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.

IS HANCOCK OVERPAID?

"Tory Minister Matthew Hancock: Under 25s Are Too Unproductive To Warrant National Living Wage"
The Huffington Post UK | By Owen Bennett
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Posted: 06/10/2015 16:45 BST Updated: 2 hours ago
MATT HANCOCK
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Workers under the age of 25 are not “productive” enough to warrant being paid the new National Living Wage, according to Government Minister Matthew Hancock.

In this summer’s budget, Chancellor George Osborne announced a new minimum wage for over 25s would come into force from next April, starting at £7.20 an hour and increasing to £9 by 2020.

But those under 25 will be on the old minimum wage rates, meaning they are entitled to £6.70 an hour, down to £5.30 for 18 to 20 year olds and £3.87 for under 18s.

Trade union Unison said the remarks showed the Government was "out of touch", while Labour claimed Mr Hancock had let "the cat out of the bag".

A Survation poll for the Huffington Post published last week showed the majority of Britons – 66 per cent - believe the new higher rate should be given to under 25s.

Speaking at a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this afternoon, Mr Hancock defended the different rates.

He said: “This was an active policy choice. Youth unemployment, whilst falling quite sharply, is still a long way above the unemployment rate for the over 25s.

“Anybody who has employed people knows that younger people, especially in their first jobs, are not as productive, on average.

“Now there are some who are very productive under the age of 25 but you have to set policy for the average. It was an active choice not to cover the under 25s.”


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Stoking up problems.

Interesting chart!

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/03/national-living-wage-osborne-resolution-foundation_n_8083146.html

Tony Bliar, University Challenge, subject stating the bleeding obvious!

Tell us something we dont know Mr Blair. But fair dos saying it loud and clear in NY. Something Obama would never do. He refuses to say Islamic terrorism despite these deviants coining the term ISIS. Prefers violent extremism...

ah well, no us president has ever dared say boo to the israeli gov't either

I have to agree with you on that.

But I havent seen jews cutting off the heads of innocent people...

that much is true, but surely i don't need to bore you with israel's appalling treatment of the palestinians, nor the slow annexation of more and more land on the west bank?

I am just as appalled as you at the recent destruction in Gaza, cynic. And at Netanyahu's obvious refusal to accomodate the palestinians in any way. I am reminded of that every time I go through an airport. I am also aware that the zionists, Irgun and Lehi, carried out terrorist acts against British police and soldiers in Palestine during the mandate.
But I am talking about the so called ISIL. An organisation universally recognised as a murderous islamic sect that needs to be wiped out. Some islamists may say the same about Israel but that is not relevant to the argument.

i actually agree with you

if you are interested in m/e history and politics, may i commend to you
My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel by Ari Shavit?

it's very readable and i certainly found it very interesting, opening my eyes to a number of things

It is a good book. I bought it on cynic's recommendation.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/06/corbyn-isolated-in-europe-over-threat-posed-by-isis-cameron

Thanks Cynic/Hays. I have downloaded the kindle edition from Amazon. I heard a lot about Palestine from my father who was a professional soldier. Signed up in 38.
In the 90s I had a jewish group as minority partners in a JV. I heard about the other side from their president who was active running guns during that period. He and his wife, both now dead, have a faculty named after them at the Weizmann Institute.
One of his comments I always remember was "always get the other person to pay the bill for the meal, and you give a big tip. No one remembers who paid for a meal, but a good tipper... "
I paid for the meal even though he owned 35% of the restaurant. ))

I would also read "The Holocaust Industry" by Norman Finkelstein. He is an Israeli born Jew but not popular there these days. He is an academic and his parents were survivors of the Warsaw Ghetto and concentration camps.

It is available for free download here

https://archive.org/download/HolocaustIndustry/nf_holocaust_industry.pdf

Thanks.
Schlock. Nice word that could be used a lot. More refined than plain crap. I have only read the foreword so far but what he says is compelling and easily recognisable.

What a dreadful speech by Cameron.

I thought it was The Tinker speaking.

Mantra, mantra, orchestrated clap and a sick bowl passed around.

McMillan built 300,000 a year in the 50s.

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The tinker party is moving backwards, retrogressive.

0-=-=-=-==

The tory hype reminds me of the hype around a recent rugby team.

I doubt he thinks much of you either Fred !

David Cameron: A greater Britain with Conservatives, not with terrorist-sympathising Jeremy Corbyn
Conservative conference: David Cameron launches 'national crusade' to build new homes, vows to keep Britain safe and promises far-reaching social change


A message to voters
• "To the British people: When you put your cross in the Conservative box, you were putting your faith in us. To finish the job we started. To back working people. To deliver security for you and your family. And I'll tell you now: we will not let you down."
• He celebrates a swathe of election victories across the country
• "As dawn rose, a new light - a bluer light - fell across our isles"
• "There was a moment that I thought I'd died and gone to heaven" when Mr Cameron shut his eyes for a little while on the morning of May 8 as he heard that Ed Balls and Nigel Farage had both gone.
Changing the party
• Put social justice, equality for gay people, tackling climate change and helping world's poorest "at the centre" of the Conservatives' mission
• Praises a new generation of Conservative MPs
A greater Britain
• "I love Britain. I love our history and what we've given to the world. I love our get-up-and-go; that whenever we're down, we're never out. I love our character; our decency; our sense of humour. I love every part of our country. England, Scotland, Wales, Northern ireland - we are one nation and I will defend our Union with everything I have got."
• Tackling "deep social problems" is a priority, including poverty, lack of opportunity and extremism
• The Tories will "save Britain from the danger of Labour"

His leadership
• "I can say something today that perhaps no Prime Minister has ever really been able to say before. I’m starting the second half of my time in this job. As you know, I am not going to fight another election as your leader. So I don’t have the luxury of unlimited time. Let me tell you: I am in just as much of a hurry as five years ago. Securing our country, growing our economy; jobs, exports, growth, infrastructure…"
• He calls George Osborne the "Iron Chancellor" and lavishes praise on Boris Johnson as mayor of "the greatest city on earth", but only gives a passing mention to Theresa May.
National security
• Talks of "lonely moment" when he reads about plots to carry out attacks on British soil
• Attacks Jeremy Corbyn for describing the death of Osama bin Laden was a "tragedy"

• Standing ovation and huge applause as he declares: "My friends, we cannot let that man inflict his security-threatening, terrorist-sympathising, Britain-hating ideology on the country we love"
• Two per cent of GDP to be spent on defence
• Four new Trident submarines will be ordered
• Standing ovation for David Cameron's praise of the Armed Forces

Migration
• "If we opened the door to every refugee, our country would be overwhelmed"
• Britain has given more money in aid to the Syria region than "any other country on Earth apart from the United States"
• Promises to commit to 0.7 per cent of national income being spent on aid
Europe
• Europe is "too big, too bossy, too interfering"
• Britain should "get stuck in" and "fix problems" in Europe rather than "walk away"
• Praises Europe trade deal with America secured by Britain
• "I have no romantic attachment to the European Union and its institutions. I'm only interested in two things: Britain's prosperity and Britain's influence"
• Refuses to allow Britain to get involved with "an ever closer union"

Economic security
• Battle "has only just begun"
• Attacks Jeremy Corbyn for giving up "any sensible, reasonable, rational arguments on the economy" before describing Labour as "deficit deniers"
• "Let’s just remember: Labour ideas don’t help the poor, they hurt the poor. That’s right, Labour: you’re not for working people, but hurting people. If you want a lecture about poverty, ask Labour. If you want something done about it, come to us, the Conservatives."
• Northern Powerhouse, finding more savings and producing more are key challenges
• Describes George Osborne as "our Iron Chancellor"
• Country must have a surplus to make sure "we are ready to cope with future crises"

• David Cameron wants everyone to have a house of their own, not just "a roof over your head"
• "We need a national crusade to get homes built"
• Affordable homes will now be available to buy, not just to rent - "from Generation Rent to Generation Buy"


Opportunity
• More free schools and academies where head teachers can "throw off the shackles of local council control"
• Graduates facing "rejection and after rejection" because of their name. David Cameron says: "One young black girl had to change her name to Elizabeth before she got any calls to interviews. That, in 21st century Britain, is disgraceful."
• Opportunity is denied when British Muslims are abused for their faith, black people are constantly stopped and searched by the police because of the colour of their skin, or when a gay person is rejected for a job because of the person they love.
• "I’m a dad of two daughters – opportunity won’t mean anything to them if they grow up in a country where they get paid less because of their gender rather than how good they are at their work."
Extremism
• Britain needs to confront extremism
• "When I read what some young people born and brought up in this country are doing, it makes me feel sick to my stomach."
• Isil is murdering Muslims more than anyone else
• Take on extremism in all forms: violent and non-violent
• Segregation must be tackled
• Children spending "several hours each day ar a Madrassa" where they are taught they should not mix with people of other religions; being beaten; and "swallowing conspiracy theories" about Jewish people
• Madrassas will be shut down if they are found to be teaching intolerance
• "No more" passive tolerance of female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriages of children


• Parents who take children for FGM will be arrested, people arranging forced marriages will be prosecuted
• "That’s right: less Britain-bashing, more national pride – our way, the Conservative way, the only way to greater days."
Conclusion
• "I believe we can make this era - these 2010s - a defining decade for our country"
• "A Greater Britain made of greater hope, greater chances, greater security."
David Cameron showed off his statesmanlike credentials in his conference address, with lots of language about patriotism and the country he leads. "Our country" was mentioned 22 times, "Greater Britain" was mentioned 13, while he spoke of the office of "Prime Minister" six times.
Jeremy Corbyn, by contrast, was never mentioned by name - and instead icily attacked as the "Labour leader". The Prime Minister wanted to depict Corbynism as an irrelevance, speaking five times of "working people" and the "British people".
He wants voters to know that the Conservatives are the only ones looking out for the country.

schlock is a pejorative descriptive noun applying to people, usually male - eg he's a schlock = he's a lazy goodfornothing or slob ..... or anything along those lines

fred - there was nothing wrong with the speech at all

HOWEVER
the concept of building houses for 1st-time buyers is fine if
(A) the buyer has sufficient income or collateral or similar to persuade a lender to loosen the purse strings ....... it's still ridiculously difficult and/or the lenders are incredibly obstructive, whatever they may profess

(B) it doesn't help those who actually need to rent because their income or whatever precludes otherwise

Always thought that was schmuck...