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[Jezbollah]

I just heard on 5Live that Labour are planning to release their own business-related letter in response to the Telegraph's front page later this evening.

 

[Kotetsu534]

The only other Scottish restriction I can remember is that one study in Higher English must be a Scottish work, although that was years ago when I was at school.

This was no longer a requirement when I did Higher English in 2007-2008.

 

[CyclopsRock]

I just heard on 5Live that Labour are planning to release their own business-related letter in response to the Telegraph's front page later this evening.

From all the private companies they outsourced NHS provisions to.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA $atir€

 

[Jackpot]

I've come to the conclusion that the real reason the left hate UKIP so much and puts them into such a moral panic is because they know its their bastard offspring.

No, it's because it's full of full-blown racists that would destroy the country. They can't go a week without a scandal.

 

[AGoodODST]

A Labour MP has accused the SNP of brain washing school kids in Scotland as well. Michael McCann, MP for East Kilbride.

Posted in full because it has been deleted from Labour's website but still available via Google Cache.

It's funny because on the website the headline directly below that was about him visiting a primary school.

On my phone or I would post the image.

 

[Real Hero]

statements like 'the lower class hates eastern Europeans' is a bit much isn't it?

 

[Dougald]

UKIP's policies are more than just anti-immigration, though, they're a hark back to a Britain that never existed. It's all a sort of mish mash of Halcyon bygone stuff...

Stronger ties to The Commonwealth (Or the "we really miss a good bit of Empire" club), a stand back from the EU, and immigration probably about 3rd? I half expect UKIP to ask what was wrong with pounds shillings and pence, complain about its chillblains, and then head to bed with a cocoa.

Agreed. A lot of their policies read like they've been written by a bunch of pensioners with rose-tinted visions of Empire

 

[Nicktendo86]

I just heard on 5Live that Labour are planning to release their own business-related letter in response to the Telegraph's front page later this evening.

Signed by Bill Somebody?

 

[DeFiBkIlLeR]

No, it's because it's full of full-blown racists that would destroy the country. They can't go a week without a scandal.

Who are now getting at least half of their support from former Labour voters..so what does it say about them, ignorant or racist (or both)?

 

[Deleted member 231381]

My other half is Scottish, and he's always maintained that Scottish education places a bizarre emphasis on Scotland pre union. 10 years ago he was complaining they spent longer learning about traditional Scottish croft houses than Scotland's role in the industrial revolution.

He's always maintained, well before the recent rise of the SNP and the independence vote, that the education system seems oddly geared around a pro-independence stance.

I don't think this is anything to do with leftwing / right wing, but more the fact that, for some odd reason, early history is normally considered 'easier' than modern history, so things get taught chronologically. Young children in England get taught William the Conqueror, Magna Carta, Hundred Years War, Tudors in much the same manner. They're not going to focus on Gladstone and Disraeli and the Enfranchisement Acts.

 

[Jackpot]

Who are now getting at least half of their support from former Labour voters..so what does it say about them, ignorant or racist (or both)?

Yes. Anyone who votes UKIP is. Don't make me break out the list.

 

[dapperbandit]

Who are now getting at least half of their support from former Labour voters..so what does it say about them, ignorant or racist (or both)?

"At least half" sounds like an exaggeration. I thought it was more like a third.

 

[CyclopsRock]

I don't think this is anything to do with leftwing / right wing, but more the fact that, for some odd reason, early history is normally considered 'easier' than modern history, so things get taught chronologically. Young children in England get taught William the Conqueror, Magna Carta, Hundred Years War, Tudors in much the same manner. They're not going to focus on Gladstone and Disraeli and the Enfranchisement Acts.

I had an entire module on Campbell-Bannerman. A whole module. The Radical Liberals (so called because of their proliferic drug taking and predilection towards acquiring anal sex at almost any cost) were relatively dry-a subject at the best of times, let alone drawn out for some 8 weeks.

(this was for A-Level though, admittedly).

 

[MrChom]

"At least half" sounds like an exaggeration. I thought it was more like a third.

How about we all compromise on "A large but factually unproven amount"

 

[industrian]

Well that is just wrong. For a start croft houses and the Highland Clearances are well after the Act of Union. Moving people from farming into towns and cities was in the 18th and 19th century. Currently, at National 5 (approximately equivalent to GCSE) a third of the course is on Scotland (and not necessarily pre union), a third is on Britain and Ireland and a third on World History. For Highers half of the course is for British History and half for world history. Schools can choose which units they choose to study within those categories.

The only other Scottish restriction I can remember is that one study in Higher English must be a Scottish work, although that was years ago when I was at school.

If anyone is obsessed with Pre Union history it is the English GCSE which focusses 2/3rds of the course on the period before the Act of Unions.

I never did any Scottish works in Higher English (2000-2001). I did, however, get top marks for my talk on how Napster was the future of the music industry. My specialist study was Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep as well. I never abbreviated the title either, and made up those 2000 words in no time.

Standard Grade History covered the clearances and industrial revolution, including New Lanark.

But hey, when we studied the USA in Modern Studies, it had a full section dedicated to the NHS, and how it was far superior to the American healthcare system. SOCIALIST PROPAGANDA IN SCOTTISH SCHOOLS.

 

[Deleted member 231381]

I had an entire module on Campbell-Bannerman. A whole module. The Radical Liberals (so called because of their proliferic drug taking and predilection towards acquiring anal sex at almost any cost) were relatively dry-a subject at the best of times, let alone drawn out for some 8 weeks.

(this was for A-Level though, admittedly).

Which is my point, that stuff is reserved for A-Level. From a cursory examination of the Scottish curriculum, seems to be structure the same way, with more recent stuff at the end.

Talking of the Radicals Liberals, Dafydd George is too damn sexy. Just bossed it the whole way, from blasting the Boer war to crushing the Lords, to pushing for PR to winning wars. You Englishmen and Scotsmen should let the Welsh take charge more often, we're clearly better at it than the both of yous.

 

[MrChom]

But hey, when we studied the USA in Modern Studies, it had a full section dedicated to the NHS, and how it was far superior to the American healthcare system. SOCIALIST PROPAGANDA IN SCOTTISH SCHOOLS.

That's not propaganda, that's just actual provable facts.

 

[CyclopsRock]

Which is my point, that stuff is reserved for A-Level. From a cursory examination of the Scottish curriculum, seems to be structure the same way, with more recent stuff at the end.

Talking of the Radicals Liberals, Dafydd George is too damn sexy. Just bossed it the whole way, from blasting the Boer war to crushing the Lords, to pushing for PR to winning wars. You Englishmen and Scotsmen should let the Welsh take charge more often, we're clearly better at it than the both of yous.

Y'all right, ta.

edit: Re: UKIPs support, it doesn't really matter where they came from imo. Political parties can't create a base, they can only seek to represent and appeal to one. These people already existed.

 

[Deleted member 231381]

You never gave Kinnock the chance, you racist bastards.

 

[Moze]

Who are now getting at least half of their support from former Labour voters..so what does it say about them, ignorant or racist (or both)?

Interesting. It's almost like you are posting in the Daily Mail comments section.

 

[Faddy]

I never did any Scottish works in Higher English (2000-2001). I did, however, get top marks for my talk on how Napster was the future of the music industry. My specialist study was Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep as well. I never abbreviated the title either, and made up those 2000 words in no time.

Standard Grade History covered the clearances and industrial revolution, including New Lanark.

But hey, when we studied the USA in Modern Studies, it had a full section dedicated to the NHS, and how it was far superior to the American healthcare system. SOCIALIST PROPAGANDA IN SCOTTISH SCHOOLS.

I did Higher English in 2001/2. (Higher Still, the most pointless rebrand of exams ever) You only had to study a Scottish work in class, not do any examinable piece of work on it. So for example if you studied 4 or 5 poems, if just one of them was by a Scottish poet that was enough to meet the criteria.

 

[dapperbandit]

lol after all this ukip talk I'm now getting ads from The People's Army when I browse gaf on my phone

 

[WayneMorse]

Labour's letter, some signatures are from those inferior working class people so I don't know how impressive it is.

Also some interesting points:

https://twitter.com/SamCoatesTimes/status/583309426985213952

Senior business figure tell me at least 1 signatory of Telegraph letter is a Lib Dem and letter wording endorses the coalition not Tories

https://twitter.com/SamCoatesTimes/status/583308696614268928

Some Labour folk baffled why Tories deployed businessmen letter today. Gets drowned out by ITV debate tomorrow and Easter, then forgotten?

 

[JonathanEx]

Miliband's interview with Absolute Radio isn't very hard hitting, it's all on personality rather than policy but quite enjoyable and Ed talks about Manic Miner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14Wy4Vh-4bM

 

[Real Hero]

Miliband's interview with Absolute Radio isn't very hard hitting, it's all on personality rather than policy but quite enjoyable and Ed talks about Manic Miner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14Wy4Vh-4bM

I was just gunna post this. Had to laugh at him bragging about being good at Manic Miner. He comes across as a decent guy in this.

 

[tomtom94]

https://twitter.com/SamCoatesTimes/status/583308696614268928

Think they're going to be even more baffled when they see Labour release this one.

 

[Nicktendo86]

Dale Vince who signed the Labour letter is a tax avoider.

http://campaignwatch.co.uk/wind-tycoon-donations-labour-36-milion-subsidies/

In other news, yougov tonight:

YouGov/Sun poll tonight - Tories have a two-point lead: CON 36%, LAB 34%, LD 8%, UKIP 13%, GRN 4%

Still no real shifts.

 

[WayneMorse]

So we're just switching back and forth between Labour and Tory leads everyday now?

 

[Nicktendo86]

So we're just switching back and forth between Labour and Tory leads everyday now?

Pretty much. I would say for all intents and purposes they are tied but I'm seeing fewer labour leads.

 

[CyclopsRock]

Tom Mongomerie tweeted earlier that, in his view, if it is still like this in two weeks that Ed will likely end up as PM.

 

[Maledict]

I really doubt it. Historically incumbents gain a couple of points in the final days of an election, and I can't see UKIP having a second surge at this stage. My money is on a Tory minority government. I think they'd go into coalition with the Libs if they could but the Libs won't do it a second time, nor have enough seats to justify it.

 

[Nicktendo86]

Tom Mongomerie tweeted earlier that, in his view, if it is still like this in two weeks that Ed will likely end up as PM.

I have literally no idea what will happen. If I had to guess I still think the Tories will be the biggest party, just, but the SNP will block them. I think a second election in October/November is pretty likely.

 

[CyclopsRock]

The Spectator - and whatever your view on their editorial lines, that they have a direct line to Tory HQ is basically inarguable - have been reporting over the last few weeks that there is still willingness between the Tories and the Libs for another coalition. It's in both of their interests really. They also say that it's why the last budget was so important - to demonstrate that even shortly before an election and at the end of 5 years they were still able to put together a mutually palatable, effective budget. They also say that, despite the desires of the Con backbenchers, No 10 is keen on another coalition as preferable to a minority government.

Clegg is important to this, though. For the LDs to coally with Labour, there'll need to be change at the top.

 

[Uzzy]

Cameron would love a second coalition with the Lib Dems, if only to reduce any reliance he's forced to have on his more right-wing backbenchers. They'd also be useful to help set the question and voting rules on the EU referendum.

Personally though, I think that even with the Lib Dems, DUP and UKIP, Cameron will fall short of the 323/6 needed to survive a confidence motion, so he'll be out after the Queen's Speech gets voted down. Leaving us with a minority Labour government, vaguely supported by the SNP.

 

[f0rk]

Cameron would love a second coalition with the Lib Dems, if only to reduce any reliance he's forced to have on his more right-wing backbenchers. They'd also be useful to help set the question and voting rules on the EU referendum.

I'd probably vote for the same coalition, given the choice, for this reason.

 

[WayneMorse]

Does anyone else find it a bit unfair that they excluded the DUP from the seven way debate considering they included parties with smaller representation in parliament (Greens, UKIP) and regional parties (Plaid Cymru, SNP)?

I mean DUP is shit but they do have the possibility of being in a future coalition considering Dave had preliminary talks with them I believe.

 

[CyclopsRock]

Nah, there's no point having the DUP in there - no one outside of NI can vote for them (like the SNP and Plaid) but (unlike the SNP and Plaid) no one inside NI can vote for the other parties in the debate, except a few UKIP candidates here and there. Of all the choices in front of them, the voters of NI currently have no one in the debate. Seems more fair to me then having only one.

 

[liquidtmd]

Leaving us with a minority Labour government, vaguely supported by the SNP.

That's my absolute worse case scenario. I voted Labour in the '90s and '00s - and in those years I've seen the worst kinds of weaseling from them. In the Shadow Government they've played up to the stereotype to a tee: everything the Government do = we oppose, no matter what it is on principle. It's childish to the extreme and they learnt no humility from the pretty dark days at the end of their last reign. Say what you will about the more global picture of recession at the end of the last decade, Labour made some pretty bad calls and (joke it maybe) the letter they left the incoming Tory / LD Coalition along the lines of 'LOL no money left' cemented my decision for a long time.

Cameron and the Tories / Coaltion haven't been amazing but they have been fairly consistent and I 'get' them more in Interview / PMQ's. As a voter I'll take them again over the alternatives on offer.

 

[industrian]

Does anyone else find it a bit unfair that they excluded the DUP from the seven way debate considering they included parties with smaller representation in parliament (Greens, UKIP) and regional parties (Plaid Cymru, SNP)?

I mean DUP is shit but they do have the possibility of being in a future coalition considering Dave had preliminary talks with them I believe.

If this is untrue, then please forgive my absolute ignorance of Northern Irish politics. But I put this omission down to the political landscape of Northern Ireland being so entrenched into society that there's no way you could convince people to vote in other ways. Unionists will always vote unionist and Irish nationalists will always vote nationalist, with the only change being who is considered the best candidate for that cause (for example, the DUP replacing the UUP as the dominant unionist party.)

 

[Jezbollah]

I really doubt it. Historically incumbents gain a couple of points in the final days of an election, and I can't see UKIP having a second surge at this stage. My money is on a Tory minority government. I think they'd go into coalition with the Libs if they could but the Libs won't do it a second time, nor have enough seats to justify it.

This is exactly my feeling about the outcome.

 

[Goodlife]

the letter they left the incoming Tory / LD Coalition along the lines of 'LOL no money left' cemented my decision for a long time.

You know that's just a done thing? Each time there is a change of government various department heads leave these "funny" notes for their predecessors.

Only a thing this time because the collation decided to get some mileage out of it

 

[Jezbollah]

You know that's just a done thing? Each time there is a change of government various department heads leave these "funny" notes for their predecessors.

Only a thing this time because the collation decided to get some mileage out of it

That's because at the time it wasn't "funny".

 

[liquidtmd]

You know that's just a done thing? Each time there is a change of government various department heads leave these "funny" notes for their predecessors.

Only a thing this time because the collation decided to get some mileage out of it

That may be, but again it's pretty sick in context.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/17/liam-byrne-note-successor

I wouldn't have found it funny if I'd lived through it in 1964 when the Tories did it to Labour, but having lived through Labour's era this time round I sure as hell don't find it funny now having seen the very real consequences of financial mis-management on top of global economic problems.

They want to joke like that - go for it. It just cemented my sentiment for a long time and if that's petty, then I guess I'm petty.

 

[Goodlife]

I wouldn't have found it funny if I'd lived through it in 1964 when the Tories did it to Labour, but having lived through Labour's era this time round I sure as hell don't find it funny now having seen the very real consequences of financial mis-management on top of global economic problems..

That damn credit card

 

[kmag]

That may be, but again it's pretty sick in context.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/17/liam-byrne-note-successor

I wouldn't have found it funny if I'd lived through it in 1964 when the Tories did it to Labour, but having lived through Labour's era this time round I sure as hell don't find it funny now having seen the very real consequences of financial mis-management on top of global economic problems.

They want to joke like that - go for it. It just cemented my sentiment for a long time and if that's petty, then I guess I'm petty.

It's not meant to be public but admitted expenses cheat and liar David Laws got on his high horse and leaked an embellished version of it. The actual version said "I'm afraid there is no money", Laws added the "left" to make it sound worse, of course he did because he's shown absolutely no compunction about lying in public to suit his own needs.

Anyone getting their tights in twist about that note is a humourless cunt. It was intended to be a private joke which formed a part of a tradition in the same way outgoing the White House Press Secretary pass on a flakjacket and some 'humourous' advice to their successor. I've had similar experiences in my worklife receiving and passing on projects and code bases of various states. It's a relatively normal and common thing. People complain when politicians are robotic lineatrons. Do I think it was misjudged and damaging yes, do I think it should have been made public, nope. But Laws is a humourless cunt who only seemed to be happy when he was fiddling the taxpayer and lying about it.

 

[Jezbollah]

If I'm ever at the point of my life where bailiffs are knocking on my front door, I'll post them a similar note out from the letter box

 

[kmag]

That's because at the time it wasn't "funny".

Wasn't that funny in 1964 but the new incumbent had the good grace to leave mentioning it until his memoirs.

It's a tradition which happens in almost every single political system. There's even a joke about it

Stalin leaves Khruschev two letters, one to be opened when things get difficult, the second only when they get really difficult. Khruschev duly opens the first to read "blame everything on me". When he opens the second it simply reads "write two letters".

 

[liquidtmd]

I dunno. Two colleagues joshin' with each other is fine. It's just financially for a multitude of reasons I found it financially difficult in the late '00s, so seeing the 'tradition' of these little notes between two senior economic leaders tasked with running the economy who themselves are probably financially set for life - it didn't gel well at all

I appreciate it was probably leaked for that exact poltical point scoring but at that point Labour just didn't have a plan to me. If they'd been more robust Financial policy wise towards the end of their reign amidst the wider global picture, then sure I may have seen it as amusing.

As such I guess I'm a humourless ****

 

[Spaghetti]

Miliband's interview with Absolute Radio isn't very hard hitting, it's all on personality rather than policy but quite enjoyable and Ed talks about Manic Miner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14Wy4Vh-4bM

absolutely baffled how likeable and... ordinary ed came across here

 

[Jezbollah]

As such I guess I'm a humourless ****

I'm probably one too.

Mind you, that Stalin joke makes me want to read up more on the less serious side of policies. Perhaps that'll help