Theresa "MAY" not build a better Britain.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Bet it's not even a pull ring can. 

[thegreatelephant]

Not May-related so much, but interesting.

This is a link to the list of 'interests' declared by journalists working the Westminster patch: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmjournl/journalists.htm

 

Most of them have none, some have one or two.  

 

This is Andrew Neill's:

 

Chairman, Press Holdings Media Group (The Spectator, Spectator Health, Life, Money & Australia; and Apollo, the international arts magazine). Chairman, ITP Magazine Group (Dubai)

Chairman, The Addison Club (London)

Director, Glenburn Enterprises Limited (provides media and consultancy services).

 

Fees for speaking at or chairing an event were received from the following organisations:

Christie & Co (property advisors)

Berenberg (banking)

Helaba Landesbank (banking)

M&G (investment management company)

Titlestone (property finance company)

EEF (industry body for engineering and manufacturing)

Nottingham Industry Group (industry body)

White & Case (city law firm)

Association of Investment Companies (trade association)

SES (satellite services company)

BT (telecommunications company)

Endless LLP (private equity firm)

Exponent (private equity company)

Allianz (insurance company)

Tudor Capital (hedge fund)

KPMG (global financial services)

Raymond James (financial services company)

City & Guilds (skills and vocational education company)

Avis (car rental company)

Macquarie (infrastructure bank)

UK Tech (trade body for software and IT)

Jeffries (investment banking)

 

world class prostitute

[thegreatelephant]

US chlorine-washed chicken. Coming to an ASDA near you, plebs. Enjoy, says Mr Fox.

 

 

 

yes, but we demand to know, IS IT HALAL?

[Stickman]

Let's face it chickens have been having cans shoved up their arses for years so I guess it's only natural to start putting them in them now

 

[setreal]

ANd everybody:

 

Chickens come from a can

they were put there by a man

in a factory downtown..

 

da da dee da dee da

[Rick Sanchez C-137]

That canned chicken picture made me sick up a bit. I'd rather starve than eat that..

[Section_31]

They do eat some shite in America to be fair, sprayable instant eggs (not really eggs) in a can for example, corn syrup all over the shop and their chocolate and crisps are shit. 

[Gym Beglin]

I love some of the interests filed by MP's:

 

Stephen Crabb employs his wife, Beatrice Crabb.

She declared: Overseas Visits: 12-17 February 2017 to Israel on a fact finding political delegation. Travel and meals paid for by Conservative Friends of Israel and Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

 

I wonder what sort of well-balanced 'facts' she was presented with by her hosts.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

I wouldn't give that shite to the dog

 

They do this for dogs............

 

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Here's a decent article on the "good news" of the latest unemployment figures.

http://uk.businessinsider.com/unemployment-in-the-uk-is-now-so-low-its-in-danger-of-exposing-the-lie-used-to-create-the-numbers-2017-7

 

LONDON — Unemployment in Britain is now just 4.5%. There are only 1.49 million unemployed people in the UK, versus 32 million people with jobs.

 

This is almost unheard of. Unemployment was most recently this low in December 1973, when the UK set an unrepeated record of just 3.4%.

 

The problem with this record is that the statistical definition of "unemployment" relies on a fiction that economists tell themselves about the nature of work. As the rate gets lower and lower, it tests that lie. Because — as anyone who has studied basic economics knows — the official definition of unemployment disguises the true rate. In reality, about 21.5% of all working-age people (defined as ages 16 to 64) are without jobs, or 8.83 million people, according to the Office for National Statistics.

 

That's more than four times the official number.

 

For decades, economists have agreed on an artificial definition of what unemployment means. Their argument is that people who are taking time off, or have given up looking for work, or work at home to look after their family, don't count as part of the workforce. In the UK and the US, technical "full employment" has, as a rule of thumb, historically been placed at an unemployment rate of 5% to 6%. When unemployment gets that low it generally means that anyone who wants a job can have one.

 

Importantly, it also suggests that wages will start to rise. It becomes more difficult for crappy employers to keep their workers when those workers know they can move to nicer jobs. And workers can demand more money from a new employer when they move, or demand more money from their current employer for not moving.

 

By that thinking, the UK should be a golden age for workers — low inflation and low unemployment. Now is the time to get a job. Now is the time to ask for a raise. It doesn't get better than this. Wage rises ought to be eating into corporate profits as bosses give up their margins to retain workers and capital is transferred from companies to workers' pockets. Trebles all round!

 

Of course, that isn't happening.

 

Wages in the private sector have not started to rise. Public-sector wage rises are capped at 1%. There has been a little uptick in new-hire rates, but the overall trend is flat. This is part of the proof that shows real unemployment can't be just 4.5%:

 

More important, wages are not keeping pace with inflation. Here (below) is wage growth afterinflation has been taken out. Workers' real incomes are actually in decline, which is weird because so-called full employment ought to be spurring wages upward. Overall inflation ought to be driven by wage inflation. Yet wage inflation isn't happening:

So what's going on?

 

Why does Britain have no wage inflation, if the labour market is so tight?

 

The answer is that unemployment is not really that low. In reality, about 21.5% of British workers are either officially unemployed, inactive, or employed part time even though they really want full-time work. (The ONS has a chapter on that here.) Some of those people — parents with newborns, university students — may not want jobs right now, but they will want jobs soon. Even when you take those out of the equation, the true rate of people without jobs who want them looks like this, according to analyst Samuel Tombs at Pantheon Economics:

Note especially that the rump of "inactive" workers — the black bars — has stayed roughly the same for two decades.

 

The situation is worse from the perspective of men. The percentage of inactive male workers has tripled in the past 40 years, as more and more women are drawn into the workforce to replace them:

That last chart explains a LOT about today's politics in the UK.

 

On paper, Britain is supposed to be doing well — growing economy, low unemployment. So why did Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party get so many votes in the latest election? (Answer: People still feel poor, their wages are not rising, and one in seven workers is out of work.) Why did a majority of voters choose Brexit? (Answer: The economy for men is basically still in recession, and men don't like losing their economic power, so this was a good way of "taking back control.") And why are so many people trapped in the "gig economy," making minimum wage? (Answer: Because the true underlying rate of unemployment means companies can still find new workers even in a time of "full employment.")

 

So yes, it's great that we have low unemployment in Britain.

 

But it would be better if economists (and the business media) were a bit more up-front about how our definition of unemployment actually masks the real rate of worklessness, which today is quadruple the official rate.

[Nelly-Szoboszlai]

Another court defeat for the Tories, with the Supreme Court ruling that Employment Tribunal fees are illegal and that those who have paid them will have to be refunded, to the total tune of £32m.

 

I don't think I've ever seen a government hauled before the courts so often and held to have acted illegally.

[Gnasher]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/supreme-court-employment-tribunal-fees-unlawful-plaintiffs-women-gender-uk-companies-lawyers-a7860521.html

 

Have that Chris Gayling you utter cunt.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Excellent news!

[Gnasher]

Northern powerhouse out magic money tree back in

 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/24/transport-secretary-backs-crossrail-2-plan

 

 

Fuck off Gayling you cunt.

[Creator Supreme]

Northern powerhouse out magic money tree back in

 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/24/transport-secretary-backs-crossrail-2-plan

 

 

Fuck off Gayling you cunt.

They couldn't have made it more obvious that they don't give a shit about the north unless they physically separated the country north of Middlesex and floated off in to the Channel!

[Jockey]

Northern powerhouse out magic money tree back in

 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/24/transport-secretary-backs-crossrail-2-plan

 

 

Fuck off Gayling you cunt.

 

He is such a horrible, horrible cunt. Epitome of these talentless cunt. 

[Priory Doctor]

Another court defeat for the Tories, with the Supreme Court ruling that Employment Tribunal fees are illegal and that those who have paid them will have to be refunded, to the total tune of £32m.

 

I don't think I've ever seen a government hauled before the courts so often and held to have acted illegally.

The same Government who say there is no money( £500,000) to help the homeless people and businesses destroyed in New Ferry. Same Government who found an initial  billion for N.Irish bigots,and millions for a ridiculous election.

[Priory Doctor]

They couldn't have made it more obvious that they don't give a shit about the north unless they physically separated the country north of Middlesex and floated off in to the Channel!

Don't forget the amount getting spent on Londons crossrail, and the abolishing of tunnel fees on the Severn. Aren't all but one of London's bridges toll free? As if they would do that for Merseyside

[lifetime fan]

Don't forget the amount getting spent on Londons crossrail, and the abolishing of tunnel fees on the Severn. Aren't all but one of London's bridges toll free? As if they would do that for Merseyside

 

 

The tolls go to the owning company not the government. Not that i want to stick up for the despicable cunts.

[Anubis]

Don't forget the amount getting spent on Londons crossrail, and the abolishing of tunnel fees on the Severn. Aren't all but one of London's bridges toll free? As if they would do that for Merseyside

 

The Dartford crossing is the toll fee bridge. £2.50 each way for a car. It also just happens to be the busiest bridge/tunnel in the country with 150,000 plus vehicles each day, and is the main route to the ports in the South. Quelle surprise.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

https://www.aol.co.uk/news/2017/08/01/ministers-sneak-out-proposals-to-privatise-collection-of-court/

 

Ministers 'sneak out' proposals to privatise collection of court fines

The Government has been accused of "sneaking out" controversial plans to privatise the collection of court fines.

Staff have been told of plans to outsource work currently carried out by around 150 civil servants across England and Wales.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service said it was in talks with "providers", adding that the move would save millions of pounds.

But the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) opposed the change, warning that any private company given the work would want to make savings, which could affect jobs.

General secretary Mark Serwotka said: "The last time ministers tried to do something similar it ended up costing taxpayers £8 million before being abandoned, now they're trying to avoid scrutiny by sneaking it out during the summer holiday.

"This work is highly sensitive and should remain in-house instead of being handed to private bailiffs whose motive is profit."

A Courts & Tribunals Service spokesman said: "We take the recovery and enforcement of court fines very seriously and it is vital that offenders either pay or are brought back before the court.

"While no decisions have been made, we are in discussion with providers to extend the work of approved enforcement agencies which would save the taxpayer more than £18 million over the next five years."

[Nelly-Szoboszlai]

More illegality from the Tories.

 

We'll have to start calling her Theresa Mayduro, although it's actually possible that the current Venezuelan administration may have more regard for acting within the law than this rabble.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/aug/04/uk-judges-rule-dwp-wrong-to-deny-appeals-over-refused-benefits

[Dr Arthur De Sabre]

https://www.aol.co.uk/news/2017/08/01/ministers-sneak-out-proposals-to-privatise-collection-of-court/

Ministers 'sneak out' proposals to privatise collection of court fines

The Government has been accused of "sneaking out" controversial plans to privatise the collection of court fines.

Staff have been told of plans to outsource work currently carried out by around 150 civil servants across England and Wales.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service said it was in talks with "providers", adding that the move would save millions of pounds.

But the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) opposed the change, warning that any private company given the work would want to make savings, which could affect jobs.

General secretary Mark Serwotka said: "The last time ministers tried to do something similar it ended up costing taxpayers £8 million before being abandoned, now they're trying to avoid scrutiny by sneaking it out during the summer holiday.

"This work is highly sensitive and should remain in-house instead of being handed to private bailiffs whose motive is profit."

A Courts & Tribunals Service spokesman said: "We take the recovery and enforcement of court fines very seriously and it is vital that offenders either pay or are brought back before the court.

"While no decisions have been made, we are in discussion with providers to extend the work of approved enforcement agencies which would save the taxpayer more than £18 million over the next five years."

See the line in bold is part of the reason these fuckers get away with things, they put ideas forward in such a way as to make them seem rational. But any company taking this over is looking to make profit not savings, they couldn't give a fuck about saving the government money, if government requested they tender for an increase of staff with an increased expenditure then that is what they would get. Profit is the only motive of private companies taking over public services, but politicians consistently paint the picture as savings.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

See the line in bold is part of the reason these fuckers get away with things, they put ideas forward in such a way as to make them seem rational. But any company taking this over is looking to make profit not savings, they couldn't give a fuck about saving the government money, if government requested they tender for an increase of staff with an increased expenditure then that is what they would get. Profit is the only motive of private companies taking over public services, but politicians consistently paint the picture as savings.

 

Yep, because part of that profit/or and payments in kind find their way into offshore bank accounts from serving MP's. They just take the piss mate. 

[Moctezuma]

I'm not against the provision of the facilities and encouraging people to get active, but getting everyone on Apps so they can track their lifestyle and then have that linked to the cost of living and access to services is a slippery slope. Kind of difficult to do 30 mins of exercise per day when you are a single parent working multiple jobs. The conservatives are licking their lips at this type of thing, all about the individual also means they can get the ideological libs on board. If you're not exercising it must be a failure on your part...

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/21/families-could-get-supermarket-discounts-hit-nhs-exercise-targets/

 

Families could get discounts on their supermarket shopping if they hit weekly exercise “step targets” under radical NHS proposals.

Free bikes, sprinting tracks on pavements and outdoor public gyms are also proposed as part of efforts to drive out couch potato lifestyles and reward those who try to shape up.

The head of the health service said the schemes, which will be piloted in new towns, aimed to create a “design for life” which would persuade young and old out of sedentary habits.

Under the proposals, those who meet weekly activity targets, tracked on apps, could be offered discounts on weekly supermarket shopping and sports gear, free cinema tickets, or cut-price gym membership.

Housing developers will be asked to provide new homes with free bikes, in a bid to “cut car use and promote cycling”, health officials said.

The ideas are part of an NHS policy to create 10 “Healthy New Towns” which are piloting new ways to encourage more active living.

Health officials are examining schemes introduced by health insurers, which have given customers up to 25 per cent off their weekly Ocado shop if they hit monthly exercise targets. Other initiatives under scrutiny include free cinema tickets for those who achieve 12,500 steps at least three days a week.

 

Mr Stevens said: “If there’s to be a much needed wave of new housebuilding across England, let’s “design-in” health from the start.”

“Everyone wins where children can walk to school and play safely outside. Everyone benefits when people can easily walk to a nearby shop and where neighbours can get to know and look out for each other,” he said.  

One in five children starting primary school is obese or overweight, rising to one in three by the time they leave.

Smarter planning would help to “design-out” childhood obesity, said Mr Stevens, who said the ideas “point the way” to how new communities should be designed in future. Health officials said some of the boldest ideas in discussion are in Cheshire, where discounts, free bikes with new homes and sprinting tracks are under disccussion.

A scheme in Oxfordshire has begun offering families the chance to win prizes such as Fitbits for competing in exercise challenges.

The sites enrolled in the programme so far cover more than 76,000 homes across England, in

Whitehill and Bordon in Hampshire, Cranbrook in Devon, a new development in Darlington, Barking Riverside in London, Halton Lea in Runcorn, Cheshire, Whyndyke Farm in Fylde, Lancashire, a new community in Bicester, Oxfordshire, Northstowe in Cambridgeshire, Ebbsfleet Garden City in Kent and Barton Park in Oxford.

All are drawing up detailed plans which attempt to encourage healthy lifestyles and improve access to healthcare and community support.

In Darlington, “smart homes” means the NHS will be able to use technology to monitor the health of older residents with health conditions. And the Bicester scheme, Oxfordshire promise to offer 40 per cent green space, with pedestrian and cycle networks and allotments to grow food.

Walking levels have fallen by more than a third in three decades, with official statistics showing hte average person now walks for less than 10 minutes a day.

Health and fitness experts welcomed the ideas. Steven Ward, chief executive of Ukactive aid: “The old approach to healthcare has left Britain lurching into a physical inactivity crisis which threatens to bankrupt the NHS.

“Modern living has stripped movement out of our daily lives, so it’s time to rip up the rulebook for town planning and embrace innovative solutions to get people back on their feet.”

Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said: "If this works, it can be a win-win situation.”

"The incentive can bring in more business for firms taking part and motivate people to be healthier,” he said, suggesting that the cost of buying a bike for each home was “peanuts” for housing developers.

The NHS ideas under discussion:

• Free bikes with all new homes

• Discounted supermarket shopping in reward for achieving a weekly step count

• Sprinting tracks marked out on “safe pavements” connected to public gyms via urban obstacle courses

• Outdoor cinemas and community squares to encourage communities to socialise on foot

• Cooking lessons for local residents