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

lol @ the mayor of London giving memorial speech for Mrs Thatcher btw

The PM's effusive praise for China came as he landed in Beijing at the head of Britain's largest overseas trade and ministerial mission, designed to restore full relations after his meeting with the Dalai Lama.

The delegation includes the architect Zaha Hadid, ex-England footballer Graeme Le Saux, Arts Council England chair Sir Peter Bazalgette, the chief executive of Jaguar Land Rover, Ralf Speth, and Karren Brady, vice-chairman of West Ham United.

But Cameron came under fire from Labour for including figures close to him in the delegation. On the trip are his stepfather-in-law, Viscount Astor, representing Silvergate Media; the Tory peer Lord Chadlington, who helped to house the Camerons when the PM first fought the parliamentary seat of Witney; and the Tory donor and peer Lord Leigh of Hurley, of Cavendish Corporate Finance.

He's ready

http://news.images.itv.com/image/file/299101/article_img.jpg

the Chinese government - a great bunch of lads

hate when you're getting off the plane and a load of elderly people are trudging down the stairs in front of you.

xpost.

They used to kick a Little Red Book in the street. Now it’s all Coca Cola and Tom Daley.

I blame the Grumbling Fur.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/dec/03/boris-johnson-fails-live-iq-test

he was asked: "Take two apples from three apples and what do you have?" Johnson said: "Loads of apples." He then changed his answer to one apple. The answer the questioner wanted was two apples.

Painful to watch, the second video is equally painful.
http://metro.co.uk/2013/12/03/boris-johnson-fails-iq-test-on-lbc-97-3-radio-phone-in-show-4211417/

What the fuck would a polar bear be doing at the south pole?

Being fucking lost #fuckjokes

That second video is astonishing

"Stop trying to score easy points," he says.

This man is an embarrassment to London.

And yet London the suburbs keep voting for him.

exactly. thanks fuckers.

Well they keep voting for him when he runs against Ken Livingstone, to be precise

Don't know if Eddie Izzard will be enough here.

There are similarities

Fight the funny man with a Funny Man.

Bet you Cameron punched the air when he heard that interview.

Or Lynton Crosby, depending on who or what was nearer.

i haven't seen this, what makes anybody think he didn't throw the test?

He didn't throw it but he was clearly really fucking irritated at having to do it and was just tossing answers around without thinking. Interviewers are slowly realising that if you subject Boris to a bit of scrutiny or hostile questioning he throws his toys out of the pram and self-destructs. A proper PM-in-waiting would have been able to deal with that, or the "nasty piece of work" interview a lot better.

I don't know why anyone would think Lynton Crosby punches the air if Boris Johnson fucks up, since Boris was his last project.

iq tests are the same as lateral thinking tests?

more like straight logic i think?

ennhhhh i always aced IQ tests but i wouldn't have got any of these right

the shocker is that in SIX YEARS boris still hasn't met bob crow, wtaf

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/budget/10487295/Autumn-Statement-2013-Britain-can-no-longer-afford-welfare-state-warns-Osborne.html

Here we go

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/food-poverty-in-uk-has-reached-level-of-public-health-emergency-warn-experts-8981051.html

Meanwhile.

It's amazing how we could afford a welfare state when the country was virtually bankrupt after the war and literally in ruins and we apparently can't now.

Despite mounting evidence for a growing food poverty crisis in the UK, ministers maintain there is “no robust evidence” of a link between sweeping welfare reforms and a rise in the use of food banks. However, publication of research into the phenomenon, commissioned by the Government itself, has been delayed, amid speculation that the findings may prove embarrassing for ministers.

Wouldn't want to embarrass Danny Alexander would we? Plus there's no evidence - robust or otherwise - for benefits tourism either jussayinlike...

I'm not really sure I see permanent austerity as a vote-winner especially with them crowing about economic growth at the same time but this is the British public I suppose.

whoever gets in after this utter shower of douches will have so much to repair

and no will to do so

Yes, I think most of these 'reforms' will be permanent barring a miracle.

or a disaster

Short of either a Cathy Come Home or a Poll Tax Riot moment these will be permanent. Even if Labour had significant will to do so the slice of the Exchequer that would be required to reverse this would have them so terrified of being labelled financially irresponsible that they would no longer countenance it.

it's still a safety net, it's just that the holes are bit wider

Was it Gove who suggested food banks were some sort of lifestyle choice for some people?

In their absence from govt labour is assuming the mantle of "party what would do all the stuff what we want done" again huh

howd that go before

rote

I don't know, let's ask some malnourished people

malnourishment is a lifestyle choice tbf

http://izquotes.com/quotes-pictures/quote-how-s-that-hopey-changey-thing-working-out-for-ya-sarah-palin-257868.jpg

Was it Gove who suggested food banks were some sort of lifestyle choice for some people?

"I had the opportunity to visit a food bank in my constituency only on Friday and I appreciate that there are families who do face considerable pressures.

"It's often as a result of some decisions that have been taken by those families which mean that they are not best able to manage their finances.

"What we need to do is to ensure the support is there not just financially but also to make sure that the right decisions are made."

In other words: if you're shit out of luck, work and food it's your own fault.

also "they are not best able to manage their finances" from a man who had to return £7000 in expense claims.

I appreciate that there are families who do face considerable pressures.

I really honestly and truly don't believe any of this government appreciate that, or what it may feel like.

look, Gove is saying that benefits are enough to keep you alive and if you waste your money on ciggies, TV, clothes or Xmas presents it's your own fault.

this may be factually accurate for all i know.

and before anybody's knee jerks what i'm saying is we shdn't be happy accepting this even if it were true

My gratitude to the Liberal Democrats for unleashing these cunts on the British people knows no bounds. Thanks guys, I, for one, will never forget this.