Off Topic School gates dinner

[The Norton Cat]

Well I wanted Brexit but not the tories
..a dilemma...

I had a similar dilemma, I didn't want it but couldn't vote for Corbyn!

 

[safc-noggieland]

But I am not disagreeing with you if labour get in next and do a good job I will be over the moon no joking chuffed to bits but I don’t believe you would be happy even if the torries were doing a great job you would still vote labour come the next election or am I wrong?

Wrong - absolutely wrong.
My one claim to fame was l galvanised my neighbours in a local election Hendon ward and the then current leader of the labour council lost his seat.
As l said l do lean to the left in my outlook but l know in local elections a few dozen (new) votes can cause upset so few due to APATHY.
I also believe a lot (not you) - say ‘ah but the other lot are sh;t as well’ are really saying ‘l can’t be bothered’ - Apathy.
KTF

 

[Best uncapped Keeper]

Many of these comments reflect our outdated first past the post voting system which was fine when we had the Whigs and the Tories and more latterly the Tories and Labour but now, with a number of credible parties we need a PR system but neither of the big parties will sanction a system which doesn't have an inbuilt bias for one or other of them to get power and so many of the smaller parties get nowhere cos people see them as a wasted vote.

 

[Robgee]

The current Conservative government are doing an excellent job of shooting themselves in the foot. You would think that at least one of them would realise that this plays right into the hands of those that want to propagate the "Tory=evil/Labour=good" myth. A big part of their policy is "closing the gap" between the richest and the poorest but allowing this kind of thing to happen just undermines that.
The truth is that outsourcing happens under any government and could be subject to abuse no matter who was running things. The Conservatives have just been really shoddy on keeping an eye on things.
While some of the photos of these food parcels clearly depict inadequate supplies there are some doing the rounds that are clearly fake. This doesn't help anyone or anything and just leads to further polarisation in our society.

Oh no! You aren't called Trump are you? FAKE photos eh!

 

[The Norton Cat]

Oh no! You aren't called Trump are you? FAKE photos eh!

I believe that SOME of the photos that I've seen on Twitter are fake, yes. Intended to whip an already serious issue up to a state of hysteria. Like I have said, I don't buy the myth that all on the left are good and all on the right are evil. I believe that there are unscrupulous people on both sides of the debate who, for some reason, want to cause further division and further polarisation. I believe if more people took the middle ground and the media (in whatever form) gave a more balanced view, more would get done and there would be less discontent.

 

[safc-noggieland]

It's turned into a proper socialist party now that has gone too far left wing. The vast majority of folk that I know have always voted Labour, but now they struggle to vote for them as working class men and women in the North East don't recognise or have much in common with what that party has become.

??? Are saying that Boris & his henchmen have more in common with a working fella from the NE than the labour party ??
You should listen to the debate within the L. P. Where K Starmer is open veiwed as a right wing Blairite clone. !!!!!!

 

[safc-noggieland]

Well I wanted Brexit but not the tories
..a dilemma...

The Brexit decision was made 4 yrs ago gha last election just over 1 yr.
You could have had your cake and eaten it.

 

[The Norton Cat]

??? Are saying that Boris & his henchmen have more in common with a working fella from the NE than the labour party ??
You should listen to the debate within the L. P. Where K Starmer is open veiwed as a right wing Blairite clone. !!!!!!

But what did Corbyn, who was privately educated and grew up in 17th century manor house, have in common with the common working fella from the NE?

 

[Brian Storm]

I would just like to say at this point that I work for a PFI Company providing full services to the schools. Some people may know that PFI are very contractual and measured. I have employed extra staff during COVID, increased waste streams, increased consumables and all are past through at cost, no mark up and have volunteered in delivering FSM to those not in school
We aren't all that bad

Nobody attacked the the decent tax paying employees of these companies. Why the need to be defencive?

 

[Brian Storm]

Sorry Rooch l really have difficulty with your second last sentence.
I can’t understand an adult with full faculties deciding that they will keep a government in power when said government is a proven liar, racist and misoginist.
Then justify their decision on that they believe the alternative would possibly/probably be no better.
Come on this has to be poorest excuse in the world - an alternative government would then never ever get a chance to at least try.
Now l openly lean to the left in political questions. However if one party thinks it will never be replaced will soon become corrupt and even openly corrupt - as today. And many will point (with justification) to the example of the labour control of the borough of Sunderland.
I believe that a government that changed at times lead to a better Britain ie from 1945 - 2000.
We the voters should cease to be aligned with superglue to a party but look closely at the party in power - if unsatisfactory then give the other lot a go. Fear of losing would perhaps galvanise good governance and hold corruption in some kind of check.
Rant over.
KTF

I don't. It's the absolute desperate pits to pull the well , it could have been worse bullshit. It's foundless and based on absolutely **** all as there's no history of fair comparison.they didn't get in, they got their way. They can try to blame or draw comparison from a defeated party till the cows come home. It doesn't hold weight to anybody with half a brain. It this simple, Corbyn lost. That makes him unaccountable for everything as they never got in the position to be accountable. People who trot out this **** don't bother me. I pity them and laugh at their deluded blinked way of thinking, but it doesn't bother me.

Cobyn's pan was fully costed. Thick Tories believed the country was skint. Now the Tories print money for their mates. Anybody with a brain and an onc of decency would say fair play they were had. But know, they side step shamelessly while still trying to blame poor Jezza. Let them crack on. Delutionl fools, they should be men ad take some responsibility for their vote. Tories are Tories though. Not an ounce of Shame between them imo.

 

[Brian Storm]

Totally agree with your last paragraph. Supporting a political party like a football team is ridiculous. In the case of the most recent election, I do believe that a Corbyn led government would have been worse than what we have now. How could he have had any credibility in dealing with the pandemic when his own brother is standing in London parks shouting that Covid is a hoax?

So we've gone from blaming the losing oposition to blaming the losing oposition's family. You can make up such stupid ****. And I like my words carefully. It just ****ing stupid


You wouldn't think the current PMs father has just applied for french citizenship having supported his sons Brexit campaign but hey ho, let's attack a hippy delutionl brother of the loser to make my point on a political opinion which involves ELECTED OFFICIALS.

 

[Brian Storm]

I believe that SOME of the photos that I've seen on Twitter are fake, yes. Intended to whip an already serious issue up to a state of hysteria. Like I have said, I don't buy the myth that all on the left are good and all on the right are evil. I believe that there are unscrupulous people on both sides of the debate who, for some reason, want to cause further division and further polarisation. I believe if more people took the middle ground and the media (in whatever form) gave a more balanced view, more would get done and there would be less discontent.

If only the social media platforms employed fact checkers across the board to make sure what goes trough their sites is 100% true. Oh wait up they do!

****in fake news consipiricies now have day off mate, too much crazy in one burst draws dodgy attention

 

[Dancingstripes]

Err, I mean Eric Gates School dinner gate.

Or should that be School Dinner Gate? Schooldinner gate? Schooldinnergate?

Anyway.

Sorry Tories, this isn't going away, it's just going to keep exposing the Tories just like each wave of the Pandemic. Now its gone from starving kids to getting rich off starving kids. Always that extra low for the Tories to stoop, taxpayer exploited of course.

Free school meals firm with Tory links shamed over £30 shopping basket

The people profiteering off kids' lunches:

Dominic Blakemore, Compass CEO - Earns £4.6m a year

Paul Walsh, Chartwells old boss - Donated 10k to the Tories.

Ian Meakins, Chartwells new boss - Moved last company to tax haven

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The parents of children who qualify for free school meals have shared pictures of the small amount of food they’ve been given to last them 10 days. Food parcels have been brought in to replace £30 vouchers given to parents to spend in supermarkets as schools close for remote learning. But one mum valued the contents of her parcel at no more than £5.22, if bought from Asda. She was given two jacket potatoes, a can of beans, eight single cheese slices, a loaf of bread, two carrots, three apples, two Soreen Malt Lunchbox Loaves, three Frubes, some pasta and one tomato. The mum wrote alongside the image: ‘Issued instead of £30 vouchers. I could do more with £30 to be honest.’ These items bought from Asda would cost £5.22 (Picture: RoadsideMum) She added: ‘Public funds were charged £30. I’d have bought this for £5.22. The private company who have the free school meals contract made a good profit here.’ Footballer Marcus Rashford, who successfully lobbied the government into continuing free school meals for children through the summer and Christmas holidays, described the parcel as ‘unacceptable’. Another parent described the parcels as ‘laughable’ (Picture: Marcus Rashford) Another pictured shared by Marcus Rashford showed half a pepper included (Picture: Marcus Rashford) This image was sent to food writer and activist Jack Monroe by a parent in the Midlands He shared several pictures of food parcels parents had sent him, with one including two cans of baked beans, two bananas, half a pepper, several loose slices of bread, one potato, one carrot, two eggs, one onion and two ziplock bags of cheese and pasta. Another image showed three small fruit cartons, four apples, a tin of baked beans, raisins and snacks. The mum who received the parcel noted: ‘This is my picture and what I received. How can you say this is three days worth of food for an eight-year-old? What do I do with a tin of beans, raisins and some snacks? Laughable!’ Some parcels were supplied by private catering company Chartwells, which is part of the food service giant Compass Group. The group’s former chairman, Paul Walsh, was once a member of David Cameron’s business advisory group. Responding to one of the photos, a spokesperson for Chartwells said the amount of food did not ‘reflect the specification of one of our hampers’. They added that they would investigate immediately.

With the benefit and social housing system in place. Why do the children need these school meals?

A genuine question.

 

[Brian Storm]

With the benefit and social housing system in place. Why do the children need these school meals?

A genuine question.

Maybe cause Tories sold the social housing off(assisted by a right leaning labour) and didn't build anymore.

Benifits? Well wages dont reflect living wage required to live in te black so why would benifits? Don't forget, most benifits claimed in this country is by working households living in privately rented accommodation.

 

[Brian Storm]

The right wanted a reduction in social policy all it's served is a way to drag working families into the povity line while making the already rich richer. Proven failure. First pandemic comes along and the country crumbles as the right scramble desperately to install rushed social policy to keep the country going under. Almost poetic.

 

[Dancingstripes]

Maybe cause Tories sold the social housing off(assisted by a right leaning labour) and didn't build anymore.

Benifits? Well wages dont reflect living wage required to live in te black so why would benifits? Don't forget, most benifits claimed in this country is by working households living in privately rented accommodation.

To me, something don’t add up.

I know the property market well, and I know what the council tenants are entitled to, in both housing allowance and living benefit allowance.

Council tenants will have their rent paid for them, they will then be given money for themselves and their children to live.

I think the problem lays with what the parents are choosing to spend the money on.

They claim to lack food to feed their children. But I bet they don’t lack a TV or a phone, and in some cases a box of ***s.

The system is over generous and is abused by families who hammer out kids with no thought of how they will pay for them.

Instead of giving these families money, how about give them food vouchers. Let’s see how many kids go hungry then.

 

[Brian Storm]

To me, something don’t add up.

I know the property market well, and I know what the council tenants are entitled to, in both housing allowance and living benefit allowance.

Council tenants will have their rent paid for them, they will then be given money for themselves and their children to live.

I think the problem lays with what the parents are choosing to spend the money on.

They claim to lack food to feed their children. But I bet they don’t lack a TV or a phone, and in some cases a box of ***s.

The system is over generous and is abused by families who hammer out kids with no thought of how they will pay for them.

Instead of giving these families money, how about give them food vouchers. Let’s see how many kids go hungry then.

Can't find the figure for families in social housing(if you can provide please do as I'm intreagued)

But I think you're focusing on a minority. 5million social homes in which a person is entitled to earn as much as they like. Add to that elderly taking up homes that's bring the figures down.

There is far more private renting families as there's just more homes available than there is social housing. I don't rent anymore thank ****ing christ cause that rent shortfall while unable to work ****ing crippled me financially.

I would dare say that those in social housing on benifits are far more better off than private renters on benifits. But like I say, there's far more renting privately. Those privately renting in high cost living areas like london on benifits or working minimum wage with a family are 100% living in poverty imo.

I reckon a family on benifits living in social housing in the north east are quite comfortable thanks to the geography.

 

[Brian Storm]

Plot thickens

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[Confucius]

Nobody attacked the the decent tax paying employees of these companies. Why the need to be defencive?

Because someone mentioned it goes beyond politics and I am not talking about myself. We are the biggest FM provider to Government contracts since we acquired Interserve, that’s what I meant by “we aren’t all that bad”.

 

[The Norton Cat]

If only the social media platforms employed fact checkers across the board to make sure what goes trough their sites is 100% true. Oh wait up they do!

****in fake news consipiricies now have day off mate, too much crazy in one burst draws dodgy attention

I haven't talked about fake news conspiracies though. I've talked about people taking something that contains a kernel of the truth and presenting a more extreme version of it whip up hysteria. Twitter's fact checking is far from perfect and is only a newly implemented system. Furthermore, why would you believe everything you see on a platform like Twitter without questioning it?
People clearly do 'elaborate' on the truth to suit their own political ends (such as suggesting that the husbands of certain politicians are arms dealers when in reality they are investment bankers) and that is both wrong and dangerous.