TITTER WITH TWITTER...

Tom Chivers ‏@TomChivers  2h2 hours ago

Tom Chivers Retweeted The Guardian

yes but what do Lord Flour and Lord Eggs have to say

Tom Chivers added,

The Guardian @guardian

Bake Off will be a 'total disaster' on Channel 4, says Lord Sugar http://trib.al/j898qoH 

93 retweets97 likes

 

 

 

WHEN IT ALL GETS BIT TOO MUCH....

YOU NEED TO LEAVE IT BEHIND

Sometimes the news is so depressing, your Twitter feed so full of Neanderthals and Facebook has come a solid wall of hate.

At time like that you need to walk away from it.

And smile:

++++++++++
Oh, and yesterday was Petula Clark's birthday. She was 83, and she's in the charts in Canada with a duet with Paul Daraiche "Laisse moi te dire ce soir". Way to not get old.

Happy birthday, Clarky, à bientôt j'espère. x

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON SATURDAY

I'm stuck in the house with a throat infection, feeling rotten, and for the want of anything else to do, I'm passing the time looking at Twitter and Facebook.

And how depressing is that today?

Here's just a small selection of the stories that are coming up on my feeds.

A million elderly Brits are malnourished as councils reduce the meals on wheels service. The welfare state is being dismantled on a daily basis. And there is often nothing left to take its place. There are, of course, families and volunteers to fall back on. But that's not really like it was before when millions of people, often middle and upper class women, had time on their hands for good works. Everyone has to work so hard now just to get by, that there is not the same amount of free time for helping others. Cameron doesn't seem to see this.

There has been a 600% increase in the last four years on people with mental health problems being sanctioned by the DWP. It seems Iain Duncan Smith has hit upon the idea that folk with mental health issues are less likely to kick off about being sanctioned... and it's a neat way to make money.

Then there was this beauty. Someone needs to tell the DWP that a man who has suffered 4 heart attacks, and has a variety of other illnesses, including fluid on his lungs, and all at the age of 61, is truly unlikely to be able to find a job, and should be left in peace. How many people need to die for IDS to save enough money for DWP management bonuses. 

And there is this story about a guy who, on hearing a threat that his money was to be stopped, had a heart attack and died. More money saved, Iain. Maybe some fresh underwear on expenses? Or another £40 breakfast?

Some of the comments on Paris have been sad. Johann Lamont joined Humza Yousaf to respect the dead in Paris. It's something you would have thought might have promoted a bit of harmony between Labour and SNP... but no. Some of the comments made dreadful, sickening and disheartening reading.

Then I saw this story. It seems that if you live in England you must be careful not to upset Mr Cameron. This lady was protesting at cuts which were causing people to die, and shouted out to Cameron that he had "blood on his hands". She was charged (and allegedly beaten) by the police. 

The judge said that her comments "must have hugely upset" the prime minister, and what she said could "hardly have been more insulting to anyone, whether a politician or not".

For the judges information (and from the safety of Scotland) I'd liek teh judge to know that I can think of thousands of things that I could say to Cameron which would be far more insulting. Never mind that her particular comments were true. He is responsible for his government and his government is responsible for death and misery across the four nations of the UK. He has got blood on his hands both in the home countries and in Libya where he took part in a campaign that completely wrecked a reasonably stable if unpleasant regime. And one which had excellent public services, unlike the ones he oversees.

Worrying that it is now a punishable offence in England to upset the Brit PM as if he were one of his Gulf royal mates or his Chinese buddy. The company he keeps has been rubbing off on him.

DESPERATELY DISAPPOINTING DEBATE AT LEAST CREATES MIRTH ON TWITTER

Having bothered to turn up at work and do his highly paid job as an MP on only a tiny number of occasions since losing the last election, Gordon Brown seems today to have decided to make up for all the absenteeism by talking non stop of 4 weeks.

Now I'm going to be honest. I couldn't bear to watch the debate. I am sick at the moment, having picked up a stomach bug, and nausea is pretty much constant. So I just couldn't risk having to watch the vomit-inducing performances, of the troughers in London's House of Commons today.

I did, however, follow some of the debate on Twitter, where fortunately far better informed and more intelligent people were passing on their comments (on both sides of the debate).

So here are some...

Tory MP asking that it become impossible for any part of the UK to become independent without a 2/3 majority. Democracy, Westminster-style: Doug Daniel.

Scotland votes to remain part of Britain and then finds that six of their MPs are worth less than one of Farage's: Dara Ó Briain.

If there's one thing that 'debate' confirmed. For Scotland to have a voice at WM @theSNP needs to win a significant chunk of seats at #GE15: Graeme Thomson.

Surprised Sarwar knew where his work is . Is this a debate or a hate fest against the SNP: Bruce Hosie.

"Business as usual cannot continue" says the man who assumed his father's parliamentary seat: Doug Daniel.

Ian Davidson beneficently announces to a startled chamber that he has outsourced responsibility "for bayoneting the wounded" to ATOS: Peat Worrier.

Ming Campbell describes it as "politically unhelpful" if the devolution timetable isn't stuck to. Not about Scotland, it's about his party: Doug Daniel.

Ming Campbell says that SNP would regard failure to meet devo timetable a considerable advantage". No, as a breach of trust: Peter Curran.

If Westminster does not fulfil its Vow to Scotland it will light a fuse which will ultimately deliver Scottish independence: Tom London.

Watch the debate and see arrogance of Labour front bench to Scottish MPs as they talk about London and English votes in Scottish debate!!: Pete Wishart.

Post-Scotland vote, a grand convention on devolution is needed - politicians keep out.. http://bit.ly/1wy4YSS ”: Dan Snow.

Hague changes his view on the #vow in same speech .. he tells me its unconditional!! ..Then a pile of unhappy English MPs stand to intervene: Angus MacNeil.

Here's a novel idea, why not give Scotland Independence. Then WM won't bitch about Scots MP's voting on matter Scots tax payers pay for: Marty Mc.

Gordon Brown on tax, ignoring fact that he was the man who promised effectively devomax and federalism. Deeply confused...: Peter Curran.

William Hague sits down without mentioning a single new power for Scotland: Liam Furby.

Gordon Brown has described Scotland as a "minority" in a debate on devolution to Scotland. You know where he stands: Paul Monaghan.

There you have it, from a conservative MPs mouth- parliament did not make the vow and are not bound by it:  Patrick J Pollock.

Where is Miliband and Darling at the debate @scottishlabour you lot are a disgrace the sooner you are gone the better: Bruce Hosie (I’d add that, as far as I know, the Prime Minister didn’t turn up either!!)

Hague moved on from Scotland after 14 minutes in his speech. Lab front bencher Sadiq Khan doesn't bother with Scotland at all: Pete Wishart.

Brian Donohoe remaining classy there by referring to the "Scottish Exec". Just can't bring himself to call it the Scottish Government: Doug Daniel.

Peter Wishart bringing up a good point about EVEL-touting English Tory MPs being very happy to wade in on Scottish Questions at Westminster: Doug Daniel.

MORE BREAKING NEWS: NICK CLEGG TOO BUSY GETTING PM'S TEA TO ATTEND SCOTTISH POWERS DEBATE: Ross

For the past 2 years the debate on Scotland's future was exciting & full of possibility. The exact opposite of today's debate in Westminster: Ian Robertson.

Labour to boycott Conservative body set up to review English MPs role in Parliament post: STV (Didn’t they criticise the SNP for boycotting Calman?)

Gordon Brown did his six minutes then raced out of the chamber like a cat with its arse on fire. That's what "everything in my power" means: Rev S Campbell.

84% voted in #indyref. Less than 10% of Westminster discusses devolution. You still think we're Better Together? Shug Osborne.

Seems it’s "Speaker's Discretion" to put time limit on SNP (Governing Party of Scotland) contribution to debate but not Lab backbench Brown: Angus MacNeil.

Feeling miserable. How could anyone have believed #thevow - "promises" of powers WM threw in at the last minute: Beth.

Question really is did Gordon Brown know what he was signing up to when he signed the #vow? Or was he duped? Angus MacNeil.

If the #Vow swayed 6% of voters in Scotland it served its short term political purpose - but now it’s their constitutional hangover:  Angus MacNeil.

According to Lord Ashcroft’s poll it swayed 25% NO Voters (13.75% of all votes) Under 1/2 of them needed to change outcome! Paul.

This debate has absolutely nothing to do with Scotland. It is a debate about English Votes for English Laws: Pete Wishart.

Even Reporting Scotland is going to have a job patching enough of this together to make it look like it was about Scottish devolution: Wings.

 *********

Incidentally the first Tory MP to intervene was disgraced Scots-born Liam Werrity or Fox or something , who called for English votes for English issues.

Then Labour MP John Denham announced that if “Scotland will get what Scotland wants and so England must get what England wants”. Seemingly unconcerned about what Ulster or Wales might want.

But in fairness Lib Dem MP Menzies Campbell said: “Change in Scotland should not be held up to allow England to catch up.” He might have added, after all we have been working for change these past 50 years, while the English refused any kind of regional parliament except in London, which as we all know is a country apart.

SHAME ON LORD GEORGE FOULKES

Drunk as a Lord!

In desperation, and in my opinion, for the want of any decent argument that really addresses why we might be better together, there are some silly and sad accusations being made by unionist parties.

But all's fair in love and war... and ... independence debates, and I'm  certain that there are some on the independence side who blether though a hole in their backsides.

It's to be expected, and best largely forgotten.

But some things are so low and despicable that they just cannot be ignored.

It probably no great surprise to anyone that George Foulkes managed to be responsible for at least one of these things. It isn't to me anyway, because I've never heard him say one sensible thing yet.

But this tweet takes the biscuit.

“Horsemeat in school dinners,14 year old raped in City bus & Orkney firm in administration yet all we hear from SNP Govt. is more on Indyref!”

He has reduced the argument to trading on children being raped. Well done Foulkes. If you were on the Yes side of the argument I'd be hoping that you would leave the country for an expended holiday of say 2 years in Antarctica.

It was not only despicable though; it was also very stupid.

No one, not the parents of the girl who was raped, or the girl herself, not her friends or family, not ardent unionists, not anyone, will believe for a second that, had there not been an independence debate going on at the moment, this outrage would not have happened.

The police dealing with the case will be furious to think that Foulkes imagines that they were too busy debating independence to bother paroling the streets fighting crime.

Surely Foulkes isn't suggesting that, when Labour was in power in Edinburgh for 8 years, there were no rapes, no companies in administration and no scandals regarding food, because they had no distractions about independence. 

And when Labour was in power in London on and off in the 60s, and 70s, were there any cases of underage sexual activity... Oh yes, wait, what about the BBC and all the carryings on there we've recently come to know about?

The government continues to concern itself with all the things it is charged with running. Indeed I read somewhere that YouGov had a survey showing after 6 years in power this government has a positive rating of +14 with the public (compared to the seriously negative one of -42 for the coalition unionist government in London. It has not neglected its duties because of the referendum. Mr Foulkes needs to know that there are people who CAN walk and chew gum!

What a silly little man he is. I never thought I'd quote David Cameron, but in this case I'm happy to say that his "too many tweets makes a twat" comment is pretty appropriate. 

My advice to all politicians is, don't tweet when you're drunk. It's very silly. 

If you start off not too bright, being on the outside of a bottle of whisky isn't going to make you sound like Einstein. 

Using kids as political pawns is cheap and nasty and I'd have thought beneath even the likes of George Foulkes. 

I'm so very glad he's not on our side.

Labour candidate maybe didn't understand that Twitter could be seen by everyone

Oh dear, oh dear...when Labour Party goes off message they show just how unlovely they are....

Stuart MacLennan, who had been standing in Moray, has been sacked because he posted highly offensive comments about voters, politicians and others on Twitter.

What a damned fool. Is this really the calibre of people they are putting up as candidates for the London parliament? Half a brain cell should have told him that Twitter is not exactly a confidential means of communication.

He branded the elderly “coffin dodgers”; he talked about chavs; he called Commons speaker John Bercow a twat, Nick Clegg a bastard and Dianne Abbot, a f****** idiot (well duh, you thicko, she’s in your party, you’re supposed to pretend to like her!!!!!). And he actually complained about being “up north again”. You really have to wonder at him.

One of his tweets read: “God this fair-trade, organic banana is shit. Can I have a slave grown, chemically enhanced, genetically modified one please?

The sitting MP is Angus Robertson who is defending a 5,676 majority. He called the remarks “totally unacceptable”, while Annabel Goldie, Tory leader, said his comments where "disgraceful".

One of the really amusing things about the whole sorry tale is that MacLennan in followed on Twitter by a host of what passes in Labour circles for "glitterati", including Sarah Brown, Ed Balls, John Prescott, Jim Murphy and Labour’s 'Twitter Czar' Kerry McCarthy (some all-women shortlist MP for Bristol).

Of course, it's fair to say that none of the people concerned would give a fig for what he called them. I guess they have all be called much worse and a little oink's opinions are hardly likely to cause them much lack of sleep. It is the fact that he didn't think that bothers me.

MacLennan, a taxation lawyer, said: “Some of the things I twittered before I became a candidate were very, very silly and I can see they are offensive. I have let myself and my friends down and am really sorry.”

Amazingly he appeared to have predicted his own downfall when he wrote: “Iain Dale (Tory blogger) reckons the biggest gaffes will likely be made by candidates on Twitter – what are the odds it will be me?” Err, pretty high, I'd say Stewie.

So in summation, this guy is a lawyer (therefore potentially bright), he is a candidate for a constituency, he knows that saying daft stuff on Twitter can lead to the downfall of candidates because Iain Dale told him so, and yet he says daft and offensive things about people on Twitter. Nob!

Right. Sorted. I hope he’s never my lawyer.

Pic: Stuart MacLennan