Alan, could you elaborate??

If you are suggesting that the proposed change in 2016 at the earliest may be a platform for UKIP to gather more support, I believe it may again actually only sustain core voters rather than attract the floating voter just like the HIV approach on Thursday.

As I have stated on the forum before, one of the few promises that I commend Cameron for keeping is that to maintain Aid spending at 0.7% GDP. I am aware that this view is probably in the minority on this forum. However, in my opinion it is something that we, the 6th wealthiest nation on earth, should be rightly proud of.

Rather than back covering, it was just another of the conspiracy theories mentioned in the original post.
I personally have never heard of a school where sport of any kind, especially competitive sport, was ‘banned’ to save feelings. I know of schools where the physical education was not given high priority because of other curriculum pressures but sports fixtures always took place, often in the staff’s spare time after school or weekends.

I do agree about the constant meddling.

Well, he did admit during the week that UKIP’s share of the vote had declined since the Autumn of last year.

This is not intended as political comment, even though political parties are mentioned in passing, just comment on the points raised above

We had school playing fields sold off, because losing wasn’t good for the little dears’ psyche, so sport should be banned; we’ve had spelling decreed as passé, so some school-leavers can’t construct a job application letter to save their lives. .

Playing fields were mostly sold off to raise money, not because of any antipathy towards competitive games.

From the Telegraph,

huge damage has been done across Britain. A staggering 10,000 playing fields were sold off under the 1979-1997 Conservative governments; their Labour successors sold, on average, more than 20 a year; the Coalition is running at 17 annually. Often these latest were for understandable reasons, such as when schools merged or closed. Two years ago, however, the then education secretary Michael Gove had to apologise after The Telegraph revealed he had sold off more than the Coalition admitted, at times overruling official advice.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/schoolsports/11092344/Is-it-game-over-for-school-playing-fields.html

Regarding spelling, I think you may be behind the times. Spelling is at the core of the national curriculum, and one of the (few) good things about the recent changes to GCSE and A level specifications are the greater emphasis on spelling and grammar.https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/239784/English_Appendix_1_-_Spelling.pdf

Not that academies, private schools or free schools have to follow the national curriculum

He’s merely confirming what we all know that until we leave the EU we have no control over who comes to our shores?

It wasn’t in the context of current policy, it was in the context of UKIP’s proposed policy. When asked about the apparent conflict of a net immigration target he said, and whilst not an exact quote it gets the gist, ” we can’t set a target as we don’t know how many people will leave the UK”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32160667

P.s I agree with Gary Lineker

Edit: re: the Lineker twitter comment, it now appears that Nige’s comments were discussed before hand, and though some thought them a bit ‘fruity’ it was agreed to make them, aimed at ‘motivating the core vote’ rather than aimed at the floating voter. NSS

Tony, enjoy it!

Due to my changed financial circumstances recently I’ll have to soldier on with my 7 year old Pentax equipment, much as I’d like to upgrade.

You definitely get what you pay for, especially with glass.

Sorry John, your post is a day too late.

On a more positive note ( from my perspective of course) was the unravelling of their imigration position today. So all those skilled plumbers, electricians and chippies from eastern europe are welcome after all. Or not. Not clear is it?
Is it 50000, 30000 or, as Nige himself said today, impossible to set a number?

Rafale M?