Wow, its like old times tonight - JackW, Ave_it, SeanT (all welcome back).......has a by-election ever been more over-shadowed by events? When is the declaration due?
Now, the useless Met Office getting the forecast wrong for tomorrow night's storm, just as they got yesterday hopelessly wrong:
I think being a part of the Union gives Scots a range of opportunities for advancement and success they would not have in a small country like Scotland. Gordon Brown and Alastair Darling are obvious examples in politics but there are many other examples in business, commerce and culture.
ROFL
Absolutely priceless.
You have to hand it to PB tories.
They just can't help themselves and they don't even seem to have a clue they are doing it.
It's quite the puzzle why there are more pandas than tory MPs in scotland.
Come now Mr Pork, be fair - whatever the situation of Scottish Tory MPs, there are rather more Tory MSPs than pandas, if still about the level of the red-necked phalarope population.
But more seriously, Mr @DavidL, this jobs advantage of union is surely irrelevant unless someone is seriously proposing to shut off immigration and raise the borders, as we are all in the EU together or separately.
Wow, I hadn't realised that a minor by-election in a tediously safe seat was so exciting. Still, if it pulls both the great SeanT and the inimitable Ave It, who's complaining?
Add to that the welcome return in recent days of Socrates, Marquee Mark, Hurst Llama, Casino Royale, and others who have perhaps not been altogether absent but who have not been posting much, and all one can say is: Hooray.
Politics getting interesting again, as the countdown to May 2015 ticks on?
I am having trouble with the Lib Dem position on sterling and Independence for Scotland, perhaps someone can explain why going the Euro for the UK puts the UK in a different position to an Independent Scotland being part of a sterling area?
I am having trouble with the Lib Dem position on sterling and Independence for Scotland, perhaps someone can explain why going the Euro for the UK puts the UK in a different position to an Independent Scotland being part of a sterling area?
If joining the a euro is still their policy - yup it's a farcical position. But is joining the Euro still their policy?
someone was asking about Birmingham Kingstanding earlier in the thread . This is usually a pretty safe Labour ward but the Conservative candidate Gary Sambrook has pretty much single handedly turned it into a marginal seat . He has followed Lib Dem style local campaigning and has come close to winning a couple of times . I expect he will be a bit short again today . Without him as candidate Labour would win fairly easily .
Thanks Ave_it. Our season turned around in late November once the false rape allegations against seven of our players were dropped after the fateful pre-season training in Cornwall. Interesting season for Watford - nearly the cup shock of the century a few weeks back!
I had a day from hell yesterday with back pain so severe I ended up in casualty for painkilling injections. But did the BoE really raise their growth forecast for this year to 3.4%? Wow.
Wow, I hadn't realised that a minor by-election in a tediously safe seat was so exciting. Still, if it pulls both the great SeanT and the inimitable Ave It, who's complaining?
Add to that the welcome return in recent days of Socrates, Marquee Mark, Hurst Llama, Casino Royale, and others who have perhaps not been altogether absent but who have not been posting much, and all one can say is: Hooray.
Politics getting interesting again, as the countdown to May 2015 ticks on?
A load more rightwingers, exactly what PB was crying out for.
We could certainly do with some intelligent left-wingers, but mostly the left seem to be entirely motivated by a rather unpleasant and certainly uninteresting anti-Tory prejudice. Nick Palmer and Southam excepted, of course. The best is Hopi Sen, but he posts here very rarely, unfortunately.
PBTories won't be happy -- the dirty Scunthorpe audience on Question Time are having the temerity to question why the southeasterners are getting pampered just because some middle-class people from the Home Counties got some damp carpets.
Indeed. The putrid stench of hypocrisy on here does seem overpowering until that matter is settled.
"tim" left of his own volition
Wrong.
Chapter and very please, including links.
Thank you.
No "JackW" after you if you don't mind. You made the assertion first so back it up.
Afterwards I can if you like link where tim left and detail why, but do you really want that "JackW"?
Best accept that the reasons he left were very far from voluntary and that until he comes back pretending otherwise is just a bit pathetic and certainly not even close to the truth.
Er .... I think you'll find that you "Porky" asserted @ 10.11pm that the "putrid stench of hypocrisy" hung over "tim's" departure"
So "Porky", put up or shut up.
Dear oh dear. You seriously want me to start spelling it out do you? Entirely your choice. Remember that "JackW"
The hypocrisy is self-evidently in not having a poster here who was forced to leave by the malicious revealing of his personal and family details and WHO it was who did that hence why he has not returned.
Since you know this to be true now it is your turn.
I had a day from hell yesterday with back pain so severe I ended up in casualty for painkilling injections. But did the BoE really raise their growth forecast for this year to 3.4%? Wow.
Nick Clegg brushes aside threat of legal action over Lord Rennard's suspension http://bit.ly/MgnrT2
No-one ever lost money betting against the Lib Dems (well not since 2010).
Funnily enough during the 2005 election campaign I found myself going door to door around much of Cardiff Central (due to work not part of the campaign alas). There were not a great many placards but they tended to be Labour or Lib Dem reflecting the battle going on in the area. I did come across one Tory placard, a great big one erected in the front garden. Next door had a whole load of Labour stuff dotted around. I later found out that that was the home of the Labour MP.
I had a day from hell yesterday with back pain so severe I ended up in casualty for painkilling injections. But did the BoE really raise their growth forecast for this year to 3.4%? Wow.
How's the market crash coming along Hunchman?
Its still coming.......eventually. Lets see what happens in April, I've got a feeling its going to be a humdinger of a month one way or another. Things should look very different by the time of the European elections in early May.
Have the PB nats gotten used to the idea that independence might actually lead to independence yet?
Have the PBtories and their hangers on finally managed to process the fact that Osborne isn't very popular in scotland? Or that an issue that only 2% of the scottish public thought was most important is just a bit of a stretch to base an entire NO campaign on?
@BBCNewsnight: Frmr SNP Dep Leader Jim Sillars: I can't explain why Alex Salmond doesn't have a contingency #newsnight
Bloody PB Tory
That nats seem to think that what they want is what will happen. They won't consider any outcome other than their vision of an idealised near-Arcadian independent Scotland.
And it's not only the currency issue that they are sticking their fingers in their ears about. They won't hear any of the arguments or downsides relating to things like defence, finance and banking, admission into the EU, oil production, ship building, higher education, dividing up the national debt, and on and on.
If you can believe the nats they are going to win the referendum, despite the polls saying otherwise, but even if we give them the benefit of the doubt they appear completely unprepared for dealing with the reality of being an independent nation.
PBTories won't be happy -- the dirty Scunthorpe audience on Question Time are having the temerity to question why the southeasterners are getting pampered just because some middle-class people from the Home Counties got some damp carpets.
I'd like to stamp on this 'damp carpets' nonsense.
I have never - luckily - suffered a flood in my home, but my office was completely flooded out in 2000, so I've got a feel for how absolutely appalling it is. Even when it was just the office, and we could lock up and call the insurance company and not be affected personally, it was pretty traumatic. Everything, but everything, is wrecked, with a filthy, sewage-contaminated yuk which gets everywhere. It is absolutely disgusting. If it happens to your home, it must be absolutely awful. And it takes many months to clear up and dry out - you have to move into rented accommodation for months.
So please, a bit more sympathy for the poor people who have to suffer this appalling tragedy.
I had a day from hell yesterday with back pain so severe I ended up in casualty for painkilling injections. But did the BoE really raise their growth forecast for this year to 3.4%? Wow.
How's the market crash coming along Hunchman?
Its still coming.......eventually. Lets see what happens in April, I've got a feeling its going to be a humdinger of a month one way or another. Things should look very different by the time of the European elections in early May.
I had a day from hell yesterday with back pain so severe I ended up in casualty for painkilling injections. But did the BoE really raise their growth forecast for this year to 3.4%? Wow.
How's the market crash coming along Hunchman?
What caused that?
If you mean my back I really don't know. I was leaning over to pick up my phone and it went into spasm. Never had anything like it. Felt like a total woose.
And of course I remember the cynicism I had expressed over the years about PI claims involving back pain. Karma sure enough.
What brought you out of self imposed hibernation, Ave_it?
Warming up for GE2015!
We'd better hope you warm up better than previous UK and US elections.
Titters ....
Like your LD forecast 2010?
Tee Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Welcome back Ave_it
I'm sure you must be mistaken. "JackW" never tires of telling everyone his arse is the most important predictive tool on PB. The thought that his arse completely failed him in a time of need is a distressing one indeed. Sadly old age comes to us all.
I had a day from hell yesterday with back pain so severe I ended up in casualty for painkilling injections. But did the BoE really raise their growth forecast for this year to 3.4%? Wow.
How's the market crash coming along Hunchman?
Its still coming.......eventually. Lets see what happens in April, I've got a feeling its going to be a humdinger of a month one way or another. Things should look very different by the time of the European elections in early May.
I had a day from hell yesterday with back pain so severe I ended up in casualty for painkilling injections. But did the BoE really raise their growth forecast for this year to 3.4%? Wow.
How's the market crash coming along Hunchman?
Its still coming.......eventually. Lets see what happens in April, I've got a feeling its going to be a humdinger of a month one way or another. Things should look very different by the time of the European elections in early May.
FTSE 9000 ?!!!
In your dreams Ave_it!
Whilst that would bump my pension pot a smidgen its unlikely.
What brought you out of self imposed hibernation, Ave_it?
Warming up for GE2015!
We'd better hope you warm up better than previous UK and US elections.
Titters ....
Like your LD forecast 2010?
Tee Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Welcome back Ave_it
I'm sure you must be mistaken. "JackW" never tires of telling everyone his arse is the most important predictive tool on PB. The thought that his arse completely failed him in a time of need is a distressing one indeed. Sadly old age comes to us all.
I had a day from hell yesterday with back pain so severe I ended up in casualty for painkilling injections. But did the BoE really raise their growth forecast for this year to 3.4%? Wow.
How's the market crash coming along Hunchman?
What caused that?
If you mean my back I really don't know. I was leaning over to pick up my phone and it went into spasm. Never had anything like it. Felt like a total woose.
And of course I remember the cynicism I had expressed over the years about PI claims involving back pain. Karma sure enough.
:-)
You'll have to commit yourself to 1000 hours of pilates as penance.
I agree. The assumption that Southerners are rich and deserve it shows both who the real nasty party is, and also why "One Nation" Labour is a hollow joke.
PBTories won't be happy -- the dirty Scunthorpe audience on Question Time are having the temerity to question why the southeasterners are getting pampered just because some middle-class people from the Home Counties got some damp carpets.
I'd like to stamp on this 'damp carpets' nonsense.
I have never - luckily - suffered a flood in my home, but my office was completely flooded out in 2000, so I've got a feel for how absolutely appalling it is. Even when it was just the office, and we could lock up and call the insurance company and not be affected personally, it was pretty traumatic. Everything, but everything, is wrecked, with a filthy, sewage-contaminated yuk which gets everywhere. It is absolutely disgusting. If it happens to your home, it must be absolutely awful. And it takes many months to clear up and dry out - you have to move into rented accommodation for months.
So please, a bit more sympathy for the poor people who have to suffer this appalling tragedy.
I had a day from hell yesterday with back pain so severe I ended up in casualty for painkilling injections. But did the BoE really raise their growth forecast for this year to 3.4%? Wow.
How's the market crash coming along Hunchman?
Its still coming.......eventually. Lets see what happens in April, I've got a feeling its going to be a humdinger of a month one way or another. Things should look very different by the time of the European elections in early May.
Only UKIP give a monkey's about the Euro elections Hunchman. Would you be confident that the stock market will be below 6000 by the end of the year then?
Only a massive disruption in China could achieve that in my opinion.
The Environment Agency deserve gongs, awards, pay rises, everything going.
The flood defences they've built in recent years and actions they've taken in response have kept millions of people safe during the worst weather for ever.
And Labour and Tory Governments deserve credit too.
Let's hope support for the EA increases to deal with climate change.
PBTories won't be happy -- the dirty Scunthorpe audience on Question Time are having the temerity to question why the southeasterners are getting pampered just because some middle-class people from the Home Counties got some damp carpets.
I'd like to stamp on this 'damp carpets' nonsense.
I have never - luckily - suffered a flood in my home, but my office was completely flooded out in 2000, so I've got a feel for how absolutely appalling it is. Even when it was just the office, and we could lock up and call the insurance company and not be affected personally, it was pretty traumatic. Everything, but everything, is wrecked, with a filthy, sewage-contaminated yuk which gets everywhere. It is absolutely disgusting. If it happens to your home, it must be absolutely awful. And it takes many months to clear up and dry out - you have to move into rented accommodation for months.
So please, a bit more sympathy for the poor people who have to suffer this appalling tragedy.
Of course I have sympathy for anyone who's suffered from flooding, but I have a hell of a lot more sympathy for anyone who has to go to a food bank, anyone who has their pathetic benefit levels cut further, anyone who's lost their job in the last few years, since their pain lasts a lot longer and goes a bit deeper than anyone who has to temporarily leave their home or even -God forbid - has to move to another semi-detached comfy house.
And, let's be honest, there is strong overlap between many of those people who were tutting at the benefits "dependency culture", insisting on personal responsibility, saying their hard-earned money should not be taken by government, and cheering the massive public-sector job losses in the name of deficit reduction, who now suddenly think the deficit isn't such a big deal and that personal responsibility doesn't matter so much now that they're in trouble and demanding a handout.
Nick Clegg brushes aside threat of legal action over Lord Rennard's suspension http://bit.ly/MgnrT2
No-one ever lost money betting against the Lib Dems (well not since 2010).
Funnily enough during the 2005 election campaign I found myself going door to door around much of Cardiff Central (due to work not part of the campaign alas). There were not a great many placards but they tended to be Labour or Lib Dem reflecting the battle going on in the area. I did come across one Tory placard, a great big one erected in the front garden. Next door had a whole load of Labour stuff dotted around. I later found out that that was the home of the Labour MP.
A common practice. Far more embarrassing to be the candidate and not bother with any placards or posters. Bit hard to explain that away.
There will of course be cries of Eastleigh and that's quite true but lest we forget Chris Hunhe was quite possibly the second most powerful lib dem MP there was. He was the runner up to Clegg and if Rennard had not disallowed some ballots then he would have won the leadership. If a seat that had such a prominent lib dem could not be relied on, with all the activists that had cultivated over the years, then precisely where is safe? The irony is Clegg was caught fumbling with the Rennard allegations at that time and was floundering badly so if Eastleigh had been just a few days later the lib dems might not have won.
A forecast: Deborah Linton has tweeted this about the expected result: "Labour sources indicate they're expecting 45-50pc of vote and UkIP around 25pc"
The Environment Agency deserve gongs, awards, pay rises, everything going.
The flood defences they've built in recent years and actions they've taken in response have kept millions of people safe during the worst weather for ever.
And Labour and Tory Governments deserve credit too.
Let's hope support for the EA increases to deal with climate change.
The EA have utterly failed in their task of protecting people and property from flooding. And they have done it - in part at least - on purpose. As you would have seen if you bothered to read the EA flood management plan I linked to earlier today which explicitly showed that they are flooding the levels on purpose.
And by the way it is not the worst weather ever. It is not even close.
Of course you being a man who doesn't like awkward things like facts to get in the way of your delusions I am not surprised you have failed to appreciate that.
Janice Atkinson will become an MEP in May. She is second on South East list. She was a Tory candidate in 2010 GE but she didn't get a good result. She stood in Batley and Spen.
I agree. The assumption that Southerners are rich and deserve it shows both who the real nasty party is, and also why "One Nation" Labour is a hollow joke.
Mind you, getting flooded out did have its amusing moments as well. The best was the day after the flood, when we finally managed to get back into the office. We were standing around trying to figure out what to do next, with everything dripping with sewage-filthy water. You couldn't even wash anything because there was nowhere clean to place it if you did manage to get it clean.
Then a van draws up and a guy comes into the sodden, dripping office, and says he's come to service the photocopier. "Well, it isn't giving very clear copies...", says a colleague of mine.
Of course I have sympathy for anyone who's suffered from flooding, but I have a hell of a lot more sympathy for anyone who has to go to a food bank, anyone who has their pathetic benefit levels cut further, anyone who's lost their job in the last few years, since their pain lasts a lot longer and goes a bit deeper than anyone who has to temporarily leave their home or even -God forbid - has to move to another semi-detached comfy house.
What a revolting sentiment. You don't have any sympathy for those who have suffered. More fool you.
PBTories won't be happy -- the dirty Scunthorpe audience on Question Time are having the temerity to question why the southeasterners are getting pampered just because some middle-class people from the Home Counties got some damp carpets.
I'd like to stamp on this 'damp carpets' nonsense.
I have never - luckily - suffered a flood in my home, but my office was completely flooded out in 2000, so I've got a feel for how absolutely appalling it is. Even when it was just the office, and we could lock up and call the insurance company and not be affected personally, it was pretty traumatic. Everything, but everything, is wrecked, with a filthy, sewage-contaminated yuk which gets everywhere. It is absolutely disgusting. If it happens to your home, it must be absolutely awful. And it takes many months to clear up and dry out - you have to move into rented accommodation for months.
So please, a bit more sympathy for the poor people who have to suffer this appalling tragedy.
Its another case of bad visuals from Cameron.
He wasn't interested in the Somerset farmers being flooded, he wasn't interested in the Yorkshire floods of 2007 but now he's very much concerned with apparantly unlimited money available when the stockbroker belt is affected.
But to be even handed the Labour government didn't give a toss about the Yorkshire floods of 2007 either and Cameron preferred to go on a mud hut building photostunt when his own constituency was flooded that year.
It will though add to the image that the political establishment is only interested in issues if London is affected.
The Environment Agency deserve gongs, awards, pay rises, everything going.
The flood defences they've built in recent years and actions they've taken in response have kept millions of people safe during the worst weather for ever.
And Labour and Tory Governments deserve credit too.
Let's hope support for the EA increases to deal with climate change.
Getting colder you mean?
More extreme weather events, so quite possibly exceptional cold spells yes.
The Environment Agency deserve gongs, awards, pay rises, everything going.
The flood defences they've built in recent years and actions they've taken in response have kept millions of people safe during the worst weather for ever.
And Labour and Tory Governments deserve credit too.
Let's hope support for the EA increases to deal with climate change.
Getting colder you mean?
More extreme weather events, so quite possibly exceptional cold spells yes.
Amazing to see the mini-ice age conditions taking place, with the jet stream moving ever further southwards. That was really forecast by the AGW crowd wasn't it?! They said it was going to move northwards as the warm air from the equator would meet the colder air from the poles at ever higher latitudes.
These were some of the great storms that lashed England in the 17th century at the time of the Maunder minimum:
A forecast: Deborah Linton has tweeted this about the expected result: "Labour sources indicate they're expecting 45-50pc of vote and UkIP around 25pc"
The Environment Agency deserve gongs, awards, pay rises, everything going.
The flood defences they've built in recent years and actions they've taken in response have kept millions of people safe during the worst weather for ever.
And Labour and Tory Governments deserve credit too.
Let's hope support for the EA increases to deal with climate change.
Getting colder you mean?
More extreme weather events, so quite possibly exceptional cold spells yes.
LOL This from a man who knows so little about the climate he got all confused and scuttled off when I started talking about feedback mechanisms and forcing a few nights ago.
If you don't know what you are talking about Hugh you had best keep quiet or you just embarrass yourself.
The Environment Agency deserve gongs, awards, pay rises, everything going.
The flood defences they've built in recent years and actions they've taken in response have kept millions of people safe during the worst weather for ever.
And Labour and Tory Governments deserve credit too.
Let's hope support for the EA increases to deal with climate change.
Getting colder you mean?
More extreme weather events, so quite possibly exceptional cold spells yes.
Will it be called Global Cooling?
Global temperatures have been falling since the El Nino of 1998, and should do so until 2035 on the credible non-AGW research that I've seen. As well as the great storms this winter, we can expect some bone chillingly cold winters - remember December 2010 anyone? - the coldest December in over 100 years.
He wasn't interested in the Somerset farmers being flooded, he wasn't interested in the Yorkshire floods of 2007 but now he's very much concerned with apparantly unlimited money available when the stockbroker belt is affected.
But to be even handed the Labour government didn't give a toss about the Yorkshire floods of 2007 either and Cameron preferred to go on a mud hut building photostunt when his own constituency was flooded that year.
It will though add to the image that the political establishment is only interested in issues if London is affected.
Your prejudice against Cameron knows no bounds. If anything, I'd say he and the government (and the media) have, at least until the last few days, rather neglected the flood victims of Berkshire, Surrey and Kent compared with those (a much smaller number) hit in the Somerset Levels.
Of course I have sympathy for anyone who's suffered from flooding, but I have a hell of a lot more sympathy for anyone who has to go to a food bank, anyone who has their pathetic benefit levels cut further, anyone who's lost their job in the last few years, since their pain lasts a lot longer and goes a bit deeper than anyone who has to temporarily leave their home or even -God forbid - has to move to another semi-detached comfy house.
What a revolting sentiment. You don't have any sympathy for those who have suffered. More fool you.
I started my post by saying I had sympathy for them. But that doesn't change the fact that, even despite their current transient bad situation, they're still in a very privileged situation compared to many other people in the country, who the Establishment don't give a toss about and who the very same victims of the current flooding have cheered the punishing of.
Wow, I hadn't realised that a minor by-election in a tediously safe seat was so exciting. Still, if it pulls both the great SeanT and the inimitable Ave It, who's complaining?
Add to that the welcome return in recent days of Socrates, Marquee Mark, Hurst Llama, Casino Royale, and others who have perhaps not been altogether absent but who have not been posting much, and all one can say is: Hooray.
Politics getting interesting again, as the countdown to May 2015 ticks on?
A load more rightwingers, exactly what PB was crying out for.
We could certainly do with some intelligent left-wingers, but mostly the left seem to be entirely motivated by a rather unpleasant and certainly uninteresting anti-Tory prejudice. Nick Palmer and Southam excepted, of course. The best is Hopi Sen, but he posts here very rarely, unfortunately.
Yeah you can't move on PB for "anti Tory prejudice"
*cough* Unspoofable.
Truly incredible isn't it? Almost awe-inspiring.
Cammie's CCHQ PR machine takes a great deal of stick and rightly so. It has blundered quite often during the floods. (those floods all but invisible on PB happily) Then you realise there is actually worse. There are some tories so wildly and miraculously out of touch they actually make CCHQ and the chumocracy look good in comparison. That is quite something.
A forecast: Deborah Linton has tweeted this about the expected result: "Labour sources indicate they're expecting 45-50pc of vote and UkIP around 25pc"
A forecast: Deborah Linton has tweeted this about the expected result: "Labour sources indicate they're expecting 45-50pc of vote and UkIP around 25pc"
I started my post by saying I had sympathy for them. But that doesn't change the fact that, even despite their current transient bad situation, they're still in a very privileged situation compared to many other people in the country, who the Establishment don't give a toss about and who the very same victims of the current flooding have cheered the punishing of.
Yes, you paid lip-service in your first sentence, and then went on to show your delight in the suffering of these people (whom you wrongly think are privileged, not that it should make any difference if they were). And you've now confirmed that interpretation in this latest disgusting post of yours.
Surprising that turnout is apparently so low in Wythenshawe. Loads of people on twitter were saying they were surprised how busy the polling stations were.
The Environment Agency deserve gongs, awards, pay rises, everything going.
The flood defences they've built in recent years and actions they've taken in response have kept millions of people safe during the worst weather for ever.
And Labour and Tory Governments deserve credit too.
Let's hope support for the EA increases to deal with climate change.
The EA have utterly failed in their task of protecting people and property from flooding. And they have done it - in part at least - on purpose. As you would have seen if you bothered to read the EA flood management plan I linked to earlier today which explicitly showed that they are flooding the levels on purpose.
And by the way it is not the worst weather ever. It is not even close.
Of course you being a man who doesn't like awkward things like facts to get in the way of your delusions I am not surprised you have failed to appreciate that.
Why the sense of entitlement? Why the culture of dependency, looking to the Big State to save largely uninhabited marshland floodplains in Somerset from flooding when millions of tons of water fall on it?
Ask the millions of people living in dry homes along the Trent or Severn or Itchen or a hundred other rivers whether the EA have done a good job.
You keep repeating these myths Hugh. There is no need for the state to spend any more money defending the levels. It was being done perfectly well before they came along and stuck their oar in and took responsibility away from the locals. And now they would rather spend those millions flooding peoples homes and farms so as to comply with EU directives.
Oh and I suggest you not mention the EA to anyone living on the Trent below Nottingham given how many times they have allowed it to flood in the last 15 years or so.
As I said, you really don't have a clue what you are talking about.
Surprising that turnout is apparently so low in Wythenshawe. Loads of people on twitter were saying they were surprised how busy the polling stations were.
The polling stations probably seemed busy in comparison to most elections (including local elections) that take place in the Wythenshawe area, when turnout is pretty awful. So a Westminster election will always seem quite good in comparison. My prediction was 29%.
A reminder for the overexcited scottish tory surgers of just who it is they are basing the entire No campaign around just now as they unaccountably seem to have forgotten
Have any of the current flooding victims cheered the misery of others in the past? Could you please supply some links to back up your assertion, as I do not believe you.
Those using food banks, unemployed or homeless are mostly in short term difficulties. Those with flooded houses have a long term problem. They cannot sell, cannot get insurance and are likely to flood again. It is a real trap.
We should not be looking at competitive misery though, we should have a government that uses the resources of the country wisely, nurturing the future businesses that will provide work and hope to those on hard times, as well as catering to future flood control. A one nation coalition govt seems best suited to this.
Of course I have sympathy for anyone who's suffered from flooding, but I have a hell of a lot more sympathy for anyone who has to go to a food bank, anyone who has their pathetic benefit levels cut further, anyone who's lost their job in the last few years, since their pain lasts a lot longer and goes a bit deeper than anyone who has to temporarily leave their home or even -God forbid - has to move to another semi-detached comfy house.
What a revolting sentiment. You don't have any sympathy for those who have suffered. More fool you.
I started my post by saying I had sympathy for them. But that doesn't change the fact that, even despite their current transient bad situation, they're still in a very privileged situation compared to many other people in the country, who the Establishment don't give a toss about and who the very same victims of the current flooding have cheered the punishing of.
Oh jesus it's a climate science denial infestation on PB as well as a load more Rightwing footsoldiers "welcome" return.
Mike you need some sandbags.
Hugh I have forgotten more about climate science every time I drink a pint than you ever knew.
Leave the science to people who actually know what they are talking about. You are an embarrassment.
All the AGW crowd are a complete embarassment...and deserve nothing less than our complete contempt. Ed Davey, the climate change minister being amongst them. Peter Lilley, Nigel Lawson et al deserve our support. And as for Mr Yeo, it was the most welcome Tory constituency association coup in many years!
A forecast: Deborah Linton has tweeted this about the expected result: "Labour sources indicate they're expecting 45-50pc of vote and UkIP around 25pc"
A forecast: Deborah Linton has tweeted this about the expected result: "Labour sources indicate they're expecting 45-50pc of vote and UkIP around 25pc"
Surprising that turnout is apparently so low in Wythenshawe. Loads of people on twitter were saying they were surprised how busy the polling stations were.
The polling stations probably seemed busy in comparison to most elections (including local elections) that take place in the Wythenshawe area, when turnout is pretty awful. So a Westminster election will always seem quite good in comparison. My prediction was 29%.
Nicola Bartlett says: "Postal votes being counted looks like they make up about 60 per cent of the votes."
The Environment Agency deserve gongs, awards, pay rises, everything going.
The flood defences they've built in recent years and actions they've taken in response have kept millions of people safe during the worst weather for ever.
And Labour and Tory Governments deserve credit too.
Let's hope support for the EA increases to deal with climate change.
Getting colder you mean?
More extreme weather events, so quite possibly exceptional cold spells yes.
LOL This from a man who knows so little about the climate he got all confused and scuttled off when I started talking about feedback mechanisms and forcing a few nights ago.
If you don't know what you are talking about Hugh you had best keep quiet or you just embarrass yourself.
I've come to the conclusion that you're a practised extreme-sceptic/denier obfuscator Richard. You might enjoy it, you've probably been doing it for years. But I don't.
No Hugh. I thought you knew. I am consultant geologist who does a very nice side line doing palaeo-environment modelling for archaeology units and universities. Like I said. you are just embarrassing yourself.
A forecast: Deborah Linton has tweeted this about the expected result: "Labour sources indicate they're expecting 45-50pc of vote and UkIP around 25pc"
Have any of the current flooding victims cheered the misery of others in the past? Could you please supply some links to back up your assertion, as I do not believe you.
Those using food banks, unemployed or homeless are mostly in short term difficulties. Those with flooded houses have a long term problem. They cannot sell, cannot get insurance and are likely to flood again. It is a real trap.
We should not be looking at competitive misery though, we should have a government that uses the resources of the country wisely, nurturing the future businesses that will provide work and hope to those on hard times, as well as catering to future flood control. A one nation coalition govt seems best suited to this.
Of course I have sympathy for anyone who's suffered from flooding, but I have a hell of a lot more sympathy for anyone who has to go to a food bank, anyone who has their pathetic benefit levels cut further, anyone who's lost their job in the last few years, since their pain lasts a lot longer and goes a bit deeper than anyone who has to temporarily leave their home or even -God forbid - has to move to another semi-detached comfy house.
What a revolting sentiment. You don't have any sympathy for those who have suffered. More fool you.
I started my post by saying I had sympathy for them. But that doesn't change the fact that, even despite their current transient bad situation, they're still in a very privileged situation compared to many other people in the country, who the Establishment don't give a toss about and who the very same victims of the current flooding have cheered the punishing of.
Danny565's comment is the antithesis of what Labour used to stand for. Sadly sadistic inadequates of his type are now prevalent within the left.
Comments
Now, the useless Met Office getting the forecast wrong for tomorrow night's storm, just as they got yesterday hopelessly wrong:
http://www.weatheraction.com/displayarticle.asp?a=624&c=5
The whole AGW crowd are just staggering in their incompetence along with their lackeys in the mainstream media.
But more seriously, Mr @DavidL, this jobs advantage of union is surely irrelevant unless someone is seriously proposing to shut off immigration and raise the borders, as we are all in the EU together or separately.
Add to that the welcome return in recent days of Socrates, Marquee Mark, Hurst Llama, Casino Royale, and others who have perhaps not been altogether absent but who have not been posting much, and all one can say is: Hooray.
Politics getting interesting again, as the countdown to May 2015 ticks on?
Go crewe!
Even by the shitty standards of dishonest UK politics, the LibDems really are revolting. I cannot understand why anyone supports them.
Have the PB nats gotten used to the idea that independence might actually lead to independence yet?
Bloody PB Tory
" early rumours that turnout may not reach 20pc"
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/live-wythenshawe-sale-east-by-election-6708027
Hugh - we need more rightwingers on here to counteract the site's Lab/LD bias!!!!!!
Welcome back.
Am not staying up until 2am!
Con 42%
Lab 32%
Little party 15%
Others who cares?
How's the market crash coming along Hunchman?
The hypocrisy is self-evidently in not having a poster here who was forced to leave by the malicious revealing of his personal and family details and WHO it was who did that hence why he has not returned.
Since you know this to be true now it is your turn.
So put up or shut up you amusing old codger.
Funnily enough during the 2005 election campaign I found myself going door to door around much of Cardiff Central (due to work not part of the campaign alas). There were not a great many placards but they tended to be Labour or Lib Dem reflecting the battle going on in the area. I did come across one Tory placard, a great big one erected in the front garden. Next door had a whole load of Labour stuff dotted around. I later found out that that was the home of the Labour MP.
I somehow doubt it.
And it's not only the currency issue that they are sticking their fingers in their ears about. They won't hear any of the arguments or downsides relating to things like defence, finance and banking, admission into the EU, oil production, ship building, higher education, dividing up the national debt, and on and on.
If you can believe the nats they are going to win the referendum, despite the polls saying otherwise, but even if we give them the benefit of the doubt they appear completely unprepared for dealing with the reality of being an independent nation.
FTSE 8000 soon with Osborne!!!!!
I have never - luckily - suffered a flood in my home, but my office was completely flooded out in 2000, so I've got a feel for how absolutely appalling it is. Even when it was just the office, and we could lock up and call the insurance company and not be affected personally, it was pretty traumatic. Everything, but everything, is wrecked, with a filthy, sewage-contaminated yuk which gets everywhere. It is absolutely disgusting. If it happens to your home, it must be absolutely awful. And it takes many months to clear up and dry out - you have to move into rented accommodation for months.
So please, a bit more sympathy for the poor people who have to suffer this appalling tragedy.
Eastleigh.
And of course I remember the cynicism I had expressed over the years about PI claims involving back pain. Karma sure enough.
I'm sure you must be mistaken. "JackW" never tires of telling everyone his arse is the most important predictive tool on PB. The thought that his arse completely failed him in a time of need is a distressing one indeed. Sadly old age comes to us all.
Anyone seen tim recently?
You'll have to commit yourself to 1000 hours of pilates as penance.
Only a massive disruption in China could achieve that in my opinion.
And, let's be honest, there is strong overlap between many of those people who were tutting at the benefits "dependency culture", insisting on personal responsibility, saying their hard-earned money should not be taken by government, and cheering the massive public-sector job losses in the name of deficit reduction, who now suddenly think the deficit isn't such a big deal and that personal responsibility doesn't matter so much now that they're in trouble and demanding a handout.
Funnily enough during the 2005 election campaign I found myself going door to door around much of Cardiff Central (due to work not part of the campaign alas). There were not a great many placards but they tended to be Labour or Lib Dem reflecting the battle going on in the area. I did come across one Tory placard, a great big one erected in the front garden. Next door had a whole load of Labour stuff dotted around. I later found out that that was the home of the Labour MP.
A common practice. Far more embarrassing to be the candidate and not bother with any placards or posters. Bit hard to explain that away.
There will of course be cries of Eastleigh and that's quite true but lest we forget Chris Hunhe was quite possibly the second most powerful lib dem MP there was. He was the runner up to Clegg and if Rennard had not disallowed some ballots then he would have won the leadership. If a seat that had such a prominent lib dem could not be relied on, with all the activists that had cultivated over the years, then precisely where is safe? The irony is Clegg was caught fumbling with the Rennard allegations at that time and was floundering badly so if Eastleigh had been just a few days later the lib dems might not have won.
Deborah Linton has tweeted this about the expected result: "Labour sources indicate they're expecting 45-50pc of vote and UkIP around 25pc"
From
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/live-wythenshawe-sale-east-by-election-6708027
http://news.stv.tv/politics/264054-salmond-accuses-osborne-and-balls-of-bluster-on-sterling-zone/
And by the way it is not the worst weather ever. It is not even close.
Of course you being a man who doesn't like awkward things like facts to get in the way of your delusions I am not surprised you have failed to appreciate that.
She was a Tory candidate in 2010 GE but she didn't get a good result. She stood in Batley and Spen.
Then a van draws up and a guy comes into the sodden, dripping office, and says he's come to service the photocopier. "Well, it isn't giving very clear copies...", says a colleague of mine.
He wasn't interested in the Somerset farmers being flooded, he wasn't interested in the Yorkshire floods of 2007 but now he's very much concerned with apparantly unlimited money available when the stockbroker belt is affected.
But to be even handed the Labour government didn't give a toss about the Yorkshire floods of 2007 either and Cameron preferred to go on a mud hut building photostunt when his own constituency was flooded that year.
It will though add to the image that the political establishment is only interested in issues if London is affected.
These were some of the great storms that lashed England in the 17th century at the time of the Maunder minimum:
http://www.pfeifer-research.de/ECSSPP13Poster.pdf
The events last week are entirely consistent with this.
If you don't know what you are talking about Hugh you had best keep quiet or you just embarrass yourself.
Cammie's CCHQ PR machine takes a great deal of stick and rightly so. It has blundered quite often during the floods. (those floods all but invisible on PB happily) Then you realise there is actually worse. There are some tories so wildly and miraculously out of touch they actually make CCHQ and the chumocracy look good in comparison. That is quite something.
Oh and I suggest you not mention the EA to anyone living on the Trent below Nottingham given how many times they have allowed it to flood in the last 15 years or so.
As I said, you really don't have a clue what you are talking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qjBec3fpBI
Lab - some votes
Con - not quite as many votes!
Leave the science to people who actually know what they are talking about. You are an embarrassment.
Those using food banks, unemployed or homeless are mostly in short term difficulties. Those with flooded houses have a long term problem. They cannot sell, cannot get insurance and are likely to flood again. It is a real trap.
We should not be looking at competitive misery though, we should have a government that uses the resources of the country wisely, nurturing the future businesses that will provide work and hope to those on hard times, as well as catering to future flood control. A one nation coalition govt seems best suited to this.
They said Roy Jenkins couldn't win Hillhead, but he did, albeit with 33.4% of the vote.
Nuttall could have run Labour close in this seat. I'm sure of it...
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/live-wythenshawe-sale-east-by-election-6708027
#LabourGroundGame
If it wasn't for the fact that most of this will be blown away by the floods and storms there might be a crumb of comfort for some parties in that.
There is copious expectation management already.
Good to see you both again