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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » UK Political Betting under review by Vice News with Alastair M

SystemSystem Posts: 11,008
edited April 2017 in General

imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » UK Political Betting under review by Vice News with Alastair Meeks and Shadsy of Ladbrokes

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  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,961
    First! :smiley:
  • Options
    GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,077
    2nd the best.
  • Options
    RogerRoger Posts: 18,891
    edited April 2017
    Rejoice! A sensible policy from Labour. Tax on private schools. Of course I'm not a member anymore. In the spirit of solidarity with Southam Observer so disgusted was I with Ken Livingstone that I've joined Labour's Topless Swimmers for Socialism (Old Compton St Branch)
  • Options
    I'm responsible for Alastair's latest vice
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,814
    FPT
    TOPPING Posts: 8,557
    10:03AM

    malcolmg said:

    » show previous quotes
    Just think Tory greed and megolamania and squandering of public money on self aggrandisement whilst whinging about Sturgeon spending a Fiver.

    much clearer.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,814
    FPT
    malcolmg Posts: 16,297
    10:05AM

    Alistair said:

    Recipients of fee school meals are often targeted and bullied at school, to the extent that they avoid having lunch altogether to avoid the mockery and exclusions. Which means they are underfed and under perform academically.

    The point of universal free school meals is to remove the stigma and improve the scholastic performance of children from the poorest families.

    True but if they made them payable online or by direct debit etc then there would be no need for anyone to know as no cash would ever change hands for the meals. Easy solution and means it is cost effective. Should be no requirement for cash, otherwise they could issue cards which ar etopped up by same method and again no need to know who is paying.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,814
    FPT
    malcolmg said:

    » show previous quotes
    Perhaps if you read it Rob you would do a comparison , £10M vanity upgrade of their private jet , then they just hire private ones as well to fly nearly empty around the world, versus Sturgeons's handful of standard flight tickets to the US.
    Get a grip, at least if you are going to be a sleazy Tory pick a topic a blind man may be able to support. These people are beyond redemption and breed teh Labour idiots with their plundering of teh public purse to make themselves feel important.

    I believe the RAF Voyager they converted represents a cost saving over the previous arrangement.

    LOL: £10M refit pays a shedload of Toffs flights for sure. Pull the other one Rob it plays bells. Can I interest you in a very cheap gold, I have a stack stuck in Frankfurt airport and would be happy to sell to you for 10% of its value.







  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,961
    malcolmg said:

    FPT
    malcolmg said:

    » show previous quotes
    Perhaps if you read it Rob you would do a comparison , £10M vanity upgrade of their private jet , then they just hire private ones as well to fly nearly empty around the world, versus Sturgeons's handful of standard flight tickets to the US.
    Get a grip, at least if you are going to be a sleazy Tory pick a topic a blind man may be able to support. These people are beyond redemption and breed teh Labour idiots with their plundering of teh public purse to make themselves feel important.

    I believe the RAF Voyager they converted represents a cost saving over the previous arrangement.

    LOL: £10M refit pays a shedload of Toffs flights for sure. Pull the other one Rob it plays bells. Can I interest you in a very cheap gold, I have a stack stuck in Frankfurt airport and would be happy to sell to you for 10% of its value.







    Here you go, not that you will believe it.

    http://www.wired.co.uk/article/david-cameron-raf-plane-save-money
  • Options
    FF43FF43 Posts: 15,694
    Nice video piece.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,814
    edited April 2017
    RobD said:

    malcolmg said:

    FPT
    malcolmg said:

    » show previous quotes
    Perhaps if you read it Rob you would do a comparison , £10M vanity upgrade of their private jet , then they just hire private ones as well to fly nearly empty around the world, versus Sturgeons's handful of standard flight tickets to the US.
    Get a grip, at least if you are going to be a sleazy Tory pick a topic a blind man may be able to support. These people are beyond redemption and breed teh Labour idiots with their plundering of teh public purse to make themselves feel important.

    I believe the RAF Voyager they converted represents a cost saving over the previous arrangement.

    LOL: £10M refit pays a shedload of Toffs flights for sure. Pull the other one Rob it plays bells. Can I interest you in a very cheap gold, I have a stack stuck in Frankfurt airport and would be happy to sell to you for 10% of its value.







    Here you go, not that you will believe it.

    http://www.wired.co.uk/article/david-cameron-raf-plane-save-money
    The impartial view of the head trougher on how his vanity project will save a fortune. I presume you are not married Rob and are unused to hearing all these money saving ideas where you spend hundreds supposedly saving thousands in the process and just like Cameron's you then need to buy more in any case as your first one is not what you thought as too many troughers want to use it.

    PS: Nicola's couple of thousand bill seems very extravagant against these millions and not one woman or child murdered as part of her trip, ridiculous.
  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,903
    "Experienced political gambler" :D Love it !
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,961
    malcolmg said:

    RobD said:
    The impartial view of the head troughe ron how his vanity project will save a fortune. I presume you are not married Rob and are unused to hearing all these money saving ideas where you spend hundreds supposedly saving thousands in the process and just like Cameron's you then need to buy more in any case as your first one is not what you thought as too many troughers want to use it.
    As expected.
  • Options
    SimonStClareSimonStClare Posts: 7,976
    FF43 said:

    Nice video piece.

    :+1: - no idea who produced it, but looked very professional by all concerned.
  • Options
    Beverley_CBeverley_C Posts: 6,256
    FF43 said:

    Nice video piece.

    What is it about? Once I saw that I had to sit through a 30 second advert I reloaded the page
  • Options
    david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,419
    Roger said:

    Rejoice! A sensible policy from Labour. Tax on private schools. Of course I'm not a member anymore. In the spirit of solidarity with Southam Observer so disgusted was I with Ken Livingstone that I've joined Labour's Topless Swimmers for Socialism (Old Compton St Branch)

    It's a stupid policy which will:

    1. Make it harder to operate the pupil premium at primary level and even harder to do so with the current level of targetedness.

    2. Make no difference to children from poor backgrounds so is essentially a subsidy to C1/C2 parents.

    3. Increase pressure on the state system as a fairly sizable number of children are forced out of private schools whose parents are either
    a. Directly forced out of the private system by the 20% hike that VAT would impose, or
    b. Indirectly forced out of the private sector as the school closes for lack of numbers and no other local alternative is available.

    4. Following on from (3), require considerable additional resource for additional teachers, support staff and resources, and also for capital spending.

    It's a daft policy that was almost certainly driven back-to-front ("we want to impose VAT on private education because we believe ideologically that it's a bad thing; now, what can we spend it on"), and would have all sorts of perverse effects.

    But of course, Corbyn and Raynor don't really care about that. It's hitting the private education sector that matter to them.
  • Options
    isamisam Posts: 40,901
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,270
    I think private schools are edging very close to losing their charitable status.

    Far too many of them are charging exorbitant fees that put them well out of the reach of their traditional middle-class supporters, and they risk becoming bastions of the super-rich.

    Even the cheapest day schools now charge upwards of £15k a year, and you either need pre-tax salary wiggle room of about £30k to fund that, per child - i.e. you need to be close to a six figure salary - or to raid a meaty inheritance.
  • Options
    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,578
    RobD said:

    malcolmg said:

    RobD said:
    The impartial view of the head troughe ron how his vanity project will save a fortune. I presume you are not married Rob and are unused to hearing all these money saving ideas where you spend hundreds supposedly saving thousands in the process and just like Cameron's you then need to buy more in any case as your first one is not what you thought as too many troughers want to use it.
    As expected.
    A Number 10 official said: “Ever since we first thought up the idea of the Voyager, it was always designed for use by the Queen and the Prime Minister or anyone attending international events representing the Queen or PM. The Prince of Wales is using it right now as he is representing the Queen on this tour he is on.

    “Inevitably, there are clashes in scheduling. On a previous occasion, the PM used it and the Prince of Wales chartered an aircraft. This time, it is the other way round.”


    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/05/theresa-may-flies-around-middle-east-chartered-jet-prince-charles/

    Meanwhile Margaret Rutherford thinks "Nicola spent a fiver" - I wonder if she'll release her expenses with the same alacrity Eck did.....and the PM is traipsing around in a 20 year old jet....
  • Options
    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,578
    FF43 said:

    Nice video piece.

    Unfortunately it's geolocked so those outside the UK may not be able to see it.....
  • Options
    Fysics_TeacherFysics_Teacher Posts: 6,060
    malcolmg said:

    FPT
    malcolmg Posts: 16,297
    10:05AM


    True but if they made them payable online or by direct debit etc then there would be no need for anyone to know as no cash would ever change hands for the meals. Easy solution and means it is cost effective. Should be no requirement for cash, otherwise they could issue cards which ar etopped up by same method and again no need to know who is paying.



    I can't speak for all schools, but we aleady use an electronic payment system for meals which makes it very difficult if not impossible to work out who gets free school meals. A couple of other points about this idea:

    Eligibility for Free School Meals is currently used as a beanch mark for a number of things in education. Making eveyone eligible would mean a new measure would be needed which would not be easy (largly due to the fact that parents have to apply for FSM and would have no incentive to give out their finacial details without a reward at the end);

    Why not give the money to the schools and let them decide the best way to use it?

    Would it apply to fees charged by state boarding schools?

    It is also interesting to see some who are opposed to the existance of grammar schools supporting the independent sector. Obviously selection by ability to pay is more important than selection by ability.
  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,903

    I think private schools are edging very close to losing their charitable status.

    Far too many of them are charging exorbitant fees that put them well out of the reach of their traditional middle-class supporters, and they risk becoming bastions of the super-rich.

    Even the cheapest day schools now charge upwards of £15k a year, and you either need pre-tax salary wiggle room of about £30k to fund that, per child - i.e. you need to be close to a six figure salary - or to raid a meaty inheritance.

    To be honest basic childcare sounds like it now costs about as much (adjusted for inflation) as my private school fees - which have gone through the roof since I attended. My old school now has better facilites than when I was there I think though.
    If I have a kid it'll be state + tutoring (Which I can do myself for maths)
  • Options
    freetochoosefreetochoose Posts: 1,107

    I think private schools are edging very close to losing their charitable status.

    Far too many of them are charging exorbitant fees that put them well out of the reach of their traditional middle-class supporters, and they risk becoming bastions of the super-rich.

    Even the cheapest day schools now charge upwards of £15k a year, and you either need pre-tax salary wiggle room of about £30k to fund that, per child - i.e. you need to be close to a six figure salary - or to raid a meaty inheritance.

    Or remortgage the house and pay for it over 25 years. I know people who've done that rather than the local comp.
  • Options
    MattWMattW Posts: 18,399
    edited April 2017

    I will be interested to see if VAT on private school fees even touches the sides of trying to run a free school meals for all programme. Clegg had the idea for infants, but it soon became clear very expensive and lots of schools can't cope without having to do loads of building work to expand kitchen capacity.

    I personally don't think in theory feeding all kids at school is a bad thing, but it ain't cheap.

    I thought I'd do the numbers on this one.

    There are 7.9 million pupils in state funded schools in England of which 1.1 million are already entitled to and receiving free school meals. That gives us 6.8 million additional pupils to receive free school meals. Schools must be open for 190 days per year so that is 1.3 billion meals per year. When free school meals were extended to all infants the cost to the government was £2.30 per meal. If we assume the cost per meal would be the same, the cost of extending free school meals to all pupils would be £3 billion. That figure ignores any rise in the number of state school pupils as parents abandon independent schools due to the increased cost. It also ignores any capital costs for upgrading school facilities to cope with the additional meals as most of those who currently bring packed lunches or go home for lunch opt for free school meals instead.

    Note that the last paragraph assumes the government would only provide free school meals in England. If we want to pay for free school meals in Scotland, Wales and Ireland as well (and I assume we would) that gives us an additional 1 million pupils to feed and the annual cost rises to around £3.4 billion.

    So, by my calculation, this policy has a black hole of at least £1.4 billion per year plus an unknown capital cost for implementation.

    It took me around 30 minutes to find the necessary figures and do the calculations. If Corbyn is putting forward this proposal I can only conclude that he and his team are too lazy to do even the most basic research on the viability of their ideas.
    Thumbs up to this - I just did it back of the cigarette package. Thanks.
    FPT. Everyone seems to have forgotten that the BBC Report said "Primary" schools.

    Except @BiP who said Primary continued to 14. :-D .

    But, given Corbyn, it is likely to be beyond bonkers anyway.

    To allow Indy Schools to justify themselves by comunity integration and inclusiveness, then kick then anyway because you are a socialist dinosaur is mad.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,961

    FF43 said:

    Nice video piece.

    What is it about? Once I saw that I had to sit through a 30 second advert I reloaded the page
    I think it was worth watching the ad for, if only to hear our own Meeks!
  • Options

    FF43 said:

    Nice video piece.

    :+1: - no idea who produced it, but looked very professional by all concerned.
    Jake Warren of Vice News produced it.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,961
    Pulpstar said:

    I think private schools are edging very close to losing their charitable status.

    Far too many of them are charging exorbitant fees that put them well out of the reach of their traditional middle-class supporters, and they risk becoming bastions of the super-rich.

    Even the cheapest day schools now charge upwards of £15k a year, and you either need pre-tax salary wiggle room of about £30k to fund that, per child - i.e. you need to be close to a six figure salary - or to raid a meaty inheritance.

    To be honest basic childcare sounds like it now costs about as much (adjusted for inflation) as my private school fees - which have gone through the roof since I attended. My old school now has better facilites than when I was there I think though.
    If I have a kid it'll be state + tutoring (Which I can do myself for maths)
    Your kid will no doubt be an expert in things like probabilities and arbitrage... :p
  • Options
    Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 12,982
    The broader question is why is the MoD leasing out one of its A330 MRTTs to Jet2 to fly chav scum to Gran Canaria and then not having enough capacity so it has to lease a 757 off some shady Greek operator to fly Old Iron Pubes to the desert.
  • Options
    TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 41,249

    I think private schools are edging very close to losing their charitable status.

    Far too many of them are charging exorbitant fees that put them well out of the reach of their traditional middle-class supporters, and they risk becoming bastions of the super-rich.

    Even the cheapest day schools now charge upwards of £15k a year, and you either need pre-tax salary wiggle room of about £30k to fund that, per child - i.e. you need to be close to a six figure salary - or to raid a meaty inheritance.

    Or remortgage the house and pay for it over 25 years. I know people who've done that rather than the local comp.
    I'm sure parents with the motivation, determination and knowhow to remortgage their house would be just the sort of parents to bring about an improvement in the standards of their local comp.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,961
    Dura_Ace said:

    The broader question is why is the MoD leasing out one of its A330 MRTTs to Jet2 to fly chav scum to Gran Canaria and then not having enough capacity so it has to lease a 757 off some shady Greek operator to fly Old Iron Pubes to the desert.

    Charming.
  • Options
    YBarddCwscYBarddCwsc Posts: 7,172
    Who exactly was in the audience at Stanford University listening to Nicola Sturgeon ?

    Genuine question. The only information I can find online is from the Sun, which simply states “over 200 students” attended. The total student/staff population of Stanford will be about 20000.

    And why Stanford? Rather than, say NYU or Berkeley?

    Or, better still, Carnegie-Mellon? Stanford was founded by a robber baron, but Carnegie-Mellon was founded by a Scot from Dunfermline.

    Why not in fact Glasgow Caledonian’s famous Manhattan campus, of which the Scottish Government has been such a supporter?

    Without answers to some of these questions, it is hard to say whether it was value for money. Certainly, talking to 200 students at Stanford doesn’t sound like value for money, or even particularly prestigious.
  • Options
    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776
  • Options
    BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 7,987
    RobD said:

    FF43 said:

    Nice video piece.

    What is it about? Once I saw that I had to sit through a 30 second advert I reloaded the page
    I think it was worth watching the ad for, if only to hear our own Meeks!
    Very good video.

    I read the comments while the ad played.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,961
    @TheScreamingEagles - I wonder if you can fix this. I can see from my bandwidth monitor that when I refresh PB the entire video gets downloaded again. You would have thought it would only download when play is clicked.
  • Options
    RobD said:

    @TheScreamingEagles - I wonder if you can fix this. I can see from my bandwidth monitor that when I refresh PB the entire video gets downloaded again. You would have thought it would only download when play is clicked.

    I'll have a play with the embed code.
  • Options
    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633



    Without answers to some of these questions, it is hard to say whether it was value for money. Certainly, talking to 200 students at Stanford doesn’t sound like value for money, or even particularly prestigious.

    She was out of the country for the disastrous economic figures yesterday - job done.
  • Options
    EssexitEssexit Posts: 1,956
    Dura_Ace said:

    The broader question is why is the MoD leasing out one of its A330 MRTTs to Jet2 to fly chav scum to Gran Canaria and then not having enough capacity so it has to lease a 757 off some shady Greek operator to fly Old Iron Pubes to the desert.

    You've managed to raise an interesting question in a rather unappealing tone.
  • Options
    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,578

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    Osborne, wasn't it?
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,814

    RobD said:

    malcolmg said:

    RobD said:
    The impartial view of the head troughe ron how his vanity project will save a fortune. I presume you are not married Rob and are unused to hearing all these money saving ideas where you spend hundreds supposedly saving thousands in the process and just like Cameron's you then need to buy more in any case as your first one is not what you thought as too many troughers want to use it.
    As expected.
    A Number 10 official said: “Ever since we first thought up the idea of the Voyager, it was always designed for use by the Queen and the Prime Minister or anyone attending international events representing the Queen or PM. The Prince of Wales is using it right now as he is representing the Queen on this tour he is on.

    “Inevitably, there are clashes in scheduling. On a previous occasion, the PM used it and the Prince of Wales chartered an aircraft. This time, it is the other way round.”


    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/05/theresa-may-flies-around-middle-east-chartered-jet-prince-charles/

    Meanwhile Margaret Rutherford thinks "Nicola spent a fiver" - I wonder if she'll release her expenses with the same alacrity Eck did.....and the PM is traipsing around in a 20 year old jet....
    Who would have thought it , "old Rutherford" supports her chum May squandering public money. How many women and children murdered or starving as a consequence of this trip I wonder
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,814
    RobD said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    The broader question is why is the MoD leasing out one of its A330 MRTTs to Jet2 to fly chav scum to Gran Canaria and then not having enough capacity so it has to lease a 757 off some shady Greek operator to fly Old Iron Pubes to the desert.

    Charming.
    Truth hurts Tories every time
  • Options

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    Osborne, wasn't it?
    Happening on Mrs May's watch.
  • Options
    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,578

    RobD said:

    @TheScreamingEagles - I wonder if you can fix this. I can see from my bandwidth monitor that when I refresh PB the entire video gets downloaded again. You would have thought it would only download when play is clicked.

    I'll have a play with the embed code.
    Anything you can do about region blocks?
  • Options
    Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 30,919

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,298
    edited April 2017

    RobD said:

    @TheScreamingEagles - I wonder if you can fix this. I can see from my bandwidth monitor that when I refresh PB the entire video gets downloaded again. You would have thought it would only download when play is clicked.

    I'll have a play with the embed code.
    Anything you can do about region blocks?
    Alas no.

    I'll ask Vice News
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,814
    TGOHF said:



    Without answers to some of these questions, it is hard to say whether it was value for money. Certainly, talking to 200 students at Stanford doesn’t sound like value for money, or even particularly prestigious.

    She was out of the country for the disastrous economic figures yesterday - job done.
    The UK disaster figures Toom, or are you talking about eth UK pretendy Scotland numbers
  • Options
    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,578
    SNP politicians and luxury hotels.....

    An SNP attempt to downplay Alex Salmond's five-star hotel bills has backfired spectacularly after it emerged he stayed at luxury accommodation singled out by Nicola Sturgeon for direct criticism.

    The Deputy First Minister recently defended Mr Salmond's controversial oversees expense claims by saying he would not get caught staying at New York's upmarket Benjamin Hotel like Jack McConnell, his Labour predecessor.

    But The Telegraph can disclose Mr Salmond has in fact stayed at The Benjamin, spending three nights in a king suite there during a taxpayer-funded trip to the United States in October 2007.


    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/10751287/Expenses-Alex-Salmond-stayed-at-luxury-hotel-publicly-condemned-by-Nicola-Sturgeon.html
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,814
    edited April 2017

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    Osborne, wasn't it?
    Nothing is down to St Theresa in your eyes, making a fool of herself over easter eggs is more her style mind you.
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,027
    As in Reagan's adage, if you're having to explain why you're optimistic, it means you have little to be optimistic about.
  • Options
    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,578

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    Osborne, wasn't it?
    Happening on Mrs May's watch.
    So that's a "yes" then......

    If you are going to curtail child benefit to two children your options are - do it absolutely - or do something like this - which is worse?
  • Options
    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,578
    malcolmg said:

    RobD said:

    malcolmg said:

    RobD said:
    The impartial view of the head troughe ron how his vanity project will save a fortune. I presume you are not married Rob and are unused to hearing all these money saving ideas where you spend hundreds supposedly saving thousands in the process and just like Cameron's you then need to buy more in any case as your first one is not what you thought as too many troughers want to use it.
    As expected.
    A Number 10 official said: “Ever since we first thought up the idea of the Voyager, it was always designed for use by the Queen and the Prime Minister or anyone attending international events representing the Queen or PM. The Prince of Wales is using it right now as he is representing the Queen on this tour he is on.

    “Inevitably, there are clashes in scheduling. On a previous occasion, the PM used it and the Prince of Wales chartered an aircraft. This time, it is the other way round.”


    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/05/theresa-may-flies-around-middle-east-chartered-jet-prince-charles/

    Meanwhile Margaret Rutherford thinks "Nicola spent a fiver" - I wonder if she'll release her expenses with the same alacrity Eck did.....and the PM is traipsing around in a 20 year old jet....
    How many women and children murdered or starving as a consequence of this trip I wonder
    I thought you liked Nicola!
  • Options

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
    I told him enough times.

    I'm certain had he remained Chancellor he would have ditched it.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,814

    SNP politicians and luxury hotels.....

    An SNP attempt to downplay Alex Salmond's five-star hotel bills has backfired spectacularly after it emerged he stayed at luxury accommodation singled out by Nicola Sturgeon for direct criticism.

    The Deputy First Minister recently defended Mr Salmond's controversial oversees expense claims by saying he would not get caught staying at New York's upmarket Benjamin Hotel like Jack McConnell, his Labour predecessor.

    But The Telegraph can disclose Mr Salmond has in fact stayed at The Benjamin, spending three nights in a king suite there during a taxpayer-funded trip to the United States in October 2007.


    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/10751287/Expenses-Alex-Salmond-stayed-at-luxury-hotel-publicly-condemned-by-Nicola-Sturgeon.html

    Real desperation sets in as Tories are shamed at the troughing of their leaders, get out the history books and see if the SNP have ever had someone stay in anything other than a travel lodge quick. Look found one 10 years ago , hip hip hooray.
    Do you realise how pathetic you sound for an elderly woman who pertains to be intelligent.
  • Options
    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    edited April 2017
    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:



    Without answers to some of these questions, it is hard to say whether it was value for money. Certainly, talking to 200 students at Stanford doesn’t sound like value for money, or even particularly prestigious.

    She was out of the country for the disastrous economic figures yesterday - job done.
    The UK disaster figures Toom, or are you talking about eth UK pretendy Scotland numbers
    Uk figures are fine - Scotland stagnating.

    image

    Source on graph..
  • Options
    FF43FF43 Posts: 15,694
    Dura_Ace said:

    The broader question is why is the MoD leasing out one of its A330 MRTTs to Jet2 to fly chav scum to Gran Canaria and then not having enough capacity so it has to lease a 757 off some shady Greek operator to fly Old Iron Pubes to the desert.

    The Airtanker consortium was one of MoD's less skilfully negotiated projects. Ahem.

  • Options
    JonathanDJonathanD Posts: 2,400

    As in Reagan's adage, if you're having to explain why you're optimistic, it means you have little to be optimistic about.
    No one doubted that there would not be a deal of some sort - it's the quality of the deal that people aren't optimistic about and that even with a deal, the economy will suffer and the amount of regained sovereignty will be minimal.

    He glides over the terms of the possible deal in just one paragraph and his last sentence may come back to haunt him over the next few years as EU growth outperforms the UK.

    "Next, on trade, the guidelines spell out with surprising honesty what Brussels really fears. Paragraph 19 seeks ‘safeguards’ from post-Brexit Britain on competition, state aid and ‘fiscal, social and environmental dumping’. This is not about UK exports meeting EU regulatory standards – a given in any trading relationship. The EU knows that, free from Brussels’ straitjacket regulation and trading globally, Britain presents a massive competitive challenge to its rather languid economy. It’s correct. But we’ll need to find ways to assuage the EU’s worst fears, without diluting our commitment to taking back democratic control over our laws."
  • Options
    Carolus_RexCarolus_Rex Posts: 1,414

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
    I told him enough times.

    I'm certain had he remained Chancellor he would have ditched it.
    He had two opportunities in the 2015 Autumn statement and the 2016 budget and didn't take either of them.
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,027
    TGOHF said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:



    Without answers to some of these questions, it is hard to say whether it was value for money. Certainly, talking to 200 students at Stanford doesn’t sound like value for money, or even particularly prestigious.

    She was out of the country for the disastrous economic figures yesterday - job done.
    The UK disaster figures Toom, or are you talking about eth UK pretendy Scotland numbers
    Uk figures are fine - Scotland stagnating.
    If we were talking about strong EU economic data you'd point out the countries doing worst and argue that the EU is failing. Perhaps some unions simply set a higher bar for *all* their members.
  • Options
    Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
    I told him enough times.

    I'm certain had he remained Chancellor he would have ditched it.
    Which aspect of the policy do you object to - the withdrawal of benefits for third child onwards, the exception for rape/coercive relationship, or the wording of the form to claim the exception?
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,814
    How Labour in Scotland voted re free school meals:
    A furious row has erupted between the Labour Party and the Scottish National Party (SNP) after Labour voted against introducing free school meals to primary school pupils in their first three years of school. They also voted against a proposal to widen free childcare provision. The First Minister had earlier announced that the Scottish Government would provide funding to ensure that each primary 1-3 pupil would have access to a free school meal each day from 1 January 2015.

    The merits of free school meals to children in early years of education are well understood. They help to raise educational attainment, improve health and wellbeing and ensure that every child gets at least one hot meal a day. At a time when ordinary families are struggling, this measure will also save them on average £330 per child per school year.

    SNP as ever show them how to implement decent policies and no need for ideological nastiness to fund it either
  • Options
    Ishmael_ZIshmael_Z Posts: 8,981
    Dura_Ace said:

    The broader question is why is the MoD leasing out one of its A330 MRTTs to Jet2 to fly chav scum to Gran Canaria and then not having enough capacity so it has to lease a 757 off some shady Greek operator to fly Old Iron Pubes to the desert.

    "I am a nasty little man" conveys the same message in fewer words.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,814
    edited April 2017
    TGOHF said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:



    Without answers to some of these questions, it is hard to say whether it was value for money. Certainly, talking to 200 students at Stanford doesn’t sound like value for money, or even particularly prestigious.

    She was out of the country for the disastrous economic figures yesterday - job done.
    The UK disaster figures Toom, or are you talking about eth UK pretendy Scotland numbers
    Uk figures are fine - Scotland stagnating.

    image

    Source on graph..
    LOL, I bet you believe in fairies as well
    RobD said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:



    Without answers to some of these questions, it is hard to say whether it was value for money. Certainly, talking to 200 students at Stanford doesn’t sound like value for money, or even particularly prestigious.

    She was out of the country for the disastrous economic figures yesterday - job done.
    The UK disaster figures Toom, or are you talking about eth UK pretendy Scotland numbers
    Uk figures are fine - Scotland stagnating.

    image

    Source on graph..
    LOL, I bet you believe in fairies as well
    The figures come from the Scottish Government!
    Another one, they come from the UK government , calculated by their lapdog organisations and hav eno relevance other than to show that the UK is making a real mess of the Scottish economy. Scottish government balance the books, UK only survives by borrowing £70 billion a year, that si not doing well by any idiots guide to economics.
    Until we have an independent Scottish government running teh Scottish economy the numbers are just guff based on UK handling of the economy, fancy graphs or not.
  • Options

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
    I told him enough times.

    I'm certain had he remained Chancellor he would have ditched it.
    Which aspect of the policy do you object to - the withdrawal of benefits for third child onwards, the exception for rape/coercive relationship, or the wording of the form to claim the exception?
    Not the the first thing. It just seems cruel and hurtful to women to relive what must be the most awful moment in their life.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,961
    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:



    Without answers to some of these questions, it is hard to say whether it was value for money. Certainly, talking to 200 students at Stanford doesn’t sound like value for money, or even particularly prestigious.

    She was out of the country for the disastrous economic figures yesterday - job done.
    The UK disaster figures Toom, or are you talking about eth UK pretendy Scotland numbers
    Uk figures are fine - Scotland stagnating.

    image

    Source on graph..
    LOL, I bet you believe in fairies as well
    The figures come from the Scottish Government!
  • Options
    FF43FF43 Posts: 15,694

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
    I told him enough times.

    I'm certain had he remained Chancellor he would have ditched it.
    Which aspect of the policy do you object to - the withdrawal of benefits for third child onwards, the exception for rape/coercive relationship, or the wording of the form to claim the exception?
    I think there is a good argument to say the benefit is for the child and goes with the child, rather than the parent, and therefore it's irrelevant how many brothers and sisters he has.
  • Options
    Carolus_RexCarolus_Rex Posts: 1,414

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
    I told him enough times.

    I'm certain had he remained Chancellor he would have ditched it.
    Which aspect of the policy do you object to - the withdrawal of benefits for third child onwards, the exception for rape/coercive relationship, or the wording of the form to claim the exception?
    Not the the first thing. It just seems cruel and hurtful to women to relive what must be the most awful moment in their life.
    So what alternative do you suggest?
  • Options
    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,137
    I am not sure I see what the problem is with that form. It is an entitlement to additional CB for a third child not born in a multiple birth. It is accepted that there should be some exceptions to that. It sets out clearly what the exceptions are so that those who are entitled know and can apply.

    I think some people are being a bit prissy to be honest.

  • Options
    Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 12,982
    FF43 said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    The broader question is why is the MoD leasing out one of its A330 MRTTs to Jet2 to fly chav scum to Gran Canaria and then not having enough capacity so it has to lease a 757 off some shady Greek operator to fly Old Iron Pubes to the desert.

    The Airtanker consortium was one of MoD's less skilfully negotiated projects. Ahem.

    Given the absolute disaster the RAF made of the Tristar upgrade program it was still better than the alternative. See also MFTS.
  • Options
    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:



    Without answers to some of these questions, it is hard to say whether it was value for money. Certainly, talking to 200 students at Stanford doesn’t sound like value for money, or even particularly prestigious.

    She was out of the country for the disastrous economic figures yesterday - job done.
    The UK disaster figures Toom, or are you talking about eth UK pretendy Scotland numbers
    Uk figures are fine - Scotland stagnating.

    image

    Source on graph..
    LOL, I bet you believe in fairies as well
    Bit harsh on the Scottish government Malc.
  • Options
    Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820

    Not the the first thing. It just seems cruel and hurtful to women to relive what must be the most awful moment in their life.

    That's an argument for not having the exception, since you can't have the exception without someone having to claim it. Somehow I don't think that not having the exception would go down well.
  • Options
    Carolus_RexCarolus_Rex Posts: 1,414
    DavidL said:

    I am not sure I see what the problem is with that form. It is an entitlement to additional CB for a third child not born in a multiple birth. It is accepted that there should be some exceptions to that. It sets out clearly what the exceptions are so that those who are entitled know and can apply.

    I think some people are being a bit prissy to be honest.

    I agree. Some poor civil servant got the unenviable job of designing a form to ask a highly delicate question and seems to have made a decent fist of it.
  • Options
    Tissue_PriceTissue_Price Posts: 9,039

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
    I told him enough times.

    I'm certain had he remained Chancellor he would have ditched it.
    Which aspect of the policy do you object to - the withdrawal of benefits for third child onwards, the exception for rape/coercive relationship, or the wording of the form to claim the exception?
    Not the the first thing. It just seems cruel and hurtful to women to relive what must be the most awful moment in their life.
    The alternative is obviously that people will lie about it. Personally I find politicians using this rare and emotive scenario to try to undermine the whole policy pretty unedifying.
  • Options
    Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820
    FF43 said:

    I think there is a good argument to say the benefit is for the child and goes with the child, rather than the parent, and therefore it's irrelevant how many brothers and sisters he has.

    Sure, there's an argument. There's always an argument for spending taxpayers' money.
  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,903

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
    I told him enough times.

    I'm certain had he remained Chancellor he would have ditched it.
    Which aspect of the policy do you object to - the withdrawal of benefits for third child onwards, the exception for rape/coercive relationship, or the wording of the form to claim the exception?
    Not the the first thing. It just seems cruel and hurtful to women to relive what must be the most awful moment in their life.
    The alternative is obviously that people will lie about it. Personally I find politicians using this rare and emotive scenario to try to undermine the whole policy pretty unedifying.
    Parts 2 & 3 should cut down on that.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,814
    RobD said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:



    Without answers to some of these questions, it is hard to say whether it was value for money. Certainly, talking to 200 students at Stanford doesn’t sound like value for money, or even particularly prestigious.

    She was out of the country for the disastrous economic figures yesterday - job done.
    The UK disaster figures Toom, or are you talking about eth UK pretendy Scotland numbers
    Uk figures are fine - Scotland stagnating.

    image

    Source on graph..
    LOL, I bet you believe in fairies as well
    The figures come from the Scottish Government!
    Another one, they come from the UK government , calculated by their lapdog organisations and have no relevance other than to show that the UK is making a real mess of the Scottish economy. Scottish government balance the books, UK only survives by borrowing £70 billion a year, that is not doing well by any idiot's guide to economics.
    Until we have an independent Scottish government running the Scottish economy the numbers are just guff based on UK handling of the economy, fancy graphs or not.
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,270
    Pulpstar said:

    I think private schools are edging very close to losing their charitable status.

    Far too many of them are charging exorbitant fees that put them well out of the reach of their traditional middle-class supporters, and they risk becoming bastions of the super-rich.

    Even the cheapest day schools now charge upwards of £15k a year, and you either need pre-tax salary wiggle room of about £30k to fund that, per child - i.e. you need to be close to a six figure salary - or to raid a meaty inheritance.

    To be honest basic childcare sounds like it now costs about as much (adjusted for inflation) as my private school fees - which have gone through the roof since I attended. My old school now has better facilites than when I was there I think though.
    If I have a kid it'll be state + tutoring (Which I can do myself for maths)
    I think I'll be doing the same.

    Basic childcare should only be an issue from 6 months old to 5 years old, though. Once the child is in school, it ceases to become a major problem.

    Having said that, I do think State schools should extend their hours from 3pm to 6pm, with after-school activities, as private schools do, to make full-time work feasible for all parents.
  • Options
    SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 38,917
    "Amidst the media din and hysteria from Brexit’s more melodramatic opponents, Theresa May’s government is making confident strides towards a deal that would silence her critics."

    The security stuff aside, I was impressed by the May A50 letter, which was conciliatory and realistic as to the UK's position. As Raab says, the EU response was also pretty decent. I would suggest that the big issue moving forwards may well be not so much May's current critics but future ones that any kinds of compromise will create. When the Mail, the Sun and the Telegraph are all being extraordinarily bellicose about Gibraltar - for absolutely no reason - that tells me that they are going to give May very little room for sensible manoeuvre over issues such as immigration, the pooling of sovereignty and the role of the ECJ. Given that May has never shown any inclination to take positions that will play badly in the anti-European Tory press that is a concern.

  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,095
    FF43 said:

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
    I told him enough times.

    I'm certain had he remained Chancellor he would have ditched it.
    Which aspect of the policy do you object to - the withdrawal of benefits for third child onwards, the exception for rape/coercive relationship, or the wording of the form to claim the exception?
    I think there is a good argument to say the benefit is for the child and goes with the child, rather than the parent, and therefore it's irrelevant how many brothers and sisters he has.
    There's an even better argument to say that the children don't spend the money, the parents do. And there it is absolutely relevant how many children they choose to have - and whether they can afford them.

    There's an argument to say that having more than two children causes the carbon footprint of that family to increase the world's problems, so they should actually have to pay the state if they want more kids, not vice versa. Amazing how many of those protesting about our destruction of the planet have their own tribe of snot-goblins in tow....
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,814
    TGOHF said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:



    Without answers to some of these questions, it is hard to say whether it was value for money. Certainly, talking to 200 students at Stanford doesn’t sound like value for money, or even particularly prestigious.

    She was out of the country for the disastrous economic figures yesterday - job done.
    The UK disaster figures Toom, or are you talking about eth UK pretendy Scotland numbers
    Uk figures are fine - Scotland stagnating.

    image

    Source on graph..
    LOL, I bet you believe in fairies as well
    Bit harsh on the Scottish government Malc.
    Stumped for a reply I see.
  • Options
    prh47bridgeprh47bridge Posts: 441
    FPT
    rkrkrk said:

    Have you looked at all pupils rather than only those at primary school?

    Yes. The initial report I saw suggested Corbyn was going to propose extending free school meals to all pupils. If we look at primary schools only the cost will be around £2 billion ignoring capital costs. So it is closer than I thought but I would still expect it to work out as a net cost to the Treasury.
  • Options
    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    malcolmg said:

    RobD said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:



    Without answers to some of these questions, it is hard to say whether it was value for money. Certainly, talking to 200 students at Stanford doesn’t sound like value for money, or even particularly prestigious.

    She was out of the country for the disastrous economic figures yesterday - job done.
    The UK disaster figures Toom, or are you talking about eth UK pretendy Scotland numbers
    Uk figures are fine - Scotland stagnating.

    image

    Source on graph..
    LOL, I bet you believe in fairies as well
    The figures come from the Scottish Government!
    Another one, they come from the UK government , calculated by their lapdog organisations and have no relevance other than to show that the UK is making a real mess of the Scottish economy. Scottish government balance the books, UK only survives by borrowing £70 billion a year, that is not doing well by any idiot's guide to economics.
    Until we have an independent Scottish government running the Scottish economy the numbers are just guff based on UK handling of the economy, fancy graphs or not.
    malc is deep in an Egyptian river.

  • Options
    Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    edited April 2017

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
    I told him enough times.

    I'm certain had he remained Chancellor he would have ditched it.
    Which aspect of the policy do you object to - the withdrawal of benefits for third child onwards, the exception for rape/coercive relationship, or the wording of the form to claim the exception?
    Not the the first thing. It just seems cruel and hurtful to women to relive what must be the most awful moment in their life.
    If they were being asked to prove they were raped or testify how they were etc maybe, theyre simply asked to sign that they were. I fail to see any alternative?

    EDIT: Besides surely we already want all rape victims to go to the Police who can then deal with the second and third parts.
  • Options
    SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 38,917
    FF43 said:

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
    I told him enough times.

    I'm certain had he remained Chancellor he would have ditched it.
    Which aspect of the policy do you object to - the withdrawal of benefits for third child onwards, the exception for rape/coercive relationship, or the wording of the form to claim the exception?
    I think there is a good argument to say the benefit is for the child and goes with the child, rather than the parent, and therefore it's irrelevant how many brothers and sisters he has.

    If immigration is to go down substantially post-Brexit, parents are actually going to need incentives to have more kids.

  • Options
    EssexitEssexit Posts: 1,956

    Not the the first thing. It just seems cruel and hurtful to women to relive what must be the most awful moment in their life.

    That's an argument for not having the exception, since you can't have the exception without someone having to claim it. Somehow I don't think that not having the exception would go down well.
    Agreed. I really don't see the issue here. There's never going to be an ideal way of including the exception, but the basic policy is great.
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,270
    TOPPING said:

    I think private schools are edging very close to losing their charitable status.

    Far too many of them are charging exorbitant fees that put them well out of the reach of their traditional middle-class supporters, and they risk becoming bastions of the super-rich.

    Even the cheapest day schools now charge upwards of £15k a year, and you either need pre-tax salary wiggle room of about £30k to fund that, per child - i.e. you need to be close to a six figure salary - or to raid a meaty inheritance.

    Or remortgage the house and pay for it over 25 years. I know people who've done that rather than the local comp.
    I'm sure parents with the motivation, determination and knowhow to remortgage their house would be just the sort of parents to bring about an improvement in the standards of their local comp.
    How?

    I hear this a lot, but it's amazing how much of the problems of comprehensive schools are simply laid at the door of not having enough articulate, loud middle-class parents attending them and shouting loudly enough.

    You might as well say the problems with Southern trains or Tesco is because not enough pushy middle-class people are being forced to use their services and complain about them.

    Good schools are contingent upon being well-funded, and well-led, within the right governance framework that gives them the chance to both develop their own identities and the freedom of action to adjust to the changing needs of communities, parents and children.

    Competitive pressure and choice is a big part of that.
  • Options
    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:

    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:



    Without answers to some of these questions, it is hard to say whether it was value for money. Certainly, talking to 200 students at Stanford doesn’t sound like value for money, or even particularly prestigious.

    She was out of the country for the disastrous economic figures yesterday - job done.
    The UK disaster figures Toom, or are you talking about eth UK pretendy Scotland numbers
    Uk figures are fine - Scotland stagnating.

    image

    Source on graph..
    LOL, I bet you believe in fairies as well
    Bit harsh on the Scottish government Malc.
    Stumped for a reply I see.
    Can't argue with facts malc - if you don't think the SNP government figures are correct then post your working.

    Fact is - Nicola takes them seriously enough to take a paid holiday when they come out.
  • Options
    JonathanDJonathanD Posts: 2,400

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
    I told him enough times.

    I'm certain had he remained Chancellor he would have ditched it.
    Which aspect of the policy do you object to - the withdrawal of benefits for third child onwards, the exception for rape/coercive relationship, or the wording of the form to claim the exception?
    Not the the first thing. It just seems cruel and hurtful to women to relive what must be the most awful moment in their life.
    If they were being asked to prove they were raped or testify how they were etc maybe, theyre simply asked to sign that they were. I fail to see any alternative?
    As a man I'd hesitate to comment but if the mother has been raped and gone through with the pregnancy then they are probably tough enough to sign this form. Every time they see their child will be a reminder of what happened to them already.

    I suspect what might be more controversial is the distinction the form makes between 'rape ' and 'coercive and controlling relationships'.
  • Options
    Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820
    Has the latest Harris poll on the French race been noted?

    Macron 25% (-1)
    Le Pen 24% (NC)
    Fillon 18% (NC)
    Mélenchon 17% (+1)
    Hamon 9% (-1)
    Dupon-Aignan 3% (-1)

    http://www.lefigaro.fr/elections/presidentielles/2017/04/06/35003-20170406ARTFIG00106-presidentielle-a-l-approche-du-premier-tour-les-ecarts-se-resserrent.php
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,270
    JonathanD said:

    As in Reagan's adage, if you're having to explain why you're optimistic, it means you have little to be optimistic about.
    No one doubted that there would not be a deal of some sort - it's the quality of the deal that people aren't optimistic about and that even with a deal, the economy will suffer and the amount of regained sovereignty will be minimal.

    He glides over the terms of the possible deal in just one paragraph and his last sentence may come back to haunt him over the next few years as EU growth outperforms the UK.

    "Next, on trade, the guidelines spell out with surprising honesty what Brussels really fears. Paragraph 19 seeks ‘safeguards’ from post-Brexit Britain on competition, state aid and ‘fiscal, social and environmental dumping’. This is not about UK exports meeting EU regulatory standards – a given in any trading relationship. The EU knows that, free from Brussels’ straitjacket regulation and trading globally, Britain presents a massive competitive challenge to its rather languid economy. It’s correct. But we’ll need to find ways to assuage the EU’s worst fears, without diluting our commitment to taking back democratic control over our laws."
    That's the piece for negotiation. None of that is required for free-trade in goods. This is about the ground for debate on services equivalence and access, particularly on "networks" - i.e. energy, transport and financial services - as Theresa May has laid out.

    A degree of regulatory alignment, budgetary contributions, and preference on immigration will all be a part of that, and this is where the negotiations will be the most complex and fraught.

    I.e. it will be a trade off.
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,027
    Scanning the responses to a piece by David Baddiel about Ken Livingstone, what's shocking is the number of people saying that they hadn't understood why his comments were offensive until it was explained in detail. "Ken stated a fact" seems to be a very common view among his natural supporters.

    https://twitter.com/Baddiel/status/849909067053137920
  • Options
    HHemmeligHHemmelig Posts: 617

    Pulpstar said:

    I think private schools are edging very close to losing their charitable status.

    Far too many of them are charging exorbitant fees that put them well out of the reach of their traditional middle-class supporters, and they risk becoming bastions of the super-rich.

    Even the cheapest day schools now charge upwards of £15k a year, and you either need pre-tax salary wiggle room of about £30k to fund that, per child - i.e. you need to be close to a six figure salary - or to raid a meaty inheritance.

    To be honest basic childcare sounds like it now costs about as much (adjusted for inflation) as my private school fees - which have gone through the roof since I attended. My old school now has better facilites than when I was there I think though.
    If I have a kid it'll be state + tutoring (Which I can do myself for maths)
    I think I'll be doing the same.

    Basic childcare should only be an issue from 6 months old to 5 years old, though. Once the child is in school, it ceases to become a major problem.

    Having said that, I do think State schools should extend their hours from 3pm to 6pm, with after-school activities, as private schools do, to make full-time work feasible for all parents.
    There speaks someone who hasn't had any kids yet!

    You forget that the primary school day typically ends at 2.30-3.00pm....unless you are particularly lucky in having flexible jobs working from or close to home, I can assure you that childcare does not cease to be a "major problem" when your kids go to school, if both parents want to carry on working full time....and it certainly is a major problem when they are sick.
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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,578
    Beyond betting as a forecaster...

    (Reuters) - With France's presidential election a potential banana skin-in-waiting for markets, forecasting sites that rely neither on voter surveys nor real-money betting are becoming a tool of choice for financiers and policymakers in search of an edge.

    After years of anxiety about the accuracy of opinion polls, investors had increasingly come to rely on political betting odds as a more consistent barometer of election outcomes affecting billions of dollars of holdings.


    http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUKKBN1772IO
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    Carolus_RexCarolus_Rex Posts: 1,414
    JonathanD said:

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
    I told him enough times.

    I'm certain had he remained Chancellor he would have ditched it.
    Which aspect of the policy do you object to - the withdrawal of benefits for third child onwards, the exception for rape/coercive relationship, or the wording of the form to claim the exception?
    Not the the first thing. It just seems cruel and hurtful to women to relive what must be the most awful moment in their life.
    If they were being asked to prove they were raped or testify how they were etc maybe, theyre simply asked to sign that they were. I fail to see any alternative?
    As a man I'd hesitate to comment but if the mother has been raped and gone through with the pregnancy then they are probably tough enough to sign this form. Every time they see their child will be a reminder of what happened to them already.

    I suspect what might be more controversial is the distinction the form makes between 'rape ' and 'coercive and controlling relationships'.
    I don't think the form does distinguish between them, does it? I think that is there to ensure claimants are aware that the exemption is wider than what some might consider "rape".

    I really can't see anything to take exception to in either the form or the policy behind it. Mr Eagles is being less than generous to George Osbourne - for a change!
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    isamisam Posts: 40,901
    edited April 2017

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    "Survivors" of rape?
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    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
    I told him enough times.

    I'm certain had he remained Chancellor he would have ditched it.
    Which aspect of the policy do you object to - the withdrawal of benefits for third child onwards, the exception for rape/coercive relationship, or the wording of the form to claim the exception?
    Not the the first thing. It just seems cruel and hurtful to women to relive what must be the most awful moment in their life.
    The alternative is obviously that people will lie about it. Personally I find politicians using this rare and emotive scenario to try to undermine the whole policy pretty unedifying.
    I think when Labour do have an electable leader this is the sort of the thing that will come back and haunt the Tory party.
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,903

    Has the latest Harris poll on the French race been noted?

    Macron 25% (-1)
    Le Pen 24% (NC)
    Fillon 18% (NC)
    Mélenchon 17% (+1)
    Hamon 9% (-1)
    Dupon-Aignan 3% (-1)

    http://www.lefigaro.fr/elections/presidentielles/2017/04/06/35003-20170406ARTFIG00106-presidentielle-a-l-approche-du-premier-tour-les-ecarts-se-resserrent.php

    The headline doesn't match the article. 1% changes are not a "tightening".
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,270
    HHemmelig said:

    Pulpstar said:

    I think private schools are edging very close to losing their charitable status.

    Far too many of them are charging exorbitant fees that put them well out of the reach of their traditional middle-class supporters, and they risk becoming bastions of the super-rich.

    Even the cheapest day schools now charge upwards of £15k a year, and you either need pre-tax salary wiggle room of about £30k to fund that, per child - i.e. you need to be close to a six figure salary - or to raid a meaty inheritance.

    To be honest basic childcare sounds like it now costs about as much (adjusted for inflation) as my private school fees - which have gone through the roof since I attended. My old school now has better facilites than when I was there I think though.
    If I have a kid it'll be state + tutoring (Which I can do myself for maths)
    I think I'll be doing the same.

    Basic childcare should only be an issue from 6 months old to 5 years old, though. Once the child is in school, it ceases to become a major problem.

    Having said that, I do think State schools should extend their hours from 3pm to 6pm, with after-school activities, as private schools do, to make full-time work feasible for all parents.
    There speaks someone who hasn't had any kids yet!

    You forget that the primary school day typically ends at 2.30-3.00pm....unless you are particularly lucky in having flexible jobs working from or close to home, I can assure you that childcare does not cease to be a "major problem" when your kids go to school, if both parents want to carry on working full time....and it certainly is a major problem when they are sick.
    Yes, that's my point. State schools shouldn't end at 2.30-3pm.
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    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,799
    edited April 2017

    Exhaustion of natural resources due to overpopulation is not a problem in this country. It makes sense to aim for a birthrate of 2.1-2.2 rather than the current 1.8-1.9.
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    ParistondaParistonda Posts: 1,819

    Has the latest Harris poll on the French race been noted?

    Macron 25% (-1)
    Le Pen 24% (NC)
    Fillon 18% (NC)
    Mélenchon 17% (+1)
    Hamon 9% (-1)
    Dupon-Aignan 3% (-1)

    http://www.lefigaro.fr/elections/presidentielles/2017/04/06/35003-20170406ARTFIG00106-presidentielle-a-l-approche-du-premier-tour-les-ecarts-se-resserrent.php

    There could be a snowball effect for Melenchon here - now that he is looking so close to overtaking Fillon, it will become the narrative and I wouldn't be surprised to see Hamon do even worse on the night, and the mini candidates lose their bounce, pushing Melenchon up to 19/20%.
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,270

    FF43 said:

    ‪Ugh. Embarrassed to be a Tory today. ‬

    https://twitter.com/undefined/status/849877399584075776

    You should be embarrassed to be a cheerleader for George Osborne since he was the one who introduced this in the 2015 budget.
    I told him enough times.

    I'm certain had he remained Chancellor he would have ditched it.
    Which aspect of the policy do you object to - the withdrawal of benefits for third child onwards, the exception for rape/coercive relationship, or the wording of the form to claim the exception?
    I think there is a good argument to say the benefit is for the child and goes with the child, rather than the parent, and therefore it's irrelevant how many brothers and sisters he has.

    If immigration is to go down substantially post-Brexit, parents are actually going to need incentives to have more kids.

    Automation.
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    HurstLlamaHurstLlama Posts: 9,098
    Dura_Ace said:

    FF43 said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    The broader question is why is the MoD leasing out one of its A330 MRTTs to Jet2 to fly chav scum to Gran Canaria and then not having enough capacity so it has to lease a 757 off some shady Greek operator to fly Old Iron Pubes to the desert.

    The Airtanker consortium was one of MoD's less skilfully negotiated projects. Ahem.

    Given the absolute disaster the RAF made of the Tristar upgrade program it was still better than the alternative. See also MFTS.
    That is a bit harsh on the Crabs, if I may say so, Mr. Ace. It is hard to think of any major defence procurement in the past forty or fifty years that hasn't been a complete pigs breakfast.
This discussion has been closed.