There's a story in the Sunday Times that's going to either confuse the Daily Mail or is a Daily Mail dream story
A MUSLIM family of Somali origin have protested after social services chose a white lesbian couple to adopt their three-year-old daughter.
They say offers from four members of their extended family to care for the girl were rejected. Relatives want the child to be brought up by a family who share their religious and ethnic background.
There are times I believe that the social services are really just trolling people...
There's a story in the Sunday Times that's going to either confuse the Daily Mail or is a Daily Mail dream story
A MUSLIM family of Somali origin have protested after social services chose a white lesbian couple to adopt their three-year-old daughter.
They say offers from four members of their extended family to care for the girl were rejected. Relatives want the child to be brought up by a family who share their religious and ethnic background.
Two partly Chinese candidates have now been selected in winnable seats: Sarah Yong for the LDs in Somerton & Frome and Sarah Owen for Labour in Hastings & Rye.
AndyJS and any other Bridge fans - the author's now corrected his earlier statement - next and final sderies will air in Sweden Sept 2015 (not 2016) - so presumably here around Xmas. And yes, quite remarkable writing there.
Two partly Chinese candidates have now been selected in winnable seats: Sarah Yong for the LDs in Somerton & Frome and Sarah Owen for Labour in Hastings & Rye.
South Belfast has an ethnic Chinese MLA (Stormont) - Anna Lo of the Alliance Party.
The discussion with the author is on http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/blogbbctv/posts/The-Bridge-Live-web-chat (assume it will stay up after the chat finishes). You have to page through zillions of pending-noderaiton messages to find his replies. Warning - it's full of soilers for anyone who hasn't watched it yet.
AndyJS and any other Bridge fans - the author's now corrected his earlier statement - next and final sderies will air in Sweden Sept 2015 (not 2016) - so presumably here around Xmas. And yes, quite remarkable writing there.
The scene in the female toilets was one of the most difficult to watch (in my experience). It was far worse than any horror film I've seen.
Hmmm despite the spin, a majority of Tories are opposed to a pact with UKIP
When we last asked Conservative members in our monthly survey whether or not the Party should form a pact with UKIP for the next election, they divided a third for, a third against and a third not knowing (34 per cent, 33 per cent and 33 per cent, to be precise).
The best part of nine month months on, the percentage not knowing has been whittled down to a nugatory five per cent. The proportion wanting a deal is up to 41 per cent – just over two in five Tory activists, as I say. 54 per cent, the majority, are against
I think one of the minor reasons people watch The Bridge is to see whether Saga might smile, if only for half a second. And of course she never will because the writers know people are longing for her to do precisely that.
Two partly Chinese candidates have now been selected in winnable seats: Sarah Yong for the LDs in Somerton & Frome and Sarah Owen for Labour in Hastings & Rye.
Iirc (or rather remember reading from twitter) of the 8 seats where incumbent LD MPs are standing down, 6 have been selected, 5 of the 6 candidates are women. (The 6th is Ibrahim Taguri, standing in Brent central).
The latent question of course being how many manage to hold the seat.
The best period for pop music was roughly 1975-85 IMO. Early 80s is my favourite, probably around 1981-84. At the moment I'm listening to Level 42's first 3 albums, which are amazingly good. They were a jazz/funk/pop band in those days before becoming more mainstream in the mid/late 80s.
Some more yougov in the Sunday Times, I'm unamazed by this poll.
A YouGov/Sunday Times survey has found that 56% of men, on meeting a woman, think most or some of the time what they would be like to make love to. The most likely to think about sex at first sight are male professionals aged 25 to 39.
For women, 18% — think of sex the first time they meet a man.
The best period for pop music was roughly 1975-85 IMO. Early 80s is my favourite, probably around 1981-84. At the moment I'm listening to Level 42's first 3 albums, which are amazingly good. They were a jazz/funk/pop band in those days before becoming more mainstream in the mid/late 80s.
For me it was probably 1967 to 1980. As a decade the 70s are very hard to beat. I do havea particular love for the late 70s with the first few albums from Talking Heads, Blondie, Dire Straits, Ian Dury and Squeeze before they all went a bit too professional and smooth.
The best period for pop music was roughly 1975-85 IMO. Early 80s is my favourite, probably around 1981-84. At the moment I'm listening to Level 42's first 3 albums, which are amazingly good. They were a jazz/funk/pop band in those days before becoming more mainstream in the mid/late 80s.
IN 2010, it was: Lab 42%, SNP 20%, LD 19%, Con 17%.. So despite the headlines, the Tory share has actually gone down. Labour may lose a few seats. However, Labour did add 2.5% in 2010 without gaining a single seat. So there is some insulation in their votes.
I really regret never catching Fleetwood Mac, ABBA or Blondie live. The Police would have been on that list too if my best friend had not surprised me by getting us amazing seats at their Cardiff gig a few years ago, my first visit to Wales as well. I have to admit that Sting is like a very good vintage wine, he just gets better with age.
The best period for pop music was roughly 1975-85 IMO. Early 80s is my favourite, probably around 1981-84. At the moment I'm listening to Level 42's first 3 albums, which are amazingly good. They were a jazz/funk/pop band in those days before becoming more mainstream in the mid/late 80s.
Why does iPlayer have time limits when it's obviously possible to use a video/DVD machine to record programmes and keep them as long as you want? (I found an old video the other day recorded by my mum featuring Ken Hom's original Chinese cookery programme from 1984).
Another gripe is that you can't download radio programmes with iPlayer. Only live streaming is available.
IN 2010, it was: Lab 42%, SNP 20%, LD 19%, Con 17%.. So despite the headlines, the Tory share has actually gone down. Labour may lose a few seats. However, Labour did add 2.5% in 2010 without gaining a single seat. So there is some insulation in their votes.
IN 2010, it was: Lab 42%, SNP 20%, LD 19%, Con 17%.. So despite the headlines, the Tory share has actually gone down. Labour may lose a few seats. However, Labour did add 2.5% in 2010 without gaining a single seat. So there is some insulation in their votes.
I'm really fascinated by what will happen in Scotland at the next election. We all know the Lib Dems are getting absolutely hammered there even more than elsewhere in the UK, so where are their lost votes going to go? Labour obviously punched well above their weight in Scotland in 2010, and so arguably are operating at near maximum capacity already, so you'd think they maybe won't put on many extra votes. People make a good argument that people see the SNP as a bit of a wasted vote in Westminster elections, especially if they lose the independence referendum. The idea of a Scottish Tory surge doesn't really make much sense. UKIP are apparently not going anywhere there. Those lost Lib Dem votes are going to have to go somewhere, but, curiously, there doesn't seem any party who stands to be the obvious recipient of them.
54% think Labour will end up raising taxes paid by people on average earnings, not just the rich
28% Say the 50p tax rate will help keep taxes down for those on average earning.
This is the core of their problem. The voters may agree with them on the policy, but it'll still cost them votes if it worsens a general branding problem on tax and/or the economy.
That said, what are the equivalent numbers for the Tories ending up raising taxes paid by people on average earnings? Maybe the voters perceive (correctly, IMHO) that taxes are going up whoever wins.
Your really not getting it on this issue living abroad. Labour took the 10p tax rate away from the lowest earners to fund a 2p tax cut for middle income earners in Gordon Brown's last budget as Chancellor before he entered No10. Most of those low income earners didn't really understand the slight of hand or the impact of what he had done until they opened their pay packets the following year, but it was debated here on PB at the time, and right up until it really impacted on those lowest earners. Brown and his Government on the other hand, only then increased the top rate of tax for the highest earners 57 days before he left Office. He also gave David Cameron as the next PM a pay cut about that time too.
Right now, Osborne has dropped the highest rate from 50p to 45p, but the richest earners continue to pay far more under this government than they ever did over the 13 years that Labour were in power. The lowest earners on the other hand, have now been lifted out of paying income tax at all. The Conservative party is in favour of lower taxes, the Labour party are not. So no, the voters don't currently perceive that the Tories intend to raise taxes for anyone after the GE.
54% think Labour will end up raising taxes paid by people on average earnings, not just the rich
28% Say the 50p tax rate will help keep taxes down for those on average earning.
This is the core of their problem. The voters may agree with them on the policy, but it'll still cost them votes if it worsens a general branding problem on tax and/or the economy.
That said, what are the equivalent numbers for the Tories ending up raising taxes paid by people on average earnings? Maybe the voters perceive (correctly, IMHO) that taxes are going up whoever wins.
'This is the core of their problem. The voters may agree with them on the policy, but it'll still cost them votes if it worsens a general branding problem on tax and/or the economy.'
It's in Labour's DNA to increase taxes whether there's an economic crisis or not,long before the crash of 20008 we had NI hikes,the doubling of council tax and of course the 10p rate scrapped.
Comments
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26003995
LDs 8%, UKIP 12%
Sofia Helin's Saga Noren in The Bridge is a case to be solved in herself, says Clive James":
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/10602238/Clive-James-The-end-of-The-Bridge-I-might-die-of-despair.html
The effects of the 50p tax rate, part I
54% think Labour will end up raising taxes paid by people on average earnings, not just the rich
28% Say the 50p tax rate will help keep taxes down for those on average earning.
18% DK
The effects of the 50p tax rate, part II
16% Think it will raise significant extra revenue and help Labour reduce the deficit
71% Say rich people will find ways of avoiding the increase, so won't raise much
13% DK
On the effects of the 50p tax rate on foreign businesses investing in the UK
49% say it will have little/no effect on the decisions of foreign business leaders to invest in the UK
32% Disagree and say it will deter foreign business leaders in investing and job opportunities will suffer
19% DK
The latent question of course being how many manage to hold the seat.
A YouGov/Sunday Times survey has found that 56% of men, on meeting a woman, think most or some of the time what they would be like to make love to. The most likely to think about sex at first sight are male professionals aged 25 to 39.
For women, 18% — think of sex the first time they meet a man.
There'll be a full round-up in the morning
Overclock your brain using transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to increase the plasticity of your brain. Make your synapses fire faster.
Seriously, do catch it on iplayer. Quite extraordinary.
There's a Welsh spin off that I've just discovered called "Hinterland" which is really good as well.
IN 2010, it was: Lab 42%, SNP 20%, LD 19%, Con 17%.. So despite the headlines, the Tory share has actually gone down. Labour may lose a few seats. However, Labour did add 2.5% in 2010 without gaining a single seat. So there is some insulation in their votes.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25960862
Another gripe is that you can't download radio programmes with iPlayer. Only live streaming is available.
PS Follow ＠thegrugq on the Twitters for good snarky commentary from a security perspective.
That said, what are the equivalent numbers for the Tories ending up raising taxes paid by people on average earnings? Maybe the voters perceive (correctly, IMHO) that taxes are going up whoever wins.
Right now, Osborne has dropped the highest rate from 50p to 45p, but the richest earners continue to pay far more under this government than they ever did over the 13 years that Labour were in power. The lowest earners on the other hand, have now been lifted out of paying income tax at all. The Conservative party is in favour of lower taxes, the Labour party are not. So no, the voters don't currently perceive that the Tories intend to raise taxes for anyone after the GE.
'This is the core of their problem. The voters may agree with them on the policy, but it'll still cost them votes if it worsens a general branding problem on tax and/or the economy.'
It's in Labour's DNA to increase taxes whether there's an economic crisis or not,long before the crash of 20008 we had NI hikes,the doubling of council tax and of course the 10p rate scrapped.