Lloyds is a particular open goal for everyone who isn't a red. Brown brokered the deal to merge Lloyds TSB and HBOS (brilliantly giving us 2/4 bad banks instead of 2/5), now Miliband, himself a Brownite, wants to break up the big bank Labour helped create.
ONS report Dec 13 retail sales up 5.3% on Dec 2012
Sensational.
Good news for renters too as rents fell 1% last month. I wonder if its possible to tell whether this is due to the Housing Benefit reforms or more renters being able to buy.
"The cost of renting a home in England and Wales fell by 1% in December compared with the previous month, a survey suggests.
The annual rise in the costs for tenants also slowed to 1.5%, according to LSL Property Services.
Seven out of 10 regions saw rents fall on a monthly basis, with the sharpest fall in the south east of England (down 2%)."
If the big announcement is indeed the idea of breaking up RBS and Lloyds, the problem with this politically is that any benefits of it are far too long term. The energy price freeze had immediate potential benefits in the eyes of many voters.
This policy would be a bit too abstract for most voters.
I completely agree.With elections next year and Euros shortly where is the speech for Labour`s vote tally to go up.
Instead we seem to be getting another wonky speech from Miliband.
It's a speech for when the tories start to ramp up the "don't let labour ruin it again" attacks in early 2015. As you say it's utility now is questionable to say the least, but little Ed has no choice but to address the issue at some point since the banking crash under labour is going to be front and centre come the election with the tories hammering labour on it 24/7.
He'll do something big on the minimum wage at a later date now thanks to Osbrowne, but he still seems to be paying far too much attention to the Blairites who love this policy wonk stuff.
Imagine 20 years ago you had told Conservative voters that in 2014 we would have a Prime Minister who was fiercely determined to stay inthe EU, raise the minimum wage, introduce gay marriage...
I wonder how many would have thought it would be a Conservative?
"Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
Imagine 20 years ago you had told Conservative voters that in 2014 we would have a Prime Minister who was fiercely determined to stay inthe EU, raise the minimum wage, introduce gay marriage...
Which one upsets you the most or are they all about the same ?
On topic: I greatly admire both Mike and Lord Ashcroft, but on this occasion Mike is right and Lord Ashcroft is wrong. In particular, Mike's third point is absolutely decisive.
Imagine 20 years ago you had told Conservative voters that in 2014 we would have a Prime Minister who was fiercely determined to stay inthe EU, raise the minimum wage, introduce gay marriage...
I wonder how many would have thought it would be a Conservative?
The first shouldnt surprise them - it's always been Tory policy to stay in the EU. The latter two are significant u-turns but the introduction of the minimum wage has shown that the scaremongering about it (2 million jobs lost etc.) was tosh and attitudes towards homosexuality have changed significantly to the point that maintaining their old positions (the ones they held even just 10 years ago) would be electorally damaging.
Changing with the times is generally a good thing for political parties.
On topic: I greatly admire both Mike and Lord Ashcroft, but on this occasion Mike is right and Lord Ashcroft is wrong. In particular, Mike's third point is absolutely decisive.
Europe seems to make certain people lose all political savvy .
Imagine 20 years ago you had told Conservative voters that in 2014 we would have a Prime Minister who was fiercely determined to stay inthe EU, raise the minimum wage, introduce gay marriage...
I wonder how many would have thought it would be a Conservative?
"Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
Many would. The Conservative Party has always been a broad church. Ask any Labour supporter from the 1960, 1970s or 1980s about PFI and most of New Labour's policies - they would not think they are 'Labour' in any shape or form.
Times change. The public change, and political parties have to try to mirror those social changes.
If the Cosnervatives are getting rid of the loonies (and I would count anyone who is now against gay marriage as a loony), then so be it.
Imagine 20 years ago you had told Conservative voters that in 2014 we would have a Prime Minister who was fiercely determined to stay inthe EU, raise the minimum wage, introduce gay marriage...
I wonder how many would have thought it would be a Conservative?
Well, lowering the gay age of consent, and almost all the big pro-EU steps have come from Conservative governments. And raising the minimum wage is easily spun as pro-market reform (since benefits are can be seen as distorting the market by subsidising bad employers) or as reducing benefits-dependency of low-paid workers.
Imagine 20 years ago you had told Conservative voters that in 2014 we would have a Prime Minister who was fiercely determined to stay inthe EU, raise the minimum wage, introduce gay marriage...
I wonder how many would have thought it would be a Conservative?
"Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
Twenty years ago, the Tory government reduced the gay age of consent from 21 to 18.
34 years ago it was a Tory government that legalised gay sex in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Lady Thatcher voted for Leo Abse's bill to decriminalise homosexuality in the 60s.
The Tories have a strange record on gay rights.
We're responsible for some of the worst laws when it comes to the gays, we're also responsible for some of the biggest changes.
Changing with the times is generally a good thing for political parties.
And of course is the absolute hallmark of Conservatism:
In a progressive country change is constant; and the great question is not whether you should resist change which is inevitable, but whether that change should be carried out in deference to the manners, the customs, the laws and the traditions of a people, or whether it should be carried out in deference to abstract principles, and arbitrary and general doctrines.
BTW, has any journalist bothered to ask a Labour front-bencher whether Ed's latest lunacy is compatible with EU law?
The Times have raised that point.
There's also a fundamental point which Ed hasn't also considered, as we've seen with the Lloyds/TSB split, what happens when people don't want to leave a bank but are forced to, they open up a new account at the old bank.
Imagine 20 years ago you had told Conservative voters that in 2014 we would have a Prime Minister who was fiercely determined to stay inthe EU, raise the minimum wage, introduce gay marriage...
Which one upsets you the most or are they all about the same ?
The EU probably is the only one I could honestly say upsets me.
That's not really the point. I never voted Conservative in the first place.
The point really is that tribal posters will cheer almost anything their party does, even when it is a policy that, if the party opposite suggested, they would criticise. Seeing as this is a forum that holds little or no sway in regard to the wider public, you would think the comments would be more independently critical of the party supported, rather than toe the party line in the way (most) MPs are forced to in order to keep onside for job security.
My personal opinion isn't the point. But I feel sure that had Gordon Brown won the last election and introduced gay marriage, Conservative posters would have been saying it was a distraction at a time of economic struggle, and likewise be finding reasons now to say the minimum wage should be left as it is, or possibly reduced.
It would be interesting if posters could "take the Pepsi challenge" and say whether they agreed with a policy without knowing who had suggested it
And of course is the absolute hallmark of Conservatism:
In a progressive country change is constant; and the great question is not whether you should resist change which is inevitable, but whether that change should be carried out in deference to the manners, the customs, the laws and the traditions of a people, or whether it should be carried out in deference to abstract principles, and arbitrary and general doctrines.
Benjamin Disraeli, 1867
As that great liberal Mr Justice Astbury is reputed to have said: "Reform? Reform? Are things not bad enough already?"
ONS report Dec 13 retail sales up 5.3% on Dec 2012
Sensational.
Good news for renters too as rents fell 1% last month. I wonder if its possible to tell whether this is due to the Housing Benefit reforms or more renters being able to buy.
"The cost of renting a home in England and Wales fell by 1% in December compared with the previous month, a survey suggests.
The annual rise in the costs for tenants also slowed to 1.5%, according to LSL Property Services.
Seven out of 10 regions saw rents fall on a monthly basis, with the sharpest fall in the south east of England (down 2%)."
As capital values of residential property rise above the rate of inflation, rents are likely to fall to keep overall yields from property rental operations reasonably stable.
My personal opinion isn't the point. But I feel sure that had Gordon Brown won the last election and introduced gay marriage, Conservative posters would have been saying it was a distraction at a time of economic struggle, and likewise be finding reasons now to say the minimum wage should be left as it is, or possibly reduced.
Plenty of tory MPs said as much at the time and the majority of them opposed it.
'Drop gay marriage Bill and heed ordinary Tories'
Ordinary Conservatives cannot understand why the leadership is being distracted by the issue of gay marriage, and are being treated as "pariahs" for expressing their doubts about a change in the law, says David Burrowes
I suspect a quite few tory MPs will be less than pleased with Osbrowne appearing to adopt the TUC, labour and lib dem proposals on the minimum wage, but we shall see.
The Cameroon leadership and it's spinners can position and triangulate as much as they like but if they can't take the rest of their party with them then what follows is inevitable.
The breakup of Lloyds TSB into Lloyds and TSB upset plenty of people who suddenly found they had no local branch.
I was relieved when after the recent divestment I ended up remaining with Lloyds Bank and a local branch. I do not want another round of that nonsense. I'm capable of deciding who I wish to bank with, I do not need Ed Miliband deciding for me.
@JonathanD@glw I have kept changing banks to get away from Lloyds, but keep finding myself back in their clutches. Sod's law, the recent divestment left me with them.
On topic: I greatly admire both Mike and Lord Ashcroft, but on this occasion Mike is right and Lord Ashcroft is wrong. In particular, Mike's third point is absolutely decisive.
On this rare occasion, I agree with Richard. Mike makes very good points as to why Labour will probably not pledge an in/out referendum between 2015 and 2020. They could instead suggest that at the 2015 election, there is another vote added to the ballot, asking people whether they want an in/out referendum on EU membership to be held in say May 2017. Whether the coalition parties would support legislation allowing this additional ballot is debateable.
On topic, Labour will only pledge a referendum on the EU if it feels obliged to in order to secure power. This is finely balanced, I'd say. On the one hand, it will disappoint former Lib Dems who are currently nestling in the Labour column. On the other hand, it might appeal to some who are currently nestling in the UKIP column. Labour can't yet be sure that they can get to being largest party without such a pledge.
In practice, I expect that indecision will be final and a pledge will not be made. It will be rationalised on the basis that our host sets out above.
As a Liverpool fan, if Villa do win, like they did win last season, I'll have some consolation.
So this is your Murray bet of the day then?
The way we've been playing at home this season I can't see Villa getting anything. Will Sturridge be starting? The way he and Suarez ended the last game was awesome.
The wildcard on Europe would be any treaty changes that might crop up over the next few years. Though the good news for Ed (and the bad news for Dave as it makes his renegotiation really difficult) is that noone seems to want another EU treaty for the next few years (because voters would likely vote it down).
The wildcard on Europe would be any treaty changes that might crop up over the next few years. Though the good news for Ed (and the bad news for Dave as it makes his renegotiation really difficult) is that noone seems to want another EU treaty for the next few years (because voters would likely vote it down).
Ed will want to bend over and sign up for all these treaty changes - wont be good for him if he is in power - will he do a Brown and sneak in to sign when nobody is looking ?
ONS report Dec 13 retail sales up 5.3% on Dec 2012
ONS's retail sales have very much surprised on the upside.
Key findings from the bulletin:
• Year-on-year estimates of the quantity bought in the retail industry showed strong growth in December 2013, increasing by 5.3% compared with December 2012. Comparing the 12 months of 2013 with the 12 months of 2012 the quantity bought in 2013 increased by 1.6% compared with 2012.
• Non-seasonally adjusted data show that small stores experienced higher growth year-on-year than large stores with the amount spent in small stores increasing by 8.1% compared with 2.6% in large stores. Non-food stores provided the main contribution to the growth in the amount spent at small stores.
• The underlying pattern in the data as suggested by the three month-on-three month movement shows much weaker growth (0.4%) than suggested by the year-on-year increase (5.3%). Contractions in the quantity bought in food stores and petrol stations continued to offset growth in the quantity bought in non-food stores and non-store retailing.
• On the month the picture is one of strong growth with the quantity bought increasing by 2.6%. All store types saw an increase in the quantity bought but perhaps most notable is the record month-on-month increase in the quantity bought at department stores of 8.7%.
• In December 2013, the amount spent in the retail industry increased by 6.1% compared with December 2012 and by 2.6% compared with November 2013. Non-seasonally adjusted data show that the average weekly spend in the retail industry in December 2013 was £8.8 billion compared with £8.5 billion in December 2012 and £7.5 billion in November 2013.
• Internet sales, which are seasonally adjusted for the first time in this release, increased by 11.8% in December 2013 compared with December 2012 and by 1.8% compared with November 2013.
• Non-seasonally adjusted data show that the proportion of sales made online decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 11.8% of all retail sales (excluding automotive fuel).
Some very odd and counter-intuitive stats here.
Smalll stores gain share at the expense of the major supermarkets?
Proportion of online sales to total retail sales down?
December sales generally account for around 40% of a year's total. Were December Sales so good that 1.6% year to date annual growth, with December 2013 on December 2012 up 5.3%, that they compensated for just 0.4% Q4 2013 on Q3 2012 growth? If so, October and November sales must have been disastrous which is not reflected in ONS's (or other reporters') earlier bulletins.
So these stats may well be revised in later releases, mostly I suspect to iron out monthly fluctuations.
The fact that the figures show strong volume growth (as opposed to value) bodes well for Q4 2013 GDP figures due next week.
As a Liverpool fan, if Villa do win, like they did win last season, I'll have some consolation.
So this is your Murray bet of the day then?
The way we've been playing at home this season I can't see Villa getting anything. Will Sturridge be starting? The way he and Suarez ended the last game was awesome.
He's fit to start, I suspect he'll be on the bench again.
The wildcard on Europe would be any treaty changes that might crop up over the next few years. Though the good news for Ed (and the bad news for Dave as it makes his renegotiation really difficult) is that noone seems to want another EU treaty for the next few years (because voters would likely vote it down).
Ed will want to bend over and sign up for all these treaty changes - wont be good for him if he is in power - will he do a Brown and sneak in to sign when nobody is looking ?
Dave will be far more keen than Ed to sign up to a new EU treaty.
What we can say is that Ford has dramatically reduced their car making in the UK since we have been in the EU, whilst Honda and Nissan have massively increased theirs.
We heard similar dire warnings from companies about not joining the Euro. They were wrong then, weren't they?
Hang on! You can't have it both ways. On that basis, you can argue Ford reduced their manufacturing because of us not being in the Euro.
If you look at gross investment in Europe in car manufacturing in the post 1999 period, you will find that the UK got a substantially lower proportion than they did in the 1980-1999 period.
Is that anything to do with the Euro? I'd say it's very unlikely.
However, I would argue that leaving the Single Economic Area (and I think this is an important distinction - it is not about leaving the EU, but the SEA/EEA) would be bad for car manufacturing prospects in the UK
Let us assume for a moment that companies are economically rational entities.
If you are making an investment decision for a thirty year period, you *hate* uncertainty. That means that during a period when it is unclear whether Britain will remain part of the SEA or not, one would avoid making additional investments in plants which depend on being part of the SEA. So, say Ford is deciding where to expand Durateq capacity, and the numbers stack up equally well in Krakow, Liverpool and the Basque country. In two of those three you can be absolutely certain about the terms of trade between, and the times to ship product to, the country of the final assembly plant (say Ford's Cologne plant).
If UKIP was committed to membership of the SEA - as, for example Norway is - then I think that issue would be much less of an issue.
However, it is not clear (to me at least) that is UKIP's long-term desire for the UK's trading position. Because of the structure of the SEA/EEA, and free movement of goods and services within that, you are essentially signed up to the Common Customs Tariff and do not get to have much latitude in your external trade agreements. That would make that a non-starter for Socrates, for example.
The wildcard on Europe would be any treaty changes that might crop up over the next few years. Though the good news for Ed (and the bad news for Dave as it makes his renegotiation really difficult) is that noone seems to want another EU treaty for the next few years (because voters would likely vote it down).
Ed will want to bend over and sign up for all these treaty changes - wont be good for him if he is in power - will he do a Brown and sneak in to sign when nobody is looking ?
Dave will be far more keen than Ed to sign up to a new EU treaty.
Well Dave will only sign one after a referendum. Ed wont go to the country.
The wildcard on Europe would be any treaty changes that might crop up over the next few years. Though the good news for Ed (and the bad news for Dave as it makes his renegotiation really difficult) is that noone seems to want another EU treaty for the next few years (because voters would likely vote it down).
Ed will want to bend over and sign up for all these treaty changes - wont be good for him if he is in power - will he do a Brown and sneak in to sign when nobody is looking ?
Dave will be far more keen than Ed to sign up to a new EU treaty.
Well Dave will only sign one after a referendum. Ed wont go to the country.
In certain circumstances Ed would have to go to the country on treaty change. Legislation on the statute book requires one if it is judged to involve transferring powers to the EU, for example.
Imagine 20 years ago you had told Conservative voters that in 2014 we would have a Prime Minister who was fiercely determined to stay inthe EU, raise the minimum wage, introduce gay marriage...
I wonder how many would have thought it would be a Conservative?
The first shouldnt surprise them - it's always been Tory policy to stay in the EU. The latter two are significant u-turns but the introduction of the minimum wage has shown that the scaremongering about it (2 million jobs lost etc.) was tosh and attitudes towards homosexuality have changed significantly to the point that maintaining their old positions (the ones they held even just 10 years ago) would be electorally damaging.
Changing with the times is generally a good thing for political parties.
"Changing with the times is generally a good thing for political parties"
Is it? Do you mean in order to win votes or for the good of the country?
The wildcard on Europe would be any treaty changes that might crop up over the next few years. Though the good news for Ed (and the bad news for Dave as it makes his renegotiation really difficult) is that noone seems to want another EU treaty for the next few years (because voters would likely vote it down).
Ed will want to bend over and sign up for all these treaty changes - wont be good for him if he is in power - will he do a Brown and sneak in to sign when nobody is looking ?
Dave will be far more keen than Ed to sign up to a new EU treaty.
Well Dave will only sign one after a referendum. Ed wont go to the country.
In certain circumstances Ed would have to go to the country on treaty change. Legislation on the statute book requires one if it is judged to involve transferring powers to the EU, for example.
No chance - Ed will weasel out - he knows he would lose.
Imagine 20 years ago you had told Conservative voters that in 2014 we would have a Prime Minister who was fiercely determined to stay inthe EU, raise the minimum wage, introduce gay marriage...
I wonder how many would have thought it would be a Conservative?
The first shouldnt surprise them - it's always been Tory policy to stay in the EU. The latter two are significant u-turns but the introduction of the minimum wage has shown that the scaremongering about it (2 million jobs lost etc.) was tosh and attitudes towards homosexuality have changed significantly to the point that maintaining their old positions (the ones they held even just 10 years ago) would be electorally damaging.
Changing with the times is generally a good thing for political parties.
"Changing with the times is generally a good thing for political parties"
Is it? Do you mean in order to win votes or for the good of the country?
The wildcard on Europe would be any treaty changes that might crop up over the next few years. Though the good news for Ed (and the bad news for Dave as it makes his renegotiation really difficult) is that noone seems to want another EU treaty for the next few years (because voters would likely vote it down).
Ed will want to bend over and sign up for all these treaty changes - wont be good for him if he is in power - will he do a Brown and sneak in to sign when nobody is looking ?
Dave will be far more keen than Ed to sign up to a new EU treaty.
Well Dave will only sign one after a referendum. Ed wont go to the country.
In certain circumstances Ed would have to go to the country on treaty change. Legislation on the statute book requires one if it is judged to involve transferring powers to the EU, for example.
No chance - Ed will weasel out - he knows he would lose.
I'd propose a bet of some kind but the event (there being a treaty change and it transferring powers to the EU) is far too remote a possibility to bother about.
I wonder if the public will be quite so supportive of the dear leader if Osborne decided to give all those luvly Lloyds shares to taxpayers ahead of 2015.
Imagine 20 years ago you had told Conservative voters that in 2014 we would have a Prime Minister who was fiercely determined to stay inthe EU, raise the minimum wage, introduce gay marriage...
I wonder how many would have thought it would be a Conservative?
"Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
Many would. The Conservative Party has always been a broad church. Ask any Labour supporter from the 1960, 1970s or 1980s about PFI and most of New Labour's policies - they would not think they are 'Labour' in any shape or form.
Times change. The public change, and political parties have to try to mirror those social changes.
If the Cosnervatives are getting rid of the loonies (and I would count anyone who is now against gay marriage as a loony), then so be it.
Let them sink in their own cesspool of filth.
Judging by polling, most people who voted Conservative in 2010 opposed gay marriage. Are you really saying the Conservatives should wish to get rid of such voters?
Imagine 20 years ago you had told Conservative voters that in 2014 we would have a Prime Minister who was fiercely determined to stay inthe EU, raise the minimum wage, introduce gay marriage...
I wonder how many would have thought it would be a Conservative?
The first shouldnt surprise them - it's always been Tory policy to stay in the EU. The latter two are significant u-turns but the introduction of the minimum wage has shown that the scaremongering about it (2 million jobs lost etc.) was tosh and attitudes towards homosexuality have changed significantly to the point that maintaining their old positions (the ones they held even just 10 years ago) would be electorally damaging.
Changing with the times is generally a good thing for political parties.
"Changing with the times is generally a good thing for political parties"
Is it? Do you mean in order to win votes or for the good of the country?
I can't imagine what upheaval a third place finish in the Euros would cause inside Labour
Whoever comes 3rd is going to have some serious 'splaining to do. Dave will have the excuse/comfort that this is an EU protest vote and will have a route out via red meat and 'vote UKIP, get Blob' messaging. Miliblob's excuses will be harder to find and believe.
We'll also see across Europe a significant shift towards the anti-EU vote. I expect FN in France, Wilders in NL, Grillo in Italy all to do really well.
There will be a big shift towards Eurosceptic parties in the EU Parliamentary elections. However, you can expect the Socialist and Christian Democratic parties to sink their differences, so there should be little change in the direction of travel.
Looking forward to the left's analysis of the stunning retail sales numbers after claims poor supermarket numbers were a 'barometer of how the electorate is feeling' about the current government.
There was plenty of gloating about the supermarket numbers as a proxy for the whole market, even though many of us did tell our labour friends to factor in big changes in how the electorate shops.
They wouldn't listen, and once again they look like a bunch of seven-year olds on the economy.
Imagine 20 years ago you had told Conservative voters that in 2014 we would have a Prime Minister who was fiercely determined to stay inthe EU, raise the minimum wage, introduce gay marriage...
I wonder how many would have thought it would be a Conservative?
"Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
Many would. The Conservative Party has always been a broad church. Ask any Labour supporter from the 1960, 1970s or 1980s about PFI and most of New Labour's policies - they would not think they are 'Labour' in any shape or form.
Times change. The public change, and political parties have to try to mirror those social changes.
If the Cosnervatives are getting rid of the loonies (and I would count anyone who is now against gay marriage as a loony), then so be it.
Let them sink in their own cesspool of filth.
Judging by polling, most people who voted Conservative in 2010 opposed gay marriage. Are you really saying the Conservatives should wish to get rid of such voters?
People who aren't in favour of gay marriage are Loonies who should sink in a Cesspit of filth... Righto
Imagine 20 years ago you had told Conservative voters that in 2014 we would have a Prime Minister who was fiercely determined to stay inthe EU, raise the minimum wage, introduce gay marriage...
I wonder how many would have thought it would be a Conservative?
"Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
Many would. The Conservative Party has always been a broad church. Ask any Labour supporter from the 1960, 1970s or 1980s about PFI and most of New Labour's policies - they would not think they are 'Labour' in any shape or form.
Times change. The public change, and political parties have to try to mirror those social changes.
If the Cosnervatives are getting rid of the loonies (and I would count anyone who is now against gay marriage as a loony), then so be it.
Let them sink in their own cesspool of filth.
Judging by polling, most people who voted Conservative in 2010 opposed gay marriage. Are you really saying the Conservatives should wish to get rid of such voters?
People who aren't in favour of gay marriage are Loonies who should sink in a Cesspit of filth... Righto
It's the kind of comment that does make me think the Conservatives are doomed. By all means, support gay marriage. But, there's no need to insult your own supporters.
Today’s monthly Political Monitor, however, shows Mr Miliband increasing Labour’s lead to nine points. It has Labour up two points to 39 per cent, and the Conservatives down three to 30. The Liberal Democrats have improved to 13 per cent since last month, overtaking Nigel Farage’s Ukip, who are on 11.
In a finding that will surprise many at Westminster, Ipsos MORI discovered Tory supporters would rather share power with the Liberal Democrats than with Nigel Farage’s Ukip.
Imagine 20 years ago you had told Conservative voters that in 2014 we would have a Prime Minister who was fiercely determined to stay inthe EU, raise the minimum wage, introduce gay marriage...
I wonder how many would have thought it would be a Conservative?
"Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
Many would. The Conservative Party has always been a broad church. Ask any Labour supporter from the 1960, 1970s or 1980s about PFI and most of New Labour's policies - they would not think they are 'Labour' in any shape or form.
Times change. The public change, and political parties have to try to mirror those social changes.
If the Cosnervatives are getting rid of the loonies (and I would count anyone who is now against gay marriage as a loony), then so be it.
Let them sink in their own cesspool of filth.
Judging by polling, most people who voted Conservative in 2010 opposed gay marriage. Are you really saying the Conservatives should wish to get rid of such voters?
People who aren't in favour of gay marriage are Loonies who should sink in a Cesspit of filth... Righto
It's the kind of comment that does make me think the Conservatives are doomed. By all means, support gay marriage. But, there's no need to insult your own supporters.
Seems like the kids that were bullied at school are now bullies themselves
Surely today's good news is Mr Miliband's promise to inject much more competition into the banking sector by breaking up the oligopoly. This is long overdue.
How long will we have to wait until Osborne jumps on the bandwagon ? Get a move on.
Imagine 20 years ago you had told Conservative voters that in 2014 we would have a Prime Minister who was fiercely determined to stay inthe EU, raise the minimum wage, introduce gay marriage...
I wonder how many would have thought it would be a Conservative?
"Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
Many would. The Conservative Party has always been a broad church. Ask any Labour supporter from the 1960, 1970s or 1980s about PFI and most of New Labour's policies - they would not think they are 'Labour' in any shape or form.
Times change. The public change, and political parties have to try to mirror those social changes.
If the Cosnervatives are getting rid of the loonies (and I would count anyone who is now against gay marriage as a loony), then so be it.
Let them sink in their own cesspool of filth.
Judging by polling, most people who voted Conservative in 2010 opposed gay marriage. Are you really saying the Conservatives should wish to get rid of such voters?
People who aren't in favour of gay marriage are Loonies who should sink in a Cesspit of filth... Righto
It's the kind of comment that does make me think the Conservatives are doomed. By all means, support gay marriage. But, there's no need to insult your own supporters.
Seems like the kids that were bullied at school are now bullies themselves
Maybe that was always their ambition
Sorry, bullies / bullying, what are you going on about?!
@JonathanD@glw I have kept changing banks to get away from Lloyds, but keep finding myself back in their clutches. Sod's law, the recent divestment left me with them.
What angers me is that LLoyds in the form of the C&G are closing our term savings accounts on expiry of the current term, and sending cheques at some unspecified time within a span of a month - so we have no idea when to expect them. This is forced, with no option of transferring directly to another bank through the banking system. This is bad enough for us but it is very much upsetting elderly relatives with substantial life savings in such accounts. I certainly won't be banking with them again!!
Comments
Lloyds is a particular open goal for everyone who isn't a red. Brown brokered the deal to merge Lloyds TSB and HBOS (brilliantly giving us 2/4 bad banks instead of 2/5), now Miliband, himself a Brownite, wants to break up the big bank Labour helped create.
Good news for renters too as rents fell 1% last month. I wonder if its possible to tell whether this is due to the Housing Benefit reforms or more renters being able to buy.
"The cost of renting a home in England and Wales fell by 1% in December compared with the previous month, a survey suggests.
The annual rise in the costs for tenants also slowed to 1.5%, according to LSL Property Services.
Seven out of 10 regions saw rents fall on a monthly basis, with the sharpest fall in the south east of England (down 2%)."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25759847
He'll do something big on the minimum wage at a later date now thanks to Osbrowne, but he still seems to be paying far too much attention to the Blairites who love this policy wonk stuff.
I wonder how many would have thought it would be a Conservative?
"Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
Lord Ashcroft @LordAshcroft 1h
Survation poll. CON 30% LAB 34% LDEM 12% UKIP 18%
Changing with the times is generally a good thing for political parties.
Times change. The public change, and political parties have to try to mirror those social changes.
If the Cosnervatives are getting rid of the loonies (and I would count anyone who is now against gay marriage as a loony), then so be it.
Let them sink in their own cesspool of filth.
34 years ago it was a Tory government that legalised gay sex in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Lady Thatcher voted for Leo Abse's bill to decriminalise homosexuality in the 60s.
The Tories have a strange record on gay rights.
We're responsible for some of the worst laws when it comes to the gays, we're also responsible for some of the biggest changes.
In a progressive country change is constant; and the great question is not whether you should resist change which is inevitable, but whether that change should be carried out in deference to the manners, the customs, the laws and the traditions of a people, or whether it should be carried out in deference to abstract principles, and arbitrary and general doctrines.
Benjamin Disraeli, 1867
There's also a fundamental point which Ed hasn't also considered, as we've seen with the Lloyds/TSB split, what happens when people don't want to leave a bank but are forced to, they open up a new account at the old bank.
That's not really the point. I never voted Conservative in the first place.
The point really is that tribal posters will cheer almost anything their party does, even when it is a policy that, if the party opposite suggested, they would criticise. Seeing as this is a forum that holds little or no sway in regard to the wider public, you would think the comments would be more independently critical of the party supported, rather than toe the party line in the way (most) MPs are forced to in order to keep onside for job security.
My personal opinion isn't the point. But I feel sure that had Gordon Brown won the last election and introduced gay marriage, Conservative posters would have been saying it was a distraction at a time of economic struggle, and likewise be finding reasons now to say the minimum wage should be left as it is, or possibly reduced.
It would be interesting if posters could "take the Pepsi challenge" and say whether they agreed with a policy without knowing who had suggested it
New Populus VI figures: Lab 40 (+2); Cons 33 (=); LD 13 (+1); UKIP 9 (=); Oth 6 (-1) Tables http://popu.lu/s_vi140117
Tories unimpressed by Labour plan for new banks as they've already created 500 new banks themselves. Yes they're all food banks but still...
Funny!
The Cameroon leadership and it's spinners can position and triangulate as much as they like but if they can't take the rest of their party with them then what follows is inevitable.
Man City to score exactly 5 goals against Cardiff 13/2, and 6 or more at 15/2
http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/man-city-v-cardiff-city/total-home-goals
Villa to beat Liverpool at 14/1
http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/liverpool-v-aston-villa/winner
and
Suarez to score two or more goals against the Villa 7/4
http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/liverpool-v-aston-villa/to-score-2-or-more-goals
After Murray, are these predictions - or warnings to others to stay well clear? : )
In practice, I expect that indecision will be final and a pledge will not be made. It will be rationalised on the basis that our host sets out above.
The way we've been playing at home this season I can't see Villa getting anything.
Will Sturridge be starting? The way he and Suarez ended the last game was awesome.
Key findings from the bulletin:
• Year-on-year estimates of the quantity bought in the retail industry showed strong growth in December 2013, increasing by 5.3% compared with December 2012. Comparing the 12 months of 2013 with the 12 months of 2012 the quantity bought in 2013 increased by 1.6% compared with 2012.
• Non-seasonally adjusted data show that small stores experienced higher growth year-on-year than large stores with the amount spent in small stores increasing by 8.1% compared with 2.6% in large stores. Non-food stores provided the main contribution to the growth in the amount spent at small stores.
• The underlying pattern in the data as suggested by the three month-on-three month movement shows much weaker growth (0.4%) than suggested by the year-on-year increase (5.3%). Contractions in the quantity bought in food stores and petrol stations continued to offset growth in the quantity bought in non-food stores and non-store retailing.
• On the month the picture is one of strong growth with the quantity bought increasing by 2.6%. All store types saw an increase in the quantity bought but perhaps most notable is the record month-on-month increase in the quantity bought at department stores of 8.7%.
• In December 2013, the amount spent in the retail industry increased by 6.1% compared with December 2012 and by 2.6% compared with November 2013. Non-seasonally adjusted data show that the average weekly spend in the retail industry in December 2013 was £8.8 billion compared with £8.5 billion in December 2012 and £7.5 billion in November 2013.
• Internet sales, which are seasonally adjusted for the first time in this release, increased by 11.8% in December 2013 compared with December 2012 and by 1.8% compared with November 2013.
• Non-seasonally adjusted data show that the proportion of sales made online decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 11.8% of all retail sales (excluding automotive fuel).
Some very odd and counter-intuitive stats here.
Smalll stores gain share at the expense of the major supermarkets?
Proportion of online sales to total retail sales down?
December sales generally account for around 40% of a year's total. Were December Sales so good that 1.6% year to date annual growth, with December 2013 on December 2012 up 5.3%, that they compensated for just 0.4% Q4 2013 on Q3 2012 growth? If so, October and November sales must have been disastrous which is not reflected in ONS's (or other reporters') earlier bulletins.
So these stats may well be revised in later releases, mostly I suspect to iron out monthly fluctuations.
The fact that the figures show strong volume growth (as opposed to value) bodes well for Q4 2013 GDP figures due next week.
If you look at gross investment in Europe in car manufacturing in the post 1999 period, you will find that the UK got a substantially lower proportion than they did in the 1980-1999 period.
Is that anything to do with the Euro? I'd say it's very unlikely.
However, I would argue that leaving the Single Economic Area (and I think this is an important distinction - it is not about leaving the EU, but the SEA/EEA) would be bad for car manufacturing prospects in the UK
Let us assume for a moment that companies are economically rational entities.
If you are making an investment decision for a thirty year period, you *hate* uncertainty. That means that during a period when it is unclear whether Britain will remain part of the SEA or not, one would avoid making additional investments in plants which depend on being part of the SEA. So, say Ford is deciding where to expand Durateq capacity, and the numbers stack up equally well in Krakow, Liverpool and the Basque country. In two of those three you can be absolutely certain about the terms of trade between, and the times to ship product to, the country of the final assembly plant (say Ford's Cologne plant).
If UKIP was committed to membership of the SEA - as, for example Norway is - then I think that issue would be much less of an issue.
However, it is not clear (to me at least) that is UKIP's long-term desire for the UK's trading position. Because of the structure of the SEA/EEA, and free movement of goods and services within that, you are essentially signed up to the Common Customs Tariff and do not get to have much latitude in your external trade agreements. That would make that a non-starter for Socrates, for example.
However, given my current form, I'm tempted to back a Tory Majority in 2015.
http://order-order.com/2013/12/19/shamed-pictures-of-mps-laughing-in-food-bank-debate/
Is it? Do you mean in order to win votes or for the good of the country?
Japanese consumer confidence is now lower than when Abenomics was first announced...
http://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/mwvpa6bhly/YG-Archive-140115-Class.pdf
I wonder if the public will be quite so supportive of the dear leader if Osborne decided to give all those luvly Lloyds shares to taxpayers ahead of 2015.
Lloyds are around 84bp today.
There was plenty of gloating about the supermarket numbers as a proxy for the whole market, even though many of us did tell our labour friends to factor in big changes in how the electorate shops.
They wouldn't listen, and once again they look like a bunch of seven-year olds on the economy.
Eng +0
12 from 6 with Bresnan to bowl :P
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/271794/2901475_HMG_Scotland_EUandInternational_acc2.pdf
I think the question is how did they lose that?
Bonkers lol
Zara Philips rounds of Ed Miliband's nightmare week.
England = Labour 2015 GE. "How did they lose that?"
Today’s monthly Political Monitor, however, shows Mr Miliband increasing Labour’s lead to nine points. It has Labour up two points to 39 per cent, and the Conservatives down three to 30. The Liberal Democrats have improved to 13 per cent since last month, overtaking Nigel Farage’s Ukip, who are on 11.
In a finding that will surprise many at Westminster, Ipsos MORI discovered Tory supporters would rather share power with the Liberal Democrats than with Nigel Farage’s Ukip.
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/two-thirds-of-voters-dont-want-another-coalition-poll-reveals-9066863.html
Maybe that was always their ambition
Surely today's good news is Mr Miliband's promise to inject much more competition into the banking sector by breaking up the oligopoly. This is long overdue.
How long will we have to wait until Osborne jumps on the bandwagon ? Get a move on.
Lab 39 (+2)
Con 33 (-3)
LD 13 (+4)
UKIP 11 (+1)
LLoyds/ RBS Share prices softened today and some city experts are saying the prospects of the government being able to sell shares are reduced.
A small example of the carnage Milliband would cause if he ever got to government.
I also have backed them to be relegated.