What is John Prescott actually for ?

[Beryl]

I'm not knocking committed Christians, each to their own. But, it does make me wonder whether her beliefs ( whatever they are) are incompatible with her role and as such, was she a wise choice?

[Dick Smith]

Wise, probably not, as she doesn't seem to be very good in any sense.

But when the government is led by people whose religious views are possibly stronger than their political beliefs (Blair, Brown, Straw) the religiosity of a candidate may have a greater significance than those of us of a more secular point of view would prefer.

[powerdesal]

I really promised myself that I wouldn't do this - get involved in a

political discussion with total strangers,  but I'm relaxing after

dinner, glass of 'stuff' in hand and so why not?

Dick,

I have no problem with JPs chairmanship of whatever committees. He may

be the best chairman in the World, its not an easy job to effectively

chair any serious meeting ( I am assuming that they are serious

meetings, being at Govt level). I would question whether anyone can

effectively be up to speed on the various agenda if they are chairing

the amount of meetings quoted earlier. They certainly would not (IMHO)

have any time left for 'inter-office relaxation'.

Your comment that '....people should not make statements where their

understanding is so clearly limited or blinkered....' is, to me,

indicative that you believe that those who disagree with you have, by

definition, a lack of knowledge of the process of Govt or are short of

the facts. The people who disagree with you and make the statements to

which you object have, I would suggest, access to the same information

as you. Their interpretation of that information is as valid as yours,

just different.

Regarding Ruth Kelly.

Her membership of Opus Dei has never been kept a secret, it is NOT a

secret society and, yes, it 'implies' certain degrees of Roman Catholic

belief. A professional person in any walk of life would (should) not do

their job in accordance with their personal level of Christian belief.

Having said that I dont have any faith in her professional political

abilities but thats definitely not based on her religion.

Back to JP.

Russethouse clearly put the point about his personal behaviour, at

work, far more succinctly than I could. He has, to me, demonstrated a

severe lack of the personal standards that we are entitled to expect

from our elected leadership. Irrespective of his abilities, he has

shown that he is 'not fit for purpose' and as such, should be totally

removed from the office of DPM.

[ I still cant believe I,m filling my Sunday evening with this!!!!!]

[Owens88]

[quote user="powerdesal"] He has, to me, demonstrated a severe lack of the personal standards that we are entitled to expect from our elected leadership. Irrespective of his abilities, he has shown that he is 'not fit for purpose' and as such, should be totally removed from the office of DPM.
[/quote]

Which aspect makes him not fit for purpose? Married man filandering- shameful but lots of precedent, Getting caught - hmmm maybe a point if the real DPM job is protecting the PM's back.

 

I think the worst I heard was chronic bad behaviour that might well bring down a manager in another world. If that is  what you refer to then I would agree.

[Owens88]

[quote user="Hoddy"]

I find the idea that newspapers reflect their reader’s views an interesting one. I would have thought they are more likely to reflect their proprietor’s views. [/quote]

 

Role 1 of a newspaper - deliver an audience for the advertising. So pandering to the target audience is part of that.

Role 2 of a newspaper - condition an audience to the desires of the stakeholders (advertisers and proprietor). So have you noticed how often a headline implies a story that is very much at odds with the real content ?

Role 3 - to inform and educate. If that were true then the money features (or name any other feature, land. travel, home) would be led by what the journos want to say rather than what steer is being put on this week. e.g. forget politics look at the money sections. Headline advice comes in waves to fit the adverts, then a later tide brings in contrary advice..

 

[powerdesal]

[quote user="Owens88"]

.

 

I think the worst I heard was chronic bad behaviour that might

well bring down a manager in another world. If that is  what you

refer to then I would agree.

[/quote]

John,

We agree, that sort of behaviour ( in works time, in the office - door

closed or not!)  would lead to the (enforced) resignation of a

senior manager in industry.Surely we are reasonable in expecting the

application of equivalent standards in Government. What he does outside

the office is between him, his wife and his maker!!

[Russethouse]

I think the sex with the door open is documented in Tracey's diary, the contents of which JP has not actually denied(to the best of my knowledge), but like Hoddy I have a certain impatience with people of either sex who kiss and tell, so I haven't bothered to read it. Tracey is a civil servant,(and thinks she is liable to lose her job, probably rightly) the 'acts' (sex only - no pretence at a relationship as far as I an tell) took place on government property.

Those two things surely make the tax payer a little more interested that the usual 'captain of industry betrays wife' scenario?

I had a great deal more sympathy for David Blunkett, and I never thought I would say that !

 

 

[Beryl]

Again for me its the double standards, of course Prescott isn't the first politician to be caught out. But this Government promised SO much when they were elected re sleaze and at the moment I think they have surpassed the last lot.

[Owens88]

Its not the sort of stuff I read deeply so I hadn'y picked up on anything about doors open or closed. What I was referring to was an apparently long history of inappropriate behaviour/attitude towards females at work -falling short of actual jogging practice with a willing one.

[Dick Smith]

To say anything much about Blunkett would seem libellous, but certainly his reputation is worse than JP's.

[Russethouse]

Oh Beryl, Dick and I have often commented on the sheer disappointment  in TB, if not the Labour government...........

[Kitty]

Thank goodness the UK is monarchy and not a republic.  John Prescott could have been our President...

[Dick Smith]

Only if the people elected him, and that would then be their democratic choice.

[Iceni]

[quote user="Dick Smith"]Steve - I think that anyone who really believes that chairing government oversight committees is 'not working' really needs a proper political education. I don't mind people objecting to me over matters of policy or politics, but I think that people should not make statements where their understanding is so clearly limited or blinkered.
[/quote]

I didn't say that the bar steward didn't work - just that he does not DO.

John

not

[Renaud]

John Prescott was very santimonious about Mellor etc before the 1997 election, which makes his recent behaviour rather ripe.

There are some moral issues with a powerful superior having a relationship with a junior whose livelihood depends on his patronage.

Even by the present administrations standards, he was an inept administrator so it is a blessing that he no longer controls a large ministry.

Give me Ruth Kelly any day as she actually has values.

[Dick Smith]

This is a joke, yes?

You really want Ruth Kelly's 'values' reflected in education policy?

[Russethouse]

This reflects some concerns from her last job

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1411905,00.html

This is from the Independent on the 10th of May (you have to pay to get the rest of the article which is posted here:

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article363108.ece

Is homosexuality a sin? Minister for Equality refuses to rule it out

By Ben Russell, Political Correspondent

Published: 10 May 2006

The newly appointed government minister responsible for equality is facing controversy after she refused to say whether she believed homosexuality was a sin.

Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of State for Communities, a committed Catholic and member of the Opus Dei group, was embroiled in a renewed row over her religious beliefs yesterday. And critics attacked her new role as the Government's equality champion after it emerged she had missed a series of votes on equal rights since 1997

[Dick Smith]

I'm genuinely constrained by the Official Secrets Act here, but Kelly did not have the confidence of civil servants or the teaching profession in the way that Estelle Morris did - and her going was a mysterious affair.

The new bloke (forgotten his name - never heard of him before) has apparently sent an email round all staff at the DfES promising 'fun'. As the person who told me said, perhaps he plans jelly and cakes at ministerial briefings, or a bouncy castle in the foyer...

[Benjamin]

First ever visit here,but so what...............

Yet another case of " snout in the trough ".

Benjamin

[Gastines]

I think he was a replacement for the Kinnock Family Empire and what did they achieve for the UK?

B&B St.Malo.   Tall Ships 6th -9th July.

[Russethouse]

A journalist came up with the idea that the PM may be unwilling/unlikely to leave John Prescott in charge of the country during his holiday break in August...........that could lead to an interesting situation.

[Harley]

What is John Prescott actually for?  In Politics, not sure.  But he sure would make an excellent gargoyle.  Situated somewhere around Westminster..............to scare off all the evil spirits or................................?[:-))]

[Pads]

well we use him to scare the birds off,.............................what else?[Www]

[Quillan]

I don't think its that important who a MP screws and from a public safety point of view do we really need to know? The very thought of Edwina Currie and John Major romping around is enought to put a fella off his beer (and sex probably) so the though of JP naked romping around, well best not go there I guess. What is more important is how well they do their job. The only thing I think funny is that here you have a guy who is in charge of building millions of new homes who has forgotten to put the water and electricity infrastructure in place, touch of "Water and Electricity, nobody told me you wanted that as well". Sort of smacks of cowboy building perhaps which is rather funny as he seems to have been spending a lot of time staying on a rich americans cowboy ranch.

As for converting 'the dome' in to a casino well if JP can get some mug to buy it then well done him as so many others have tried to flog it and failed and lets face it the thing is the biggest waste of tax payers money ever.

I bet old TB cringes every time JP opens his mouth and wonders whats coming next.

[The Riff-Raff Element]

As for converting 'the dome' in to a casino well if JP can get some mug

to buy it then well done him as so many others have tried to flog it

and failed and lets face it the thing is the biggest waste of tax

payers money ever.

And what is this obession with casinos? If I ever needed proof of the

cynical lack of regard that government has for its citizens, this takes

the biscuit. Anything to raise taxes! I cannot be the only person who

thinks that, perhaps, gambling palaces might just not be a smart idea

for a country where non-mortage debt has just about reached £200

billion. Are they going to be compelled to put "wealth warnings" on the

doors?

"CAUTION: There is no such thing as a 'system!' The House ALWAYS wins! Do your children need new shoes?"