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Post by leftieliberal on Aug 24, 2022 9:36:30 GMT
Well, of course, we don't have a written constitution as such, It would be more accurate to say that we don't have a codified constitution. All the parts of our constitution from Magna Carta onwards are written down somewhere, just not in a single document. Even the USA with its codified constitution, still relies on judges to interpret it and their decisions become part of the law.
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Post by crossbat11 on Aug 24, 2022 9:40:11 GMT
The Alternative Ordinary Level was discontinued in the late 1980s. Yes, that makes sense. The "A" in AO Level stood for "Alternative" and not "Advanced".
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Post by leftieliberal on Aug 24, 2022 9:46:31 GMT
These are very hazy memories from 50 years ago and isa, who triggered my reverie on this with her own recollections on the subject may know more, but British Constitution was a subject I studied in my first year in the sixth form alongside my main A Level subjects of English Literature, English Language, History and General Studies. I'd taken all my O Levels the year before but I sat the exam in British Constitution before my A Levels and it carried a sort of hybrid qualification that fell between an A and O Level. I thought it was categorised as an A/O Level but I may be mistaken on that. In my day for A levels (early nineties) we had something called AS levels which might have been analogous to an A/O level. No idea if they're still a thing. Ah 'General Studies', we still had that. I was never sure what it entailed exactly. General Studies was the 'A' level qualification; General Paper was the equivalent 'O' level qualification, at least it was in 1966 when I took it alongside my 'A' levels. My school didn't consider that any preparation was needed for 18-year olds to take the latter. I'm more proud that I got a Grade 1 at 'S' level in Physics to go alongside my 'A' at A-level (in the days when an 'A' at A-level really meant something).
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Post by isa on Aug 24, 2022 9:54:24 GMT
I didn't know A/O levels were a thing either. I did British Constitution as a full A level in 1972. These are very hazy memories from 50 years ago and isa, who triggered my reverie on this with her own recollections on the subject may know more, but British Constitution was a subject I studied in my first year in the sixth form alongside my main A Level subjects of English Literature, English Language, History and General Studies. I'd taken all my O Levels the year before but I sat the exam in British Constitution before my A Levels and it carried a sort of hybrid qualification that fell between an A and O Level. I thought it was categorised as an A/O Level but I may be mistaken on that. Ditto on the hazy memories! However, as I recall, my experience was exactly as you describe, except that I'm pretty sure my final qualification was a bog-standard O Level. Without wanting to open another can of worms, by way of clarification, Isa, as in the little green moneypit in my avatar, is certainly female, whereas isa is male.
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Post by crossbat11 on Aug 24, 2022 10:06:40 GMT
isa
Apologies for the gender lapse. It's the name isa that gets my default setting in action. I keep thinking female when I mull over the name.
Of course one of the faintly amusing aspects of cyber forums like this is that the anonymity of us all can disguise many personal characteristics, including gender.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2022 10:43:45 GMT
Truss:
"When malign actors are ready to peddle falsehoods, our duty is to ensure the world hears the truth. That is why we set up the Government Information Cell to counter the Kremlin’s false narratives. We will continue to step up our work to counter the efforts of Russia and other authoritarian regimes to use disinformation to sow confusion and undermine global stability, drawing on the skills and tools at our disposal alongside our international partners. I will go further as prime minister by doing everything possible – including declassifying more intelligence – to expose Putin’s playbook to the world. My government will use intelligence strategically to reveal the Kremlin’s attempts to undermine and destabilise freedom-loving democracies. Where there are lies, they will be exposed, where there is barbarism, we will call it out. I will take the same tough approach to counter malign activity from potentially hostile states and others who threaten global security."
If she exposes Putin's playbook she'd be exposing the widespread purchase of her party by oligarchs plus how her own "anti-Woke" stance is basically a Putin creation.
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Post by JohnC on Aug 24, 2022 10:53:50 GMT
The Alternative Ordinary Level was discontinued in the late 1980s. Yes, that makes sense. The "A" in AO Level stood for "Alternative" and not "Advanced". I'm sure at the time we thought of it as the Advanced O Level. It has taken me 50+ years to find out the correct title.
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Post by Mark on Aug 24, 2022 10:57:50 GMT
If she (Truss) exposes Putin's playbook she'd be exposing the widespread purchase of her party by oligarchs plus how her own "anti-Woke" stance is basically a Putin creation. Quite. The other aspect of this is that one of Putin's main tactics is to sow division and destabilse from within. To give one example, what is frequently described as "culture wars" issues - issues that Truss herself plays on. You can bet there are bots and people - directly or indirectly - in the pay of Putin that are all over social media making both "woke" and "anti-woke" arguments. Ultimately, Putin does not give a jot which side comes out on top, division is his goal. The same with brexit. While he is likely pleased that leave won, his main aim was - and is - a country divided in two.
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Post by laszlo4new on Aug 24, 2022 11:36:29 GMT
I was surprised that nobody mentioned (or at least cannot find it) that Truss said at Birmingham that she was willing to use nuclear weapons even if it means extermination of the humankind, providing that it gives her self-satisfaction.
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Post by wb61 on Aug 24, 2022 11:43:08 GMT
I was surprised that nobody mentioned (or at least cannot find it) that Truss said at Birmingham that she was willing to use nuclear weapons even if it means extermination of the humankind, providing that it gives her self-satisfaction. Sorry Laszlo is that what she said and you can't find it or is it your assessment of her shallowness?
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steve
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Post by steve on Aug 24, 2022 11:54:19 GMT
jib Welcome back . It's difficult to forgive the folly of the coalition and the wasted opportunities, it's a shame that Labour didn't do a bit better because given the choice between Labour and the Tory party when Labour had offered av Clegg would have been immediately defenestrated by the party if he had tried to chose Tory. I don't know if you were directing the Lib dems comments to me but given I was a Labour party member throughout the coalition and voted for a candidate who didn't become an mp until 2017 as liberal democrat leader not Ed Davey it's perhaps misdirected. To be fair with just 10 available choices as leader, other than Davey none of the others are MP's any more not even sure if any are still party members, it wasn't exactly a wide field of choice and Ed Davey's done ok as leader.
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Post by jib on Aug 24, 2022 11:54:25 GMT
Clegg, Sir Ed Davey, Alexander, Laws. The Orange Book of shame of those that served in that Government and dismantled effective public services with glee and vigour. I will not forget. Most will not either. What I don't get is that you demonise the LibDems for co-operating with Tories who gave you what you wanted and who I've never heard you seriously criticise. "Most will not either" what on earth do you mean by that? Most jibs? Most voters? How can you know that? It's been a long time now. I'm happy to forget now that Clegg is happily lining his pockets courtesy of the sociopath Zuckerberg. Post Brexit it's a totally different party that will, I would wager, not work with the Tories again in any way for the next 100 years as they paid very dearly for it and are on completely opposite sides of the 'culture wars'. If you want to keep flying the flag of lost causes, the LiB Dems is a great place to start! I haven't support the Tories anytime, never will, hate their mindset. Most Lib Dem voters pre-2010 probably thought the same way. Most rightfully deserted them after the coalition of shame. Don't blame me for this Brexit. I just voted against the Tory Government in 2016, the current Brexit is a consequence of failed politics, not my choice as a free thinking voter.
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steve
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Post by steve on Aug 24, 2022 12:02:26 GMT
jib Jesus the cognitive dissonance is strong in this one. You voted for Brexit you didn't vote for " Jones own special brexit" of course you and you fellow brexitanians are to blame ,embrace the stupidity. Incidentally how did you manage to vote against the Tory government in 2016 did you have your own special general election as well!
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Post by barbara on Aug 24, 2022 12:06:41 GMT
I didn't know A/O levels were a thing either. I did British Constitution as a full A level in 1972. These are very hazy memories from 50 years ago and isa, who triggered my reverie on this with her own recollections on the subject may know more, but British Constitution was a subject I studied in my first year in the sixth form alongside my main A Level subjects of English Literature, English Language, History and General Studies. I'd taken all my O Levels the year before but I sat the exam in British Constitution before my A Levels and it carried a sort of hybrid qualification that fell between an A and O Level. I thought it was categorised as an A/O Level but I may be mistaken on that. My A levels were English (there was only English Lit, no E Language at A level when I took it) History, British Constitution and General Studies. I also took an O level exam called General Paper designed to be taken in the first year of the sixth form as an additional O level.
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Post by laszlo4new on Aug 24, 2022 12:06:46 GMT
I was surprised that nobody mentioned (or at least cannot find it) that Truss said at Birmingham that she was willing to use nuclear weapons even if it means extermination of the humankind, providing that it gives her self-satisfaction. Sorry Laszlo is that what she said and you can't find it or is it your assessment of her shallowness? Here is the link: www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/emotionless-liz-truss-says-would-27816744?utm_source=linkCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebarAhe said that she wouldn't be happy, but as a PM it would be her job. Earlier she said that being a PM would be her life satisfaction. Just to say: the only way her decision would exterminate the humankind with nuclear weapons if she was the first to use it.
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Post by crossbat11 on Aug 24, 2022 12:20:45 GMT
barbara
You've got me thinking on the A Levels now. Maybe I did English Language at O Level and not A Level and did an Economics A Level instead. I did Economics with Politics at University, I know that for sure! Thinking more about it now, I think I did do the A Level Economics along with English Lit, History and General Studies.
Fifty years is a long time ago! If you asked me to list all my O Levels, I'd struggle even more! I got a poor grade in Religious Knowledge (RK), I do know that!!
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domjg
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Post by domjg on Aug 24, 2022 12:24:12 GMT
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Post by shevii on Aug 24, 2022 12:24:48 GMT
eorRe what we were talking about a while back on polling for US elections in November there was an interesting result from our equivalent of a by-election yesterday in New York 19th district where the Dems held: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/24/democrat-who-campaigned-on-abortion-rights-wins-in-new-york-special-electionBad write ups everywhere trying to understand these results, and it did end up with Dems dropping back a bit from 2020 in a swing district, but the interesting element was that every poll was predicting Rep wins- anywhere from 3% to 10% plus with the most recent polling in the final week showing an 8% lead for the Reps. Ended up in a 3% win for Dems. I suppose we are into lower turnout scenarios for the "special" election perhaps accounting for the difference but perhaps polling not too accurate at district level?
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domjg
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Post by domjg on Aug 24, 2022 12:27:03 GMT
barbara You've got me thinking on the A Levels now. Maybe I did English Language at O Level and not A Level and did an Economics A Level instead. I did Economics with Politics at University, I know that for sure! Thinking more about it now, I think I did do the A Level Economics along with English Lit, History and General Studies. Fifty years is a long time ago! If you asked me to list all my O Levels, I'd struggle even more! I got a poor grade in Religious Knowledge (RK), I do know that!! Just missing one 'p' otherwise you could have been a career politician
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steve
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Post by steve on Aug 24, 2022 12:30:50 GMT
What is it with politicians and dressing up as service personnel. Now Starmer's getting in on the act !
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domjg
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Post by domjg on Aug 24, 2022 12:33:22 GMT
I was surprised that nobody mentioned (or at least cannot find it) that Truss said at Birmingham that she was willing to use nuclear weapons even if it means extermination of the humankind, providing that it gives her self-satisfaction. I really wish the world would stop being just quite as mad as it has become..
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domjg
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Post by domjg on Aug 24, 2022 12:36:56 GMT
If she (Truss) exposes Putin's playbook she'd be exposing the widespread purchase of her party by oligarchs plus how her own "anti-Woke" stance is basically a Putin creation. Quite. The other aspect of this is that one of Putin's main tactics is to sow division and destabilse from within. To give one example, what is frequently described as "culture wars" issues - issues that Truss herself plays on. You can bet there are bots and people - directly or indirectly - in the pay of Putin that are all over social media making both "woke" and "anti-woke" arguments. Ultimately, Putin does not give a jot which side comes out on top, division is his goal. The same with brexit. While he is likely pleased that leave won, his main aim was - and is - a country divided in two. Quite. How can the Tories ever be considered as 'patriotic' when their goal is far from the rallying and uniting of the whole country but diminishing it by splitting into warring factions for their narrow electoral advantage. They are saboteurs who have destroyed the strengths that Britain once had.
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Post by jib on Aug 24, 2022 12:45:31 GMT
jib Jesus the cognitive dissonance is strong in this one. You voted for Brexit you didn't vote for " Jones own special brexit" of course you and you fellow brexitanians are to blame ,embrace the stupidity. Incidentally how did you manage to vote against the Tory government in 2016 did you have your own special general election as well! Please don't call me stupid, it reflects badly on you.
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Post by ladyvalerie on Aug 24, 2022 12:48:01 GMT
What I don't get is that you demonise the LibDems for co-operating with Tories who gave you what you wanted and who I've never heard you seriously criticise. "Most will not either" what on earth do you mean by that? Most jibs? Most voters? How can you know that? It's been a long time now. I'm happy to forget now that Clegg is happily lining his pockets courtesy of the sociopath Zuckerberg. Post Brexit it's a totally different party that will, I would wager, not work with the Tories again in any way for the next 100 years as they paid very dearly for it and are on completely opposite sides of the 'culture wars'. If you want to keep flying the flag of lost causes, the LiB Dems is a great place to start! I haven't support the Tories anytime, never will, hate their mindset. Most Lib Dem voters pre-2010 probably thought the same way. Most rightfully deserted them after the coalition of shame. Don't blame me for this Brexit. I just voted against the Tory Government in 2016, the current Brexit is a consequence of failed politics, not my choice as a free thinking voter. Oh come on you voted Brexit. Pity you didn’t know what you were voting for but ignorance isn’t an excuse. Get over it!
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domjg
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Post by domjg on Aug 24, 2022 12:52:53 GMT
What I don't get is that you demonise the LibDems for co-operating with Tories who gave you what you wanted and who I've never heard you seriously criticise. "Most will not either" what on earth do you mean by that? Most jibs? Most voters? How can you know that? It's been a long time now. I'm happy to forget now that Clegg is happily lining his pockets courtesy of the sociopath Zuckerberg. Post Brexit it's a totally different party that will, I would wager, not work with the Tories again in any way for the next 100 years as they paid very dearly for it and are on completely opposite sides of the 'culture wars'. If you want to keep flying the flag of lost causes, the LiB Dems is a great place to start! I haven't support the Tories anytime, never will, hate their mindset. Most Lib Dem voters pre-2010 probably thought the same way. Most rightfully deserted them after the coalition of shame. Don't blame me for this Brexit. I just voted against the Tory Government in 2016, the current Brexit is a consequence of failed politics, not my choice as a free thinking voter. "If you want to keep flying the flag of lost causes, the LiB Dems is a great place to start!" - Mmm Steadily increasing in the polls, killed incumbent Tories in recent byelections and poised to take a whole swathe of seats in the south of England from the Tories at the next election. Not sure what your definition of a lost cause is?
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Post by jib on Aug 24, 2022 13:02:57 GMT
If you want to keep flying the flag of lost causes, the LiB Dems is a great place to start! I haven't support the Tories anytime, never will, hate their mindset. Most Lib Dem voters pre-2010 probably thought the same way. Most rightfully deserted them after the coalition of shame. Don't blame me for this Brexit. I just voted against the Tory Government in 2016, the current Brexit is a consequence of failed politics, not my choice as a free thinking voter. Oh come on you voted Brexit. Pity you didn’t know what you were voting for but ignorance isn’t an excuse. Get over it! I have got over it. All I did was criticise the Lib Dems, someone else brought in the Brexit issue and called me stupid!
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pjw1961
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Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
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Post by pjw1961 on Aug 24, 2022 13:09:58 GMT
I was surprised that nobody mentioned (or at least cannot find it) that Truss said at Birmingham that she was willing to use nuclear weapons even if it means extermination of the humankind, providing that it gives her self-satisfaction. “Faced with the task of using Trident nuclear weapons, unleashing global annihilation, how do you feel?” asks the chair. “It’s an important duty of the prime minister and I’m ready to do it,” concludes Truss. So not quite for her self-satisfaction. It's the horrid logic of possessing nuclear weapons as a deterrent. If you have them then people have to believe you might use them even if you wouldn't otherwise they have no deterrent value. I seem to recollect that Callaghan was the only PM who after leaving office disclosed what his secret orders to the submarine commanders to be unsealed in the event of them losing contact with the UK actually were. In his case they were to place themselves under the command of the Americans. Deterrent theory is both MAD and mad.
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Post by graham on Aug 24, 2022 13:11:42 GMT
If you want to keep flying the flag of lost causes, the LiB Dems is a great place to start! I haven't support the Tories anytime, never will, hate their mindset. Most Lib Dem voters pre-2010 probably thought the same way. Most rightfully deserted them after the coalition of shame. Don't blame me for this Brexit. I just voted against the Tory Government in 2016, the current Brexit is a consequence of failed politics, not my choice as a free thinking voter. Oh come on you voted Brexit. Pity you didn’t know what you were voting for but ignorance isn’t an excuse. Get over it! I don't believe that a vote for Leave in principle in late June 2016 can be held to be acceptance of Brexit under all circumstances regardless of the terms negotiated. The failure not to hold a Referendum until the terms of the negotiated deal were known is to be laid firmly at the door of those who organised it - ie Cameron et all. Moreover, responsibility for the extreme Hard Brexit arrived at is to be shared between the extreme Eurosceptics - who openly welcomed it - and the extreme Remainers on the other side who failed to accept the softer Brexit options presented at the time of Oliver Letwin's indicative votes. ChangeUK , the LDs - and a few others - do bear some responsibility for what evetually happened.
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Post by mandolinist on Aug 24, 2022 13:12:10 GMT
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domjg
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Post by domjg on Aug 24, 2022 13:18:16 GMT
I was surprised that nobody mentioned (or at least cannot find it) that Truss said at Birmingham that she was willing to use nuclear weapons even if it means extermination of the humankind, providing that it gives her self-satisfaction. “Faced with the task of using Trident nuclear weapons, unleashing global annihilation, how do you feel?” asks the chair. “It’s an important duty of the prime minister and I’m ready to do it,” concludes Truss. So not quite for her self-satisfaction. It's the horrid logic of possessing nuclear weapons as a deterrent. If you have them then people have to believe you might use them even if you wouldn't otherwise they have have no deterrent value. I seem to recollect that Callaghan was the only PM who after leaving office disclosed what his secret orders to the submarine commanders to be unsealed in the event of them losing contact with the UK actually were. In his case they were to place themselves under the command of the Americans. Deterrent theory is both MAD and mad. The key maybe would be for everyone to commit to no 'first use' but that if attacked with them to be clear that they absolutely will respond in kind and then some.
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