Labour Party Conference - chaos reigns.

Did they not mention planting lots of money trees too, to pay for all this? One can only hope that Labour stands no chance come the next election.

It'll be the poor old taxpayer who picks up the tab for these outlandish schemes and after a term of office the party next voted in to government will have to be the belt-tightening one, to dig the UK out of the financial mire created by Labour.

Day6, in regard to your post @20:32 today, the Labour policy on Brexit is quite clear.

The above was again laid out by Corbyn in his BBC interview today. That being, should the Labour Party win the forthcoming General Election they will "attempt" to renegotiate parts of the withdrawal agreement, but whatever the outcome of those negotiations (successful or not) will be placed before the British electorate in a further referendum.

At a recall Delegate Conference, it will be decided by all the rank and file in attendance if the Labour Party will make any recommendation for or against acceptance of the deal, or allow all make their own individual judgment.

Of Course, there are those in the party that wish Labour to be a full remain party, but that stance, i believe, they should not adopt.

The present would policy would allow a second referendum to be conducted in as calm a public atmosphere as possible. That would be the most practical solution in the face of rabid leave supporters within this country and on this forum now going to the ridiculous and dangerous heights of calling for a civil war to gain what they wish, Day6.

Everybody should at this juncture in our countries history think and consider very carefully what they say.

Don't forget the menopausal women's rights Urmstongran!

Nice we agree jura2 on something!
??

Ban private schools?
Ban Ofsted?
Leave it to councils to assess local schools?
Teachers and public sector workers on 4 day weeks without loss of pay?
Unions in charge?
Open door immigration?
Private businesses to hand over 10% to workers cooperatives? Tax the rich?
Tax on driving to a hospital?
Free interest free 40,000 quid loans for 500,000 each year to buy electric cars?

If Corbyn gets in ... oh god help us!
?

Agree Ursmstongran, on both counts. And of course make massive investment and effort- so that we have good quality education for ALL children and massively cut class-size.

Wouldn't it have been a better route to ban Private schools having charity status?

I doubt a complete ban on Private education will be successful as it is human nature to always seek an advantage.

Ban faith schools, they have no place in the developing world imo.

The leader has chosen not to lead so refuses to say if he supports remain or leave.

The Labour leadership seems to be in favour of Brexit

Really? I thought they'd become the party of Remain? Who knows what Labour stands for these days.

They ought to make confectionery. They produce excellent fudge.

Totally understand what you’re saying Jura2 but let’s not pretend it’s any different from what tories do. We all want the best for our own children but some are happy to proscribe different standards for other people’s children.

he thinks the party lacks common decency

Please somebody, anybody point me in the direction of any politician who possesses this?????

This thread is about chaos at Conference- so should go back to this. And if wanted, keep this conversation for another thread.

OH btw inherited a large private practice, very lucrative- but very time consuming. He got rid of it all.

Where I live, class size is 15 to 20 absolute max, and really well funded and staffed. I don't know any parent in our region that sends their kid to a private school- none, zilch, zero. And everyone gets good, well funded health care- so private cover is for private room, own TV and WiFi, special menus, and a better view from the window, and choice of private hospital and Consultant.

not quite sure if you have read my posts Pantglas2 - as the point I was making is that it is NOT good enough at all for everyone- and that every effort should be made to change the systems so it is, both education and health. But that, in the meantime, you are not going to watch your child go untreated or worse, and will not sacrifice their future chances for your principles. If you then say 'ahaha no need to improve schools as my kid is out of there' then it is damnable, I agree.

If and when Brexit without a Deal causes shortages of medicines- would you refuse to pay privately for your grandchild's essential medicine- if it would keep him/her safe- whilst at the same time saying 'this is WRONG- and I will fight/vote to ensure all children can get their essential meds- but in the meantime, I'll do what I have to do?

Look I don't condemn anyone for sending their child to a private school, especially if, as you say, the child was being bullied. I would not want to live in a society that imposes draconian measures such as the banning of independent schools, in a perfect world all schools would be equally good but unfortunately we don't live in a utopia. Our social circle is mixed, most used the state system, we do however know people who have been schooled in the private system for generations and could never imagine ever using the state system but incongruously still regard themselves as socialists, indeed one even made the disparaging remark, when all our kids were about to embark on their first school experience "if you send them to a state school they'll be lucky if they learn to write their own name" Pissed me off for many years!

I think that most private schools give children a very good education, but when people talk about circles of influence and old boy networks that only applies to a very small group of schools, where the schools merely reflect the inner circles of support and connections that already exist between the families of the children that attend them.

The vast majority of private schools offer no access to inner circles, people of influence. Indeed the scions of the top schools that get into the news because of the successful careers of their old boys, see the ordinary provincial private schools as being on a par with state schools.

Maizie I was not generalising from a sample of one. I was using my family experience as an example, of my broader point based on broader evidence. My broad conclusions are on most private schools. Many of the pupils of private schools are every bit as bright as children at state schools and most of these schools offer bursaries and scholarships to exceptionally bright children whose parents could not otherwise pay the fees.

I think on the margins yes, the quality of private education will get children into universities they wouldn't otherwise have got into (Russell Group) or into university at all. But the suggestion that privately educated children are on average less bright than state educated children is ridiculous.

I hate this double speak on private health/education etc. If it’s good enough for your children then it’s good enough for all children. If state education/health is good enough for everyone else why isn’t it good enough for you?

I hate lib/lab devotees who say one thing and do another- at least the tories are happy to own their choices.

WRT private healthcare (which I don't have), it could be argued that people paying for private healthcare are removing part of the burden on the NHS and thereby helping the general population.

Yes, disappointed too Monica. Of course I never ever said or implied that at all- but made a comment about the general situation and well-known research and stats.

Terribull : 'my point was I don't think one can be a socialist and endorse a superior education system for their own offspring.'

I totally understand your comment- which is why we chose to send our ow kids to the local schools. But we were lucky to have good catchment areas, and at a time when State Ed was better supported. However- if someone believed that the bad state of their local school, the large unsupported class sizes, with an increasing number of unsupported 'difficult' students, the inability of Head, teachers and Governors to deal with bullying, etc, etc . is caused by a Party you do NOT subscribe to- and that you have no ability to control - do you sacrifice your own kid? Or do you say 'it is WRONG, I should not have to do this, and will fight with all my might to redress that situation - but in the meantime, I'll ensure my kid is not punished for my principles. Hard but I get it- totally.

Okay jura, I'm going to come over all Shami Chakrabarti now and say, yes we have private medical insurance, taken out and paid for by my husband, so nothing to do with me well not a conscious decision on my part. A bit like Shami after being questioned about her son's private education, "it was my husband's decision" Although I'd be thoroughly disingenuous if I said I wouldn't appreciate having it if ever I had to have an elective surgical procedure, I've only ever used it thus far to consult an endocrinologist. I take your point though an analogy can be drawn from that and private education. However, I never said I agreed with abolition of private schools, my point was I don't think one can be a socialist and endorse a superior education system for their own offspring. However, I don't regard myself as a socialist or subscribe to much of what the Labour Party advocates, certainly not the one we have at the moment, but as with all political parties there may always be something or other in their policies that resonates.

^ hardly suggests that he only got into university because he was well coached at school^

You disappoint me, MOnica. You're not in the habit of taking generalised research results personally. There are always outliers.

A small number of private schools are well known and patronised by the rich and famous. Most private schools are not well known names and when someone says where they went nobody can tell whether it is a private or state school unless they come from the same town.

Both our children went to private secondary schools, the names of the schools are generally unrecognised. They got a good education there, but as for the possibility that because the school was a private one, it gave them any leverage, influence or contacts after they left - the answer is none at all.

Since both went on to get good degrees and one a PhD, followed by an academic career, where he is recognised internationally as an expert in his field, hardly suggests that he only got into university because he was well coached at school.

I've been chuckling all day at the increasingly ambitious promises they're making; if they ever get elected. Menopausal women getting flexible working hours? How does that square with equality? Bin school OFSTED inspections. And replace them with what? When? How? Now he wants to "redistribute" private schools assets. He's off on a tangent but still not pinning his colours to either mast regarding Brexit.

Terribull- do you also apply that to Health Treatment? (did you read my previous post re Dianne Abbott?)

MaizieD I seem to remember that research as well. It makes sense that learning how to pass exams is a different skill from conducting independent research.

Margaret Thatcher - state school

John Major. - state school

Gordon Brown. state school

Tony Blair. private school

David Cameron. Private school

Boris Johnson. Private school