Westministenders: The One Where We Finally Get A Leadership Challenge?

[RedToothBrush]

Tick tick tick.

What do we think?

Yes? No?

Another week of wtf-ing at British politics.

[Peregrina]

I like Alan Sugar. I now think The Apprentice is a waste of time - I preferred it with Margaret and Nick, but it doesn't change my opinion of him.

[Quietrebel]

True merrymouse, there are practical factors but they don't negate the principle of it. Also, the reasons why not enough people in the UK speak other languages should be addressed. With better education they would feel less locked in. There is a weird perception here that speaking more than one language is some sort of super human achievement. It really isn't if done well at primary/secondary school age.

[Peregrina]

I think the problem we have now with languages, is that it's not obvious which one we should learn. At one time French was the obvious one, being the diplomatic language. For central Europe and science, German will give you the most utility, but in world terms, probably Spanish is the one to go for.
I am personally not convinced by what I see as a fad to teach Mandarin in schools; it might replace English as the language of business and commerce, but I don't see it happening in the next 20 years.

[Peregrina]

Going back to BigChoc's post of 8:40 where the prominent leavers are now saying that staying in is better than May's deal my guess is that their plan is that they would ask for A50 to be paused, dethrone May, get one of their own in power, and then have another go and crash out. Being wealthy and predominantly men, it won't affect them too much and the rest of us can go hang.

[RedToothBrush]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eu_referendum_2016_/3431985-Westminstenders-Break-it-or-make-it

New thread.

Apologies i wish I'd put a few other points in the OP. I'm having a v busy week as it's my 'Christmas deadline' for getting a hundred and one little things done before everything goes proper crazy, not helped by DH having 3 or 4 trips away in that time.

[1tisILeClerc]

{It really isn't if done well at primary/secondary school age}
Bit more tricky at my age, 1 year of French 45 years ago doesn't quite hack it!

[missclimpson]

The biggest problem for MFL in schools is the teacher shortage. That will only get worse.

[Inniu]

Going out to buy “Heroic Failure: Brexit and the politics of pain”
To try and understand why this is happening.

www.amazon.co.uk/Heroic-Failure-Brexit-Politics-Pain/dp/1789540984?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[1tisILeClerc]

There is nothing remotely 'heroic' about Brexit I am afraid.

[BigChocFrenzy]

peregrina The EU will only pause / extend for a referendum with a Remain option, or for a GE if one party has this as a possibility

They probably would NOT agree to more time if the ERG depose May, unless there is a credible Remain contender

[Hesta54]

1tisILeClerc Nobody is taking the piss, it’s in everybody’s interest to keep airplanes flying, it wouldn’t take long for a lot of airlines to go out of business inc European ones

[DGRossetti]

I think the problem we have now with languages, is that it's not obvious which one we should learn.

To be honest, I think it's a more fundamental problem of geography. No matter how hard I want to be able to easily pop to speak (say) French, it's a ballache journey. Whereas if I want to try my Welsh out, it's a 30 minute drive.

Having said, that I appreciate I'm probably the only English person living near the Welsh border who's ever thought that. Perhaps it's my half Englishness, and the fact I grew up in a bilingual household (possibly a bit more, as my DFs Spanish seems quite functional).

[BigChocFrenzy]

Jas Labour under Corbyn DO have a problem with FOM
He is against it and so are many MPs from Leave-voting areas

It's a big problem that both the PM and the Leader of the Opposition are against FOM

[BigChocFrenzy]

Hesta The EU majority-owned airlines could continue flying to everywhere else n the wolrd except the UK
Permission to overfly airspace is a separate treaty, which is not affected by Brexit

It is UK majority owned airlines that lose their certifications for planes & crew and can't fly
Also ship and ferry owners

It is only UK airports which lose their certifications

After a No Deal Breit, the EU are likely to agree permissions for only an essential bare-bones deal, for the things they regard as important,

• that's not always the same as what the UK needs

[1tisILeClerc]

{1tisILeClerc Nobody is taking the piss, it’s in everybody’s interest to keep airplanes flying, it wouldn’t take long for a lot of airlines to go out of business inc European ones}
While I agree that it is in everyone's interest to keep planes flying, the UK government has shown no real 'leadership' and come up with a coordinated plan. Even now no one has a bloody clue and we are just over 4 months away from leaving. Flying a plane from the UK to anywhere is rather more involved than having a pilot jump into the cockpit and starting the engines. The bolts that hold the doors on, have they been checked and certified allowing the whole plane to be insured? And in which jurisdiction? Currently it is through the EU, No deal means that stops.

[PCPlumsTruncheon]

Sorry to derail but I just need to rant.
I have completed an alcohol rehab but couldn’t return home because of issues with DH.
The organisation I did the rehab with have another project which is more low key but still staffed 24/7 with therapy groups and 1-1 counselling. Because it isn’t technically classed as rehab, they take HB whereas rehab proper requires funding.
I was supposed to be on half pay from Feb -August but it wasn’t paid because of issues around my nursing registration so I had no income for 7 months until I claimed UC.
Last month they paid my backdated half pay to cover the 6 month period when I had no income.
This is now being classed as me being in receipt of a wage so they have stopped. I’m terrified they’re going to stop my HB as well.
DH is financially abusive and I haven’t seen a penny of that money.
I’m 50 and I cannot face grovelling to my parents.
I’ve paid tax all my life, I’ve done voluntary work.
Right now I’m a really low point and I can’t cope with this.
Fucking cunts.

[PCPlumsTruncheon]

Sorry. At least it’s taken my mind off Brexit

[lonelyplanetmum]

PCPlums didn't want to fail to comment. So Sorry you have all that to deal with. As far as parents are concerned, in a way it's part of being a parent- even when you are 75+ your children are still your children.

[GaspodeWonderCat]

PCPlums - rant away. They are indeed fucking cunts. Citizens advice are generally worth a call/visit if you can. &

[PCPlumsTruncheon]

Thanks lonely It’s been a real eye opener living here. A lot of people are street homeless before they come here.
I didn’t think it was possible to hate this government any more than I already did.

[OhLookHeKickedTheBall]

pcplums I have no practical advice but can I offer you a very unmumsnetty hug? And an agreement that they're bastards.

[RedToothBrush]

PCPlumsTruncheon, this thread is for ranting about the incompetence of government on all levels as far as I'm concerned. So anything relating to UC and how it is inhame is fair game.

[RedToothBrush]

I hope you are doing ok. But feel free to rant if you need.

[BigChocFrenzy]

PCplums So sorry to hear what you are going through 💐
and well done for completing your alcohol rehab 💐

Yes, the govt are bastards
So is the current benefits system / lack of system
So is your bloody evil DH 😡
If he has your money, especially back payments, can you ask at CAB how to get it back from him ?

Also, if you haven't already, open a new account that he doesn't know about and can't access, to receive all your future wages and benefits.

Get back your nursing registration if you can and make sure everything is sorted out with that, or the future,
so you can return to work after this counselling, if you feel able again

Don't be too proud to ask parents or other family for help:

^"family is where when you've got to go there, they've got to take you in"

I supported my late mum for much of my working life;^
she supported me throughout childhood and young adulthood.
it evens out

They may need your help when they are older and I'm sure you'd help then if you could

[PCPlumsTruncheon]

The thing is that I do have family that I can borrow money from, even though it sticks in my throat a bit.
What happens to the people who don’t have any family? They’re just left to starve.
I was a CPN for 20 years before going off sick.
When I started, most service users were I settled social housing. Now at least a third of people I saw are in temporary accommodation- and ‘temporary’ can be up to 5 years.
In the end, seeing families of 5 living in one room babies crawling round in mice droppings was just too much.
And all the people with chronic paranoid schizophrenia found fit for work and getting their benefits stopped