Stop voting for fucking Tories

[Openside]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... -role.html

Since most firms are run by Conservative supporters it’s not too surprising that contracts end up with these companies. If there is impropriety uncover it, this headline doesn’t.

He's not just a conservative voting businessman, he was a major donor to and Treasurer of the Conservative Party from 1998 to 2001, he is a former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, He sat on the Conservative benches of the House of Lords until 2015, and is a fucking tax exile tax dodger.

I am well aware who Lots Ashcroft is. If the contract has been awarded to the company not best to fulfil it, surely the National office of budgetary control (or whatever its called ) would flag it up?

[Insane_Homer]

surely the National office of budgetary control (or whatever its called ) would flag it up?

The contract is described as a 'call-off from a framework agreement', meaning it was awarded without an open competitive tender process.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... s-guidance

Legal requirements
All in-scope bodies must, as a minimum, follow the legal requirements to publish advertised opportunities and awards on Contracts Finder covered by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

This Procurement Policy Note (PPN) reminds contracting authorities to ensure that any procurement opportunities and contract awards above certain low thresholds are published on Contracts Finder.

The thresholds are:

£10,000 for central government bodies and
£25,000 for wider public sector bodies

[C T]

surely the National office of budgetary control (or whatever its called ) would flag it up?

The contract is described as a 'call-off from a framework agreement', meaning it was awarded without an open competitive tender process.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... s-guidance

Legal requirements
All in-scope bodies must, as a minimum, follow the legal requirements to publish advertised opportunities and awards on Contracts Finder covered by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

This Procurement Policy Note (PPN) reminds contracting authorities to ensure that any procurement opportunities and contract awards above certain low thresholds are published on Contracts Finder.

The thresholds are:

£10,000 for central government bodies and
£25,000 for wider public sector bodies

It's the time it takes to compete that is going to be used as an excuse.

I completely get that in an emergency situation you can't compete things the way you should due to time constraints.

It really is disgusting that this has been used as an excuse to award large contract to buddies. The amount of this that happened in the PPE procurement was appalling.

Presumed this article was something that could be linked to Covid, couldn't bring myself to click on a DM link.

[SaintK]

Since most firms are run by Conservative supporters it’s not too surprising that contracts end up with these companies. If there is impropriety uncover it, this headline doesn’t.

He's not just a conservative voting businessman, he was a major donor to and Treasurer of the Conservative Party from 1998 to 2001, he is a former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, He sat on the Conservative benches of the House of Lords until 2015, and is a fucking tax exile tax dodger.

I am well aware who Lots Ashcroft is. If the contract has been awarded to the company not best to fulfil it, surely the National office of budgetary control (or whatever its called ) would flag it up?

The NAO do not get advanced notice of contracats being awarded. They investigate retrospectively to confirm that we taxpayers are getting value for money on the contracts awarded

We have three key strategic objectives to ensure we achieve our vision: The National Audit Office (NAO) helps Parliament hold government to account for the way it spends public money. We do this by auditing the finances of public bodies and scrutinising public spending to assess facts and value for the taxpayer.

[ASMO]

Since most firms are run by Conservative supporters it’s not too surprising that contracts end up with these companies. If there is impropriety uncover it, this headline doesn’t.

He's not just a conservative voting businessman, he was a major donor to and Treasurer of the Conservative Party from 1998 to 2001, he is a former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, He sat on the Conservative benches of the House of Lords until 2015, and is a fucking tax exile tax dodger.

I am well aware who Lots Ashcroft is. If the contract has been awarded to the company not best to fulfil it, surely the National office of budgetary control (or whatever its called ) would flag it up?

This is the role of Crown Commercial who own the whole contractual process piece across government, there has to be very clear and strong justification for single award without competition. Undoubtedly given the profile of this there will be an FOI request to see all material related to this award and they have absolutely no reason under FOI to refuse it as it is not anything sensitive or defence related. They will need to disclose which framework was used, how many tenders, longlisting, shortlisting, the assesment criteria, supplier scorecards and the costs put forward as a part of each bid. If there has been a direct award with no competition, they will need to provide a very clear justification as to why this was done.

[Insane_Homer]

If there has been a direct award with no competition, they will need to provide a very clear justification as to why this was done.

They follow this procedure.

https://goodlawproject.org/news/special ... -channels/

Leaked documents seen by Good Law Project set out special pathways by which “VIP” and “Cabinet Office” contacts could be awarded lucrative PPE contracts at the height of the pandemic

...The leaked documents disclose that special procurement channels

and the NAO report
https://www.nao.org.uk/report/governmen ... -pandemic/

We looked in detail at a sample of contracts selected on a risk basis. Although we found sufficient documentation for a number of procurements in our sample, we also found specific examples where there is insufficient documentation on key decisions, or how risks such as perceived or actual conflicts of interest have been identified or managed. In addition, a number of contracts were awarded retrospectively, or have not been published in a timely manner. This has diminished public transparency, and the lack of adequate documentation means we cannot give assurance that government has adequately mitigated the increased risks arising from emergency procurement or applied appropriate commercial practices in all cases.

[SaintK]

No 10's war on 'woke' suffers setback as spokesman says he's not sure what term means
At the Downing Street lobby briefing there was an attempt - sadly, unsuccessful - to get some clarification from the prime minister’s spokesman as to whether or not Boris Johnson sees himself as “woke”. This followed last night’s surprising “woke U-turn”. Since the general election Tory ministers have generally been all too happy to condemn all things “woke” (in what seems to be a fairly transparent attempt to goad Labour into a culture war) and this reached its apotheosis on Sunday, when Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, used an article in the Sunday Telegraph to protect statues from “town hall militants and woke worthies”.

It would appear that the bumbling blonde slug ahsn't got a clue either. Carrie wont be happy
[media] [/media]

[Sandstorm]

"Is Joe Biden woke?"

[salanya]

No 10's war on 'woke' suffers setback as spokesman says he's not sure what term means
At the Downing Street lobby briefing there was an attempt - sadly, unsuccessful - to get some clarification from the prime minister’s spokesman as to whether or not Boris Johnson sees himself as “woke”. This followed last night’s surprising “woke U-turn”. Since the general election Tory ministers have generally been all too happy to condemn all things “woke” (in what seems to be a fairly transparent attempt to goad Labour into a culture war) and this reached its apotheosis on Sunday, when Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, used an article in the Sunday Telegraph to protect statues from “town hall militants and woke worthies”.

It would appear that the bumbling blonde slug ahsn't got a clue either. Carrie wont be happy
[media] [/media]

That's a shockingly embarrassingly 'answer' for any politician, let alone an MP, let alone the PM.
To say that was incoherent is being hugely unkind to anything that has ever been associated with incoherence.

Surely rule 1 in press training is to clarify/alter the question if you're unsure how to answer? (it was a bit of a silly question, but with that silliness it should be easier to provide some form of response).

There was me thinking that Gavin Williamson's interview this morning was as embarrassing and cringe-worthy as the day would get....

[SaintK]

Nobody is any the wiser when Patel answers a question
She was her usual confusingly ineffectual self, repeating the same stock phrases she manages to memorise

Unlike some of her fellow ministers, Priti Patel doesn't openly dodge questions. It's more than she spends five minutes making a series of apparently unconnected sentences until you're not quite sure what she meant, what the question was, or why it mattered in the first place.

[Bimbowomxn]

If there has been a direct award with no competition, they will need to provide a very clear justification as to why this was done.

They follow this procedure.

https://goodlawproject.org/news/special ... -channels/

Leaked documents seen by Good Law Project set out special pathways by which “VIP” and “Cabinet Office” contacts could be awarded lucrative PPE contracts at the height of the pandemic

...The leaked documents disclose that special procurement channels

and the NAO report
https://www.nao.org.uk/report/governmen ... -pandemic/

We looked in detail at a sample of contracts selected on a risk basis. Although we found sufficient documentation for a number of procurements in our sample, we also found specific examples where there is insufficient documentation on key decisions, or how risks such as perceived or actual conflicts of interest have been identified or managed. In addition, a number of contracts were awarded retrospectively, or have not been published in a timely manner. This has diminished public transparency, and the lack of adequate documentation means we cannot give assurance that government has adequately mitigated the increased risks arising from emergency procurement or applied appropriate commercial practices in all cases.

The only guaranteed grift here is Jolyons latest scam law cases. I dearly hope IH sends money into the crowd funding.

[dpedin]

If there has been a direct award with no competition, they will need to provide a very clear justification as to why this was done.

They follow this procedure.

https://goodlawproject.org/news/special ... -channels/

Leaked documents seen by Good Law Project set out special pathways by which “VIP” and “Cabinet Office” contacts could be awarded lucrative PPE contracts at the height of the pandemic

...The leaked documents disclose that special procurement channels

and the NAO report
https://www.nao.org.uk/report/governmen ... -pandemic/

We looked in detail at a sample of contracts selected on a risk basis. Although we found sufficient documentation for a number of procurements in our sample, we also found specific examples where there is insufficient documentation on key decisions, or how risks such as perceived or actual conflicts of interest have been identified or managed. In addition, a number of contracts were awarded retrospectively, or have not been published in a timely manner. This has diminished public transparency, and the lack of adequate documentation means we cannot give assurance that government has adequately mitigated the increased risks arising from emergency procurement or applied appropriate commercial practices in all cases.

The only guaranteed grift here is Jolyons latest scam law cases. I dearly hope IH sends money into the crowd funding.

For the NAO these are pretty scathing comments.

[Hal Jordan]

Yes, but against the Tories, so invalid/lies/leave Britney alone.

[I like neeps]

Rishi Sunak's best man the Spectator's Pol Ed James Forsyth's wife Allegra Stratton getting paid £100,000+ to front govt press conferences. Where has she gone?

[Insane_Homer]

The only guaranteed grift here is Jolyons latest scam law cases. I dearly hope IH sends money into the crowd funding.

When unable to deal with facts, it predictably returns to fail safe fall back of the ad hominem attack

[dpedin]

The only guaranteed grift here is Jolyons latest scam law cases. I dearly hope IH sends money into the crowd funding.

When unable to deal with facts, it predictably returns to fail safe fall back of the ad hominem attack

Yep - just ignore!

[ASMO]

They follow this procedure.

https://goodlawproject.org/news/special ... -channels/



and the NAO report
https://www.nao.org.uk/report/governmen ... -pandemic/

The only guaranteed grift here is Jolyons latest scam law cases. I dearly hope IH sends money into the crowd funding.

For the NAO these are pretty scathing comments.

In NAO terms that is an audit and compliance fail.

[robmatic]

The only guaranteed grift here is Jolyons latest scam law cases. I dearly hope IH sends money into the crowd funding.

For the NAO these are pretty scathing comments.

In NAO terms that is an audit and compliance fail.

I'm guessing that they are pretty toothless though.

[GogLais]

Speaking of Tories, I've been watching some Rick Stein programmes about Cornwall recently. By any comparison Cornwall is an extremely poor county but all its MPs are Conservative. No wonder they win so many elections.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Speaking of Tories, I've been watching some Rick Stein programmes about Cornwall recently. By any comparison Cornwall is an extremely poor county but all its MPs are Conservative. No wonder they win so many elections.

Rick Stein owns most of Cornwall and it’s inhabitants are more or less a serfdom for him.

[SaintK]

Speaking of Tories, I've been watching some Rick Stein programmes about Cornwall recently. By any comparison Cornwall is an extremely poor county but all its MPs are Conservative. No wonder they win so many elections.

Rick Stein owns most of Cornwall and it’s inhabitants are more or less a serfdom for him.

That’ll come as a bit of a surprise to the Duchy of Cornwall

[ScarfaceClaw]

Speaking of Tories, I've been watching some Rick Stein programmes about Cornwall recently. By any comparison Cornwall is an extremely poor county but all its MPs are Conservative. No wonder they win so many elections.

Rick Stein owns most of Cornwall and it’s inhabitants are more or less a serfdom for him.

That’ll come as a bit of a surprise to the Duchy of Cornwall :lol:

He’s talking about Rixit where Cornwall leaves the UK.

[Hal Jordan]

Speaking of Tories, I've been watching some Rick Stein programmes about Cornwall recently. By any comparison Cornwall is an extremely poor county but all its MPs are Conservative. No wonder they win so many elections.

I believe traditionally it was a Liberal area, but got all Brexity and retired Bufton-Tuftons moving there. Plus constituency border changes meant it went from five Lib Dem MPs in the 2000s to three Lib Dems and three Tories in 2010 (odd how that seems to happen, see also redefining Democrat districts in the US). Then the disastrous last election campaign for the Lib Dems meant we get the delights of George Eustice being re-elected...

[GogLais]

Speaking of Tories, I've been watching some Rick Stein programmes about Cornwall recently. By any comparison Cornwall is an extremely poor county but all its MPs are Conservative. No wonder they win so many elections.

I believe traditionally it was a Liberal area, but got all Brexity and retired Bufton-Tuftons moving there. Plus constituency border changes meant it went from five Lib Dem MPs in the 2000s to three Lib Dems and three Tories in 2010 (odd how that seems to happen, see also redefining Democrat districts in the US). Then the disastrous last election campaign for the Lib Dems meant we get the delights of George Eustice being re-elected...

Ynys Mon has become a three way contest because Labour, Plaid and the Tories get a roughly equal share of the vote so the Tories have sneaked in a couple of times. I thought it might be something like that in Cornwall, but no, overall the Tories got over 50% of the vote. As you say, Brexit and demographic changes.

[JM2K6]

The bbc series about the fishing industry in the south west is also a good watch.

[Insane_Homer]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-55767262

Conservative leader in the Welsh Parliament Paul Davies has quit after being seen drinking with other politicians in the Senedd, days into a pub alcohol ban.

[ohno]

Speaking of Tories, I've been watching some Rick Stein programmes about Cornwall recently. By any comparison Cornwall is an extremely poor county but all its MPs are Conservative. No wonder they win so many elections.

I believe traditionally it was a Liberal area, but got all Brexity and retired Bufton-Tuftons moving there. Plus constituency border changes meant it went from five Lib Dem MPs in the 2000s to three Lib Dems and three Tories in 2010 (odd how that seems to happen, see also redefining Democrat districts in the US). Then the disastrous last election campaign for the Lib Dems meant we get the delights of George Eustice being re-elected...

Ynys Mon has become a three way contest because Labour, Plaid and the Tories get a roughly equal share of the vote so the Tories have sneaked in a couple of times. I thought it might be something like that in Cornwall, but no, overall the Tories got over 50% of the vote. As you say, Brexit and demographic changes.

Brexit and demographic changes don’t really cover it, it is more a reflection of political trends in the last twenty years that aren’t necessarily Cornish. Cornwall had seats like Camborne/Redruth that had strong Labour traditions, but those days are gone and that is just a reflection of Labour’s overall problems in rural areas. The Liberal tradition in Cornwall like the rest of the Southwest was Liberal and inherited by the Lib Dem’s and as the Lib Dem’s went to the left to chase expansion so the Tories were able to chip away at the old Liberal seats throughout the southwest not just Cornwall.

Also George Eustice is no incomer he is local lad and familiar with the area and whilst he may make some proper Cornish lefties like TGJ explode, I know quite a few from my Labour Party days (my family was militantly trade unionist and left wing) who have softened to him as they believe he has local interests at heart.

[Un Pilier]

I believe traditionally it was a Liberal area, but got all Brexity and retired Bufton-Tuftons moving there. Plus constituency border changes meant it went from five Lib Dem MPs in the 2000s to three Lib Dems and three Tories in 2010 (odd how that seems to happen, see also redefining Democrat districts in the US). Then the disastrous last election campaign for the Lib Dems meant we get the delights of George Eustice being re-elected...

Ynys Mon has become a three way contest because Labour, Plaid and the Tories get a roughly equal share of the vote so the Tories have sneaked in a couple of times. I thought it might be something like that in Cornwall, but no, overall the Tories got over 50% of the vote. As you say, Brexit and demographic changes.

Brexit and demographic changes don’t really cover it, it is more a reflection of political trends in the last twenty years that aren’t necessarily Cornish. Cornwall had seats like Camborne/Redruth that had strong Labour traditions, but those days are gone and that is just a reflection of Labour’s overall problems in rural areas. The Liberal tradition in Cornwall like the rest of the Southwest was Liberal and inherited by the Lib Dem’s and as the Lib Dem’s went to the left to chase expansion so the Tories were able to chip away at the old Liberal seats throughout the southwest not just Cornwall.

Also George Eustice is no incomer he is local lad and familiar with the area and whilst he may make some proper Cornish lefties like TGJ explode, I know quite a few from my Labour Party days (my family was militantly trade unionist and left wing) who have softened to him as they believe he has local interests at heart.

Don’t go polluting this thread with any factual or balanced information ffs

[SaintK]

I hope that nice Mr Shapps has some answers ready?

Ministers are at the centre of an explosive row over their failure to protect workers from Covid-19 as the Observer reveals the largest workplace outbreak of the virus has taken place at a top government organisation.
More than 500 cases have been recorded at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s offices in Swansea, where employees claim people with symptoms were encouraged to return to work while vulnerable workers have had requests to work from home turned down.
The revelation places the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, under pressure to explain how such an outbreak could have happened in an agency where the strictest workplace rules are supposed to apply.
A complaint received by Public Health Wales’s outbreak control team claims DVLA workers were asked to turn off their test-and-trace apps “so that their phones do not ping”.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021 ... nt-agency

[I like neeps]

I hope that nice Mr Shapps has some answers ready?

Ministers are at the centre of an explosive row over their failure to protect workers from Covid-19 as the Observer reveals the largest workplace outbreak of the virus has taken place at a top government organisation.
More than 500 cases have been recorded at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s offices in Swansea, where employees claim people with symptoms were encouraged to return to work while vulnerable workers have had requests to work from home turned down.
The revelation places the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, under pressure to explain how such an outbreak could have happened in an agency where the strictest workplace rules are supposed to apply.
A complaint received by Public Health Wales’s outbreak control team claims DVLA workers were asked to turn off their test-and-trace apps “so that their phones do not ping”.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021 ... nt-agency

The answer is takeaway coffee shops are spreading covid and people's selfishness not poor guidelines and governance.

[fishfoodie]

I hope that nice Mr Shapps has some answers ready?

Ministers are at the centre of an explosive row over their failure to protect workers from Covid-19 as the Observer reveals the largest workplace outbreak of the virus has taken place at a top government organisation.
More than 500 cases have been recorded at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s offices in Swansea, where employees claim people with symptoms were encouraged to return to work while vulnerable workers have had requests to work from home turned down.
The revelation places the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, under pressure to explain how such an outbreak could have happened in an agency where the strictest workplace rules are supposed to apply.
A complaint received by Public Health Wales’s outbreak control team claims DVLA workers were asked to turn off their test-and-trace apps “so that their phones do not ping”.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021 ... nt-agency

If this is corroborated; it should surely result in the dismissal of anyone who made such a request; & in other times; the resignation of the responsible Minister

[TB63]

I hope that nice Mr Shapps has some answers ready?

Ministers are at the centre of an explosive row over their failure to protect workers from Covid-19 as the Observer reveals the largest workplace outbreak of the virus has taken place at a top government organisation.
More than 500 cases have been recorded at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s offices in Swansea, where employees claim people with symptoms were encouraged to return to work while vulnerable workers have had requests to work from home turned down.
The revelation places the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, under pressure to explain how such an outbreak could have happened in an agency where the strictest workplace rules are supposed to apply.
A complaint received by Public Health Wales’s outbreak control team claims DVLA workers were asked to turn off their test-and-trace apps “so that their phones do not ping”.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021 ... nt-agency

Two of my neighbours work there, both tested positive and self isolated until given the all clear, at the DVLA they had a testing centre set up that could cope with up to 3000 tests a day.

[Insane_Homer]

[Bimbowomxn]

The only guaranteed grift here is Jolyons latest scam law cases. I dearly hope IH sends money into the crowd funding.

When unable to deal with facts, it predictably returns to fail safe fall back of the ad hominem attack

What’s the “attack”here, I’m confused , unless of course I’m right.

[Bimbowomxn]

I hope that nice Mr Shapps has some answers ready?

Ministers are at the centre of an explosive row over their failure to protect workers from Covid-19 as the Observer reveals the largest workplace outbreak of the virus has taken place at a top government organisation.
More than 500 cases have been recorded at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s offices in Swansea, where employees claim people with symptoms were encouraged to return to work while vulnerable workers have had requests to work from home turned down.
The revelation places the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, under pressure to explain how such an outbreak could have happened in an agency where the strictest workplace rules are supposed to apply.
A complaint received by Public Health Wales’s outbreak control team claims DVLA workers were asked to turn off their test-and-trace apps “so that their phones do not ping”.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021 ... nt-agency

The answer is takeaway coffee shops are spreading covid and people's selfishness not poor guidelines and governance.

You’ve some research I guess for the coffee shop claim ?

[I like neeps]

I hope that nice Mr Shapps has some answers ready?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021 ... nt-agency

The answer is takeaway coffee shops are spreading covid and people's selfishness not poor guidelines and governance.

You’ve some research I guess for the coffee shop claim ?

Yes, the Government's own research actually:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ember-2020

Click on the paper and the environment bit.

[SaintK]

We're too old and too fat!
[media] [/media]

[Sandstorm]

"UK could force travellers into quarantine hotels"

Not sure yet? 10 months too late, you wankers!

[Insane_Homer]

The only guaranteed grift here is Jolyons latest scam law cases. I dearly hope IH sends money into the crowd funding.

When unable to deal with facts, it predictably returns to fail safe fall back of the ad hominem attack

What’s the “attack” here, I’m confused , unless of course I’m right.

Typically this term refers to a rhetorical strategy where the speaker attacks the character, motive, or some other attribute of the person making an argument rather than attacking the substance of the argument itself

[Torquemada 1420]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/0 ... xercising/

Government to discontinue Covid ad accusing joggers or those exercising of being 'highly likely' to have the virus

The taxpayer-funded advert was condemned by MPs and public health experts for spreading "false information"

And whilst they are lying to us, their cronies continue to trough from the COVID cornucopia that keeps giving from the public purse
https://action.goodlawproject.org/civic ... fb38961f09

In short
- dodgy computers to schoolkids
- crony charging way over the odds for them