Sir Rod Stewart phones in to Sky News and states “It’s time the Conservatives stood down” He supports the nurses and said they should be paid what they are asking for. He went on to offer to pay for 10-20 scans for people that need them. He knows!!
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/rod-stewart-conservatives-tory-labour-sky-news-nhs-crisis-healthcare-b1055941.html

Current Affairs and Politics
Discussion group fielding the topics of the day. We’re looking for intelligent insight.
Open Loop 64
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A shortage of doctors and then this.
Courtesy The Times
Universities have been told they must limit the number of medical school places this year or risk fines, a move attacked as “extraordinary” when the NHS is struggling with staff shortages.
Medical schools have been told to curtail offers to ensure that there is “no risk” of them accepting more would-be doctors than permitted by a government cap, with universities saying they are likely to offer fewer places than normal to sixth-formers this year.
Ministers have been criticised for holding firm to a 7,500 cap on new medical students in England while also acknowledging that a chronic shortage of doctors and nurses is contributing to long delays for NHS treatment.
Robert Halfon, the universities minister, wrote to vice-chancellors last week telling them to limit their offers to sixth-formers, causing frustration among universities, which face fines of £100,000 per student for persistent over-recruitment. Universities say that in the summer, they were forced to reject students for administrative reasons such as submitting vaccine certificates late to stay within permitted numbers.
While on the back benches Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, repeatedly called for expansion in training, and urged ministers to double places to 15,000.
However, in a letter last week Halfon confirmed that ministers would stick to the cap this autumn. He said: “I want to ask you once again to consider and adjust your offer-making strategies accordingly, to ensure there is no risk of your schools being oversubscribed.” Universities face financial penalties if they do not stay within their allowance averaged over a five-year period.
Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, said: “In the middle of the biggest crisis in the history of the NHS, it is extraordinary that the government is preventing medical schools from training more doctors. Thousands of bright young students are being held back while millions of patients are unable to get the care they need.” -
To Tory sleaze? Are people happy with this shower? I’m surprised no one has commented on previous posts I’ve instigated regarding the ongoing underhandedness and in my mind, criminal activity. BBC Chair helped Johnson secure loan, who was then appointed BBC Chair at a later date. Is that acceptable to people?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64362640 -
It’s been announced, paid for a former PM and now BACKBENCHER to go to Ukraine. Can anyone throw some light on why a backbencher should need to go? I don’t suppose for a minute it’s to deflect from his shady dealings yet again with help from Richard Sharp (BBC Chairman) in procuring a £800,000 loan.
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In this government’s hands? Do you think so? A Government health minister and two officials this week met with a lobbying group funded by private healthcare companies. This is a worrying read.
https://bylinetimes.com/2023/01/11/senior-government-figures-in-meeting-with-lobbying-group-funded-by-private-healthcare/ -
Donations to Tory MPs and councillors but IX Wireless say there was no impropriety after locals condemn installation of 60 foot mast.
No impropriety my ar*e.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/monstrous-60ft-6g-mast-torn-25992423 -
Rumbled for tax evasion has to pay HMRC millions in evaded tax. A sitting MP and minister. Imagine. Anyone else would be imprisoned. I wonder if he’ll be able to afford to heat his horse stables or again claim expenses.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/21046397/chancellor-nadhim-zahawi-tax/ -
If you think (Edited)
Workers have the right to strike without the fear of dismissal from their job, please join me in signing this petition.
https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/protect-the-right-to-strike?source=T_id=1_id=0983c7ac4567cadd0cf74da6d0f6c712_referrer=email_1783478___subject_2280632_subject=i-could-be-sacked-for-going-on-strike -
Is the UK is Better Off Outside the EU? (Edited)
The EEC was created as a trading partnership, good idea.
However, EU politicians, with very little experience of business, have used their power to make a political alliance, which is not the original intention.
Bureaucracy is not good governance.
The more senior place a politician achieves, the less the contact with real life and accountability. The UK's senior politicians have their manifest faults, but we can vote them out...which does not apply to the EU Commission.
Recent examples of the wastage within the EU, is the MEP's turning up to sign in for a days wages [£295] just like our UK peers...but we can work to rid ourselves of the House Of Lords - not the EU Commission.
The UK has regulators, but these are often controlled by the very people they're investigating. Nonetheless we have a reasonable standard of press reporting, and the truth will out.
Meanwhile in Brussels..
"Police seizures of suitcases stuffed full of cash are usually the result of crackdowns on crime gangs or drug lords. This time, though, the brick-like wads of €50 notes were found not by the vice squad, but by detectives investigating allegations of corruption in the European Parliament.
Brussels has been gripped this week by stories of an international bribery ring said to involve Qatar, Morocco and influential EU figures. Colossal sums of money have been found in the homes of some of the alleged recipients: €600,000 in bank notes at the home of an Italian politician, €150,000 tucked into the luxury luggage of a Greek socialist MEP, and hundreds of thousands more in the possession of her father.
In all, more than €1.5 million (£1.3m) has been seized in raids on 19 locations in the Belgian capital and in Italy, some of which were in the Parliament itself.
The investigation centres on claims that Qatar tried to buy influence in order to help secure an “open skies” deal that would give its airlines unfettered access to EU markets and airspace. It is, without question, the biggest bribery scandal in the history of the European Union’s institutions, and it could well get much worse, with reports that up to 60 MEPs could be dragged into it. "
Do you want to be governed by the EU or the UK? -
Podcasts
Does anyone listen to the Ukrainecast that has been posting since 24th February 2022.
Some awful real life stories of children being taken away into Russia, torture chambers, bodies found in unmarked graves and who is helping Russia.
A lot of these stories are not reported elsewhere and are not reaching the majority of the public . -
Of Britons (yes two thirds) now support rejoining the EU in one form or another. The public now realise they were sold a pigs ear.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-poll-referendum-rejoin-eu-b2250813.html
Subscription -
Showing he has absolutely no idea of the real world.
https://twitter.com/itvnews/status/1606286081216991232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1606286081216991232%7Ctwgr%5E38724ff1c63d992fc25f4991bec99f5a7a5418bf%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2F -
Are toast at the next general election.
https://politicshomecom.cmail20.com/t/t-e-fvlddy-jrkdhhzid-r/ -
Any doubt about the sleaze that occurred during the pandemic in the procurement of PPE check this out.
https://goodlawproject.org/revealed-the-names-of-those-who-referred-covid-testing-firms-into-the-vip-lane/ -
privatised health care. The Tories are running our NHS into the ground so it will fail thus opening the floodgates for privatisation. Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric that the NHS is safe in their hands.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2566303173439548 -
Once more, I have to counter the dangerous disinformation posted elsewhere on the site.
This is a peer reviewed research paper…..
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/13/angela-rasmussen-on-covid-19-this-origins-discussion-is-the-worst-thing-about-twitter -
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/dec/07/conservatives-remove-whip-from-mp-julian-knight-after-complaint-to-met
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From Sunak & co. Regarding problems procuring antibiotics during the current Strep A outbreak.
Sunak. “There’s no shortage of antibiotics”
Steve Barclay. “There’s no shortage of antibiotics”.
https://news.sky.com/story/strep-a-more-pharmacies-claim-they-cant-get-hold-of-antibiotics-but-pm-insists-there-is-no-shortage-12763498 -
A depressing round-up of the glaring inadequacies of Rishi Sunak
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/14/rishi-sunak-prime-minister-britain-cuts-culture-war
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The awfulness of Gavin Williamson
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/11/gavin-williamson-dark-arts-whips-office-over It’s very depressing that someone so vile can get so far.
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Jacob Rees-Mogg in all his glory.
I hope this link works. I despair. Why do people vote for such people? https://twitter.com/ByDonkeys/status/1583747902685356032?
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https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/oct/09/johnson-was-slow-poisoning-arsenic-for-tories-liz-truss-is-instant-cyanide How long will she last?
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The Tories are bad for you…official.. (Edited)
I remember Duncan Smith refusing to release a report about this a few years ago.
Now we know the reason why…
Put another way: the Tories have caused more deaths than covid…
Doesn’t this count as a manslaughter charge or something?
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/oct/05/over-330000-excess-deaths-in-great-britain-linked-to-austerity-finds-study -
I see Covid is still causing much trouble and could be an issue for the nhs this winter.
Can we please not have the usual suspects commenting that it’s not dangerous and that it’s all over? We’re tired of your nonsense.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/01/latest-covid-surge-a-heavy-straw-on-camels-back-for-every-hospital-in-uk -
You couldn’t make it up…
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/kwasi-kwarteng-accused-attending-budget-28132933 -
Could become the PM with the shortest tenure in history.
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/conservative-rebels-prepare-to-fight-liz-truss-on-mini-budget-ahead-of-tory-conference -
Who’s the worst Tory prime minister of recent times?
I know there’s a lot of choice but I think David Cameron is up there - he cut the green crap leaving us behind the game, he inflicted austerity on the poorest, he gambled with brexit and lost and inflicted -4% growth with the promise of jam some time eventually which could lead to the break up of the UK - any counter offers ?
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Looking for intelligent insight . . .
Not forthcoming from Liz Truss on local radio https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/sep/29/liz-truss-local-radio-bbc-uk-economy-pound
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What do we think of the mini fiscal event?
Is everyone happy for the 600,000 who will benefit from the abolition of the 45% tax rate?
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Yorkshire Bylines has been maintaining a list of the upsides to Brexit, and the downsides, all cross-referenced to source articles. Currently their list is standing at 22 'up-sides' and 754 'down-sides'. They are continuing to add to the list, so if you are looking for something specific, this could be a good place to start.
https://yorkshirebylines.co.uk/regular-features/the-davis-downside-dossier/ -
To know that our new Chancellor of The Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng has people’s financial struggle in mind as he wants to scrap curbs on bankers’ bonuses. That’ll cut down the number of food banks that people rely on won’t it.
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It’s obvious which individuals
receive donations from energy companies and those who don’t.
https://twitter.com/jonnets/status/1570534787441627136?s=21=kOoosKgKsCyMgoAY-WKbZQ -
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/sep/14/kwasi-kwarteng-sacking-tom-scholar-marks-shift-away-from-impartial-advice?
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that our new Health Secretary Thérése Coffey has her priorities right in that she’s advised all NHS staff to refrain from using “the Oxford comma”
Therese Coffey 'tells NHS staff to stop using Oxford comma'
New Health Secretary issues guidance telling staff of her 'working preferences'
Therese Coffey has told workers in the Department of Health and Social Care to stop using the Oxford comma in their communications, it has been claimed.
The Health Secretary reportedly issued guidance to staff to advise them on her working preferences after she was appointed to the role earlier this month.
The instructions, which the Financial Times said had been emailed to staff and published on the department’s intranet, also told workers to “be positive”.
The ban on the Oxford comma - a punctuation mark that some people place before the last item on a list - has sparked a backlash, with some health workers viewing the instruction as “patronising”.
The email to staff was sent last Thursday and also advised workers to steer clear of using “jargon”. The guidance was reportedly given the title of “new secretary of state ways of working preferences”.
The Financial Times said that the guidance had been sent to workers in Ms Coffey’s department but it had also been forwarded to staff at the UK Health Security Agency.
'Extremely patronising'
The guidance advised workers to “be positive - if we have done something good, let us say so and avoid double negatives”.
One official described the email as “super patronising” while another said the instruction on the use of Oxford commas would be seen by staff as “extremely patronising”. -
The dark side of British history….. (Edited)
Seems like a good time to remind ourselves of some of this stuff, as we fawn like serfs over the myths…..
https://twitter.com/DoubleDownNews/status/1569999499065450501?s=20=QR4pu8S39cNIsD9JsF9xYg -
Things you can’t do-
Bury a loved one
Have your cancer operation
Ride a bike
Go to the shops
Visit a food bank
Things you can do-
Be served your redundancy notice from the new king… -
The rehabilitation of Andrew Windsor…….
Charles has just appointed him a State Counsellor. He will be ‘deputy king’ whenever Charles is ill, or away etc.
Brilliant, intit? -
Is the 10th anniversary of the publication of “Brittania Unchained” a right wing book extolling the virtues of outrageous right wing dogma. Co written by-Elizabeth Truss
Kwasi Kwarteng
Priti Patel
Dominic Raab
Chris Skidmore
Four of the five authors became part of Johnson’s cabinet, with Truss becoming PM on 6th September.
David Cameron was strongly advised to put as much distance as was possible between himself and the controversial book. -
I’m very alarmed at the heavy handedness of the police re the anti monarchy arrests in the last few days. This has culminated in an interesting stunt carried out by a barrister, where he went to Parliament Square and held aloft an EMPTY piece of paper. The police tried to move him on….
What has happened to freedom of speech in this country? -
What are people’s views on the government’s package to help consumers with fuel bills?
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Car crash interview in 2017. Asked about the ERG (European Research Group) she wouldn’t divulge where a list of it’s members can be found. The group is funded by us the public. They are an ultra right wing group. I’ll mention once again. WE AS TAXPAYERS FUND THE GROUP.
https://youtu.be/Cbkog8tY5U8 -
Brilliant. James O’Brien at his best.
https://twitter.com/lbc/status/1567084988943695873?s=21=yZxlIvi8STGARbOduaSwAg