The state of the UK

[Alan B]

The grades for sixth-form and vocational college students are 10-15% lower than the five year average, whereas the grades for grammar and fee-paying schools are higher. I wonder how that happened eh?

What's the betting that these 'algorithms' are the product of a Cummings ' weirdo'.

[Alan B]

The only people I'd let vote are men over 60. Y'all rest need to shut the fuck up and listen to your betters. We know a thing or two because we've seen a thing or two.

Yeah. Us old gits have more memory connections within our brain for our brain to work with than those young things.

[laklak]

Precisely. Plus, we're not ruled by base emotion, but by the nobler passions of logic.

[Brian Peacock]

Yeah. And us old gits have more memory connections in our brains.

[laklak]

More logical, too.

Is tonight vanilla pudding night? I love vanilla pudding.

[Scot Dutchy]

This is what British supermarkets will selling shortly:

US chickens 'literally sitting in each other's waste' says RSPCA

Chlorination of hens and use of pig sow stalls among disparities highlighted by charity ahead of post-Brexit trade talks

US hens have half the living space of UK birds and are dipped in chlorinated water after slaughter to kill bacteria growing on them as a result of the birds “literally sitting in each other’s waste”, according to a new video being launched today by the RSPCA.

Aiming to highlight the welfare differences between US and UK farm animals as trade talks resume between the two countries in September, the UK’s largest animal welfare charity is taking the unusual step of releasing a video that “exposes the realities of animal welfare” and warns consumers against US dairy, egg and meat imports.

Examples of US-UK welfare differences identified by the RSPCA include the absence of US federal laws protecting chicken or turkey welfare, US egg hens having only about half the living space of UK hens, and only 5% of US laying hens being free range compared to 52% in the UK.

Eet smakelijk.

[Brian Peacock]

More logical, too.

Is tonight vanilla pudding night? I love vanilla pudding.

You can't have your pudding until you put some trousers on.

[laklak]

I made a boo-boo in them.

[Scot Dutchy]

Well the Brits at the present moment in time have their arse hanging out so should not make demands on others.

[Scot Dutchy]

Is Boris's government ministers dancing a waltz? They keep on turning.

UK coronavirus: Gavin Williamson apologises over 'inconsistencies' in exam grading process – live news

[laklak]

Why bother with elections if you can just reuse the results of the last one?

[Scot Dutchy]

That is what every dictator says.

[Scot Dutchy]

Another institute. More jobs for the boys.

Covid: Matt Hancock unveils National Institute for Health Protection

Health secretary says body will protect public against pandemics, infectious diseases and external threats

The government’s new public health agency will protect the public against external threats to the UK, pandemics and infectious diseases, Matt Hancock has pledged.

The health and social care secretary made the announcement on Tuesday as he unveiled the National Institute for Health Protection, which is being created after the controversial scrapping of Public Health England (PHE).

Speaking at the Policy Exchange thinktank, Hancock said: “To give ourselves the best chance of beating this virus once and for all – and of spotting and being ready to respond to other health threats, now and in the future, we are creating a brand new organisation to provide a new approach to public health protection and resilience.”

Another body to blame.

[Brian Peacock]

Yep. This is highly dodgy. The gov have disbanded Public Health England, and with it locked all the documents away under the 30 year rule. This is a blatant attempt to avoid public scrutiny of the government's decision and processes in relation to the statutory obligations of the former quango. The Tory press of course are happy to champion the ad hoc creation of a new organisation to do exactly what the old one did but with less independence and more ministerial control as a 'robust response' to the pandemic.

[Scot Dutchy]

Ofqual exam results algorithm was unlawful, says Labour

Exclusive: shadow attorney general says ministers would have been aware of at least three breaches of the law

Ofqual’s exam results algorithm was unlawful, the shadow attorney general has said, as Gavin Williamson finally gave his backing to the beleaguered regulator.

The education secretary, who has previously pointed the finger at Ofqual over the exams fiasco, issued a statement on Wednesday saying he had full confidence in the regulator. He admitted it had ultimately been Ofqual’s decision to make U-turn on results produced by its algorithm in favour of teacher-assessed grades.

Meanwhile, Charlie Falconer, who was attorney general under Tony Blair and is now a Labour frontbencher in the Lords, argued that ministers and Ofqual would have been aware of at least three breaches of the law in the standardisation formula used.

No news on the public schools though. Are they all sailing into Oxbridge harbours unscathed?