Westminstenders: Frozen

[RedToothBrush]

Boris Johnson was empty chaired by C4 with a block of ice.

The Conservatives went mental and have threatened to look at C4 broadcast remit.

This is illiberal and anti democratic.

Journalists are supposed to hold power to account on behalf of the public. If MPs don't turn up then they can't be held to account.

They have a duty to show. It's not good enough to avoid scrutiny because it might make you look bad. That's the whole point.

The contempt with which Johnson holds the press and public is reprehensible and you should be concerned whatever your political alligence. It allows corruption to fester without consequence.

And to then threaten C4 because they do their job in line with their responsibility as a broadcaster is alarming.

This is how authoritarian dictators work.

[thecatfromjapan]

Not less ubiquitous. Less iniquitous.

[BigChocFrenzy]

Again, you don't understand those wc women boomers who never escaped the poverty trap, who never managed to buy a council house and get a windfall.
They never had the means to make plans when the retirement age moved from 60 to 66
and often heard much later than other folk

There is often a difference in health at age 60 between a comfy mc woman who has worked in a comfy office vs a wc woman who has worked in manual jobs all her life

[BigChocFrenzy]

When I went to uni, only 6% of people did so.

[Alsohuman]

Very true. And many of them never had access to occupational pensions so that state pension will be their only income.

[thecatfromjapan]

There is often a difference in health at age 60 between a comfy mc woman who has worked in a comfy office vs a wc woman who has worked in manual jobs all her life

This is soooo true.

I sit waiting for my medicine in lines with older women and we swap tales of underpaid manual jobs.

And likewise on the bus, in the 'priority' seats.

It's fascinating, and bonding. But it's also a bit sad.

[BigChocFrenzy]

I was in about the bottom 5% wrt parental income - my late mum was a disabled widow

Going to uni totally changed my life and also enabled me to make mum's later years comfortable, instead of chhosing heat or eat

[BigChocFrenzy]

When I went to uni, the maintenance grant was means tested

I got the full amount, but for kids from wealthier families it tapered off to iirc zero
However, iirc noone had to pay fees

[thecatfromjapan]

And now I am thoroughly depressed because I am expecting people to vote in a Johnson majority government.

Which is utterly grim.

[thecatfromjapan]

Meanwhile, looks as though OhYouBadBadKitten's forecast of snow for the 12th December was correct ...

[BigChocFrenzy]

"utterly grim"
as in that Dutch cartoon upthread

[StarbucksSmarterSister]

Bigchoc

Me too. I got a full grant, my best friend got 50%. Her parents were really rather well off but they had nothing for her two older siblings. Her younger sibling got the full amount so it was done on a sliding slide.

[DustyDiamond]

You don't understand the barriers to higher education for kids who grow up very poor

There's some good schemes going at the mo actually

My son qualified as my kids are on free school meals - he participated in a series of organised taster days at a participating uni (all transport arranged & paid for, and also meals paid for) culminating in a 3 day residential (all free & transport etc arranged & paid for again)

They were given financial advice about the various bursaries etc available & also about how the loans system works etc so as to dispel any misplaced fear over it

He would have been offered a place if he had applied, with reduced grade requirements compared with ordinary applicants (he has decided not to go to uni just now for other unrelated reasons but was pleased to have had the opportunity to go & see for himself what it's all about)

[Piggywaspushed]

Are you in a metropolitan area dusty ?

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Don't say that yet cat!

[DustyDiamond]

Are you in a metropolitan area dusty ?

No
West Oxfordshire

The Uni was Reading (they are partnered with the school I think) but there are others who do similar across the country

[Piggywaspushed]

Not everywhere though. Your proximity to universities engaging in outreach and the relative wealth of your area is helping. I live in an outreach black hole. The outreach is only aimed at certain students from certain schools, in certain urban areas, so those types of students in otherwise affluent schools in semi rural or rural areas are completely overlooked.

[XingMing]

I read along here, and rarely post, but to JustAnotherPoster, I'd like it made explicit that none of the candidates appear to be canvassing locally, so I haven't actually spoken to any of them. The choice might be easier if I had.

[XingMing]

Going to university is life changing. It opens the door to a new world of opportunities. But the opportunity is not relevant to everyone. A nephew, whose aspiration was to change and charge the beer gas lines in pubs with a shiny van to drive, would not have got anything from the experience.

[JustAnotherPoster00]

That must be very frustrating Xing

[XingMing]

He went to prison instead.

[WeshMaGueule]

But the opportunity is not relevant to everyone

I'd caveat that with the thought that if at any point people's aspirations change, then it should be easy for them to go back to further study / adult education / lifelong learning. Having taught a lot of mature students, I actually don't think university at 18 is the best choice for a lot of people.

[RedToothBrush]

I'd like it made explicit that none of the candidates appear to be canvassing locally, so I haven't actually spoken to any of them. The choice might be easier if I had.

You'd be surprised at what is being advised and the problems candidates are having getting activists together to canvas in December...

[XingMing]

I would agree @welshmagueule. DS has postponed the decision but is now ready to apply, at 20, having learned quite a bit about work and life. It's no longer the choice made by a light-hearted 18 yo who knows nothing much apart from school.

[DustyDiamond]

I'd caveat that with the thought that if at any point people's aspirations change, then it should be easy for them to go back to further study / adult education / lifelong learning. Having taught a lot of mature students, I actually don't think university at 18 is the best choice for a lot of people.

I agree hugely with this

I went to uni at 18 & dropped out in 2nd year as I just wanted to earn money & work

Worked for 20 years & earned decent money (blue collar skilled) then went back to uni & did a degree at 41 (just graduated this year)

Neither of my kids are likely to go to uni as young adults, but they know it's always available to them at a later age if they want

[BigChocFrenzy]

"misplaced fear"

Regardless of what anyone had promised me about the future, I would never have taken out a loan for uni.

There was so much pressure from family & friends against my going to uni
"ideas above your station", "be a grownup and get a job to support your mum"

I had a horror of debt, seeing people around me dragged under

I would have ignored any fancy talk about how a loan would be good for me, because when you're poor, all that fancy talk usually turns out to be another con, at best well-meaning but empty promises