Theresa May

Some of the stuff May is doing looks good.

Medical tests for benefits claimants who have certain disabling and progressive diseases are to be abolished.

May has asked one of Blair's aides to conduct a review into work rights, stuff like zero hours. She is quoted as saying: “Flexibility and innovation are a vital part of what makes our economy strong but it is essential that these virtues are combined with the right support and protections for workers.”

Fox is coming under fire from all sides. His speech on Thursday had a lot of people choking on their breakfasts when they read the content the following morning.

Anna Soubry a Tory MPis very worried, saying that the speech was completely delusional. Fox apparently talked about freer free trade!!!
Soubry said "it's really worrying that we have these people have the future of our country in their hands.
Sir David Edward a former European Court of justice judge said that nobody who understands trade law could possibly have said what Fox said.

Thinking about Murdoch, I wonder what instructions he gave her regarding Brexit and his ongoing support?

For those who think the media have little influence I suggest they think again because why on earth would the political class be so keen to court them?

Perhaps May will let us know in her speech this week

What price democracy eh!

Well they would be wouldn't they, what with her pushing his favourite right-wing agenda and all...

TM had a cosy meeting with Murdoch whilst in the States - him of the phone hacking scandal and other such nasties. All friends apparently.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/3553-virtual-abolition-of-pip-dla-and-esa-appeal-tribunals-as-we-know-them

'It is a privilege to be given the chance to improve the social and employment opportunities for the millions of disabled people across the UK. I will do all I can to improve support for people with disabilities and health conditions, help more people into work and ensure they have every opportunity to thrive.'

Somehjow the two do not tie up. Penny Mordaunt is the minister who thinks that not having appeal tribunals as we know them is an improvement.
Benefitsandwork doesn't think so. This is on top of the Concentrix problem.
We will soon be reducing our population, but not in the way Brexit think.

Yes that's true

That's now, whitewave. Obviously to take the news away from the labour party conference.
The past few weeks it's all been about how much better she is. Her kudos rose even when she was on holiday.
About time the Tories showed their true colours. A grammar school girl winning over all those old Etonians? It just won't do.

Not sure about being praised dj there are a lot of Tories spitting nails and spiking their guns. Sorry for that last sentence

Cameron certainly blames her for stuff. One was over the immigrant issue. He was all for following a firmer policy but she disseminated. One wonders how long a game she played. Blimey we talk about Osborne and his political shenanigans he hasn't got anything on May. She needs to be careful that she isn't too clever for her own good.

Not just the owners whitewave I know someone who was working at the Guardian -once known for its left wing views- who was asked when she started "Who did you know to get this job then?". It's kids with the right connections or who can afford to have a year as an intern on no pay who are working in media jobs. Talent is no longer necessary.

Tory conference is going to be interesting next weekend.

Strange that Corbyn got all the flack for Brexit winning, and she has been praised for her political skills.

Mendacious May and Bumbling Boris - Heaven help us.

Yes trisher the media certainly to a degree is complicity in keeping the truth from the reading public. It is seen as being in their interest as most of the owners are supports and donors to the Tory party.

Isn't it funny how it is all kept under wraps though. A history of "pas devant les domestiques" obviously carries on in political life. They must also have the media pretty well tied up, mostly of course because the people getting jobs there now all have the right connections and aren't going to risk upsetting the people who got them a place.

Re May and the Remain campaign. Seems I was not the only one to think she was cunningly keeping out of sight in the toilets while the boys scrapped it out in the corridors.
There have been a number of prominent ex cabinet members voicing concerns about her batty grammar schools project. Plus one resignation the other day.
She's not a member of the old (Eton) boys club so won't get support from that quarter.

Apparently the criticism of Corbyn by some Labour MPs is a walk in the park to what is being said about May by Tory MPs is is absolutely explosive!!!

We are in for interesting times folks.

PS I have a friend who works in Foreign Office - can't repeat what they think of their new Foreign Minister, let's hope he improves.

Papers and social media full of the war in the Tory Party. Apparently the lid is being kept firmly on the row, but the Tory Party is totally split, with those being sacked by May absolutely furious and willing to cause her all sorts of problems. As well, there are a number of backbencher's who are planning to cause upset. Given her tiny majority she is treading on eggs I think.
Apparently they are still scrapping around to find a plan re Brexit and May constantly contradicts her ministers on Brexit anyway. None of them are coming together with a clearly agreed plan.

On top of that we have the new book being published outlining how May spent the whole of the Brexit campaign plotting -successfully as it turned out- her leadership contest. This would explain her reluctance to come out on one side or another re Brexit. We still don't really know what she wanted. Apart from Brexit means Brexit - a tautology that we are all sick to death of hearing there is absolutely no indication of anything of the way forward.

Mays only indication -although who has heard her arguing for it- is the reintroduction of Grammers. Something that the vast majority of people and educationalists in particular are against.

By the way has anyone seen or heard from Andria Leadsom lately? She is sons boss but nothing has been heard from her -ever!!!

There was an interesting comment this morning. An American Republican politician, who has not described Trump in the most pleasant terms including calling him a liar, has decided to vote for him. The person who was commenting on this (sorry for the lack of names) then said "If you are thirsty and the only water is dirty water you will drink the dirty water."

I do not think May has "got it". All those who feel their part of the country and they themselves are considered "redundant" in the new world which started with 'globalisation taking our jobs' and is now going into 'technology is taking our jobs' will look at the Nigel Farages and Jeremy Corbyns (and Trumps - the two countries have similar problems) and see their flaws but believe they understand the problems. It doesn't matter that they blame immigrants, Muslims, Mexicans or an overall lack of democracy, they are giving out the message that their voters feel - someone, somewhere has ignored our needs and just thrown away our lives. May seems to be trying to appeal to the "squeezed middle" who are rapidly becoming (thank you New Statesman) the "just managing" with Grammar Schools and careful progress but most of those who no longer have any security or even the hope of a job to raise a family on are past worrying about such things; their feeling of being unwanted in their own country goes much deeper than that.

speye.wordpress.com/2016/09/22/no-blacks-no-irish-no-jews-no-dogs-and-now-no-disabled-in-tory-policy/

I was trying to make it more polite than Joe Halewood, but insidehousing won't let me.

www.insidehousing.co.uk/business/lha-cap-will-apply-to-existing-supported-housing-tenants/7016910.article

Everyone living in supported housing will have their benefit capped, which will probably mean they will be made homeless.

www.northeastca.gov.uk/home

This is it, Daphne.

I gave a link earlier to the group of seven local authorities that has superseded ONe North East which the government got rid of.

That's what the North East is doing, but it is not recognised by the Northern Powerhouse people.
I looked at the board of the Northern Powerhouse. Out of a board of ten, there is one from Newcastle, and three from London.
All the rest are along the M62 corridor.
One of them who works for the Centre for Cities has offices in London, Leeds and Liverpool.

It's not surprising that the North East feels left out.
Tyneside has a big population, as does Teesside, but Teesside has nobody on the board.

@dj

You get a substantially greater amount of your money back than the East of England.

The South East, Greater London and the Eastern Region make a net positive contribution to public finances, while every other region is a net drain. The North East receives more per capita than any other English region.

I'm not disagreeing that the North East has a greater need for public services, but it does mean that there are parts of the South East which are seriously underfunded. Jaywick on the Essex coast is one of the most deprived regions in Europe. It also means that individuals in generally wealthy areas get virtually no support.

If the North East doesn't want to be be part of a Northern Powerhouse, I'm wondering what home-grown solutions there are for regeneration.

From the whole country's point of view, a rebalancing would benefit everybody, including those in the South East who have to live there for work, but struggle to pay rents and mortgages.

PS. I'm finding it weird to be 'on the same side' as thatbags, although I'm keeping an open mind until there are some details.