steve
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Post by steve on May 27, 2024 8:17:52 GMT
Yoga position for the day.  |
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Danny
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Post by Danny on May 27, 2024 8:22:49 GMT
Johnson threw himself overboard. Any other interpretation is rewriting history. But you are correct that Sunak and his advisors are incompetent. The irony is that Johnson was attacked for allowing covid rules to be broken. But he obviously did so believing this would never come out, but also knowing the regulations were totally pointless. He could have made a bloodbath of policy by going all out to make the case his actions endangered no one, but to do so would have had to admit the entire government misled the nation into believing the covid regulations were doing any good. |
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Danny
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Post by Danny on May 27, 2024 8:26:32 GMT
I'm afraid they really are....just incompetent. The BoJo steadies the ship but as soon as the rats threw him overboard..... Bojo self-polorised the Tories' fortunes. He was the driving force behind their 2019 victory, and subsequently crashed and burned so disastrously that he left them facing certain defeat at the next GE when he was forced out. No.
Yes, he polarised their fortunes by espousing Brexit and pushing it through, something it seems likely he didnt actually believe in. However, the inevitable fall was not because of anything he did, he could have been ditched for that and the party sailed happily along without him. The problem was that 1) brexit had been done so it was no longer a campaigning issue and 2) brexit failed to deliver just about everything (good) which was promised to come from it. |
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steve
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Post by steve on May 27, 2024 8:29:00 GMT
"Doing the Tennis Club accounts"
While I actually agree with your post that's probably the most middle class example of " volunteering " I've seen in a while😃
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Danny
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Post by Danny on May 27, 2024 8:29:14 GMT
The Commons Privileges Committee concluded that Johnson lied to and deliberately misled the House of Commons over Partygate, misled the Committee themselves during the hearing, and acted in contempt of the Committee itself through a "campaign of abuse and intimidation" He could have never stayed on as an MP and rather than face a recall petition, which he would of lost, he jumped ship Recall petitions are absurd, because if we held one in every constituency the day after the general election, almost all MPs would be thrown out....because a majority of the voters oppose them. |
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Danny
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Post by Danny on May 27, 2024 8:33:47 GMT
Alex Wickham Bloomberg 'Exclusive: Rishi Sunak is considering requiring future applicants for public sector jobs to have completed National Service It’s one of the enforcement options that would go to the Royal Commission for consideration if he gets to enact the policy" So someone wants to be a firefighter, nurse, police officer, prison officer, doctor etc can't serve the public unless they have already served the public...Still it's not as if it's difficult to fill those jobs is it... Is he trying to recreate the private sector idea of internships for public sector as well as private? The wrinkle where high demand employers can get people to work for them for free in the hope of an eventual job? The only result of that would be a fall in demand for public sector jobs. Which of course might help shrink the size of the civil service, a goal of con, because it became impossible to recruit enough people? Could blame it on feckless youth unwilling to work for free, instead of a plan to end state services? |
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steve
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Post by steve on May 27, 2024 8:34:09 GMT
Attachment Deleted"Recall petitions are absurd, because if we held one in every constituency the day after the general election, almost all MPs would be thrown out....because a majority of the voters oppose them." Derr that's not how recall petitions work
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pjw1961
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Post by pjw1961 on May 27, 2024 8:40:20 GMT
Here are some of the ways that volunteers can help in a hospital: Ward Visitors help make patients’ time in hospital more comfortable by chatting, listening, reading and running errands. Dementia Buddy Volunteers are ward based volunteers, supporting older patients with Dementia and those without, through social interaction and activities which help maintain cognitive capabilities such as talking, listening and reading. We offer Dementia training so that volunteers have a good understanding of Dementia and how they can positively engage with our patients. Caring Companions provide additional support for lone patients in short stay Hospital areas including A&E, giving comfort, company and time to lone older patients, offering reassurance, compassion and social interaction. For this role volunteers should be aged 18 years+. Meet and Greet Volunteers are located at the main entrance or in other departments giving patients and visitors directions and escorting them. Meal Assistant Volunteers assist patients with eating and drinking at mealtimes. Chaplaincy Volunteers offer spiritual, religious, pastoral and practical support to patients of all beliefs. This is more of a listening and responding role rather than about religion or belief Pets as Therapy Volunteers (need to be members of PAT) provide general company to patients on wards/departments who respond positively to pets. Patient Feedback Volunteers promote and support the collection of patient feedback via the Friends and Family Test. Clerical Volunteers help behind the scenes with filing, photocopying, packing envelopes and running errands. Fundraising Volunteers help the Fundraising Department with the organisation of events, distribution of draw tickets, mail-shots etc. in line with the business of Valley Hospital Charity. Radio Volunteers either present or help behind the scenes to deliver live and pre-recorded radio shows to patients through the hospital radio station. Thanks for posting that; it has saved me a job as I intended to make that point. If you want to volunteer in a hospital there are lots of ways to do it. Aside from some of those mentioned above, volunteer ladies of a certain age run the to "Friends" shops in the hospital and do an amazing job. The volunteers are generally of more mature years and retired from work. We had one who was 90 and still doing a ward visitor role. |
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Post by bardin1 on May 27, 2024 8:43:12 GMT
When I was 17 I volunteered my services to a delightful woman who was somewhat older than me. These were politely declined, but I officially registered the several hours of time I put into it all. No Duke of Edinburgh's award was forthcoming, sadly He probably got in first, so not merited I guess |
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pjw1961
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Post by pjw1961 on May 27, 2024 8:44:41 GMT
Pets as Therapy Volunteers (need to be members of PAT) provide general company to patients on wards/departments who respond positively to pets. I'll be straight on the phone tomorrow to volunteer as a dog. The dogs who do this work are always stunningly, off the charts, cute - are you sure you qualify? essextherapydogs.co.uk/ |
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steve
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Post by steve on May 27, 2024 8:48:05 GMT
Because of course all their readers mostly born between 1945 and 1965 did their part by having to do national service which ended in 1960! The stupids they walk among us! Attachment Deleted |
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pjw1961
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Post by pjw1961 on May 27, 2024 9:05:09 GMT
Tories digging a bigger hole with their conscription policy by the day. They won't lock up young people, but potentially their parents instead. That should be a real vote winner - for the opposition parties:
"This morning, asked if the parents of teenagers who refused to sign up for national service could face prosecution, Trevelyan said she could not give details now, and that this was the sort of issue the proposed royal commission would look at."
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2024 9:10:00 GMT
Pets as Therapy Volunteers (need to be members of PAT) provide general company to patients on wards/departments who respond positively to pets. I'll be straight on the phone tomorrow to volunteer as a dog. I don’t mind volunteering Rosie and Daisie - provided there’s somewhere cosy for them to curl up and kip. |
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2024 9:23:43 GMT
As I had expected and forecast the Tories are making no attempt to widen their popularity base. Instead, by concentrating even more on issues that garner barking mad Daily Express banner headlines of support and ridicule elsewhere they are reducing it further.
Which suits most of us fine. The odd thing is that they really don’t understand the make up of the country that they have governed for the past fourteen years. We are nothing like they seem to imagine.
I can’t see where they are going to make a comeback after the election because their core membership is from a completely different world to the hugely varied population that they are just a small, declining part of.
If they think Suella Braverman is the answer then they are well and truly stuffed.
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neilj
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Post by neilj on May 27, 2024 9:23:48 GMT
johntel At 18 I was working full time, which I continued to do until retirement. I would have been very annoyed to have to give my time free by compulsion, rather than volunteering The vast majority of 18 year olds are either in work or full time Education. Many of those, especially from less wealthy backgrounds work in their spare time just to make ends meet People are struggling financially, young people especially, they shouldn't be forced to do this But if it's such a good idea, make it compulsory for pensioners to do a year of 'volunteering' Pensioners, with a lifetime's acquired skills, will be a great deal more use. But I think they ARE volunteering, in big numbers, already. What do we include in volunteering? Community arts? Charity trustees? Cutting your neighbour's hedge? Grandparent duty? Doing the Tennis Club accounts?  It's part of life for most of us despised boomers! Yes, but the tory argument is we need to make volunteering compulsory. We will need to make sure those pesky pensioners don't avoid their civic responsibilities... |
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Post by graham on May 27, 2024 9:26:45 GMT
Pets as Therapy Volunteers (need to be members of PAT) provide general company to patients on wards/departments who respond positively to pets. I'll be straight on the phone tomorrow to volunteer as a dog. More generally , what happens if people are coerced to turn up for National Service simply refuse to co-operate with those appointed to manage them? They could deliberately seek to ignore the instructions, rules and regulations issued to them - effectively become proactive in seeking to bugger things up! |
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Danny
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Post by Danny on May 27, 2024 9:29:22 GMT
Yes, I was thinking that when the NHS was mentioned as a place to volunteer. The last thing the NHS needs is untrained young people wandering around with nothing to do, even assuming they wanted to be there. There are virtually no roles that can be done safely without extensive induction and training. Daft. Portering? Our local hospital has a friends group to support it. Two things I noticed while idling away time there were they wanted volunteer drivers who could transport patients without transport. Another, gardeners for the courtyard gardens inside the hospital many of which are utterly derelict, and presumably for the grounds including the duckpond/emergency water source in case of fire. However I also noticed all volunteers needed a full criminal record check, which must eliminate half the population. Presumably similar would apply to national service volunteers? Those with miss spent youth need not apply. |
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2024 9:30:11 GMT
Very impressed with the first sections of Starmer’s speech today. So different to Sunak and other Tories in it’s honestly and relevance.
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c-a-r-f-r-e-w
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A step on the way toward the demise of the liberal elite? Or just a blip…
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Post by c-a-r-f-r-e-w on May 27, 2024 9:36:49 GMT
I volunteer on a political messageboard, giving the elderly retirees someone to chat to, keep them up to speed with the modern world, post youtube clips for them, listen to their stories about times past etc.. It hasn’t done me any harm (well apart from all the CPTSD, obvs.)
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Post by hireton on May 27, 2024 9:37:46 GMT
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Danny
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Post by Danny on May 27, 2024 9:38:13 GMT
Largely no, since the Liberals and Labour effectively had an electoral pact pre-WW1. Most Labour seats were mining areas and the parties were rarely in direct competition. It was the enfranchisement of all men in 1917, meaning that working class men could finally vote in significant numbers everywhere, that enabled Labour to strike out on their own. OK, so Labour split the anti-Tory vote in 1920 then. It doesn't change Danny's substantive point which was in response to someone who thought other 'progressive' parties should stand aside for Labour. Its telling why this happened then and hasnt happened since, that con were the party of the upper class, but libs the party of the middle class merchants, manufacturers, etc. So lab as newcomer did have a genuine untapped and unrepresented group to get them started. Arguably similar to UKIP, who had an issue to campaign for, but in their case its now vanished because we left. Labour's original support groups has now also left as actual working class labourers are much fewer on the ground, and in many ways so are true aristocrats. The two have melded into each other. |
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Post by peterbell on May 27, 2024 9:40:10 GMT
Paul, I thought the whole speech was excelllent. How anyone could vote for Sunak rather than Starmer is unbelievable. WE now have a prospective PM who is serious and thinks things through carefully, not a charismatic corrupt fool like Boris or an insignificant little boy who can only play to his extremists like Sunnak or an idiot like Truss.
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Danny
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Post by Danny on May 27, 2024 9:40:51 GMT
I had access to some raw polling data (it is not fake). It is not really representative (because of my access), so some caution is required. I used Boolean maths for it - I cannot really believe it. Conservatives at 105 MPs. It would be nice to have more raw data, but it is unlikely (it is quite expensive). Still, we will see. An utter disaster for con is within the range of credible outcomes based on current data. But as yourself, no one can quite believe it. Best case for them anyone seems willing to suggest is a hung parliament. |
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Danny
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Post by Danny on May 27, 2024 9:43:36 GMT
Ok, so just restrict these conscripts to doing the very basic stuff. The problem would be they were allowed to be on the premises at all.... |
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Danny
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Post by Danny on May 27, 2024 9:46:03 GMT
I agree up to a point, but Maggie posing in a tank, and Starmer so far mostly avoiding that stuff contradicts your theory, which would seem to imply that Starmer has charisma and Maggie didn't. Maggie was operting in a different time. The Russians nicknamed her 'the iron lady' meaning it as an insult, but she took it up as a banner. Driving a tank dressed as an imperial matron was building up this image, at a time the army did not have female tank drivers (if it does now, seeing as apparently it only has 30 tanks altogether) It a very different image to Sunak in his posh suit trying to lay bricks. |
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Post by leftieliberal on May 27, 2024 9:51:50 GMT
Nope - Porters constantly interact with patients. it is essential that they receive training in child safeguarding, adult safeguarding, mental health awareness, dementia awareness and a whole raft of other things including (sorry mercian) diversity and equality training. All takes time and money. Not something for people working the odd weekend. Porters are a vital part of the hospital team. They are indeed important but do you really need all that training to push a wheelchair from point A to point B? All they would need in reality if you strip away all the bureaucratic nonsense is a map of the hospital and a panic button if something happens that they can't handle. You also need to protect the patients. Remember that Jimmy Saville worked as a (volunteer) hospital porter (Leeds General Infirmary 1961-88, Stoke Mandeville and Broadmoor hospitals as well). |
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Danny
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Post by Danny on May 27, 2024 9:54:45 GMT
By the way many schoolkids go on some kind of 'work experience' in their last year at school - which seems to work pretty well. When I were a lad, most kids would get some experience of a work environment through a part-time job from the age of 14 - whether it be just delivering newspapers or stacking shelves in a supermarket. It didn't do me any harm and I think I would have benefited from doing some volunteering at 18 too. Dont know how old you are, but since I was a lad there been a few laws FORBIDDING youngsters to do this sort of job because its deemed bad for their education. |
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Danny
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Post by Danny on May 27, 2024 9:58:42 GMT
Worth noting that Johnson's yougov popularity ratings are 30% like 56% dislike. If he had been able to hold that 30% then maybe enough to get a slightly better result than Sunak will but no chance of winning. This also assumes that the constant revelations about his behaviour would not have been a drain on the 30% and unlikely the economy under his leadership would have been any different to under Sunak. He would have been subject to the same events that tanked Sunak. Johnson had the same problems as Corbyn, his party decided to get rid of him and therefore blamed him for everything. Despite this, still getting 30% support is pretty amazing, and surely it would have been much higher if they had worked with him instead of against him? |
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Danny
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Post by Danny on May 27, 2024 10:00:12 GMT
Pets as Therapy Volunteers (need to be members of PAT) provide general company to patients on wards/departments who respond positively to pets. I'll be straight on the phone tomorrow to volunteer as a dog. If its your thing, then I guess you get to lick the patients, no questions asked? |
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Danny
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Post by Danny on May 27, 2024 10:03:29 GMT
"I wondered how long it would be before someone actually said it! " Didn't do me any harm either, because it was my idea and I was being paid for it. But would it have been illegal employment of a child nowadays, though since you were breaking the sunday trading laws anyway, guess that would have gone under the radar? |
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