UK General Discussion II

[Hifly]

Tuition fees are back in the headlines.

A bit of disquiet in Labour's ranks with how to handle the situation; Mandelson has joined with a group of Vice-Chancellors condemning Miliband's support for lowering fees from 9k to 6k. There is as yet a lack of clarification on the funding gap created if the plan is instituted.

In case anybody is wondering, Labour Students does not support free education.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The temptation to tell the VCs (what would the term of venery for a collection of VCs be? A Vampire of Vice Chancellors?) to fyck off is surely incredibly tempting.

[You kip if you want to...]

In case anybody is wondering, Labour Students does not support free education.

Labour Students probably being one of the most Blairite affiliates.

[politicus]

In case anybody is wondering, Labour Students does not support free education.

Labour Students probably being one of the most Blairite affiliates.

Are there any actual left wing student organizations in the UK with significant support?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Student politics in the UK is entirely the preserve of would-be-politicians, alcoholic rugby-playing thugs and trustafarian trots with an aversion to basic personal hygiene.

[doktorb]

In case anybody is wondering, Labour Students does not support free education.

Labour Students probably being one of the most Blairite affiliates.

Are there any actual left wing student organizations in the UK with significant support?

No

[You kip if you want to...]

In case anybody is wondering, Labour Students does not support free education.

Labour Students probably being one of the most Blairite affiliates.

Are there any actual left wing student organizations in the UK with significant support?

No

Heck, I don't even think the NUS position is free education.

[politicus]

In case anybody is wondering, Labour Students does not support free education.

Labour Students probably being one of the most Blairite affiliates.

Are there any actual left wing student organizations in the UK with significant support?

No

Heck, I don't even think the NUS position is free education.

It was in September

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/nus-to-hold-free-education-demo/2015813.article

"Last year’s national conference in Liverpool voted narrowly support to free education, though there remains significant support for a graduate tax within the NUS. Supporters of a graduate tax see it as a more progressive policy than funding higher education through general taxation."

[Silent Hunter]

As a graduate myself, I'd rather not pay for it for the rest of my life. My student loan is enough.

[joevsimp]

A graduate tax sounds like it could be a slippery slope to extra charging for all sorts of stuff

[You kip if you want to...]

A graduate tax sounds like it could be a slippery slope to extra charging for all sorts of stuff

Like that doesn't happen anyway. Learning materials, text books, rent, etc.

[joevsimp]

A graduate tax sounds like it could be a slippery slope to extra charging for all sorts of stuff

Like that doesn't happen anyway. Learning materials, text books, rent, etc.

no I meant on a tax level, like more contribution based things based on your National Insurance payments

mind you, I did chemistry, and some countries charge you extra for courses like that, and some unis here charge bench fees

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Oh don't worry, subjects such as that will continue to have state resources ploughed into them. It's everything else that's getting screwed to buggery.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

As some of you will be aware the apparent reason for Simon Danczuk appointing himself Paedofinder General was recently revealed. Here's a development on that story.

[MaxQue]

A graduate tax sounds like it could be a slippery slope to extra charging for all sorts of stuff

Like that doesn't happen anyway. Learning materials, text books, rent, etc.

no I meant on a tax level, like more contribution based things based on your National Insurance payments

mind you, I did chemistry, and some countries charge you extra for courses like that, and some unis here charge bench fees

In Canada, no bench fees at a my university, but I had to buy boxes and boxes of gloves and new students must buy NMR tubes for every lab course where samples must be sent to NMR people (it was free in my time).

[Khunanup]

56% of Scots are tone deaf: official.

The thing is, by comparison Flower of Scotland is the most upbeat of the home nations, despite being dull. God Save the Queen and Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau are both dirges.

Our English anthem Jerusalem knocks spots off the UK, Scottich and Welsh anthems! Out of the other three, Land of My Fathers might not be upbeat but it's certainly stirring stuff.

[afleitch]

Jack Straw and Malcolm Rifkind have been very bad. Labour have suspended Straw from the PLP.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Ah, the usual lobbying sting. There was one before the last GE as well: is this becoming a tradition?

[afleitch]

Ah, the usual lobbying sting. There was one before the last GE as well: is this becoming a tradition?

Yes. The Telegraph wants to be loved again. Nothing like destroying public trust in democratic institutions a few months before an election.

[You kip if you want to...]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WErexf0vPDc

This documentary was on the other night. A look into the ins-and-outs of UKIP internal politics in Thanet.

Interestingly only a passing appearance from the man himself in his own prospective constituency. Wonder why.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

Jack Straw is still an MP? Huh.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Retiring in May.

[DC Al Fine]

This question has been bugging me for a while:

Within the Unionist and Nationalist blocs in Northern Ireland, are there any strong demographic patterns? Does one sort of person prefer DUP to UUP? How about SDLP vs. Sinn Fein?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Class would be the main one; the UUP and the SDLP both have distinctly unproletarian voter profiles (with some important exceptions). The confessional divisions within Ulster Protestantism is also a factor with Anglicans being significantly more likely to support the UUP than other Prods.

[afleitch]

The press conference by apologist group 'CAGE' in light of the 'Jihadi John' revelation is nothing short of disturbingly mesmerising.