Conservative party/opposition watch

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 15 Jul 2015, 07:58

Kick 'em whilst they're down. Always the smart thing to do.

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 15 Jul 2015, 11:31

Britain's in the wrong union.

3rdRock · Post by **3rdRock** » 17 Jul 2015, 18:24

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... mation-act

Ministers have launched a cross-party review of the Freedom of Information Act, which is likely to be viewed as an attempt to curb public access to government documents.

The move comes just hours after papers released on Friday under FOI disclosed that British pilots have been involved in bombing in Syria.

Matthew Hancock, the Cabinet Office minister, laid a statement before parliament outlining details about the five-person commission that will be asked to decide whether the act is too expensive and overly intrusive.

Members will include Jack Straw, the former foreign secretary who is already on the record calling for the act to be rewritten. Straw is still the subject of FOI requests over the rendition of a terror suspect during his time in office.

3rdRock · Post by **3rdRock** » 17 Jul 2015, 18:28

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-33552279

The government says its flagship policy to cap care costs in England will be delayed until 2020.

Costs were to be limited to £72,000 for the over-65s and younger adults with disabilities from April 2016.

The Department of Health said it was still "firmly committed" to the cap, but questions are now being raised whether the policy needs rethinking.

You've got to hand it to the Tories. The speed at which they're implementing their draconian plans and reneging on manifesto promises is breathtaking.

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 17 Jul 2015, 20:45

Everywhere you look...

It's time to make one's life a friction to stop the machine.

By whatever means.

3rdRock · Post by **3rdRock** » 20 Jul 2015, 07:22

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... id-cameron

Extremist ideology struggle of our generation, says David Cameron

PM to set out government’s five-year strategy, saying: ‘There are people born and raised in this country who don’t really identify with Britain’.

He must be referring to himself, George Osborne and Ian Duncan Smith to name but a few.

3rdRock · Post by **3rdRock** » 21 Jul 2015, 07:11

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015 ... gures-show

Benefit cuts to hit huge number of children, government figures show

Study identifies more than 330,000 youngsters who will lose out in policy that will take £300m out of pockets of affected families in first full year.

http://www.theguardian.com/education/20 ... t-students

Funding reforms mean 'substantially higher debt for poorest students'

Institute for Fiscal Studies says chancellor’s changes to maintenance grants will ‘increase cost of higher education’.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... sset-sales

George Osborne to launch spending review with asset sales a key target

Chancellor will claim performance of many public services has improved despite savings of £98bn being made – implying innovation can replace public spending.

johnhemming2 · Post by **johnhemming2** » 21 Jul 2015, 07:52

So the government has changed and policy moves to the right. To be fair, however, innovation can improve public services without additional funds.

3rdRock · Post by **3rdRock** » 21 Jul 2015, 08:10

John, I've made a promise to myself to refrain from churlish remarks about your posts.

God give me the strength to keep my promise.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 21 Jul 2015, 09:13

I think that counts as a churlish comment.

3rdRock · Post by **3rdRock** » 21 Jul 2015, 09:21

biffvernon wrote: I think that counts as a churlish comment.

Teacher's report: MUST DO BETTER.

3rdRock · Post by **3rdRock** » 21 Jul 2015, 14:22

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33610801

Draw up 40% cuts plans, George Osborne tells Whitehall departments

George Osborne has launched his spending review with a call for £20bn cuts to Whitehall budgets.

Each unprotected department has been asked to come up with savings plans of 25% and 40% of their budget.

The spending review document in full: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... _means.pdf

johnhemming2 · Post by **johnhemming2** » 21 Jul 2015, 15:06

It is important to remember that fossil fuel depletion will have a recessionary effect unless we are not using any at the time.

oobers · Post by **oobers** » 21 Jul 2015, 18:31

johnhemming2 wrote:It is important to remember that fossil fuel depletion will have a recessionary effect unless we are not using any at the time.

I was watching the 2011 TEQs report launch clips yesterday, in which you talked about how difficult it was getting to meet with ministers to discuss such things John. Did you have any more luck before you left Parliament? What is your assessment of how much fossil fuel depletion is factored into current policy decisions?

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 21 Jul 2015, 19:44

So Osborne wants massive cuts in government spending because:

a) he thinks the economy is going to shrink massively and government spending must shrink in step, or

b) he is going for the neo-liberal economic agenda on steroids and wants the government to be involved in a much smaller proportion of the economy.

Either way, Keynes must be spinning in his grave.