Agreed, certainly on the latter point – to an extent on the first. My own interpretation would be that, ideologically speaking, the current government (not the Conservative Party in its entirety, perhaps) but the Parliamentary Party, certainly, have little problem with the power of big finance – and, indeed, big business.

A number of them have financial interests with just such companies.

I think it's more a case of intimidation with Labour and a feeling that nothing can be done; they'll threaten to leave etc etc. Although I'd equally say that (my own interpretation again) that some of them are ideologically not far from a similar view.



Which raises the need for regulation. But it needs to be done properly and with proper legislation to back it up and proper penalties too. It's not just the banks: I'm just reading Ben Goldacre's [iBad Pharma[/i, about how big pharmaceutical corporations behave, and it's pretty shocking. You cannot escape from the view that, at core, their ultimate priority is making money (a legal obligation for a company, of course) but that that frequently comes well above patient wellbeing. But it's also a story of cack-handed regulation with no real clout behind it.



Did you see Sally C's comment about engineering graduates ending up working in the City, because of the money?

Skills retention, certainly.

I'm think I'm correct in saying that we lose many researchers too, because of a lack of investment in research, and because jobs abroad, and other lines of work, pay better.

We have expertise and excellence in a number of fields – and we need to look for more. But at the risk of repeating myself, they won't happen overnight. What is clearly unsustainable, though, is a general population, with dwindling income levels, in a country that needs people to spend for the sake of the economy. And that's without considering the human aspect of that.

My son has just taken a job in Australia, he is 21 a qualified mechanical engineer, he sees not future career path in this country, which is really sad indeed.

This country has never valued mechanical engineers. In Germany, anyone with "Ing" as a prefix to his name is held in reverence. Here, even an "I Mech E" is viewed as little more than a grease monkey

[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/15/graph-cameron-wants-shrink-state?CMP=twt_fdCameron determined to win the race to the bottom of public expenditure[/url

Time to plan my emigration to a civilised country methinks.

Is this what [iCall Me Dave[/i meant by 'Big Society?'

[urlhttp://uk.news.yahoo.com/hungry-pupils-being-fed-teachers-225528172.html[/url

I don't doubt the veracity of the core finding of the survey (other research supports it), but it is worth noting who sponsored it – Kellogg's. No vested interested in promoting certain kinds of breakfast foods – even those stuffed with sugar and salt – then.

I'm just casting my thoughts back to my Primary School days in the '70's.
We had fook all but I can't remember anyone being hungry at school.

Fast forward nearly 40 years and look how society has progressed.
'There is no such thing as society.'
Her legacy has certainly made sure of that.

Fooking bitch!

Just seen on Twitter that Osborne got on a train with a standard ticket and sat in first class, refused to move when asked by the revenue protection officer (his aide apparently suggested that he could't possibly sit in standard) and eventually stumped up the ticket price, whether out of his pocket or from the taxpayer's wallet is not revealed.

We're all in this together you know....

It's quite staggering.

I heard yesterday about a breakfast club at a school in a very poor area of Greater Manchester that has been saved from closure by a combination of Greggs (donating some food, apparently) and Etihad.

Equally, I was laying out an article today explaining how reps can point people to UNISON's own charity for help with winter fuel bills, since many members are part-time workers on low wages, which have reduced further over the pay freezes for several years. There's another grant system in place to help with school uniforms.

It just beggars belief that we're in this sort of situation.

As I said on twitter: it's a fooking tragedy, the only banks that are expanding are food banks

Our conservative constituency MP commending our local foodbank.

[u''This is a great example of the Big Society in action.''[/u

[urlhttp://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Emergency-parcels-help-struggling-families-food/story-13319675-detail/story.html[/url

Mind you, the same MP mistakenly thought the [iBig Society[/i also involved having his driveway tarmacced for free by local council workers.

[urlhttp://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/MP-s-road-fixed-free-council-contractors/story-12806549-detail/story.html[/url

He was wrong, and had it all ripped up.







The MP's Mrs was not a happy bunny.



[urlhttp://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Road-row-mess-left-8211-MP-s-wife/story-12889084-detail/story.html[/url

ah yes, halcyon days. summers lasting 8 months, snow at xmas and all that. you could leave your front door open, 'we were poor but we were 'appy', *wipes a tear*

of course you didn't remember, it was 40 years ago, you were a child and it's not something people enjoy talking about. but i bet it was there.

then the parents will just have to get up a little earlier and use some of the child benefit that they get to give the poor little tykes a bowl of cereal. what is it these days? £20 a week for the first sprog then £15 a week for the rest?

Is this the best you've got? Really?




You really have no idea what a breakfast club is for do you.

if the general standard is 'what we need is home insulators to save the economy', then it doesn't really have to be much better than that, does it?

they're so parents don't have to worry about feeding their kids in a morning, all for a small fee. not so different from the 'elevenses club' at my step daughters school, where the poor, starving little urchins who are now emaciated after eating breakfast a whole hour or so before hand at 'breakfast club' can get some life preserving toast, all for a small fee.

I was right, you have no clue what they are for.

Before the [ighost town[/i it became.

A little seaside coastal resort heaving with holidaymakers, caravan sites full to bursting, pubs with music filling the high street, amusement arcades and the constant clanking of pennies and pinballs.

Frolicing at the outdoor council swimming pool in the hazy summer of '76 (now sadly cemented over, and built upon).
You should have seen the ladybird invasion of that that summer samwire.



Donkeys and sandcastles on the beach.

A thronging market and the constant aroma of frying fish and chips.

T'was a different world, halcyon days indeed, never to return.
Pass the hankie mate.



n.b
You are indeed correct.
The doors on our council estate home were very rarely locked.

yes, i heard your mam often left her front door open.

Usually her back door(s).
She was anal retentive.

aye,as an ex Merchant Seaman, "Arbroath Annie" was legendary on the east coast....

then what are they for oh wise one?

She had the tatt's to prove it.

cheap foreign travel.

Blimey WZ, I could be your old man !!!

are you fair haired, good looking, intelligent and about 40 with the hint of a Norfolk accent, by any chance ?

I expect a cheap holiday in Croatia at least !