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The Oven Ready Deal in Pictures

Another way of cooking it 😶

Michael Ixer ● 2533d10 Comments ● 2532d

Some Friday fun

I see it's the nativity season. Is this based on a verse from the long lost testament of St Mary?

Michael Ixer ● 2532d1 Comments ● 2532d

For any offence caused!

"Boris Johnson has apologised “for any offence caused” by his article describing Muslim women who wear a face-covering veil as looking like “letterboxes” and “bank robbers”.The prime minister was confronted over the issue on ITV’s This Morning by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, who said Muslims had been hurt and offended by his remarks.Johnson replied: “People dig out all sorts of articles … I’ve already said sorry for any offence caused and I say it again.”"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/05/boris-johnson-says-sorry-for-any-offence-caused-by-burqa-article"People dig out all sorts of articles" - Huh, now you know what it is like to be Jeremy Corbyn."Most Brits think “I’m sorry for any offence caused” is a proper apology"https://yougov.co.uk/topics/lifestyle/articles-reports/2019/02/06/most-brits-think-im-sorry-any-offence-caused-prope"A common cop-out is words to the effect of “I’m sorry for any offence caused”, which implies that the speaker thinks their actions were not actually offensive and that it’s the fault of the offended for being so."So back to square one with Mr Johnson.

David Ainsworth ● 2533d5 Comments ● 2532d

They followed Nigel's advice 😮

Michael Ixer ● 2532d2 Comments ● 2532d

Will Sweet and Affordable Homes in Wandsworth

The SW15 front page article quotes Will Sweet, in defence of criticism by Fleur Anderson"When I was Wandsworth Planning Chairman, we had the 5th highest number of affordable homes in London and the highest number of homes overall. We’re delivering 1,000 new Council homes too."1.  If Sweet delivered the highest number of homes overall, why did he not deliver the highest number of affordable homes as part of the deal.  2. In 2016/19 - during which Sweet was Planning Chair for some 18 months, the total number of affordable homes completed in Wandsworth was 620.  3.  In the same period other boroughs which beat Wandsworth and Mr Sweet include;Tower Hamlets 1,982Newham        1,166Greenwich     1,082Hounslow      1,080Ealing        978Southwark     967Lewisham      816Lambeth       801Brent         779Croydon       748Barnet        667Wandsworth's track record on delivering affordable homes is utterly miserableThe share of affordable completions that are for social/London Affordable Rent (2016-19) in Wandsworth, under Will Sweet, is 0%

John Cameron ● 2534d7 Comments ● 2532d

Conservators General Open Meeting - 9th December 7pm London Scottish Golf Club

Does the following “resolution” passed at the board meeting on Monday mean anything to you? Seems to beg more questions than it answers.Resolutions from Board Meeting of the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators (WPCC) 2nd December 2019Item 12.19.7 Update on WPCC’s Constitutional FrameworkThat the WPCC Board RESOLVED to commence a phased consultation process to understand the views of stakeholders regarding potential amendments to WPCC’s constitutional framework in the following three areas:1) potential amendment of WPCC’s Special Levy, recognising that:i. a founding principle of the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Act 1871 Act is that the Levy is intended to serve as the principal source of funding to maintain the Commons; andii. the Levy is currently insufficient to meet the long term maintenance and investment requirements for the Commons;2) regularisation and clarification of land and building matters enabling WPCC to resolve a number of operational matters associated with managing the Commons, recognising that there is neither a desire nor intention of diluting or diminishing the very high level of protection that is afforded by the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Act 1871 to one of the most unique and precious resources in the country but simply a need to ensure that the Act provides a sound legal basis for future investment in all aspects of the Commons; amendments to address the issues in this area would neither impact WPCC’s charitable objects nor diminish the duties imposed upon the Conservators but regularise the current state of the estate and clarify the Conservators’ powers and prohibitions in this area;3) modernisation of WPCC’s governance arrangements and election procedures recognising the practical challenges of working under legislation relating to those matters dating back to the founding legislation of 1871.The primary means of effecting changes to WPCC’s constitution will be through secondary legislation.Present: Conservators:Mrs Diane Neil Mills, Chairman Mrs Shirley GillbeMr David HinceMr Peter HirschMrs Sarah-Jane Holden Mr Mike RappoltDr Ros TaylorMr Nigel WareOfficersMr Simon Lee, Chief ExecutiveMr Stephen Bound, Chief Operations ManagerMs Paula Graystone, Deputy Clerk and RangerMrs Angela Evans-Hill, PA to CEO and Communications Officer

Nicholas Evans ● 2533d10 Comments ● 2532d

Not a bad summary...

I've not really looked at this in detail, but I think it's a good summary of how I'm beginning to feel - although, perhaps it needs some Kafka or Beckett? (Waiting for 'Brexot' ... it will never arrive 🙂?)

Michael Ixer ● 2533d3 Comments ● 2532d

New Statesman refuses to endorse Labour

"The essential judgement that must be made is on Mr Corbyn himself. His reluctance to apologise for the anti-Semitism in Labour & to take a stance on Brexit ... make him unfit to be prime minister."https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2019/12/leader-britain-deserves-better

Paul Game ● 2534d40 Comments ● 2532d

Better late than never, eh?

"Three men who were convicted nearly 50 years ago on the evidence of a corrupt police officer have finally had their names cleared by senior judges.Upholding an appeal against conviction by Winston Trew, Sterling Christie and George Griffiths – who, with Constantine Boucher, were part of the “Oval Four” – the lord chief justice, Lord Burnett, told them: “Our regret is that it has taken so long for this injustice to be remedied.”The men were arrested in March 1972 by a group of undercover police officers at Oval Underground station and accused of “nicking handbags” on the tube. They were beaten in the police cells and then charged with attempting to steal, theft, and assault of the police.After a five-week Old Bailey trial, at which none of the supposed theft “victims” appeared and the police relied on highly disputed “confessions”, all four were convicted and jailed for two years. The arrests occurred when “mugging” was a high-profile issue and routinely blamed on young black men. The defendants became known as the Oval Four and the case became a cause célèbre, with demonstrations and marches in south London where the men lived."https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/dec/05/oval-four-men-jailed-in-1972-cleared-by-court-of-appeal-in-london

David Ainsworth ● 2533d2 Comments ● 2533d

Moire financial problems ...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50658437

Michael Ixer ● 2534d8 Comments ● 2533d

Corbyn & McDonnell ~ Virtue-Signalling Idiots

So if Labour win the GE Corbyn will give up Chequers to the homeless, and McDonnell will put the homeless in No 11. As if.https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/jeremy-corbyn-will-give-up-chequers-to-homeless-1332258Whatever rubbish will this comedy duo come out with next? 🙄

Sue Hammond ● 2533d4 Comments ● 2533d

Wimbledon & Putney Commons Inquiry Report Delayed

It seems that anything that may be used to hold those in power to account is delayed.One could argue democracy has been delayed!

Ed Robinson ● 2537d6 Comments ● 2533d

Still no compassion to long term immigrants?

So in spite of what Javid said a while ago it looks like the Conservatives want to retain the "Nasty Party" tag? I know Corbyn has his foibles but do people really wasn't guilt by association by voting for a party with  these inhumane policies?https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/nov/28/i-cant-eat-or-sleep-the-grandmother-threatened-with-deportation-after-50-years-in-britain

Michael Ixer ● 2534d22 Comments ● 2533d

Homelessness at Christmas

My friend and I were walking across Barnes Common this afternoon and saw an older lady sitting on one of the benches with lots of plastic bags and wearing flimsy sandals with bare feet.  We thought she might be homeless (it was very cold) but we couldn't really do anything.I do hope this isn't anyone's eccentric auntie, in which case I apologise profusely.Just to put people in mind this winter that there are many homeless, most for very sad reasons and I wish we could do more.  I have done Crisis at Christmas before which was terrific fun, they are a great organisation and also Centrepoint have a programme to get young people off the streets and into education and encourage their future prospects.

Bunny Payne ● 2534d1 Comments ● 2533d

Election Hustings tonight.

Typical shouting and rudeness from a small minority of lefties in the crowd. Will Sweet spoke with knowledge and passion whilst being rudely interrupted constantly. I thought Fleur the labour candidate spoke pretty well, although wasn’t shouted at and abused. Conservatives always behave at Hustings in Putney at least. Fleur seems likeable but impossible to vote for her with Labour policies and Corbyn as leader. The Lib Dem candidate, sorry but a bit of a car crash! Green candidate was good and a real character.

Nick Gulliford ● 2534d15 Comments ● 2534d

And Matt brings us down to earth ...

Michael Ixer ● 2534d8 Comments ● 2534d

PUTNEY HARDWARE STORE - 290 UPPER RICHMOND ROAD

A good example of a retailer that is entrepreneurial and is doing well.Rezza and Billy (my two heroes) have had the shop nearly 2 years I would think, if anyone remembers the useful former select and save on the Putney High Street. They are very similar, have absolutely everything for DIY and excellent prices.The sale of plants though seems to have been their big success. Unbelievable value and they have now extended and taken the adjacent unit where they sell the plants and Christmas trees. This will continue into the New Year, without the Christmas Trees!Orchids at unbeatable prices.Olive trees at unbeatable prices!! Plants everywhere! You ask, they have!Very happy for them as great people.

Nick Gulliford ● 2534d5 Comments ● 2534d

Language article on news page

Maybe I'm just having a day of being very suspicious and on edge about all incoming information but I found the article irritating.Children in this country don't learn languages as children even now as far as I know. The teaching always waited till the child was at a self conscious age around 12. Added to that many children never hear another language  as they grow up.As to the languages spoken here the description seems strange. Polish? I've heard it all my life from those who stayed on after the war (think Polish War Memorial) and the Church at the top of Ravenna Rd with services in Polish and then those who came after the Berlin Wall came down and provided so many much needed trades and skills. I've been happy to work with Polish colleagues over many years.Another example is Portuguese. Brazilian Portuguese here is really rather more frequent than these figures show.Maybe I'm just being suspicious but it does make me question why should anyone highlight an immigrant issue in the middle of a run up to an election?

Katrina Black ● 2536d5 Comments ● 2534d

Fair weather friend Trump

"Trump claims he doesn't know Prince Andrew despite several photos of them together"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-prince-andrew-pictures-jeffrey-epstein-virginia-giuffre-uk-visit-queen-a9230991.htmlStrange when you recall that "Donald Trump boasts about his ‘very, very large brain’ – and China respects this".https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/2165969/donald-trump-boasts-about-his-very-very-large-brain

David Ainsworth ● 2534d4 Comments ● 2534d

Diane Abbott

Do you want this woman as your home secretary?This interview was on sky news 3 days after the 2017 London Bridge attack.https://twitter.com/LeaveEUOfficial/status/1201810040279224320

Paul Game ● 2535d10 Comments ● 2534d