Genuine interest, why not?


I think it's most people's perceptions. Still looking for stats on this but here's something from just before the last election but post-financial crash. It's obviously the perception in the arts community itself. This was also touched on in the brouhaha over Emin's association with the Tories; she was pro-Tory because they were the biggest buyers of art pieces and their arts policies looked good.

Funny how 'I'm all right, Jack' is often contagious.

Her stance seemed to change every year since the election though. By 2011 she seemed to be saying that the arts policies not turning out was understandable because of the general context of austerity. By 2013 she was rounding on Gove and the rest of the government because of what happened to arts in education.

Currently listening to the right wing founder of Conservative Home, Iain Dale, stating that Miliband should listen to Tony Blair - the ex-leader of New Labour, the right wing reinvention of Labour who dropped Clause IV amongst other things - in not taking Labour back to the left.

I wonder why he doesn't want to see a Labour party that finally drops the policy batons that New Labour were happy to pick-up from Thatcher and Major.

The stations broadcast from International Waters (not owned by any country), at least 3 miles off the British coast.

They were referred to as 'pirates' because they were flouting the establishment by daring to broadcast an alternative to the BBC. 'Rebels' on board a ship were always called 'pirates'.

As I explained yesterday, British law could not prevent the stations from operating. The law prevented any British nationals or companies from aiding a radio station that was broadcasting to the UK from the sea, outside territorial waters. There is nothing to stop an American (or another country) bringing a ship over today and broadcasting to the British public, provided they don't get advertising from any British company and the presenters and crew are not British.

As I also said yesterday, some stations did offer to pay royalties, but PPL refused to accept them.

That's a fairly backhanded compliment though. The inference is hardly a good one, is it?

I pointed this out a few times on the other thread. It's more than rude, it's ignorant and deceitful. It's the kind of thing a child does when they think no one can see them. But hey, O'Brien interrupts people occasionally and that's all that counts, eh?

She belongs in the same category as people like Kate Burely and Liz Phillips, in my opinion.

What an absurd assumption. That was fifty years ago, are you implying that the world would have been stuck in a time warp for all that time? It's as absurd as, we would all be speaking with a Russian accent, if thatcher hadn't personally ended Communism in Europe.

Obviously commercial radio would have come about - eventually. How much longer? The Government of the day just wanted to preserve the BBC monopoly of radio broadcasting. (They never wanted the introduction of commercial television!).

At least James O'Brien is somewhat self-aware of it when he does it; I don't think he does it out of malice.


Is Kate Burley the one who Chris Bryant wonderfully called "a bit dim?"

I don't know who Liz Phillips is I'm afraid.

And also how middle-class smug he may appear within the context of the broader issues he often speaks about. It's ironic that, for all the stick he gets on the other thread, he's also the most honest of LBC's presenters as to who and what he is. Compare to Ferrari and Hartley-Brewer who too often present themselves as being everyman and everywoman whilst being anything but.


Yes, she is. She's absolutely awful as a presenter.


Oof. Why I said Phillips I don't know (I think there is a Liz Phillips at the Mail), but I meant Liz Jones. Sorry for any confusion. She's a lunatic and pathalogical liar who writes for the Daily Mail. A lot of people, of all sides of the political spectrum, wonder whether she's simply trolling her 'readership'.

And interesting how little we hear of those men.

Lamentable indeed.
Even when a listener phoned in to correct him about Mark Thatcher it was still wrong.
He inherited a baronetcy from Dennis who I thought was brilliant.
If NF had known his potatoes from his turnips he would know that a "Baron" was not the correct answer as that normally refers to a life peer.
Sorry to be so boring............

I won't dignify that with a response.

I hope you've got a good libel lawyer...!

I'm not a fan either, mind you.

No sooner had you asked Martin...............
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013...l?utm_hp_ref=u

And here's another charmer.......
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013...?utm_hp_ref=uk

Agreed, i'm just sharing my experiences. The two that were hired worked like a normal member of staff putting in 100% effort even though on workfare, i have to wonder how many of the people on workfare don't ? The other 2 didn't hence why they didn't get hired, quite stupid really as they were all told there may be some positions available.

The other thing i have seen recently is people complaining about the workfare program due to having to work full time for only job seekers. This certainly wasn't true in the people who did their workfare at my place of work. They did a 20 hour week that was just Mon - Fri.

I was told that we (4 of us) were the best team that were sent across from (deleted details). Two problems: (1) the promised reference from Marks and Spencer didn't happen despite numerous chase ups and I have given up now and (2) they keep taking new teams of people on without actually employing anyone. Same with PoundWorld. They were very pleased with my work, but didn't want to take me on for a Christmas job. So these are my experiences. Exploitation!

Well at least he's being honest, rather than gushing and hypocritical.

I see, my employer thankfully then works in a different way not just exploiting people for free work. I completely agree that people on benefits should be made to work but only the amount that the JSA is, i remember reading its £70 ? If thats the case then 15 hours should be the max allowed for them to work.

Extremely shocked to hear that pound world didn't take on for a Christmas job, surely that would be a perfect opportunity to get someone who knows the job, no training required so no cost in hours in training to cover what is undoubtabley the biggest event in the retail calendar.

He must have worked for ages composing that tweet!

I suspect more people are upset at the passing of Mrs Thatcher, than are glad that Mr Scargill is still alive. Probably not many people under 30 will even remember him.

Well done Arthur Scargill for showing remarkable restraint and dignity.

Languishing in the NUM's Barbican flat.

The politics of jealousy Martin?

Not really. I just wonder why he thinks he can still use the place when he is no longer President of the NUM? An unemployed person like yourself could make good use of it!

Why do the NUM need an expensive flat in the Barbican?

All paid for by the subs of the union members.

Well, gave in this morning and listened to SA - now I know why I had turned him off since MT's death. What a nasty, ignorant man he really is - I can't believe he is being allowed to broadcast the rubbish he is coming out with ! Switched off after an hour as he was putting me in a bad mood. Apparently , those who dislike Thatcher are all leftie, benefit scroungers , and anyone who recalls the miners strike etc need to get a life and have a chip on their shoulder. I was going to text/email him but don't see the point as he is very selective in what he reads on air. I really don't understand how he gets away with it, sad, miserable person that he is ! Won't listen again as I value my sanity .

Can't say I blame you kate.