Current Affairs

[jacksparrow]

Bring back porridge.... whilst prisoners should have human rights inside in some ways it can be too cushy..

[screwy]

None of it makes sense to me Scewy. To my simple mind (single meds please but double measure BTW) none of it makes sense. If the sentence is 8 years that should mean 8 years. Not 4 or 6. The only variation should be added years for misbehaviour. That's not increasing the sentence for the original crime. .It's punishment for additional bad behaviour. And while I'm on it life should mean life. If we stopped being soft on criminals there would be fewer of them once the message got through.

Whereas I can agree with you Merv the train of thought is ...if a prisoner has to do the full time he has no reason to behave thus making life extremely difficult for staff as he has nothing to lose.! Now as much as officers don’t mind rolling round on the floor, we don’t necessarily want to do it.Misbehaviour in Prison isn’t a criminal offence but an offence against prison rules which can only attract added days from time off already allowed in sentencing, unless of course the offence committed in custody is such that it is deemed as criminal I.e assault,however snowflake governors are reluctant to back up staff.Sad state of affairs I know but most governors now tend to be from Psychology backgrounds not prison...I’m just glad I’m out of it.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Interesting times politically on a number of front today.

A poll puts Rebecca Long-Bailey-Corbyn-Clone in last place as choice for Labour leader. I wonder if those who actually have a vote in the leadership race will take any notice of the fact they appear to be unelectable if they choose her.

The White House says Trump has been vindicated in his impeachment trial. Yes in the sense that his supporters prevented prosecution witnesses being called.

Another senior SNP figure caught up in a sex scandal. I wonder how that helps their future electoral chances?

[Frank Manning]

We have never needed a good Labour leader more than we do now. Even given the deficit in seats, they could unite themselves and come up with a sensible future sfrategy, and they could at least make an intelligent contribution to parliamentary debate. Please!

[towny44]

We have never needed a good Labour leader more than we do now. Even given the deficit in seats, they could unite themselves and come up with a sensible future sfrategy, and they could at least make an intelligent contribution to parliamentary debate. Please!

Their candidates show the same characteristics of the US Democratic Presidential candidates, far left spendthrift no hopers, Capital centric champagne socialists, and lightweight but believable candidates who probably won't last the pace.
As a long time Tory voter I should be jumping for joy, but I would like to see a viable labour leader whose policies won't bankrupt the country. That should make them electable, and that should ensure that Boris lives up to his promises, or else.

[Onelife]

There is only one leader who can turn the labour party fortunes around and he/she will be the person who would be prepared to replace the whole of the present labour front bench.

Until such time.......

[Mervyn and Trish]

In the light of other news today I'd just like everyone to know I'm coming out as straight.

I like Phillip Schofield as a presenter. He seems a decent bloke. I don't care whether he is gay or not. That's a personal matter between him, his family and friends.

I don't understand this need to "come out". I judge people as people, not by their sex, religion, gender, sexuality etc. It always seems to me that the fuss that is made about news like this actually damages equality. It shouldn't matter one way or the other.

[Onelife]

In the light of other news today I'd just like everyone to know I'm coming out as straight.

I like Phillip Schofield as a presenter. He seems a decent bloke. I don't care whether he is gay or not. That's a personal matter between him, his family and friends.

I don't understand this need to "come out". I judge people as people, not by their sex, religion, gender, sexuality etc. It always seems to me that the fuss that is made about news like this actually damages equality. It shouldn't matter one way or the other.

Get the viewers sympathy and your show bizz career stays intake, lose it and you're dead meat?

It sounds like he has his families support so good luck to the chap.......He looks as if he has gone through the mill.

[Frank Manning]

This forum is strangely quiet about the Sajid Javid resignation, and the summary sacking of the competent Julian Smith. I wonder what will happen longer term. The opposition are weak, but even Tory MPs are going to display disquiet if they find that unelected Dominic Cummings is dictating to them all. I cant see Tobias Ellwood rolling over easily, he has already displayed backbone.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I'm quiet Frank for the simple reason I do not know what happens behind the closed doors of Downing Street and don't believe all the speculation from journalists who know little more than me.

What I do know is that Theresa May's government was destroyed by MPs and Ministers and their advisers pursuing their own agendas and leaking like seives to the media. What we need is what Margaret Thatcher called Collective Cabinet Responsibility with everyone in government pulling in the same direction. Anyone not willing to work to the common agenda needs to be gone.

[towny44]

I tend to agree with Merv's views Frank, although I would like the cabinet to be as broadly based as possible. I don't really have a view on Dominic Cummings, but I do want Downing street to be leek free, and if he achieves that it should prevent a lot of press speculation and in-fighting in the party.
Not sure what Tobias Ellwood has to do with the Sajid David resignation though.

[Frank Manning]

Not sure what Tobias Ellwood has to do with the Sajid David resignation though.
[/quote]
You missed my context there. I am saying that he wont be dictated to by anyone.

[barney]

Probably explain why he hasn’t got a cabinet job.
This setup is obviously toe the line or do one.
No more leaks, back stabbing or plotting.
These are different times.

[Manoverboard]

It will make this Government much stronger than the last … out of interest Labour did the same thing so it's nothing new nor underhand.

Hence no need for me to comment previously.

[towny44]

Not sure what Tobias Ellwood has to do with the Sajid David resignation though.

You missed my context there. I am saying that he wont be dictated to by anyone.
[/quote]
But why was he important enough for you to name him out of all the millions of other Conservative MPs????

[Frank Manning]

Not sure what Tobias Ellwood has to do with the Sajid David resignation though.

You missed my context there. I am saying that he wont be dictated to by anyone.

But why was he important enough for you to name him out of all the millions of other Conservative MPs????
[/quote]

Because I have met him, and I like his attitude. He is not my MP, but on the basis of; will someone represent me and my values, I would vote for him, I couldn't say that about quite a lot of them, on both sides of the chamber.

[Frank Manning]

Probably explain why he hasn’t got a cabinet job.
This setup is obviously toe the line or do one.
No more leaks, back stabbing or plotting.
These are different times.

Ah. Now he's got what he plotted for, Boris the arch backstabber and Dom his puppet master have spoken. But it's, 'put up or shut up time for all. It cuts both ways. If you live by the sword you die by the sword.

[barney]

Absolutely Frank.
As I said, it’s different times. Things may never be as they were again

[Manoverboard]

Absolutely Frank.
As I said, it’s different times. Things may never be as they were again

Especially if Diane Abbott keeps her word

DA to stand down from Shadow Cabinet … pity that, I shall miss her.


.

[oldbluefox]

Especially if Diane Abbott keeps her word

DA to stand down from Shadow Cabinet … pity that, I shall miss her.


.

Well that's one comedy act less.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Tragic loss.

[Onelife]

Probably explain why he hasn’t got a cabinet job.
This setup is obviously toe the line or do one.
No more leaks, back stabbing or plotting.
These are different times.

Ah. Now he's got what he plotted for, Boris the arch backstabber and Dom his puppet master have spoken. But it's, 'put up or shut up time for all. It cuts both ways. If you live by the sword you die by the sword.

Most dictatorships work well in the short term

[Onelife]

Especially if Diane Abbott keeps her word

DA to stand down from Shadow Cabinet … pity that, I shall miss her.


.

Well that's one comedy act less.

As l have said previously, if the labour party has a future Diana Abbott should be the first of many.

[david63]

Isn't it all a bit presumptuous that the new leader would even want her in the shadow cabinet?

[Mervyn and Trish]

Isn't it all a bit presumptuous that the new leader would even want her in the shadow cabinet?

Well I saw Jezzer quoted as saying he was willing to serve too! I'm afraid I fell about laughing. Whoever the new leader is, if they have either of those two, or Old McDonald, on their team they might as well hand in their notice now.