Government Watch - 2

She couldn't answer any of the questions. The SNP question was right, that she was supposed to answer questions, otherwise what was the point of PMQ.

GG I thought TM was very peculiar in how she behaved in the Commons today. Most of thos things she said about Corbyn he was in position to do anything about. I was surprised he did not reply to her in that vein and decided I was losing the plot! I was in and out of the room as getting lunch at the same time!

His reply: The Institute of Fiscal Studies now reports that English graduates have the highest student debts anywhere in the world. [The] poorest students now graduating with an average debt of £57,000. Who is responsible but her party and the Liberal Democrats for that situation?

Mr Speaker, we're in the middle of an economic slow-down. The OBR says there is a growing risk of recession under her watch. Growth is slowing, productivity worsening, wages falling, jobs becoming more insecure, personal debt increasing, savings falling and homelessness rising all over the country. And it's forecast, by the end of this parliament five million children in this country, the fifth richest country in the world, will be living in poverty. Isn't it true that not only is our economy at breaking point but for many people it's already broken as they face up to the poverty imposed by this government.

May has lost the plot. In question time she said Corbyn promised students he would deal with their debt and he has let them down. Is she unaware that her party is in government and his isn't? I think she is in a very dangerous state of mind if that is the case.

My daughter still has her flat in Edinburgh ...

My grandson wants us all to move to either Scotland or Denmark.
It used to be the US until trump happened.

If it wasn't for my family being down south, I would.

Not that far from the border, though. You could always go further north and breathe freer air.
Scotland could be one step closer to independence.

Fear that I'm going to wake up tomorrow morning to the realisation that I'm living in a country where democracy has died.

Nothing like a cynical government.

www.24housing.co.uk/news/government-buying-into-affordable-homes/

The only reason they are buying into the idea is because they need the votes of those under 40.
I don't think those people I know who are under 40 will change their votes just because of this. I think they are too intelligent to be taken in by it.

If they are allowed to vote we will certainly see the consciences of the Conservative MPs. It will be a case of who dare's put democracy ahead of the party.

At the moment it is the fact that the DUP, with their confidence and supply agreement, that is giving the Tories their 'justification' for having control of the committees. It is the usual Tory inability to manage, just as they have shown an inability to manage the economy. They think if they keep telling us they know better than we do we will believe them - not likely in my case.

Just been reading that. As the tories and the DUP will have to declare an interest, neither should vote on it!

Well, that's interesting, GG2.

Will the DUP be allowed to vote in support of the government when parliament's approval is sought?

More of May believing she holds the Sovereignty here:

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/11/tory-dup-1bn-payment-needs-parliaments-approval-after-gina-miller-challenge

Parliament will need to approve the release of £1bn in funding for Northern Ireland promised to the Democratic Unionist party by Theresa May to secure its support after the general election, the government has conceded.

Do you think I should say that it hasn't actually happened, except in reverse?

I think you should put that David Allen Green thread on the 'sovereignty' thread, dj. It just might bring home to some the logical consequences of May's power grab bill, in a more understandable way.

(Though I have a nasty feeling that it also might just start a completely irrelevant Corbyn hate-fest...)

That is an interesting exercise in imagination, dj.

This is an interesting thread. Just asking us to use our imaginations.

twitter.com/davidallengreen/status/906070827325644800

I am glad this is going forward. Right or wrong we need to know.

www.theguardian.com/global/2017/sep/08/court-to-hear-challenge-to-theresa-may-1bn-deal-with-dup

A court is going to decide whether May bribed the DUP, which is illegal. This is going to be very interesting. It's going to begin at the end of October, so I hope if the answer is that she did bribe the DUP there will be time to do something about it.

In the Telegraph, as well. Must be serious. I wonder how many tory donors make a coup.

Theresa May has been branded "weak and hopeless" by Tory donor Lord Harris of Peckham.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/08/tory-donor-brands-theresa-may-weak-hopeless/

labourlist.org/2017/09/council-by-elections-labour-gains-as-the-tories-haemorrhage-seats-in-bumper-night/

Labour gained three council seats yesterday, while the tories lost six, including two to the greens.

Dodd is also implicated I think. I was reading this somewhere today, but can't find it.

Good. They'll find them as well.