The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
Membersip of political parties seems to be in decline. It is a sign of the un committed generation.eddie wrote:From The Daily Mail:
"Mr Shale’s death coincided with the publication of a leaked Conservative Party strategy memo in the Mail on Sunday, in which he said there was ‘no reason to join. Lots of reasons not to’. He said the constituency party was ‘not always an appealing proposition’, adding: ‘Over the years we have come across as graceless, voracious, crass, always on the take.’
Mr Shale argued that the local party needed to change to boost membership, and said the Prime Minister’s own association had gained only 22 new members in the past year..."
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
Doc Watson wrote:Membersip of political parties seems to be in decline. It is a sign of the un committed generation.
"Uncommitted" in the best sense of the term, I'd suggest. People are passionately committed to causes in which they believe, but they're rapidly losing faith in traditional parliamentary politics.
I know very little about Australian politics, but the experience of UK voters over the past few decades has given them little cause to trust the bastards:
1. The cruelty of Thatcherism.
2. The sleaze of the Major administration.
3. The 'spin' of the Blair years.
4. The collapse of the global banking system on Brown's watch.
5. The MPs expenses scandal
UK politics seem to have become fragmented into a range issue-specific pressure groups who are far from "uncommitted"- quite the reverse. They simply don't trust the system any more.
Last edited by eddie on Thu Jun 30, 2011 5:11 pm; edited 1 time in total
eddie- The Gap Minder
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
Simulacrum wrote:... Although, anyone who has been to a large weekend festival will know that dying in one of those toilets is a pretty horrific way to go.
Wasn't it Teresa May who first dubbed her own party "The Nasty Party"?
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
Doc Watson wrote:Australia has a similiar situation with the Labor party governing with the help of 2 independents and a Green member.
I had hopes it would lead to a better sysyem as regards parliamentry procedure . However sadly it is no better with the opposition trying to destabilise the government at every opportunity.
That is the job of the opposition. If they weren't trying to 'destabilise' the government, they wouldn't be doing their job.
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
For what it's worth, here's my entirely speculative take on the story....
Christopher Shale had burned out.
A fundamentally decent man- an old-fashioned MacMillanite "One Nation" Tory- he'd come to the conclusion that he couldn't stand the direction in which Cameron was leading the party.
He takes himself off to the Glastonbury festival for a bit of Rest & Recreation.
He does a few recreational chemicals.
He feels unwell.
He goes to the toilet....
^ We'll have to await the toxicology results to see whether there's any truth in all that. That's always assuming, of course, that the true facts of the report aren't suppressed by Government spooks.
Christopher Shale had burned out.
A fundamentally decent man- an old-fashioned MacMillanite "One Nation" Tory- he'd come to the conclusion that he couldn't stand the direction in which Cameron was leading the party.
He takes himself off to the Glastonbury festival for a bit of Rest & Recreation.
He does a few recreational chemicals.
He feels unwell.
He goes to the toilet....
^ We'll have to await the toxicology results to see whether there's any truth in all that. That's always assuming, of course, that the true facts of the report aren't suppressed by Government spooks.
eddie- The Gap Minder
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
It seems to be similiar in Australia we had the Howard years in which little regard seemed to be given to ordinary people plus varios other factors , then the Rudd 2 and a bit years . His style saw him deposed , the resulting election resulted in a hung parliament and the current Pm is having trouble winning voter approval.eddie wrote:Doc Watson wrote:Membersip of political parties seems to be in decline. It is a sign of the un committed generation.
"Uncommitted" in the best sense of the term, I'd suggest. People are passionately committed to causes in which they believe, but they're rapidly losing faith in traditional parliamentary politics.
I know very little about Australian politics, but the experience of UK voters over the past few decades has given them little cause to trust the bastards:
1. The cruelty of Thatcherism.
2. The sleaze of the Major administration.
3. The 'spin' of the Blair years.
4. The collapse of the global banking system on Brown's watch.
5. The MPs expenses scandal
UK politics seem to have become fragmented into a range issue-specific pressure groups who are far from "uncommitted"- quite the reverse. They simply don't trust the system any more.
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
To a point yes , however they should offer viable policies to replace or improve what they criticise.eddie wrote:Doc Watson wrote:Australia has a similiar situation with the Labor party governing with the help of 2 independents and a Green member.
I had hopes it would lead to a better sysyem as regards parliamentry procedure . However sadly it is no better with the opposition trying to destabilise the government at every opportunity.
That is the job of the opposition. If they weren't trying to 'destabilise' the government, they wouldn't be doing their job.
On his right of reply to the budget the leader of the opposition opposed it , but refused to say what he would do instead. Also on other matters he takes the gornenment to task but refuses to say what his own party would do instead .
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
eddie wrote:UK politics seem to have become fragmented into a range issue-specific pressure groups who are far from "uncommitted"- quite the reverse. They simply don't trust the system any more.
One such pressure group, of course, is Trade Unionism:
*******************************************************************************
'Best supported' strike under way
June 30, 2011
Activists put up tents in Trafalgar Square ahead of public sector strikes (AP)
Picket lines have been mounted outside schools, government buildings, jobcentres and courts by striking public sector workers in the biggest outbreak of industrial unrest since the coalition was formed.
Union leaders said early indications were that the 24-hour walkout was being strongly supported, forcing the closure of thousands of schools, courts and offices and disrupting government services and travel.
Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), University and College Union and the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) went on strike in a bitter row over plans to increase their pension contributions and raise the retirement age.
The PCS said it was encouraged by support from its members and announced that it had recruited 2,000 extra members in the past few weeks.
"We are expecting the best supported strike we have ever seen," said one official.
Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said teachers "absolutely don't" have to strike, and should not because talks are still ongoing, with another meeting between the Government and trade unions due next week.
He told BBC Breakfast: "It's absolutely unjustifiable for parents up and down the country to be inconvenienced like this, forced to lose a day's work when they're trying to go out to work to earn money to pay taxes that are going to support teachers' pensions, which will still, at the end of this, be among the very best pensions available."
Among the buildings being picketed was Parliament, with strikers saying they hoped some left-wing MPs would refuse to cross. Strikers also picketed the Royal Courts of Justice in central London and many courts including Westminster magistrates.
Unions were also targeting the headquarters of the education and business departments. Immigration officers at ports and airports across the UK joined the strike, with the prospect of long delays for travellers returning to the country.
Police leave has been cancelled in London, where union leaders and thousands of activists will take part in a march, followed by a lunchtime rally in Westminster.
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Last edited by eddie on Thu Jun 30, 2011 10:10 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
Dear Colleagues,
RMT sends full support to striking workers and pledges co-ordinated action in fight against cuts
THE RMT AGM in Fort William has sent a message of “full and unconditional” support to the three quarters of a million workers taking action today against Government attacks on their pensions.
RMT has also pledged to co-ordinate its campaigning and action against the McNulty assault on the railways with other workers facing similar attacks on their jobs, pay and pensions over the coming months.
Speaking from the RMT AGM in Fort William, RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
“The 750,000 workers out their taking action today are an inspiration to every trade union member in this country and they have the full and unconditional support of the RMT.
“Up and down the country, RMT members will be joining PCS and teachers union picket lines to bring home the message - unity and solidarity the length and breadth of the trade union movement is our only defence against a political class who want working people to pay the price for this bankers crisis.
“Yesterday, RMT’s AGM voted to mount one almighty campaign against the McNulty assault that would rip the rail industry to shreds in the name of private greed. Make no mistake, we will co-ordinate that campaign, including industrial action, with the teachers, the nurses, the public servants and the rest of the workers who make this country tick and who find themselves under unprecedented attack from this ConDem Government.”
Yours Sincerely
Bob Crow
General Secretary
RMT sends full support to striking workers and pledges co-ordinated action in fight against cuts
THE RMT AGM in Fort William has sent a message of “full and unconditional” support to the three quarters of a million workers taking action today against Government attacks on their pensions.
RMT has also pledged to co-ordinate its campaigning and action against the McNulty assault on the railways with other workers facing similar attacks on their jobs, pay and pensions over the coming months.
Speaking from the RMT AGM in Fort William, RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
“The 750,000 workers out their taking action today are an inspiration to every trade union member in this country and they have the full and unconditional support of the RMT.
“Up and down the country, RMT members will be joining PCS and teachers union picket lines to bring home the message - unity and solidarity the length and breadth of the trade union movement is our only defence against a political class who want working people to pay the price for this bankers crisis.
“Yesterday, RMT’s AGM voted to mount one almighty campaign against the McNulty assault that would rip the rail industry to shreds in the name of private greed. Make no mistake, we will co-ordinate that campaign, including industrial action, with the teachers, the nurses, the public servants and the rest of the workers who make this country tick and who find themselves under unprecedented attack from this ConDem Government.”
Yours Sincerely
Bob Crow
General Secretary
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
As striking an example of Tory vampirism as we've had in recent times comes with the revelation that Rupert Murdoch's News of the World paid to have the phones of UK murder victims and their bereaved families illegally hacked.
A Tory Vampire.
Rather than sack Rebecca Brooks, the editor in charge whilst these deplorable activities were happening, Murdoch has elected instead to shut down the entire publication, throwing hundreds out of work.
None of this would matter a damn were it not for the fact that UK Prime Minister David Cameron appointed another NoW editor Andy Coulson to the post of "Director of Communications" at Downing Street, a position from which he was forced to resign when these revelations first broke. Coulson was arrested yesterday.
Rebecca Brooks is a personal friend of Prime Minister Cameron.
A Tory Vampire.
Rather than sack Rebecca Brooks, the editor in charge whilst these deplorable activities were happening, Murdoch has elected instead to shut down the entire publication, throwing hundreds out of work.
None of this would matter a damn were it not for the fact that UK Prime Minister David Cameron appointed another NoW editor Andy Coulson to the post of "Director of Communications" at Downing Street, a position from which he was forced to resign when these revelations first broke. Coulson was arrested yesterday.
Rebecca Brooks is a personal friend of Prime Minister Cameron.
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
For a scathing satirical tour de force on the subject of the News of the World and News International and Rebekka Brooks and the Dirty Digger and especially Rebekka Brooks, listen to yesterday's The Now Show - go to 6:40 to 15:25 of Play recent episodes - http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/fricomedy
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A couple of interesting quotes from yesterday's Guardian:
1. "The National Union of Journalists has been "inundated" with calls from staff at News International titles asking about membership and rights, despite the fact that the company doesn't recognise the NUJ..." (p 5)
2. "There was mounting concern in the City yesterday as it emerged Rupert Murdoch's plan to take full control of BSkyB could be blocked because his company, News Corporation, may not be viewed as a "fit and proper" owner.
The prospect of intervention from the regulator Ofcom prompted a huge sell-off of shares in the satellite broadcaster.They were down nearly 12% on the week, wiping £1.8bn off the company's value..." (p 7)
1. "The National Union of Journalists has been "inundated" with calls from staff at News International titles asking about membership and rights, despite the fact that the company doesn't recognise the NUJ..." (p 5)
2. "There was mounting concern in the City yesterday as it emerged Rupert Murdoch's plan to take full control of BSkyB could be blocked because his company, News Corporation, may not be viewed as a "fit and proper" owner.
The prospect of intervention from the regulator Ofcom prompted a huge sell-off of shares in the satellite broadcaster.They were down nearly 12% on the week, wiping £1.8bn off the company's value..." (p 7)
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
eddie wrote:
A Tory Vampire.
A Tory Vampire who has, until pretty recently, supported the Labour Party for last 15 years.
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
eddie wrote:
2. "There was mounting concern in the City yesterday as it emerged Rupert Murdoch's plan to take full control of BSkyB could be blocked because his company, News Corporation, may not be viewed as a "fit and proper" owner.
I'm not holding my breath, but I hope to God this happens. Sadly, the Minister in charge of all of this was caught out by a hidden microphone saying that he had "declared war on Murdoch" and that he intended to block the deal. Because of this he was replaced and the final decision will now be made by the Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who apparently is Mr Murdoch's number 1 fan. Great.
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
All this hacking business is horrid. But surely the biggest worry is that all of this was being done in compliance with the Met police? So now they have to investigate themselves.
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
Clarence LeRoy Van Cleef wrote:A Tory Vampire who has, until pretty recently, supported the Labour Party for last 15 years.
Quite right, Blair brown-nosed News International before the 1997 General Election and in the years thereafter. Something is terribly wrong when politicians of any party have to curry favour with Rupert Murdoch in order to stand a reasonable chance of getting elected.
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
I danced to Beyonce with Iain Duncan Smith on Friday night. Incredibly surreal!!
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
LaRue wrote:I danced to Beyonce with Iain Duncan Smith on Friday night. Incredibly surreal!!
Eddie's in for a shock.
eddie wrote: I don't associate Tories with having fun AT ALL.
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
A columnist in one of last week's Sunday broadsheets apparently described the phone hacking scandal as "Britain's Watergate"- and every day brings fresh revelations:
The Metropolitan police taking backhanders from NI.
The desperate deletion of incriminating computer files by NI staff.
The Queen's Security officers selling NI details of her itinerary.
Confidential medical details concerning the then PM Gordon Brown's Spina Bifida-afflicted child being sold to NI, along with his personal banking information.
The phones of the families of dead and wounded servicemen being hacked.
....
Is there any area of society that Murdoch HASN'T corrupted?
The scandal has now spread to the US because it appears that the phones of the families of the 9/11 victims were also hacked.
The Metropolitan police taking backhanders from NI.
The desperate deletion of incriminating computer files by NI staff.
The Queen's Security officers selling NI details of her itinerary.
Confidential medical details concerning the then PM Gordon Brown's Spina Bifida-afflicted child being sold to NI, along with his personal banking information.
The phones of the families of dead and wounded servicemen being hacked.
....
Is there any area of society that Murdoch HASN'T corrupted?
The scandal has now spread to the US because it appears that the phones of the families of the 9/11 victims were also hacked.
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
Clarence LeRoy Van Cleef wrote:I really haven't followed this story at all, but it seems to be: 'Someone that knows David Cameron died at Glastonbury Festival'.
Rebecca Brooks (nee Wade), a very good friend of David Cameron, has not had the misfortune of expiring in a public lavatory. Or not yet, at any rate.
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
[quote="eddie"]
Lest we forget....
Rupert Murduch laid the foundations of his media empire at the News International plant in Wapping in the 1980's with scab labour protected by a politicised police force supplied courtesy of the virulently anti-Trade Union PM Margaret Thatcher, the same police force she directed against the miners.
For all its many and manifest faults, the philosophy of Trade Unionism is at least built on the principle that there IS such a thing as "Society", a position refuted by Thatcher who boldly claimed that "Society" doesn't exist, only individuals and families.
Well, it's a point of view- and individualistic greed kept things ticking over nicely for a couple of decades until:
1. It led to the collapse of the global banking industry & the global economy.
2. It exposed many members of the UK parliament as corrupt when they were found to be fiddling their expenses.
3. It led to a level of street crime/violence in the UK unprecedented in modern times.
4. It presented us with the tawdry spectacle of Reality TV, Big Brother, Simon Cowell and various other ghastly 'cultural' abortions.
5. It led to a general decline in what might be termed, simply perhaps, "Good manners".
6. It's led us to where we are today: the phone-hacking scandal and all the ramifications thereof.
It would be tempting to say to those News International employees now desperate to join a Trade Union "Serves you right"- but.... well, we all learn by our mistakes, I suppose. Or some of us do, at any rate.
eddie wrote:One such pressure group, of course, is Trade Unionism
Lest we forget....
Rupert Murduch laid the foundations of his media empire at the News International plant in Wapping in the 1980's with scab labour protected by a politicised police force supplied courtesy of the virulently anti-Trade Union PM Margaret Thatcher, the same police force she directed against the miners.
For all its many and manifest faults, the philosophy of Trade Unionism is at least built on the principle that there IS such a thing as "Society", a position refuted by Thatcher who boldly claimed that "Society" doesn't exist, only individuals and families.
Well, it's a point of view- and individualistic greed kept things ticking over nicely for a couple of decades until:
1. It led to the collapse of the global banking industry & the global economy.
2. It exposed many members of the UK parliament as corrupt when they were found to be fiddling their expenses.
3. It led to a level of street crime/violence in the UK unprecedented in modern times.
4. It presented us with the tawdry spectacle of Reality TV, Big Brother, Simon Cowell and various other ghastly 'cultural' abortions.
5. It led to a general decline in what might be termed, simply perhaps, "Good manners".
6. It's led us to where we are today: the phone-hacking scandal and all the ramifications thereof.
It would be tempting to say to those News International employees now desperate to join a Trade Union "Serves you right"- but.... well, we all learn by our mistakes, I suppose. Or some of us do, at any rate.
eddie- The Gap Minder
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
Wow, Murdoch has pulled out of his bid for full control of the broadcaster BSkyB. This is incredible. Looks like Vince Cable won the war afterall.... for now anyway.
edit: I imagine it was immensly hard not to shout "I TOLD YOU SO (again)": http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14144669
edit: I imagine it was immensly hard not to shout "I TOLD YOU SO (again)": http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14144669
Lee Van Queef- Posts : 511
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
GO VINCE!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12053175
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Re: The UK Con-Dem Coalition government
STOP PRESS: FLAME-HAIRED TORY VAMPIRE CHOKES ON HER OWN OFFAL:
******************************************************************************
Rebekah Brooks goes down in flames: CEO quits post amid phone-hacking scandal
Jul 15, 2011
Rebekah Brooks has resigned as chief executive of News International amid growing political and commercial pressure over the phone hacking scandal.
The former Sun and News of the World editor announced she was standing down in an internal email to staff at the company, which also publishes The Times and Sunday Times.
Ms Brooks, 43, said she quit to avoid distracting attention from News International's efforts to "fix the problems of the past". She became a focus for criticism of the company's journalistic practices after it emerged that the News of the World hacked into murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone while she was editor of the Sunday tabloid.
Tom Mockridge, chief executive at Sky Italia, will replace Ms Brooks as chief executive, News Corporation said.
Ms Brooks wrote in her email to staff: "My desire to remain on the bridge has made me a focal point of the debate.
"This is now detracting attention from all our honest endeavours to fix the problems of the past. Therefore I have given Rupert and James Murdoch my resignation. While it has been a subject of discussion, this time my resignation has been accepted."
Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "It is right that Rebekah Brooks has resigned. No-one should exercise power without responsibility."
The party's former deputy prime minister, Lord Prescott, said: "Just heard Rebekah Brooks' has resigned. Thank God! It's another step closer to getting a more responsible press in this country."
In a message to News International staff, News Corporation's chief executive in Europe James Murdoch hailed Ms Brooks as "one of the outstanding editors of her generation" who "can be proud of many accomplishments as an executive". "We support her as she takes this step to clear her name," he said.
Mr Murdoch junior revealed that News Corp is planning to use national press adverts this weekend to apologise to the nation for wrongdoing at the News of the World.
AOL
******************************************************************************
Rebekah Brooks goes down in flames: CEO quits post amid phone-hacking scandal
Jul 15, 2011
Rebekah Brooks has resigned as chief executive of News International amid growing political and commercial pressure over the phone hacking scandal.
The former Sun and News of the World editor announced she was standing down in an internal email to staff at the company, which also publishes The Times and Sunday Times.
Ms Brooks, 43, said she quit to avoid distracting attention from News International's efforts to "fix the problems of the past". She became a focus for criticism of the company's journalistic practices after it emerged that the News of the World hacked into murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone while she was editor of the Sunday tabloid.
Tom Mockridge, chief executive at Sky Italia, will replace Ms Brooks as chief executive, News Corporation said.
Ms Brooks wrote in her email to staff: "My desire to remain on the bridge has made me a focal point of the debate.
"This is now detracting attention from all our honest endeavours to fix the problems of the past. Therefore I have given Rupert and James Murdoch my resignation. While it has been a subject of discussion, this time my resignation has been accepted."
Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "It is right that Rebekah Brooks has resigned. No-one should exercise power without responsibility."
The party's former deputy prime minister, Lord Prescott, said: "Just heard Rebekah Brooks' has resigned. Thank God! It's another step closer to getting a more responsible press in this country."
In a message to News International staff, News Corporation's chief executive in Europe James Murdoch hailed Ms Brooks as "one of the outstanding editors of her generation" who "can be proud of many accomplishments as an executive". "We support her as she takes this step to clear her name," he said.
Mr Murdoch junior revealed that News Corp is planning to use national press adverts this weekend to apologise to the nation for wrongdoing at the News of the World.
AOL
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