The Ukip leader has received £15,500 a year from the EU since at least 2009 to pay for the upkeep of his constituency office, a small converted grain store near Bognor Regis, according to transparency reports filed on the party’s website.
However, the grain store was given rent-free to Mr Farage by Ukip supporters 15 years ago. Utilities and other non-rental costs amount to no more than £3,000 a year, according to the former office manager, leaving about £12,000 a year unexplained.
The Ukip leader has received £15,500 a year from the EU since at least 2009 to pay for the upkeep of his constituency office, a small converted grain store near Bognor Regis, according to transparency reports filed on the party’s website.
However, the grain store was given rent-free to Mr Farage by Ukip supporters 15 years ago. Utilities and other non-rental costs amount to no more than £3,000 a year, according to the former office manager, leaving about £12,000 a year unexplained.
“The Lyminster office is not the sole address that incurs expenditure in the pursuance of Mr Farage’s job as an MEP, though it is the most important one. It is quite wrong to claim that he did not declare the rental arrangement with J. Longhurst LTD. until 2013. It has been in the register of members’ interests since 2003.
Twitter Sam Coates Times @SamCoatesTimes 1m Our p1 investigation: "TimesNewsdesk: Nigel Farage faces investigation into £60,000 of ‘missing’ EU expenses http://thetim.es/QmbZai #UKIP”
The Ukip leader has received £15,500 a year from the EU since at least 2009 to pay for the upkeep of his constituency office, a small converted grain store near Bognor Regis, according to transparency reports filed on the party’s website.
However, the grain store was given rent-free to Mr Farage by Ukip supporters 15 years ago. Utilities and other non-rental costs amount to no more than £3,000 a year, according to the former office manager, leaving about £12,000 a year unexplained.
“The Lyminster office is not the sole address that incurs expenditure in the pursuance of Mr Farage’s job as an MEP, though it is the most important one. It is quite wrong to claim that he did not declare the rental arrangement with J. Longhurst LTD. until 2013. It has been in the register of members’ interests since 2003.
The Ukip leader has received £15,500 a year from the EU since at least 2009 to pay for the upkeep of his constituency office, a small converted grain store near Bognor Regis, according to transparency reports filed on the party’s website.
However, the grain store was given rent-free to Mr Farage by Ukip supporters 15 years ago. Utilities and other non-rental costs amount to no more than £3,000 a year, according to the former office manager, leaving about £12,000 a year unexplained.
“The Lyminster office is not the sole address that incurs expenditure in the pursuance of Mr Farage’s job as an MEP, though it is the most important one. It is quite wrong to claim that he did not declare the rental arrangement with J. Longhurst LTD. until 2013. It has been in the register of members’ interests since 2003.
The Ukip leader has received £15,500 a year from the EU since at least 2009 to pay for the upkeep of his constituency office, a small converted grain store near Bognor Regis, according to transparency reports filed on the party’s website.
However, the grain store was given rent-free to Mr Farage by Ukip supporters 15 years ago. Utilities and other non-rental costs amount to no more than £3,000 a year, according to the former office manager, leaving about £12,000 a year unexplained.
“The Lyminster office is not the sole address that incurs expenditure in the pursuance of Mr Farage’s job as an MEP, though it is the most important one. It is quite wrong to claim that he did not declare the rental arrangement with J. Longhurst LTD. until 2013. It has been in the register of members’ interests since 2003.
"You are expected to quote this statement in full in any article you choose to publish."
Seriously? Like anyone's going to do that.
My stance on this new scandal, is to sleep on it and see what's shaken out tomorrow morning. Easier than trying to follow UKIP and the Times' initial flurries.
Twitter Sam Coates Times @SamCoatesTimes 1m Our p1 investigation: "TimesNewsdesk: Nigel Farage faces investigation into £60,000 of ‘missing’ EU expenses http://thetim.es/QmbZai #UKIP”
Oh dear - nationalists and their hero worship - always ends in tears.
"London has become a citadel, sealed off from the rest of Britain Ukip and Scottish nationalism are symptoms of public hostility to the overweening power and dominance of the capital"
"London has become a citadel, sealed off from the rest of Britain Ukip and Scottish nationalism are symptoms of public hostility to the overweening power and dominance of the capital"
Tories must be worried to play the Get Farage card so early. Expect a prolonged Tory paper hatchet job on Nigel.
I hate to break it to you, but not everything from investigations by The Times to Rod Crosby's preferred statistical filters are the deadly and twisted orchestrations of Tory high office.
"London has become a citadel, sealed off from the rest of Britain Ukip and Scottish nationalism are symptoms of public hostility to the overweening power and dominance of the capital"
"London has become a citadel, sealed off from the rest of Britain Ukip and Scottish nationalism are symptoms of public hostility to the overweening power and dominance of the capital"
Tories must be worried to play the Get Farage card so early. Expect a prolonged Tory paper hatchet job on Nigel.
I hate to break it to you, but not everything from investigations by The Times to Rod Crosby's preferred statistical filters are the deadly and twisted orchestrations of Tory high office.
Christ on a bike, the naivety of that post was quite shocking.....no, The Times will have not been spoon fed this....not a chance.
The Ukip leader has received £15,500 a year from the EU since at least 2009 to pay for the upkeep of his constituency office, a small converted grain store near Bognor Regis, according to transparency reports filed on the party’s website.
However, the grain store was given rent-free to Mr Farage by Ukip supporters 15 years ago. Utilities and other non-rental costs amount to no more than £3,000 a year, according to the former office manager, leaving about £12,000 a year unexplained.
“The Lyminster office is not the sole address that incurs expenditure in the pursuance of Mr Farage’s job as an MEP, though it is the most important one. It is quite wrong to claim that he did not declare the rental arrangement with J. Longhurst LTD. until 2013. It has been in the register of members’ interests since 2003.
"You are expected to quote this statement in full in any article you choose to publish."
Seriously? Like anyone's going to do that.
My stance on this new scandal, is to sleep on it and see what's shaken out tomorrow morning. Easier than trying to follow UKIP and the Times' initial flurries.
What's interesting about the story is not its facts. It is that The Times has decided to run with it in advance of the EP Elections.
The press barons have just won a battle with the Conservatives over Maria Miller. The polling impact has been a shot across Cameron's bows. It would be easy for them to continue the campaign through to May 22. Especially as most support Brexit and a UKIP victory in the Euros can only further that aim.
But there will be awareness of the risks being taken with these tactics. It is fun to set up Farage to win the Euros and it will increase the power of the press in their post Leveson battle, but not at the price of Labour getting elected in 2015 with a manifesto commitment to statutory press regulation. And not at a similar risk to economic recovery.
What The Times article tells us is that, at least the Murdoch press, are hedging their bets. It looks as if Farage is not going to get a free run at the Euros.
@isam: London is already by far the most Europhilic part of the UK. Surely it would make most sense to let those who want to live in an EU-centric, gay marriage loving, media lovvie world can do so. While those who are more Eurosceptic can live in the rest of the country.
To make sure you don't have to move, we can end London at Stratford if you like.
@isam: London is already by far the most Europhilic part of the UK. Surely it would make most sense to let those who want to live in an EU-centric, gay marriage loving, media lovvie world can do so. While those who are more Eurosceptic can live in the rest of the country.
To make sure you don't have to move, we can end London at Stratford if you like.
Haha
To be honest I am not as anti the things you mention as it may appear on here, but I hate the way that anyone who is not fully supportive of them is smeared as a this or that "-ist" or "-phobe" by people who have no idea what it is like to live in their shoes, and what comfort they may get in holding on to things that mean something to them
But as I said before, and at the risk of opening up an old boring argument, most real Londoners have already left, so who cares, why not?
Tories must be worried to play the Get Farage card so early. Expect a prolonged Tory paper hatchet job on Nigel.
I hate to break it to you, but not everything from investigations by The Times to Rod Crosby's preferred statistical filters are the deadly and twisted orchestrations of Tory high office.
Christ on a bike, the naivety of that post was quite shocking.....no, The Times will have not been spoon fed this....not a chance.
I suspect the seasoned hacks at a national newspaper are quite capable of sniffing out their own scandal and don't need any Tory super-sleuths, who couldn't even determine who made the the IndyRef gaffe to The Guardian, telling them their jobs.
I suspect that is carefully crafted spin designed to up the ante: 'Look, if this issue is so important that a serving PM is even prepared to throw himself off a cliff over it, what other untold ructions and consequences could a 'Yes' vote unleash?'
I suspect that is carefully crafted spin designed to up the ante: 'Look, if this issue is so important that a serving PM is even prepared to throw himself off a cliff over it, what other untold ructions and consequences could a 'Yes' vote unleash?'
It is a bit silly of Brogan or No 10 to moot the possibility of the PM resigning.
It runs the risk of turning the referendum into a recall vote.
I suspect that is carefully crafted spin designed to up the ante: 'Look, if this issue is so important that a serving PM is even prepared to throw himself off a cliff over it, what other untold ructions and consequences could a 'Yes' vote unleash?'
Quite. It's not so long ago that we were told incessantly that Scottish independence wouldn't be more than a blip on the radar, and that the UK would carry on just as it always has as a world power and that the Scots were silly to lose that clout. It does have the rather unfortunate logical consequence that either one, or perhaps both, approaches are fibs. Not good for a campaign trying to send a consistent message.
I am sure a significant number of English Tories would be happy with a 'Yes' vote and now Hammond and Darling are not singing from the same song sheet as to what could be negotiated if that should happen.
I suspect that is carefully crafted spin designed to up the ante: 'Look, if this issue is so important that a serving PM is even prepared to throw himself off a cliff over it, what other untold ructions and consequences could a 'Yes' vote unleash?'
It is a bit silly of Brogan or No 10 to moot the possibility of the PM resigning.
It runs the risk of turning the referendum into a recall vote.
Come on, this is patently nonsense. If we vote Yes, then he'll stand behind a lectern the next morning looking earnest and say 'Very sad, heartbreaking, respect the democratically expressed wishes of the people etc.' He'll never resign a few months before a GE. Brogan threw that in as a hook to an otherwise reasonably respectable article.
Benedict Brogan (generally very informed on Tory insider politics) claims Cameron will resign if Scotland votes for independence:
What rubbish. Why the feck should he resign? What possible influence or responsibility could a Tory PM have over a country which elects just one Tory MP and, at the very instant of Cameron's election in 2010 was swinging 180 degrees in the opposite direction?
The UK is already dead for a whole host of reasons, and has been for a long time. Scotland voting Yes just formalises the position...
Like I said, on here, weeks ago, if Cameron loses the indyref, he will resign. He will be the PM that lost the union.
There is enough decency in the man that he will do the decent thing. He will go.
He might hang on for a few months to ensure some fake "stability" but the resignation will be in the post.
He's a Tory and an old Etonian. I would imagine the British armed forces are a significant part of his political psyche. There'll be a lot of unhappy Generals/Admirals after a Yes vote. He'll also know that he'll look a prat on the world stage. It may seem vain, but the man who presided over the collapse of a nation that created the largest Empire ever. And the partitioning of an island to boot. Most countries break up after civil wars with incompatible ethnic, linguistic, religious or cultural divides. The UK would cease to exist merely because Scots couldn't stomach a privileged, out of touch leader in Cameron. He'll be a global laughing stock.
"Tony Blair hit back at Nick Clegg on Monday after the Deputy Prime Minister condemned the delays dogging publication of Sir John Chilcot’s Iraq inquiry report.
The former Labour Prime Minister also took a swipe at the Coalition’s “inaction” over the three-year-long civil war in Syria.
The Independent disclosed that the Iraq report will not be published until 2015 at the earliest, six years after the Chilcot inquiry was ordered.
That could mean the next general election being fought against the backdrop of heavy criticism of the Blair government’s support for the US-led invasion of Iraq."
"UKIP leader Nigel Farage has challenged First Minister Alex Salmond to a televised debate ahead of the independence referendum.
Following recent successes in televised debates on the UK’s future in Europe with Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Mr Farage told The Scotsman that “real independence” is from the European Union, rather than the UK.
He said he is the best placed of the pro-UK leaders to take on Mr Salmond over an independent Scotland’s place in Europe.
Mr Farage said: “The other pro-UK parties have dropped the ball on this because they all want us to stay in the EU as well.
“But Alex Salmond is not offering true independence. Most of our laws and regulations now come from the EU.”
Mr Farage called for a televised debate with the First Minister to take place before next month’s European elections."
These delays are just becoming ridiculous, I would finally like to see this report. Surely it would look appalling cynical if it only finally got published in the run up to the next GE?
These delays are just becoming ridiculous, I would finally like to see this report. Surely it would look appalling cynical if it only finally got published in the run up to the next GE?
Indeed, but the delays have been caused by a dispute between HMG and Sir John's inquiry over the whether the inquiry can publish certain classified documents, which it relies upon in its reasoning. Sir John made the point that former ministers can publish whatever they like about the events in their memoires, but an inquiry of Privy Counsellors established by the former Prime Minister cannot! HMG has had the whip hand over the inquiry. It would suit Cameron very well for Blair's middle eastern crusading to hit the headlines in, say, March of 2015.
The links you provide evidence a very unpleasant dispute between UKIP and Jasna Badzak, a former contract employee of Gerard Batten MEP. This dispute culminated in Badzak's conviction and suspended sentence for expenses related fraud as reported in the Mail article you have linked..
There is no doubt that Badzak is bent on vengeance - her Twitter account description contains the boast "Exposing UKIP dirty secrets', contact me for all info on ukip dirt". It is not clear, though, that the Littlehampton office story originated from her.
Even if the story did come from Badzak, the main allegations are supported by Davd Samuel-Camps, a former political assistant of Nigel Farage responsible for accounting at the Littlehampton office who was independently interviewed by The Times.
This makes sense as The Times would be most unlikely to publish such a story on the basis of information received from a single 'unreliable' source.
Farage needs urgently to refer the allegations to a genuinely independent and authoritative investigatory body.
Just following the few links on this story leaves an unpleasant taste. The impression is of an amateur and ill-disciplined organisation of mavericks all at war with each other. As mad as the proverbial box of frogs!
Here are the links to the few articles I have read:
Picture of the Littlehampton Office (cute but a somewhat surprising location for the UK HQ of UKIP!): http://thetim.es/1jGaYV1
Like I said, on here, weeks ago, if Cameron loses the indyref, he will resign. He will be the PM that lost the union.
There is enough decency in the man that he will do the decent thing. He will go.
He might hang on for a few months to ensure some fake "stability" but the resignation will be in the post.
I doubt it. He hasn't exactly nailed his colours to the mast over Scottish Independence. It would further destabilise rUK and would be barely 7 months before the 2015 GE. He'd say something about it being "Scotland's democratic choice", express the need for ongoing stability for rUK in this difficult time, state he would now seek to get negotiations underway to get the best separation arrangements for all etc.
Unless he did spectacularly well in the 2015 GE, he would resign shortly after. Else the Conservative Party would force him out.
Nick Clegg backs new council tax bands for priciest homes
Don't know why they didn't do this months or years ago. If the politicians really can't stomach a revaluation they need to add one or two new bands at the top
Good morning all, has Jeremy Browne admitted he is a Tory yet? Have the YESNP launched an exocet against the First Sea Lord yet? Has Nigel Farage worked out where the office is for which he was claiming expenses? Just catching up from my Glasgow hotel and note the Gold Standard was a tad tarnished last night and their Euro poll seemed very different from all the others. Quite exciting we none of us really have a clue what is going to happen next month.
Sean T Cameron will not resign if there is a YES vote. He will wring his hands, say a great deal about the Scots choosing their own destiny and then he will knuckle down to win an overall majority next year as Labour implodes at the prospect of losing its greatest stronghold and several of its most senior figures start fighting for survival and search for an English seat. Lots of Peerages will be dangled in front of elderly Labour MPs.
Sean T Cameron will not resign if there is a YES vote. He will wring his hands, say a great deal about the Scots choosing their own destiny and then he will knuckle down to win an overall majority next year as Labour implodes at the prospect of losing its greatest stronghold and several of its most senior figures start fighting for survival and search for an English seat. Lots of Peerages will be dangled in front of elderly Labour MPs.
Remember the golden rule - just because you want it to happen doesn't mean it will!
These delays are just becoming ridiculous, I would finally like to see this report. Surely it would look appalling cynical if it only finally got published in the run up to the next GE?
But what else is left in the tank? After this latest mini bounce the polls have reverted to the mean as they have after every Tory swelling. A Labour lead of 1-2 in the Tories best case scenario doesn't = a Tory win. A Labour lead of 4-6 in the Tories worse case scenario doesn't = a Tory win. We know that the establishment worries about an Ed Milliband win after he narrowly defeated their candidate for the leadership. So why wouldn't they throw everything they have left at trying to stop the Labour win which the polls have now accepted is going to happen?
Chilcott publishes his report in early March 2015 claiming the timing is completely coincidental as he is above politics. Cameron formally apologises for the Tory party believing Labour lies when it gave its full support to Iraq and challenges Milliband to do the same. Establishment Net Labour entryists in my party launch a swift and noisy defence of Blair and feed the Mail/Telegraph shit storm. Cameron calls the election citing fixed term parliament act.
Yes, that's how I'd do it if I was as desperate as Cameron is. Alls fair in love and politics, besides if its be "appallingly cynical" or lose control of England (and some dodgy other bits) then let's do it. Last one down the Garrick is a LibDem!
Sean T Cameron will not resign if there is a YES vote. He will wring his hands, say a great deal about the Scots choosing their own destiny and then he will knuckle down to win an overall majority next year as Labour implodes at the prospect of losing its greatest stronghold and several of its most senior figures start fighting for survival and search for an English seat. Lots of Peerages will be dangled in front of elderly Labour MPs.
Remember the golden rule - just because you want it to happen doesn't mean it will!
SO somewhat ironically, Scotland voting YES will politically be the best option for both the Scottish and English Tories. In Scotland we will finally be able to break free of this ludicrous "English 5th columnist" tag the media and our political opponents have given us and in England they are the natural party of government. The Labour party was born in Scotland, thrived in Scotland and spread throughout England, though never getting terribly far south of Birmingham outside London. Lose Scotland and the Labour party loses its very core. The SNP has taken its place as the natural party of the left in Scotland.
The only people likely to come out of an Iraq Inquiry with clean hands are the LibDems. Charlie Kennedy, as a party leader, must have been briefed by No10 but he chose to believe the facts (conclusion jumping, I know) rather than Blairs' (and Bush's) hubris.
It's a straw I know, but it's about the only one the LD's (??we??) have to clutch.
Expensesgate part whatever we're up to has been bad for the Tories. Good for those of us who got on early on Miller though. I only wish I'd put more than a fiver on.
Now that Miller is out Dave and co need to hope that the economy keeps improving. I think the only thing that could change perceptions now that they are in it for themselves and their mates is a highly public campaign on corporate tax avoidance to force large multinationals to pay their share. Additionally forcing director pay down would help them. Not sure if there is enough time for either though. George will have to pull one of them out of the bag before the election to force Lab > Con switching.
Like I said, on here, weeks ago, if Cameron loses the indyref, he will resign. He will be the PM that lost the union.
There is enough decency in the man that he will do the decent thing. He will go.
He might hang on for a few months to ensure some fake "stability" but the resignation will be in the post.
Is there long enough between the Scottish Referendum and the next General Election to allow for that?
Probably not. I'm not sure off-hand exactly how long it takes to organise a Conservative leadership election, presumably a few weeks at minimum. On top of that, the new leader will probably want at least a couple of months to make an impression on the public, and rewrite the manifesto.
There might be some electoral advantages for the Conservatives in getting a new leader two weeks before the General Election campaign starts, from the honeymoon effect, but the leadership campaign might expose divisions within the party that would put the voters off.
Overall, I suspect the Conservatives would prefer to save the leadership campaign until after the election, since they're so close together. On the other hand, if it's an open secret that Cameron is going soon after the election, then Labour can say a vote for the Conservatives is a vote for a mystery PM.
Sean T Cameron will not resign if there is a YES vote. He will wring his hands, say a great deal about the Scots choosing their own destiny and then he will knuckle down to win an overall majority next year as Labour implodes at the prospect of losing its greatest stronghold and several of its most senior figures start fighting for survival and search for an English seat. Lots of Peerages will be dangled in front of elderly Labour MPs.
Remember the golden rule - just because you want it to happen doesn't mean it will!
SO somewhat ironically, Scotland voting YES will politically be the best option for both the Scottish and English Tories. In Scotland we will finally be able to break free of this ludicrous "English 5th columnist" tag the media and our political opponents have given us and in England they are the natural party of government. The Labour party was born in Scotland, thrived in Scotland and spread throughout England, though never getting terribly far south of Birmingham outside London. Lose Scotland and the Labour party loses its very core. The SNP has taken its place as the natural party of the left in Scotland.
We'll see what happens. In the event of a Yes vote I very much doubt things will carry on as normal in the rUK. And that will affect all the parties profoundly. I can see why right wingers would want to fantasise about a permanent Tory/UKIP majority in England, but I am not so sure it will happen myself. In Scotland, I'd expect the SNP to break-up and disappear pretty swiftly after independence, not least because it will become pretty apparent pretty rapidly how much they dissembled during the referendum campaign. But what will they care? Their goal will have been achieved.
"UKIP leader Nigel Farage has challenged First Minister Alex Salmond to a televised debate ahead of the independence referendum.
Following recent successes in televised debates on the UK’s future in Europe with Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Mr Farage told The Scotsman that “real independence” is from the European Union, rather than the UK.
He said he is the best placed of the pro-UK leaders to take on Mr Salmond over an independent Scotland’s place in Europe.
Mr Farage said: “The other pro-UK parties have dropped the ball on this because they all want us to stay in the EU as well.
“But Alex Salmond is not offering true independence. Most of our laws and regulations now come from the EU.”
Mr Farage called for a televised debate with the First Minister to take place before next month’s European elections."
The only people likely to come out of an Iraq Inquiry with clean hands are the LibDems. Charlie Kennedy, as a party leader, must have been briefed by No10 but he chose to believe the facts (conclusion jumping, I know) rather than Blairs' (and Bush's) hubris.
It's a straw I know, but it's about the only one the LD's (??we??) have to clutch.
What we may find is that the British public see this as ancient history now. Were any of the major political figures of today, apart from Hague and IDS, in senior positions in any of the parties in the lead up to the Iraq war? I imagine EdM would welcome the opportunity to condemn any "Blairist lies" uncovered by the inquiry.
Like I said, on here, weeks ago, if Cameron loses the indyref, he will resign. He will be the PM that lost the union.
There is enough decency in the man that he will do the decent thing. He will go.
He might hang on for a few months to ensure some fake "stability" but the resignation will be in the post.
Is there long enough between the Scottish Referendum and the next General Election to allow for that?
Probably not. I'm not sure off-hand exactly how long it takes to organise a Conservative leadership election, presumably a few weeks at minimum. On top of that, the new leader will probably want at least a couple of months to make an impression on the public, and rewrite the manifesto.
There might be some electoral advantages for the Conservatives in getting a new leader two weeks before the General Election campaign starts, from the honeymoon effect, but the leadership campaign might expose divisions within the party that would put the voters off.
Overall, I suspect the Conservatives would prefer to save the leadership campaign until after the election, since they're so close together. On the other hand, if it's an open secret that Cameron is going soon after the election, then Labour can say a vote for the Conservatives is a vote for a mystery PM.
#
Cameron will probably offer his resignation as PM, not Tory leader. Her Majesty is likely to refuse to agree.
The only people likely to come out of an Iraq Inquiry with clean hands are the LibDems. Charlie Kennedy, as a party leader, must have been briefed by No10 but he chose to believe the facts (conclusion jumping, I know) rather than Blairs' (and Bush's) hubris.
It's a straw I know, but it's about the only one the LD's (??we??) have to clutch.
What we may find is that the British public see this as ancient history now. Were any of the major political figures of today, apart from Hague and IDS, in senior positions in any of the parties in the lead up to the Iraq war? I imagine EdM would welcome the opportunity to condemn any "Blairist lies" uncovered by the inquiry.
Agree, but some (?many) of the people who switched to LD from Lab did so precisely because of the war. Reminding them of their doubts ……….
The only people likely to come out of an Iraq Inquiry with clean hands are the LibDems. Charlie Kennedy, as a party leader, must have been briefed by No10 but he chose to believe the facts (conclusion jumping, I know) rather than Blairs' (and Bush's) hubris.
It's a straw I know, but it's about the only one the LD's (??we??) have to clutch.
What we may find is that the British public see this as ancient history now. Were any of the major political figures of today, apart from Hague and IDS, in senior positions in any of the parties in the lead up to the Iraq war? I imagine EdM would welcome the opportunity to condemn any "Blairist lies" uncovered by the inquiry.
Agree, but some (?many) of the people who switched to LD from Lab did so precisely because of the war. Reminding them of their doubts ……….
As I said, I KNOW it's a straw!
With EdM in charge, I doubt it. If DavidM had been leader it could well have been an issue.
Sean T Cameron will not resign if there is a YES vote. He will wring his hands, say a great deal about the Scots choosing their own destiny and then he will knuckle down to win an overall majority next year as Labour implodes at the prospect of losing its greatest stronghold and several of its most senior figures start fighting for survival and search for an English seat. Lots of Peerages will be dangled in front of elderly Labour MPs.
Remember the golden rule - just because you want it to happen doesn't mean it will!
The same applies to the "Cameron will resign" crew. Why on earth the PM of the UK should resign when łess than 4% of its electorate has voted for something in a referendum Cameron agreed to has yet to be satisfactorily explained. He will remain the PM of the 92% of the continuing UK, and the views of less than 4% who wish to leave should not change that.
After so many disappointments (Hutton especially) am I being overly optimistic that the constant delays in Chilcott are indicative of the guilty men being named and their lawyers fighting an extremely aggressive battle in respect of criticisms that they were given the opportunity to comment on?
Sean T Cameron will not resign if there is a YES vote. He will wring his hands, say a great deal about the Scots choosing their own destiny and then he will knuckle down to win an overall majority next year as Labour implodes at the prospect of losing its greatest stronghold and several of its most senior figures start fighting for survival and search for an English seat. Lots of Peerages will be dangled in front of elderly Labour MPs.
Remember the golden rule - just because you want it to happen doesn't mean it will!
SO somewhat ironically, Scotland voting YES will politically be the best option for both the Scottish and English Tories. In Scotland we will finally be able to break free of this ludicrous "English 5th columnist" tag the media and our political opponents have given us and in England they are the natural party of government. The Labour party was born in Scotland, thrived in Scotland and spread throughout England, though never getting terribly far south of Birmingham outside London. Lose Scotland and the Labour party loses its very core. The SNP has taken its place as the natural party of the left in Scotland.
We'll see what happens. In the event of a Yes vote I very much doubt things will carry on as normal in the rUK. And that will affect all the parties profoundly. I can see why right wingers would want to fantasise about a permanent Tory/UKIP majority in England, but I am not so sure it will happen myself. In Scotland, I'd expect the SNP to break-up and disappear pretty swiftly after independence, not least because it will become pretty apparent pretty rapidly how much they dissembled during the referendum campaign. But what will they care? Their goal will have been achieved.
As I have said recently, I tend to the view that the SNP will keep going for at least one more electoral cycle at least - till the indy negotiations are over, the new constitution is sorted and while the ex-unionist parties' MSPs and, temporarily, MPs disintegrate, realign themselves, defect and/or are voted out as seen (rightly or wrongly) as unreliable in terms of Scottish interests during negotiation. The SNP will have been successful, and in power (probably, as Mr antifrank suggested), neither [edit] conducive to disintegration.
But what I had not expected was to see even the Coalition government itself begin to disintegrate even before the vote - it does look as if it may have been Mr Hammond who is so desperate to keep Trident where it is (and its successor) that he was the one who was briefing against his own cabinet's stated policies on post-indy negotiation (or lack thereof).
Most people – including UKIP supporters – don’t know when the elections to the European Parliament are, or what their local MEPs are called.
Only 16% can correctly name the date of the next elections to the European Parliament, the 22nd May. 68% don’t know and 16% choose the wrong date.
Just 7% know how many MEPs the UK currently elects to the European Parliament (73). 77% are unsure and 16% choose wrongly.
20% correctly answer ‘28’ to how many countries are EU members, while 47% don’t know and 33% answer incorrectly.
People are more knowledgeable about the inception of the EU however. 45% know that the UK joined the EU (then the EEC) in the 1970s. But still, slightly more (55%) either don’t know (29%) or get the wrong answer (26%)
Additionally, the survey finds that a huge 93% majority cannot name any of the MEPs for their own region. The figure is the same for UKIP supporters.
At the beginning of April, UKIP supporters were at least 20% more likely than other voters to say they definitely will vote (68%) in the election. 61% of them do not know when it is, however, while 18% pick the wrong date and 21% get it right.
Sean T Cameron will not resign if there is a YES vote. He will wring his hands, say a great deal about the Scots choosing their own destiny and then he will knuckle down to win an overall majority next year as Labour implodes at the prospect of losing its greatest stronghold and several of its most senior figures start fighting for survival and search for an English seat. Lots of Peerages will be dangled in front of elderly Labour MPs.
Remember the golden rule - just because you want it to happen doesn't mean it will!
The same applies to the "Cameron will resign" crew. Why on earth the PM of the UK should resign when łess than 4% of its electorate has voted for something in a referendum Cameron agreed to has yet to be satisfactorily explained. He will remain the PM of the 92% of the continuing UK, and the views of less than 4% who wish to leave should not change that.
[edited to remove mental aberration].
I think the more important electorate is the backbench Tory MPs.
Sean T Cameron will not resign if there is a YES vote. He will wring his hands, say a great deal about the Scots choosing their own destiny and then he will knuckle down to win an overall majority next year as Labour implodes at the prospect of losing its greatest stronghold and several of its most senior figures start fighting for survival and search for an English seat. Lots of Peerages will be dangled in front of elderly Labour MPs.
Remember the golden rule - just because you want it to happen doesn't mean it will!
The same applies to the "Cameron will resign" crew. Why on earth the PM of the UK should resign when łess than 4% of its electorate has voted for something in a referendum Cameron agreed to has yet to be satisfactorily explained. He will remain the PM of the 92% of the continuing UK, and the views of less than 4% who wish to leave should not change that.
Most people – including UKIP supporters – don’t know when the elections to the European Parliament are, or what their local MEPs are called.
Only 16% can correctly name the date of the next elections to the European Parliament, the 22nd May. 68% don’t know and 16% choose the wrong date.
Just 7% know how many MEPs the UK currently elects to the European Parliament (73). 77% are unsure and 16% choose wrongly.
20% correctly answer ‘28’ to how many countries are EU members, while 47% don’t know and 33% answer incorrectly.
People are more knowledgeable about the inception of the EU however. 45% know that the UK joined the EU (then the EEC) in the 1970s. But still, slightly more (55%) either don’t know (29%) or get the wrong answer (26%)
Additionally, the survey finds that a huge 93% majority cannot name any of the MEPs for their own region. The figure is the same for UKIP supporters.
At the beginning of April, UKIP supporters were at least 20% more likely than other voters to say they definitely will vote (68%) in the election. 61% of them do not know when it is, however, while 18% pick the wrong date and 21% get it right.
I think a lot of commentators will use these findings as 'proof' that Europe is not high on the list of important areas to the British electorate. I feel differently. I think the electorate find political Europe abhorrent and as there's no obvious day to day impact they choose to ignore it. This doesn't mean that if they're given a real choice, they won't make their feelings known.
Dumping a share of the UK's debt would be worth twice as much to an independent Scotland as North Sea oil, academics have said.
It would improve the nation's fiscal balance from an otherwise poor outlook, the Glasgow University report said.
Scottish ministers said it demonstrated Scotland's strong position in the event of a referendum "Yes" vote.
The report, published by the university's Centre for Public Policy for Regions (CPPR), said a low or zero share of the UK debt would "substantially improve Scotland's fiscal balance" from the otherwise "poor" economic outlook it faced if it took a population-based share of debt if Scotland voted for independence in the 18 September referendum.
But the Scottish government's "flawed" threat to dump the debt if an independent Scotland could not share the pound under a currency union with the rest of the UK could lead to cross-border acrimony and disturb international markets, leading to "punitive" borrowing costs, it added.
CPPR economist John McLaren said: "Scotland's share of current debt servicing costs is twice the size of projected future oil revenues.
Sean T Cameron will not resign if there is a YES vote. He will wring his hands, say a great deal about the Scots choosing their own destiny and then he will knuckle down to win an overall majority next year as Labour implodes at the prospect of losing its greatest stronghold and several of its most senior figures start fighting for survival and search for an English seat. Lots of Peerages will be dangled in front of elderly Labour MPs.
Remember the golden rule - just because you want it to happen doesn't mean it will!
The same applies to the "Cameron will resign" crew. Why on earth the PM of the UK should resign when łess than 4% of its electorate has voted for something in a referendum Cameron agreed to has yet to be satisfactorily explained. He will remain the PM of the 92% of the continuing UK, and the views of less than 4% who wish to leave should not change that.
[edited to remove mental aberration].
I think the more important electorate is the backbench Tory MPs.
Well, we know those ill-disposed to Cameron are quite willing to latch onto the latest stick to beat him with.....I wouldn't be surprised if some of the usual suspects were the source of the Brogan story.
Some of the English unionists need to "get a grip" to borrow a phrase. As a Scottish Unionist I think Independence for Scotłand would be a pity - but far from a disaster or cataclysmic event fir rUK - and to the vast majority of the UK electorate it will be a case of "oh, you're off then? Here's your hat, where's your hurry?"
Russia suffered a fall greater "loss" with the collapse of the Soviet Union - yet stayed on the Security Council - and the UK economy shrunk by more in the Brown recession in absolute terms than the departure of Scotland would bring about.
The ripples will close over the head of the departed Union pretty swiftly, South of the border at any rate.....
Sean T Cameron will not resign if there is a YES vote. He will wring his hands, say a great deal about the Scots choosing their own destiny and then he will knuckle down to win an overall majority next year as Labour implodes at the prospect of losing its greatest stronghold and several of its most senior figures start fighting for survival and search for an English seat. Lots of Peerages will be dangled in front of elderly Labour MPs.
Remember the golden rule - just because you want it to happen doesn't mean it will!
SO somewhat ironically, Scotland voting YES will politically be the best option for both the Scottish and English Tories. In Scotland we will finally be able to break free of this ludicrous "English 5th columnist" tag the media and our political opponents have given us and in England they are the natural party of government. The Labour party was born in Scotland, thrived in Scotland and spread throughout England, though never getting terribly far south of Birmingham outside London. Lose Scotland and the Labour party loses its very core. The SNP has taken its place as the natural party of the left in Scotland.
We'll see what happens. In the event of a Yes vote I very much doubt things will carry on as normal in the rUK. And that will affect all the parties profoundly. I can see why right wingers would want to fantasise about a permanent Tory/UKIP majority in England, but I am not so sure it will happen myself. In Scotland, I'd expect the SNP to break-up and disappear pretty swiftly after independence, not least because it will become pretty apparent pretty rapidly how much they dissembled during the referendum campaign. But what will they care? Their goal will have been achieved.
But what I had not expected was to see even the Coalition government itself begin to disintegrate even before the vote - it does look as if it may have been Mr Hammond who is so desperate to keep Trident where it is (and its successor) that he was the one who was briefing against his own cabinet's stated policies on post-indy negotiation (or lack thereof).
Sean T Cameron will not resign if there is a YES vote. He will wring his hands, say a great deal about the Scots choosing their own destiny and then he will knuckle down to win an overall majority next year as Labour implodes at the prospect of losing its greatest stronghold and several of its most senior figures start fighting for survival and search for an English seat. Lots of Peerages will be dangled in front of elderly Labour MPs.
Remember the golden rule - just because you want it to happen doesn't mean it will!
The same applies to the "Cameron will resign" crew. Why on earth the PM of the UK should resign when łess than 4% of its electorate has voted for something in a referendum Cameron agreed to has yet to be satisfactorily explained. He will remain the PM of the 92% of the continuing UK, and the views of less than 4% who wish to leave should not change that.
[edited to remove mental aberration].
I think the more important electorate is the backbench Tory MPs.
Well, we know those ill-disposed to Cameron are quite willing to latch onto the latest stick to beat him with.....I wouldn't be surprised if some of the usual suspects were the source of the Brogan story.
Some of the English unionists need to "get a grip" to borrow a phrase. As a Scottish Unionist I think Independence for Scotłand would be a pity - but far from a disaster or cataclysmic event fir rUK - and to the vast majority of the UK electorate it will be a case of "oh, you're off then? Here's your hat, where's your hurry?"
Russia suffered a fall greater "loss" with the collapse of the Soviet Union - yet stayed on the Security Council - and the UK economy shrunk by more in the Brown recession in absolute terms than the departure of Scotland would bring about.
The ripples will close over the head of the departed Union pretty swiftly, South of the border at any rate.....
Optimistic to think they will be ripples. Unless Westminster play ball it will be breakers
Sean T Cameron will not resign if there is a YES vote. He will wring his hands, say a great deal about the Scots choosing their own destiny and then he will knuckle down to win an overall majority next year as Labour implodes at the prospect of losing its greatest stronghold and several of its most senior figures start fighting for survival and search for an English seat. Lots of Peerages will be dangled in front of elderly Labour MPs.
Remember the golden rule - just because you want it to happen doesn't mean it will!
The same applies to the "Cameron will resign" crew. Why on earth the PM of the UK should resign when łess than 4% of its electorate has voted for something in a referendum Cameron agreed to has yet to be satisfactorily explained. He will remain the PM of the 92% of the continuing UK, and the views of less than 4% who wish to leave should not change that.
[edited to remove mental aberration].
I think the more important electorate is the backbench Tory MPs.
Well, we know those ill-disposed to Cameron are quite willing to latch onto the latest stick to beat him with.....I wouldn't be surprised if some of the usual suspects were the source of the Brogan story.
Some of the English unionists need to "get a grip" to borrow a phrase. As a Scottish Unionist I think Independence for Scotłand would be a pity - but far from a disaster or cataclysmic event fir rUK - and to the vast majority of the UK electorate it will be a case of "oh, you're off then? Here's your hat, where's your hurry?"
Russia suffered a fall greater "loss" with the collapse of the Soviet Union - yet stayed on the Security Council - and the UK economy shrunk by more in the Brown recession in absolute terms than the departure of Scotland would bring about.
The ripples will close over the head of the departed Union pretty swiftly, South of the border at any rate.....
Optimistic to think they will be ripples. Unless Westminster play ball it will be breakers
The biggest issue for rUK will be "what to do with Trident" - but hardly a bread and butter issue like "currency" or "interest rates" that will confront the Scottish electorate.....
I think you have a rather optimistic view on Scotland's bargaining position.
You want things in the gift of the rUK, which barely applies the other way round.....the big thing rUK want isn't on the table, but it's only one thing and does not affect day-to-day issues......
But what I had not expected was to see even the Coalition government itself begin to disintegrate even before the vote - it does look as if it may have been Mr Hammond who is so desperate to keep Trident where it is (and its successor) that he was the one who was briefing against his own cabinet's stated policies on post-indy negotiation (or lack thereof).
I think describing it as "coalition government beginning to disintegrate" is displaying the same over excitedness as the "Cameron will resign" crew.
IF it is the MOD (and they have form in this area) then those responsible should be sacked, up to, and including Hammond......
Don't worry, I'm not overexcited - remember the Herald and the Graun are pro-Unionist organs. I'm just very surprised that Mr Hammond et al should be rocking the boat so vigorously and publicly at a sensitive time. But they do indeed have form, like that proposal to annexe Faslane and Coulport to EWNI in the event of indy which was shot down very quickly by No 10 within a few hours (and which was fed to the Gruaniad).
Comments
http://www.ukip.org/the_times_launches_new_attack_on_ukip_as_the_party_surges_further_upwards_in_the_polls_threatening_the_grip_of_the_political_establishment
Sam Coates Times @SamCoatesTimes 1m
Our p1 investigation: "TimesNewsdesk: Nigel Farage faces investigation into £60,000 of ‘missing’ EU expenses http://thetim.es/QmbZai #UKIP”
http://www.ukip.org/the_times_launches_new_attack_on_ukip_as_the_party_surges_further_upwards_in_the_polls_threatening_the_grip_of_the_political_establishment
It's all over, Sam.
You should never have trusted a politician.
Still, you can console yourself with the knowledge that was good while it lasted.
You should never have trusted a politician.
Still, you can console yourself with the knowledge that was good while it lasted.
Haha... oh what to do?!
Can I back the Lib Dems to beat UKIP next year at 1/10 with anyone?
http://www.ukip.org/the_times_launches_new_attack_on_ukip_as_the_party_surges_further_upwards_in_the_polls_threatening_the_grip_of_the_political_establishment
"You are expected to quote this statement in full in any article you choose to publish."
Seriously? Like anyone's going to do that.
My stance on this new scandal, is to sleep on it and see what's shaken out tomorrow morning. Easier than trying to follow UKIP and the Times' initial flurries.
"London has become a citadel, sealed off from the rest of Britain
Ukip and Scottish nationalism are symptoms of public hostility to the overweening power and dominance of the capital"
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/14/london-oligarch-city-capital-cost-of-living
I'll still bet you 2/1 he appears on the leader debates next year if you're game
Seriously? Like anyone's going to do that.
My stance on this new scandal, is to sleep on it and see what's shaken out tomorrow morning. Easier than trying to follow UKIP and the Times' initial flurries.
What's interesting about the story is not its facts. It is that The Times has decided to run with it in advance of the EP Elections.
The press barons have just won a battle with the Conservatives over Maria Miller. The polling impact has been a shot across Cameron's bows. It would be easy for them to continue the campaign through to May 22. Especially as most support Brexit and a UKIP victory in the Euros can only further that aim.
But there will be awareness of the risks being taken with these tactics. It is fun to set up Farage to win the Euros and it will increase the power of the press in their post Leveson battle, but not at the price of Labour getting elected in 2015 with a manifesto commitment to statutory press regulation. And not at a similar risk to economic recovery.
What The Times article tells us is that, at least the Murdoch press, are hedging their bets. It looks as if Farage is not going to get a free run at the Euros.
To make sure you don't have to move, we can end London at Stratford if you like.
To be honest I am not as anti the things you mention as it may appear on here, but I hate the way that anyone who is not fully supportive of them is smeared as a this or that "-ist" or "-phobe" by people who have no idea what it is like to live in their shoes, and what comfort they may get in holding on to things that mean something to them
But as I said before, and at the risk of opening up an old boring argument, most real Londoners have already left, so who cares, why not?
Now you may argue one is the proxy for the other but no one will listen.
Scottish independence would damage “the very heart” of Britain’s maritime defence forces, the First Sea Lord has warned.
Writing for The Telegraph, Adml Sir George Zambellas says a “yes” vote in September’s referendum would “weaken” the effectiveness of the Royal Navy.
Or do we think he will hold on to his leadership as the press relentlessly undermine UKIP membership and polling support?
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/benedictbrogan/100267634/its-time-david-cameron-showed-scots-that-england-does-care/
Lab lead remains at 4 - same as last update at 2 April.
However it's now 36-32, whereas it was 37-33 at 2 April.
Rolling graph makes Con fall look worse in the last couple of weeks. However Lab is still bang on its lowest point since 2010.
Graph can easily be interpreted as worrying for both Con and Lab.
http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/voting-intention-2
"10 Downing St to pay Mansion Tax"
Says it will be in LD manifesto
Seems unlikely if he isn't taking a major part in the "debate".
If he was the visible leader of the "No" campaign then might make sense. But not if he isn't.
It runs the risk of turning the referendum into a recall vote.
Farage faces investigation into ‘missing’ EU expenses
Could be embarassing.
The UK is already dead for a whole host of reasons, and has been for a long time. Scotland voting Yes just formalises the position...
Convicted fraudster @JasnaBadzak who fleeced UKIP MEP is source of most @Times smears on #UKIP . Has no credibility http://dailym.ai/15hNG1J "
twitter.com/hermannkelly/status/455652154850557953
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2448851/Ex-press-secretary-fleeced-UKIP-MEP-went-spending-spree-disapproving-policies.html
http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/uk-polling-report-average-2
And the news is UKIP have risen from 12% to 14%.
That's a 17% increase.
So the racist gadflies are now running at almost 40% of the support of the party currently in pole position.
Ed Balls in the Guardian - Why Labour won't stop talking about the cost of living crisis
'We have got the ideas to mend the broken link between the wealth of the country and people's own finances'
"Tony Blair hit back at Nick Clegg on Monday after the Deputy Prime Minister condemned the delays dogging publication of Sir John Chilcot’s Iraq inquiry report.
The former Labour Prime Minister also took a swipe at the Coalition’s “inaction” over the three-year-long civil war in Syria.
The Independent disclosed that the Iraq report will not be published until 2015 at the earliest, six years after the Chilcot inquiry was ordered.
That could mean the next general election being fought against the backdrop of heavy criticism of the Blair government’s support for the US-led invasion of Iraq."
"UKIP leader Nigel Farage has challenged First Minister Alex Salmond to a televised debate ahead of the independence referendum.
Following recent successes in televised debates on the UK’s future in Europe with Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Mr Farage told The Scotsman that “real independence” is from the European Union, rather than the UK.
He said he is the best placed of the pro-UK leaders to take on Mr Salmond over an independent Scotland’s place in Europe.
Mr Farage said: “The other pro-UK parties have dropped the ball on this because they all want us to stay in the EU as well.
“But Alex Salmond is not offering true independence. Most of our laws and regulations now come from the EU.”
Mr Farage called for a televised debate with the First Minister to take place before next month’s European elections."
'Ipsos Mori survey of adults in 20 countries finds that those in richer countries fear their nations' best days are behind them'
There is no doubt that Badzak is bent on vengeance - her Twitter account description contains the boast "Exposing UKIP dirty secrets', contact me for all info on ukip dirt". It is not clear, though, that the Littlehampton office story originated from her.
Badzak's vendetta, in all its sordid spite can be followed on https://twitter.com/JasnaBadzak
Even if the story did come from Badzak, the main allegations are supported by Davd Samuel-Camps, a former political assistant of Nigel Farage responsible for accounting at the Littlehampton office who was independently interviewed by The Times.
This makes sense as The Times would be most unlikely to publish such a story on the basis of information received from a single 'unreliable' source.
Farage needs urgently to refer the allegations to a genuinely independent and authoritative investigatory body.
Just following the few links on this story leaves an unpleasant taste. The impression is of an amateur and ill-disciplined organisation of mavericks all at war with each other. As mad as the proverbial box of frogs!
Here are the links to the few articles I have read:
Picture of the Littlehampton Office (cute but a somewhat surprising location for the UK HQ of UKIP!): http://thetim.es/1jGaYV1
The current expenses story:
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4063594.ece
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ukips-nigel-farage-could-face-3414955
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-leader-nigel-farage-accused-over-expenses-claims-9260542.html
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/15/nigel-farage-under-fire-over-office-expenses
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-27024045
Well, that'll work out well...
Unless he did spectacularly well in the 2015 GE, he would resign shortly after. Else the Conservative Party would force him out.
Nick Clegg backs new council tax bands for priciest homes
Don't know why they didn't do this months or years ago. If the politicians really can't stomach a revaluation they need to add one or two new bands at the top
Chilcott publishes his report in early March 2015 claiming the timing is completely coincidental as he is above politics. Cameron formally apologises for the Tory party believing Labour lies when it gave its full support to Iraq and challenges Milliband to do the same. Establishment Net Labour entryists in my party launch a swift and noisy defence of Blair and feed the Mail/Telegraph shit storm. Cameron calls the election citing fixed term parliament act.
Yes, that's how I'd do it if I was as desperate as Cameron is. Alls fair in love and politics, besides if its be "appallingly cynical" or lose control of England (and some dodgy other bits) then let's do it. Last one down the Garrick is a LibDem!
As an aside how many other posters use a mobile or tablet screen for posting, something this godawful website format makes very difficult?
It's a straw I know, but it's about the only one the LD's (??we??) have to clutch.
Now that Miller is out Dave and co need to hope that the economy keeps improving. I think the only thing that could change perceptions now that they are in it for themselves and their mates is a highly public campaign on corporate tax avoidance to force large multinationals to pay their share. Additionally forcing director pay down would help them. Not sure if there is enough time for either though. George will have to pull one of them out of the bag before the election to force Lab > Con switching.
Probably not. I'm not sure off-hand exactly how long it takes to organise a Conservative leadership election, presumably a few weeks at minimum. On top of that, the new leader will probably want at least a couple of months to make an impression on the public, and rewrite the manifesto.
There might be some electoral advantages for the Conservatives in getting a new leader two weeks before the General Election campaign starts, from the honeymoon effect, but the leadership campaign might expose divisions within the party that would put the voters off.
Overall, I suspect the Conservatives would prefer to save the leadership campaign until after the election, since they're so close together. On the other hand, if it's an open secret that Cameron is going soon after the election, then Labour can say a vote for the Conservatives is a vote for a mystery PM.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/brian-monteith-farage-hits-snp-where-it-hurts-1-3375259
Cameron will probably offer his resignation as PM, not Tory leader. Her Majesty is likely to refuse to agree.
As I said, I KNOW it's a straw!
But what I had not expected was to see even the Coalition government itself begin to disintegrate even before the vote - it does look as if it may have been Mr Hammond who is so desperate to keep Trident where it is (and its successor) that he was the one who was briefing against his own cabinet's stated policies on post-indy negotiation (or lack thereof).
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/14/everything-negotiation-scotland-independent-philip-hammond
Only 16% can correctly name the date of the next elections to the European Parliament, the 22nd May. 68% don’t know and 16% choose the wrong date.
Just 7% know how many MEPs the UK currently elects to the European Parliament (73). 77% are unsure and 16% choose wrongly.
20% correctly answer ‘28’ to how many countries are EU members, while 47% don’t know and 33% answer incorrectly.
People are more knowledgeable about the inception of the EU however. 45% know that the UK joined the EU (then the EEC) in the 1970s. But still, slightly more (55%) either don’t know (29%) or get the wrong answer (26%)
Additionally, the survey finds that a huge 93% majority cannot name any of the MEPs for their own region. The figure is the same for UKIP supporters.
At the beginning of April, UKIP supporters were at least 20% more likely than other voters to say they definitely will vote (68%) in the election. 61% of them do not know when it is, however, while 18% pick the wrong date and 21% get it right.
http://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/04/14/european-elections-what-european-elections/
I think the more important electorate is the backbench Tory MPs.
It would improve the nation's fiscal balance from an otherwise poor outlook, the Glasgow University report said.
Scottish ministers said it demonstrated Scotland's strong position in the event of a referendum "Yes" vote.
The report, published by the university's Centre for Public Policy for Regions (CPPR), said a low or zero share of the UK debt would "substantially improve Scotland's fiscal balance" from the otherwise "poor" economic outlook it faced if it took a population-based share of debt if Scotland voted for independence in the 18 September referendum.
But the Scottish government's "flawed" threat to dump the debt if an independent Scotland could not share the pound under a currency union with the rest of the UK could lead to cross-border acrimony and disturb international markets, leading to "punitive" borrowing costs, it added.
CPPR economist John McLaren said: "Scotland's share of current debt servicing costs is twice the size of projected future oil revenues.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-27024045
Some of the English unionists need to "get a grip" to borrow a phrase. As a Scottish Unionist I think Independence for Scotłand would be a pity - but far from a disaster or cataclysmic event fir rUK - and to the vast majority of the UK electorate it will be a case of "oh, you're off then? Here's your hat, where's your hurry?"
Russia suffered a fall greater "loss" with the collapse of the Soviet Union - yet stayed on the Security Council - and the UK economy shrunk by more in the Brown recession in absolute terms than the departure of Scotland would bring about.
The ripples will close over the head of the departed Union pretty swiftly, South of the border at any rate.....
IF it is the MOD (and they have form in this area) then those responsible should be sacked, up to, and including Hammond......
I think you have a rather optimistic view on Scotland's bargaining position.
You want things in the gift of the rUK, which barely applies the other way round.....the big thing rUK want isn't on the table, but it's only one thing and does not affect day-to-day issues......
@BBCNormanS: "I will never speak to the Times again" says @nigel_farage following report he abused EU Parliamentary allowances