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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Polling analysis: Those firms that don’t prompt for the Gre

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  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
  • SmarmeronSmarmeron Posts: 5,099
    @Slackbladder
    "Poor old Ed...he's really not very photogenic is he? "

    Bloody horrible.......on the other hand. you would have to be just a little sad to think that it makes any real difference to being a PM.
    ( I contend that the left has a natural ability to almost cherish stuff like that in a "defend the underdog" sort of way)
  • anotherDaveanotherDave Posts: 6,746

    Ukip Deputy Leader of Hampshire CC held over assault charge.

    http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/11215174._/

    Crikey.

  • OblitusSumMeOblitusSumMe Posts: 9,143
    TGOHF said:

    Reason why Ed's landlord bashing went down badly ?

    James Chapman (Mail) ‏@jameschappers 3m
    11% of people have a second home?Incredible stat http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/was/wealth-in-great-britain-wave-3/2010-2012/sty-facts-about-household-wealth.html

    Er, but 15% of the population rent from a private landlord - 2011 census.

    Since 15 > 11 [and some of the 11 will be second-homes that are not rented out] that statistic can not explain why Miliband's rent reforms did not lead to a stunning 10-point Labour lead in the polls.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,376

    Ed Miliband ‏@Ed_Miliband · 4 mins
    David Axelrod has joined me at Shadow Cabinet to discuss how we win and change Britain. pic.twitter.com/GvrYIPZ46Y

    Poor old Ed...he's really not very photogenic is he?

    If he's as good as they hype say's he is I should imagine the first thing Axel Rose said was something like;

    "You should have got me over here two years ago. The public hate's your leader and it's too late to turn around people's perceptions of him. It's over guys. What you need to do is limit the defeat so your in with a shout in 2020."

  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    I see that Eagles is tearing his feathers out in frustration this morning, because he can't actually strangle a kipper.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,376
    MikeK said:

    GIN1138 said:

    I wonder whether ICM will do another poll before next Thursday? I would imagine ICM would be keen to come up with something more "in-line" with other pollsters if they can?

    Surely you are not accusing them of underhand dealings? ;)
    Of course not. Their poll was a genuine result, but we'd need to have another one to see just how much of an outlier it was on ICM's methodology.

  • isamisam Posts: 41,118

    Why is it that all Kippers seem able to do is moan.

    There's a lot for the Kippers to moan about

    Farage sells out to Cameron, principal agent of the EUSSR

    http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2014/05/farage-sells-out-to-cameron-principal-agent-of-the-eussr.html
    What is it about that interview that you think UKIP supporters should find objectionable?

    http://order-order.com/2014/05/14/farage-id-do-a-deal-with-dave/
    The Conservative and Lib Dems on here are Dan Hodges to UKIPs Ed Miliband.. anything and everything that happens is BAD NEWS FOR UKIP



  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,046

    Why is it that all Kippers seem able to do is moan.

    Because AFAIA they don't have anything else to talk about. The immigration/EU thing we get and they have been bludgeoned into caution when mentioning it.

    So that leaves...well nothing yet.

    Nothing on defense, health, transport, infrastructure.

    Now is the time for some substance.

    Not because I think a NOTA needs a fully blown manifesto but because their existing message is too narrow and too dangerous politically. Plus, as we have seen from NPXMP, pretty shamelessly IMO, they are open to have "policies" invented for them.

    Come out with a fantasmagorical transport policy, HS3 to Mull, or even a flat tax (did they drop that?).

    Then they can move if only slowly to greater acceptance by the mainstream.

    And to further their reach, they also super totally need to lose the tone and content of their current campaign which to me appears thoroughly nasty and harks back to the bad old NF/BNP days.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    edited May 2014

    Ukip Deputy Leader of Hampshire CC held over assault charge.

    http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/11215174._/

    Crikey.
    It's quite possible that he was the one attacked. The article says there was a scuffle by protesters.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    MikeK said:

    I see that Eagles is tearing his feathers out in frustration this morning, because he can't actually strangle a kipper.

    Err no, I'm not a man prone to violence, only angry chaps like yourself that want to commit violence towards other people, me I prefer to take the piss out of them.

    Lord knows you Kippers are providing me enough material.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,054

    Mr. PB, cheers for that very interesting post.

    I wonder how quickly and how far Euroland will decline, and the impact on the UK (both economically and politically).

    How are plans for banking and fiscal integration coming along? I haven't heard anything about that for ages.

    Well the government have done a decent amount of work on export guarantees and start up loans for small business that want to begin exporting goods and services, if they continue to make these small moves the dynamic will be completely different should an EMU crisis mk.II ever materialise.

    On that, nothing really. National governments don't want any kind of fiscal interference from the EU but they want it to stand behind any possible future bank bail outs. I don't see it getting any further than that. Countries like Italy and France specifically have said no to EU level oversight of national budgets and Germany have basically been saying they want it for everyone else, but not for their own budget.

    The way I see it is that contributor nations should get a free pass and the ones who receive cash should have some level of budgetary oversight. If we are going to put money into their economy then it is fair to have some oversight. However, the EU hates dividing down that fault line of contributors/receivers because they know if they put all of us on the contributor side together it would get the ball rolling on the value for money question, on which the EU has always performed poorly.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,337
    Scott_P said:

    Here's a poser for the Nats.

    An article written by Hugo Rifkind, London based sell-out, son of a Tory (a former Scottish Secretary under Thatcher no less), that they might actually agree with...

    http://www.spectator.co.uk/columnists/hugo-rifkind/9206231/scotlands-fate-is-more-important-than-david-camerons/

    BTW that's dated 17 May 2014 in the original ... maybe that is why there are no comments under it ...

  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,014

    Pulpstar said:

    UKIP's chance is way over 40%. The Conservatives are NOT 30% to win.

    Agree , 1 freak poll putting them ahead has coloured Mike's judgment . UKIP 60% Lab 30% and Con 10% are my estimates .
    My dice analogy puts UKIP at 50%, Labour at 33% and the tories at 17% which makes us pretty much in agreement.

    The priority for the Lib Dems is surely not the Euro side show but keeping as many of their councillors and as much of their activist base as they can in the locals. Decades of hard work are being undermined by this minority position in the Coalition.

  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053

    MikeK said:

    I see that Eagles is tearing his feathers out in frustration this morning, because he can't actually strangle a kipper.

    Err no, I'm not a man prone to violence, only angry chaps like yourself that want to commit violence towards other people, me I prefer to take the piss out of them.

    Lord knows you Kippers are providing me enough material.
    Pull the other claw, Eagle, it's got bells on.
  • SmarmeronSmarmeron Posts: 5,099
    Just a thought on people being photogenic or not......the picture editor gets the choice of the thousands taken. Buying them all a crate of whisky yearly might help improve your look?
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    MikeK said:

    Ukip Deputy Leader of Hampshire CC held over assault charge.

    http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/11215174._/

    Crikey.
    It's quite possible that he was the one attacked. The article says there was a scuffle by protesters.
    Ludicrous suggestion. The police have many faults but they aren't going to attend a crime and arrest the victim. What do you think they'd arrive at a murder scene and arrest the corpse ?!?
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821

    Since 15 > 11 [and some of the 11 will be second-homes that are not rented out] that statistic can not explain why Miliband's rent reforms did not lead to a stunning 10-point Labour lead in the polls.

    Oh, I don't know: that is 26% of the population with a direct interest in avoiding loony government interference that would screw up the market.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    Got to leave you for some fresh air. Bye.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    Still no sign of a general election... another day closer to my GE2015 or later boat coming in ^_~
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    Given that Neil Hamilton, now a senior bod at UKIP is welcoming former decent BNPers to UKIP, I wonder if he will welcome this chap, if he already hasn't?

    From 2009

    Councillor Pat Richardson, leader of the BNP group on the local council, said her party was not behind the attacks on Ramjanally. “Firebombing is not a British method. A brick through the window is a British method, but firebombing is not a way of showing displeasure,” she said.

    http://www.libdemvoice.org/brick-through-window-is-british-way-says-bnp-councillor-15971.html
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    ToryJim said:

    MikeK said:

    Ukip Deputy Leader of Hampshire CC held over assault charge.

    http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/11215174._/

    Crikey.
    It's quite possible that he was the one attacked. The article says there was a scuffle by protesters.
    Ludicrous suggestion. The police have many faults but they aren't going to attend a crime and arrest the victim. What do you think they'd arrive at a murder scene and arrest the corpse ?!?
    Not ludicrous at all. Many's the time the police have done exactly that.
  • SmarmeronSmarmeron Posts: 5,099
    @Pulpstar

    You need a black penguin event to bring it home.
  • anotherDaveanotherDave Posts: 6,746
    Pulpstar said:

    Still no sign of a general election... another day closer to my GE2015 or later boat coming in ^_~

    Who is that with?

  • GrandioseGrandiose Posts: 2,323
    "Annual housing starts totalled 133,650 in the 12 months to March 2014, up by 31% compared with the year before."

    Good start - shame it would need to rise something like 31% each year for the entire term of the next parliament to reach a sustainable level of housing supply.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    edited May 2014

    Pulpstar said:

    Still no sign of a general election... another day closer to my GE2015 or later boat coming in ^_~

    Who is that with?

    Haha Only a 1/9 shot mate - sorry bit of overramping on a bet there :D

    It's with Hills, Tissue Price reckons its value though. I'm in for a hundred on it anyway.
  • CD13CD13 Posts: 6,366
    Oblitus,

    "That is basically what most Climate Scientists said about 30-35 years ago."

    Because that was a scientific-type view. I've noticed in the last few years a tendency for some scientists to take a position and then defend that position. No one's immune from that and I was guilty sometimes too,

    As Feynman said ... "It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn't matter how smart you are. If it doesn't agree with experiment, it's wrong."

    I would substitute "It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn't matter how smart you are. If your predictions don't come to pass, its wrong." Until the Global Warming scientists can make a prediction that is testable and has been tested, it's remains a theory only.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,167
    If we start referring to the UKIP youth wing as "Kipper Youth", will Kippers get upset that this sounds too much like another youth movement from the 1930s?
  • Tissue_PriceTissue_Price Posts: 9,039
    Pulpstar said:

    Haha Only a 1/9 shot mate - sorry bit of overramping on a bet there :D

    The 1/9 was with Hills but they have now pulled the market. Something Changed.

    You can still back 1/14 with the Mis-Shapes (Betfred, Paddy Power, Coral).

  • AnorakAnorak Posts: 6,621
    edited May 2014
    Clegg needs a new dictionary.

    Eurosceptics are "deeply unpatriotic", apparently. I'd guess many of them would vehemently disagree.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    edited May 2014
    It's not often that you find an inconsistency like this in Shadsy's odds:

    GB Vote Share: Greens and LibDems both on 1.83 over/under 8.0%

    GB Vote Share match bet: LD 1.5, Green 2.5

    Hard to see how all three markets can be right - so which is wrong?
  • SmarmeronSmarmeron Posts: 5,099
    @Grandiose

    Property prices must remain high, otherwise our banks become underfunded.
    The free market (with some sensible modifications of course)
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,014
    ToryJim said:
    There were comments by Balls in the FT I referred to yesterday explaining that Labour would (could?) not win as an anti business party. Quite right but as PMQs showed yesterday his boss is not listening.

    I think Mr Balls is getting somewhat frustrated.

  • Tissue_PriceTissue_Price Posts: 9,039

    It's not often that you find an inconsistency like this in Shadsy's odds:

    GB Vote: Greens and LibDems both on 1.83 over/under 8.0%

    GB Vote Share match bet: LD 1.5, Green 2.5

    Hard to see how all three markets can be right - so which is wrong?

    Very theoretically they could all be right, with non-normal distributions of votes. However in practice something is wrong.

    I almost can't believe my own conclusion, but I think Green 2.5 may be the wrong price.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,534

    isam said:

    Mr Farage cannot boast a single national title...

    I thought the Express was the paper batting for UKIP?
    I think the right wing press were sympathetic to UKIP so long as they could be used to put pressure on Cameron to tack rightwards. Now that UKIP has the potential to do real damage to the Conservatives, they've turned more hostile. It's certainly been interesting seeing papers like the Mail and Sun criticising UKIP for attitudes towards towards immigration and homosexuality that are frequently expressed by their own columnists and editors.

  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    Anorak said:

    Clegg needs a new dictionary.

    Eurosceptics are "deeply unpatriotic", apparently. I'd guess many of them would vehemently disagree.

    I get just as irked when Eurosceptics say pro-Europeans are unpatriotic etc.

    Patriotism, the last refuge of the scoundrel.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    Just received yet another email from The Tories/Dave, my point from the other day stands.

    The Tories have really upped their game for these elections.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,950
    Mr. PB, cheers for that response.

    It sounds like Machiavelli was right. A confederation of states has a maximum size of 4-6 before it becomes too unwieldy to be worth the effort.

    Bickering and bureaucracy will paralyse the EU, it'll have another crisis, and people might just consider that the euro is the problem.

    Mr. Anorak, Clegg can **** off with such claims. Of course, it hasn't lost him my vote as I'd never vote for a slavishly pro-EU party anyway, but if I were in a constituency where tactical voting could unseat a Lib Dem his utterances might encourage me to vote that way.
  • AnorakAnorak Posts: 6,621
    edited May 2014

    Anorak said:

    Clegg needs a new dictionary.

    Eurosceptics are "deeply unpatriotic", apparently. I'd guess many of them would vehemently disagree.

    I get just as irked when Eurosceptics say pro-Europeans are unpatriotic etc.

    Patriotism, the last refuge of the scoundrel.
    Agreed, wrapping oneself in the flag is an appeal to the lowest common denominator and a (usually baseless) smear of one's opponents.

    It's hardly going to lose him votes from his current position, though. I'm surprised there are that many geography teachers in the UK.
  • Bond_James_BondBond_James_Bond Posts: 1,939
    CD13 said:

    Oblitus,

    "That is basically what most Climate Scientists said about 30-35 years ago."

    Because that was a scientific-type view. I've noticed in the last few years a tendency for some scientists to take a position and then defend that position. No one's immune from that and I was guilty sometimes too,

    As Feynman said ... "It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn't matter how smart you are. If it doesn't agree with experiment, it's wrong."

    I would substitute "It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn't matter how smart you are. If your predictions don't come to pass, its wrong." Until the Global Warming scientists can make a prediction that is testable and has been tested, it's remains a theory only.

    Nope, not even a theory but a hypothesis.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    On topic, can anybody answer?

    If UKIP are being over estimated because of the lack of a prompt for the Greens in the EU pols, surely it follows that Westminster VI polls that do not prompt for UKIP (most of them?) lead to inflated scores for the other parties?

  • SimonStClareSimonStClare Posts: 7,976
    edited May 2014
    Sean_F said:

    isam said:

    Mr Farage cannot boast a single national title...

    I thought the Express was the paper batting for UKIP?
    I think the right wing press were sympathetic to UKIP so long as they could be used to put pressure on Cameron to tack rightwards. Now that UKIP has the potential to do real damage to the Conservatives, they've turned more hostile. It's certainly been interesting seeing papers like the Mail and Sun criticising UKIP for attitudes towards towards immigration and homosexuality that are frequently expressed by their own columnists and editors.

    And yet it is the Guardian and Independent who both have front page stories today attacking UKIP - an ex Labour immigration minister on the Beeb calling UKIP racist and left wing anti-fascist heckling Farage along the length of his campaign tour -

    Do you really think everything is down to a Tory lead 'right wing media' campaign?
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @standardnews: Ukip candidate sparks fresh racism row in north London with email attack on Muslims http://t.co/8OZaZsld0L
  • SmarmeronSmarmeron Posts: 5,099
    @Anorak

    Do we allow exceptions for the world cup etc,?
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    Scott_P said:

    @standardnews: Ukip candidate sparks fresh racism row in north London with email attack on Muslims http://t.co/8OZaZsld0L

    Didn't we have this yesterday?
  • AnorakAnorak Posts: 6,621
    Smarmeron said:

    @Anorak

    Do we allow exceptions for the world cup etc,?

    Naturally. And Eurovision.
  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    Scott_P said:

    @standardnews: Ukip candidate sparks fresh racism row in north London with email attack on Muslims http://t.co/8OZaZsld0L

    He made the claims in an email, sent to Brent council planners, which accused the Afghan community of ignoring the refusal of planning permission by building an extension to a cultural centre in Church Road, Willesden, and changing its use.

    Is that true?
  • CD13CD13 Posts: 6,366
    Oblitus,

    When I speak about a prediction, I mean one that hasn't got a 50% chance of happening anyway. For example, "I predict the earth will get warmer." Now it will not stay exactly the same so that has a 50% chance of being correct. In the same way, if my theory is that all coins are double-headed and I toss one coin and it turns up heads, that doesn't make my prediction correct .

    When you can predict exactly what temperature increase you'll get from a specific carbon dioxide level increase, I will hold my hands up. The climate scientists may be correct but it's not proven.
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    Smarmeron said:

    @Anorak

    Do we allow exceptions for the world cup etc,?

    I tend to take exception to football supporters being incapable of pronouncing their country correctly.
  • CD13CD13 Posts: 6,366
    Mr Bond,

    "Nope, not even a theory but a hypothesis."

    And I thought I was being picky.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Scott_P said:

    @standardnews: Ukip candidate sparks fresh racism row in north London with email attack on Muslims http://t.co/8OZaZsld0L

    Is that the story about the German who wrote to his council complaining about the corner shop that was being illegally used as a mosque?

    And the council leaked the emails to The Guardian?

    "Can you please explain to me and my fellow community members, how you can allow a general purpose shop to refuse entry to customers on the grounds of religion, race and attire? Is that the way you intend to promote the community cohesion you always bang on about whenever it suits you?" wrote Mr Vockrodt.

    http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/05/13/guardian-bully-tactics-against-ukip-councillor



  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322

    Anorak said:

    Clegg needs a new dictionary.

    Eurosceptics are "deeply unpatriotic", apparently. I'd guess many of them would vehemently disagree.

    I get just as irked when Eurosceptics say pro-Europeans are unpatriotic etc.

    Patriotism, the last refuge of the scoundrel.
    "It was wrong to think that unemployment was "a price worth paying" in return for leaving the bloc, he said."

    Despite taking a particular interest in the issue, I have never heard a eurosceptic make this argument. He is deliberately lying about what the other side's opinion is. Nick Clegg is really trashing his reputation for honesty over this issue. It's amazing how willing europhiles are to scrape the barrel in their tactics over the EU.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,534

    Sean_F said:

    isam said:

    Mr Farage cannot boast a single national title...

    I thought the Express was the paper batting for UKIP?
    I think the right wing press were sympathetic to UKIP so long as they could be used to put pressure on Cameron to tack rightwards. Now that UKIP has the potential to do real damage to the Conservatives, they've turned more hostile. It's certainly been interesting seeing papers like the Mail and Sun criticising UKIP for attitudes towards towards immigration and homosexuality that are frequently expressed by their own columnists and editors.

    And yet it is the Guardian and Independent who both have front page stories today attacking UKIP - an ex Labour immigration minister on the Beeb calling UKIP racist and left wing anti-fascist heckling Farage along the length of his campaign tour -

    Do you really think everything is down to a Tory lead 'right wing media' campaign?
    That's what one would expect from the left wing press. Until recently, the right wing press would generally have come to UKIP's defence.

  • SmarmeronSmarmeron Posts: 5,099
    @Anorak

    It's something I like about the newer England fans, Their use of the Georges Cross instead of the Union Flag (I qualify this by saying.....it may be the ONLY thing!)
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Socrates said:

    Scott_P said:

    @standardnews: Ukip candidate sparks fresh racism row in north London with email attack on Muslims http://t.co/8OZaZsld0L

    He made the claims in an email, sent to Brent council planners, which accused the Afghan community of ignoring the refusal of planning permission by building an extension to a cultural centre in Church Road, Willesden, and changing its use.

    Is that true?
    http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/05/13/guardian-bully-tactics-against-ukip-councillor
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,534
    Socrates said:

    Scott_P said:

    @standardnews: Ukip candidate sparks fresh racism row in north London with email attack on Muslims http://t.co/8OZaZsld0L

    He made the claims in an email, sent to Brent council planners, which accused the Afghan community of ignoring the refusal of planning permission by building an extension to a cultural centre in Church Road, Willesden, and changing its use.

    Is that true?
    Whether or not it's true is the issue that matters, in this story.
  • David_EvershedDavid_Evershed Posts: 6,506
    Scott_P said:

    @standardnews: Ukip candidate sparks fresh racism row in north London with email attack on Muslims http://t.co/8OZaZsld0L



    An attack on Muslims as a group is surely being religionist rather than racist. Followers of Islam come from many races.

  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    Looks like Tories are attracting more donations than Labour £6.6m to £4.4. SNP received another £1m from the lotto winners. LibDems notched up £1m and UKIP less the 500k. Interesting.
  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    Sean_F said:

    Socrates said:

    Scott_P said:

    @standardnews: Ukip candidate sparks fresh racism row in north London with email attack on Muslims http://t.co/8OZaZsld0L

    He made the claims in an email, sent to Brent council planners, which accused the Afghan community of ignoring the refusal of planning permission by building an extension to a cultural centre in Church Road, Willesden, and changing its use.

    Is that true?
    Whether or not it's true is the issue that matters, in this story.
    And this bit, from isam's link: "It is unclear how Mr Muir received the e-mails, however if it transpires that the communications were indeed leaked by Brent Council representatives, this would constitute a breach of the Data Protection Act."

    I don't really like Breitbart, but it's a reasonable question.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    It's not often that you find an inconsistency like this in Shadsy's odds:

    GB Vote: Greens and LibDems both on 1.83 over/under 8.0%

    GB Vote Share match bet: LD 1.5, Green 2.5

    Hard to see how all three markets can be right - so which is wrong?

    Very theoretically they could all be right, with non-normal distributions of votes. However in practice something is wrong.

    I almost can't believe my own conclusion, but I think Green 2.5 may be the wrong price.
    I agree and I have bet accordingly.
  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    I also question how the guy with the south Asian wife is supposed to be "racist" against south Asian people?
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Sean_F said:

    Socrates said:

    Scott_P said:

    @standardnews: Ukip candidate sparks fresh racism row in north London with email attack on Muslims http://t.co/8OZaZsld0L

    He made the claims in an email, sent to Brent council planners, which accused the Afghan community of ignoring the refusal of planning permission by building an extension to a cultural centre in Church Road, Willesden, and changing its use.

    Is that true?
    Whether or not it's true is the issue that matters, in this story.

    http://lawandfreedomfoundation.org/2012/12/26/santa-brings-us-another-win/
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,146
    Malcolm Tucker still got a bit of catching up to do in the brutality stakes (the guy in the suit is a spad to Erdogan).

    Retweeted by alex thomson
    Volkan&IşıL ‏@StrikerNwitcH 28 mins
    @AyjayH @alextomo new pics...http://tinyurl.com/m2k9823
  • TGOHF said:

    Reason why Ed's landlord bashing went down badly ?

    James Chapman (Mail) ‏@jameschappers 3m
    11% of people have a second home?Incredible stat http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/was/wealth-in-great-britain-wave-3/2010-2012/sty-facts-about-household-wealth.html

    Er, but 15% of the population rent from a private landlord - 2011 census.

    Since 15 > 11 [and some of the 11 will be second-homes that are not rented out] that statistic can not explain why Miliband's rent reforms did not lead to a stunning 10-point Labour lead in the polls.
    I'm a private renter and I don't want to be forced into a 3 year contract by Mr Miliband (I realise there is talk of a get out clause). I like the flexibility of renting and would much rather have something shorter. I think I should be able to make whatever rental agreement I like with my landlord without the Government sticking its nose in.
  • notmenotme Posts: 3,293
    CD13 said:

    Oblitus,

    "That is basically what most Climate Scientists said about 30-35 years ago."

    Because that was a scientific-type view. I've noticed in the last few years a tendency for some scientists to take a position and then defend that position. No one's immune from that and I was guilty sometimes too,

    As Feynman said ... "It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn't matter how smart you are. If it doesn't agree with experiment, it's wrong."

    I would substitute "It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn't matter how smart you are. If your predictions don't come to pass, its wrong." Until the Global Warming scientists can make a prediction that is testable and has been tested, it's remains a theory only.

    'Theory' is a curious word, in the general usage it means essentially an idea. eg Rod Crosby's swingback theory.

    However in the scientific method, theory means something much more. It has passed beyond hypothesis, it has been accepted as the best explanation.

    A more succinct description:

    "When used in non-scientific context, the word “theory” implies that something is unproven or speculative. As used in science, however, a theory is an explanation or model based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning, especially one that has been tested and confirmed as a general principle helping to explain and predict natural phenomena."
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    Anorak said:

    Anorak said:

    Clegg needs a new dictionary.

    Eurosceptics are "deeply unpatriotic", apparently. I'd guess many of them would vehemently disagree.

    I get just as irked when Eurosceptics say pro-Europeans are unpatriotic etc.

    Patriotism, the last refuge of the scoundrel.
    Agreed, wrapping oneself in the flag is an appeal to the lowest common denominator and a (usually baseless) smear of one's opponents.

    It's hardly going to lose him votes from his current position, though. I'm surprised there are that many geography teachers in the UK.
    Although, anyone who doesn't vote Tory next week is a traitorous pig-dog who deserves to be locked in a dis-used fridge with Katie Price and a horny Honey Badger.
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708
    isam said:

    On topic, can anybody answer?

    If UKIP are being over estimated because of the lack of a prompt for the Greens in the EU pols, surely it follows that Westminster VI polls that do not prompt for UKIP (most of them?) lead to inflated scores for the other parties?

    That's correct, as far as it goes. The argument for not prompting for UKIP is that in practice the small parties tend to get squeezed at Westminster elections, so the two wrongs cancel each other out and make a right.

    The arguments against doing this would be:
    1) Even if the logic is right and UKIP will get squeezed, arguably the polls should be polling what people are saying now, rather than sticking their thumb on the scale based on the way the pollster thinks they'll change their mind later.
    2) We don't know for sure that Farage will get squeezed out in the campaign. The opposite may happen, especially if he manages to get into the debates. Also the LibDems have historically tended to increase their share as the election approaches, so if UKIP are now the default "sick of the main parties hurling their own feces at each other" vote they may actually gain in the campaign.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959

    It's not often that you find an inconsistency like this in Shadsy's odds:

    GB Vote: Greens and LibDems both on 1.83 over/under 8.0%

    GB Vote Share match bet: LD 1.5, Green 2.5

    Hard to see how all three markets can be right - so which is wrong?

    Very theoretically they could all be right, with non-normal distributions of votes. However in practice something is wrong.

    I almost can't believe my own conclusion, but I think Green 2.5 may be the wrong price.
    I agree with you.
  • AnorakAnorak Posts: 6,621
    edited May 2014
    Depressing. Sudanese court sentences woman raised as a christian to death, because her (absent) father was a muslim, and she wont recant her christianity. She also gets 100 lashes for adultery as her marriage to another christian is not recognised under islamic law.

    The woman is 8 months pregnant.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27424064

  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    Incidentally, it's worth considering that the council in this question was the one mentioned here:

    Ann John is reading aloud from some of the letters she received after first speaking out against female genital mutilation in London. “Twisted mutilated bwana… the champion of patronising African people… colonialist missionary… she thinks she know what is best for Africans.” In other correspondence she is accused of being on drugs, of “sleeping with a number of African men” and threatened with mutilation herself.

    Today, 21 years after receiving the letters, John can talk about them without emotion, but at the time they were written — in the early Nineties — they were a huge shock to a councillor new to local politics and just starting out at Brent council.

    What provoked such anger? The fact she opposed a proposal to make female genital mutilation legal in Brent.


    http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/ann-john-i-was-branded-a-colonialist-for-fighting-against-barbaric-fgm-9220777.html
  • SmarmeronSmarmeron Posts: 5,099
    @Garethofthevale

    The proposal covers your sort of agreement, the three years thing is assumed only as a "default" position
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    isam said:

    On topic, can anybody answer?

    If UKIP are being over estimated because of the lack of a prompt for the Greens in the EU pols, surely it follows that Westminster VI polls that do not prompt for UKIP (most of them?) lead to inflated scores for the other parties?

    It can be argued that a Westminster election is different from a European election, because of the relative turnouts and growth of smaller parties. So different methodologies maybe apt.

    Look at Corporeal's piece here

    The long term trend through the seven European parliament elections we’ve had since 1979 is the growth of minor parties. Even with the rise of UKIP the level of dominance of the vote share by the parties in the top two, three, or four positions is in long term decline.http://www1.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2014/04/27/the-minor-parties-a-quiet-consolidation/
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Anorak said:

    Depressing. Sudanese court sentences woman raised as a christian to death, because her (absent) father was a muslim, and she wont recant her christianity. She also gets 100 lashes for adultery as her marriage to another christian is not recognised under islamic law.

    The woman is 8 months pregnant.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27424064

    Incredible
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,950
    Mr. Anorak, that's mental (and sadly unsurprising). Some cultures are just barbaric.
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    Anorak said:

    Depressing. Sudanese court sentences woman raised as a christian to death, because her (absent) father was a muslim, and she wont recant her christianity. She also gets 100 lashes for adultery as her marriage to another christian is not recognised under islamic law.

    The woman is 8 months pregnant.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27424064

    Very depressing. It reinforces my loathing for organised religion of all forms.
  • BobaFettBobaFett Posts: 2,789
    I see the Tories have already won according to Gin!
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    Paddy Power Politics ‏@pppolitics 56s

    Odds of a Tory win in #Newark shorten again to 1/3. UKIP and Labour not down and out yet, 4/1 and 5/1 respectively pic.twitter.com/UhUJ6IWlLJ
  • HurstLlamaHurstLlama Posts: 9,098
    Smarmeron said:

    @Garethofthevale

    The proposal covers your sort of agreement, the three years thing is assumed only as a "default" position

    If the parties can agree on tenancy agreements to run for less than three years what is the point of this policy?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    John Rentoul ‏@JohnRentoul 35s

    Paddy Power: every bet of £100 or more placed in Scotland has been on Yes to independence to win, while every £100 bet in England on No
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @JohnRentoul: Paddy Power: every bet of £100 or more placed in Scotland has been on Yes to independence to win, while every £100 bet in England on No
  • CD13CD13 Posts: 6,366
    Oblitus,

    I do know the difference between theory and hypothesis (all good pedants do, and I am one too),

    I'm probably being unfair to climate scientists; we all tend to "like" certain "theories", but as Thomas Huxley correctly said ... "The great tragedy of Science — the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact."

    I'm happy to call Global Warming a theory for the time being. They used to call the Phlogiston hypothesis a theory though.

    But why do we end up with politics rather than science?
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118

    isam said:

    On topic, can anybody answer?

    If UKIP are being over estimated because of the lack of a prompt for the Greens in the EU pols, surely it follows that Westminster VI polls that do not prompt for UKIP (most of them?) lead to inflated scores for the other parties?

    It can be argued that a Westminster election is different from a European election, because of the relative turnouts and growth of smaller parties. So different methodologies maybe apt.

    Look at Corporeal's piece here

    The long term trend through the seven European parliament elections we’ve had since 1979 is the growth of minor parties. Even with the rise of UKIP the level of dominance of the vote share by the parties in the top two, three, or four positions is in long term decline.http://www1.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2014/04/27/the-minor-parties-a-quiet-consolidation/
    Why do they bother prompting for anyone? I dont get it.
  • SmarmeronSmarmeron Posts: 5,099
    ToryJim

    It would be fascinating to see all the Gods and Prophets swapping their tomes, and wondering how people contorted what they were trying to say into the shambles of modern religion.

  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    isam said:

    isam said:

    On topic, can anybody answer?

    If UKIP are being over estimated because of the lack of a prompt for the Greens in the EU pols, surely it follows that Westminster VI polls that do not prompt for UKIP (most of them?) lead to inflated scores for the other parties?

    It can be argued that a Westminster election is different from a European election, because of the relative turnouts and growth of smaller parties. So different methodologies maybe apt.

    Look at Corporeal's piece here

    The long term trend through the seven European parliament elections we’ve had since 1979 is the growth of minor parties. Even with the rise of UKIP the level of dominance of the vote share by the parties in the top two, three, or four positions is in long term decline.http://www1.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2014/04/27/the-minor-parties-a-quiet-consolidation/
    Why do they bother prompting for anyone? I dont get it.
    IIRC - One of the pollsters last year said, unprompting for the major parties leads to higher DNK/WNV than normal
  • notmenotme Posts: 3,293
    ToryJim said:

    Anorak said:

    Depressing. Sudanese court sentences woman raised as a christian to death, because her (absent) father was a muslim, and she wont recant her christianity. She also gets 100 lashes for adultery as her marriage to another christian is not recognised under islamic law.

    The woman is 8 months pregnant.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27424064

    Very depressing. It reinforces my loathing for organised religion of all forms.
    But it isnt organised religions of all forms, its a particular one.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,534

    Anorak said:

    Anorak said:

    Clegg needs a new dictionary.

    Eurosceptics are "deeply unpatriotic", apparently. I'd guess many of them would vehemently disagree.

    I get just as irked when Eurosceptics say pro-Europeans are unpatriotic etc.

    Patriotism, the last refuge of the scoundrel.
    Agreed, wrapping oneself in the flag is an appeal to the lowest common denominator and a (usually baseless) smear of one's opponents.

    It's hardly going to lose him votes from his current position, though. I'm surprised there are that many geography teachers in the UK.
    Although, anyone who doesn't vote Tory next week is a traitorous pig-dog who deserves to be locked in a dis-used fridge with Katie Price and a horny Honey Badger.
    Some people might even enjoy that.

  • Stuart_DicksonStuart_Dickson Posts: 3,557
    edited May 2014

    Stunning new European Parliament voting intention poll
    (+/- change from EP election 2009)

    SNP 40% (+11)
    Con 22% (+5)
    Lab 16% (-5)
    UKIP 8% (+3)
    Grn 7% (n/c)
    LD 5% (-7)
    BNP 1% (-2)

    ComRes - Scottish sub-sample = 172

    https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.comres.co.uk/polls/C4M_European_Voting_Intention_Poll_15_May_2014.pdf

    That would result in a seat distribution of:

    SNP 3 MEPs (+1)
    Con 2 MEPs (+1)
    Lab 1 MEP (-1)
    LD 0 MEPs (-1)

    Are any of the Scottish newspapers likely to commission another Scotland-only EU Parliament poll before the election?

    No. They are all pretty much bankrupt and have zero cash for polling.

    This ComRes poll showing Scottish Labour on just 16%, behind the Scottish Tories, is likely to be our last hint of the state of play. And remember, vast numbers of voters have already cast their votes, so to a large extent this ComRes is actually an exit poll.
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    Smarmeron said:

    ToryJim

    It would be fascinating to see all the Gods and Prophets swapping their tomes, and wondering how people contorted what they were trying to say into the shambles of modern religion.

    Modern religion is blighted by a surfeit of belief and a deficit of understanding.
  • AnorakAnorak Posts: 6,621
    edited May 2014

    Stunning new European Parliament voting intention poll
    (+/- change from EP election 2009)

    SNP 40% (+11)
    Con 22% (+5)
    Lab 16% (-5)
    UKIP 8% (+3)
    Grn 7% (n/c)
    LD 5% (-7)
    BNP 1% (-2)

    ComRes - Scottish sub-sample = 172

    https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.comres.co.uk/polls/C4M_European_Voting_Intention_Poll_15_May_2014.pdf

    That would result in a seat distribution of:

    SNP 3 MEPs (+1)
    Con 2 MEPs (+1)
    Lab 1 MEP (-1)
    LD 0 MEPs (-1)

    Are any of the Scottish newspapers likely to commission another Scotland-only EU Parliament poll before the election?

    No. They are all pretty much bankrupt and have zero cash for polling.

    This ComRes poll showing Scottish Labour on just 16%, behind the Scottish Tories, is likely to be our last hint of the state of play. And remember, vast numbers of voters have already cast their votes, so to a large extent this ComRes is actually an exit poll.
    Interesting point. ComRes don't distinguish between those who have voted and those who have not?
  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    edited May 2014
    ToryJim said:

    Smarmeron said:

    ToryJim

    It would be fascinating to see all the Gods and Prophets swapping their tomes, and wondering how people contorted what they were trying to say into the shambles of modern religion.

    Modern religion is blighted by a surfeit of belief and a deficit of understanding.
    Religious faith of any type is a cancer. Depressing in the modern world.
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    Absolutely excellent. I'm sure the Helmersaurus and Faragiraptor hate it.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    Sean_F said:

    Anorak said:

    Anorak said:

    Clegg needs a new dictionary.

    Eurosceptics are "deeply unpatriotic", apparently. I'd guess many of them would vehemently disagree.

    I get just as irked when Eurosceptics say pro-Europeans are unpatriotic etc.

    Patriotism, the last refuge of the scoundrel.
    Agreed, wrapping oneself in the flag is an appeal to the lowest common denominator and a (usually baseless) smear of one's opponents.

    It's hardly going to lose him votes from his current position, though. I'm surprised there are that many geography teachers in the UK.
    Although, anyone who doesn't vote Tory next week is a traitorous pig-dog who deserves to be locked in a dis-used fridge with Katie Price and a horny Honey Badger.
    Some people might even enjoy that.

    Those people don't deserve the vote.
  • Stuart_DicksonStuart_Dickson Posts: 3,557
    GRN tightening in the Euro GB Vote Share Match Bet market over at Ladbrokes.

    Lib Dems 8/15 (from 1/2)
    Greens 11/8 (from 6/4)
  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    notme said:

    ToryJim said:

    Anorak said:

    Depressing. Sudanese court sentences woman raised as a christian to death, because her (absent) father was a muslim, and she wont recant her christianity. She also gets 100 lashes for adultery as her marriage to another christian is not recognised under islamic law.

    The woman is 8 months pregnant.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27424064

    Very depressing. It reinforces my loathing for organised religion of all forms.
    But it isnt organised religions of all forms, its a particular one.
    All religions have their sickness. The morally bankrupt Catholics, the filth that hide behind God in America etc etc etc.
  • SmarmeronSmarmeron Posts: 5,099
    @ToryJim

    Personally I blame the lawyers.
    You start with a basic law "Though shalt not kill" and by the end of the month, they have written in clauses. subsections.and case law to allow anyone to find a loophole
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,950
    Mr. Jim, don't use dinosaurs as insults. They were very intelligent and interesting animals.

    Even if velociraptor was about the size of a chicken.
  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    Smarmeron said:

    @ToryJim

    Personally I blame the lawyers.
    You start with a basic law "Though shalt not kill" and by the end of the month, they have written in clauses. subsections.and case law to allow anyone to find a loophole

    Activate Shakespeare
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,534

    notme said:

    ToryJim said:

    Anorak said:

    Depressing. Sudanese court sentences woman raised as a christian to death, because her (absent) father was a muslim, and she wont recant her christianity. She also gets 100 lashes for adultery as her marriage to another christian is not recognised under islamic law.

    The woman is 8 months pregnant.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27424064

    Very depressing. It reinforces my loathing for organised religion of all forms.
    But it isnt organised religions of all forms, its a particular one.
    All religions have their sickness. The morally bankrupt Catholics, the filth that hide behind God in America etc etc etc.
    There are even a few less than pleasant atheists in the world (hard as it may be to believe).

  • state_go_awaystate_go_away Posts: 5,818
    ToryJim said:

    Smarmeron said:

    ToryJim

    It would be fascinating to see all the Gods and Prophets swapping their tomes, and wondering how people contorted what they were trying to say into the shambles of modern religion.

    Modern religion is blighted by a surfeit of belief and a deficit of understanding.
    Its not religion or even islam that is a problem its political islam that is the problem . Unfortunately many countries are disgustingly incorporating sharia into their laws like Brunei (boycott the Dorchester please everyone). All countries that have sharia criminal law are disgusting and even in the UK we depressingly have incorporated sharia into some civil legal cases . Even if criminal sharia law wasn't barbaric and sick then to base a legal system on a 1500 year old book is disturbing
This discussion has been closed.