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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » ComRes phone poll and ComRes and YouGov Euros polls all out

In recent days and especially today, it feels like a General Election campaign with a phalanx of polls, and it hard to work out what the polls mean with polls with markedly different results.

Read the full story here

AveryLP

Like UKIP.

First but slipping.

Scott_P

Fifth!. Like the Lib Dems

malcolmg

FPT
perdix said:

» show previous quotes
I am really looking forward to the Indyref.
If the vote is YES I can hope for greater chances of permanent Tory majority in Westminster.
If the vote is NO then I will be pleased that the union has survived.
So something to celebrate either way. But above all maybe we can hope that the miserable, whining Nats will shut up for a few years.

Fanny

TheScreamingEagles

Dear pollsters can you please not fecking release all your polls at the same time!

malcolmg

AveryLP said:

Like UKIP.

First but slipping.

Avery , time you were in bed

Speedy

Farage should never have gone on the hunt for Labour votes, he broke the "my enemy's enemy is my friend" rule that Labour and the media used for not attacking him.
Before he only had the Tory establishment against him now he has everyone against him.
I don't know if he can still revert to the old strategy that worked of being an opposition to the government, instead of being an opposition to the opposition.

Speedy

By the way, CON and UKIP losing votes to the Greens is a bit odd.

AveryLP

malcolmg said:

AveryLP said:

Like UKIP.

First but slipping.

Avery , time you were in bed

You try sleeping when there are Romanians next door, Malc.

You don't know how lucky you are up in Ayrshire.

murali_s

TheScreamingEagles said:

Dear pollsters can you please not fecking release all your polls at the same time!

You're coping well mate -keep up the good work ....

bigjohnowls

The DH effect is in full swing. DH announces he is voting Lib Dem a week later they are down to 5th. Bad news for Ed though methinks

TheScreamingEagles

murali_s said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Dear pollsters can you please not fecking release all your polls at the same time!

You're coping well mate -keep up the good work ....

Cheers, it really is an exciting time in British politics at the moment.

JBriskin

team Scotland up!

A report published by HM Revenue and Customs last year estimated that alcohol duty fraud in the UK costs the taxpayer an estimated £1.2bn a year.

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/article1412105.ece

JBriskin

[By the way, CON and UKIP losing votes to the Greens is a bit odd.]

These voter people - you have met them haven't you?

TheScreamingEagles

I'm prepared to make a prediction on the Euros

The result will be some pollsters will look like chumps.

Sean_F

Speedy said:

By the way, CON and UKIP losing votes to the Greens is a bit odd.

It's just normal variation.

ToryJim

Anecdotal evidence I know with all the usual caveats but found several voters tonight who said broadly the same thing that everyone treats the euro elections as a joke. Having said that a couple of people said they'd been intending to vote UKIP but were no longer sure. Other then that the usual churn and Tory vote holding up better than expected. Interesting.

JBriskin

If only that were true TSE

murali_s

Speedy said:

Farage should never have gone on the hunt for Labour votes, he broke the "my enemy's enemy is my friend" rule that Labour and the media used for not attacking him.
Before he only had the Tory establishment against him now he has everyone against him.
I don't know if he can still revert to the old strategy that worked of being an opposition to the government, instead of being an opposition to the opposition.

Yep, Labour and the Tories working in unison to destroy UKIP and maybe succeeding....

HYUFD

Speedy Indeed, Nick Robinson had it in for him tonight on deeper spending cuts and potential privatisations of the NHS. But many Old Labour voters will still protest and vote UKIP for the Euros over immigration and Europe

ToryJim

This may have been posted already, but Charlotte Leslie still looks good in her swimsuit. May be good for a few votes from the shallower voters.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2633024/MP-Charlotte-Leslie-recreates-Baywatch-pose-red-lifeguard-swimming-costume-15-years-wore-life-guard.html

anotherDave

murali_s said:

Speedy said:

Farage should never have gone on the hunt for Labour votes, he broke the "my enemy's enemy is my friend" rule that Labour and the media used for not attacking him.
Before he only had the Tory establishment against him now he has everyone against him.
I don't know if he can still revert to the old strategy that worked of being an opposition to the government, instead of being an opposition to the opposition.

Yep, Labour and the Tories working in unison to destroy UKIP and maybe succeeding....

? It's a margin of error change in one day's YouGov.

HYUFD

Owen Jones The potential disaster that would have been a David Miliband Labour leadership
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/19/labour-wrong-brother-ed-miliband-david

BobaFett

Polls all over the place. Notionally okay polls tonight for Labour.
But ignore is my advice - seems to be mischief at work pre-Euros

Scott_P

Paxman is on the Daily Farage, BBC 2 now

kle4

murali_s said:

Speedy said:

Farage should never have gone on the hunt for Labour votes, he broke the "my enemy's enemy is my friend" rule that Labour and the media used for not attacking him.
Before he only had the Tory establishment against him now he has everyone against him.
I don't know if he can still revert to the old strategy that worked of being an opposition to the government, instead of being an opposition to the opposition.

Yep, Labour and the Tories working in unison to destroy UKIP and maybe succeeding....

I doubt it. I give UKIP some credit for seriously going after the Labour vote though - they could have taken the easy route and kept their reputation as Tories for people who don't like Cameron (not that they have entirely lost that reputation), but they wanted to really capture the entire disaffected voter spectrum, and went for it.

TheScreamingEagles

Ouch

Andrew Hawkins @Andrew_ComRes · 22m

ComRes/Independent: 6% say Ed M makes more likely to vote Lab, 40% less likely, 53% no diff http://ht.ly/x1g3L

Andrew Hawkins @Andrew_ComRes · 7m

ComRes/Independent: 32% say Lab's policies on eg energy prices & income tax make more likely to vote Lab, 17% less so http://ht.ly/x1gd8

timmo

I'm hearing from my insiders in Sutton tonight that the LDs are in near panic abt their loss of vote to. UKIP.
Their strategy of attacking UKIP has had precisely the opposite effect that they intended and is driving undecideds straight into their arms..well done. Cleggy

JBriskin

Cleggy knows what he's doing timmo - wake us up 6 months before GE15

Scott_P

@tnewtondunn: EXCL: Just one in seven Brits think Farage speaks for the nation - as Ukip's support appears to be on the slide: http://t.co/yaTvjlaqBX

anotherDave

timmo said:

I'm hearing from my insiders in Sutton tonight that the LDs are in near panic abt their loss of vote to. UKIP.
Their strategy of attacking UKIP has had precisely the opposite effect that they intended and is driving undecideds straight into their arms..well done. Cleggy

:-) Friday is going to be fun.

Portsmouth is the one I really want to see.

Tykejohnno

Tom Newton Dunn ‏@tnewtondunn · 31 mins
...but, on those certain to vote in euros: UKIP top but Libs still 5th. UKIP 29%, LAB 25%, CON 19%, GRN 12%, LD 10%.

HYUFD

Although watching Valkyrie, Farage on newsnight with Paxman now

Tykejohnno

Scott_P said:

@tnewtondunn: EXCL: Just one in seven Brits think Farage speaks for the nation - as Ukip's support appears to be on the slide: http://t.co/yaTvjlaqBX

We'll see if tories speak for the nation on the EU,after Thursday,low 20% says not.

Smarmeron

This reminds me of the Grand National.
Waste two days studying the form, or sharpen a pin and close your eyes.

Scott_P

@krishgm: On #c4news Nigel Farage stuck by his 7% of crime being Romanian claim. Now he's admitting it was wrong

TheScreamingEagles

I hope you all appreciated the use of the word Phalanx after all the Greek chat earlier.

Scott_P

@stefanstern: This is rubbish. When is Patrick O'Flynn coming on? #newsnight

JBriskin

Sounds good Smarmeron, at least you'd only lose one eye like the guy from Valkyrie, which as has been noted is on now.

Smarmeron

TSE? Would you be worried about these Romulans moving next door?

Sean_F

BobaFett said:

Polls all over the place. Notionally okay polls tonight for Labour.
But ignore is my advice - seems to be mischief at work pre-Euros

If Labour are 2% or so ahead, you should expect to see polls ranging from Conservative leads of 4% to Labour leads of 8%.

if UKIP are marginally ahead of Labour for the Euros, you should expect see polls putting either party ahead.

AveryLP

I don't think the economy is College's special subject.

He is better on Transylvanian crime.

BobaFett

Is there any evidence that Ukip are slipping as Tom Newton Dunn says? My sense is that there has been little movement, when you smooth out the admittedly erratic polling.

Smarmeron

@JBriskin

With my record of betting on the nags, it would possibly be less painfull.

JBriskin

[I hope you all appreciated the use of the word Phalanx after all the Greek chat earlier.]

It's all greek to me.

Beware of greeks baring gifts.

That's my sum total of greek understanding - I need a compressive education to make up for my comprehensive education.

SouthamObserver1

That 7% claim is just criminal.

TheScreamingEagles

Smarmeron said:

TSE? Would you be worried about these Romulans moving next door?

Yeah, 'cause the Romulans are sneaky duplicitous bastards, as any Trek fan will tell you.

One of my more geekier moments in my life was when I said John Redwood was more of a Romulan, not a Vulcan as the Vulcans are in favour of a United Federation of differing nations, whereas the Romulans want to destroy said Federation.

So the avowed Eurosceptic Redwood had be a Romulan

Scott_P

@MrHarryCole: 17 arrests in the last week from main three parties says Farage. Not sure if that is for crimes or for being part of crime networks.

Sean_F

Tykejohnno said:

Tom Newton Dunn ‏@tnewtondunn · 31 mins
...but, on those certain to vote in euros: UKIP top but Libs still 5th. UKIP 29%, LAB 25%, CON 19%, GRN 12%, LD 10%.

That would do very nicely.

Scott_P

@tnewtondunn: Farage tells Paxman it's ok to hold office and openly dislike gay people if you're over 70, like MEP Roger Helmer. Staggering.

AndyJS

Scott_P said:

@tnewtondunn: Farage tells Paxman it's ok to hold office and openly dislike gay people if you're over 70, like MEP Roger Helmer. Staggering.

Not really, people in that age group were brought up to regard homosexuality as a sin.

corporeal

BobaFett said:

Is there any evidence that Ukip are slipping as Tom Newton Dunn says? My sense is that there has been little movement, when you smooth out the admittedly erratic polling.

It's their lowest YouGov rating in a fair while, but it is only one poll.

JBriskin

If we're talking star trek, can we confirm that that Asian guy is TNG - that will make a difference to me.

Carola

Paxo's gone soft.

foxinsoxuk

I expect that the Romulan criminal gangs would use their cloaking device, so you may have Romulans next door already.

(Checks tinfoil hat for fit...)

Smarmeron said:

TSE? Would you be worried about these Romulans moving next door?

AveryLP

Carola said:

Paxo's gone soft.

He appeared tired.

Sean_F

BobaFett said:

Is there any evidence that Ukip are slipping as Tom Newton Dunn says? My sense is that there has been little movement, when you smooth out the admittedly erratic polling.

No. UKIP are up 2% with Com Res, 1% with Populus. Down 2% with Yougov, 1% with Ashcroft. MOE stuff.

Among those certain to vote, they're 29% with Yougov, 33% with Com Res.

JBriskin

Flanders wearing a kilt!!!

Smarmeron

Just because someone is gay, it doesn't mean they are a nice person.
So disliking some gays should be OK?

JBriskin

TARTAN TIE

Sean_F

Scott_P said:

@tnewtondunn: Farage tells Paxman it's ok to hold office and openly dislike gay people if you're over 70, like MEP Roger Helmer. Staggering.

I dislike Brian Coleman, and I'm only 46.

JBriskin

Scotland 1 - newsnight 0

foxinsoxuk

JBriskin said:

Flanders wearing a kilt!!!

I think more a Mondrian-esque skirt.

Ninoinoz

AndyJS said:

Scott_P said:

@tnewtondunn: Farage tells Paxman it's ok to hold office and openly dislike gay people if you're over 70, like MEP Roger Helmer. Staggering.

Not really, people in that age group were brought up to regard homosexuality as a sin.

They also remember when it was a crime.

anotherDave

foxinsoxuk said:

I expect that the Romulan criminal gangs would use their cloaking device, so you may have Romulans next door already.

(Checks tinfoil hat for fit...)

Smarmeron said:

TSE? Would you be worried about these Romulans moving next door?

Who were the baddies in the space station star trek?

ToryJim

AndyJS said:

Scott_P said:

@tnewtondunn: Farage tells Paxman it's ok to hold office and openly dislike gay people if you're over 70, like MEP Roger Helmer. Staggering.

Not really, people in that age group were brought up to regard homosexuality as a sin.

It's not ok to hold those views, regardless of age or background.

MonikerDiCanio

Smarmeron said:

Just because someone is gay, it doesn't mean they are a nice person.
So disliking some gays should be OK?

How would you feel about a gang of Latvian homophobes as your next door neighbours?

JBriskin

I was banned from that post Fox on similar fashion rules! Surely one fashion misspost is allowed.

TheScreamingEagles

anotherDave said:

foxinsoxuk said:

I expect that the Romulan criminal gangs would use their cloaking device, so you may have Romulans next door already.

(Checks tinfoil hat for fit...)

Smarmeron said:

TSE? Would you be worried about these Romulans moving next door?

Who were the baddies in the space station star trek?

The Cardassians and the Dominion

kle4

anotherDave said:

foxinsoxuk said:

I expect that the Romulan criminal gangs would use their cloaking device, so you may have Romulans next door already.

(Checks tinfoil hat for fit...)

Smarmeron said:

TSE? Would you be worried about these Romulans moving next door?

Who were the baddies in the space station star trek?

The Dominion. Or possibly the Cardassians.

ToryJim

JBriskin said:

If we're talking star trek, can we confirm that that Asian guy is TNG - that will make a difference to me.

Which Asian guy, TNG had no main cast members that could be thus described. VOY had Ensign Harry Kim.

Garethofthevale

From previous thread - Labour should be very careful or this could seriously backfire this time next week. If UKIP top the ballot and do well in Labour areas then the question is going to be "How badly are Labour doing, Ms Cooper, if you are losing to a racist party in your own back yard?"

If UKIP come 3rd next week, then the story will be the bubble has burst (although UKIP will still be able to point to likely record national vote share). If Lab or Con come 3rd then prepare for media meltdown

O/T - I spent the weekend in Dublin where like us they have local as well as Euro elections. There are huge numbers of posters up on every lamp post. As the Irish have open list rather than closed list for the Euros there are multiple posters for each party with different candidates.

The view in the press is that of the current coalition Fine Gael will hold up reasonably well while Labour will take a hammering. One of the austerity measures introduced has been charges for water (this is currently free!) The Socialists have dubbed this in their posters the Water Tax (another poster also had "Cost of living crisis!"). The previous incumbents of Fianna Fail and the Greens are not expected to see any gain although Fianna Fail may hold their current seats. The big winners are expected to be Sinn Fein who are not tainted by government and are I think the most EU sceptic party in Ireland

Quincel

Sean_F said:

BobaFett said:

Is there any evidence that Ukip are slipping as Tom Newton Dunn says? My sense is that there has been little movement, when you smooth out the admittedly erratic polling.

No. UKIP are up 2% with Com Res, 1% with Populus. Down 2% with Yougov, 1% with Ashcroft. MOE stuff.

Among those certain to vote, they're 29% with Yougov, 33% with Com Res.

I'd say they've come down from the week or so after the debates, when they seemed to peak.

anotherDave

Tykejohnno said:

Tom Newton Dunn ‏@tnewtondunn · 31 mins
...but, on those certain to vote in euros: UKIP top but Libs still 5th. UKIP 29%, LAB 25%, CON 19%, GRN 12%, LD 10%.

12% would be a super result for the Greens. They only got 8% in 2009.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament_election,_2009_(United_Kingdom)

BobaFett

Sean_F said:

BobaFett said:

Is there any evidence that Ukip are slipping as Tom Newton Dunn says? My sense is that there has been little movement, when you smooth out the admittedly erratic polling.

No. UKIP are up 2% with Com Res, 1% with Populus. Down 2% with Yougov, 1% with Ashcroft. MOE stuff.

Among those certain to vote, they're 29% with Yougov, 33% with Com Res.

Thanks Sean - as I thought. The press is hardly covering itself in glory lately, with its analysis of polling. It has a hypothesis, and is selecting the evidence that fits it.

kle4

AndyJS said:

Scott_P said:

@tnewtondunn: Farage tells Paxman it's ok to hold office and openly dislike gay people if you're over 70, like MEP Roger Helmer. Staggering.

Not really, people in that age group were brought up to regard homosexuality as a sin.

It's understandable he might have that opinion, but it doesn't make those views acceptable, particularly within a major political party. That said, if his constituents share that view/don't care about it/think his other good qualities overcome that, well, that is unfortunate but their choice I guess. People can think all sorts of terrible things so long as they don't/cannot act on them.

Smarmeron

@ToryJim

Unless they really do have a machine for reading thoughts, you can hold any views you like.
Broadcasting those views, or discriminating with them is the crime.

BobaFett

MonikerDiCanio said:

Smarmeron said:

Just because someone is gay, it doesn't mean they are a nice person.
So disliking some gays should be OK?

How would you feel about a gang of Latvian homophobes as your next door neighbours?

Moniker. I note you forecast a Tory landslide earlier.

Would you like a bet on that?

JBriskin

I meant Javvid ToryJim, in my younger years which star trek you were into mattered. I was always a Data fan.

BobaFett

AveryLP said:

Carola said:

Paxo's gone soft.

He appeared tired.

Gate fever.

anotherDave

Garethofthevale said:

From previous thread - Labour should be very careful or this could seriously backfire this time next week. If UKIP top the ballot and do well in Labour areas then the question is going to be "How badly are Labour doing, Ms Cooper, if you are losing to a racist party in your own back yard?"

If UKIP come 3rd next week, then the story will be the bubble has burst (although UKIP will still be able to point to likely record national vote share). If Lab or Con come 3rd then prepare for media meltdown

I hope UKIP will have some UKIP bods watching the voting boxes until they're opened on Sunday.

The alliance between the media and the three main parties against UKIP strikes me a very bad sign.

isam

Paxman gave a sympathetic interview to Nigel there. Probably realises that lefty student type shock Jock over reactions and deliberate misreadings have become predictable and passé.

BobaFett

Sean_F said:

BobaFett said:

Polls all over the place. Notionally okay polls tonight for Labour.
But ignore is my advice - seems to be mischief at work pre-Euros

If Labour are 2% or so ahead, you should expect to see polls ranging from Conservative leads of 4% to Labour leads of 8%.

if UKIP are marginally ahead of Labour for the Euros, you should expect see polls putting either party ahead.

Agreed Sean, but the Tories in the 20s? I think three GE polls have out them there in the last fortnight. I'm afraid I don't buy it.

anotherDave

kle4 said:

anotherDave said:

foxinsoxuk said:

I expect that the Romulan criminal gangs would use their cloaking device, so you may have Romulans next door already.

(Checks tinfoil hat for fit...)

Smarmeron said:

TSE? Would you be worried about these Romulans moving next door?

Who were the baddies in the space station star trek?

The Dominion. Or possibly the Cardassians.

The Dominion was the ones I was thinking of. Thanks.

CD13

An interesting point about the over 70s and accurate. They may have old-fashioned attitudes. I'm sure there will be a few around who think that nice Neil and Mr TSE just need to meet the right girl.

And the same goes for racism. They've been left behind a little as the world has changed around them. But these things are cyclical (as is everything). In another half century. perhaps these young people who know it all now will be looked upon then as ancient remnants from an old world?

ToryJim

Smarmeron said:

@ToryJim

Unless they really do have a machine for reading thoughts, you can hold any views you like.
Broadcasting those views, or discriminating with them is the crime.

Politicians are in ad class apart in this respect as they are paid to express and act upon their views. It is therefore unacceptable for any of them to be prejudiced in this way. I don't want racists, sexists or homophobes deciding my laws because I don't want the sort of laws they'd favour.

foxinsoxuk

Those bloody Kardashians get everywhere!

anotherDave said:

kle4 said:

anotherDave said:

foxinsoxuk said:

I expect that the Romulan criminal gangs would use their cloaking device, so you may have Romulans next door already.

(Checks tinfoil hat for fit...)

Smarmeron said:

TSE? Would you be worried about these Romulans moving next door?

Who were the baddies in the space station star trek?

The Dominion. Or possibly the Cardassians.

The Dominion was the ones I was thinking of. Thanks.

Smarmeron

@anotherDave

I am pretty sure that there will be no official party members watching the boxes.
The returning officer and his colleagues (along with the police) are deemed to be like judges in these matters.

kle4

CD13 said:

An interesting point about the over 70s and accurate. They may have old-fashioned attitudes. I'm sure there will be a few around who think that nice Neil and Mr TSE just need to meet the right girl.

And the same goes for racism. They've been left behind a little as the world has changed around them. But these things are cyclical (as is everything). In another half century. perhaps these young people who know it all now will be looked upon then as ancient remnants from an old world?

I like to think some future civilization, restrained and prudish in all things, will tell horror stories of the debauched and anarchic times of this period.

Tykejohnno

Sun Politics @Sun_Politics

EXCL: Ukip using Britain's war dead to drum up anti-foreigner votes: http://bit.ly/1qQb7va

Never mind the sun saying ukip going to a new low,this is a new low from the sun.

Speedy

ToryJim said:

AndyJS said:

Scott_P said:

@tnewtondunn: Farage tells Paxman it's ok to hold office and openly dislike gay people if you're over 70, like MEP Roger Helmer. Staggering.

Not really, people in that age group were brought up to regard homosexuality as a sin.

It's not ok to hold those views, regardless of age or background.

It is important to understand why those views exist and why the legislation against homosexuality was abolished. It boils down to religion and blackmail, many people have those views because they are religious and the tide in favour of gays started because many where blackmailed due to it being illegal. Gays would loose their jobs or denied employment before the 1990's if their sexual preference was revealed, it was that reason that in the cold war the secret agencies tried to find out if one was gay to blackmail them for info.
Blackmail is a much worse crime than being gay, so the law was changed and being gay is no longer a crime.

Ninoinoz

ToryJim said:

Smarmeron said:

@ToryJim

Unless they really do have a machine for reading thoughts, you can hold any views you like.
Broadcasting those views, or discriminating with them is the crime.

Politicians are in ad class apart in this respect as they are paid to express and act upon their views. It is therefore unacceptable for any of them to be prejudiced in this way. I don't want racists, sexists or homophobes deciding my laws because I don't want the sort of laws they'd favour.

Don't vote for them, then.

I believe it's called "democracy".

TheScreamingEagles

Tykejohnno said:

Sun Politics @Sun_Politics

EXCL: Ukip using Britain's war dead to drum up anti-foreigner votes: http://bit.ly/1qQb7va

Never mind the sun saying ukip going to a new low,this is a new low from the sun.

It's what the BNP did in 2009.

One Euro election leaflet obtained by The Sun carries a photograph of a cemetery of the fallen in France.

Above the sombre snap, the headline on it reads: "They fought and died to keep Britain free from foreign invasion.

"Don't let their sacrifice die in vain. VOTE UKIP."

corporeal

CD13 said:

An interesting point about the over 70s and accurate. They may have old-fashioned attitudes. I'm sure there will be a few around who think that nice Neil and Mr TSE just need to meet the right girl.

That might come as a bit of a surprise to Mr TSE's wife.

Speedy

Tykejohnno said:

Sun Politics @Sun_Politics

EXCL: Ukip using Britain's war dead to drum up anti-foreigner votes: http://bit.ly/1qQb7va

Never mind the sun saying ukip going to a new low,this is a new low from the sun.

It might be for The Sun, but I have seen worse.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/election/article-1267921/GENERAL-ELECTION-2010-Nick-Clegg-Nazi-slur-Britain.html

SouthamObserver1

One thing is very clear now: UKIP is as happy as all the other parties to play fast and loose with stats. That Romanians committing 7% of all crime in the EU claim is disgraceful.

Another is that Nigel is not very good when talking about non-EU issues. He'll need to do a lot of homework between now and the GE campaign.

kle4

Got an AIFE leaflet today. I think it's the same one for the entire country, is it now? I loved how some of it was almost text speak, as to cram in the maximum amount of text and salient points various link words and the like were omitted.

ToryJim

Speedy said:

ToryJim said:

AndyJS said:

Scott_P said:

@tnewtondunn: Farage tells Paxman it's ok to hold office and openly dislike gay people if you're over 70, like MEP Roger Helmer. Staggering.

Not really, people in that age group were brought up to regard homosexuality as a sin.

It's not ok to hold those views, regardless of age or background.

It is important to understand why those views exist and why the legislation against homosexuality was abolished. It boils down to religion and blackmail, many people have those views because they are religious and the tide in favour of gays started because many where blackmailed due to it being illegal. Gays would loose their jobs or denied employment before the 1990's if their sexual preference was revealed, it was that reason that in the cold war the secret agencies tried to find out if one was gay to blackmail them for info.
Blackmail is a much worse crime than being gay, so the law was changed and being gay is no longer a crime.

I'm fully aware of the history of homosexuality, and I would point out that being gay should never have been a crime in the same way you wouldn't criminalise being female or being infertile.

nigel4england

Scott_P said:

@tnewtondunn: Farage tells Paxman it's ok to hold office and openly dislike gay people if you're over 70, like MEP Roger Helmer. Staggering.

It seems that elder UKIP supporters and Muslims have something in common after all.

TheScreamingEagles

CD13 said:

An interesting point about the over 70s and accurate. They may have old-fashioned attitudes. I'm sure there will be a few around who think that nice Neil and Mr TSE just need to meet the right girl.

And the same goes for racism. They've been left behind a little as the world has changed around them. But these things are cyclical (as is everything). In another half century. perhaps these young people who know it all now will be looked upon then as ancient remnants from an old world?

Heh, I'm married, to a woman.

You're not the first person to think I'm gay.

Ninoinoz

Speedy said:

ToryJim said:

AndyJS said:

Scott_P said:

@tnewtondunn: Farage tells Paxman it's ok to hold office and openly dislike gay people if you're over 70, like MEP Roger Helmer. Staggering.

Not really, people in that age group were brought up to regard homosexuality as a sin.

It's not ok to hold those views, regardless of age or background.

It is important to understand why those views exist and why the legislation against homosexuality was abolished. It boils down to religion and blackmail, many people have those views because they are religious and the tide in favour of gays started because many where blackmailed due to it being illegal. Gays would loose their jobs or denied employment before the 1990's if their sexual preference was revealed, it was that reason that in the cold war the secret agencies tried to find out if one was gay to blackmail them for info.
Blackmail is a much worse crime than being gay, so the law was changed and being gay is no longer a crime.

It still a serious ecclesiastical crime in the Roman Catholic Church. And, yes, there was indeed a case of blackmail in Scotland last year.

The tide in favour of gays started when contraceptives became freely available in the 1960's. After that, who could criticise non-procreative sex. This would explain the vitriol from gays against the Pope in 2010.

I wonder if they are behind the vitriol against UKIP now?