POLITICS CORNER

[plaques]

Don't forget we started to go down the same slippery slope by asking for proof of identity in our local elections. In our case said only to be trial but the question is 'why'?
Here is some blurb from the Electoral Reform Society.

Evidence from around the world shows that forcing voters to bring photographic ID to the polling station just makes it harder for people to vote – while doing little to increase faith in the integrity of the system or stop determined fraudsters. We don’t need more barriers to people taking part in our democracy.

Electoral fraud in the UK
Thankfully electoral fraud is very rare in the UK. Where voter fraud has occurred, it has been isolated and therefore is best tackled locally.

Out of 44.4 million votes cast in 2017, there was one conviction resulting from the 28 allegations of in-person voter fraud – that’s 0.000063%. Adding a major barrier to democratic engagement off the back of this would be a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

[PanBiker]

Apart from being the most vilified opposition leader of the last few decades according to the media. Jeremy Corbyn has now been accused, along with his "Marxist" aid of giving Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings Covid 19!
This apparently during a visit to Downing Street. No corroborating evidence of course such as JC and said "Marxis" aid having been tested as asymptomatic or symptomatic for that matter, carriers of the disease. Honestly, you couldn't make this up.

[Tripps]

Honestly, you couldn't make this up.

Actually yes you could - and to be fair Boris has come in for quite a bit of vilification too - not least on here - often with good reason.

Who gave what to whom?

But a friend of Mr Milne, 61, disputed this, saying: 'He didn't have a bad cough, but developed symptoms soon afterwards. Boris could have given it to him!

Curious the Jeremy Corbyn didn't get the virus?

[Big Kev]

A Level results u-turn. Just a thought, following the government bashing in the press.
Could it be that a hastily made decision, in a time of worldwide turmoil, was realised as a mistake and rectified once common sense prevailed?

An interesting point was raised, by a student, on the radio today. She had the option to 'resit' an exam in October, at a cost of £100. As she never actually 'sat' the original, how could they charge her to 'resit' it?

[PanBiker]

Could it be that a hastily made decision, in a time of worldwide turmoil, was realised as a mistake and rectified once common sense prevailed?

Not in this case Kev. They had months of notice to sort something out From the time they sent all the students home with no option of taking exams. This is a total failure by taking their eye off the ball. Education Minister bloke needs to walk on this one.

[plaques]

Why did the grading algorithm get it wrong. I think part of the answer is in the Ofqual statement.....Ofqual tried to reassure students by saying the national results would be “broadly in line with previous years” and might be slightly higher. To me this sounds like making today's results fit within last years numbers. ie: if a school only produce 3 star students last year then this would be the limit this year no matter how good this years batch actually was. Remembering back to my 11+ days, my school produced about four Grammar / high school passes per year while others had upwards of 15 to 20. Was my catchment area 200% thicker than those round other schools? or was there some unwritten bias towards the school? I don't think it was down to poor teaching since during the war the shortage of fully trained teachers applied to all schools. i shall never know but I have my suspicions.

[Tripps]

Speaking of exams and the 11 +, I came across this Maths paper for GCE (Joint Board) from 1952. I tried to compare it to a modern GCSE , but since I believe there are several different papers there of increasing difficulty that's hard to do. I think It's safe to say though, that it's a lot harder.

On the 11 + you may be right, but how on earth would you at the time, go about getting some facts to support your case. No Google, Facebook of Freedom of Information Act.

Whilst researching this topic I confirmed tonight that I passed the 11+ at age 10. Not sure how that came about. I think being a year younger than most of the class was in fact a disadvantage. There was a religious angle to proceedings so we were not competing against all other primary schools, just the left footers.

[chinatyke]

Whilst researching this topic I confirmed tonight that I passed the 11+ at age 10. Not sure how that came about. I think being a year younger than most of the class was in fact a disadvantage.

Me too! Born in July and youngest in the class. If I had been born August I'd have gone to school a year later. Same applied to taking GCE early.

[Stanley]

I agree with a lot of the above but arguing about who gave who Covid is a bit pointless I think.
Look in the transcripts of the LTP for evidence that entry to Grammar Schools was controlled not by exams but by demoralised secondary school teachers not putting pupils forward because their wages were needed at home and the cost of uniforms and travel.
Look at it whichever way you like, the Ofqual affair and PHE are shambles. But they've Put Dido Harding in charge of the new Covid unit. As David would say, what could possibly go wrong?
As for competence, I suspect who you know is more a factor in promotion than simple competence.

[plaques]

Speaking of exams and the 11 +, I came across this Maths paper for GCE (Joint Board) from 1952. Thanks for that Tripps brought back memories of my school days especially the questions using everyday subjects in their calcs: My teachers were well qualified 100% old university types but just threw the subject at you without any time for explaining the underlying understanding. I suspect that still goes on today. Its a whole world of difference in saying 'press this button then press that one' and understanding why you are pressing them.

[PanBiker]

I started school at 4 years old and also passed my 11+ when I was 10. That GCE Maths paper looks suspiciously like the ones I took, still the same format in 1970, all questions in Part A then three from five or so in Part 2. Multiple choice came in some time later after my time at secondary school. My City & Guilds exams up to 1975 were the same format as well and come to think of it I think my RAE (radio amateurs exam) in 1980 was the last in that format before multiple choice came in. The RAE was a City & Guilds paper at that time as well. CISCO accreditation is a 100 question multiple choice but the pass mark I did for tutor level was 80% it was done online in a session at the university with secure logon to the exam. If you didn't get the required 80% in the theory you could not progress to take the practical component of the course.

[Tizer]

The Saturday edition of The Times had a 2-page interview with Gavin Williamson. The first para began with him commenting on exam grades and saying something like `I can assure you that under no circumstances will there be a U-turn'. After listening to him trying to make excuses on the Today programme this morning I'd call him Minister for Waffle.

We really are in a pickle. Our political scene seems to get more like Trump's America every day. Donald Trump and Boris Johnson-Cummings bluster through with lies, mistakes, blunders and general mayhem while attempting to be populist presidents. If Keir Starmer had been the Labour leader we would probably have had a very different government, better handling of the virus problems and might even be ditching Brexit. Corbyn and his mates have a lot to answer for!

[Stanley]

You may be right Peter. But that's all water under the bridge, what we have to face is today's reality and you've given a good summary.
I too listened to Williamson and like you cringed, they must have an acting school buried in Downing Street somewhere and I have news for them, it isn't helping the box office.
On a slightly different subject, i don't think I have ever hidden my suspicions about Rishi Sunak. PE had a piece about him this week that didn't inspire confidence. I'll leave it to you to find out what it was because I can't vouch for it but PE is usually very good on this sort of thing.

[PanBiker]

Corbyn and his mates have a lot to answer for!

That will be me then. Nothing at all to do with the total vilification of the man by the media? I think you have a very peculiar view of politics certainly from where I am standing anyway but I would say that wouldn't I? The bloke is history now from a leadership point of view but it still doesn't stop the media and yourself having a pop at him. Why are any of his aids automatically called Marxists? Most of the media could not give you a proper definition even if they were interviewing Karl himself. Sir Kier maybe named after a genuine socialist but he certainly is not one himself, he is a re run of Blair and we have already been there and done that got the T shirt and it didn't end well. I only stay in the Labour Party because you cant change anything from outside, unless you are a journalist with no morals at all.

[plaques]

We really are in a pickle. Our political scene seems to get more like Trump's America every day. Donald Trump and Boris Johnson-Cummings bluster through with lies, mistakes, blunders and general mayhem while attempting to be populist presidents.

The thing that is really worrying is that what is coming to the surface, Covid lockdowns, exam results, police control, economy and Brexit negotiations are showing that the government has no idea what to do next. This begs the question to what's going on with things that we seldom hear about. Who is really pulling the strings. Is America the good guy and Russia the villain where does Europe and China fit in with our forward planning? What we are seeing is levels of incompetency that are beyond imagination perhaps its time for a change of government.

[Stanley]

" the government has no idea what to do next"
Once again you put your finger on the heart of my dilemma Ken. The standard explanation, and one I still hear today, is usually that a new government has stayed in electioneering mode instead of switching to governance. It seems to me that this lot, driven by 'thinkers' like Cummings have decided that they know how to change things for the better. Problem is that they have favoured sycophants like Dido Harding, Priti Patel, Chris Grayling and Gavin Williamson who are promoted but are basically incompetent. I'm beginning to half include Rishi Sunak in the same category.
As for Johnson, he started as a joke and a bully and is doing nothing to raise his game. Where is he now? A question many are asking. Disruption and Bullingdon Rules don't cut it. We need some old fashioned talent and hard work.
Later.... It looks as though we have 'same as'. Johnson is reported to be backing Williamson and joining him in blaming Ofqual despite universal condemnation. 'Not me Guv' so business as usual. How long can this go on?

[Tripps]

Johnson is reported to be backing Williamson

For now.

I don't suppose the lad can help being a retired fireplace salesman who was fired for endangering national security by Mrs May, and looking like a cross between Frank Spencer and Alan Partridge, with Northern vowels - but the GCSE results are out soon, and all the children have to be got back to school by September. If he sacks him now - who will want the job? There's surely enough trouble in store for the next guy to get sacked too - probably within a month.

[Tizer]

Corbyn and his mates have a lot to answer for!

That will be me then.

No, I don't consider you a mate of Corbyn. You're a supporter of Corbyn. By mates I'm referring to the team who were around around him.

Labour supporters have something to be very pleased about - that Gavin Williamson didn't follow in the footsteps of his parents who were staunch supporters of Labour.

[Stanley]

That's true Peter!
The UK news this morning is all about incompetence. Priti Patel gets a rocket from someone but I missed the name, Barr? (LINK)
What puzzled me yesterday was her knee jerk reaction to the news about the poor 18 year old boy drowned off Calais while trying to get to the UK alone in a small rubber dinghy with shovels for paddles. How is this connected with people smugglers?
Williamson continue to be savaged as more emerges about the dilemmas faced by the universities and the new problem of the B Tech candidates, the GCSE results are yet to come.
The big news this morning is from the US, in an unprecedented act Barack Obama has mounted an attack on Trump, the first time anyone can remember the previous President openly criticising his successor. See THIS BBC report. News also this morning that Colin Powell and other Republicans are endorsing Biden. I hope for America's sake that these are straws in the wind indicating the result of the November Election.

[Tizer]

I want to see which American past Republican presidents will support Trump and what they'd say about him. Could be fun!

[Stanley]

I hope and expect that there will be none Peter. I suspect he's passed his sell-by date as far as most Republicans are concerned. I see Steve Bannon has been charged for fraud over funding for the Mexican Wall.
It transpires the '18 year old' who drowned was actually 28 years od and was with another bloke in the rubber dinghy which they punctured with the shovels they were using as paddles according to the French authorities. Still nothing to do with smugglers.
Williamson sinks slowly beneath the waves but I heard one commentator speculating that the reason he hasn't had the bullet immediately is because the question arises who would want to step into his shoes in the middle of the present mess which gets worse day by day. They are in for a long wait, the repercussions of this disaster will reverberate for the next few years as many frustrated students who have lost their deferred places but now qualify are deferring for a year. That has implications for next year's cohort and beyond. No wonder Number Ten have their collective heads down. Where is Johnson?

[Tizer]

Where is Johnson?

With his wife in `a remote cottage on the Scottish coast' and they also have a tent set up there (perhaps for Dom to visit!).

[Stanley]

I saw the report about the tent Peter!
Latest news on the end of the 'Eviction Reprieve' is that Grant Shapps says "he knows his colleagues are looking at it". As one housing association representative said this morning, why only now? We have all known about it for months. What about landlords who have lost their income and face foreclosure themselves? Note that all that is being talked about is a 'short extension' to the respite. Surely that's an open admission that the can is to be kicked down the road. What is needed is realistic rates of benefit to alleviate the problem. I know, it's more money thrown at idle people in some eyes but the eventual consequences will be far greater. Many of the people who are affected aren't idle they are people caught in the Covid trap with no income.
Never mind kicking the can down the road, address the root problem. In case they have forgotten, a short extension means that the reintroduction will coincide with the end of furlough payments and the expected rise in unemployment.

[plaques]

We all know that the Putin opposition critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned allegedly by Putin's Hit men has now been moved to Germany. What seems to be a little confusing is the statements buried in the newspapers.....
Doctors said earlier that no poison had been found in his body, suggesting his condition might be the result of a "metabolic disorder" caused by low blood sugar.
Health officials then indicated that traces of an industrial chemical had been found on his skin and hair. The local interior ministry told the Rapsi legal news agency that the chemical was usually included in polymers to improve their elasticity, but its concentration was impossible to establish.

Its not clear if these are German doctors or Russian ones but the emphasis is still on that Russia did it.
Something very odd going on.

[Tizer]

The chemical is said to be 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate which is a plasticiser and claimed to be non-toxic. It will be very common at low levels in the environment. However they are probably looking at extremely low concentrations of chemicals and it's easy to make an incorrect ID. Also, it's possible the chemical they are seeing is non-toxic but is the breakdown product of a toxic phosphorus compound. On the other hand it's just plasticiser and irrelevant but they feel they have to report something!