Is the Government rattled?

[Guest]

Here we are in UK in mid-August, generally a quite month politically as everyone is on holiday.

So why is Iain Duncan-Smith launching an attack on the BBC's impartiality in the reporting of Stephanie Flanders on the economy, accusing her of "peeing all over British industry"?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/aug/19/iain-duncan-smith-bias-bbc

And it's not just the BBC that's copping it in this outbreak of hostilities.

According to a group of Tory young turks, Britons are among "the worst idlers" in the world preferring a "lie-in to hard work", according to group of rising stars of the Tory party, who have advocated a tough set of work reforms in a new book which appears to be supporting Iain Duncan Smith's welfare reforms.

According to leaked extracts from the book, Britannia Unchained – Global Growth and Prosperity, five Tory MPs from the "class of 2010" call for a culture of "graft, risk and effort" to propel Britain into the "superleague" of nations.

The book contains a blueprint of radical reforms. The MPs – Kwasi Kwarteng, Priti Patel, Dominic Raab, Chris Skidmore and Elizabeth Truss – say: "Once they enter the workplace, the British are among the worst idlers in the world. We work among the lowest hours, we retire early and our productivity is poor."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/aug/17/tory-backbenchers-urge-welfare-reforms

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

well the Tories are clearly stewing up nicely to an inescapably nasty presentation again .... Ken Sleepyhead C warns of re-toxifying the Tories reputation ...

[amateur51]

You'd never guess that there are major rumours of a cabinet re-shuffle, would you?

[mangerton]

So why is Iain Duncan-Smith launching an attack on the BBC's impartiality in the reporting of Stephanie Flanders on the economy, accusing her of "peeing all over British industry"?

What a charming turn of phrase! Just what I'd expect from a toerag Government minister.

According to a group of Tory young turks, Britons are among "the worst idlers" in the world preferring a "lie-in to hard work", according to group of rising stars of the Tory party, who have advocated a tough set of work reforms in a new book which appears to be supporting Iain Duncan Smith's welfare reforms.

According to leaked extracts from the book, Britannia Unchained – Global Growth and Prosperity, five Tory MPs from the "class of 2010" call for a culture of "graft, risk and effort" to propel Britain into the "superleague" of nations.

The book contains a blueprint of radical reforms. The MPs – Kwasi Kwarteng, Priti Patel, Dominic Raab, Chris Skidmore and Elizabeth Truss – say: "Once they enter the workplace, the British are among the worst idlers in the world. We work among the lowest hours, we retire early and our productivity is poor."

Yes, I heard this. It beggars belief. How long has parliament been in recess? When do our hard-working MPs return?

Talk about pots and kettles. They should hang their heads in shame, but they don't know the meaning of the word.

[Lateralthinking1]

I saw it last night and tried not to get aggravated as I wanted to sleep. All five were born between 1972 and 1981. I recognise what I am about to say is unfair to many. The 30 to 40 year old age group is turning out to be a right bunch of charmers - not!

It is the arrogance in them that worries me, combined with an unprecedented hatred. They are so cold! And they have no experience of having to fight as a young person for a job, of having worked as a middle aged person in the long term and of how it feels physically and mentally to be getting on in years. But they will be the ones who have considerable influence. We won't be.

This, some say, is Boris Johnson's manifesto. Cue more comical moments in the paralympics to appeal to the gormless.

Truss was raised in a very left wing household. Her father refused to campaign for her. I would have done the same.

(The good news - Those currently under the age of 25 already show signs of being a nicer kind)

Incidentally, barely a week goes by when male Tory Ministers don't have a go at a strong woman and use baby talk!

[Serial_Apologist]

I saw it last night and tried not to get aggravated as I wanted to sleep. All five were born between 1972 and 1981. I recognise what I am about to say is unfair to many. The 30 to 40 year old age group is turning out to be a right bunch of charmers - not!

It is the arrogance in them that worries me, combined with an unprecedented hatred. They are so cold! And they have no experience of having to fight as a young person for a job, of having worked as a middle aged person in the long term and of how it feels physically and mentally to be getting on in years. But they will be the ones who have considerable influence. We won't be.

This, some say, is Boris Johnson's manifesto. Cue more comical moments in the paralympics to appeal to the gormless.

Truss was raised in a very left wing household. Her father refused to campaign for her. I would have done the same.

(The good news - Those currently under the age of 25 already show signs of being a nicer kind)

Incidentally, barely a week goes by when male Tory Ministers don't have a go at a strong woman and use baby talk!

She should be nicknamed The National Truss.

Do these people seriously intend setting themselves up as crusaders for the national moral fibre? Of course not - they are in the last position to. Boris? possibly - and I hope someone out there is keeping tallies of his blunders and equivocations.

[ahinton]

No. I cannot imagine that Sir Simon would have any truck with conducting any of them in any context and towards any end, frankly...

[Stunsworth]

Duncan-Smith is a wicked Victorian mill owner in 20th century garb. A repulsive individual.

[Bryn]

Duncan-Smith is a wicked Victorian mill owner in 20th century garb. A repulsive individual.

Wasn't he once a total failure as a Tory leader?

[VodkaDilc]

Wasn't he once a total failure as a Tory leader?

I thought that was Hague! Oops! Him as well.

Just seen the TV review of tomorrow's papers. According to one, the civil service want to start preparatory talks with Labour shadow cabinet. So they read the polls too.

[Mahlerei]

Interesting to see the young turks urging greater 'risk'. Isn't that what got us into this mess in the first place?

[teamsaint]

Risk. Hmmm.
The banks took lots of risks,...with other peoples money...and got bailed out.
The people building power stations want subsidies and fixed electricity prices...is that the kind of risk the "young turks" want?

Boris wants tax cuts and big projects....or, put another way, lets take money from the less well off and channel it towards big contractors. At every turn this is what this government has done.

Idlers and loafers. I can only think that the 5 nutjobs are referring to dave and gideon. After all, dave spends most of the time that he isn't taking a well earned rest, at sports events. And neither of them ever had a proper job.
Its funny how those complaining about people living off the state are frequently doing just that.

Interesting that the tory backbenchers slaughter those who get into the work place for idleness. Why exactly aren't they attacking the enforced idleness of the young unemployed? Oh , I remember, its because they are very happy to see ordinary people shackled with £50k plus debt by age 21, and conditioned into accepting almost any job by desperation and lack of opportunity.

But we know this is how silver-spoon fed tories work. The real worry is that labour does nothing to protect pensions, jobs, rights, or anything else.Just more pandering to the banks.
What the people of this country need is not more punishment from their privileged "leaders"...they need help.But I doubt they will get it.
Now, must check those lottery numbers.....

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

nasty tories sell more playing fields

[Northender]

I thought that was Hague! Oops! Him as well.

I thought it was 'Something Of The Night' Michael Howard. Oops! Him as well.

[amateur51]

Interesting to see the young turks urging greater 'risk'. Isn't that what got us into this mess in the first place?

Exactly, Mahlerei

Good to see you back amongst us, btw