2015 Election season ..........stuff it in here.

[Guest MattP]

People don't shop at places because they have a good image, Starbucks had a bad image for about two weeks.

I'd prefer it if there was more permanent jobs but sports direct can probably 'employ' 10 times the number of people because of zero hour contracts.

I do agree however that there should be more regulation of zero hour contracts

To be fair they have started too now, the proposals to ban them are ridiculous though, stops some people wanting them from working and will clearly result in less people working.

[Buce]

Wonder if these polls are based because most tories are too busy at work to participate?

Obviously. We lefties lay in bed all day, sleeping off last night's hangover bought with the taxes of hard-working families...

[bovril]

Meanwhile at UKIP HQ ..... Someone is fighting the law but law actually won

...EU directive 454 anti flammable materials lol lol

 

Good that Grewks manages to find some time away from his very serious academic work.

[Jon the Hat]

Obviously. We lefties lay in bed all day, sleeping off last night's hangover bought with the taxes of hard-working families...

 

No one said all lefties were like Ken!

[Rincewind]

I'm retired.

 

Saw that video on Facebook and I posted a comment to ask why the person burning the flag posted the video as it was him that possibly wanted it to be shown in the first place. he surely would want a successful burning to go public?

[Merging Cultures]

With regards zero hour contacts, the ones who are complaining about them seem to be in low skilled, low paid jobs. Strokes wife likes hers, she works in the NHS, probably has decent qualifications, and as he said they are understaffed.

Then why don't the people at SportsDirect or whoever retrain? Get better qualifications, and get a better job?

I know it isn't that simple, but they are in the UK where there are many Government supported educational opportunities.

I guess it is easier to just moan though.

[Merging Cultures]

And the example given to Cameron the other day about the guy who walks two hours to work to find he doesn't have any work, and has to walk two hours back is ridiculous. Is he walking from the middle of nowhere and along the two hour route he walks by no other potential employer?!

[Jimothy]

And the example given to Cameron the other day about the guy who walks two hours to work to find he doesn't have any work, and has to walk two hours back is ridiculous. Is he walking from the middle of nowhere and along the two hour route he walks by no other potential employer?!

And walking by a potential employer would automatically get him a job would it? And how do you know he hasn't asked this hypothetical employer and got turned away? It's obviously not as simple as he must be walking passed somewhere else that'll give him a job.

[Merging Cultures]

And walking by a potential employer would automatically get him a job would it? And how do you know he hasn't asked this hypothetical employer and got turned away? It's obviously not as simple as he must be walking passed somewhere else that'll give him a job.

Of course walking by a potential employer means you get a job. Life is so literal like that.

It just seems ridiculous that the only job, and a zero hours contract at that, he could get is a two hour walk away. I've discussed the jobs I've done in the past to keep money coming in, cleaning cars, cleaning loos, waiting, cooking, stuffing envelopes, etc.

So, either they really love the industry they have a zero hours contract in, or are only qualified to do one particular thing, that they cannot find any type of work in another sector. It just seems way too extreme to me.

[Buce]

And the example given to Cameron the other day about the guy who walks two hours to work to find he doesn't have any work, and has to walk two hours back is ridiculous. Is he walking from the middle of nowhere and along the two hour route he walks by no other potential employer?!

I'm sorry to say this MC, and I mean no offence - I've always liked you - but you live in a complete fantasy world. Maybe it's the only way you can reconcile your religious beliefs with your political leanings.

[Strokes]

And the example given to Cameron the other day about the guy who walks two hours to work to find he doesn't have any work, and has to walk two hours back is ridiculous. Is he walking from the middle of nowhere and along the two hour route he walks by no other potential employer?!

No it's not that, he just incredibly slow at walking.

[bovril]

Was it Bernie?

[leicsmac]

I'm sorry to say this MC, and I mean no offence - I've always liked you - but you live in a complete fantasy world. Maybe it's the only way you can reconcile your religious beliefs with your political leanings.

 

That's a bit strong, Buce. It's a common retort of the political Right to say that of those opposite them, so I'm not sure that level should be sunk to.

[Merging Cultures]

I'm sorry to say this MC, and I mean no offence - I've always liked you - but you live in a complete fantasy world. Maybe it's the only way you can reconcile your religious beliefs with your political leanings.

 

No offence taken Buce, I like you too, but perhaps you can elaborate on your response.

 

Which bit is a fantasy? That in a two hour walking distance there are potential employers? Perhaps he lives in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales or Scottish Highlands and there are no other businesses, no loos or cars to clean, no bars or restaurants that need a pot washer or waiter. (Although, given they are tourist areas, it is likely there would be seasonal bar work etc).

 

Not sure how what I said supports my religious beliefs either. I've said many times, I believe there needs to be a strong safety net to support those in need, and I truly believe in the NHS and other public services, as we should have a guaranteed standard of care.

 

Walking 2 hours to work, for a zero hours contract, just sounds too ludicrous, and there must be other options, whether it is retraining or doing a less than rewarding job for a short-time.

[Buce]

No offence taken Buce, I like you too, but perhaps you can elaborate on your response.

Which bit is a fantasy? That in a two hour walking distance there are potential employers? Perhaps he lives in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales or Scottish Highlands and there are no other businesses, no loos or cars to clean, no bars or restaurants that need a pot washer or waiter. (Although, given they are tourist areas, it is likely there would be seasonal bar work etc).

Not sure how what I said supports my religious beliefs either. I've said many times, I believe there needs to be a strong safety net to support those in need, and I truly believe in the NHS and other public services, as we should have a guaranteed standard of care.

Walking 2 hours to work, for a zero hours contract, just sounds too ludicrous, and there must be other options, whether it is retraining or doing a less than rewarding job for a short-time.

I'm sorry, MC, but I'm not in the right head-state to discuss this without us falling out, and that's something I'm not willing to do. My problem, not yours.

[Merging Cultures]

I'm sorry, MC, but I'm not in the right head-state to discuss this without us falling out, and that's something I'm not willing to do. My problem, not yours.

 

No problem, these are certainly divisive and emotional issues, and it isn't worth getting ourselves worked up on an internet forum! Especially first thing in the morning!

[davieG]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2015/manifesto-guide

 

Policy guide: Where the parties stand

[MooseBreath]

If you can walk 5mph that's am area of 314m2 in which to find a job within ten minutes walk. If there are no jobs within that area then perhaps they should consider moving to where there is more work, like humans have always had to do.

[Merging Cultures]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2015/manifesto-guide

 

Policy guide: Where the parties stand

 

I am sure there are more 'errors' like this one for Labour on Law and Order:

 

Labour

Main pledges

• Scrap police and crime commissioners and invest in frontline policing
• New commissioner on domestic and sexual abuse
• Establish a victims' law
• Bring back control orders to combat extremism and revive the Prevent strategy

[leicsmac]

The employment game has changed with the recession. It's an employers market now and the era of much job stability in the vast majority of fields is pretty much done, whether it's jobs being outsourced or replaced with various tech. It's a nomadic era where retraining and moving frequently (and the stresses that go with it) are going to be de rigeur for most.

 

I don't feel sorry for those who won't adapt, but I do feel sorry for those (perhaps older) who can't adapt.

[StanSP]

Oops...

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-claims-created-more-5431988#ICID=sharebar_twitter

[MooseBreath]

The employment game has changed with the recession. It's an employers market now and the era of much job stability in the vast majority of fields is pretty much done, whether it's jobs being outsourced or replaced with various tech. It's a nomadic era where retraining and moving frequently (and the stresses that go with it) are going to be de rigeur for most.

I don't feel sorry for those who won't adapt, but I do feel sorry for those (perhaps older) who can't adapt.

I agree that now more than ever people have to keep on top of their skills, but I don't agree that it's an employers market except right at the bottom because there is such a huge supply of unskilled, mostly immigrant labour. It's definitely an employees market in most private sector professions and skilled occupations.

[Strokes]

I agree that now more than ever people have to keep on top of their skills, but I don't agree that it's an employers market except right at the bottom because there is such a huge supply of unskilled, mostly immigrant labour. It's definitely an employees market in most private sector professions and skilled occupations.

Without a doubt, the job I do currently is now being advertised out at a 20% increase to what it was 10 months ago. I'll be knocking on the door for a big increase, when my appraisal is due. Similar story for a few pals of mine, in other construction jobs.

[DB11]

I used to work flexible hours. I had a contracted amount and I could work them Mon-Fri between 0700-1900 so I ended up just doing a four day week. Worked fine for the sort of work I did.

 

A zero hours contract on the other hand would have been useless I know they are flexible but if it comes at the risk of security how can you commit to any sort of monthly outgoings?

[Alf Bentley]

Don't know if anyone is into any Political betting but Betfair have some good analysis on each constituency and also some decent specials. Surely Clegg, Farage and Sammond all to win their seats at 7/4 is huge. Only dubious one is Clegg's seat in Sheffield Hallam as he is hated by the student population now. 

 

I wouldn't want to have a significant sum riding on this. Salmond is a pretty certain winner, but neither Clegg nor Farage are better than "fairly probable". The last Ashcroft constituency poll had Clegg behind in Sheffield and Farage only just ahead in Thanet (and potentially vulnerable to tactical voting by a significant Labour minority there - though whether they'd vote Tory to keep Farage out, or vote Farage to keep the Tories out is another matter).

 

I'm very tempted by that 9/1 on the Lib Dems for Bosworth. There is nobody round here that likes our current MP Tredinnick and people are really starting to get fed up with him. The general consensus round here is it could be quite close between all four and if UKIP take enough off the Tories and with the strength the Lib Dems have locally, it could well go to the Lib Dems. Maybe I'm underestimating the national damage done to the Lib Dems but I'm not sure it will have too much effect here.

I know I'm considering voting Lib Dem just to try to get rid of Tredinnick, the Tories could have a much stronger majority without him

 

I wouldn't want any money at all riding on Tredinnick losing Hinckley/Bosworth. Worth remembering that in 1997 the Tories nationally suffered their biggest massacre in decades just after Tredinnick had been suspended from parliament over a "cash for questions" scandal......the good people of Bosworth still voted him back to Westminster even in those circumstances. So, the idea that they'll ditch him for the Lib Dems at a time when the Tories are well in contention nationally and the Lib Dems are polling 8% seems a bit ambitious, surely?

 

I've just got some bets on:

- Lab & Con to get precisely the same number of seats: £10 @ 33-1

- Lib Dems to get precisely 23 seats: £10 @ 20-1

- Tories to win most seats but Miliband to give Queen's speech: £5 @ 7-1

- Same number of Tory MPs in Scotland as pandas: £5 @ 7-2

- UKIP and Plaid to win same number of seats: £5 @ 9-2

- Danny Alexander & Clegg to lose their seats; Lucas, Farage & Sadiq Khan to win theirs (£2 a time, shortish odds)

 

Will probably end up being money down the drain, except for some of the smaller bets, but should all give me a decent run for my money and add to the sport on election night!