The Politics Thread

[bobo the clown]

Interesting bit of nonsense in the weird, weird World of Welsh politics this last week ; Alun Davies, AM & Minster for the Environment has been pushing for the public spending of £260m (before overspend) on a Motor Racing circuit in Blaenau Gwent (I mean ... really !!). This has serious environmental implications. The Welsh agency for Environmental matters raised objections. The problem is HE is both AM for that area AND boss of that Agency.

He then wrote to the agency, explaining why they were wrong and should withdraw .... which they duly did.

This was a clear breach of ministerial etiquette and he was harangued for it last week. He was formally admonished but not, surprisingly, moved from his Ministerial role.

Then following that he demanded senior civil servants give him privileged information on 5 of the AM's who gave him a hard time. They refused, quite properly. So he came back at them. So they dobbed him in. Again, very properly. This time he's been forced to step down.

Welcome to this brief introduction to Welsh politics.

[Hoboh]

Interesting bit of nonsense in the weird, weird World of Welsh politics this last week ; Alun Davies, AM & Minster for the Environment has been pushing for the public spending of £260m (before overspend) on a Motor Racing circuit in Blaenau Gwent (I mean ... really !!). This has serious environmental implications. The Welsh agency for Environmental matters raised objections. The problem is HE is both AM for that area AND boss of that Agency.

He then wrote to the agency, explaining why they were wrong and should withdraw .... which they duly did.

This was a clear breach of ministerial etiquette and he was harangued for it last week. He was formally admonished but not, surprisingly, moved from his Ministerial role.

Then following that he demanded senior civil servants give him privileged information on 5 of the AM's who gave him a hard time. They refused, quite properly. So he came back at them. So they dobbed him in. Again, very properly. This time he's been forced to step down.

Welcome to this brief introduction to Welsh politics.

Was there not some old witch in a cavern boiling his balls in oil then?
Pah! even the Welsh are getting soft.

[Worthy4England]

Not sure whether to stick this on the art thread or the politics one, but I'm appalled at Northampton Borough Council being allowed to flog a statue of Sekhemka for £16m - I'd be appalled if they flogged it for any figure. So to Council Leader David Mackintosh - yer a tw@t - it wasn't yours to fcking sell and if you didn't want it, it should have gone back to Egypt.

[TANGODANCER]

Not sure whether to stick this on the art thread or the politics one, but I'm appalled at Northampton Borough Council being allowed to flog a statue of Sekhemka for £16m - I'd be appalled if they flogged it for any figure. So to Council Leader David Mackintosh - yer a tw@t - it wasn't yours to fcking sell and if you didn't want it, it should have gone back to Egypt.

Stick it on the Art thread too Worthy. Might get more comment. "Money is the root of all evil"
still very evident...

[Prufrock]

Not to want to seem like I'm picking on you TD (:D), but why does that quote always get overcooked? "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" is far better than the glib falsehood that trips neatly out.

[Lord Kangana]

I prefer the much more succinct avarice. Or avaricious. Has a certain ring.

[Prufrock]

Nah, 'Avarice is ' is nasty.

[TANGODANCER]

Not to want to seem like I'm picking on you TD (:D), but why does that quote always get overcooked? "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" is far better than the glib falsehood that trips neatly out.

Oh, feel free. It's only been around for two thousand years or so, so my mother shortening it was pretty normal after she heard the Andrew Sisters sing it as I said. Carry on though...

[Montreal Wanderer]

I prefer the much more succinct avarice. Or avaricious. Has a certain ring.

It may depend on what translation of the Bible you are using for 1 Timothy 6:10. I was brought up on the King James version so it is 'love of money' there. I also had to take the Pardoner's Tale for O level English and he said avarice was the root. Since Chaucer wrote before the KJV I suppose he must have used John Wycliffe's version.

[KeyserSoze]

Gove's now Commons Chief Whip, then. Crusader stopped in his tracks.

[Gary the Enfield]

Gove's now Commons Chief Whip, then. Crusader Idiot stopped in his tracks before he did too much damage.

[Prufrock]

Ideology...yay. Ideology....no!

[KeyserSoze]

Gove's now Commons Chief Whip, then. Crusader Idiot stopped in his tracks before he did too much damage.

well, yeah.

woo politics.

[Athers]

I really like Hague so a shame to see him depart the scene next year.

As for Gove.. Well. Of all the load of departments the Conservatives planned to radically reform perhaps he was the most 'enthusiastic' and even maybe most 'successful' at carrying it through? Everyone involved in the entire profession seems to hate him but what I don't know is how parents have received the reforms.

[Worthy4England]

I really like Hague so a shame to see him depart the scene next year.

As for Gove.. Well. Of all the load of departments the Conservatives planned to radically reform perhaps he was the most 'enthusiastic' and even maybe most 'successful' at carrying it through? Everyone involved in the entire profession seems to hate him but what I don't know is how parents have received the reforms.

As a parent - not sure I've noticed much one way or t'other to be honest...

[Gary the Enfield]

I really like Hague so a shame to see him depart the scene next year.

As for Gove.. Well. Of all the load of departments the Conservatives planned to radically reform perhaps he was the most 'enthusiastic' and even maybe most 'successful' at carrying it through? Everyone involved in the entire profession seems to hate him but what I don't know is how parents have received the reforms.

As a parent - not sure I've noticed much one way or t'other to be honest...

Do you have a child due to take GCSEs in three years time when the fruits of his reforms were due to ripen or wither on the vine?

I do.

[Hoboh]

I really like Hague so a shame to see him depart the scene next year.
As for Gove.. Well. Of all the load of departments the Conservatives planned to radically reform perhaps he was the most 'enthusiastic' and even maybe most 'successful' at carrying it through? Everyone involved in the entire profession seems to hate him but what I don't know is how parents have received the reforms.

O.M.G.G.

How can can you admit to liking a short arsed windbag like Vague, the man who would invade the world and bore them to death with his monotone!

Once Camoron and Georgie Porgie along with their harem have done one as well, the country will be a far better place.
(Always with the proviso that Millipede or the Clegglet get nowhere near office)

[bobo the clown]

↑↑↑ So how does that work Hobes ?

You want Cameron and his chums out, Clegg and his ilk to disappear and all will be well ... so long as that doesn't let Miliband in.

I'm sure there's a flaw there, just looking for it right now.

[BWFC_Insane]

As for Gove.. Well. Of all the load of departments the Conservatives planned to radically reform perhaps he was the most 'enthusiastic' and even maybe most 'successful' at carrying it through? Everyone involved in the entire profession seems to hate him but what I don't know is how parents have received the reforms.

He was successful at mindless and ridiculous "I reckons" that is for sure. Despite overwhelming banks of independent evidence that he was wrong he maintained course. Sadly it seems to be a theme with this government. We'll ignore clever people cos we don't like listening.

[Gary the Enfield]

↑↑↑ So how does that work Hobes ?

You want Cameron and his chums out, Clegg and his ilk to disappear and all will be well ... so long as that doesn't let Miliband in.

I'm sure there's a flaw there, just looking for it right now.

UKIP, innit.