The Labour Government

It’s normal for defence contractors to be modifying bid proposals hrs before submission, even £bn plus contracts.

I don't doubt it. In this instance the rewrite won the business, a delivery clusterfuck commenced and resulted in more than a few difficult questions being raised in parliament over the years (not UK).

You've just reminded me that as a 'youngster' in the days of physical submissions I was bundled out of a car to run at full pelt to BCC in Victoria Square to get a bid in with about 90 seconds to spare before the 12:00 deadline. As I'm on my haunches recovering, two other suppliers appeared to put their bids in even later. Doubtless all three of us claiming we could run the operations more efficiently :-)
 
Last edited:
I was once asked to 'quality assure' an eight figure bid (nine with long term maintenance) for a government contract that had been substantively re-written by two people in a bar 48 hours before the submission deadline, this was the point I realised the world was in fact completely mad.

The most recent budget process has plumbed new depths of chaos. Perhaps if someone had a few bevvies it might have been less so ;)
 
My dad once said years ago to me ,no matter what political party it is they all piss in the same pot and in politics for one thing themselves,the older I get the more I agree with him
Your Dad appears to be a visionary. It appears that you cannot take the "fight or flight" instinct out of human beings and ultimately they all go for self preservation over the greater good.
 
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.

The change in policy comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote to President Emmanuel Macron urging him to back the plan and saying we currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel, according to a report in Le Monde, external.

French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, the maritime police force has confirmed to the BBC.

French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
Le Monde reported Sir Keir's letter as reading: "It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
 
The most recent budget process has plumbed new depths of chaos. Perhaps if someone had a few bevvies it might have been less so ;)

Once got told by a marketing director that my last briefing paper was of a much higher standard than what I normally delivered to them for polishing. The implication being I should continue to do whatever I'd done differently this time; didn't have the heart to tell her that would be consume eight or nine bottles of Stella before putting pen to paper.
 
Shame this


Being reported in other sources that the French demands, including the size of the UK's entry fee, were what saw the negotiations collapse. If that's the case seems a bit short sighted given the pressure Europe is under from both the east and west.
 
Being reported in other sources that the French demands, including the size of the UK's entry fee, were what saw the negotiations collapse. If that's the case seems a bit short sighted given the pressure Europe is under from both the east and west.

Would fully agree. A governments first responsibility is the protection of its people, we should be pooling our resources with our European friends and if that takes a few extra billion then that’s what it takes.
 
Your Dad appears to be a visionary. It appears that you cannot take the "fight or flight" instinct out of human beings and ultimately they all go for self preservation over the greater good.
As it happens, I was earlier contemplating whether "hive mind" was always pejorative, and an insult to bees.
 
Reading this thread people seem surprised that our politicians are generally useless across the board. Why would anyone who is exceptional at anything want to be the PM when they only get paid £180k or an MP getting £90k. Granted these are superb wages in the context of the average person, but who would realistically want to have the scrutiny and bullshit that comes with these roles for that wage? That’s why we are left with a load of plebs who would ordinarily be in below average roles in a normal organisation not the very top talent that are running successful businesses and earning ten times that for less hassle.
 
Reading this thread people seem surprised that our politicians are generally useless across the board. Why would anyone who is exceptional at anything want to be the PM when they only get paid £180k or an MP getting £90k. Granted these are superb wages in the context of the average person, but who would realistically want to have the scrutiny and bullshit that comes with these roles for that wage? That’s why we are left with a load of plebs who would ordinarily be in below average roles in a normal organisation not the very top talent that are running successful businesses and earning ten times that for less hassle.

Starmer has been worked in criminal defence, prosecution and law all his life and headed the CPS. leading to a knighthood. but he is casually labelled a 'pleb' ... maybe it's the public that constantly berate and slag off every single MP no matter their upbringing and background that is the problem.
 
You didn't bother with my post, like I said it would be ignored by remainers, no view on why we arent falling behind, either, being right is a curse:-)
Your mind is made up fella, you dont really want discussion you are permanently campaigning.
I gave an economists view, there are stats on gdp and growth.
You gave your nephew. Don't try the poor me bit.
Funny because most economists thought Brexit was a bad idea and and still do the models show what was it 4 / 8 % cut in growth over what 10
Year period
 
As it happens, I was earlier contemplating whether "hive mind" was always pejorative, and an insult to bees.
Slightly off subject. But do you remember those old (real) films of mass numbers of Girl Guides fainting at conventions? It turned out that it wasn't food poisoning, lack of oxygen etc. It was good old hysteria, the girls acted and behaved in a way that they thought was correct at the time. So they saw someone faint and then another and then another and then they all started fainting. We are bizarre creatures and human reactions and behaviour is often a thing of wonder but also often an ugly bafflement.
 
Would fully agree. A governments first responsibility is the protection of its people, we should be pooling our resources with our European friends and if that takes a few extra billion then that’s what it takes.
Being reported in other sources that the French demands, including the size of the UK's entry fee, were what saw the negotiations collapse. If that's the case seems a bit short sighted given the pressure Europe is under from both the east and west.

The EU would be pretty stupid to exclude the 2nd biggest defence spender in Europe from a European defence fund.

I suspect this is all just posturing, I guess we'll find out how "final" the final deadline on Sunday is.
 
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.

The change in policy comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote to President Emmanuel Macron urging him to back the plan and saying we currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel, according to a report in Le Monde, external.

French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, the maritime police force has confirmed to the BBC.

French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
Le Monde reported Sir Keir's letter as reading: "It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
FFS, just how gullible are some people. Why have we paid the french half a billion quid.
 

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top