Not a very leaked budget for a change apparently. Something to be welcomed by all perhaps, though it puts pressure on both sides that they have to get it right on the day itself, without time to set up a detailed narrative.
Good point. And it's interestingly counter-intuitive that No 11 were spinning that there some amazing things for everyone coming, triggerring all kinds of wild speculation, and then delivering some amendments to the decisions you can make when you're 65 (I was interested - I'm 64). But maybe they reckon that some of the wild anticipation will linger as people remember how nice the sizzle was, even if there wasn't a steak at the end.
How informative that a prospective Labour MP, and ex MP in that previous shambles, has no grasp of economics whatsoever.
It does look to me the sneering at bingo is coming from Labour. Hampstead may look down its collective nose at Bingo, beer and the Sun, but to many these are simple pleasures.
In part this cut to a more social form of gambling came from increased taxes on FOBT. Didn't Ed want something done about these as recently as last week?
Ed looked flatfooted by George, but as ever it takes a few days for the budget revisions to be picked over.
Agreed...
Harry Phibbs@harryph·1 min In 2009 Labour increased Bingo Tax from 15% to 22% - causing many clubs to close. They should be apologising rather than sneering.
I'd have thought Labour would do similarly to 2004 since they got 36% in the 2005 GE. However just checking and they only got 22% that year. I suppose there would have been a good deal of confusion what with having a Party lead by Tony Blair being part of a Socialist bloc in the European Parliament.
As for a couple of Labour MPs not liking Ed's response. Big deal. A number of Labour MPs don't like him. A number of Tory MPs don't like Cameron. He seemed pretty similar to Cameron in his budget responses from what I saw. Going for soundbites that would make the news. The days of forensic budget responses in the House are probably behind us.
The people who don't get why the poster is patronising aren't the people being patronised. Personally I like Bingo - my Nan used to go several times a week. But the tone suggests that scum should be happy because the Tories have cut the price of a game of bingo. Sure you don't have two ha'p'eths to rub together but look - a shiny penny off your pint of mild.
Didn't one of the more enlightened Tories ask why they had such a problem up north.....?
Well, by your own words, you think bingo playing beer drinkers are 'scum'.
Which sort of shows the contempt that middle and upper class Labour supporters hold their working class base in.
The people who don't get why the poster is patronising aren't the people being patronised. Personally I like Bingo - my Nan used to go several times a week. But the tone suggests that scum should be happy because the Tories have cut the price of a game of bingo. Sure you don't have two ha'p'eths to rub together but look - a shiny penny off your pint of mild.
Didn't one of the more enlightened Tories ask why they had such a problem up north.....?
Cause all these northern Bingo players are now logged on to Twitter, aren't they? Does your Nan like to spot trending hashtags, when she's not looking for a full house?
Arf.
Mecca's profits can look forward to a short term boost, as Owen Jones and his Islington mates show solidarity with working class gamers on a visit to their local bingo hall.
Regardless of the merits of the argument it is clearly not the role of the Conservative Party Chairman to make Labour feel better about themselves on budget day or draw criticism from Tory leaning journalists about being patronizing given this week's Eton mess theme. This leaves aside the fact Shapps is clearly an idiot and a general liability.
There is also alot of serious criticism from various economists (not just the Blanchflowers of this world) of the budget as being entirely political - a common and correct criticism of Brown from many on here. In the words of Ogden Nash: "Here's a good rule of thumb, too clever is dumb." GO would do well to learn it.
Clearly the bingo tax cut is quid pro quo for the bookmaker slot machine tax. Tiny measures, probably zero sum financially, that encourage good behaviour and get headlines because bingo is funny word.
It does look to me the sneering at bingo is coming from Labour. Hampstead may look down its collective nose at Bingo, beer and the Sun, but to many these are simple pleasures.
Yes, I'm reminded of the saintly Robin Cook's embittered retort when Labour lost in 1992. When asked why Labour couldn't win over towns like Basildon his reply was that Basildon had the highest percentage of voters who read The Sun - snobbish, petulant and out of touch!
The people who don't get why the poster is patronising aren't the people being patronised. Personally I like Bingo - my Nan used to go several times a week. But the tone suggests that scum should be happy because the Tories have cut the price of a game of bingo. Sure you don't have two ha'p'eths to rub together but look - a shiny penny off your pint of mild.
Didn't one of the more enlightened Tories ask why they had such a problem up north.....?
Well, by your own words, you think bingo playing beer drinkers are 'scum'.
Which sort of shows the contempt that middle and upper class Labour supporters hold their working class base in.
I think Gordon 'bigoted woman' Brown has already given us a demonstration of the contempt Labour hold their working class support in
Miliband’s response today was dangerously close to being memorable. The Conservatives put out a Facebook advert tonight listing all the things Miliband failed to mention in his speech: helping savers, pensions, capping welfare and apprenticeships.
But it was worse than that. Miliband failed to mention the Budget.
BLUE ON BLUE INCOMING is spreading through the party like wildfire, even the old guard want a piece of the action.
It's the timing of all this tory infighting that is truly rermarkable. Even the most obsequious Cameroons must have known that if the May EU and local elections are dire for the tories an outbreak of infighting would be the inevitable result. The fact that there's leadership speculation and this kind of stuff now means either tory MPs know they are in for a bad May result or something else is driving all this disunity and infighting at the top.
The people who don't get why the poster is patronising aren't the people being patronised. Personally I like Bingo - my Nan used to go several times a week. But the tone suggests that scum should be happy because the Tories have cut the price of a game of bingo. Sure you don't have two ha'p'eths to rub together but look - a shiny penny off your pint of mild.
Didn't one of the more enlightened Tories ask why they had such a problem up north.....?
Well, by your own words, you think bingo playing beer drinkers are 'scum'.
Which sort of shows the contempt that middle and upper class Labour supporters hold their working class base in.
I think Gordon 'bigoted woman' Brown has already given us a demonstration of the contempt Labour hold their working class support in
To be fair on Brown (why?) he did confuse 'flocking' and 'f*cking'. Which I daresay are two words Mrs Brown hopes he won't confuse in the bedroom. ;-)
Not a very leaked budget for a change apparently. Something to be welcomed by all perhaps, though it puts pressure on both sides that they have to get it right on the day itself, without time to set up a detailed narrative.
Good point. And it's interestingly counter-intuitive that No 11 were spinning that there some amazing things for everyone coming, triggerring all kinds of wild speculation, and then delivering some amendments to the decisions you can make when you're 65 (I was interested - I'm 64). But maybe they reckon that some of the wild anticipation will linger as people remember how nice the sizzle was, even if there wasn't a steak at the end.
How informative that a prospective Labour MP, and ex MP in that previous shambles, has no grasp of economics whatsoever.
MPs and ex MPs have lovely defined benefit schemes paid for by the taxpayer - best in the country oddly. The changes today are for defined contribution pensions so no wonder they have little idea what it means for those in their 40s, 50s and yes their 60's. This is a private sector initiative really for those not fortunate enough to enjoy DB scheme security.
The people who don't get why the poster is patronising aren't the people being patronised. Personally I like Bingo - my Nan used to go several times a week. But the tone suggests that scum should be happy because the Tories have cut the price of a game of bingo. Sure you don't have two ha'p'eths to rub together but look - a shiny penny off your pint of mild.
Didn't one of the more enlightened Tories ask why they had such a problem up north.....?
Well, by your own words, you think bingo playing beer drinkers are 'scum'.
Which sort of shows the contempt that middle and upper class Labour supporters hold their working class base in.
I think Gordon 'bigoted woman' Brown has already given us a demonstration of the contempt Labour hold their working class support in
To be fair on Brown (why?) he did confuse 'flocking' and 'f*cking'. Which I daresay are two words Mrs Brown hopes he won't confuse in the bedroom. ;-)
@janemerrick23: Wow 1,381 people have replied to @grantshapps on Bingo ad, 700+ RTs & 100+ favourites. Certainly what you'd call cut-through, Lynton Crosby!
"UKIP drop 3pc into third place in new YouGov EP2014 poll"
Which would probably worry Farage a great deal more were it not for the extraordinary volatility we've seen of late from yoyo YouGov. That and the fact that a desperate calamity Clegg has ensured the kippers will be give a nice publicity boost absolutely free of charge. This won't be the first time the incompetent Shapps comes under fire if he keeps this up as the May election campaigning starts to gather pace.
Mick Pork - the infighting does seem rather self-destructive at a time when the polls have improved a bit for them. Or perhaps more interestingly that's the issue. Are some Tories WORRIED Cameron might win the next election? If they don't and go into opposition they can get back to being proper Tories again.
@janemerrick23: Wow 1,381 people have replied to @grantshapps on Bingo ad, 700+ RTs & 100+ favourites. Certainly what you'd call cut-through, Lynton Crosby!
@janemerrick23: Wow 1,381 people have replied to @grantshapps on Bingo ad, 700+ RTs & 100+ favourites. Certainly what you'd call cut-through, Lynton Crosby!
"Causes a Twitter storm" is one of the most meaningless things that can be included in a headline. Anything can 'cause a Twitter storm' from racist ranting to movie casting not going down well.
I am baffled why people try to turn comical sidepieces like his silly tweet into massive events. Pointing out he looked silly is more than enough capital to be gained from the situation, but no, we have to turn a silly tweet from one person into somehow being representative of some nasty opinion Labour believe the Tories hold about poor people, and worthy of comdemnation rather than just laughter at the original tweet's ineffective cheesiness.
Not it is not purely a Labour tactic, but it is one of the most frustrating and pathetic things about politics. More than that, it becomes idiotic and self defeating, for me at least, because every little thing it blown up into something supposedly important, making the actually important things have less impact. Next time a Tory does something actually offensive rather than laughable, I will be far less impacted by Labour cries of shame, because, like their opponents, they run every good idea into the ground past the point of use.
@janemerrick23: Wow 1,381 people have replied to @grantshapps on Bingo ad, 700+ RTs & 100+ favourites. Certainly what you'd call cut-through, Lynton Crosby!
Honestly that simply proves that Labour has no substantive response. You've nothing to say about the budget, instead we get this idiotic faux outrage like the fuss about the pasty tax.
Not a very leaked budget for a change apparently. Something to be welcomed by all perhaps, though it puts pressure on both sides that they have to get it right on the day itself, without time to set up a detailed narrative.
Good point. And it's interestingly counter-intuitive that No 11 were spinning that there some amazing things for everyone coming, triggerring all kinds of wild speculation, and then delivering some amendments to the decisions you can make when you're 65 (I was interested - I'm 64). But maybe they reckon that some of the wild anticipation will linger as people remember how nice the sizzle was, even if there wasn't a steak at the end.
Nick, the pensions change is far more important than that. It massively increases the flexibility and attractiveness of pensions. It must be nearly 15 years since I have put any AVCs into my pension because I didn't like the way the insurance companies priced annuities. now I may be atypical, but with auto enrolment coming along more people in their 30s and 40s are thinking about the topic
I can't actually believe that Labour, egged on by Shapps, have fallen into the trap of sneering at bingo players.
They must realize that Shapps is burnishing the notion of Miliband as an aloof and precious figure, more at home behind Hampstead hedges discussing the speeches of Lenin.
@janemerrick23: Wow 1,381 people have replied to @grantshapps on Bingo ad, 700+ RTs & 100+ favourites. Certainly what you'd call cut-through, Lynton Crosby!
Mick Pork - the infighting does seem rather self-destructive at a time when the polls have improved a bit for them. Or perhaps more interestingly that's the issue. Are some Tories WORRIED Cameron might win the next election? If they don't and go into opposition they can get back to being proper Tories again.
An interesting theory but there was also a near crossover weeks earlier without this infighting so I don't actually think they are paying that much attention to the polling. Certainly there is still a hard core of Eurosceptics and BOOers who despise Cammie and want rid of him but it's not them driving this. They are still biding their time and waiting for May before demanding unequivocal and detailed concessions and red lines on the EU.
As for some tories wanting to get back to being proper tories again in opposition, that is entirely dependent on there being a far more Eurosceptic leader in place should Cammie lose. The kippers are nowhere near their 2010 level of 3.1% and still show no sign whatsoever of going back down to that. Something even the most blinkered tory backbencher will have grasped by now as well as the fact that they still won't be able to outflank the kippers on Europe or immigration even in opposition unless a new tory leader is a BOOer. (or very close to it) Tory MPs won't be looking forward to another five years of being out-postured at every turn by the kippers any more than they have enjoyed it this time.
"Causes a Twitter storm" is one of the most meaningless things that can be included in a headline. Anything can 'cause a Twitter storm' from racist ranting to movie casting not going down well. It's a meaningless phrase that doesn't make me think "This guy must have messed up", it makes me think 'internet idiots are being idiots".
I am baffled why people try to turn comical sidepieces like his silly tweet into massive events. Pointing out he looked silly is more than enough capital to be gained from the situation, but no, we have to turn a silly tweet from one person into somehow being representative of some nasty opinion Labour believe the Tories hold about poor people, and worthy of comdemnation rather than just laughter at the original tweet's ineffective cheesiness.
No it is not purely a Labour tactic, but it is one of the most frustrating and pathetic things about politics. More than that, it becomes idiotic and self defeating, for me at least, because every little thing it blown up into something supposedly important, making the actually important things have less impact. Next time a Tory does something actually offensive rather than laughable, I will be far less impacted by Labour cries of shame, because, like their opponents, they run every good idea into the ground past the point of use. It's the same as people have pointed out about good old Dan Hodges criticising Ed today meaning nothing, because that's all he bloody does.
Trying to tell people everything your opponent does when they slip up or look an arse means they and their party are in essence political degenerates may be great fun for the partisans, who will vote for you anyway, but it means when they do something worthy of it, I won't be able to tell.
I punched my postcode into your2014budget.com and it informed me:
"We are setting up a new £200 million pothole fund to help commuters and local businesses. Your council can bid for money to mend the potholes in local roads."
Why, in the name of all that is pot-holy, does my council need to bid for this? Yes, my council's roads have potholes. So does every other council's. Just give them some money without setting up a bureaucratic bidding process.
Oh, but I guess then it would become clear that £200m, averaged over every potholed road in Britain, really isn't going to go very far at all.
The ultimate parody account has spoken... g'night.
Owen Jones ✔ @OwenJones84 "We can't say I was hacked!" screeches @grantshapps "@CCHQPress retweeted it!" "But everyone thinks they're a parody anyway" replies advisor
Not a very leaked budget for a change apparently. Something to be welcomed by all perhaps, though it puts pressure on both sides that they have to get it right on the day itself, without time to set up a detailed narrative.
Good point. And it's interestingly counter-intuitive that No 11 were spinning that there some amazing things for everyone coming, triggerring all kinds of wild speculation, and then delivering some amendments to the decisions you can make when you're 65 (I was interested - I'm 64). But maybe they reckon that some of the wild anticipation will linger as people remember how nice the sizzle was, even if there wasn't a steak at the end.
Nick, the pensions change is far more important than that. It massively increases the flexibility and attractiveness of pensions. It must be nearly 15 years since I have put any AVCs into my pension because I didn't like the way the insurance companies priced annuities. now I may be atypical, but with auto enrolment coming along more people in their 30s and 40s are thinking about the topic
Don't confuse him Charles, he was/will be a Labour MP. They don't do economics.
Not a very leaked budget for a change apparently. Something to be welcomed by all perhaps, though it puts pressure on both sides that they have to get it right on the day itself, without time to set up a detailed narrative.
Good point. And it's interestingly counter-intuitive that No 11 were spinning that there some amazing things for everyone coming, triggerring all kinds of wild speculation, and then delivering some amendments to the decisions you can make when you're 65 (I was interested - I'm 64). But maybe they reckon that some of the wild anticipation will linger as people remember how nice the sizzle was, even if there wasn't a steak at the end.
How informative that a prospective Labour MP, and ex MP in that previous shambles, has no grasp of economics whatsoever.
MPs and ex MPs have lovely defined benefit schemes paid for by the taxpayer - best in the country oddly. The changes today are for defined contribution pensions so no wonder they have little idea what it means for those in their 40s, 50s and yes their 60's. This is a private sector initiative really for those not fortunate enough to enjoy DB scheme security.
Scrapheap, re: your last comment on the last thread, if you have people who want to sell annuities, I know people who might buy at the right price.
Not a very leaked budget for a change apparently. Something to be welcomed by all perhaps, though it puts pressure on both sides that they have to get it right on the day itself, without time to set up a detailed narrative.
Good point. And it's interestingly counter-intuitive that No 11 were spinning that there some amazing things for everyone coming, triggerring all kinds of wild speculation, and then delivering some amendments to the decisions you can make when you're 65 (I was interested - I'm 64). But maybe they reckon that some of the wild anticipation will linger as people remember how nice the sizzle was, even if there wasn't a steak at the end.
Er ..... Plenty of steak actually. For those of us who've been hard workingly and boringly shovelling it away for years at the cost of " jam today ", the savings/pension reforms are big stuff. Good big stuff, and it really kicks in at 55 not 65. I'm sorry but the last Govt made an utter Horlicks of this subject which has resulted in the collapse of the private sector final salary system which will leave millions in hardship in decades to come - well done Gordon, bloody marvellous for hard working families that one . At least we have someone listening to those of us trying to do the right thing here.
@janemerrick23: Wow 1,381 people have replied to @grantshapps on Bingo ad, 700+ RTs & 100+ favourites. Certainly what you'd call cut-through, Lynton Crosby!
Not a very leaked budget for a change apparently. Something to be welcomed by all perhaps, though it puts pressure on both sides that they have to get it right on the day itself, without time to set up a detailed narrative.
Good point. And it's interestingly counter-intuitive that No 11 were spinning that there some amazing things for everyone coming, triggerring all kinds of wild speculation, and then delivering some amendments to the decisions you can make when you're 65 (I was interested - I'm 64). But maybe they reckon that some of the wild anticipation will linger as people remember how nice the sizzle was, even if there wasn't a steak at the end.
How informative that a prospective Labour MP, and ex MP in that previous shambles, has no grasp of economics whatsoever.
MPs and ex MPs have lovely defined benefit schemes paid for by the taxpayer - best in the country oddly. The changes today are for defined contribution pensions so no wonder they have little idea what it means for those in their 40s, 50s and yes their 60's. This is a private sector initiative really for those not fortunate enough to enjoy DB scheme security.
I punched my postcode into your2014budget.com and it informed me:
"We are setting up a new £200 million pothole fund to help commuters and local businesses. Your council can bid for money to mend the potholes in local roads."
Why, in the name of all that is pot-holy, does my council need to bid for this? Yes, my council's roads have potholes. So does every other council's. Just give them some money without setting up a bureaucratic bidding process.
Oh, but I guess then it would become clear that £200m, averaged over every potholed road in Britain, really isn't going to go very far at all.
*sigh*
That is actually a good catch. Stuff like that is never intended to be thought of again after announcement I suppose. I mean, it's still more so that's good, that's all people will remember if they do remember it.
Just about sums up Labour's day,nothing of substance to say on the budget,a rant from Ed in the HoC and fake outrage on twitter.
Labour should certainly thank him. The initial reactions to the budget I'd seen were pretty muted, with the slogan/speech from Ed M and the sticking to the 'cost of living crisis' approach in wider responses which I've felt has been a sensible attack line for awhile now, but there was no real sense of passion behind the attacks, as Osborne did not really slip up in any way - even if one disagrees with his budget, it was not obviously a mess, so nothing to get the troops truly incensed.
Step forward a silly tweet, and the masses are filled with that passion. The glee that one silly tweet is irrefutable proof that the Tories as a whole are evil patronising dogs because they've given a gimmicky tax cut to bingo halls, is palpable. Truly one of the most pathetic aspects of political arguing (and that is saying something), especially as neither side can claim the high ground on doing it.
I am baffled why people try to turn comical sidepieces like his silly tweet into massive events.
It's self-evidently not a "massive event" but those gullible enough to still think having Shapps replace Warsi would cure the chumocracy's problems with their out of touch PR have been given a very telling reminder of just how far from the case that is. This at a time when the May election campaigning starts to take shape when the hapless Shapps will be in charge of much of that 'messaging'.
Nor can we take those who completely failed to spot Osbrowne's omnishambles seriously when it comes to spotting what is and is not a good 'master strategy' on the PR front.
Just about sums up Labour's day,nothing of substance to say on the budget,a rant from Ed in the HoC and fake outrage on twitter.
Labour should certainly thank him. The initial reactions to the budget I'd seen were pretty muted, with the slogan/speech from Ed M and the sticking to the 'cost of living crisis' approach in wider responses which I've felt has been a sensible attack line for awhile now, but there was no real sense of passion behind the attacks, as Osborne did not really slip up in any way - even if one disagrees with his budget, it was not obviously a mess, so nothing to get the troops truly incensed.
Step forward a silly tweet, and the masses are filled with that passion. The glee that one silly tweet is irrefutable proof that the Tories as a whole are evil patronising dogs because they've given a gimmicky tax cut to bingo halls, is palpable. Truly one of the most pathetic aspects of political arguing (and that is saying something), especially as neither side can claim the high ground on doing it.
Chasing the blue rinse Kipper vote is not a good strategy for them, never will be.
You are struggling here, best call it a night as you are looking ever more desperate.
As you know, Nigel, there aren't any smart lefties. Never were, never will be.
The big disappointment of the budget was not providing libertarians with tax breaks for abusing lefties on internet comments columns.
I'm not abusing anyone, just pointing out it has been a bad day for Labour.
Do you think the likes of myself has never been abused on here? Why only last night it was confirmed that I am indeed a fruitcake, loonie and closet racist.
No it is not purely a Labour tactic, but it is one of the most frustrating and pathetic things about politics. More than that, it becomes idiotic and self defeating, for me at least, because every little thing it blown up into something supposedly important, making the actually important things have less impact.
It's not only politics where trivia is elevated. Yesterday the Rolling Stones cancelling a gig after girlfriend of aged rockstar dies was leading the news, only after that world shaking event was reported did they move on to the stuff about Russia annexing Ukraine, and Thailand announcing they had tracked MH370 ten days ago but nobody had asked them.
Now, I know Osborne's bingo tax cut isn't quite in the same league, but the Left used the same 'patronizing' criticisms against Privatization and Right to Buy:
'How dare the Tories think the masses can be bought off with a few share profits and the prospect of owning an ex-council house. The noble working class will see through such shallow and transparent bribes!'
Labour go down this road at their peril. But, in fairness, some of the brighter Labour supporters will realize this.
Really,should the bbc be reporting this as a big story or even a story at all.
No, really, they SHOULD do this: because it just benefits the Tories.
Let's face it, most people who play bingo, or who are so poor a penny off a pint really matters, are - ahem - unlikely to follow intricate Budget developments very closely. I'm not saying all Bingo players and poor people are dim, but... they probably have other, more pressing priorities than following the speeches in the Commons.
So Osborne's gesture was most unlikely to cut through to them, as it stands. Now this has gone viral - albeit not in the way Shapps intended - my guess it will only do the Tories good. Because these are tax CUTS, not new TAXES. The people who benefit won't worry about being *patronised*, FFS, they will - if they think about it at all - feel more favourable towards the government.
The Tories should do patronising posters about every single positive, tax-cutting, pensioner-enabling move in the Budget, and hope that Labour and Twitter get equally excited, thus spreading the word. For free.
Social Media Failure for the Left.
Are there any Bingo halls in Primrose Hill (or Chalk Farm at a stretch)?
@janemerrick23: Wow 1,381 people have replied to @grantshapps on Bingo ad, 700+ RTs & 100+ favourites. Certainly what you'd call cut-through, Lynton Crosby!
You do realise this Twitterspasm, FWIW, is underlining a Tory tax CUT.
Do you see the difference between that and the pasty tax?
I'm not sure you do.
Yes, one was a feck up, the other was an MP being patronising.
No. What you are doing is making it clear to the thickest of people - i.e. those who play Bingo - that the Tories have just cut the tax on Bingo. You are advertising a populist Tory policy, which might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
It's a novel approach.
Anyone who is faux-outraged on Twitter by this "patronising" tax cut is, by definition, the leftiest of the bien pensant left, and about as likely to vote Tory as Pol Pot.
Perhaps next you should whip up a Twitterstorm about the elitest decision to raise the personal tax allowance.
Posh, rich Tories think "They" will doff Their cap in gratitude.
As your post illustrates.
All the witless tinkering and PR stupidity merely highlights just how far removed from reality the twits are. If most people really were felling better off then a few minor changes like this might even be worth highlighting. (though of course this witless PR 'master strategy' wouldn't have played well at any time but it is par for the course by now from an incompetent CCHQ.) Most people aren't feeling better off though which is why this idiocy is so telling. There's a reason "we're all in this together" became so toxic for the out of touch twits. Nor can we expect the incompetents who cheered on Osbrowne's omnishambles to understand that reason even now.
Josh May - Editor of Ashcrofts Politicshome "Honestly, when I started having dinner, #Budget2014 was going down quite well for the Tories... then bingogate."
Just trying to catch up with the budget. Don't think it affects me from what I can tell.Limited savings tied up with mortgage. Don't drink much. Don't play bingo.
The Mirror really is the most pathetic newspaper in Britain, written by and for the sort of idiots who pretend to be outraged by the pasty tax and bingo budget rubbish.
Really,should the bbc be reporting this as a big story or even a story at all.
No, really, they SHOULD do this: because it just benefits the Tories.
Let's face it, most people who play bingo, or who are so poor a penny off a pint really matters, are - ahem - unlikely to follow intricate Budget developments very closely. I'm not saying all Bingo players and poor people are dim, but... they probably have other, more pressing priorities than following the speeches in the Commons.
So Osborne's gesture was most unlikely to cut through to them, as it stands. Now this has gone viral - albeit not in the way Shapps intended - my guess it will only do the Tories good. Because these are tax CUTS, not new TAXES. The people who benefit won't worry about being *patronised*, FFS, they will - if they think about it at all - feel more favourable towards the government.
The Tories should do patronising posters about every single positive, tax-cutting, pensioner-enabling move in the Budget, and hope that Labour and Twitter get equally excited, thus spreading the word. For free.
Social Media Failure for the Left.
Are there any Bingo halls in Primrose Hill (or Chalk Farm at a stretch)?
Actually there is one in Arlington Street, about 3 minutes walk from my flat (Camden Town/Primrose Hill is an intense, weird mix of races and classes). I regularly see chainsmoking chav women outside, bless 'em, about 20 yards from ludicrously expensive gastro-caffs where you can buy "artisanal organic toast" for a tenner.
These people might not have noticed the Bingo Tax CUT if there hadn't been a fuss about it on social media, which then reached the TV news.
If it has any affect at all (debatable), I now predict this tax cut will benefit the Tories, thanks to all the publicity.
They live hidden away in the big estates off Euston Road, Camden Road and in Somers Town, and they're the reason why Camden is solid Labour at GEs. No wonder you despise them!
Comments
Harry Phibbs@harryph·1 min
In 2009 Labour increased Bingo Tax from 15% to 22% - causing many clubs to close. They should be apologising rather than sneering.
As for a couple of Labour MPs not liking Ed's response. Big deal. A number of Labour MPs don't like him. A number of Tory MPs don't like Cameron. He seemed pretty similar to Cameron in his budget responses from what I saw. Going for soundbites that would make the news. The days of forensic budget responses in the House are probably behind us.
Which sort of shows the contempt that middle and upper class Labour supporters hold their working class base in.
Harry Phibbs @harryph
In 2009 Labour increased Bingo Tax from 15% to 22% - causing many clubs to close. They should be apologising rather than sneering
There is also alot of serious criticism from various economists (not just the Blanchflowers of this world) of the budget as being entirely political - a common and correct criticism of Brown from many on here. In the words of Ogden Nash: "Here's a good rule of thumb, too clever is dumb." GO would do well to learn it.
Every skool hav a resident buly who is fat and roll about the place clouting everybode.
when I saw Ed Balls and Ed Miliband on BBC website.
Ane ful kno.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/5518069/tories-should-stop-obsessing-about-boris.html
Oi, leave Bojo alone!
Sun Politics @Sun_Politics
YouGov/Sun poll tonight - Labour lead up one to five points: CON 33%, LAB 38%, LD 11%, UKIP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vewZwEs3ypI
Which would probably worry Farage a great deal more were it not for the extraordinary volatility we've seen of late from yoyo YouGov. That and the fact that a desperate calamity Clegg has ensured the kippers will be give a nice publicity boost absolutely free of charge. This won't be the first time the incompetent Shapps comes under fire if he keeps this up as the May election campaigning starts to gather pace.
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/mar/19/grant-shapps-bingo-and-beer-joke-causes-twitter-storm
twitter.com/DocHackenbush/status/446381314640728065/photo/1
I am baffled why people try to turn comical sidepieces like his silly tweet into massive events. Pointing out he looked silly is more than enough capital to be gained from the situation, but no, we have to turn a silly tweet from one person into somehow being representative of some nasty opinion Labour believe the Tories hold about poor people, and worthy of comdemnation rather than just laughter at the original tweet's ineffective cheesiness.
Not it is not purely a Labour tactic, but it is one of the most frustrating and pathetic things about politics. More than that, it becomes idiotic and self defeating, for me at least, because every little thing it blown up into something supposedly important, making the actually important things have less impact. Next time a Tory does something actually offensive rather than laughable, I will be far less impacted by Labour cries of shame, because, like their opponents, they run every good idea into the ground past the point of use.
They must realize that Shapps is burnishing the notion of Miliband as an aloof and precious figure, more at home behind Hampstead hedges discussing the speeches of Lenin.
twitter.com/grantshapps/status/437870725513629696/photo/1
Labour are sounding as if they regard bingo as a capitalist ruse to brainwash the masses and distract them from revolution.
'He seems terribly excited. Has he just seen Jack's ARSE?'
No,he's waiting patiently for the NHS winter crisis.
As for some tories wanting to get back to being proper tories again in opposition, that is entirely dependent on there being a far more Eurosceptic leader in place should Cammie lose. The kippers are nowhere near their 2010 level of 3.1% and still show no sign whatsoever of going back down to that. Something even the most blinkered tory backbencher will have grasped by now as well as the fact that they still won't be able to outflank the kippers on Europe or immigration even in opposition unless a new tory leader is a BOOer. (or very close to it) Tory MPs won't be looking forward to another five years of being out-postured at every turn by the kippers any more than they have enjoyed it this time.
I am baffled why people try to turn comical sidepieces like his silly tweet into massive events. Pointing out he looked silly is more than enough capital to be gained from the situation, but no, we have to turn a silly tweet from one person into somehow being representative of some nasty opinion Labour believe the Tories hold about poor people, and worthy of comdemnation rather than just laughter at the original tweet's ineffective cheesiness.
No it is not purely a Labour tactic, but it is one of the most frustrating and pathetic things about politics. More than that, it becomes idiotic and self defeating, for me at least, because every little thing it blown up into something supposedly important, making the actually important things have less impact. Next time a Tory does something actually offensive rather than laughable, I will be far less impacted by Labour cries of shame, because, like their opponents, they run every good idea into the ground past the point of use. It's the same as people have pointed out about good old Dan Hodges criticising Ed today meaning nothing, because that's all he bloody does.
Trying to tell people everything your opponent does when they slip up or look an arse means they and their party are in essence political degenerates may be great fun for the partisans, who will vote for you anyway, but it means when they do something worthy of it, I won't be able to tell.
"We are setting up a new £200 million pothole fund to help commuters and local businesses. Your council can bid for money to mend the potholes in local roads."
Why, in the name of all that is pot-holy, does my council need to bid for this? Yes, my council's roads have potholes. So does every other council's. Just give them some money without setting up a bureaucratic bidding process.
Oh, but I guess then it would become clear that £200m, averaged over every potholed road in Britain, really isn't going to go very far at all.
*sigh*
Owen Jones ✔ @OwenJones84
"We can't say I was hacked!" screeches @grantshapps "@CCHQPress retweeted it!" "But everyone thinks they're a parody anyway" replies advisor
Very cutting through Mr Shapps:
twitter.com/DocHackenbush/status/446381314640728065/photo/1
Just about sums up Labour's day,nothing of substance to say on the budget,a rant from Ed in the HoC and fake outrage on twitter.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26658742#
Really,should the bbc be reporting this as a big story or even a story at all.
Step forward a silly tweet, and the masses are filled with that passion. The glee that one silly tweet is irrefutable proof that the Tories as a whole are evil patronising dogs because they've given a gimmicky tax cut to bingo halls, is palpable. Truly one of the most pathetic aspects of political arguing (and that is saying something), especially as neither side can claim the high ground on doing it.
Night all.
The big disappointment of the budget was not providing libertarians with tax breaks for abusing lefties on internet comments columns.
Party's decision could lead to backbench rebellion
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/03/labour-vote-osbornes-welfare-cap-next-week
Nor can we take those who completely failed to spot Osbrowne's omnishambles seriously when it comes to spotting what is and is not a good 'master strategy' on the PR front.
And to think that the Islington Twitterati are agog over the 'patronising' Shapps ad.
Do you think the likes of myself has never been abused on here? Why only last night it was confirmed that I am indeed a fruitcake, loonie and closet racist.
'Step forward a silly tweet, and the masses are filled with that passion.'
That's a whole new definition of masses..
And I don't need a tax break for the abusing lefties job - I'm willing to donate my time for free to that particular good cause.
Bravado or complacency? I rather think the latter.
Typical of Labour as a whole, or a particular blind spot of Nick's? I rather think the former.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51246tJP6OL.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MnELifX3sQ
He won't be getting any money from Westminster!!
'How dare the Tories think the masses can be bought off with a few share profits and the prospect of owning an ex-council house. The noble working class will see through such shallow and transparent bribes!'
Labour go down this road at their peril. But, in fairness, some of the brighter Labour supporters will realize this.
More opportunity to lose money er I mean take top investment opportunity in central and South America!!!
http://www.politicshome.com/uk/article/94858/the_times_thursday_20th_march_2014.html
'Nick Palmer's post upthread is absolutely astonishing, given the far-reaching impact of Osborne's pension changes today.'
'Bravado or complacency?'
Probably a combination of both.
Can't understand why he bothers to canvass anymore in Broxtowe as it now just a formality with a massive Labour majority.
.
Times - Orgasm
Telegraph - Orgasm
Mirror - Budget is dog dirt
Guardian - Meh
I will stretch my neck out
Sun - Orgasm
Mail - Orgasm
Independent - Meh
Yes....big shock on there Tyke.
Not sure why Shappsy didn't go with the savings stuff. That is actually rather good.
Even the uber-Cleggite Danny Alexander thought Shapps poster was a spoof and patronising.
The PB tories are always wrong. The PB tories never learn.
LOL
Grant Shapps cutting through.
http://www.thepaperboy.com/uk/front-pages.cfm
Danny Alexander: "I thought it was a spoof. It is pretty extraordinary. It may be our budget but it is their words" #ToryBingo #Newsnight