Current Affairs 2023

[screwy]

Mick Lynch complaining that the government won’t negotiate. This from a man who famously said he wouldn’t negotiate with a Tory govt.!

[towny44]

Chris Mason proudly boasts that we now know a little more about the PMs healthcare provision, after he confirms that he has used private health care. But has this had any major impact on the current crisis in the NHS, or brought the strikes any closer to being called off, I wonder.

[david63]

Chris Mason proudly boasts that we now know a little more about the PMs healthcare provision, after he confirms that he has used private health care. But has this had any major impact on the current crisis in the NHS, or brought the strikes any closer to being called off, I wonder.

What has it got to do with anyone else anyway?

[Mervyn and Trish]

I wonder if Chris Mason has ever used private health care? And who cares?

We expect our PM to be working 24 hours a day. If he is ever unwell we'd hope he got fixed quickly. We would not wish him to get any preferential treatment from the NHS. Therefore his use of private health care if needed is just as reasonable as any other senior person in industry for example.

Or do we expect the NHS to match BUPA performance at all times?

We need to get real. I'd like a better resourced NHS. I'd be prepared to pay more tax to achieve that - like they do in other countries with better resourced health services. But how many of the whingers would do likewise? Mostly they expect something for nothing.

[screwy]

In the past we used private health care for an investigation into our daughters illness.

The MiL used it to investigate her hip.

Neither of these made the headlines. Who cares.!

[towny44]

I used to get family private health care from work, and my wife had a hip replacement paid for via this route, do you think I should advise Chris Mason????

[Bensham33]

If you can afford private health care then have it for you and any member of your family, I can't see anything wrong with that. What would be worse is for millionaires to use the NHS.

[Bensham33]

Mick Lynch complaining that the government won’t negotiate. This from a man who famously said he wouldn’t negotiate with a Tory govt.!

Well this disruption won't get solved until the Government do start talking. These strikes are affecting a lot of people's business and commuters. It's not good enough for the Government to keep saying it's nothing to do with them.

[screwy]

I totally agree, but is reluctance to negotiate with a Tory govt a hindrance.?

[towny44]

Mick Lynch complaining that the government won’t negotiate. This from a man who famously said he wouldn’t negotiate with a Tory govt.!

Well this disruption won't get solved until the Government do start talking. These strikes are affecting a lot of people's business and commuters. It's not good enough for the Government to keep saying it's nothing to do with them.

But if the govt can't or won't agree to an increase above the independent wage review bodies offers, how are the unions to be satisfied with that?
I don't want to see wage inflation take off and push up the rate of inflation, but equally I do understand that some of the striking unions do represent lower paid workers who are suffering badly with the increased energy costs and general price increases. Equally many of the strikers do already enjoy wages well above the average rate, where an above inflation rate increase would be very substantial.
In addition we have paramedics and some nurses, claiming that they want more spending on the NHS, as well as higher wages, to overcome the current bed blocking and long a&e waiting times for ambulances. Then we have the govt with a fragile revenue stream that is never enough to satisfy all the countries needs. Finally a private sector with labour shortages pushing up their wage costs well above the public sector pay review offers, leading to further inequality claims.
I think if I was the PM I might be tempted to call a GE and let the opposition have the insurmountable problems of trying to square this particular circle.

[Manoverboard]

There's a prog on tonight about a notorious prison in Manchester ...

Interviews with the Cons and the Screws so is Screwy in it does anybody know ?

[screwy]

No he isn’t. Never worked at Strangeways. Although I did appear on a channel 4 programme back in the late 90s or was it early naughties,I forget, anyway I think it was called ‘ Banged up’. The chef Antony worrall Thompson was on it.

[Bensham33]

I've been to prison, just once. I went with a friend to visit another friend in HMP Styal. That's also in Manchester. Not an experience I ever want to do twice.

[Manoverboard]

Styal was an open girlie sort of place, would much prefer to go t' mill.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I've been to National Trust at Styal.

[Manoverboard]

You have indeed, that's t' mill

[Ray B]

I can not imagine being 'banged up', having all your liberties taken away, being able to nip to the pub or a day in the country with the family. It must be hard for those going in for the first time to adjust. I treasure the freedom that we all enjoy and would not like to to put that in jeopardy.
Like Bensham I've been inside, it was Norwich prison a cat b/C and I found it very interesting when escorted to check on things. I was installing new fire lines and hydrants and the idea of not going home at the end of the day was not something I would fancy. At the same time looking at some of the mouthy youngsters wouldn't fancy spending my working days as a warder.

[screwy]

But you know right from wrong Ray. Well hopefully.

[Bensham33]

I don't remember Styal being an open prison but it was for the women. I do remember the sniffer dogs and being searched on the way in.

[screwy]

Styal was an ex home for destitute children,hence why it is like a housing estate.

I never worked in a female prison and had no desire to.

[towny44]

I just noticed that petrol is now under £1.50 and diesel under £1.70 per litre down 40p or 20%, but I dont believe this has made the BBC news, I wonder why?

[screwy]

Wholesale energy prices down too.!

[Ray B]

Towny, don't know where you live but Diesel is now 168.7 and 148.7 petrol where I fill up. Seems to drop 1p a week. Shell, a few yards further along is a lot more.

[screwy]

Diesel at some of our Tesco and Esso stations is 1.66.9. Don’t care about petrol.

[towny44]

Diesel at some of our Tesco and Esso stations is 1.66.9. Don’t care about petrol.

I filled up with diesel at our main Sainsburys 10 days ago and paid 167.9, I would expect it to be at least 5p cheaper now.