Remember......govern ment promise of Computers and Internet for all students that need them....????

And while we're at it, what on Earth happened to the promised mentoring and Summer catch-up scheme?

I don't know why anyone expected anything better of them. Tories don't 'do' looking after the nation's citizens. They use the same 'self help', 'poverty is self imposed', 'don't expect the state to support you', narrative as does the USA (whoever suggested recently that we are European in outlook rather than American, was being optimistic...) and their current 'support' goes badly against the grain.

Since the 2019 election we have had it forcibly borne in on us that lying is their modus operandi when it comes to doing anything verging on decency and these recent failures are just more examples.

Never trust a tory ?

Did I imagine things but I thought that as from last Thursday schools are now legally obliged to provide distance learning to those that need it?

And the promised Covid Marshals who were going to make sure guidelines were followed on public transport etc?
Nothing came of them either.

(I recently heard a radio phone in with bus drivers saying that it was hopeless trying to get some of the public to wear masks.)

We should try to compile a list of all of the lies and broken 'promises'.

Apparently the Government has said that schools can rotate the laptops they already have - because they will make sure the number of children self isolating at any one time always exactly matches the number of laptops available. Maybe they’ve designed an algorithm that worked this out ( no doubt designed by a mate of Cummings for a bargain fee of £10, 00000000( add noughts as you wish , no one in No 10 is counting).

Wait! Let me think.....can this be anything to do with all the billions having to be spent because we have a killer virus on the loose!?

The twins were each given a brand new computer in April along with some school work to do, as well as the headmaster calling weekly with his wife's home-made cakes. We couldn't fault the way they were treated.

The headmaster used to call them his favourite family and D had said he was a really nice man too. Granted, this took place only a couple of weeks after their dad's funeral so that could have had a bearing on how extra efficient things were.

Yes, we do, but why did the government make promises it probably had no intention of fulfilling? There's been loads of pious posturing about education being so important, but the reality is very different.

Headteachers were ordered to make sure that online/distance learning resources are available. Teachers were told last week to develop materials for the next half term - on top of everything else they've had to do.

Laptops in the schools I know about have only been made available to Year 10/11 (ie exam) pupils on free school meals. There's no money to make sure they have an internet connection. Very few schools can afford to subsidise the catch up and mentoring programs, so won't be using them.

The idea of "bubbles" is nonsense. Now only those pupils sitting next to anybody proving positive are being sent home and the parents aren't told if somebody in the class tests positive, but of course they hear on the grapevine and worried parents are keeping their children at home.

Random testing in primary schools is showing a big jump in asymptomatic pupils, which is worrying. Although the young pupils themselves probably won't be badly affected, they are silent carriers to other family members and friends. Meanwhile, ONS figures yesterday showed that secondary pupils are the second biggest group of those testing positive.

lemongrove

Wait! Let me think.....can this be anything to do with all the billions having to be spent because we have a killer virus on the loose!?

No it doesn't, lemon because national finances are not finite in the same way that household or business finances are. Just about any economist will tell you that, you just prefer to let the government con you.

The government is absolutely aware that there is no limit on the money they can create and spend. They're gleefully distributing it to friends, relations and tory donors by way of untendered for and unscrutinised contracts for £billions of expenditure which has yet to have successful results.

They could equally spend a few £million on fulfilling promises made to UK citizens about laptops for all poor children and no children being left to go hungry. But they won't because there's no profit in it for their mates and it puts too much strain on their ideological commitment to cutting state spending to the bone.

They depend on the gullible like you to support their actions.

lemongrove

Wait! Let me think.....can this be anything to do with all the billions having to be spent because we have a killer virus on the loose!?

No

lemongrove

Wait! Let me think.....can this be anything to do with all the billions having to be spent because we have a killer virus on the loose!?

Most of which has been trousered by Tory supporters whether they know what they are doing or not.

Predictable replies.

Maizie you have been giving lessons in economics on here for years.?
There is only part truth in what you say.....that’s the way countries go bust ( printing huge amounts of money).
The billions that the virus has cost this country and debt accrued will affect everyone for years to come.

lemongrove

Maizie you have been giving lessons in economics on here for years.?
There is only part truth in what you say.....that’s the way countries go bust ( printing huge amounts of money).
The billions that the virus has cost this country and debt accrued will affect everyone for years to come.

And you have been displaying an ignorance of economics for years, too, lemon as once again you trot out that old mantra.

Try looking a little more deeply at why' the usual suspects associated with this mantra suffered roaring inflation. Then come back and tell me how the UK in any way resembles them.

lemongrove

Maizie you have been giving lessons in economics on here for years.?
There is only part truth in what you say.....that’s the way countries go bust ( printing huge amounts of money).
The billions that the virus has cost this country and debt accrued will affect everyone for years to come.

Japan has had a much bigger debt for years and hasn't gone bust.

MaizieD We would soon resemble those bankrupt countries if we did as you advocate, why do you think we have never gone down the easy route of printing money for everything.
Quantitive easing is a way of helping but cannot be done forever.
You do seem to think that only you ( and maybe a chosen few left wing posters) are the only ones who understand economics.Many economists have differing views on what best to do, but rampant inflation on top of all our woes with Covid would finish the UK off.Feel free to disagree.

Who do you think the government owes the money to?

Inflation would actually be one way of reducing the debt. It also encourages spending, which increases GDP.

There is no danger of inflation in the UK for the foreseeable future. That's the main reason that the BoE has reduced interest rates. Inflation happens when there is a shortage of goods for people to buy. At the moment, there are unsold goods sitting in warehouses, but people don't want to spend their money.

According to the lunchtime news (ITV) the Government have said that there is a problem with the supply chain and it is hopeful that all computers required will be delivered before the Christmas break.

I heard a headteacher on Radio 4 this morning say that he received the news at 5.50 on Friday, the last day of half term, after school had finished, that his school would not be getting the computers they were expecting. He was expecting 30 and was told he would get 4. The litany of broken promises goes on and on, and regrettably, the support from a few desperate Johnson fans goes on and on too. Don't you understand that it is not the fact that they are not getting the computers, it is the broken promise, the deliberate timing, the fact that they will now have to rework the whole schedule again to try and make it fair? Or do some of you think that if people can't afford laptops they shouldn't have children?

Oh and for anyone who insists on sticking to the housekeeping school of economics, perhaps the circa £3m tax payer subsidy for the restaurants and bars in the House of Commons could be used to buy laptops for school children that need them? Assuming a cost of £400 each, that would pay for 7500 laptops. As a taxpayer, I know where I would rather spend my money.

Am neither desperate ?or a Johnson fan.... but can see that
In exceptional circumstances promises can be broken, although if what GG13 says she has heard is true then there will be computers delivered, even though later than promised.
As to ‘deliberate’ timing, I doubt it was that at all.Your last sentence Gill is emotive and nonsensical.

do you know what lemon I wrote a lengthy reply to your silly comments, but as I am obviously emotive and nonsensical I am going to quit GN for today, I really don't think I can be bothered to try and discuss things with you anymore. Bye