bridge too far

He's not being 'punished'. He is (or is not, depending on your PoV) doing what is required of every UK resident, including PFC.

I know exactly what he's talking about. I, too, clicked on Art's link a few months ago

Good post, Moonraker. Look at this- it illustrates your point very well: Topshop owner Green's £1.2 billion dividend was enough to double the salaries of Cambodian's whole garment workforce for eight years. A worker making clothes for Green's Arcadia group in Mauritius would need to toil for almost 4,000 years to gain the £3 million model Kate Moss earned for her Topshop clothing range from: http://www.waronwant.org/component/content/article/14928

What on earth are you talking about? There are laws. People break them; people challenge them. Said people need lawyers. Whether it's human rights legislation or being accused of murder. That's what solicitors, barristers, recorders and judges are there for. I would have thought you would have approved of someone using their talents for their own betterment. That's what Tories believe in, surely?

I'm sure lots of people would say they put in more than they take out. Hey I know! Let's have one rule for the rich and one for the poor.

This puts things into perspective: http://citywire.co.uk/new-model-adviser/tax-evasion-costs-treasury-15-times-more-than-benefit-fraud/a378274 and even the Daily Heil can see the problem: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1162148/Barclays-makes-1bn-year-tax-avoidance-schemes.html

Dreadful, isn't it. Talented QC earning good money. Still, I guess she pays her taxes.

"A spokesman said Mr Blair would hand over the reported £4m advance payment plus all royalties to honour "their courage and sacrifice". from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10988478

He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't IMO (speaking as one who marched against the war and left the Labour Party in protest)

Oh yes Yes indeedy

Breaking news - industrial action called off.

dishwashing

time

Doe

There's a programme on BBC1 right now called 'Saints and Scroungers'. In the title, the Saint has a halo over its head. Sadly, there's no PFC badge above the Scrounger bit. Missed opportunity IMO

a dear ??

Any time - I'm very proud of his achievements. I would equally defend state education if he had learning difficulties, to praise the state system for the encouragement and help it would offer. I was using him as an example of how children will achieve given the right encouragement, state or private. But of course I think he's wonderful - all my grandchildren are, including my 2 and half year old granddaughter who knows all her alphabet and numbers up to 12 and who has just started to read, and my 18 month old grandson who doesn't say a word! That's what grandmothers do

In a segment discussing the proposed changes to the Scottish education system, the improvements or otherwise in Maths were looked at. Although Scottish children are doing less well now, English children have risen from 10th in the world (in 2000 I think - I can't find a link) to 7th in the world in more recent years. Aah here we go: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7773081.stm At the bottom of this piece it can be seen that England's children have risen from 25th in 1995 to 7th in 2007. Wow! Great achievement!

That would be the silent movies then I've just looked at the Echo's archives as they'll have a photo of my dance group (including me) but the archive only goes back to 1995 and I'd retired by then.

disposal

I remember being told that Freshers' Day at University are hunting grounds for boys looking for girls who had been to boarding schools - because the girls are, allegedly, so naive and therefore easy pickings.

You'll be OK Nick. It's decent LOL. Just a very athletic, strong and talented male dancer. Nothing gay, I promise

susan (gawd that dates me )

The bold bit first - I won't make the obvious comment about some of the things that allegedly go on in boarding schools because that would be a cheap jibe. But why on earth would people want to send their children away from home? I really don't understand that. I couldn't have tolerated my children being away from me for weeks on end. I'd make an exception for forces' children where the parents are posted abroad but, that apart, why have children if you're just going to send them away? Very strange. And as for facilities being better at private schools - well that's the salient point isn't it? Surely ALL children should have the best facilties?

Then it's a basic principle upon which we'll have to agree to disagree, Phil. Like most of us on here, I love my children and now my grandchildren insanely. But I don't and never have considered that they are SO special that they should have special advantage because I (and now my children) could afford it. I never ever considered buying an educational advantage or a health advantage for them because I firmly believe that these basic human rights should be available to everyone regardless of income. And I do genuinely believe this. And, if you read my post carefully, I opined that some people felt that they were buying some sort of advantage by having their children mix with children from 'posher' backgrounds. Not that everyone who sent their children to private schools were posh themselves. Minor but important difference. Oh, and my grandson's extra tuition is given to him (and others like him) as part of the same special needs system that also exists for children who are struggling. My S-i-L is a teacher with special responsibility for children with special needs and he teaches exceptionally bright children as well as those with significant disadvantages - all in the state system. The beauty of the state system is that it is able to cater for all talents and that is part of its remit. So it's hardly diverting resources. Those resources are already there as part of the overall system.