The Politics Thread

[Hoboh]

I'd put this in the angry thread - but Hoboh would be angry!!

today it's Ed Milliband - politicians fake breast-beating - fake apologising - fake humility when you know full well they intend to do cock-all about it...

bleat-bleat-bleat - we lost contact with working people - bleat bleat bleat - well - the labour party lost contact with "working people" (is the phrase "working class" now banned Ed??) decades ago - and it was deliberate - 100% deliberate - then, as now, you are far too busy sucking up to "middle england" and trying to prove you are a friend to the fat-cats...

well - feck off until you mean it. words... words... words....

don't bleat and whine about "learning the lessons" until you can be specific about what those lessons are and how we will see you have learned them..

"we have to learn the lessons" is about the most weasle-tit thing a politician can say nowadays....

Actually I feel quite proud of you bish now if BWFCI was to appear and tell us the truth about the labour mob! I'd retire.

I just tell it like it is hoboh...

you'd not catch Bruce dissing his beloved Tories...

Bit too leftie for me bish

[William the White]

I'd put this in the angry thread - but Hoboh would be angry!!

today it's Ed Milliband - politicians fake breast-beating - fake apologising - fake humility when you know full well they intend to do cock-all about it...

bleat-bleat-bleat - we lost contact with working people - bleat bleat bleat - well - the labour party lost contact with "working people" (is the phrase "working class" now banned Ed??) decades ago - and it was deliberate - 100% deliberate - then, as now, you are far too busy sucking up to "middle england" and trying to prove you are a friend to the fat-cats...

well - feck off until you mean it. words... words... words....

don't bleat and whine about "learning the lessons" until you can be specific about what those lessons are and how we will see you have learned them..

"we have to learn the lessons" is about the most weasle-tit thing a politician can say nowadays....

Yes, the bish... the latest bleat reminds me of the 'Labour Listens' initiative after the 1987 election... Asking, what do you want, we'll propose it...

The LibDems' total political naivete about PR at every stage of their negotiations with the Tories has probably destroyed the possibility of making that choice for a generation, leaving everybody chasing a centre vote and UK politics totally constrained to a narrow debate without real vision or aspiration... Grim...

[Bruce Rioja]

Are 'middle England' not working people, too?

who are you asking - and why?

You - because you reckon that Milliband's ignoring the "working people" in order to suck up to "middle England".

And yes, I'm quite prepared to slate the Tories when they feck up.

[Athers]

Very much on the Government's side against the Unions this week, high teen% contributions from the taxpayer is not living in the real world I'm afraid. (Armed forces excepted)

[Harry Genshaw]

Very much on the Government's side against the Unions this week, high teen% contributions from the taxpayer is not living in the real world I'm afraid. (Armed forces excepted)

I realise I'm probably on my own here, but this lionisation of our armed forces really bugs me at the moment. It's not enough that as a nation we squander billions fighting largely pointless wars but in a rush by MPs to leap on the popularity band wagon to 'support our troops', their terms and conditions are suddenly off limits. If as a nation we cant afford to let our emergency services and public services retain their terms, why should the armed forces be any different?

[Lord Kangana]

Its a reasonable point.

[thebish]

Are 'middle England' not working people, too?

who are you asking - and why?

You - because you reckon that Milliband's ignoring the "working people" in order to suck up to "middle England".

And yes, I'm quite prepared to slate the Tories when they feck up.

nahh brucie - you've had a bit of a nightmare there!

[thebish]

And yes, I'm quite prepared to slate the Tories when they feck up.

yet... I don't believe you ever have on here...

[Athers]

Very much on the Government's side against the Unions this week, high teen% contributions from the taxpayer is not living in the real world I'm afraid. (Armed forces excepted)

I realise I'm probably on my own here, but this lionisation of our armed forces really bugs me at the moment. It's not enough that as a nation we squander billions fighting largely pointless wars but in a rush by MPs to leap on the popularity band wagon to 'support our troops', their terms and conditions are suddenly off limits. If as a nation we cant afford to let our emergency services and public services retain their terms, why should the armed forces be any different?

Obviously there's the risk of death & injury but I think most people would say their pay is low for the hours & conditions they actually work in, especially when on operation. For many it's also not exactly a job for life, unless of course the worst happens. I don't mind paying for these guys a decent pension out of general tax basically.

I'll give you that it's sometimes an easy place to score political points (Cameron & Obama serving up hotdogs was photo-op-tastic) but defence hasn't been saved from the cuts in general.

I'm behind all the wars we've been in lately too so we're probably not going to agree on a lot.

[BWFC_Insane]

Very much on the Government's side against the Unions this week, high teen% contributions from the taxpayer is not living in the real world I'm afraid. (Armed forces excepted)

I realise I'm probably on my own here, but this lionisation of our armed forces really bugs me at the moment. It's not enough that as a nation we squander billions fighting largely pointless wars but in a rush by MPs to leap on the popularity band wagon to 'support our troops', their terms and conditions are suddenly off limits. If as a nation we cant afford to let our emergency services and public services retain their terms, why should the armed forces be any different?

Obviously there's the risk of death & injury but I think most people would say their pay is low for the hours & conditions they actually work in, especially when on operation. For many it's also not exactly a job for life, unless of course the worst happens. I don't mind paying for these guys a decent pension out of general tax basically.

I'll give you that it's sometimes an easy place to score political points (Cameron & Obama serving up hotdogs was photo-op-tastic) but defence hasn't been saved from the cuts in general.

I'm behind all the wars we've been in lately too so we're probably not going to agree on a lot.

You could argue exactly the same for nurses.

And as for strikes in the first place, well I'm no big fan of the unions and I'm equally no big fan of striking. I think it should be reserved for when serious mistreatment or injustice to a group of workers occurs. Not just when things are a "bit tight".

However, whilst I don't think they should necessarily strike I think its fully understandable why they are striking. They went into their profession expecting a certain deal at the end of it. That is now being taken away and amended and its not so favourable. Now a bit like the Armed Forces I'm thankful we have people willing and able to be teachers for example, because no way on earth could I do it myself. It used to be somewhat of a cosy profession what with shortish days long holidays and relatively little work outside to do. But make no mistake it is no longer that. As a country we faced a shortage of teachers (still do in some subjects) and offered various benefits to get more to sign up to the profession. Who would really want to be in a classroom with 30 teenagers from an inner city? Wouldn't be my idea of fun.

So I can understand why they're not happy.

[Bruce Rioja]

Are 'middle England' not working people, too?

who are you asking - and why?

You - because you reckon that Milliband's ignoring the "working people" in order to suck up to "middle England".

And yes, I'm quite prepared to slate the Tories when they feck up.

nahh brucie - you've had a bit of a nightmare there!

Really. Right-oh.

[Bruce Rioja]

And yes, I'm quite prepared to slate the Tories when they feck up.

yet... I don't believe you ever have on here...

And? Should I ever feel the need to then I will.

[thebish]

And yes, I'm quite prepared to slate the Tories when they feck up.

yet... I don't believe you ever have on here...

And? Should I ever feel the need to then I will.

we will all look forward to it, I'm sure!

[Bruce Rioja]

And yes, I'm quite prepared to slate the Tories when they feck up.

yet... I don't believe you ever have on here...

And? Should I ever feel the need to then I will.

we will all look forward to it, I'm sure!

I've just checked - nowt to report, I'm sorry. Cameron's mate's snuffed it in the bogs at Glasto - one or two of you may wish to make an issue of him having snuffed it in the VIP bogs, but that's about it.

[thebish]

I've just checked - nowt to report, I'm sorry. Cameron's mate's snuffed it in the bogs at Glasto - one or two of you may wish to make an issue of him having snuffed it in the VIP bogs, but that's about it.

you're the only one mentioning it as far as I can see....

[Bruce Rioja]

I've just checked - nowt to report, I'm sorry. Cameron's mate's snuffed it in the bogs at Glasto - one or two of you may wish to make an issue of him having snuffed it in the VIP bogs, but that's about it.

you're the only one mentioning it as far as I can see....

My word - what keen observational skills you have. I said one or two may wish to make an issue of it. Alternatively not. On you go, Sherlock!

[thebish]

I've just checked - nowt to report, I'm sorry. Cameron's mate's snuffed it in the bogs at Glasto - one or two of you may wish to make an issue of him having snuffed it in the VIP bogs, but that's about it.

you're the only one mentioning it as far as I can see....

My word - what keen observational skills you have. I said one or two may wish to make an issue of it. Alternatively not. On you go, Sherlock!

oh - come on Tango - that's nonsense! what does your wife think of Cameron's mate, eh?

[Athers]

You could argue exactly the same for nurses.

You could but I'd strongly disagree that it's in the same league.

[Lord Kangana]

Its effectively the moral and social versus the monetary value argument.

If the soldiers value is above monetary (or are we to develop a formula based on the financial benefits of any conflict he fights in?), then therefore the nurse/doctor/policeman/fireman/teacher/etcetera must also fall into the same category. Which is why its called public service.

I happen to feel that the service they provide is above the monetarty. Truth be told I wouldn't want to do any of those jobs for all the tea in China. Or Ceylon. Or India. But somebody certainly has to in a functioning, civilised western democracy.

[Bruce Rioja]

Well in, Ken Clarke. Let's hope that they can apply this to the guy in Swinton that was confronted by four balaclavared intruders, one brandishing a machete, last week.

It's a shame that he didn't run all four of the bastards through.

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