny swing to them overall. LibDems managed a small increase, overtaking the Greens who fell modestly. UKIP last on 2%, more than halved on last year.
Newcastle-under-Lyme DC - two vacancies here, in a council which has recently made headlines for the wrong reasons - its recently chaotic handling of electoral matters (most infamously, of course, at this year's GE) led to the then Labour leadership taking the blame and being replaced by a Tory-led coalition ahead of all-out elections on new boundaries next year. It is quite possible this had an effect on the results, both good for the Tories - the first saw Labour only narrowly hold a usually safe ward (only lost by them to the Tories at the nadir - both locally and nationally - that was 2008) with just over half the vote whilst the Tories took advantage of no UKIP candidate (they ran Labour close here in 2014 and still finished a decent second last time around) to more than double their vote and finish only a few points behind, LibDems last on 3% which was almost unchanged on last time. The other seat saw a Tory gain from Labour after it only voted for the reds by six votes in a straight fight last year - as that result suggests this is a long standing "bellwether" which after returning two LibDems in 2002 has alternated between Labour and Tory in equal numbers (Lab in 2004, 2011, a previous by-election [a gain] later in 2011, 2012 and the squeak last year - Con in 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010 in yet another by-election, and 2015) This time round an Independent intervened and scored 17%, and Labour's vote was hit more than the Tories meaning the latter narrowly won with a 2% swing since last year - though it was actually a significant pro-Labour move since the previous Tory win in 2015.
Wigan - Labour hold with a modest increase since last year (taking the above the 40 per cent mark) and only a little swing against them from the second placed localists the "Shevington Independents". This ward elected three Labour councillors in the all-out elections back in 2004, but the Tories just missed out on taking a seat by a handful of votes and proceeded to win in 2006, 2007 and 2008. However, there was then a split in the local Tory group and "Wigan Independent Conservatives" proceeded to damage the Tories in several areas including this one, enabling Labour to win this ward in every election since 2010 despite the fact that WIC's and official Tories often outpolled them. In recent years the WIC's have rebranded as localists, and it was under that banner they finished runners up last year - UKIP tied them for second in 2014 and still came a respectable third last time, but their absence now enabled the Tories to double their vote to 23%. Greens with less than 2%, halved since a year ago but still ahead of the LibDems whose first showing since 2010 netted them just 0.9%.
Torbay - LibDem hold with a 14 point increase to take them into the high 50s. This is one of their few strongholds in this volatile unitary - they have won both seats here without fail since 2003, and only in 2007 were they really tested by the Tories - but their poor result here in June means this result will still come as a relief. As is often the case recently, Tories took advantage of UKIP vacating the field by advancing themselves (though there was still a clear pro-LibDem swing overall) Labour's top candidate managed to edge out the second placed Tory two years ago, but they dropped to not much over 10% now, whilst the Greens dropped from 7% then to less than 1% now.
Welwyn Hatfield DC - LibDem hold, in a ward which has been basically a fight between them and the Tories since it split 2C/1LD back in the 2008 all-out elections, the LibDems held their seat by a handful of votes in 2010 but the Tories then won in 2011/12/14 (taking the LibDem seat) and 2015 before yet another boundary change for 2016 - when this unchanged ward again split 2C/1LD, the LibDems taking the third seat with just 5 votes to spare. They did rather better than that now, a swing of over 12% and an increase of 16 points taking them to over half the vote. Labour, always also-rans here, may be pleased to have dropped just a few points in the circumstances - indeed the Greens, down by two thirds to 2%, suffered more.
Barnsley - Labour hold with almost exactly 2 in 3 of those voting. That may make this seem like a permanently safe ward, but that has not always been the case - in the 2004 all-outs it split 2Lab/1Ind and the Barnsley Independent Group (BIG) proceeded to win it in both 2007 and 2008. Since 2010 it has been Labour as BIG faded - they last stood in 2014, but then came third as UKIP ran Labour close here in their "annus mirabilis" and they also finished a clear second in both 2015 and 2016. This time round, though, their absence did not seem to predominantly benefit the Tories - whilst they doubled their vote with a 10 point increase, Labour increased by fully 15% to make it a modest swing to them overall. LibDems took a respectable 14% in what was only their second outing here on these boundaries (the previous occasion was 2008)
Salford - Labour hold, a 9 point increase taking them from just under half the vote to approaching 60%. This ward duly returned 3 Labour members back in 2004, but the LibDems were competitive in that period and actually won in 2008 - only for their vote (as in many similar areas) to basically vanish during the coalition years. As was often quite frequently the case, to at least some degree the resultant vacuum was filled by UKIP - they took a good second in 2014 and held onto that spot more distantly in 2015 and 2016. But yet again, they declined to stand this time and the Tories duly got a double figure increase and moved from 4th last year to 2nd (still very distantly) now. LibDems took 12% in their first contest here since 2012, followed by the Greens who held steady on last year (quite rare for them to do that in by-elections save for target wards) Just behind in last was an Independent on 5%, half of what a different Indy had scored in getting 3rd place a year ago.
Torridge DC - this final review of 2017 concludes by visiting a ward which is centred on the only place in the UK to officially include an exclamation mark in its name (of course, I refer to the Devon seaside village of Westward Ho!) and in this time of seasonal cheer the "HoHoHos!" went to the Independents, the first placed of whom took this seat from the Tories on a big swing and 47% of the vote. Since 2003, including a previous 2004 by-election, this ward was won by non-party candidates before the Tories finally took it on GE day in 2015 - the dubious circumstances of the incumbent being forced to resign won't have helped them, but seeing their share more than halved to less than 20% will still have stung a bit. Greens came a respectable third two years ago, but surprisingly didn't bother now - in their absence a rather more crowded field than usual saw UKIP emerge as "best of the rest" on 13% (a good score for them these days) followed by the LibDems, another Independent and finally Labour with 5%.
As already said that's it for this year electorally speaking, but 2018 starts early with a contest on the 4th January.
Seasons greetings
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"IS TONTY BLAIR BEHIND THIS???!!!!111???!!!"
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Thanks,as ever.
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
@ohsocynical
Good to hear from you, and to receive the good news. I often wonder how the two of you are - so thanks.
Merry Christmas!
Good to hear from you, and to receive the good news. I often wonder how the two of you are - so thanks.
Merry Christmas!
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Thank you for letting us know. All the best to you and yours.ohsocynical wrote:I thought you might like to know that Mr Ohso has just had another checkup and is still clear of bladder and bowel cancer.
We are so grateful to the doctors and nurses at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading I'd give them a pay rise from my own pocket if I could...
A happy and peaceful Christmas everyone...
"IS TONTY BLAIR BEHIND THIS???!!!!111???!!!"
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
A particular excellent round up in my very 'umble opinion,liked the Westward Ho! reference.
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Or Westward "Ho, ho, ho!" as we say at this time of the year.HindleA wrote:A particular excellent round up in my very 'umble opinion,liked the Westward Ho! reference.
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Just re-read AnatolyKasparov's post - I see he's already done that one. Oh, well . . .
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Thank you, Ohso, beautiful news.ohsocynical wrote:I thought you might like to know that Mr Ohso has just had another checkup and is still clear of bladder and bowel cancer.
We are so grateful to the doctors and nurses at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading I'd give them a pay rise from my own pocket if I could...
A happy and peaceful Christmas everyone...
Happy Christmas to you and please give my love to those you love.
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
To be honest,given the amount of gin consumption the fact that you are still able to read at all is somewhat a miracle in itself.
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Four builders and an electrician literally under the table,PF still going strong.
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian ... iz-of-2017Ed Miliband's pub quiz of 2017 (Guardian)
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Hello!ohsocynical wrote:I thought you might like to know that Mr Ohso has just had another checkup and is still clear of bladder and bowel cancer.
We are so grateful to the doctors and nurses at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading I'd give them a pay rise from my own pocket if I could...
A happy and peaceful Christmas everyone...
That's really excellent news. Hope you have a fantastic Christmas.
If I'm not here, then I'll be in the library. Or the other library.
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
https://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/camp ... -pip-case/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The judgement in a legal case challenging changes to Personal Independence Payment regulations is out tomorrow
10:30am the High Court will give its judgement in a case of RF v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The case was brought by a Disabled person with mental health support needs about the changes the government made to Personal Independence Payment Regulations in March 2017.
These regulation changes, made by the government, were introduced to reverse the impact of the Upper Tribunal Judgement in the case of MH v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (PIP): [2016] UKUT 531
These changes prevent thousands of people who cannot plan and follow a journey due to psychological distress from qualifying for higher rates of this benefit or qualifying at all.
The Public Law Project, who represented RF argued in court that the changes are discriminatory and unlawful, because they go against the original policy intent of PIP.
The judgement in a legal case challenging changes to Personal Independence Payment regulations is out tomorrow
10:30am the High Court will give its judgement in a case of RF v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The case was brought by a Disabled person with mental health support needs about the changes the government made to Personal Independence Payment Regulations in March 2017.
These regulation changes, made by the government, were introduced to reverse the impact of the Upper Tribunal Judgement in the case of MH v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (PIP): [2016] UKUT 531
These changes prevent thousands of people who cannot plan and follow a journey due to psychological distress from qualifying for higher rates of this benefit or qualifying at all.
The Public Law Project, who represented RF argued in court that the changes are discriminatory and unlawful, because they go against the original policy intent of PIP.
Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Brexit impacts millions of peoples' lives, their citizenship rights, businesses, homes and familiesHindleA wrote:https://mainlymacro.blogspot.co.uk/2017 ... rexit.html
The political consequences of Brexit Transition
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... CMP=twt_gu" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Minister urges Tories to fight back over 'bogus' social media claims
Minister urges Tories to fight back over 'bogus' social media claims
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
Shame he couldn't check his own facts first and everything
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"IS TONTY BLAIR BEHIND THIS???!!!!111???!!!"
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Re: Wednesday 20th December 2017
"It's working well"-according to some years old cherry picked of the simplest cases we haven't updated.The beaming smiles of jobcentre staff and cake making introduction tell me everything is fine.We even completely made up two people whose lives were transformed,but will people listen?
PTO
PTO
Last edited by HindleA on Wed 20 Dec, 2017 6:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.