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I don’t really want to “cheapen” some of the other courses available now, but a degree in “divinity and water polo” (or whatever) shouldn’t really be a degree. Great for prayer meetings at the poolside, but……
)

Psi
(in memory of DMA)

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It’s going to end in tears. Or on student t-shirts.

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I must complain at your depiction of fat German tourists. This kind of statement would not be tolerated if it referred to fat American tourists or fat Arab tourists. Why is it always the Germans who have to bear the brunt of these stereotypes? I realise that you restrained yourself from referring to sandals or towels and sun-loungers but this is not good enough!

Perhaps we can persuade the new Tory leader, David Mandelson, to send you to Berlin to meet some real Germans and to make apologies for this insult.

Other than that, good luck: Let “no to tuition fees!” be your loud refrain.

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Having recently fallen about in hysterics at the Boris decorated episode of “Have I Got News for You”, I was motivated to read some of his stuff and am well impressed, particularly at the diversity. From standing up to the Bush desiring to bomb Al Jazeera scandal to very sensible observations on the miserable position of many people on low incomes fighting extortionate taxes and health care and “benefits” systems made deliberately so bureaucratically labyrinthine (much in the style of London’s roads courtesy of TFL) that few people can actually claim anything they have paid their taxes for when they need it.

I wish him every success but hope greatly that he keeps his sense of fun and continues to host “Have I got News for You” when time permits.

I also hope he means what he said about the Spell-check. This thing is driving me to drink.

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You realise how much some of those kids like to party, don’t you? Please advise Boris to be very careful if they suggest any ‘clubbing’ or ‘drinking games’. I fear he may already be too old for the job…

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‘Jack Target said:
December 11, 2005 08:07 AM | permalink

indeed, polls have us 1 or 2% ahead if an election was held tomorrow.’

Ignoring, for a moment, the concept of ‘us’, with the current electoral system things are biased in labour’s favour. With first past the post a marginal seat is worth more than a safe seat. Extra votes in safe seats do not really matter (hence increasing disillusionment). Many Tory seats are safe, many labour seats are won with smaller margins. 1 or 2% does not matter if that is spread nationally. Labour would still get a majority. With a national spread you’d need a much bigger boost in the popular vote.

In 1997 Blair promised Electoral Reform. In 1998, Lord Jenkins recommended a system called AV+ (maintaining constituency link etc). This was promptly ignored.

The tories benefitted from this in the 80s, so their line seems to be ‘the boundaries need changing’ rather than ‘the system is inherently bad, and wrong’.

http://www.makemyvotecount.org.uk/blog/archives/2005/12/if_nobody_hears.html

… but I could just be feeling a little cynical.

http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/topstories/westminster.htm
http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/votingsystems/systems4.htm#AV+

It is interesting that Scotland, Wales and London all do not have first past the post systems. One wonders if this was motivated by party political concerns? Also, if it is good enough for Scotland….?

Whilst on electoral reform matters (amazing how one comment can spark you off, isn’t it?) I am surprised that the Tories have yet to point out that the current electoral system has produced a situation where, in England, they have the majority vote – but NOT the majority of seats. Coincidentally, every part of the UK has it’s own parliament. Except England.

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