I really can’t believe the brazen cronyism - total corruption, I’m really in despair with this government, I’m getting anxious even reading or listening to the news, every day bringing more ‘I can’t believe this ...’ stuff.
Successful comedians are funny (or, at least a lot of people find them funny).
Boris and co want to be comics, but fail miserably and (at best) become the joke. A joke which closely resembles a practical joke which leaves the victim hurt and traumatised (which is actually just bullying with the 'it was just a bit of fun' excuse).
I read an article today positing that all de Pfeffel’s victories have been pyrrhic. That he’s learning in Real Life lessons from the classics he once studied.
I tend to agree.
Brexshit, the election, keeping Dom Cummings on, Andy Burnham, school meals. All victories which have done him, his party and the country no good whatever.
He will go down in history, but not in the way he’d hoped.
Judging by comments, and serious petitions, on Facebook the school meals vote has struck a nerve with the public. My guess is that it will soon be reversed, and maybe an attempt to end child hunger in this country will be made. Which would be great, and deeply ironic. (The petition which amuses me most is one to stop meals at Westminster being subsidised.)
I read an article today positing that all de Pfeffel’s victories have been pyrrhic. That he’s learning in Real Life lessons from the classics he once studied.
I tend to agree.
Brexshit, the election, keeping Dom Cummings on, Andy Burnham, school meals. All victories which have done him, his party and the country no good whatever.
He will go down in history, but not in the way he’d hoped.
@Boogie I agree with your analysis. I don't agree with your conclusion. I can't see any evidence that he has learnt anything. If he had, he would not go on repeating the same stupidities.
Sadly, he appears to be impervious to any sort of character development, self-reflection or readiness to learn from experience.
Mind, it is possible that my dislike of him is colouring my ability to see him objectively.
Judging by comments, and serious petitions, on Facebook the school meals vote has struck a nerve with the public. My guess is that it will soon be reversed, and maybe an attempt to end child hunger in this country will be made. Which would be great, and deeply ironic. (The petition which amuses me most is one to stop meals at Westminster being subsidised.)
And some of that public lives in "red wall" constituencies. People are only going to be patronised so much about how they apparently spend their benefits, especially when the jobs don't magically reappear like they hoped when they voted for Brexit.
The BBC news page has a grim photograph of Bumblewimp the Bog-Brush apparently threatening the cameraperson with a bun containing THREE sausages: https://bbc.co.uk/news
I doubt if that bun was being directed at a hungry child. It was probably about to be devoured by the slavering jaws of the Bog-Brush itself...
Yes - all TrueBlue English™ around here! The MP who abstained is actually quite ill at the moment, so one is inclined not to be too harsh on her...
Time was when my local constituency was Labour-held (by a veteran of the Old-Labour style), and that in which Our Place is situated (one of the poorest parishes in the country!) was also Labour-held. All the local councillors serving Our Place's ward are Labour, too, so there is perhaps hope that a few places, at least, may return to the Real World at some point.
The Unitary Authority is Tory-held, but at least has had the guts (aided and abetted by pressure from the Citizens Advice Bureau peeps) to do something about feeding the starving.
Oh fuck, here we go again. Another decision made by our incompetent, petulant, adolescent prime minister, leaked to his friends in advance of the announcement but about a month after it should have been made. Has anyone told this utter buffoon he's not a lobbyist any more?
I am here to condole with you all again. Having waited too long before shutting Britain down the first time, I do believe your PM has done the same thing. I understand from the show Hustlers that people who make the same mistake twice make great marks.
I recommend the "soft rock" collection on Youtube beginning with Do the Hustle by Van McCoy to deal with this in the immediate term, followed by the Bill Withers song Lovely Day.
In the spring of 2020, the UK locked-down 10 days too late. The cost of that mistake is measured in tens of thousands of lives (as well as a big economic cost).
I won't pretend that any of the decisions are easy but by early March, the data was clear and we could see from Italy and Spain, the effect of being too slow in our response.
In order to minimise or hopefully avoid a second wave, an effective Test and Trace system is vital. Despite spending £12Bn, a second wave is well underway.
Two weeks ago, it was clear that a lockdown was needed.
And now, we're waiting 'till Thursday to act.
Prime Minister, an honourable man would resign.
When Theresa May became Prime Minister, I was deeply perturbed because I was aware of her record of intransigence, incompetence and arrogance as Home Secretary but I was also relieved that Mr Johnson wasn't our Prime Minister. I do so hate being right.
Prime Minister, you are worse than useless. The sooner you go, the better for Britain.
In the spring of 2020, the UK locked-down 10 days too late. The cost of that mistake is measured in tens of thousands of lives (as well as a big economic cost).
I won't pretend that any of the decisions are easy but by early March, the data was clear and we could see from Italy and Spain, the effect of being too slow in our response.
In order to minimise or hopefully avoid a second wave, an effective Test and Trace system is vital. Despite spending £12Bn, a second wave is well underway.
Two weeks ago, it was clear that a lockdown was needed.
And now, we're waiting 'till Thursday to act.
Prime Minister, an honourable man would resign.
When Theresa May became Prime Minister, I was deeply perturbed because I was aware of her record of intransigence, incompetence and arrogance as Home Secretary but I was also relieved that Mr Johnson wasn't our Prime Minister. I do so hate being right.
Prime Minister, you are worse than useless. The sooner you go, the better for Britain.
I have seen people excusing the shambles of a press conference by saying that they had to bring it forward from Monday due to leaks. Given this government's record of giving people inadequate notice for previous major closures and changes, the sooner we know, and the more warning we have, the better. I am going to be quite busy before Thursday visiting certain shops that I had lined up for after the return to school.
The dilemma faced by politicians is that there is an argument for allowing people to prepare. But, balancing that is that they've set a few days for people to mob the shops before they close - especially this close to Christmas and no guarantee that shops will be able to reopen this year. Crowds in shops will, of course, be counter productive.
Both the Wickes and the B & Q on the way home from church were quite full this morning judging by their carparks.
There are quite a few pubs round here who are fuming as, having spent money on buying or hiring food and equipment to increase their catering offering to allow them to still trade in Tier 3 this week, they are now facing complete closure. (And has anyone else twigged that lockdown comes in on Bonfire night, not that anywhere was really going to be doing a proper display).
Agreed that the vote wasn't "we'll starve children", rather it was "we won't spend a few quid to make sure that starving kids get some food". The effect seems pretty similar to me though.
Agreed that the vote wasn't "we'll starve children", rather it was "we won't spend a few quid to make sure that starving kids get some food". The effect seems pretty similar to me though.
The government voted for the parents to take responsibility for feeding them. At the same time, those on benefits were given extra money.
Agreed that the vote wasn't "we'll starve children", rather it was "we won't spend a few quid to make sure that starving kids get some food". The effect seems pretty similar to me though.
The government voted for the parents to take responsibility for feeding them. At the same time, those on benefits were given extra money.
That’s not how it will be remembered.
Almost two decades after she ended free school milk Margaret Thatcher still recoiled at memory of the political storm she unleashed. As Education Secretary in Edward Heath’s government her decision in 1971 to stop the provision of milk for junior school pupils prompted the playground taunt “Thatcher, Thatcher, milk snatcher”. Still remembered to this day.
Agreed that the vote wasn't "we'll starve children", rather it was "we won't spend a few quid to make sure that starving kids get some food". The effect seems pretty similar to me though.
The government voted for the parents to take responsibility for feeding them. At the same time, those on benefits were given extra money.
Not that I can find. UC has been increased by £20 a week during the pandemic but I can't find anything about an increase to cover this particular gap.
Responsibility is irrelevant; hungry people should be fed.
Agreed that the vote wasn't "we'll starve children", rather it was "we won't spend a few quid to make sure that starving kids get some food". The effect seems pretty similar to me though.
The government voted for the parents to take responsibility for feeding them. At the same time, those on benefits were given extra money.
Yeah, right. If you say so. That doesn't change the fact that many families on low paid jobs with a top up from UC still don't bring home enough each week to pay all their bills, and rely on free school meals and food banks to make sure their children are fed. Take away the school meals during holidays, and things are just that much harder. And, at the moment many of those low pay jobs have gone, or the hours needed reduced, which has further eaten into family incomes.
Now if the Tory MPs had instead voted for raising UC to an amount that is enough to live on, and abolished the minimum wage in favour of a minimum real living wage, add in rent control so that private landlords aren't exploiting the poor, then maybe you have a point about parents taking on that responsibility. Until parents have a sufficient income to pay the rent, council tax, utility bills, buy clothing and food then we'll need free school meals for children and extra support during school holidays.
Also, if there are children who are hungry because of their parents' irresponsibility you should still feed them. It is not their fault and they shouldn't be punished for it.
Agreed that the vote wasn't "we'll starve children", rather it was "we won't spend a few quid to make sure that starving kids get some food". The effect seems pretty similar to me though.
The government voted for the parents to take responsibility for feeding them. At the same time, those on benefits were given extra money.
That’s not how it will be remembered.
Almost two decades after she ended free school milk Margaret Thatcher still recoiled at memory of the political storm she unleashed. As Education Secretary in Edward Heath’s government her decision in 1971 to stop the provision of milk for junior school pupils prompted the playground taunt “Thatcher, Thatcher, milk snatcher”. Still remembered to this day.
Agreed that the vote wasn't "we'll starve children", rather it was "we won't spend a few quid to make sure that starving kids get some food". The effect seems pretty similar to me though.
The government voted for the parents to take responsibility for feeding them. At the same time, those on benefits were given extra money.
Not that I can find. UC has been increased by £20 a week during the pandemic but I can't find anything about an increase to cover this particular gap.
Responsibility is irrelevant; hungry people should be fed.
Agreed that the vote wasn't "we'll starve children", rather it was "we won't spend a few quid to make sure that starving kids get some food". The effect seems pretty similar to me though.
The government voted for the parents to take responsibility for feeding them. At the same time, those on benefits were given extra money.
That’s not how it will be remembered.
Almost two decades after she ended free school milk Margaret Thatcher still recoiled at memory of the political storm she unleashed. As Education Secretary in Edward Heath’s government her decision in 1971 to stop the provision of milk for junior school pupils prompted the playground taunt “Thatcher, Thatcher, milk snatcher”. Still remembered to this day.
Agreed that the vote wasn't "we'll starve children", rather it was "we won't spend a few quid to make sure that starving kids get some food". The effect seems pretty similar to me though.
The government voted for the parents to take responsibility for feeding them. At the same time, those on benefits were given extra money.
Not that I can find. UC has been increased by £20 a week during the pandemic but I can't find anything about an increase to cover this particular gap.
Responsibility is irrelevant; hungry people should be fed.
Who would feed them at the weekend ?
Feeding children for seven days costs more than two. This isn't rocket science.
Agreed that the vote wasn't "we'll starve children", rather it was "we won't spend a few quid to make sure that starving kids get some food". The effect seems pretty similar to me though.
The government voted for the parents to take responsibility for feeding them. At the same time, those on benefits were given extra money.
That’s not how it will be remembered.
Almost two decades after she ended free school milk Margaret Thatcher still recoiled at memory of the political storm she unleashed. As Education Secretary in Edward Heath’s government her decision in 1971 to stop the provision of milk for junior school pupils prompted the playground taunt “Thatcher, Thatcher, milk snatcher”. Still remembered to this day.
Agreed that the vote wasn't "we'll starve children", rather it was "we won't spend a few quid to make sure that starving kids get some food". The effect seems pretty similar to me though.
The government voted for the parents to take responsibility for feeding them. At the same time, those on benefits were given extra money.
Not that I can find. UC has been increased by £20 a week during the pandemic but I can't find anything about an increase to cover this particular gap.
Responsibility is irrelevant; hungry people should be fed.
Who would feed them at the weekend ?
Feeding children for seven days costs more than two. This isn't rocket science.
The strange thing is that before this year, even in the previous eras of large unemployment, it was not an issue. Parents gave their children priority.
Now if the Tory MPs had instead voted for raising UC to an amount that is enough to live on
Voting for a universal credit system that didn't require claimants to jump through hoops for several weeks to get any money at all, and didn't turn off at a moment's notice like the heating on an ancient shower, would be more constructive.
Feeding children for seven days costs The strange thing is that before this year, even in the previous eras of large unemployment, it was not an issue. Parents gave their children priority.
You admitted in the thread in Purgatory that they still do. So what is the point of saying this? How does it contribute to the conversation?
And when you say that the government has given families with children extra money to what exactly are you referring?
Do you mean the £20 increase in universal credit from last April that the MPs have not committed to renewing and that misses a lot of people who don't qualify for universal credit because they're on older benefits or have only recently lost their jobs?
Comments
Is it possible?
And if all else fails, we have an anti-corruption champion who'll put it all right.
Oh wait a minute, look who is wife is ...
The ideal companion for Boris Bog-Brush-Bonce...
Boris and co want to be comics, but fail miserably and (at best) become the joke. A joke which closely resembles a practical joke which leaves the victim hurt and traumatised (which is actually just bullying with the 'it was just a bit of fun' excuse).
Still, I live in *England*, so maybe that's understandable.
I tend to agree.
Brexshit, the election, keeping Dom Cummings on, Andy Burnham, school meals. All victories which have done him, his party and the country no good whatever.
He will go down in history, but not in the way he’d hoped.
AFAIK all our local Tory MPs were among the Infamous 322. May their venison and caviare rot on their plates.
Sadly, he appears to be impervious to any sort of character development, self-reflection or readiness to learn from experience.
Mind, it is possible that my dislike of him is colouring my ability to see him objectively.
(BTW, one of our local Tory MPs did NOT vote to starve children, but abstained).
And some of that public lives in "red wall" constituencies. People are only going to be patronised so much about how they apparently spend their benefits, especially when the jobs don't magically reappear like they hoped when they voted for Brexit.
Because being neutral on hungry children will save you on polling day.
https://bbc.co.uk/news
I doubt if that bun was being directed at a hungry child. It was probably about to be devoured by the slavering jaws of the Bog-Brush itself...
Time was when my local constituency was Labour-held (by a veteran of the Old-Labour style), and that in which Our Place is situated (one of the poorest parishes in the country!) was also Labour-held. All the local councillors serving Our Place's ward are Labour, too, so there is perhaps hope that a few places, at least, may return to the Real World at some point.
The Unitary Authority is Tory-held, but at least has had the guts (aided and abetted by pressure from the Citizens Advice Bureau peeps) to do something about feeding the starving.
A neat fusion of Football and Politics!
What did they vote for then?
http://alienfromzog.blogspot.com/2020/09/covid-19-and-why-timing-of-lockdown.html
I won't pretend that any of the decisions are easy but by early March, the data was clear and we could see from Italy and Spain, the effect of being too slow in our response.
In order to minimise or hopefully avoid a second wave, an effective Test and Trace system is vital. Despite spending £12Bn, a second wave is well underway.
Two weeks ago, it was clear that a lockdown was needed.
And now, we're waiting 'till Thursday to act.
Prime Minister, an honourable man would resign.
When Theresa May became Prime Minister, I was deeply perturbed because I was aware of her record of intransigence, incompetence and arrogance as Home Secretary but I was also relieved that Mr Johnson wasn't our Prime Minister. I do so hate being right.
Prime Minister, you are worse than useless. The sooner you go, the better for Britain.
AFZ
Couldn’t have put it better myself!
There are quite a few pubs round here who are fuming as, having spent money on buying or hiring food and equipment to increase their catering offering to allow them to still trade in Tier 3 this week, they are now facing complete closure. (And has anyone else twigged that lockdown comes in on Bonfire night, not that anywhere was really going to be doing a proper display).
1. They were waiting for ConDom the Farsighted to return from Sp*csa*ers (or possibly Durham).
2. Boris Bog-Brush couldn't find his way out of the fridge.
I didn't say they did. I said that one of our local MPs did not.
The government voted for the parents to take responsibility for feeding them. At the same time, those on benefits were given extra money.
That’s not how it will be remembered.
Almost two decades after she ended free school milk Margaret Thatcher still recoiled at memory of the political storm she unleashed. As Education Secretary in Edward Heath’s government her decision in 1971 to stop the provision of milk for junior school pupils prompted the playground taunt “Thatcher, Thatcher, milk snatcher”. Still remembered to this day.
Not that I can find. UC has been increased by £20 a week during the pandemic but I can't find anything about an increase to cover this particular gap.
Responsibility is irrelevant; hungry people should be fed.
Now if the Tory MPs had instead voted for raising UC to an amount that is enough to live on, and abolished the minimum wage in favour of a minimum real living wage, add in rent control so that private landlords aren't exploiting the poor, then maybe you have a point about parents taking on that responsibility. Until parents have a sufficient income to pay the rent, council tax, utility bills, buy clothing and food then we'll need free school meals for children and extra support during school holidays.
Feeding children for seven days costs more than two. This isn't rocket science.
The strange thing is that before this year, even in the previous eras of large unemployment, it was not an issue. Parents gave their children priority.
And when you say that the government has given families with children extra money to what exactly are you referring?
Do you mean the £20 increase in universal credit from last April that the MPs have not committed to renewing and that misses a lot of people who don't qualify for universal credit because they're on older benefits or have only recently lost their jobs?