 | Forum
Reply | Starmer! Wow!
at 21:46 1 Oct 2024
It appears that the recent furore over Starmer’s “gifts” is going to result in a change of the rules and a change I believe which is for the better.
Starmer is going to reverse the change introduced back in 2015 by the Cameron government which removed some of the scrutiny around ministers gifts and hospitality. The changes “relaxed” what minsters were required to report but continued to require others including shadow ministers to declare their “donations” or “gifts” every fortnight. It seems the previous rules could result in a situation where a minister and a shadow minister attended the same event, the minister wouldn’t have to make any declarations while the shadow minister would! That can’t be right and begs the question how on earth did this arrangement come about ……Under the new rules Starmer is introducing all will be now be treated the same way and have the same reporting requirements.
It appears that the registers relating to MP’s is updated and published monthly, however the ministers record is updated intermittently and was last published in December 2023 some 10 months ago. It also appears ministers had the leeway to determine what, if anything was relevant and in need of reporting.
The ministerial code says it is “a well established and recognised rule that no minister should accept gifts, hospitality or services from anyone which would, or might appear to, place him or her under an obligation”, it adds that this “is primarily a matter which must be left to the good sense of ministers”.
Starmer has been quite rightly criticised for what he’s received, but we’ve no idea what the previous government’s ministers accepted because they’ve had leeway to report what they think is relevant! Imagine a politician failing to declare a gift or interest………. |
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Reply | Tory leadership
at 22:38 30 Sep 2024
Jenrick was caught up in a bit of a scandal during the Covid era when it was alleged he breached the Covid rules, he was also embroiled in row over his role in a controversial £1bn development proposed by a Conservative Party donor where he approved the development after the planning inspector had turned it down. It transpires Jenrick and the donor had met and that the donor had shown Jenrick a promotional video and gifted £12k to the.
Conservative Party. I suspect this story will be resurrected at the next GE should Jenrick win and be used against him, sleaze etc etc.
Badenoch is rubbing people up the wrong way, she’s even copping flak from the readers in the Conservative press regarding yesterday’s interview and she’s reversing and back tracking faster than the proverbial Italian tank. She may be the darling of the right, but I can’t see comments like the above endearing her with the majority of the electorate. I’d say she’s out of touch, there’s been a huge furore from people like Andrea Jenkyn about the falling birth rate which many blame on the cost of living etc, stopping maternity pay isn’t going to encourage working people who may be maxing out to afford mortgages etc to have children, they’ll act responsibly, it’ll be the chavmungus who aren’t impacted by the maternity pay issue because they don’t work.
Cleverly and Tugendhat are the more centrist candidates, they appear more appealing to the centre but may not have support in the party.
I think it’ll be Jenrick and Cleverly in the last 2. I suspect Badenoch may become the victim of tactical voting. |
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Reply | Starmer! Wow!
at 22:17 30 Sep 2024
There’s ministers allegedly briefing the papers that they want him gone asap, but it appears that he’s been ill for 18 months and that he was off work for 2 months last year before returning to work in January.
I suspect there’s more to come on this. |
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Reply | Starmer! Wow!
at 17:12 29 Sep 2024
Could it be that the politicians are happy to take what’s offered, but the employees of councils, police authorities, nhs, civil service etc decline as they operate to different rules. I’ve worked in both the private and state sector, my experience of the latter is that the employees are far more reluctant to accept hospitality than the politicians.
Many years ago my father in law sponsored a Welsh league match for the local football club and FIL offered my son and I tickets. I had to declare everything in advance and get permission from my employer to attend. I submitted the paperwork and it was duly approved, but it was a lot of hassle for 2 tickets and 2 coffee and biscuits. Had I not declared it and got approval, I’d have lost my job. |
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Reply | Letting prisoners loose
at 21:08 28 Sep 2024
100% - plenty of people will bump their gums and spout guff they’d never dream of saying to someone’s face. If you can5 do the time, don’t do the crime…. |
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Reply | Starmer! Wow!
at 21:05 28 Sep 2024
What’s happened doesn’t appear to be against the rules or unlawful but it does stick in my throat and the rules need to change.
We’ve seen years of gifs/backhanders under the last regime and it’s also crept in to Labour. Starmer has disappointed. [Post edited 28 Sep 21:05]
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Reply | More attacks on historic paintings
at 21:47 27 Sep 2024
I’ve no issue with legitimate protesting, but this a senseless act of wanton vandalism against a world treasure.
Porridge at HM’s pleasure is the order of the day. Tarra ! |
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Reply | Service ! Best and worst restaurant you have ever been to ?
at 17:19 27 Sep 2024
The Butchers around the corner had a great reputation and was the go to place for a long time, but I’ve not been there recently so can’t comment. The Red Lion in Llandyfaelog is a tidy place if you’re in the Kidwelly or Ferryside areas. |
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Reply | Senedd Costs
at 07:59 27 Sep 2024
As far as I am concerned there isn’t and the expansion should be stopped. We also need to see a reduction in the number of local authorities, 22 is far too many. |
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Reply | Tattoos
at 23:27 26 Sep 2024
I’m not keen on them but each to his own. If they are on the face, neck, head or hands where they are difficult to cover up it’s a big no from me.
Don’t like them on women. |
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Reply | Starmer! Wow!
at 23:22 26 Sep 2024
The Conservatives under Jeremy Hunt introduced the changes to the non dom legislation in March this year which would see the abolition of non dom status after a transitionary period. Labour have proposed accelerating the changes and reducing the transitional discount.
Both sides are culpable, the question is how do we make the tax regime fairer and close the loopholes so every one is treated fairly. |
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Reply | Letting prisoners loose
at 23:12 26 Sep 2024
Is the correct answer, Alex Chalk prepared the plans for Sunak as the system was on the point of breakdown. Interestingly, the Conservatives released 10,000 prisoners early between October 2023 and July 2024. |
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Reply | Letting prisoners loose
at 23:03 26 Sep 2024
And don’t forget about employing sufficient quantities of new civil servants to double check everything and process the releases. After all, sorting the adverts out, allowing time for applicants to complete the application forms, short listing, interviewing, issuing a conditional offer of employment, referencing, completing vetting/security checks, issuing the unconditional offer of employment, person giving 28 days notice to existing employer, starting and completing training period should mean the staff would be in post by the end of July ….not! |
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Reply | Verdicts from the riots
at 22:36 26 Sep 2024
Thank you and howenjack for the explanation, it’s genuinely appreciated. I can’t recall ever hearing the expression before but, having read your explanations I can see why it could easily be construed as racist and unacceptable. For what it’s worth I think the CPS and police were right to prosecute. |
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Reply | Verdicts from the riots
at 23:12 25 Sep 2024
I don’t think this indicative of a trend or a conspiracy / double standards, the CPS have simply failed to prove the case and secure a conviction, they were up against a very tough defence team, the quality of which wouldn’t often be seen in Magistrates Court.
I’ll be honest and say I’ve never heard the term coconut being used before
Court is very adversarial and as OHL has said on more than 1 occasion justice isn’t always served and proceedings can look to many to be a bit of a game. On this occasion, I suspect the CPS have been out gunned and out manoeuvred by the defence team which contains some seriously experienced and highly capable lawyers including a KC and Gareth Pierce who has bags of experience in really serious cases.
Most of the sentences we’ve seen handed out to the rioters are because the defendants have pleaded guilty. I don’t think many if any cases of violent disorder have been listed for trial at the Crown Court. |
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Reply | Strange Laws
at 22:46 25 Sep 2024
Seen a few horror stories about people being asked to cough up for a damaged church roof, I think we had to take an indemnity policy on our place to cover it. |
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Reply | Service ! Best and worst restaurant you have ever been to ?
at 22:43 25 Sep 2024
I’m by no means someone who eats out regularly, but off the top of my head one of the nicest meals I’ve had was at the Santa Fe Steak House in Davenport Orlando, great food and great service.
The worst, well I’ve had a few shunky curry’s over the years but there’s 2 that stand out. The first was a family get together at Tay Barns, the second is going right back in to the mists of time when wifey and I went to the Whitehart in Llanddarog, poor meal and rude staff. |
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Reply | Starmer! Wow!
at 23:31 24 Sep 2024
Interesting article reporting that Robert Jenrick front runner from r the Conservative leadership has taken three substantial donations from a company with a questionable history, very little trading history, never made a profit, based in a tax haven which total £75k.
From where I’m sitting that’s wors3 than the clothes issue because we’ve no idea who’s behind the money. It’ll be interesting to see if the Daily Mail or Telegraph report on it.
https://www.tortoisemedia.com/2024/09/20/robert-jenricks-top-donor-received-loan [Post edited 24 Sep 23:34]
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Reply | Pandoras box is now open
at 23:27 24 Sep 2024
Mick Lynch bumping his gums off at a fringe event and it’s being reported in the impartial Daily Mail - let’s not get too riled up with articles like this and let’s actually see how things pan out. If Starmer allows the unions to rule the roost, then in 4 years time he’ll be outers and we’ll have a different government.
It’s early days. |
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