[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Livia

I have it on good authority - ie gossip from the Tories I used to work with - that the consensus of opinion in Matthew Parker Street is that Theresa is keen on calling an early election while they're unexpectedly doing well in by-elections and while Labour's ratings are low. I really, really think that would be a mistake all round.

I think the temptation to hold one,needing to overturn the fixed term parliament act or hope for 438 MPs to vote for one,must be hard to resist.

She may be wiser waiting for the new boundaries.

Elections can be difficult,fought amidst the EU issue could have problems for all Parties too.

You know I cannot bear the woman but it must be an almost unable to resist in part idea, for her to dive in for an election.
Labour also would find a problem as so many policies,even popular ones, have flaws as to planning or funding of same,such as this School meals policy.

If I were PM however,I think I would be seriously thinking of an election soon.
Although I equally think the polls are not as wide as suggested.

[Northern Monkey]

I do like some of Corbyns policies.They are solid Labour ideas that i would like to vote for in a Labour party.It's just some of his hard left rhetoric and values that i think let it down for many.On top of his apparent inability to get much done or unite the party and his wishy washy stance on certain issues.
For me though Corbyn isn't the only part of Labours image crisis.Some of the people around him like Abbott and McDonnell are as much to blame.
Corbyn seems like a nice fella but a leader he is not imo.
I would like a whole new leadership before 2020 so i can vote Labour again and i think there are many people like me.

[DemolitionRed]

In recent years, many private schools have raised their prices a whopping 50% and they can do this because they can source from countries like SA, Russia, China and Dubai who's parents are often willing to pay big fees. Parents can tax dodge by allowing the school to accrue school fees in advance because private schools are a registered charity who don't pay VAT.

Its not the parents of these children who should be paying extra because of VAT but the schools themselves and this money should, imo be used for more bursaries or lowering degree fees.

Edited to add, it seems unfair that the richest school fee payers get the biggest opportunity to tax dodge.

[user104658]

I personally don't think they need to be free for all, other than perhaps to simplify the process and remove administration issues (keeping track of who is and isn't entitled at a school level). On the other hand, the supposed means testing currently is bull**** from what I can see... It is essentially only available to families who are not in work or only in a small amount of part time work, it is not available to families who are in work but on low income... Whose overall household budget is probably the same as or lower than families out of work (due to things like travel costs and crippling private rents, etc.)

It needs to be heavily adjusted upwards and be based on overall household income, NOT something so arbitrary as receiving full Child Tax Credits but no Working Tax Credits (this is how it currently works).


But then to go back to what I said earlier, to be totally honest the quality of school meals is still poor. Despite all of the action that's been going on around them for years. My eldest is still 7 so paying for them isn't an issue yet (all kids get them free until age 7) but next year... I just refuse on principle. The food they give them is simply not Ł2 a day worth of food. Cheap, bought in bulk, cooked in bulk, nutritionally void crap. Most of the kids barely touch it anyway, a couple of bites and then straight to play... They don't want to "waste" their lunch time actually eating . Will be back to packed lunches for Little Ms Soldier.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I personally don't think they need to be free for all, other than perhaps to simplify the process and remove administration issues (keeping track of who is and isn't entitled at a school level). On the other hand, the supposed means testing currently is bull**** from what I can see... It is essentially only available to families who are not in work or only in a small amount of part time work, it is not available to families who are in work but on low income... Whose overall household budget is probably the same as or lower than families out of work (due to things like travel costs and crippling private rents, etc.)

It needs to be heavily adjusted upwards and be based on overall household income, NOT something so arbitrary as receiving full Child Tax Credits but no Working Tax Credits (this is how it currently works).


But then to go back to what I said earlier, to be totally honest the quality of school meals is still poor. Despite all of the action that's been going on around them for years. My eldest is still 7 so paying for them isn't an issue yet (all kids get them free until age 7) but next year... I just refuse on principle. The food they give them is simply not Ł2 a day worth of food. Cheap, bought in bulk, cooked in bulk, nutritionally void crap. Most of the kids barely touch it anyway, a couple of bites and then straight to play... They don't want to "waste" their lunch time actually eating . Will be back to packed lunches for Little Ms Soldier.

No primary schools that I've ever come across have canteens here, everyone brings a packed lunch and most schools don't allow, crisps, chocolate, sweets or fizzy drinks

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

No primary schools that I've ever come across have canteens here, everyone brings a packed lunch and most schools don't allow, crisps, chocolate, sweets or fizzy drinks

My dad talks about how he used to take two potatoes to school, they would be hot in the morning and he'd have them in his pockets to keep his hands warm and then he'd eat them at lunch time.

I assume this is still standard school lunch practice in Ireland.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

My dad talks about how he used to take two potatoes to school, they would be hot in the morning and he'd have them in his pockets to keep his hands warm and then he'd eat them at lunch time.

I assume this is still standard school lunch practice in Ireland.

Of course

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

My dad talks about how he used to take two potatoes to school, they would be hot in the morning and he'd have them in his pockets to keep his hands warm and then he'd eat them at lunch time.

I assume this is still standard school lunch practice in Ireland.

That's both practical and delicious! Why the heck didn't I think of that?