General UK politics

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Wudang said:
I seem to recall mention of some sort of health issue. Oh and apparently the bloody Europeans aren't willing to play the gentleman and sacrifice the principles of the EU so the Bojo comedy troupe aren't exposed as liars.
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He does look dishevelled and even confused. He seems barely able to string a sentence together and when placed next to Sunak or even Hancock it is apparent he lacks confidence, coherence and even sharpness.

I don't know what is wrong with him, although rumours abound and there might be a corona after-effect but his leadership doesn't exactly inspire confidence.
 
The Don said:
IMO the major public schools are Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Westminster and Wellington. If your child is truly stupid and/or you are a sadist then maybe Gordonstoun creeps into the list. If your child has the misfortune to be female then maybe Benenden's on the list too.

Everything else is some variant of minor public school, though places like Upminster, Rugby, Kings' Canterbury, Fettes or St Paul are less minor than the run of the mill.
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I have to disagree. I have friends who went to Harrow and Westminster and friends who went to the girls public schools. They are nothing special and it wasn't difficult to get in, they are just prestigious brands, although you need to show academic ability. I would opine that Durham serves the function of your listed schools as the northern version of them. Certainly they do not have a Geordie accent.
 
Vixen said:
I have to disagree. I have friends who went to Harrow and Westminster and friends who went to the girls public schools. They are nothing special and it wasn't difficult to get in, they are just prestigious brands, although you need to show academic ability. I would opine that Durham serves the function of your listed schools as the northern version of them. Certainly they do not have a Geordie accent.
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No one from Durham has a Geordie accent.
 
Lothian said:
it is minor. It is mainly for sporty kids or those who would struggle academically in the better performing state schools nearby.
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Yup, Durham School is most definitely minor: it was never that good academically, as I've pointed out several times.

In my day the bright kids whose parents didn't want to send them to the local state grammar school to mix with the likes of me would go to somewhere like RGS in Newcastle.
 
Vixen said:
I have to disagree. I have friends who went to Harrow and Westminster and friends who went to the girls public schools. They are nothing special and it wasn't difficult to get in, they are just prestigious brands, although you need to show academic ability. I would opine that Durham serves the function of your listed schools as the northern version of them. Certainly they do not have a Geordie accent.
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Durham School has never, ever, ever been the northern equivalent of those named "public" schools and, as I've said several times, it had lower academic standards than the 2 local state grammar schools.

And NO-ONE from Durham has EVER had any class of a Geordie accent (for my sins I'm married to a Geordie...).
 
Carrot Flower King said:
Yup, Durham School is most definitely minor: it was never that good academically, as I've pointed out several times.

In my day the bright kids whose parents didn't want to send them to the local state grammar school to mix with the likes of me would go to somewhere like RGS in Newcastle.
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Still a handful get the train from Durham to Newcastle each morning. Well I presume so, I haven't caught it since lockdown.
 
Carrot Flower King said:
Durham School has never, ever, ever been the northern equivalent of those named "public" schools and, as I've said several times, it had lower academic standards than the 2 local state grammar schools.

And NO-ONE from Durham has EVER had any class of a Geordie accent (for my sins I'm married to a Geordie...).
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In 2019 last time Exams were properly sat the local Comp had 80% of A level students getting A or B compared to 60% at Durham

While Durham School just pipped another comp and the Catholic school it is not even the best private school. Durham High school for girls which has a similar number of pupils had better A levels.

As I mentioned if you child has behavioural issues or struggles to relate to and interact with others, perhaps he will be bullied in a normal school, then Durham School is where to send your little Dominic. The freak will fit right in there
 
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Lothian said:
In 2019 last time Exams were properly sat the local Comp had 80% of A level students getting A or B compared to 60% at Durham

While Durham School just pipped another comp and the Catholic school it is not even the best private school. Durham High school for girls which has a similar number of pupils had better A levels.

As I mentioned if you child has behavioural issues or struggles to relate to and interact with others, perhaps he will be bullied in a normal school, then Durham School is where to send your little Dominic.
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Dominic Cummings isn't even mentioned in its distinguished alumni list. I see what you mean: seems to be composed of sporting types, rugby and cricket players. Cummings himself went on to study Ancient History at Exeter (another Uni teeming with ex-public school) a totally useless subject for running the country as is Johnson's Classics. At least people like Hancock did PPE which is relevant to his job.

Don't be fooled by Cummings' flat cap and dressed down image though.
 
Vixen said:
I have to disagree. I have friends who went to Harrow and Westminster and friends who went to the girls public schools. They are nothing special and it wasn't difficult to get in, they are just prestigious brands, although you need to show academic ability. I would opine that Durham serves the function of your listed schools as the northern version of them. Certainly they do not have a Geordie accent.
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Plebs would say that.
 
Vixen said:
I have to disagree. I have friends who went to Harrow and Westminster and friends who went to the girls public schools. They are nothing special and it wasn't difficult to get in, they are just prestigious brands, although you need to show academic ability. I would opine that Durham serves the function of your listed schools as the northern version of them. Certainly they do not have a Geordie accent.
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Being a major private school has nothing to do with how difficult academically it is to get in and everything to do with the kinds of people you network with while you're there, and the cachet of going to that school.

As you point out, it's all about the branding, but being an old Etonian or Harrovian significantly enhances your chances of being PM.
 
Boris Johnson 'called Scottish devolution disaster'
Boris Johnson has come under fire for reportedly telling a virtual meeting of Conservative MPs that devolution had been a "disaster" in Scotland.

Mr Johnson also reportedly described it as predecessor Tony Blair's "biggest mistake".

The SNP and Labour have both criticised the prime minister.

But Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said Mr Johnson has "always supported devolution".

"What he does feel strongly, and I would agree, is that devolution in Scotland has facilitated the rise of separatism and nationalism in the form of the SNP, and that that's trying to break apart the United Kingdom," he told BBC Breakfast.

"Anybody, like the prime minister, who loves the UK wants to keep it together thinks that that's a very, very dangerous and disappointing outcome that we need to battle against."
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54965585

Boris decided that the EU was the enemy he would use as a tool to get power.
With a disaster of no deal Brexit he has moved on to a new enemy.

Who next? will he have Wessex and Mercia fighting over the last potato!
 
From Sky News

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick says devolution has been "misused" in Scotland by the SNP 'to drive a wedge between people who are ultimately part of the same country'.
 
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