Conservative Conference
 

I see the Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has accused the BBC of nepotism (amongst many other things).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58792515 Amusing coming from someone who hired both of her daughters to work in her office…

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rk-office.html

Re: Conservative Conference
 

To be fair, one spends £4bn of public money a year and has a powerful and unique influence over the national conversation and the other is Nadine Dorries.

MPs constituency offices have frequently been staffed by spouses and children, much as is the case for many people in self employment. The work is particularly suited to people who already have a good relationship with the MP.

She makes a very good point about the BBC, which is famously hard to get a job at unless you’re “their sort of people”. With its size and influence that can’t be allowed to go unchallenged.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Nadine Dorries: New culture secretary says BBC needs real change https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58792515

From October 2018

https://www.bbc.co.uk/diversity/repo...omic-diversity

Re: Conservative Conference
 

I’m the first to argue for overhaul of the propaganda wing of the British state however considering the efforts the Conservatives are going to in order to put Paul Dacre in charge of OFCOM I’m not sure Nadine Dorries is the hero I’ve been waiting for.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

With all the cuts and whatnots Sunak said to help out those on the lower wages that they'll pay for extra training to get those in need out of poverty by helping them to getting better paid jobs. Not quite sure what planet he's from. But for arguments sake he's right (he's not), the jobs they leave still have to be replaced so....

And what about those that can't work and all the carers? Obviously the Tories doesn't seem to want to know about those...

Re: Conservative Conference
 

I'm told she's not the most competent holder of that particular office. I suspect she's there to fight the culture wars and to distract the public from other matters.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

I personally don't think any of them, from any party, can be seriously said to be 'competent' holders of a particular office.

You lot that follow things more closely probably have a different view on some of the people though :shrug:

Re: Conservative Conference
 

i think they go into politics because no one with any sense will employ them

Re: Conservative Conference
 

This topic is 'Conservative Conference', not the BBC, lets get back to that.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

So far it's a case of....

Re: Conservative Conference
 

I see the bold Boris dodged the big cervix question on GB News. Well, I heard it on Twitter nobody actually watches GB News.

“Everybody should be treated with dignity and respect”

Well, yes, but that wasn’t the question. I suppose it keeps the hand grenade in the air and not blowing up in his hands like Sir Keir.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

It's got nothing to do with Boris, just news people trying to stir shit . . . again.

They could have also asked the Pope, Lewis Hamilton, Paul O'Grady, Ant & Dec, or that strange Judge Judy for their opinions. . .

Re: Conservative Conference
 

They'd have got more sense out of any of the above.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

His opinion is more important as he's PM though. Best for Johnson it gets asked on a niche channel.

---------- Post added at 23:59 ---------- Previous post was at 23:33 ----------

:clap::clap::clap:

Re: Conservative Conference
 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58810781

Anyone know what this means?

I was fortunate enough to be in this section of the economy, but only after 20 years of long hours and hard slog - what is going to make it accessible to the majority of the country in a timely manner?

Re: Conservative Conference
 

He's probably only talking about Central London ;)

Re: Conservative Conference
 

However Boris is the one in charge.So the buck stops with him.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Having not seen the news item alluded to by the twitter post Andrew read (sheeesh), I was assuming (presuming, guessing) that the 'big cervix' question' was in relation to the cervix comment made by K. Starmer last week sometime.

The only reason I see as to why a news program would question Boris on this, is to get a juicy news worthy reply with which to carry on the ridiculous (IMO) transgender crap that started it.

I honestly fail to see how the 'buck stops with Boris' here?

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Actually my reply is more to do with the fact he NEVER actually answers any questions.Just waffles and blusters and always manages to pass the buck.After any interviews these days I'm no wiser as to what he's actually saying. What does build back better actually mean?

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Yes; when the Tories have been in power 29 years out the last 42 it’s an interesting concept that they’re unaccountable for the decades of economic failure they not profess to plan to fix.

Essentially we are government by focus groups/PR.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

jfman posted about it, I've not seen that Tweet.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

What does any of it actually mean, level up, build back better, get brexit done, catchy little phrases done to grab the publics attention with little to no substance behind them other than looking good in headlines, probably got it from make America great or Tory Blairs "now is nor the time for soundbites but I can feel the hand of history on our shoulders" classic

---------- Post added at 10:51 ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 ----------

Their great con is convincing people to vote against their best interests, they only get away with it because we allow them to

Re: Conservative Conference
 

I wasn’t sure who should be more offended ;)

Re: Conservative Conference
 

For what it's worth, in this day and age anyone giving a straight answer to a question is opening themselves up to a further barrage of questions, many from those who like to give the knife a little twist on the way in.

Build Back Better, I would hope, possibly means we become less reliant on other countries for our needs & requirements. How we do that is anyones guess . .


apologies to both :)

Re: Conservative Conference
 

To some, it's down-sizing lower margin activities like farming and moving to higher-value ones like chip design. To others it's onshoring manufacturing. To others, it's sharing wealth more equally in the future.

So, all things to all people and the next election's in the bag!

---------- Post added at 11:23 ---------- Previous post was at 11:18 ----------

An amusing piece. :)

Lidl Tories vs Waitrose Tories: which shop best represents the Conservative soul?
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...cid=entnewsntp

Re: Conservative Conference
 

How do you design a new chip without first farming the potatoes :shrug:

Re: Conservative Conference
 

If you can't give a straight answer to a straight question then surely you are opening yourself up to being seen as shifty and unreliable.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Definition of a Politician right there :D

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Re: Conservative Conference
 

New Tory economic model. I can’t wait to see the plans outlined in detail and how the deviate from the 1980s when they last introduced one!

Re: Conservative Conference
 

The Telegraph (not noted for it’s left wing views, and ex-employer of BoJo, quotes the Adam Smith Institute’s thoughts on BoJo’s Conference speech (the ASI is a right wing Libertarian Free Market think tank).

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/atta...8&d=1633524846

Re: Conservative Conference
 

i switched the tv off i couldn't listen to his bullshot.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

I remember joking about vote Johnson, get Corbyn.
It's no longer a joke.
I fear that Johnson's failure to listen to British business is reminiscent of Thatcher refusing to listen to complaints about the poll tax.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Not to ride to BoJo’s defence or anything but as you said, the ASI is not just right wing but full-on libertarian, which puts them to the right even of some US Republicans. It’s hard to see them cheering on anything short of the full Maggie, circa 1986.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

What's going on, the labour conference had two thirds more replies than the Conservatives one and yet this is the party in power that's presided over unprecedented levels of corruption and incompetence, that have broken numerous manifesto pledges, screwed brexit so much we have fuel and food shortages, presided over a pandemic that killed tens of thousands, has a cost of living crisis, an energy crisis and yet it's all Labour's fault looking at the replies number alone

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Re: Conservative Conference
 

:tu:

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Allegedly.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

There's allegedly been broken manifesto pledges, fuel shortages, a pandemic, and an energy crisis?

Re: Conservative Conference
 

I think most right minded people are making allowances towards the government because the pandemic was not foreseen at the time of the election. All those items you listed there were caused or greatly exacerbated by Covid.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

There isn't any shortage of fuel.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

It just needs extracting out of the ground, refining and transporting to my closed petrol station. :erm:

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Which also greatly exacerbated the misappropriation of tax payers money into the pockets of chums and cronies, ppe contracts, the world class test and trace system etc etc etc, these people would make a Third world Junta blush and yet the labour conference thread has over a hundred replies and this one 30 odd, talk about getting your priorities right, from what I saw this conference was a fiasco anyway, a 2nd rate comedian doing 3rd rate gags about build back badger and no one says a word, someone called Labour a clown car, well this lot are the full blown circus with bozo as ringmaster but that's okay apologise on their behalf and concentrate on Labour's many short comings rather than what's staring you in the face

Re: Conservative Conference
 

I feel your pain....:p:

Re: Conservative Conference
 

So you should, they're taking the piss out of you just as much as they are me, unless you're one of the chums of course, then you're making out like a bandit

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Sometimes I think people to deserve to get what they vote for. They voted to get shafted by a bunch of lying millionaire muppets and that's what they've got. It's karma in a way...

Re: Conservative Conference
 

No way to talk about Newcastle fans, shame on you :D

Re: Conservative Conference
 

All of those happened, but then you [all] drained it in a panic. :)

JFYI, no shortages around here.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

There was panic buying across the UK, just fewer HGV drivers here as we had more European ones who returned home for various reasons including the new tax arrangements and Covid.

Much as I like Nottingham, it's a long way to go to fill the car up!

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Have you been? Please explain.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Yes I've been today, have you? Doesn't sound like it.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Panic buying was the sole cause of the shortage. The 100,000 driver shortage is being blamed on a maximum of 20,000 EU drivers leaving, no mention of the c.40,000 HGV tests cancelled due to Covid.

The haulage industry needs fixing re- facilities for drivers and wages.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

You don't think losing a fifth of that hundred thousand had much impact on what happened then?

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Not as much as the media made out. But for the panic buying...

Re: Conservative Conference
 

I think it made a big difference, 20% extra of something fills a lot of gaps

Re: Conservative Conference
 

You are assuming 20% of tanker drivers left. Could you cite anywhere that that is the case considering they have to be more highly qualified as most other HGV drivers?

Re: Conservative Conference
 

I'm assuming it's more than 20% actually, the bounties supermarkets are offering look pretty attractive to me

Re: Conservative Conference
 

That said you don't know the pension benefits oil companies offer. I have two friends, one a tanker driver for BP, another for Calor Gas. One retired and one still working. Both have said the would never have gone elsewhere (obviously the retired one wouldn't be able to).

Neither have or had to spend time sleeping in their cabs or be anywhere overnight nor, according to them have the majority of tanker drivers so I tend to listen to them. HGV class 3 (if that's what it's still called) may be another mattter

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Calor gas were one of my previous companies clients. They might have said they won't go anywhere else but did they ever have someone offer to all but double their wages? It'll be interesting to see what's been happening when I eventually return to work

Re: Conservative Conference
 

It will be interesting to see, the calor gas driver (still working) has stated he won't move anywhere else, he loves doing the ethernol delivery to Warrington occasionally.;)

I don't think you know how much tanker drivers are paid when delivering petrol, gas or any other volotile or otherwise dangerous loads. Plus there are the reasonalbe pension and other benefit alongside. Younger drivers may feel different but then you've got to question why they they went the extra mile to be qualified as tanker drivers.

Re: Conservative Conference
 

It's alright big companies throwing incentives/bonuses etc all around while there's a shortage of drivers . . but what's going to happen when there's a glut of drivers again?

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Let's hope the companies with fine margins survive until there's a glut of drivers

Re: Conservative Conference
 

Don't think it's anything to do with fine margins, it's all about using what you have wisely and not over-reaching ;)