-
Welcome to Stafford Forum. Please or sign-up and start posting!
private eyeage
- Thread starter Withnail
- Start date
Withnail
Well-Known Forumite
BAE SYSTEMS
Strike Fighter Struck
Production of the F-35, the $382bn Joint Strike Fighter, has hit another snag – a strike. Some 3,600 workers at the Lockheed Martin works at Fort Worth, Texas, have downed tools, unhappy with the company’s efforts to cheer up the Pentagon by raiding their pensions in an effort to reduce spiralling costs.
This will be the fourth strike at the plant, and union leaders are warning that it could be a long one. Lockheed Martin is re-training non union staff to work on “contingency duty” shifts in an effort to maintain production.
The strike will have a direct impact on the UK, which is, under the aegis of BAE Systems, the only “Level 1” partner in the project, contributing to the ever rising development costs and assembling parts of the aircraft in UK factories.
If production is affected by a strike in the US, work here will be interrupted and projected costs will rise again.
This is bound to increase strain on the tense relationship between BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin. Lockheed has not forgiven BAE for its “laxity” in allowing Chinese spies to hack into its computers and steal secret information about the fighter’s design, performance and electronics. The theft happened in 2009 but was covered up by British intelligence officials until March this year, when an executive let slip the truth “during a private dinner in London for cyber-security experts”.
The results of the hacking are clear to see in the design of the Chinese J-20 fighter (see picture*), a fairly exact copy of the Joint Strike Fighter and, embarrassingly, far closer to being ready for duty.
BAE Systems has also been embarrassed by the British government, which doesn’t seem to know what sort of Joint Strike Fighter it wants.
The original plan, backed by Gordon Brown, was to go for a short or vertical take-off and landing (SVOTL) version of the aircraft, for use on the UK’s two yet-to-be built aircraft carriers. BAE Systems would build the carriers and assemble the aircraft that would fly from them.
But then David Cameron decided that because the SVTOL version, the F-35B would be expensive and pretty much useless, a different version of the aircraft would be chosen, the F-35C, which requires catapults to take off and a runway to land on and a major change in the design of the carriers at a cost of £2bn.
Last month, however, the government appeared to change its mind again. A secret report was handed to the Daily Telegraph suggesting that Cameron was minded to go for the jump jet version after all.
Lockheed Martin may be unimpressed by the British flip-flopping, but it’s trebles all round for BAE Systems. It’s building the carriers, it’s making the F-35B and it’s being paid to convert the carriers for the F-35C “just in case”!
*
'our' plane
'Their' plane
(or is that the other way whatsit ... where was i?)
Strike Fighter Struck
Production of the F-35, the $382bn Joint Strike Fighter, has hit another snag – a strike. Some 3,600 workers at the Lockheed Martin works at Fort Worth, Texas, have downed tools, unhappy with the company’s efforts to cheer up the Pentagon by raiding their pensions in an effort to reduce spiralling costs.
This will be the fourth strike at the plant, and union leaders are warning that it could be a long one. Lockheed Martin is re-training non union staff to work on “contingency duty” shifts in an effort to maintain production.
The strike will have a direct impact on the UK, which is, under the aegis of BAE Systems, the only “Level 1” partner in the project, contributing to the ever rising development costs and assembling parts of the aircraft in UK factories.
If production is affected by a strike in the US, work here will be interrupted and projected costs will rise again.
This is bound to increase strain on the tense relationship between BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin. Lockheed has not forgiven BAE for its “laxity” in allowing Chinese spies to hack into its computers and steal secret information about the fighter’s design, performance and electronics. The theft happened in 2009 but was covered up by British intelligence officials until March this year, when an executive let slip the truth “during a private dinner in London for cyber-security experts”.
The results of the hacking are clear to see in the design of the Chinese J-20 fighter (see picture*), a fairly exact copy of the Joint Strike Fighter and, embarrassingly, far closer to being ready for duty.
BAE Systems has also been embarrassed by the British government, which doesn’t seem to know what sort of Joint Strike Fighter it wants.
The original plan, backed by Gordon Brown, was to go for a short or vertical take-off and landing (SVOTL) version of the aircraft, for use on the UK’s two yet-to-be built aircraft carriers. BAE Systems would build the carriers and assemble the aircraft that would fly from them.
But then David Cameron decided that because the SVTOL version, the F-35B would be expensive and pretty much useless, a different version of the aircraft would be chosen, the F-35C, which requires catapults to take off and a runway to land on and a major change in the design of the carriers at a cost of £2bn.
Last month, however, the government appeared to change its mind again. A secret report was handed to the Daily Telegraph suggesting that Cameron was minded to go for the jump jet version after all.
Lockheed Martin may be unimpressed by the British flip-flopping, but it’s trebles all round for BAE Systems. It’s building the carriers, it’s making the F-35B and it’s being paid to convert the carriers for the F-35C “just in case”!
*
'our' plane
'Their' plane
(or is that the other way whatsit ... where was i?)
John Marwood
I ♥ cryptic crosswords
from the June issue
Withnail
Well-Known Forumite
SHORTAGES TO CONTINUE DESPITE RECORD FLOODS, SAY WATER CHIEFS
By Our Water Staff Jonathon Leaks
The bosses of Britain’s privatised water companies last night warned that, despite the record deluge of money which has been flowing into their bank accounts, there is still not enough to meet their demands.
“It is inevitable,” they said, “that our customers will have to pay very much more in future, because huge quantities of money keep leaking into our pockets and we are quite powerless to stop this.”
Critics claim that the real problem facing the country is a shortage of water caused by the failure of the companies to build or maintain sufficient reservoirs to meet growing public needs.
A spokesman for the industry was, however, quick to rebut these claims. “It is not our job,” he said, “to supply the public with water. Our chief concern is to ensure that there is a continuous flow of money into our wallets.”
Withnail
Well-Known Forumite
THE EYE’S MOST READ STORIES
Torch Runners Condemned
Members of the public taking part in the Olympic torch relay have been condemned for putting their torches up for sale on eBay.
“It is disgusting to see these individual displays of naked greed and avarice”, said a clearly horrified Seb Coe, “when the Games already have official sponsors of greed and avarice.
“Companies such as Nike, McDonalds and Coca-Cola have paid a great deal of money to provide officially branded displays of greed and avarice and they will not take kindly to being undermined by ordinary people stealing their thunder and selling the thunder on eBay.
“London 2012 should be a showcase for the very best elite corporate greed and avarice and we will not stand by and allow ordinary people’s greed and avarice to detract from that.”
Torch Runners Condemned
Members of the public taking part in the Olympic torch relay have been condemned for putting their torches up for sale on eBay.
“It is disgusting to see these individual displays of naked greed and avarice”, said a clearly horrified Seb Coe, “when the Games already have official sponsors of greed and avarice.
“Companies such as Nike, McDonalds and Coca-Cola have paid a great deal of money to provide officially branded displays of greed and avarice and they will not take kindly to being undermined by ordinary people stealing their thunder and selling the thunder on eBay.
“London 2012 should be a showcase for the very best elite corporate greed and avarice and we will not stand by and allow ordinary people’s greed and avarice to detract from that.”
Withnail
Well-Known Forumite
Where is Jeremy Lefroy...?
IN THE BACK
ACTIS
Not bothered
Plans by Actis, the privatised fund management arm of the UK’s international development fund CDC, to avoid millions of pounds in tax once the government sells its remaining 40 percent stake in the firm don’t seem to worry anyone in government.
Given chancellor George Osborne’s rhetoric against “morally repugnant” tax avoidance, Tory member MP Jeremy Lefroy wanted to know whether it would “be advisable for the government to look at [the scheme] quite closely, because surely… we would not want to be seen to be encouraging a situation in which the sale by the government… resulted in more avoidance schemes being used”?
Stephen O’Brien, junior minister at the Department for International Development, wasn’t much troubled. “No minister, member of the DfID or member of the government has any interest in Actis in the future, and in this particular set of transactions,” he replied. It was all “a matter between them [Actis] and HMRC”.
No interest? O’Brien’s department, through its 100 percent ownership of CDC, invests £900m of public money in Actis, with a further £500m committed for future investment and plans to plough more into a new, biggest ever Actis fund. The fees Actis earns from all these are earmarked for its “Project Copper” tax dodge through various Cyprus shell companies. If ever the government had leverage over a tax dodger, it does here.
IN THE BACK
ACTIS
Not bothered
Plans by Actis, the privatised fund management arm of the UK’s international development fund CDC, to avoid millions of pounds in tax once the government sells its remaining 40 percent stake in the firm don’t seem to worry anyone in government.
Given chancellor George Osborne’s rhetoric against “morally repugnant” tax avoidance, Tory member MP Jeremy Lefroy wanted to know whether it would “be advisable for the government to look at [the scheme] quite closely, because surely… we would not want to be seen to be encouraging a situation in which the sale by the government… resulted in more avoidance schemes being used”?
Stephen O’Brien, junior minister at the Department for International Development, wasn’t much troubled. “No minister, member of the DfID or member of the government has any interest in Actis in the future, and in this particular set of transactions,” he replied. It was all “a matter between them [Actis] and HMRC”.
No interest? O’Brien’s department, through its 100 percent ownership of CDC, invests £900m of public money in Actis, with a further £500m committed for future investment and plans to plough more into a new, biggest ever Actis fund. The fees Actis earns from all these are earmarked for its “Project Copper” tax dodge through various Cyprus shell companies. If ever the government had leverage over a tax dodger, it does here.
John Marwood
I ♥ cryptic crosswords
Scotch Bun Fun ( anag )
Withnail
Well-Known Forumite
Uck fers (anag)
Withnail
Well-Known Forumite
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“Private Eye has also been publishing during the course of this enquiry what the newspapers don’t publish. In other words, they’ve gone through a number of stories and said, “Actually, it’s rather interesting that this story appeared in this paper but it didn’t cover another aspect.”
Justice Leveson speaking at his own inquiry, 17 May. His observation was not reported in a single national newspaper
“Private Eye has also been publishing during the course of this enquiry what the newspapers don’t publish. In other words, they’ve gone through a number of stories and said, “Actually, it’s rather interesting that this story appeared in this paper but it didn’t cover another aspect.”
Justice Leveson speaking at his own inquiry, 17 May. His observation was not reported in a single national newspaper
Withnail
Well-Known Forumite
WITHNAIL & ONE
“I LOATHE the royal family. They make me want to f**king heave. The thought that any amount of my money or taxes could be funding in any shape or form anything to do with that bunch literally makes my hair want to jump and fall out faster than it already is” – Richard E Grant, Loaded Magazine, 1995.
“Well, I grew up in Swaziland, so because I’ve been a patriot since the day I was born this is the perfect place for me to be.”
- Richard E Grant wearing Union Jack tie, belt and socks on Westminster Bridge, watching the Jubilee flotilla, 2012.
“I LOATHE the royal family. They make me want to f**king heave. The thought that any amount of my money or taxes could be funding in any shape or form anything to do with that bunch literally makes my hair want to jump and fall out faster than it already is” – Richard E Grant, Loaded Magazine, 1995.
“Well, I grew up in Swaziland, so because I’ve been a patriot since the day I was born this is the perfect place for me to be.”
- Richard E Grant wearing Union Jack tie, belt and socks on Westminster Bridge, watching the Jubilee flotilla, 2012.
Withnail
Well-Known Forumite
MARK
THATCHER'S
FUNERAL
ROUTE
The official route Mark
Thatcher will take to his
mother's funeral has been
released...
8.30 am Leave his Central
London hotel by car.
8.45 am Mark takes a
wrong turn approaching
the Strand.
10.15 am He leaves
Junction 9 of the M25.
2.15 pm Finds himself
caught up in a solemn
procession of lorries on the
gyratory system near Dover.
Six days later Spotted by
a C13Q Hercules search
plane near the Mali/Algeria
border.
(we all had similar variants of it didn't we? I had considered posting a 'hope Mark isn't driving the hearse' style quip in advance of the ceremonials, but restrained myself on account of a lack of arsedness)
THATCHER'S
FUNERAL
ROUTE
The official route Mark
Thatcher will take to his
mother's funeral has been
released...
8.30 am Leave his Central
London hotel by car.
8.45 am Mark takes a
wrong turn approaching
the Strand.
10.15 am He leaves
Junction 9 of the M25.
2.15 pm Finds himself
caught up in a solemn
procession of lorries on the
gyratory system near Dover.
Six days later Spotted by
a C13Q Hercules search
plane near the Mali/Algeria
border.
(we all had similar variants of it didn't we? I had considered posting a 'hope Mark isn't driving the hearse' style quip in advance of the ceremonials, but restrained myself on account of a lack of arsedness)
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
Rebekah Brooks - "It's a witch hunt!"
Well, yes, it quite probably is..
Cover of the current edition.
Further interesting coverage - http://order-order.com/2013/10/29/exclusive-cops-trying-to-remove-private-eye-from-shops/ ..
Mikinton
Well-Known Forumite
http://order-order.com/2013/10/29/exclusive-cops-trying-to-remove-private-eye-from-shops/
Police are requesting “on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service” that magazine vendors refrain from selling today’s edition of Private Eye. This afternoon two plain clothes policemen asked this vendor working outside Farringdon Station to take down this week’s Eye. When the vendor, who does not wish to be named, asked them why, they said it was at the request of the CPS, specifically because of the cover featuring Rebekah Brooks. They showed identification. The vendor told the cops he would keep selling them unless they produced a court order. Chilling…
Down the road at the nearby Old Bailey potential jurors were asked if they were readers of Private Eye or Guido Fawkes during the selection process. If they answered affirmatively they were excused from jury service. Anyone else a little hacked off by all this?
Police are requesting “on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service” that magazine vendors refrain from selling today’s edition of Private Eye. This afternoon two plain clothes policemen asked this vendor working outside Farringdon Station to take down this week’s Eye. When the vendor, who does not wish to be named, asked them why, they said it was at the request of the CPS, specifically because of the cover featuring Rebekah Brooks. They showed identification. The vendor told the cops he would keep selling them unless they produced a court order. Chilling…
Down the road at the nearby Old Bailey potential jurors were asked if they were readers of Private Eye or Guido Fawkes during the selection process. If they answered affirmatively they were excused from jury service. Anyone else a little hacked off by all this?
