DEM not gonna CON dis NATION: Rolling UK politics in the short-lived Cleggeron era

The Tories are delivering exactly what Tory voters want. I'm baffled that people are baffled by the strength of their support.

Well I thought those people would've voted Tory last year and last council election no matter what, but I suppose you're right that some of them stayed at home or voted UKIP in case Dave was a bit too cuddly and progressive and are now delighted with him.

Still depressing obv.

I've seen a few articles on the BAN THE TV GAYS issue and none of them have cited anything on that specific thing but have cited a general tightening up on the broadcast of excessively suggestive and sexual material stuff. h8 defending Cam'ron in any way but I'm suspicious.

Well, imagine this: Cameron being perfectly OK wrt gay people, personally.

But, he has to sop to his Right-wingers, so has some sort of 'errm, OK' reaction to "limiting gay people on TV before 9:00" inasmuch as "well at least it's not Clause 28"...

(Peronsally, I'd just like some half-decent TV before 9:00 plz.)

PeronSally? I just modified that from Persally...

As I said upthread, he doesn't actually need a sop to the right-wing of his party, because he's in a reasonably strong position after the local elections.

Anyway: So it's perfectly OK to call each other Caah and beat them up and that, and do drugs on TV, but not for two women to kiss each other?

(And before you ask, no I'm not going Wooo Lesbos, but there seems to be no actual blokes kissing since Michael Cashman left Eastenders, but then I wouldn't know I never watch the soaps anymore.)

Basically, since all the soaps are on before the watershed - and are the most mainstream narratives in British telly, with the highest audiences - he'd effectively be saying no more homosnogs on soaps ever again, which ain't gonna fly with the people who write them IMO.

there seems to be no actual blokes kissing since Michael Cashman left Eastenders, but then I wouldn't know I never watch the soaps anymore

I watch soaps very infrequently but can tell you this is untrue

fair enough.

The Tories are delivering exactly what Tory voters want. I'm baffled that people are baffled by the strength of their support.

ehh, i don't know; i'm baffled, and i think it's the idea that people who voted tory aren't necessarily down the line small-staters so much as they are people who were tired of labour and gordon brown, who wanted an alternative, or are people for whom the idea of spending cuts and a small state will become less appealing to once they lose their jobs. i assume once the cuts bite the tories will lose support on this basis.

the thing that bums me out about no-smooching-in-soaps is that they're a useful medium for normatising (not that it needs normatising &c &c) and reflecting these things.

xp, yeah, the fact that government does not have the power over HE to do the things the article says "could happen" seems like something they might have mentioned, alongside the two quotes they got, i.e. the month-old one from cable saying it would be a bad idea, and the new one from willits quote saying he thinks charities should be able to sponsor students.

― caek, Tuesday, May 10, 2011 2:02 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

glad to see the guardian followed this up with

"Willetts forced on to back foot over premium rate university places
Universities minister issues statement to clarify intentions as critics say proposal [that didn't exist] to let rich students pay premium fees to get places at top universities will 'entrench privilege'"

still, it was the most read story on the website for 24 hours, so congrats to the education section of the guardian newspaper.

Think most Tory voters (rather than hardcore Tories) want tax cuts and economic growth more than a small state per se, although they might view a smaller state as a means to that end.

There is also that lazy-thinker Mail reader attitude to those on benefits; a lot of self-righteous people think THEY work hard and nobody else pulls their weight.

And Willetts is the one with the two brains. xp.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13361130

^^^ Love it when the Tories start talking about "supporting job creation" by making it easier to sack people.

Despair at the consistent portrayal of the CBI, IoD, etc as disinterested parties in these economic debates, vs evil selfish self-interested unions and workers.

How many people in the uk are actually employers/business owners? I mean, there can't be many people who read this and think "thank fuck for that". (naivety on my part I'm sure)

How many people in the uk are actually employers/business owners?

Depends on how you're counting but it's comfortably in the millions (obv not all business owners actually employ people). Would be a big jump to suggest they all agree with the govt/CBI.

I mean the core issue here really is separating "is this damaging to job creation?" from "are the Tories pretending it's damaging to job creation because it suits their agenda?"

The core issue is also "what kind of jobs do they want to create?" and the answer is "low paid, de-unionized jobs with the minimum possible employee rights".

"Job creation" was the excuse they trotted out to oppose the minimum wage, which makes it pretty clear tbh.

The core issue is also "what kind of jobs do they want to create?" and the answer is "low paid, de-unionized jobs with the minimum possible employee rights".

That was sort of covered in my second question but yes exactly.

So sick of those guys

kinda want to know who all these people are who have the money to pursue baseless industrial tribunal claims for shits and giggles

i think it's the idea that people who voted tory aren't necessarily down the line small-staters so much as they are people who were tired of labour and gordon brown

Never forget they still couldn't win an overall majority, they actually fucked up that General Election, should have been a cakewalk for them

The Prime Minister's Programme message

It’s a huge privilege to be here alongside the Guest of Honour, Corporal Mark Ward of the Mercian Regiment. Mark recently won the Military Cross for his service in Afghanistan, where his inspirational leadership and bravery saved the lives of his men when they were ambushed by insurgents and pinned down by enemy fire.

I know we will all want to show him our appreciation, not just for his own achievements, but as a sign of the gratitude we feel towards all our brave servicemen and women who make such immense sacrifices for our safety. This is my first FA Cup Final and I’m really excited. It is Stoke City’s first Final too and I would like to congratulate them on their historic achievement. I’d also like to congratulate Manchester City on reaching their ninth Final, even though they knocked out my team, Aston Villa! There is something truly special about The FA Cup.

No other competition has quite the same history. No other competition offers quite the same drama, with its David against Goliath draws and its legendary giant-killings. And, perhaps above all, no other competition has such a magical Cup Final here each year at Wembley, the home of football.

From local parks and schools to football clubs across the land, the dream of The Cup Final has helped to inspire a fantastic legacy of grassroots football in this country. But it’s only possible because of the tireless work done by the 400,000 volunteers who give up their time each year to support football in our communities. And it’s right that The Cup Final should recognise these people. These volunteers are absolutely vital to raising the standard of our game at all levels. They find and coach many of the young people who will be the England stars of tomorrow. They help change lives.

Through football in our communities we can re-engage young people in our country who are going through hard times. Football offers them the hope and confidence they need to make something of their lives. That’s one of the reasons why the staff at 10 Downing Street have chosen to volunteer with Street League, a charity partner of The FA that helps young adults who are out of work to get back into employment or training. If you are interested in finding out more about Street League I’d encourage you to check out their website at www.streetleague.co.uk.

The FA Cup is a brilliant advert for English football and a tremendous source of pride for our whole country. I am sure that today Manchester City and Stoke City will write another memorable chapter in the history of the oldest and greatest domestic club football tournament in the world.

Enjoy the game!
The Rt. Hon David Cameron MP, Prime Minister

even though they knocked out my team, Aston Villa

Uh... what?

There's a weird thing with posh gits and Aston Villa.

... and then there's Nigel Kennedy, what have Villa done to deserve this?

The FA Cup is a brilliant advert for English football

...apart from the year when Cardiff won it of course.

Nigel Kennedy, Prince William, David Cameron - can't think of others offhand.

http://www.chortle.co.uk/images/photos/small/dadsarmy-pike.jpg

aye him and Lenny Godber - poshos

Pike more wet than posh tbh

There's a weird thing with posh gits and Aston Villa.

From a study of Henry Green's "Living":

"The novel's penultimate scene at an Aston Villa football match... The community in this scene is not so much cheering on Aston Villa but itself: the players "took no notice of the crowd, no notice" (380). Football clubs incarnate the community's vision of itself: Aston Villa was identified with a quick and electric style of play, suiting the city's industrial speed (Bromberger 72-73). Villa Park is not merely a playing pitch around which men in worker's clothes have paid 1s-about the price of a packet of cigarettes-to watch but a "sacred place" (Bale 131) where the community forms and renews its bonds. Inside nothing can break the community apart so long as it stands behind its team-differences in class, education, and manners are meaningless for ninety minutes.6 But this escape from the real forces within a community elides the paradox that the local team was not very local at all. While the supporters of The Villa are from Birmingham, the players are not."

... maybe it's an Etonian thing

I teach a kid at school whose parents are both Tory MPs and he is v.v. into football - he has three kits that he always wears - Real Madrid (Ozil), Chelsea, and Aston Villa.

I thought Godber was a Blues fan tbh

and surely Pike is a Hammer

Ian Lavender's a Brummie innit

Yeah but his character lived on the South coast?

Didn't know that about Lavender btw.

Alf Garnett was the West Ham fan, Pike was Villa to ensure balance on the part of the BBC.

Citation needed but

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lennie_Godber

In the show Godber is an Aston Villa supporter.

okay. in my head i mix him up with "Gonk" or whatever that lad was called in Nuts in May.

Cameron is William Dugdale's nephew

the glory years Villa chairman, not the 17th century academic

May 2011:

Bookmaker Betfred said it had made an offer to buy state-owned bookmaker the Tote, worth close to 200 million pounds in cash.

Privately-owned Betfred said it supported the government's pledge that 50 percent of the net proceeds from the sale would be put back into the racing industry.

Betfred also said it would make a contribution to the racing industry of 11 million pounds in 2012 and would make a contribution of at least 9 million pounds to the industry each year after that.

"Betfred's proposal ensures the government has a complete exit from the Tote, secures value for the taxpayer, delivers support to the racing industry and provides enhanced opportunities and security for the Tote's employees and other stakeholders," the company said in a statement.

The 200 million pounds valuation is in line with what analysts had expected the business to fetch.

December 2007:

Gala Coral, the betting, bingo and casino business backed by private equity, will be one of the leading bidders. It has already told the government it would be willing to offer £405m for the Tote, topping the £400m valuation placed on the business by PwC, the accountants advising the government.

Slightly better than being charged over phone-hacking allegations, I guess. Wonder how long it'll take this one to resign?

She saved tax through the scheme by treating her salary as “turnover” and receiving dividends rather than paying income tax on her BBC earnings.

so horrible that these fine upstanding people who are fully co-operating with hmrc were cruelly shilled by a crooked accountant.

Another pinko leftie BBC persenter I see.

presenter

When he appeared on BBC Radio 5 today, the justice secretary was attacked by a rape victim live on air.

"He [the offender] served just over a year and a half, he was released on licence and... he further reoffended and he further reoffended," she said.

Mr Clarke admitted he had not spoken to any victims about the plans.

"No, I haven't put this idea to women who've been raped because I haven't met one recently but my experience of rape trials is that contesting a rape case makes things worse [for the victim]," he said.

The justice secretary was then forced to appear on Sky News, as the media outrage over the plans grew.

"The main aim of my reforms is to cut re-offending," he said.

"I'm not actually reducing the tarrif of any crime. This is all nonsense."