POLITICS CORNER

[Stanley]

I don't think maths is his strongest subject David.
I also agree with Ian. In normal times the electoral system's checks and balances would adjust the obvious mismatch of man and job but we do not live in normal times.....
HERE'S the latest update on Trump's brain processes....
In a world on edge waiting to see what US President Donald Trump does next in the Middle East, he provided no clear signal when he presented the longest ever State of the Union address. The world's most powerful commander-in-chief decided not to make his comprehensive case for possible military action against Iran during the biggest build-up of American might in the Middle East since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Two decades ago, President George W Bush had travelled across America, and beyond, to lay the groundwork for what turned into a major military intervention, albeit one based on faulty intelligence. Trump may have decided it was not an issue to broach when his political base, who elected him to stay out of forever wars, is far more focused on the state of the economy and the fight on immigration just months before crucial midterm polls. Or it may reflect his repeated claim that he has yet to make up his own mind about which path to pursue. He continues to say he prefers to do a deal rather than unleash a deadly war. The next crucial round of negotiations - the third this month - in Geneva on Thursday is expected to be pivotal to his decision-making. "If President Trump does not receive, through his envoys, an acceptable text from Tehran, he's likely to order some form of military action soon after," assessed a diplomat who's been briefed on this process.
Basically, what is going on is that Trump is waving his big stick but Iran isn't playing his game. They are keeping quiet. You can't make a deal if there is no communication.....

[Stanley]

See THIS report on unemployment.
The number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (Neet) has risen, edging closer to one million. Official estimates are that 957,000 people aged 16 to 24 in the UK were Neet in October to December 2025, or 12.8% of that age group. The UK is experiencing a weak jobs market, with young people particularly affected by cuts in hospitality and graduate schemes. The figures show a slight increase from the previous quarter, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, adding more young people were actively looking for work in the last three months of 2025.
This matter seems to be very low key when I fear it is the most important subject for debate that exists. I predict that this is a cloud no bigger than a man's hand but one which under the influence of AI and Quantum Computing is the biggest threat society faces in the future.

[PanBiker]

What happened to proper 5 year apprenticeships? They not only gave lads and lassies skills that could last a lifetime, but supported through the colleges, the instructors and teachers to pass on their skills to thousands each year. I believe some so called training courses only last 3 -6 months now, no good to man nor beast unless you want to know how to make a decent sandwich!

There are hundreds of decent trades that if learnt properly allow a person to buy a house, raise a family and go on holiday. Everyone doesn't need a degree and a £50,000 debt when they are 21 and the job market should not insist on such an accolade before offering employment.

I don't think it's rose coloured glasses but I left school on a Friday, went for an interview with a firm on the Monday, was taken on and told to go to college on Tuesday and sign up for my 5 year City and Guilds Radio, Television and Electronics Mechanics Parts I & II day release course, (full day and an additional evening) once sorted, tip up for in house practical training on the Wednesday. I got paid on the Thursday the going rate for a 16 year old apprentice. Five years later I was 21 and a fully skilled field and bench service engineer in my chosen trade and could tackle anything. The trade was developing and I continued learning when Video Recorders came along, then the Compact Disc players that replaced vinyl, Satellite TV next then computers, continuous learning curve to keep up with the technology.

I'm waffling but I hope you get my drift.

[Tizer]

When I left school at 15 with 3 GCE O levels I got a job with British Northrop as a junior clerk. The pay was minimal (something like 30 shillings a week, I think) but they gave me half a day off to do a beginner's day and evening course in business studies. I wanted to do something scientific but that was impossible without maths and physics O levels but I managed to get a job with Boots Chemists and they trained me as a dispenser. They ran their own correspondence course plus practical training in the dispensary. I also studied independently in the evenings on O level maths and physics at home from books. That took me a year but I passed exams in both subjects. Then got a job as a lab technician, applied to do HNC in sciences but would have to travel to Liverpool Polytechnic - there was nowhere closer at the time. Applied but they said why not take their new full-time BSC Applied Biology course instead? With their help I got a local council grant, so I took the plunge! It meant living in various cheap situations, bedsits, or on friends' sofas etc and some time in the YMCA. But I got the BSc and a career as a scientist!

[Stanley]

You weren't waffling Ian, you were describing the process that gave us the skilled people we need to run society. My experience was slightly different, when I left school I went as a farm pupil prior to going into agricultural college, I had a place booked at Prees Heath. Unfortunately my boss forgot to register me as an agricultural student and I was nabbed for National service. I didn't resume my education for twenty years but then I went to University fully funded and came out with no debt. The system eventually worked for me.
Proper education like this is is being neglected and underfunded. People are coming out of university with £60,000+ in debts, how can they understand my free ride?
We need to start investing properly in vocational and academic training. Instead we are seeing it used for gesture politics while money is spent like water on vanity projects.....

[Stanley]

See THIS latest waffle from Starmer.
Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to "keep on fighting" after a devastating by-election loss to the Greens heaped further pressure on the embattled prime minister. Labour slumped to third place in its longstanding stronghold of Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester, with Reform UK finishing second. It marks the first win for the Greens in a by-election, with 34-year-old plumber Hannah Spencer becoming the party's first ever MP in the north of England.

The result has led to renewed criticism of Sir Keir's leadership from Labour MPs ahead of May elections in Scotland, Wales and some English councils that are now widely seen as a crucial test of his premiership. Sir Keir had entered the Gorton campaign in a vulnerable position, amid dreadful poll ratings and a damaging series of policy U-turns in recent months that have prompted some Labour MPs to openly question his leadership. Speaking after the result, he pledged to "keep on fighting", insisting he was "getting on with the hard yards" of turning Labour's fortunes around. But his former deputy Angela Rayner - seen as a possible challenger to Sir Keir from the left of the party - said Labour's defeat must come as a "wake up call" and called on the government to be "braver". Others blamed the prime minister's decision to block Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, another potential leadership candidate, from standing in the seat, which Labour had previously held for nearly a century. Burnham is yet to comment on the result, and declined to speak to reporters outside an event in Manchester he attended on Friday evening.
What else could he say? The project to have a re-run of the Blair era has failed completely and it's difficult to see how it could possible be re-launched.

[Stanley]

There's been a news report that Starmer is 'Chairing an emergency meeting'..... Now what could that be about.....

[Stanley]

It later transpired it was a COBRA meeting about the US and Israeli aggression on the Middle East.....
This is overshadowing everything else in Politics this morning.

[PanBiker]

Hasn't he sent some of our RAF fighters and pilots to help in the illegalities?