Comments for The Armchair News Blog http://armchairnews.co.uk Bullshit views on the news. Fri, 16 May 2008 12:45:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on What Gordon Brown should be saying by Armchair http://armchairnews.co.uk/2008/05/05/what-gordon-brown-should-be-saying/#comment-37 Armchair Tue, 06 May 2008 17:08:58 +0000 http://armchairnews.co.uk/?p=150#comment-37 It is common knowledge that Brown was responsible for the merging of both HM Customs & Excise and the Inland Revenue, and ordered the sacking of thousands of staff (If you have any info on this, let me know). The effect has seen morale in the newly-created HMRC fall through the floor, leading to mistakes like this. I fear there will be more scandals coming out of that department. It is common knowledge that Brown was responsible for the merging of both HM Customs & Excise and the Inland Revenue, and ordered the sacking of thousands of staff (If you have any info on this, let me know). The effect has seen morale in the newly-created HMRC fall through the floor, leading to mistakes like this. I fear there will be more scandals coming out of that department.

]]> Comment on What Gordon Brown should be saying by john b http://armchairnews.co.uk/2008/05/05/what-gordon-brown-should-be-saying/#comment-36 john b Tue, 06 May 2008 09:09:56 +0000 http://armchairnews.co.uk/?p=150#comment-36 "Things like this ACTUALLY do make a difference." 1) as Jeremy Clarkson proved, the only thing a crook would be able to do with this data is to set up direct debits to charities - it is impossible for a conman to use the info as lost by HMRC to enrich himself fraudulently 2) how on earth can you hold GB responsible for a decision that was made at either mid or junior level in HMRC - ie several levels below him in the chain of command? That's like saying Willie Walsh should be sacked because a BA steward spilled soup on you... [not that he should be sacked for overseeing the T5 disaster, which would be a more reasonable point] “Things like this ACTUALLY do make a difference.”

1) as Jeremy Clarkson proved, the only thing a crook would be able to do with this data is to set up direct debits to charities - it is impossible for a conman to use the info as lost by HMRC to enrich himself fraudulently

2) how on earth can you hold GB responsible for a decision that was made at either mid or junior level in HMRC - ie several levels below him in the chain of command? That’s like saying Willie Walsh should be sacked because a BA steward spilled soup on you… [not that he should be sacked for overseeing the T5 disaster, which would be a more reasonable point]

]]> Comment on What Gordon Brown should be saying by Armchair http://armchairnews.co.uk/2008/05/05/what-gordon-brown-should-be-saying/#comment-35 Armchair Mon, 05 May 2008 18:30:48 +0000 http://armchairnews.co.uk/?p=150#comment-35 "The loss of the discs containing the personal data of benefit claimants"- what, a junior bureaucrat's cock up that's not going to make a blind bit of difference to anyone is one of the worst 11 things this government has done in 10 years?" Things like this ACTUALLY do make a difference. This (mal) administration has made too many mistakes, and if I were a rebellious Labour MP, I would put forward a motion of no confidence in Gordon Brown's leadership right now.... “The loss of the discs containing the personal data of benefit claimants”- what, a junior bureaucrat’s cock up that’s not going to make a blind bit of difference to anyone is one of the worst 11 things this government has done in 10 years?”

Things like this ACTUALLY do make a difference. This (mal) administration has made too many mistakes, and if I were a rebellious Labour MP, I would put forward a motion of no confidence in Gordon Brown’s leadership right now….

]]> Comment on What Gordon Brown should be saying by john b http://armchairnews.co.uk/2008/05/05/what-gordon-brown-should-be-saying/#comment-34 john b Mon, 05 May 2008 11:57:06 +0000 http://armchairnews.co.uk/?p=150#comment-34 "Crime levels going through the roof" - err, no, crime has fallen. "Mortgaging the future with the use of Private Finance Initiative to guarantee the present" - if you think this is a bad thing, presumably you're renting a house until you can afford to buy one outright? "The loss of the discs containin the personal data of benefit claimants" - what, a junior bureaucrat's cock-up that's not going to make a blind bit of difference to anyone is one of the worst 11 things the government has done in 10 years? "Homelessness at an all-time high" - yeah, right. "Privatisation of the National Health Service" - last I checked, the NHS was still the most state-controlled healthcare system in the developed world, although perhaps I misssed the announcement that it was up for sale... “Crime levels going through the roof” - err, no, crime has fallen.

“Mortgaging the future with the use of Private Finance Initiative to guarantee the present” - if you think this is a bad thing, presumably you’re renting a house until you can afford to buy one outright?

“The loss of the discs containin the personal data of benefit claimants” - what, a junior bureaucrat’s cock-up that’s not going to make a blind bit of difference to anyone is one of the worst 11 things the government has done in 10 years?

“Homelessness at an all-time high” - yeah, right.

“Privatisation of the National Health Service” - last I checked, the NHS was still the most state-controlled healthcare system in the developed world, although perhaps I misssed the announcement that it was up for sale…

]]> Comment on London Mayoral election: vote for who? by The Armchair http://armchairnews.co.uk/2008/03/18/london-mayoral-election-vote-for-who/#comment-33 The Armchair Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:03:38 +0000 http://armchairsupporter.org/site/?p=118#comment-33 Brian Paddick will sadly be ridiculed for his stance on drugs while in charge of Lambeth police, so he certainly won't win. The smart money means the winner will be between Ken and Boris. Mind you, I'm beginning to warm to Sian Berry, but not for her policies! Brian Paddick will sadly be ridiculed for his stance on drugs while in charge of Lambeth police, so he certainly won’t win. The smart money means the winner will be between Ken and Boris. Mind you, I’m beginning to warm to Sian Berry, but not for her policies!

]]> Comment on London Mayoral election: vote for who? by Duncan Borrowman http://armchairnews.co.uk/2008/03/18/london-mayoral-election-vote-for-who/#comment-32 Duncan Borrowman Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:48:34 +0000 http://armchairsupporter.org/site/?p=118#comment-32 I wouldn't call being responsible for London's planning, transport and police "very few powers". True the Assembly has few powers, but the Mayor has many. Which is why we can't hand all that power to Boris the Buffoon from Henley - who has comedy value but no real experience. Or leave it with Ken and his cronies. Brian Paddick has the experience needed of running major London services and big budgets. I wouldn’t call being responsible for London’s planning, transport and police “very few powers”. True the Assembly has few powers, but the Mayor has many. Which is why we can’t hand all that power to Boris the Buffoon from Henley - who has comedy value but no real experience. Or leave it with Ken and his cronies. Brian Paddick has the experience needed of running major London services and big budgets.

]]> Comment on Drug athletes: a racist conspiracy? by technomist http://armchairnews.co.uk/2008/02/26/drug-athletes-a-racist-conspiracy/#comment-31 technomist Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:43:19 +0000 http://armchairsupporter.org/site/?p=108#comment-31 An interesting thought, but I am not clear what the shabby treatment is you are complaining about. If people are cheats, they are cheats. Describing them as anything else would be dishonest wouldn't it? I don't expect other athletes to praise these people. It seems to be in the nature of athletics for people to always go on about the past. So we will be reminded of their misdeeds over and over again, just like we get bored solid with reminiscences about the achievements of successful athletes such as the Daley Thompsons, Dame Kelly Holmes and Tessa Sandersons of this world. To make a race point about this is interesting, but I am not sure you have yet provided the evidence I would need to be to accept your premise, I'm afraid. An interesting thought, but I am not clear what the shabby treatment is you are complaining about. If people are cheats, they are cheats. Describing them as anything else would be dishonest wouldn’t it? I don’t expect other athletes to praise these people. It seems to be in the nature of athletics for people to always go on about the past. So we will be reminded of their misdeeds over and over again, just like we get bored solid with reminiscences about the achievements of successful athletes such as the Daley Thompsons, Dame Kelly Holmes and Tessa Sandersons of this world. To make a race point about this is interesting, but I am not sure you have yet provided the evidence I would need to be to accept your premise, I’m afraid.

]]> Comment on Africans serve up a football feast- but few people are watching by Gambia Football Supermarket http://armchairnews.co.uk/2008/01/29/africans-serve-up-a-football-feast-but-few-people-are-watching/#comment-30 Gambia Football Supermarket Sat, 02 Feb 2008 02:15:46 +0000 http://armchairsupporter.org/site/?p=97#comment-30 Quite right. The coverage has been minimal. Quite right. The coverage has been minimal.

]]> Comment on Stock market crash: we had it coming by Views from the UK 2008 Stock Market Crash News http://armchairnews.co.uk/2008/01/22/stock-market-crash-we-had-it-coming/#comment-29 Views from the UK 2008 Stock Market Crash News Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:52:33 +0000 http://armchairsupporter.org/site/?p=92#comment-29 [...] The situation in the UK could, in a worse case scenario, become extremly acute, because the nation hardly produces actual goods and services that can be sold any more. Our economy is too heavily dependent on the financial activities in the City’s square mile.  Read more from The Armchair News Blog [...] […] The situation in the UK could, in a worse case scenario, become extremly acute, because the nation hardly produces actual goods and services that can be sold any more. Our economy is too heavily dependent on the financial activities in the City’s square mile.  Read more from The Armchair News Blog […]

]]> Comment on Who will want to take charge of a crisis football club? by Football News Aggregator » Who will want to take charge of a crisis football club? http://armchairnews.co.uk/2008/01/14/who-will-want-to-take-charge-of-a-crisis-football-club/#comment-28 Football News Aggregator » Who will want to take charge of a crisis football club? Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:45:54 +0000 http://armchairsupporter.org/site/?p=86#comment-28 [...] Original post here [...] […] Original post here […]

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