Basic training for fire fighters is 13 weeks.
65 days I guess?
So nearly 3 years to complete at 1 weekend a month.
it will also cost a lot more as the instructors will need to be paid weekend overtime rates.
What an absolute load of nonsense.
As soon as any of this is looked at, it just falls apart.
I think it's a madder idea than Rwanda.
I'm getting bored now. Rishi Sunak's national service policy was a good laugh but it's been done to death.
It has been two days since it was announced, I'm starting to get impatient for the next laugh - what the **** is he doing? Has he taken the Bank Holiday weekend off? I keep looking for news updates.
There is less than 6 weeks until the next general election and all that Rishi Sunak has managed to announce so far is one policy. I am not sure how much time he thinks should be spent discussing what he obviously thinks is a brilliant idea.
I had been really enjoying the general election campaign but its starting to get a bit dull now.
"It has been two days since it was announced, I’m starting to get impatient for the next laugh – what the **** is he doing? Has he taken the Bank Holiday weekend off? I keep looking for news updates."
Once he emerges from whatever 'spoons he's been focus-grouping in, it'll be corporal punishment in schools. Absolute red meat for the headbangers he seems to be courting.
Listen, keeping up this elite level of incompetence is tough, even with the amount of experience this group of Tories has in the bag.
I’m getting bored now. Rishi Sunak’s national service policy was a good laugh but it’s been done to death.
Absolutely this, it's a non policy which will never happen an designed to get people frothing over nonsense rather the damage they've done in the last 14 years.
This dropped through the letterbox today. It actually has a conservative logo on it, which is a first. It’s normally devoid of branding.
I was out the front of the house at the time and it was delivered by a demoralised looking guy in a hi-viz bearing the name of some delivery company or other. I’d assumed it was a takeaway menu that he casually screwed up and rammed into my letterbox, so I said hello.
The party clearly have no volunteers to deliver their election shite (or none that’ll show their faces around here), so they’re getting agency workers, no doubt on minimum wage, to do it for them
This is the single stupidest idea I’ve heard from a government, which given the low bar of the last 20 years, is quite an achievement.
I fear these judgements should be left until after the election result. The Tories have a history of winning against all logic. It is a dead cat strategy - look at how much time is being spent discussing this, rather than the legacy of the past 14 years.
For me the response should have been "and what voluntary work (or indeed anything) have you ever done that wasn't for your own benefit?" - and left it at that.
There is still plenty of time for things to go wrong in removing the Conservatives from power.
Absolutely this, it’s a non policy which will never happen an designed to get people frothing over nonsense rather the damage they’ve done in the last 14 years.
Well it's bloody worked, national service was first discussed on page 17 - and nobody has made a novel comment about it since page 19! 😂
Zoom meetings with Californian real estate people
nah, plenty of time to hop on a private jet & inspect them in person!
Have done 2 canvassing sessions in jenrick's constituency of Newark today.
There is a distinct aversion to him, his policies and the tories; it had been rumoured but hearing it on the doorstep makes it very real.
The seat is ripe to flip to Labour; jenrick, Reform and the independent candidate (who is independent of the local jndependent group) are likely to share the 'traditional' tory vote between them; Greens and LDs are relatively minor considerations.
This would overturn a majority of 20,000+ and would see the back of a right wing poster boy.
I'll be doing at least 1 session a day for the next 38 days.
is a dead cat strategy – look at how much time is being spent discussing this
Yup, one of the criticisms of Labour /starmer is that people don't what they stand for
And while labour need to be setting out what their plan is, we're discussing this bobbins
Playing a blinder latest
Leaked email blames Tory MPs for poor start to election campaign
CCHQ recalls message which accused politicians refusing to knock on doors. In some areas dwindling funds are a worryIn the seat of Johnny Mercer, the veterans minister, staff said there was an issue with “MP co-operation with CCHQ”
Conservative ministers and MPs have failed to “get behind” campaigning and have refused to knock on doors, a leaked memo from Tory headquarters sent days into the general election campaign has revealed.
Conservative staff accused MPs of focusing too much on ministerial business in a document accidentally emailed to party MPs by a senior campaigning figure at Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ).
The message had two attachments. One was a constituency breakdown with what appeared to be sanitised comments. The other had the unvarnished thoughts of Conservative staff. The email was later recalled.
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The “key theme” identified in the document was that candidates had failed to “get behind” the campaign, with some on holiday or refusing to knock on doors.
In one case the memo disclosed personal health information about a candidate’s spouse.
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One MP accused CCHQ of “rank incompetence” in sending out the comments. Another said: “Great way to start a campaign, piss everyone in marginal seats off in the first week.”
Rishi Sunak has had a difficult start to Conservative campaigning. He announced the election in the midst of a downpour in Downing Street and has encountered several hiccups on a UK-wide tour.
Rishi Sunak has faced criticism over his performance at the start of the election campaign
His trip included a visit to the Titanic Quarter, Belfast, which invited “sinking ship” comparisons with his party’s fortunes, and one to a brewery in Wales where he made a footballing gaffe about the Euros.
The memo singled out constituencies believed to be part of the 80/20 strategy used by CCHQ which piles resources into the 80 most marginal seats and the top 20 the party believes it could gain.
In several cases dwindling funding was flagged as an issue. In Bury North in Greater Manchester, the seat held by James Daly, deputy chairman of the party, it was said there were “low funds, circa £2k, met with donors but so far no donations”.
In Thurrock, Essex, where Dame Jackie Doyle-Price is the MP, it was noted that money raised so far has been spent and “few donors [are] available”.
There are “few donors available” in Dame Jackie Doyle-Price’s seat
ROB STOTHARD/GETTY IMAGES
In Plymouth Moor View, the seat of Johnny Mercer, the veterans minister, staff said there was a issue with “MP co-operation with CCHQ” and “funding issues — currently £2k in bank” and support had been offered. The Times reported last week that Mercer had written a memo over his frustration with Rishi Sunak’s domination of campaigning.
The West Country seats such of Frome and East Somerset and Glastonbury and Somerton were said to “urgently need” a chunk of funding.
Rebecca Pow, the nature minister, was accused by campaigning staff of spending too much time on ministerial business.
Under the heading for her Taunton and Wellington seat, the memo read: “MP still focusing too much on ‘ministerial business’ and noncommittal on time she will spend in the seat now and during the campaign.”
Sarah Atherton, the MP for Wrexham, was accused of “refusing to engage” in the note, which said: “Wants to cancel this week’s campaigning sessions and stop CM [campaign manager] from running pre-scheduled campaigning sessions over weekend.”
The Conservative Party said: “As you would expect a huge number of reports and emails are compiled and sent daily. The email was sent in error and immediately recalled. Those who received it have been contacted with an apology.”
It is understood that some of the information related to concerns before the announcement of the general election.
In one case in Cramlington and Killingworth, the new Northumberland/Tyne & Wear seat where Ian Levy, the Tory MP, is the candidate, the document said he had “used his 80/20 week to attend a wedding”.
“Lack of co-operation” was noted for Steve Baker, the Northern Ireland minister, in Wycombe
He said: “It’s right that the party are keeping track of what candidates are up to. We want to win to stop a Labour government getting in. I did attend a wedding of a close family friend last week but I was also out pounding the streets, delivering leaflets and talking to voters.”
Staff appeared to blame Paul Howell, the outgoing MP, for performance in the new seat of Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor, Co Durham, writing: “It is where it is for a reason. MP/candidate will not knock on a door.”
In Cheadle, Greater Manchester, where Mary Robinson is the MP, it was said: “Candidate/MP away for 7 days on holiday.”
“Lack of co-operation” was also noted for Steve Baker, the Northern Ireland minister, in Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. He said: “I have agreed with successive party chairmen that I would be exempt from the 80/20 programme for good reasons which I do not wish to divulge.”
gauss1777 Free Member
For me the response should have been “and what voluntary work (or indeed anything) have you ever done that wasn’t for your own benefit?” – and left it at that.
I remember that Eddie Mair asked David Cameron that same question during the 2010 election campaign, back when the Tories were banging on about the Big Society and voluntary work replacing as much of the public sector as possible. David Cameron very nearly stammered his way to claiming that being an MP was equivalent to carrying out voluntary work, but very rapidly rolled back on that when he realised what he was nearly saying.
He still won that election though.
And some more...
Outging Tory MP endorses reform MP to take her seat
https://twitter.com/theousherwood/status/1795115481356968349?t=fViZudS3PEzqyz6Ab6ChPQ&s=19
Outging Tory MP endorses reform MP to take her seat
https://twitter.com/theousherwood/status/1795115481356968349?t=fViZudS3PEzqyz6Ab6ChPQ&s=19
/blockquote>
...and moments later has just been suspended from the Torys
This also is nuts
There was all the talk that Reform would struggle to field enough candidates, but with tory donors reluctant to fund unknown candidates especially in unfavourable seats, it's the tories who are in trouble. Assuming they do fill, all the seats (and more tories don't step down) the candidates they do get will be 'interesting'
I believe the total no of candidates the Tories need to find is actually 160
If anyone did fancy being a Tory MP candidate, just for the lols, you probably stand a reasonable chance
Ian Dunt on the subject of Tory candidate selection:
But in a contest like this, with the tide turning against your party, there's really very little incentive to stand in the middle of Manchester with a blue rosette having people call you a **** for a month and a half. They'll find someone, I guess, but by Christ they'll need to be very weird.
If they have money to spend, it would be much better going to increasing range of secondary, further and higher education. It could and should support family centres, youth social work, criminal justice and existing youth programmes. Fix and invest in what is already there, don’t pretend to invent something new just to satisfy a tiny group of Tory voters.
Is franksinatra standing? He gets my vote
'We force people to do things all the time' (yahoo.com)
Says James Cleverly (possibly the most inappropriately named MP in British political history).
As my aged Dad pointed out, the idea of compulsory volunteering is something a bit special, even by Tory standards.
Remarkable
Well apparently Rishi is still banging on about this military service thing today whilst pretending to kick a football around. What is this infatuation with football?
Ooh let me think….you can go to Afghanistan or pick crops in Norfolk.
Next week…benefit claimants have to go to Rwanda as their dole money will go further.
@slowoldman It’s a transparent and transparently failing attempt to show he has a connection with The People.
What is this infatuation with football?
The Venn Diagram of ranting football fans overlaps neatly with his target demographic, hence the anti-cyclist rhetoric as well.
As for mandatory volunteering, Yes Prime Minister was as prescient as always - also didn't realise this was the source of the term 'sunlit uplands'!
https://twitter.com/YesPMQuoter/status/1794560983379177615
How many new candidates do the cons need to find?
Our current clown is not standing for re-election and as of yet they have not found a replacement, even the communism party have managed that.
Ib think I read in the guardian online that they are ~180 short.
30 odd are in important seats and 150 are basically already doomed.
I can def see some seats not having a tory candidate, because as insane as a lot of them are they are not that nuts
I can def see some seats not having a tory candidate, because as insane as a lot of them are they are not that nuts
There must be some in which the absence of a Tory on the ballot could give Reform enough votes to grab a seat or two? Although CCHQ have to rubber stamp the candidates, local associations should be able to rustle up some half-dead councillor to just be a name to stop this happening.
There must be some in which the absence of a Tory on the ballot could give Reform enough votes to grab a seat or two?
I cannot imagine one single parliamentary seat not being contested by the Tories. But even if it were to happen it would be in a seat where they stood absolutely no chance whatsoever - either a Labour seat or LibDem seat, not a potential Tory seat.
Reform UK are never going to win a seat that the Tories stand no chance of winning.
https://twitter.com/PippaCrerar/status/1795130756538286133?t=sl_-9EHLjOWyvMjM_l_pCw&s=19
Wonder how quickly this tweet will come back to bite him...
@martinhutch - in defence of football fans, I came back from RideLondon last night on a train full of Leeds fans and they were very pleasant. And I was obviously a cyclist too.
And as for the masterpiece that is Yes Minister / Primeminister all I can say is that to combat Brexit food shortages, Rishi is proposing to launch the Great British Sausage - nationalism and offal in one easy to swallow lump.
Over 200 short.
I imagine the tories will get a candidate of some sort in place in their empty seats
They have another 9? days to submit them all
But I think there's a good chance that more MPs will defect or quit before then, after the date when their names are submitted, they will be on the ballot come rain or shine.
Which is where it may get interesting, because even if they don't quit/defect, rushed vetting means who knows what skeletons may be in their closert and the tories (& rfm) could end up pulling support but not being able to put up a different candidate, ala Azhar Ali for labour in Rochdale.
In the 130 odd seats without candidates that the Tories expect to lose that doesn't matter, but if it's one of the 30 or so they think they can win....
But Lord ‘Frosty’ Frost is looking for a safe seat. God help whichever constituency he decides on.
@crazy-legs That’s going to age like a fine lettuce, isn’t it?
What is this infatuation with football?
As with so many things, Blair started this nonsense. Clueless politicians seem to regard it as something essential when doing their completely unconvincing’man of the people’ act
It never ends well for them, from Dave forgetting what team he said he supported (he claimed it was Villa, then said it was West Ham) to this horrific vision…
Rishi is equally as unconvincing in claiming to be a Southampton fan, but the Leeds fans, bless ‘em, had some very imaginative chants to serenade him with yesterday 😂
This is a banger from IG.
Sums the cons up perfectly.
sure it’ll get a load of support from the boomers who harp on about WW2 even though they were likely not born then.
you would be wrong this boomer and his boomer wife think its a pile of horse shit. Stop with the lazy culture war bollocks you do yourself no favours.
Stop with the lazy culture war bollocks you do yourself no favours.
The polls tend to support that claim though. Cant find any recent ones (sure there will be a couple in the next few days) but looking at 2016 the in favour is mostly the boomers and older.
There is a reason the tories have proposed it.
in defence of football fans, I came back from RideLondon last night on a train full of Leeds fans and they were very pleasant. And I was obviously a cyclist too.
Only the shouty ones on twitter, to be fair.
The polls tend to support that claim though.
I work in a small office of 6, all but one are boomers and none of us support that stuff. The only poll worth a damn is the one on 4 July, anything else is just educated guesswork.
you would be wrong this boomer and his boomer wife think its a pile of horse shit. Stop with the lazy culture war bollocks you do yourself no favours.
Are you one of the boomers he was specifically referring to?
No?
Then what's the problem?
@squirrelking It is lazy and does nothing for the country. Divisiveness is of no help.
Wonder how quickly this tweet will come back to bite him…
Ooh look, he's on about football again.
