I didn't know he was pro fox hunting. No offence, but I might have to fact check that, if I can be bothered. In any case, none of us are perfect. I wouldn't forgive him for it if true. But I don't think it changes how relevant everything else he says is. I recommend watching it. I don't think watching it will harm any foxes [Edit] Furthermore... I used to follow him on twitter, before he launched the Good Law Project. I disagreed with him on a lot and started getting a distate for him. However, what he's done with The Good Law Project has been a genuine service to us all, in my opinion. He is genuinely a toff and would probably support the Tories in any other circumstances, or maybe probably the occasional vote for a soft right Labour, but I dig what he does with this project.
91% of A level students get their first choice of university course, good for them. Their actual results at A level are almost irrelevant this year, and apparently they will be for several more years. Certain medical schools so oversubscribed, despite the additional funding for extra places, that they are offering students £10k ‘inconvenience’ cash to study elsewhere. But that’s a bit pointless as there aren’t enough training places in hospitals to cope with all these kids. I have no idea how this could have been handled better, but it seems a real mess. All the old divides - private v state, north v south - exaggerated by the marking process. The universities are doing themselves no favours by refusing to go back to face to face teaching, despite charging the Earth and insisting kids occupy their accommodation blocks. From direct feedback I know that certain ‘research’ based universities ie Russell Group ones have faculties which regard students as inconveniences, welcome only for the cash, and therefore prefer foreign students who pay more and complain less. They employ ‘sessional teachers’ or PhD students on zero hours contracts to do the bulk of the undergraduate teaching, while the professors write books and attend conferences.
Oh right, yes I'd read about that fox incident. I wouldn't have said that he liked doing it, or that he makes a habit of it - unlike people that actually go fox-hunting. I wouldn't have said that his tweet about it was bragging, either. Still, all very unpleasant. Do you have any other reason to call him a vile piece of ****, because I think he's to be admired for the work he does.
Nah, I just think only a vile piece of **** would club a fox to death with a baseball bat and then brag about it on social media……but I’m sure he’s nice to old people and children. I’m sure Jimmy Saville could also be admired for the splendid charity work he did….but I’d put him in the “vile piece of ****” category also.
His tweet wasn't bragging, more out of shock if you ask me. He keeps chickens and the fox had got trapped in netting trying to get to them. Prominent lawyer Jolyon Maugham clubs fox to death while wearing kimono | London | The Guardian Your opprobrium would be better aimed at people that chase and kill foxes for fun, I'd say. Still, it's a good excuse to dismiss everything else he does.
That he felt the need to go on social media to brag about his vile actions says it all really. And as a member of the HSA who has been on more than a few meets in my younger years…my opprobrium was well aimed, and still is financially . Sir Jimmy raised £40 million for good causes…lovely fella I’m sure
I'm glad I'm not in charge of fixing this mess, and I'm glad I went to university a while back now. A real mess, as you say.
Yep. As Sb rightly says, all of the inequalities exacerbated by this - especially private / public education. Again, pathetic as it may be, no idea what the fix is. I doubt banning them outright would work given it would simply exacerbate the problems of certain postcodes having better schools and house prices putting those schools out of reach for many - and private tutors taking over from private schools etc etc. You're right to say inequality starts from an early age.
Totally mate…as you say there is no easy answer and it’s maybe just a fact of life that the rich will always have a better education, through being able to access better facilities and better paid teaching staff than their state educated counterparts.
He wasn't bragging and he did nothing illegal. The Savile comparison is ridiculous, as you know. What's the HSA?
If you think so then that’s your choice Strolls. I and many others disagree. HSA is Hunt Saboteurs Association. They do some great merch and a good magazine called ‘HOWL’…well worth a read.
There is no Remain camp. You can't remain in something you've already left. It's only those that voted for Brexit that insist on continuing to define everybody by how they voted five years ago.