Should Corbyn remain as Labour leader?

[Denny Crane]

Shit there is an actual competition in the UK for kids to actually build model drones funded by Raytheon.

 

Arms industry spends millions to promote brands in schools

 

Defence groups sponsor lessons that promote building and sale of military hardware

 

Jamie Doward

 

Sat 1 Sep 2018 21.00 BST

 

Arms manufacturers are spending millions of pounds a year promoting their brands in Britain’s schools, the Observer has learned.

 

The companies, which between them have sold tens of billions of pounds of weapons to overseas governments, including those with poor human rights records, sponsor a series of school events at which their brands are prominently on display. In addition, they issue teaching materials for use in classrooms that promote the defence sector, sponsor competitions and award prizes.

 

One company even deployed a high-profile children’s television presenter to promote its activities in a school, while another developed a missile simulator for pupils to “play with”. Critics accuse the companies of trying to “normalise their appalling business” in the minds of the young, but the body representing the defence sector says such an approach is vital if the UK is to produce a future generation of engineers

 

“When these companies are promoting themselves to children they are not talking about the deadly impact their weapons are having,” said Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade. “Many of these companies have profited from war and fuelled atrocities around the world. Schools are vital to our society and should never be used as commercial vehicles for arms companies. It is time for arms companies to be kicked out of the classroom

 

BAE Systems, Europe’s largest arms company whose fighter jets are currently being used by Saudi forces in Yemen – where there have been large numbers of strikes on civilian buildings – visited 420 schools across the UK last year and prepared lesson plans for children as young as seven.

 

The company promotes its roadshows on Twitter and other social media. One event included an appearance by CBeebies television presenter Maddie Moate who, according to BAE, was there to “join in the fun and take a few ‘selfies’ for her own personal collection”.

 

In an online presentation, BAE states that it spends tens of millions of pounds a year on reaching pupils as young as four. Among worksheets issued to schoolchildren were some encouraging them to think about how BAE’s special camouflage system could have “significant advantages on the battlefield” by allowing tanks to become invisible to hostile thermal imaging systems.

 

Another sheet encourages pupils to look at the company’s past initiatives to find out “more about how shapes of aeroplanes, ships, submarines and tanks have changed over the years”.

 

 

Since 2005, 213,000 young people have seen a BAE roadshow, according to the company. BAE also claims to have 845 “ambassadors” – comprised mainly of school governors across Britain.

 

But its activities have proved controversial. Last year there were complaints from parents whose children were taken out of classes at Glasgow Gaelic School to attend a BAE event.

 

A spokeswoman for BAE defended its interest in schools. “As a world leader in advanced engineering and technology, our education and skills activities inspire the next generation of engineers to help address the critical skills gap,” she said. “We invest in a diverse portfolio of programmes aimed at encouraging more young people to study STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) subjects, which is vital for the UK economy.”

 

Raytheon, the fourth-largest arms company in the world, which has sold bombs and missiles to Israel and Saudi Arabia and whose weapons have been used in Yemen, runs an annual competition across the UK for pupils to build model drones. The US company’s website says it supports science and technology programmes “”.

 

Thales, the world’s 10th-largest arms company, whose customers include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Kazakhstan, has its who are used to promote the French company’s education tools.

 

It produces teaching resources and lesson plans for teachers, sponsors the Big Bang Fair and regional events across the country, and has designed a missile simulator as “a new activity for children to play with that related to our work and would help inspire them to consider engineering for a future career”.

 

French MBDA, whose missiles are also being used by Saudi forces in Yemen, runs a “robot rumble” competition where pupils compete to design and build a robot. Each robot is put through , according to the promotional website

 

Leonardo, an Italian company which makes naval artillery and armoured vehicles, “actively supports education and skills development through partnerships with schools, colleges and universities throughout the country, investing substantially in school engagement and supporting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) curriculums

 

And Rolls-Royce, whose military aircraft engines service “160 customers in 103 countries”, sponsors a Cub scientist activity badge for the Scout Association.

 

Paul Everitt, chief executive of ADS, the trade body which represents defence contractors, said it was important for the sector to engage with schools.

 

“UK defence companies play a vital role in local communities, providing high-value, long-term jobs with rewarding career paths for those choosing apprenticeships, graduate or post-graduate routes,” he said. “The UK has a national shortage of engineers. Events and challenges run by industry in partnership with schools help to inspire the next generation of engineers and boost access to careers in an innovative and technologically advanced sector. In their engagement with schools, defence companies focus on encouraging pupils to study maths and sciences.”

 

But Smith called on schools to sever their links with arms companies. “The fact that companies that arm and support human-rights-abusing regimes are targeting such young children is extremely concerning,” he said. “Arms companies aren’t targeting schools because they care about education. They are doing it because they want to improve their reputations and normalise their appalling business.”

 

 

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/01/arms-industry-spending-millions-normalise-weapons-in-schools?__twitter_impression=true

[Denny Crane]

Only fair I post a pic of Maddie Moate. They aren't sending out Clare Balding are they.

 

 

[Strontium]

Berger needs to be told she can get to fuck, she has absolutely no business being a Liverpool MP.

Surely she has as much business being a Liverpool MP as anyone else who is elected as a Liverpool MP.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Surely she has as much business being a Liverpool MP as anyone else who is elected as a Liverpool MP.

She's a weird one. I don't know what she's like as a constituency MP, but I've heard no complaints so I assume she's OK, and her work om mental health is all good - but why the fuck does she need to ruin it with her repeated smears aimed at bringing the party into disrepute?

[Gnasher]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/labours-leading-jewish-mp-luciana-13178445

 

Luciana Berger today throws down the gauntlet to Jeremy Corbyn to keep her in the party.

 

Labour’s most prominent Jewish MP says it’s now up to the Labour leader to make it clear whether he wants to keep moderates like her.

 

She told the Sunday Mirror in an exclusive interview: “It is my party as much as anyone else’s

 

“But moderate Jewish activists or councillors are being made to feel there’s no place in the party for us anymore.”

 

“Now it’s up to the leadership to decide whether we should feel welcome, or have a place at all.”

Tell the cunt to fuck off. Plenty of work for her with Bibi, Zionists and the friends of Israel far right mob. She will be ok.

[Section_31]

Imagine if Labour did split? Who wouldn't want to join the party of Berger, Umuna et al. Inspiring stuff.

 

No, the reason they stay Labour and chose Labour is because they need the rank and file to do the grunt work but are horrified by the prospect of them choosing leaders or shaping policy.

[Jairzinho]

Imagine if Labour did split? Who wouldn't want to join the party of Berger, Umuna et al. Inspiring stuff.

 

No, the reason they stay Labour and chose Labour is because they need the rank and file to do the grunt work but are horrified by the prospect of them choosing leaders or shaping policy.

 

If they started a new super duper centrist party It would look almost exactly like on that program "The revolution will be televised". 

 

 

"Where the fuck are all of our voters?"

[Numero Veinticinco]

There’s already a centerist party. They should join those.

[Jairzinho]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax9dAqtPe6c

 

Great opening, followed by Dan Hodges being eviscerated.

[Creator Supreme]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax9dAqtPe6c

 

Great opening, followed by Dan Hodges being exsanguinated.

Fixed that for you! (Well we can hope!)

[Numero Veinticinco]

His absolute annihilation of Frank Field is well worth a listen.

[Nelly-Szoboszlai]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/02/as-palestinian-arab-mps-in-israel-we-salute-corbyn-as-a-champion-of-peace-and-justice

[Jenson]

Surely she has as much business being a Liverpool MP as anyone else who is elected as a Liverpool MP.

I can certainly see what a London-born, privately educated career politician parachuted into a safe Labour seat has in common with the people of Wavertree.

[Rico1304]

I can certainly see what a London-born, privately educated career politician parachuted into a safe Labour seat has in common with the people of Wavertree.

London born, privately educated leader?

[Strontium]

I can certainly see what a London-born, privately educated career politician parachuted into a safe Labour seat has in common with the people of Wavertree.

Missing the point somewhat. She has been elected numerous times to the seat. The idea that she has to embody the lowest common denominator of individual living within the area seems utterly ludicrous.

[Numero Veinticinco]

She has been elected to the seat for the same reason Frank Field has. It’s not out of love, suitability, or anything else, it’s because they’re the choice they’ve been given. People could vote even more against their ideals rather than take their least worst option, I guess, which is practically the same as no choice at all.

 

We need to stop thinking that being elected means you’re doing well and people like you. Sometimes they just like the others less.

[cloggypop]

Only 6% of Labour voters were actually that arsed who their local MP was apparently

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-voters-reasons-jeremy-corbyn-manifesto-local-mp-mandatory-reselection-a7840856.html

[Jenson]

Missing the point somewhat. She has been elected numerous times to the seat. The idea that she has to embody the lowest common denominator of individual living within the area seems utterly ludicrous.

Perhaps it’s just me but I believe a MP should at least have some common ground with the people of their constituency, if not be from the area itself.

[Numero Veinticinco]

Perhaps it’s just me but I believe a MP should at least have some common ground with the people of their constituency, if not be from the area itself.

Hold up? So you’re saying that, in a representative democracy the MP should be representative of the constituents? Disgraceful notion.

 

Of course, it’s not a requirement, but it would be nice if they represented their views at least.

[Nelly-Szoboszlai]

Well, this is a surprising development....said nobody. Ever.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/sep/02/margaret-hodge-jeremy-corbyn-problem-labour-antisemitism-crisis

[Jairzinho]

Just hurry up and fling the old cunt out of the party.

[Nelly-Szoboszlai]

It's almost as if....er....getting rid of Corbyn was her aim from the very outset.

 

Well, I never!

[Jenson]

Mandatory reselection can’t come quick enough

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Well, this is a surprising development....said nobody. Ever.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/sep/02/margaret-hodge-jeremy-corbyn-problem-labour-antisemitism-crisis

"May turn into"

 

What an absolute piss-take.

[Nelly-Szoboszlai]

Mandatory reselection can’t come quick enough

I wouldn't be surprised if she ramped up the rhetoric in the next few days. She probably wants to be disciplined again, or have the Labour whip withdrawn from her so she can falsely attribute it all to antisemitism, rather than the truth which is that she's a sensationalist horror who failed to get rid of Corbyn once before and is happy to cause significant damage to the party to have another go at it.