ABER-RANT

In 1965, when grades were first awarded, 10% of places were to be allocated for As and 20% for Es. In other words you were assessed against your peers, thus sorting out the best candidates for higher education, which was then free.

1. Lisbon Treaty: 82% want referendum in UK, even if all other countries ratify A new Populus poll for the Times has found overwhelming support for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, even in a situation where it has already been ratified by Ireland and the rest of the EU. 82% of people agreed with the statement, "If Ireland and other countries ratify the Lisbon Treaty on the future of the European Union, Britain should hold its own referendum on the issue", with 52% strongly agreeing and only 14% disagreeing. 92% of Conservative voters, 76% of Labour voters and 85% of Liberal Democrats voters agreed that Britain should have a referendum on the Treaty. (Times, 13 May) The poll also showed that 58% of voters believe that the balance of powers between Britain and the EU gives too much power to the EU, including a clear majority of supporters of all the main parties. 28% say the balance is about right and 6% say too little power has been given to the EU. In response to the que...

Recently there has been an annoying advert for 2Genuine Pear cider" on our tellys. Which claims that unlike other "Pear Ciders" it is made completely from pears. well , what a bunch of Fuckwits...if it is made from pears it ain't fucking cider Cider: A drink made from fermented apple juice Perry; a drink made from pears IT IS PERRY YOU HALF-BRAINED FUCKWITS STOP ABUSING THE LANGUAGE, MORONS !

On average there are 12,000 deaths per annum from FLU in England and Wales, when was the last time you saw that figure published? That is quite a lot of people, why aren't people panicking about it ? 2.2 Excess Mortality Excess mortality due to influenza occurs in most winter seasons but is especially marked during epidemics. The average annual excess mortality attributable to influenza in recent years is around 12,000 deaths per annum in England and Wales,(11) although there is considerable yearly variation and some years are notably much higher than the average (est. 26,000 in 1989/90 epidemic). Excess mortality in England and Wales associated with the three pandemics of the 20th century has also varied widely; this was estimated at 198,000 civilians in 1918/19, and 37,500 in 1957/58. In 1968/69 and 1969/70 (both seasons considered to be associated with the influenza A/H3N2 pandemic) there were an estimated 31,000 and 47,000 deaths respectively.(7) Therefore the extent of mortali...

Open Europe Open Europe Bulletin: 1 May 2009 * Former Labour MP laments failure to hold referendum on the Lisbon Treaty; Hague will not rule out retrospective referendum * New EU regulation "a clear and present danger to the City" * New Open Europe briefing: What does the European Parliament do and how does it affect your everyday life? * News in brief * Open Europe events * Open Europe in the news * Support Open Europe 1. Former Labour MP laments failure to hold referendum on the Lisbon Treaty; Hague will not rule out retrospective referendum Veteran Labour Party member and Halifax MP for 18 years Alice Mahon has quit the party and said her reasons included a failure by the Government to deliver on promises in the 2005 Labour manifesto, including a referendum on the EU constitution. She said "That [2005] manifesto promised a referendum on the European Constitution, we renamed it the Lisbon Treaty and reneged on that promise also." (I...

On the Today programme this morning, Sir Anthony Wedgewood Benn, Viscount Stansgate, squarely placed the blame for the current recession on the election of Margaret Thatcher. The fucking twat has finally gone senile. Of course being a rich cunt (the landed gentry usually are) he is probably making shed-loads from the slump, no doubt at the expense of those he supposedly claims to support , namely "workers". He was supposed to be eulogising Jack Jones (died aged 96) the guy that tried his best to bankrupt Britain.

Open Europe Open Europe Bulletin: 17 April 2009 * Open Europe publishes list of MEPs signed up to controversial pension fund * News in brief * Open Europe in the news * Support Open Europe 1. Open Europe publishes list of MEPs signed up to controversial pension fund A leaked decision note from European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pottering has revealed that taxpayers may have to foot the bill for an estimated £105 million (€120 million) shortfall in the European Parliament's controversial Additional Voluntary Pension Scheme. The scheme is facing a gap in funding due to the collapse of the stock market and investments reportedly related to the Bernie Madoff scandal in the United States . (WAZ Der Western, 14 April; Mail, 16 April) MEPs are entitled to a standard pension from their member states, but are also able to opt in to this additional fund if they desire, as 480 currently do. Under the scheme, MEPs pay in €1194 (£1052) a month, which is matched by publi...