news & politics:discussion

[Crazyfool01]

2 minutes ago, Neil said:

cutting wages won't do it. some level of public service experience might be the answer ..... but that would exclude everyone without that experience.

maybe some work experience in their chosen  department every so often ....  

[steviewevie]

1 minute ago, Crazyfool01 said:

maybe some work experience in their chosen  department every so often ....  

ok but you're talking about ministers, not MPs.

I think you need a mix of ages and experience, as well as sex/race/religion etc. In the end these people also need to get elected too.

[Crazyfool01]

3 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

ok but you're talking about ministers, not MPs.

I think you need a mix of ages and experience, as well as sex/race/religion etc. In the end these people also need to get elected too.

yeah true was ahead of myself there 

[steviewevie]

and it is useful if a minister has some experience in whatever department, but obviously that's not often possible...so they have lots of civil servants and experts working for them to advise, shape and implement policy. 

Edited January 31 by steviewevie

[Guest]

 

[steviewevie]

 

[Neil]

38 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

and it is useful if a minister has some experience in whatever department, but obviously that's not often possible...so they have lots of civil servants and experts working for them to advise, shape and implement policy. 

Some things are so specialised that a little experience isnt enough. Eg: transport. roads rail sea air all very different 

[Neil]

1 hour ago, kaosmark2 said:

 

 

Still can't clear the edit box 

[lazyred]

16 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

 

After Cameron saying the same this looks like coordinated steps to get a deal from the Paris talks. Ceasefire and hostage release then try and bring the PA back into Gaza. Nothing for Hamas though but what have they left anyway? If it collapses the Isreali govt and gets rid of Netanyahu then even better.

[steviewevie]

12 minutes ago, lazyred said:

After Cameron saying the same this looks like coordinated steps to get a deal from the Paris talks. Ceasefire and hostage release then try and bring the PA back into Gaza. Nothing for Hamas though but what have they left anyway? If it collapses the Isreali govt and gets rid of Netanyahu then even better.

they're probably all waiting to see what Starmer says.

[Neil]

11 minutes ago, lazyred said:

After Cameron saying the same this looks like coordinated steps to get a deal from the Paris talks. Ceasefire and hostage release then try and bring the PA back into Gaza. Nothing for Hamas though but what have they left anyway? If it collapses the Isreali govt and gets rid of Netanyahu then even better.

just think its the normal of a two state solution being the only possible solution. its best pushed for when both sides can see the benefit in an agreement.

[lazyred]

Sing along, you all know the tune.

Keir Starmers waiting for his try, He'd like to come and lead us but he's rather vague on why

 

[Neil]

2 hours ago, steviewevie said:

and it is useful if a minister has some experience in whatever department, but obviously that's not often possible...so they have lots of civil servants and experts working for them to advise, shape and implement policy. 

Civil servants also create a continuation of  knowledge across different govts and ministers. They are unlikely to have the sort of in-depth experience and knowledge of the railways that some senior British rail staff had before privatisation.

if we want good outcomes we need good input.

[Neil]

Tightening the rules for politicians needs to be part of any electoral reform.

[Guest]

 

[steviewevie]

2 minutes ago, Ozanne said:

 

STICK!

[Neil]

4 minutes ago, Ozanne said:

 

polling usa was my favourite beach boys song! 😛 

[Neil]

they've nicked a 44 year old man for the stabbing of those Bristol kids.

[Neil]

wonder if they'd robbed his missus, i think the kids were balaclava kids  on e-bikes (bristol has a problem with them).

[kaosmark2]

5 hours ago, Neil said:

i'd also tie -in public sector wages , so mps can't give themselves a better deal than the country gets from those politicians,.

Yeah, I agree. I do think there should be decent pay for MPs, it's just the current "lets vote ourselves payrises and vote everyone else poorer" is BS.

[kaosmark2]

5 hours ago, Ozanne said:

I really don’t think it does feed into that narrative in fact I reckon it barely features in any narrative at all for voters. How many times has bankers bonuses been mentioned since end of October? I haven’t seen it once so it’s not an attack line Labour have been using so it’s not like they are missing out.

I’m not saying MPs are low paid but I feel there is room to increase their pay, cut down on the amount of MPs and tighten rules in 2nd jobs so you can improve the calibre of candidates. MPs expenses are needed as they pay for the running of their offices inc team etc. 

Running of their offices doesn't need to be done via expenses and arguments. MPs could be given a budget for that and made to utilise it. Like councils are that they keep screwing over.

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, kaosmark2 said:

Running of their offices doesn't need to be done via expenses and arguments. MPs could be given a budget for that and made to utilise it. Like councils are that they keep screwing over.

Arguments?

The issue with budgets is that it restricts MPs when they might need something more fluid like expenses in case something comes up that their team need to deal with or the MP needs to do. Oversight of expenses claims is how you ensure that it’s all above board along with proper punishments. 

[kaosmark2]

5 minutes ago, Ozanne said:

Arguments?

The issue with budgets is that it restricts MPs when they might need something more fluid like expenses in case something comes up that their team need to deal with or the MP needs to do. Oversight of expenses claims is how you ensure that it’s all above board along with proper punishments. 

They argue with the oversight offices. And even when they f**k up they get made a peer:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-mp-who-claimed-moat-cleaning-on-his-expenses-will-return-to-parliament-through-lords-10474701.html

If something comes up that I need to deal with I don't magically get money to handle it, I have to find it from elsewhere in my budget.

Edited January 31 by kaosmark2

[Neil]

I've just been reading about how a judge has ruled that it's reasonable to call IDS " Tory scum"

https://www.theguardian.com/law/2024/jan/31/dpp-supreme-court-appeal-protesters-tory-scum-iain-duncan-smith?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

[steviewevie]