The banker loving, baby-eating Tory party thread (regenerated)

[Demitri_C]

31 minutes ago, snowychap said:

To be fair, that's not what really happened even though it may appear to be so or may be presented as such.

They cheered because their party, one of minority government, had voted down, albeit with the help of the DUP, the official opposition's amendment to the Queen's Speech.

It may not technically be viewed as a vote of confidence any more due to the FTPA but it's still significant.

Snowy defending the Tories? Now ive seen it all 

[snowychap]

12 minutes ago, Demitri_C said:

Snowy defending the Tories? Now ive seen it all 

It's more of a case of wanting things accurately presented than defending anyone (I'm not defending the cheering - I think that was a mistake and rather foolish but then again that applies to a gereat deal of behaviour and reaction in the House of Commons).

This was about the process of an official opposition's amendment to the Queen's Speech being voted upon and it wasn't about the content of the amendment.

Edited June 29, 2017 by snowychap

[darrenm]

1 hour ago, TrentVilla said:

Well in my view they certainly aren't centre or even left of centre.

I felt that the manifesto was left but I also felt that it had been tempered somewhat by a realisation that they needed mass appeal.

My fear would be that if elected Corbyn and McDonnell would move more and more towards the extreme left.

Is this not centre left or do you not agree with political compass?

[snowychap]

On the subject of amendments, those selected by Bercow to be discussed and voted on today are the official Labour one, Stella Creasy's one about abortion rights for women from NI and Chukka Umunna's one about Brexit, the customs union and the single market.

As reported on the Grauniad live page, the latter two may cause a bit of consternation for the various front benches.

Quote

John Bercow has just announced his selection of amendments for the Queen’s speech votes this evening.

As expected, he will put the official Labour amendment (see 9.10am) to a vote.

But he is not putting the official SNP or Lib Dem amendments to a vote. Instead he has chosen Stella Creasy’s amendment on the abortion rights of Northern Ireland women, and Chuka Umunna’s amendment on Brexit.

Bercow’s decision will annoy both front benches.

...

At the Number 10 lobby briefing Downing Street said it would announce later whether or not government MPs will be whipped to vote against the Stella Creasy amendment on abortion and Northern Ireland.

 

[darrenm]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2017/jun/29/rupert-murdoch-to-learn-bradleys-preliminary-decision-on-his-takeover-bid-for-sky-politics-live?page=with:block-5954b088e4b0b0b6401253ac#block-5954b088e4b0b0b6401253ac

9.30am: Karen Bradley, the culture secretary, takes questions in the Commons. She is due today to announce her preliminary decision on Rupert Murdoch’s bid for full control of Sky. 

I wonder how that one will turn out 

[StefanAVFC]

"They work for us"

[Dodgyknees]

1 minute ago, StefanAVFC said:

"They work for us"

They think they work for each other, unfortunately.

When I say 'they' I mean a majority of the Tories. 

[bobzy]

4 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

Thanks mate. My MP and all the surrounding areas voted in favour of this being scrapped, I suggest you all look up to see if your local MP voted against it and send them letters how disgusted you are at them and you wont consider voting for them again. Cowards 

You don't need to go that far.

Every single Conservative MP and every single DUP MP voted "no" to scrapping the wage cap - every single other MP voted in favour.

[bobzy]

12 hours ago, tonyh29 said:

I'm sure whoever you got  the information from meant well but they are kinda being selective in their data they've given you 

 fact check for example appear to present  it slightly differently

 

All information on there seems to indicate that the 2008 financial crisis has led to increased levels of debt which, naturally, would slow up somewhat as time progresses.  Debt had started to slow at the end of Labour's reign and this trend has continued under the Tories.

Between 1997/98 and 2007/08, debt as a % of GDP fell under Labour government.  This has not happened under the coalition/Conservatives.

More interesting is that debt is increasing in size and rate since the Tories have been in power "by themselves".

 

It's interesting how people repeatedly state that the Conservatives are better with the economy.  I guess Conservative voters are just incredibly susceptible to hearing the same thing over and over and, thus, believing it.  Strong and stable, strong and stable, strong and stable... the campaign makes sense now.

[darrenm]

1 hour ago, snowychap said:

On the subject of amendments, those selected by Bercow to be discussed and voted on today are the official Labour one, Stella Creasy's one about abortion rights for women from NI and Chukka Umunna's one about Brexit, the customs union and the single market.

As reported on the Grauniad live page, the latter two may cause a bit of consternation for the various front benches.

 

[tonyh29]

3 hours ago, TrentVilla said:

 

My fear would be that if elected Corbyn and McDonnell would move more and more towards the extreme left.

Portillo , who seems fairly clued in on the workings of Politics , kinda went on a bit of a rant the other week , on This week , towards Liz Kendall  around 36mins  .. I don't know if he is right or not  ... but he suggested a move to extreme left ...

[TrentVilla]

2 hours ago, darrenm said:

Is this not centre left or do you not agree with political compass?

Well I guess I do and don't. I assume that this is based upon their manifesto? (I don't know how the above is derived) which I would agree was close to centre left.

But I don't think Corbyn or McDonnall are, I don't think those from Momentum are, or those driving the direction of the party are.

Corbyn won out over the New Labour part of the part before the election and the performance at the polls sealed it.

I think Corbyn has been emboldened by it (see talk of property requisition) and I think the party will move to the left irrespective of the positions of individual Labour MP's and this would be even more evident were they to be elected into Government.

So in a way yes I guess I am but we are looking at two slightly different things I think.

[snowychap]

I see that Osborne has picked up another job - this time as an honorary Professor of Economics at Manchester.

Let's hope they offer a discount on the tuition fees.

[Demitri_C]

50 minutes ago, bobzy said:

You don't need to go that far.

Every single Conservative MP and every single DUP MP voted "no" to scrapping the wage cap - every single other MP voted in favour.

God I hate from this vile rag but cant seem to find the story anywhere else

Quote

 

May faces a fresh threat of revolt from her own backbenchers as up to 40 Tory MPs demand she eases austerity and ends the public sector pay cap

The PM narrowly saw off a Labour amendment which would scrap 1% pay cap

But growing number of Tory MPs are demanding end to the austerity measure 

No10's position on cap in chaos after they U-turned on hints it will be axed

Culture minister today dropped another hint that the cap will be done away with 

By KATE FERGUSON, 

Theresa May is facing a fresh revolt from her own backbenchers as up to 40 Tory MPs have demanded an end to the public sector pay cap. 

The beleaguered PM last night narrowly saw off a Labour amendment to the Queen's Speech demanding the austerity measure is axed.

The amendment failed to get the backing of any Tory MPs who believed it was tabled in a bare-faced attempt to sabotage the government's legislative agenda and humiliate Mrs May.  

But dozens of Tories have made it clear to the government that they want the 1 per cent cap lifted amid a growing clamour to ease the relentless austerity measures.

Theresa May, pictured in the Commons yesterday, saw off a Labour amendment calling for her to scrap the 1% public sector pay cap. But she is facing a brewing revolt on the issues form Tory MPs

Last-ditch bid to restore powersharing between DUP and Sinn...Now he's a professor! George Osborne gets job number SIX as...

Tory MP and former business minister George Freeman has spoken out about his concerns at the cap.

Outlining his position last night on Twitter, he wrote that 40 Conservative MPs have 'signalled we need a different approach to public pay cap' and that they believe ministers are 'listening'.

Fellow Tory MP Johnny Mercer also spoke out against the cap on Twitter but said he would not play the 'political game' by backing the Labour amendment.

Tory MP George Freeman said 40 Conservative MPs have voiced their opposition to thecap

He said: 'I will persistently be a loud voice to remove public sector pay cap for frontline workers. But will not vote with this political game today.'

Meanwhile, Nick Macpherson, the former permanent secretary to the Treasury under George Osborne and now a crossbench peer, also voiced his belief that the writing is on the wall for the public sector pay cap.

TORY MPS WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT AGAINST THE PAY CAP

George Freeman (Mid Norfolk)

Johnny Mercer (Plymouth, Moor View)

Heidi Allen (South Cambridgeshire) 

Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire) 

Sarah Wollaston (Totnes) 

Dr Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire) 

Maria Caulfield (Lewes) 

He wrote on Twitter: 'Triple lock. Winter fuel. Public sector pay. NI bung. Tories implementing Labour & DUP policies. Defeat in victory. #highertaxinevitable.'

While Tory former Cabinet minister Stephen Crabb said the cap on nurses pay should be lifted.  

The government have been plunged into chaos over its position on the controversial cap.

The day began with a series of Cabinet ministers breaking cover to indicate that the 1 per cent cap should be loosened after the Conservatives were given a bloody nose in the election.

Downing Street seemed to endorse the idea in a briefing after PMQs at lunchtime - but hours later insisted that the 'policy had not changed'. 

Chancellor Philip Hammond is thought to have been furious at being 'bounced' into a move that could potentially cost billions of pounds a year.

But culture minister Matt Hancock gave another broad hint that the shift is under way this morning, pointing out that the deficit was now lower than before the credit crunch.

Tory MP Johnny Mercer also said he will be a loud voice against the pay cap

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'On public sector pay, there is a process... all the independent public sector pay review bodies report. They take into account the evidence, they also look at what is affordable. 

'There is an important reason why we have had these restrictions for a number of years.

'But the deficit is now down by three quarters... it is lower than the crash of 2009.' 

The cap was introduced by George Osborne 2012 and is due to stay in place until 2020 as part of plans to cut the deficit. 

Lifting it by one per cent for the country's five million public sector workers would cost an estimated £2billion a year - and that would still be well below the current CPI inflation rate of 2.9 per cent.

Former Permanent Secretary to the Treasury said he believes the public sector pay cap will be gone as Theresa May is forced to effectively implement a series of policies her manifesto opposed because of her deal with the DUP 

A series of public pay review bodies, who advise on salaries for public sector workers, are due to report on their latest recommendations in the autumn, and ministers could seize on this as an opportunity to do away with the cap.

But Tory MPs faced a backlash online by social media users who demanded to know why they did not back Labour's amendment.

The clause, which called for an end to the cap and for more police and firefighters to be recruited in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster was voted down by 323 votes to 309 votes, a majority of just 14 MPs.

All ten DUP MPs voted with the government on the vote after the party promised to prop Mrs May up in No10 as part of a deal which will see  an extra £1billion into northern Ireland's coffers.

If the PM had lost, it would have would have plunged her administration into turmoil.

+4

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, pictured in the Commons yesterday, last night failed to get his amendment to the Queen's Speech calling for the pay cap to be scrapped through the Commons 

The shambles over the pay restrictions began yesterday when Tory grandee Oliver Letwin said taxes should rise to meet voters' demands for an easing of curbs on public spending.

'I think sooner or later there will need to be some movement on the rate of increase of public sector pay because we are getting close to the point at which the huge increase in public sector pay compared to private sector pay which we inherited in 2010 is levelling out,' he said. 

'And I have no doubt that at some point or other we will need to look at that.' 

Soon afterwards Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said ministers were 'considering' the pay cap amid growing signs of a change in approach to austerity.

Cabinet colleague Chris Grayling also fuelled speculation by saying the government was determined to 'learn the lessons' from the bloody nose suffered by the Tories at the election.  

 

From the hate rag

[HanoiVillan]

Tories have caved in on the N Ireland abortion amendment . . . Northern Irish women will have their fees waived if they wish to get an abortion in England. Clearly they were worried about actually losing that vote if it went to the floor. An early demonstration of how influential the 20-30 most moderate Tory MP's are likely to be over the next few weeks/months/years. 

[Davkaus]

They pay their campaign managers between 22-27.5k. That might explain their last campaign.  

It's curious that they're currently hiring for the role. Preparing for the inevitable election already?

I've heard from an inside source that it'll involve a panel interview with competency based questions, such as "tell us about a time that you were a word removed"

http://www.w4mpjobs.org/JobDetails.aspx?jobid=61420

 

Job Title: Campaign Managers - England and Wales

Working For: Conservative Campaign Headquarters

Location: England and Wales

Salary: £22.5k to £27.5k

Job Details

The Conservative Party is looking to appoint a number of Campaign Managers to be based throughout England and Wales.  A successful Campaign Manager will be someone enthusiastic and ambitious, who thrives on a wide-range of competing challenges. Political and campaigning priorities can change quickly, so working hours will of necessity be varied and flexible. This is a “rolling-up-the-sleeves”, do whatever needs to be done, frontline campaigning role.

Closing Date: 28 August 2017

Interview/Start Dates

CCHQ will sift and interview candidates as applications are received – on an ongoing basis until further notice. Offers will be made to successful candidates as possible after interview.

 

[tonyh29]

1 hour ago, Davkaus said:

They pay their campaign managers between 22-27.5k....

better paid than momentum , though of course you do get to keep your benefit money with them

[Davkaus]

What's the economic value of a conscience?  

[itdoesntmatterwhatthissay]

50 minutes ago, tonyh29 said:

better paid than momentum , though of course you do get to keep your benefit money with them

You could just become an MP without the title or salary of an MP.....

Quote

Lloyd Russell-Moyle is a Labour and Co-operative Party MP looking for a highly motivated caseworker to support the work of his busy constituency office in Brighton.

Lloyd became an MP in the 2017 election and is setting up an office, initially the person will be based in Woodingdean and in Kemptown.

The successful candidate will provide information, advice and support to constituents on a variety of issues and liaise with government agencies, the voluntary sector and others to help resolve matters for constituents.

Key tasks
• Attend surgeries and other meetings to assist the Member in dealing with constituents’ issues.
• Deal with queries from constituents by phone or in person, and provide information, advice and support on a wide range of issues including housing, benefits, immigration, and other matters, gathering relevant information and taking the appropriate action to progress or resolve the case.
• Manage own caseload and progress of casework, ensuring all cases are dealt with in a sensitive and confidential manner and accurate records are kept.
• On behalf of the Member, responding to constituents on casework and policy issues raised, undertaking research thoroughly and accurately, and drafting correspondence which reflects the Member’s views.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of relevant guidelines/legislation as appropriate in dealing with casework.
• Analyse patterns of enquiries and produce reports.
• Undertake general administrative, secretarial and other tasks.
• Liaise with relevant groups.

Person specification
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and confident interacting with people at all levels.
• Able to prioritise a demanding workload to meet deadlines and an eye for detail.
• Able to deal with issues in a confidential manner.
• Able to work effectively in a small team.
• Competent use of IT. Experience of a casework management system would be beneficial.
• Experience of working and dealing with the general public.
• Previous experience in an MP’s office is desirable, but not essential, but experience with an advisory service such as the CAB or a Union is required.
• Awareness and understanding of current political issues.
• Sympathetic to the aims and objectives of the Labour Party and/or Co-operative Parties.

http://www.w4mpjobs.org/JobDetails.aspx?jobid=61175

Edited June 29, 2017 by itdoesntmatterwhatthissay

[blandy]

40 minutes ago, Davkaus said:

What's the economic value of a conscience?  

Strangely, the tory consciences are of much higher value than those of other parties....because they're much harder to find and are often good as new - never used.