Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

.

Incredible that such a suggestion could be made!

"Greek tax cheats list altered to hide names -court sources
By Harry Papachristou ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's government backed calls for a parliamentary probe into former finance minister George Papaconstantinou on Friday after prosecutors found that names of his relatives had been deleted from a list of possible tax cheats he handled when in office. Papaconstantinou, 51, who negotiated Greece's first international bailout in 2010, denied he changed the list after receiving it from French authorities two years ago, saying he was not aware any family members were on it."

Good to see "our" coalition government doesn't have any problems.
-------------------------

Memo urges Lib Dems to criticise Tories
By Iain Watson Political correspondent, BBC News
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg The memo urged Lib Dems to criticise their Tory coalition partners

Lib Dems have been encouraged to criticise their Tory coalition partners as well as the Labour opposition.

In a leaked internal memo, senior Lib Dems were urged to spread the message that the Conservatives cannot be trusted to help build a fairer society.

The Deputy Prime Minister has told colleagues they must keep the coalition anchored in the centre ground.

But the memo suggests voters should be reminded that the Tories wanted to "look after the super rich".

The memo from a senior Lib Dem official to Lib the party's MPs, peers and staff says that before the Lib Dems got into government "no one could stop the Tories from looking after the super rich while ignoring the needs of normal people".

It lists a series of Tory policies which the Lib Dems have successfully blocked, including measures "allowing bosses to fire staff at will".

=====

D and G, is trying to work out where his problems are, the left or right of the party, the libs, or Europe.


The fun of power!

She suffered multiple organ failure and a heart attack following the brutal assault on December 16 which has triggered violent public protests.

Her horrific ordeal has galvanised Indians to demand greater protection for women from sexual violence with mass demonstrations, candle-lit vigils and street protests with placards, chants and road blocks. One policeman has died in the protests.


Hundreds of armed officers and riot troops patrolled the capital, closing down a number of metro railway stations and asked people not to travel into the city.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2254504/Indian-gang-rape-victim-dies-Singapore
what kind of creatures are those in india

Cherie Blair CBE for charity work
Cherie Blair is made a CBE in the New Year Honours

takening the piss are they not it just shows what a farce the honours have become

Tanker,

How many times did you read the DailyTails article?

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P 19749

Having difficulties, but agree.

to change the subject somewhat .... we should be very thankful indeed that we (uk) does not suffer from the insane american system ...... there, a strident, hard-line minority (t party) can hold its own party (republicans) to ransom, and thus bring the country close to ruin ...... additionally, it makes america a complete laughing stock.

here, the lords can and does monitor, debate vociferously, and filters out a good proportion of the excesses of acts that are proposed by parliament

that said, the lords can only block a bill twice (i think) ...... after that, parliament calls the shots.

as individuals, we may not like the result and indeed parliament assuredly gets things (badly) wrong on occasion, but at least a decision is made.

Cynic,

Yes.

I think the American system developed as a "protection" against a new "dictatorship" taking over.

Ours as an attempt to protect a "dictatorship".

Both "systems" have failings.

Reform in UK is necessary, but the replacement of the "Lords" probably needs a reviewing chamber with the ability to refer back to Parliament, but not to block administrative actions.

Those “co-opted”, or “coerced” into that body should in general be non-political, (if possible,) and have “expertise” and be representative of the various areas of a “modern” society and have a limited tenure of “office”, before re-appointment.

Membership of the body could be on a rotating overlapping of 3-5 year basis.

Preferably, the body should be small in number and by appointment rather than “election”.

(Similar to the civil service. 8-))

why "small in number" and by that, how many?

i think the lords is much less partisan than their individual labels may imply, and there are certainly many more with wide experience in business and/or politics than in the commons.
for that reason, i would be reluctant to make the lords "rotating" which implies that once you'd served your term, you are out, regardless of your "quality"

Cyn,

If they are being paid, then in view of "austerity" policies the smallest number possible.

(You and me.) 8-)


But a review body, could consist of "consultancies of the greater and good" with broader based overview body.)

I don't see why the total number should be more that 100 individuals with the "authority" to draw in necessary "advisers", if necessary.



By rotating did not mean that one could not be re-appointed, but "tenure" could be reviewed at 3-5 year intervals.

I agree about the house of lords having many talented and socially minded individuals , but they also have a lot "disconnected" buffoons, collecting their "expenses" without any positive input and any valid reasons for being there other than their "said" genes.

you are in danger of creating the civil servants dream ..... an organisation full of quangos and other nonsense, all of which will require a hoard of helpers, researchers and other support staff

i think you are a bit harsh on some of the incumbents ..... they may well be just bone-idle!

Born idle! Most appropriate!

The reason for 100 and ability to take short term advisers.

do the civil service mandarins pay you a retainer?

They don't even recognise me any longer.

I think Dave must have written his last speech in the The Bullingdon Club. Wonder if George was with him.

He is getting more and more detached from reality.

It is pity that he didn’t stumble in the current rather than on the economy.

------

Hays,

Good picture of your leader. Wet all over, out of touch and looking running scared.

UKIP DOWN UP TO 20% AND GROWING BY THE DAY
GOOD BYE LAB,LIBS .AND THE CON PARTY

Did he have a "quick fix" before or after he made his lauded speech?

Why know mention of Europe?

Did he have a "quick fix" before or after he made his lauded speech?

Why know mention of Europe?

you're a great armchair critic fred, but i don't recollect you ever proposing any alternative policies or what you would have done differently before and not after the event ...

for that matter, how good are you at running your own share portfolio and how often do you own up to making some lousy calls? ...... i merely ask

nor should you forget that if a week is a long time in politics (ask maggie thatcher), try to envisage how long 2 years is and what may or may not happen in that time

Cyn,

I have been responsible for making many portfolio lousy calls. Don't deny them and frequently have admitted them and others, but I don't see the need to boast about them, or the luckier calls I make sometimes.

But, when I do make bad mistakes, it seems sufficient to curse to myself and try to avoid repeating them too frequently. (I am the learning process.)

------

However, I think that there were many of us who thought back in 2004-06 that there were problems ahead, jumpy about the market and by 2008 many had got out of the market.

(I would have been wiser to have left a little less "invested in the market at that time.)

But the "armchair critic" remark could be applied to the tory mantras at the last election and carried on, by the coalition up until now, about labour's economic incompetences and lack of "oversight" of the "financial institutions", while they themselves are doing little to put in the necessary restraints into practice in orderto prevent similar problems further down the road.

This government is being cowardly in ducking its responsibilities on Financial Reforms, as seemingly Media Abuses reforms, etc..

Granted, a government is not fully in control of all future events, whether they be "two weeks or two years", but should be able to think further ahead than the end of its own nose.

This government is reactive rather than proactive and thinking of their own needs and ambitions, not that of the country as a whole.

That is why I keep chuntering on.

Also, it amuses me to do so.

Have a good night, and don't fall off the fiscal cliff.