trousers

How does the JCP manager decide what a "good reason" is? Do they have a check list issued by the DWP or is it purely down to their individual discretion? As I say, sounds like a bonkers decision (on the surface) for the emergency hospital scenario you highlighted.

If someone at the job centre and/or the DWP "decided" that rushing a daughter to hospital wasn't a "good reason" to avoid sanctions then they need their head testing.

Possibly, but that was a crap cut and paste from an embedded PDF. Fixed now

More wording in the PDF that's linked from the JWP page above : https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/379070/jobseekers-allowance-sanctions-dwpf15.pdf

Just found this: https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/further-information I'm surprised that attending hospital in an emergency isn't classed as a "good reason". Who decides what a "good reason" is?

Don't suppose you've got a link to the actual policy wording off the top off you're head? No worries if not, I'll get Googling.

I know I'll be accused of being a government apologist, or such like, for even asking, but is it actually "government policy" to "stop all benefits" regardless of the reason for missing a JCP appointment or could this be a case of over zealous (jobsworth) implementation of a policy that actually has more scope for discretion than the headlines suggest? I've not seen the actual wording of the policy so genuine question. (no doubt there's a link somewhere that I've been too lazy to click on)

Ronald Koeman @RonaldKoeman Ready for the Christmas Party at @SouthamptonFC I believe in the way we played. #wemarchon #saintsfc

First tweet in nearly 2 months.... Jay Rodriguez @JayRodriguez9 Hi Folks, tough few games for @SouthamptonFC but still looking good. I'm just starting to pick things up and restart the engine. Positive.

Please delete. Far too pragmatic for this forum thank you very much.

One? Everton 2004/05. 13 defeats.

Nothing's a "certainty" but, yes, we can still come anywhere from 3rd to 6th as things stand. We could even sink lower than that, what with football being as unpredictable as it is....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2866175/Southampton-emerge-favourites-sign-Italy-starlet-Gianluca-Scamacca.html

http://talksport.com/football/everything-st-because-we-lost-rants-southampton-boss-koeman-141208127987 Koeman: "Everything is s**t because we lost"

[video=youtube_share;ORm-fE5ekFQ]

@bigadamsport: RT @solentsport: #saintsfc boss @RonaldKoeman reacts to 2-1 defeat to #mufc with @bigadamsport https://t.co/Mdtqc4cTMm/s/ZqQ9 via @audioBoom

If this season's opening 15 fixtures (and results) had been played in reverse we'd be looking at our 5th place in a different light. Who's to say we can't now go on another decent run? Ergo its still too early to write off our top 4 credentials. The only defeat this season that wasn't harsh is the City game (and we matched them in the first half). I think we'll inevitably finish outside the top 4 but I'm not basing that on our defeats thus far as most of them have been harsh results.

Stat of the day: This is the lowest number of attempts United have had in a Premier League match since Opta started compiling statistics.

Van Gaal: "Southampton were the better team"

Van Gaal: "we were very lucky"

Koeman: "City were better than us but Arsenal and Utd weren't. They punished our mistakes but we didn't punish theirs. That's the difference at this level - small details"

Yes, quite a few times. Looked lively.

Koeman: "We didn't lose against Utd, we lost against ourselves" Sums it up nicely

He's not one of Glasgow's best alta egos IMO. Mr X is slightly better.