The Politics Thread 2020

[G STAR RAM]

20 minutes ago, SchtivePesley said:

Agreed - which is why I linked to his blog, so people can see for themselves

I'll probably be expelled for this but I'm not 100% against everything he stands for. In some respects he's right to want to question the way the civil service works. He's right to question some of the archaic mechanisms of government that stunt progress

My problem with him is that he's just one guy and none of this can possibly be resolved by the thoughts or ideas of an individual - elected or not. The fact he seems to be wielding so much power (enough to force the Chancellor of the Exchequer  to resign!) should worry everybody

So we do agree on something. Most have been moaning about Government for years and now someone wants to shake it up people are disgusted.

Its not a fact that he seems to be wielding such power by the way, it's an opinion mainly driven by the media.

What did Raab say? Advisors advise, ministers decide.

[G STAR RAM]

10 minutes ago, AndyinLiverpool said:

Ah, you believe. Should we not demand evidence in the same way that you do?

How can we get evidence that I think most people are basing their opinions on what the media are telling them?

I'm not passing it of as fact like alot are on here just saying what I think.

Reading news articles this morning and Cummings name appears to be in every other sentence, seems to be like the media are really pushing this for some reason.

[A Ram for All Seasons]

10 hours ago, 1of4 said:

Johnson may be willing to let the UK trade under WTO rules. But to say the country is prepared to actually trade under WTO rules is a very different proposition. Wheres the infrastructure that will be needed, just to to get a few lorries through a customs check point.

The new chancellor's big idea is "free ports", i.e. untaxed, unregulated seaside sweatshops where noble Britons toil away for a pittance trying to undercut neighbouring countries. There is no way that the EU is going to put up with that. WTO rules will enable the EU to protect its internal market by imposing punitive tariffs and import quotas (or even import bans).

[G STAR RAM]

9 minutes ago, A Ram for All Seasons said:

The new chancellor's big idea is "free ports", i.e. untaxed, unregulated seaside sweatshops where noble Britons toil away for a pittance trying to undercut neighbouring countries. There is no way that the EU is going to put up with that. WTO rules will enable the EU to protect its internal market by imposing punitive tariffs and import quotas (or even import bans).

And we will do nothing in return are you suggesting?

[Van der MoodHoover]

2 hours ago, G STAR RAM said:

Yes that is fair comment of course.

But already we are seeing everything attributed to Cummins based on very little other than people dont like him because what has been said about him in the press.

And I accept that is unintelligent based on no/superficial analysis. 

See? We're chums after all......?

[Van der MoodHoover]

2 hours ago, King Kevin said:

There has been more discord going back over history than harmony between Chancellors and Prime Ministers . Blair /Brown ,May / Hammond,Thatcher /Lawson etc etc .

At such a important  point in our future you can't afford another disconnect and have someone working against you .Having said that you do need other opinions other than your own .The buck stops with Boris.

This is a concern. Boris has exhibited no traits that lead me to believe that he would - in adverse circumstances - take accountability. 

Credit for the good stuff - absolutely,  he will be all over it.

[Gee SCREAMER !!]

1 hour ago, SchtivePesley said:

Agreed - which is why I linked to his blog, so people can see for themselves

I'll probably be expelled for this but I'm not 100% against everything he stands for. In some respects he's right to want to question the way the civil service works. He's right to question some of the archaic mechanisms of government that stunt progress

My problem with him is that he's just one guy and none of this can possibly be resolved by the thoughts or ideas of an individual - elected or not. The fact he seems to be wielding so much power (enough to force the Chancellor of the Exchequer  to resign!) should worry everybody

It doesn't . The civil service has been decimated by cuts since 2007 at ground level.  They have an obsession with constantly closing offices -think we're at about twelve tax offices to serve the entire UK populace -and savaging agreed working rights at the detriment to there staff and public service . Try talking to a human, you might get through in an hour.  All made possible by Labour opening the door taking the union to the high court to reduce redundancy payments and increase pension contributions and retirement age.

At the time I voted Labour and always had, I never will again.  Then I tried Lib Dem under Clegg as I thought as a student in the 90's who didn't have to fund my course others should be afforded the same opportunity, that big manifesto pledge which went equally well. 

All politicians talk balls. You just have too decide which ones talk the most at any given time.

[G STAR RAM]

1 hour ago, AndyinLiverpool said:

Ah, you believe. Should we not demand evidence in the same way that you do?

Just to go back on this point...

I dont DEMAND evidence, however, if people are able to back their assertions up with evidence it gives me a lot more comfort that what they are saying is correct and not just something being regurgitated from one of the daily tags.

 

[Van der MoodHoover]

11 minutes ago, Gee SCREAMER !! said:

It doesn't . The civil service has been decimated by cuts since 2007 at ground level.  They have an obsession with constantly closing offices -think we're at about twelve tax offices to serve the entire UK populace -and savaging agreed working rights at the detriment to there staff and public service . Try talking to a human, you might get through in an hour.  All made possible by Labour opening the door taking the union to the high court to reduce redundancy payments and increase pension contributions and retirement age.

At the time I voted Labour and always had, I never will again.  Then I tried Lib Dem under Clegg as I thought as a student in the 90's who didn't have to fund my course others should be afforded the same opportunity, that big manifesto pledge which went equally well. 

All politicians talk balls. You just have too decide which ones talk the most at any given time.

Sadly it is management nature to presume that cuts mean following out from underneath. Very rare that you hear management conclude that the top cadres could get by on 10-15% less.

Absolutely not, they have to manage....so reduce the number of people underneath.

Very primitive thought processes.

But I'm seeing it where I work. There is a financial projection of the business that shows that by around 2050, the only activity is paying the monthly pension of the projected 3000 customers. The only employees needed are a 5-strong senior management team all forecast to be earning £1m plus.

Nonsense. 

[Stive Pesley]

44 minutes ago, Gee SCREAMER !! said:

It doesn't . The civil service has been decimated by cuts since 2007 at ground level.  They have an obsession with constantly closing offices -think we're at about twelve tax offices to serve the entire UK populace -and savaging agreed working rights at the detriment to there staff and public service . Try talking to a human, you might get through in an hour.  All made possible by Labour opening the door taking the union to the high court to reduce redundancy payments and increase pension contributions and retirement age.

Agreed. All part of austerity measures I'm sure. A mate used to work in the Derby office now has to commute to the Birmingham office and it kills him

One of the big problems that Cummings focuses on (and my mate agrees) is that they also removed pay progression, so the only way to get a raise is to move from department to department, which has led to a blaggers and bluffers culture where the “high-fliers” never stick around and therefore never take on a full understanding of what they are doing. Just talk a good game, point at how “experienced” you are on your CV and get the job. Rinse and repeat. Cummings calls out that lack of developing specialist expertise as an issue

So will they fix pay progression to enable people to stay where they are and grow – whilst also getting fairly paid as their experience grows?

Of course the irony is that Cummings himself is a bluffer, and the reason he’s noticed the problem is because he relies on the specialists knowing what they are doing. When a bluffer finds himself surrounded by other bluffers they are bound to be worried!

[WhiteHorseRam]

12 hours ago, uttoxram75 said:

But hey, culture wars, I’m going to have to google that because I really haven’t got a clue what it means.

Isn't that a new DC comics film coming out next year with Robert Paterson?

[WhiteHorseRam]

2 hours ago, G STAR RAM said:

How can we get evidence that I think most people are basing their opinions on what the media are telling them?

I'm not passing it of as fact like alot are on here just saying what I think.

Reading news articles this morning and Cummings name appears to be in every other sentence, seems to be like the media are really pushing this for some reason.

I get the feeling a big part of this is that various media bigwigs dislike Cummings on a personal level, have history with him.

Also some of this is that we have a PM who has a big ol' majority for the first time in ages, and can do what he wants.

But, its all on Bojo now whatever.

[ariotofmyown]

47 minutes ago, WhiteHorseRam said:

Isn't that a new DC comics film coming out next year with Robert Paterson?

Cummings is writing comics films now too. What a guy.

[ariotofmyown]

44 minutes ago, WhiteHorseRam said:

I get the feeling a big part of this is that various media bigwigs dislike Cummings on a personal level, have history with him.

Also some of this is that we have a PM who has a big ol' majority for the first time in ages, and can do what he wants.

But, its all on Bojo now whatever.

Obviously just speculation but wonder what the ties that bind Cummings to Johnson are. He was well in with Gove before too. Hopefully he is just an advisor who get be removed at any moment our elected politicians desire. Would hate to think there is more to it.

[Gee SCREAMER !!]

Thought it might be a bit of an eye opener to have a look at the main parties election broadcasts from 2010.  At the time viewed as probably the tightest election in years .  See what you think - who talks the most drivel and how much of what was being said was accurate and came to pass.  Might be an interesting exercise.

[1of4]

I see Johnson as started getting his cabinet ministers well trained by having them recite numbers, when he asked how many more policemen, nurses and buses, he planned to introduce.

Talking of all those 4,000 new shiny buses that the tax payer is going to buy. Where and by who will they be operated?

Can we expect to see any of them trundling around the streets of Derby? If so what colour will they be painted in? Arriva blue or could we see the return of a cream and green council run service.

Maybe Johnson is planning to use the buses along with Northern Rail as the start of a nationalised public transport service. 

[EtoileSportiveDeDerby]

24 minutes ago, 1of4 said:

I see Johnson as started getting his cabinet ministers well trained by having them recite numbers, when he asked how many more policemen, nurses and buses, he planned to introduce.

Talking of all those 4,000 new shiny buses that the tax payer is going to buy. Where and by who will they be operated?

Can we expect to see any of them trundling around the streets of Derby? If so what colour will they be painted in? Arriva blue or could we see the return of a cream and green council run service.

Maybe Johnson is planning to use the buses along with Northern Rail as the start of a nationalised public transport service. 

misprint, BJ meant ruses

[TramRam]

2 hours ago, SchtivePesley said:

Agreed. All part of austerity measures I'm sure. A mate used to work in the Derby office now has to commute to the Birmingham office and it kills him

One of the big problems that Cummings focuses on (and my mate agrees) is that they also removed pay progression, so the only way to get a raise is to move from department to department, which has led to a blaggers and bluffers culture where the “high-fliers” never stick around and therefore never take on a full understanding of what they are doing. Just talk a good game, point at how “experienced” you are on your CV and get the job. Rinse and repeat. Cummings calls out that lack of developing specialist expertise as an issue

So will they fix pay progression to enable people to stay where they are and grow – whilst also getting fairly paid as their experience grows?

Of course the irony is that Cummings himself is a bluffer, and the reason he’s noticed the problem is because he relies on the specialists knowing what they are doing. When a bluffer finds himself surrounded by other bluffers they are bound to be worried!

Agard Street? or Roman House Friar Gate? both closed for Government cuts.

My Daughter worked at both as a VAT investigator until she was offered re location to Nottingham or losing her job, She moved through gritted teeth, Austerity hit her very hard 1% if lucky per year pay rise, Where walking to work was cheap travelling on the train and paying train fares was financially painfull, But hey she still had a job.

Several years later, And taking more exams she's getting to the top in her pay scale, She travells to London for meetings, Sometimes by mini bus laid on by the Government or 2nd class train to St Pancras paid for by the Government, Meals she pays for.

Now she can work from home 2-3 days a week, Time and money saved.

 

[Rev]

Since Brexit, this has somehow become the most sane thread on the entire forum.

[Angry Ram]

29 minutes ago, reverendo de duivel said:

Since Brexit, this has somehow become the most sane thread on the entire forum.

Won't last..