????

But Cameron is now saying bugger all about anything and Osbourne is looking absolutely pants on the own goal for Labour that is the economy. A year ago I was seriously contemplating them, now I grow less and less convinced almost daily. I agree I don't think Europe is the big issue at the moment, and if the Euro gets into problems they'll be in a 'good place'. Papering over the cracks in the various views in the tory party will be ok....for now.

Bridge...not going to SA

Very big proto-yuppie brand in states....where the Gala bingo is?...just can't see it.

I'm more inclined to go with the Lurkers and "Fulham Fallout" for Spuds

Happy Birthday Hibbs

it is a bit scary for dads...not that they're not welcome it just is!

Are you going to claim Snorkism now Hug?

Brown as you asked

The key question for a bacon sarnie is brown or red Rockin?

I'm still going to say Nay. It has worked to some degree as at least 'big' topics stay around for a while. But I'll go for my previous complaints 1) Made the lounge worse 2) Limited involvement, including many decent posters. So for instance MickM put up a Drawing Room type topic in the lounge a few weeks ago and it soon tonked up loads of posts with decent comments and no or little triviality 3) No room for meanders - which some of the threads could so with..this is even the case sometimes when the meanderings are interesting (eg the Euro one) 4) Different toilet, same sh1t.....same old voices (including myself) It also tickles me that the Drawing Room it's not really a 'friendly' place or even that polite - it reminds me of the history men characters by Baddiel and Newman...alot! I've got used to it though so not a big thing for me. The family room is great though with a whole load of regular posters who never post elsewhere and generally friendly BUT when it goes :X

Why did the mexican push his wife off the cliff? Tequuuuuila

...and of course let their currency float freely on the international exchange markets as Adam Smith would have said....oh, hang on a minute

That's nothing, at the end of 2008 you could buy ?1 billion of debt for about ?100 million.

Yup, look at what I chose in my haste to get on and have a go at all the bourgeios liberals on here

Darn you Lady M *grabs handful and sobs*

Nope, I prefer the proper team from Fulham's chances...

oh dear city...glad they got rid of Hughes?

It's bothering you - I would. What's a few quid, her mistake but you'll feel better... *Couhgs* plus Karma

Just add a "without predjudice" to your signature Chief

I do a mean Doodles. I defy you to tell the difference.

For once I'm going to agree with almost everything you say Dominatus excepet point out that Children, including other peoples, do offer You a future benefit. Pay taxes, police your streets, serve you in pubs/restaurants, adminsiter you medecine and maybe even wipe your bum for you in your final years. Fido does not.

Nationally, if we go bust we'll all be poorer and poorest will suffer the most - that's the gravity of the situation whatever the causes etc. I just don't think people really get this. I do understand the issue of the non-claimants and it is an issue with all means tetsed benefits, but a significant number of pupils (the majority I believe) in Southwark DO not need this and we have to start cutting expenditure sometime and somewhere. That's the ultimate poverty of political patronage and one reasons why the Public Sector will hurts so much soon...there's alot of patronage jobs in there curtesy of Gordon which we can no longer afford. Stop spending for votes.

PS RE Economies of scale. I think you misunderstand, parents who can afford to already pay, the meals exist universally and at something like 90p a day (I think, I'll check later). This isn't a cut in 'benefit' its a propsal to offer it the subsidy (not the meal) universally, I don't think you'll get a massive upswing in volume if they become free . Someone did the maths earlier but you are taking money away from southwark schools generated at source revenue to be replaced by Southwark taxpayers money. Money out of revenue and into spend...hey but it's only a few million.

The numbers are here somewhere David. I think you probably overestimate the scale of false claims and the depth of scrutiny of the Free Meals claims area of the Education Budget...this isn't Disabilty Benefit. Again it's nice old socialism...gotta be paid for somehwere but all meals for everyone that's fair, we'll have that, we have to have some restraint and there's not even a demand for this it just looks like a poor attempt to grab family votes in my opinion. Where are we going to start some cuts? Cos they're coming and this looks like an unneccessary increase in expenditure however small and cosmetic it is. And for what? Principle? IMO Votes I'll threaten you with the Thatcher quote again "The problem with socialism etc"

Sean - Firstly not an argument just clarification, schools do provide meals for all pupils and they are paid for by the parents, those that are on benefits and i'm guessing some lower income families don't have to pay - this is a seperate non-visible arrangement, when I was young you gave in 'dinner money' so those who got assisstance stood out!. However, people can opt out and provide a packed lunch too and many do. So it is there for all but not universally free and choice about what your kids eat seems a reasobnable option in the 21st century, my little girl tends to alternate. Packed lunches were also an option even when I was at school (although the food was dire then and it is not at all now at my girls school). As it happens I tend to philisophically support universal benefits but the current fiscal situation is dire on all levels, and we will need to have big cuts and some small ones too (yes I know it's global, ask greeks...and the irish too!) to be blunt I'm quite happy paying for my kids meals when fire escapes in Southwark tower blocks still remain unsafe. It DOES look like an attempt to buy votes in all honesty - yes I know I grind axes - but I suspect it won't work as I reckon many Southwark parents will kind of feel like I do. We will see.