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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » PB gathering – Ilkley, Yorkshire: Monday July 7th 2014 star

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  • NeilNeil Posts: 7,983

    Merke says Council President could go to an outsider, from a non-Euro country such as Denmark. I can think of another non-Euro country such as Denmark which happens to be in need of a lollipop.

    But they really need to send Hague or somebody serious to do it. If Cameron didn't trust Lansley with a meaningful job it's hard to believe the other 27 PMs are going to.
    There's no way the Council President would go to a rightwinger if / when Juncker becomes Commission President. It would have to go to a socialist. Luckily the unpopular PM of Denmark is a...
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189

    Best of luck Mr Jim

    Many thanks Mr Eagles.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    The TNS looks remarkably like Populus' raw figures before weighting.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,146
    JohnLoony said:

    Mugabe backwards is 'E ba gum

    E ba gum Trebor.

    They like their extra-strong mints in the Ridings.
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708
    Neil said:

    Merke says Council President could go to an outsider, from a non-Euro country such as Denmark. I can think of another non-Euro country such as Denmark which happens to be in need of a lollipop.

    But they really need to send Hague or somebody serious to do it. If Cameron didn't trust Lansley with a meaningful job it's hard to believe the other 27 PMs are going to.
    There's no way the Council President would go to a rightwinger if / when Juncker becomes Commission President. It would have to go to a socialist. Luckily the unpopular PM of Denmark is a...
    Barroso and HvR were both conservatives. Socialists got the presidency of the parliament, which it sounds like they'll get again.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    edited June 2014
    AndyJS said:

    MikeK said:

    FPT:
    Mike Smithson ‏@MSmithsonPB 20m
    New TNS-BMRB poll has
    LAB 35%, CON 29%, UKIP 23%, LIB DEM 6%

    23% is a stunning result for UKIP nearly a month after the Euro election.

    Are TNS-BMRB a full member of the British Polling Council?
    They are full BPC members.

    But

    @MSmithsonPB: On TNS-BMRB 23% UKIP share: 3 weeks before May 22 elections the firm had UKIP on 37% for the Euros - 10% more than they ended up getting
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,950
    edited June 2014
    Mr. Divvie, must admit I did rather enjoy extra-strong mints in my youth.

    Edited extra bit: for the avoidance of doubt, I am not the President of Zimbabwe.
  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322

    Neil said:

    Merke says Council President could go to an outsider, from a non-Euro country such as Denmark. I can think of another non-Euro country such as Denmark which happens to be in need of a lollipop.

    But they really need to send Hague or somebody serious to do it. If Cameron didn't trust Lansley with a meaningful job it's hard to believe the other 27 PMs are going to.
    There's no way the Council President would go to a rightwinger if / when Juncker becomes Commission President. It would have to go to a socialist. Luckily the unpopular PM of Denmark is a...
    Barroso and HvR were both conservatives. Socialists got the presidency of the parliament, which it sounds like they'll get again.
    Didn't they lose the parliamentary election?

    It's ridiculous that the governance of this continent, from which half our laws come from, is just about people taking turns for jobs. Either elect the person, or appoint them on a merit basis.
  • ToryJim said:

    Charles said:

    ToryJim said:

    Charles said:

    ToryJim said:

    Well once again I join the ranks of the unemployed having been made redundant :( at least I get a decent pay off and hopefully the market is sufficiently buoyant to locate alternate employment rapidly. Bit of a buggeration though.

    "At risk" myself at the moment, so I know how you feel!

    Good luck!
    Eek, I'd have been fine if I'd have been willing to relocate to Newcastle but I wasn't.
    I have to relocate to Frankfurt!!
    If I spoke German I'd consider it. There are worse places to end up.
    All the best Jim.

    Why wouldn't you go to Newcastle?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    edited June 2014
    The TNS looks remarkably like Populus' raw figures before weighting.

    Obviously there is a bit of variation in the samples...

    http://www.populus.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Online_VI_20-06-2014_BPC.pdf

    Con 475
    Lab 508
    LD 112
    UKIP 307

    Fudging others to 8% (Populus is 9%, TNS is 7%)

    Gives

    31 (+2)
    33 (-2)
    7 (-1)
    20 (-3)

    Using the Populus tables.

    FWIW I don't think either TNS or Populus is correct for UKIP. 16% is my guess right now.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,121
    Whatever happened to the Ilkley Lads?

    :)
  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322

    Neil said:

    Merke says Council President could go to an outsider, from a non-Euro country such as Denmark. I can think of another non-Euro country such as Denmark which happens to be in need of a lollipop.

    But they really need to send Hague or somebody serious to do it. If Cameron didn't trust Lansley with a meaningful job it's hard to believe the other 27 PMs are going to.
    There's no way the Council President would go to a rightwinger if / when Juncker becomes Commission President. It would have to go to a socialist. Luckily the unpopular PM of Denmark is a...
    Barroso and HvR were both conservatives. Socialists got the presidency of the parliament, which it sounds like they'll get again.
    If Juncker gets the Commission job, it would be a massive blow for Cameron. The only way it could be softened to a serious degree is for the UK to get the Council position. If that went to a europhile socialist like the Danish PM, it would be full scale surrender on all fronts.
  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    edited June 2014
    Eurocrat Tory scaremongering about Brexit meaning losing our UNSC seat and breaking up the union:

    http://www.euractiv.com/sections/uk-europe/brexit-could-cost-uk-its-un-security-council-seat-warns-leading-tory-302920

    The only thing that puts our UNSC seat in danger in the short term is idiots like him saying we'd have to give it up. The only thing in danger here is his inflated salary and generous pension.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,950
    Mr. Socrates, whilst I concur it would be bad, can it be considered a surrender?

    The inherent flaw of a federation of 27 nation-states is that at any given time a large minority are not getting what they want. We see this at its most serious with the eurozone. It's why the EU (and especially the single currency) are plain broken.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,121
    ToryJim said:

    Well once again I join the ranks of the unemployed having been made redundant :( at least I get a decent pay off and hopefully the market is sufficiently buoyant to locate alternate employment rapidly. Bit of a buggeration though.

    Sorry to hear that. Hope you find something very soon!
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708
    edited June 2014
    Socrates said:

    Neil said:

    Merke says Council President could go to an outsider, from a non-Euro country such as Denmark. I can think of another non-Euro country such as Denmark which happens to be in need of a lollipop.

    But they really need to send Hague or somebody serious to do it. If Cameron didn't trust Lansley with a meaningful job it's hard to believe the other 27 PMs are going to.
    There's no way the Council President would go to a rightwinger if / when Juncker becomes Commission President. It would have to go to a socialist. Luckily the unpopular PM of Denmark is a...
    Barroso and HvR were both conservatives. Socialists got the presidency of the parliament, which it sounds like they'll get again.
    Didn't they lose the parliamentary election?

    It's ridiculous that the governance of this continent, from which half our laws come from, is just about people taking turns for jobs. Either elect the person, or appoint them on a merit basis.
    I agree, the election was a much better way to pick the Commission president than the previous member-state-haggle-backed buggin's turn system. That said, although the socialists lost the election, the conservatives didn't get a majority, so the socialists still get something. The original plan was for a Cameron-Clegg-style deputy, but Merkel doesn't want to appoint Schulz to her Commission slot, so he can't take that job unless some other country gives him their slot.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    Betting Post

    Sri Lanka are 222/5 and the draw is 3.75 on Betfair.

    I've got my red there.

    DYOR.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053

    Mr. K, I find the UKIP number somewhat difficult to believe, to be honest. I was going to write the same about the Lib Dems, but it's in line with other pollsters.

    Hi Morris, I think the figure for UKIP is great but I have to agree in this instance with OGH that TNS-BMRB has exaggerated the UKIP percentage a wee bit. Not by much, mind. ;)
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,121

    Mr. Socrates, whilst I concur it would be bad, can it be considered a surrender?

    The inherent flaw of a federation of 27 nation-states is that at any given time a large minority are not getting what they want. We see this at its most serious with the eurozone. It's why the EU (and especially the single currency) are plain broken.

    28 states, Mr Dancer. Croatia joined a few weeks ago.
  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322

    Mr. Socrates, whilst I concur it would be bad, can it be considered a surrender?

    The inherent flaw of a federation of 27 nation-states is that at any given time a large minority are not getting what they want. We see this at its most serious with the eurozone. It's why the EU (and especially the single currency) are plain broken.

    Full scale collapse then. He would have lost the Commission to the one person we didn't want to get, and then be getting another Europhile in as President, and a socialist to boot. Just an epic disaster.

    I still think a compromise candidate for the Commission will be reached, but the compromise would likely be a Eurofederalist that's not Juncker, so heavily weighted against us. At this point, Juncker would just be disastrous.
  • welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,464
    edited June 2014

    Mr. Charles, warum nicht?

    I wish more computer games came with German translations. Happens much less often these days. How else are young fellows meant to learn a Sturmgewehr is an assault rifle (from Fear Effect) or Heiligkeit means holiness, or Zelt is a tent (Shadow Hearts: Covenant)?

    Yeah but you'd never learn the important stuff from such games like " Meine Betelmaus hat Verstopfung" which means "my wombat is constipated". A phrase of infinite utility in rural New South Wales amongst the Tuetonic vetenerian set.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    ToryJim said:

    Best of luck Mr Jim

    Many thanks Mr Eagles.
    That goes for me too Jim. You would not have liked Newcastle; a completely different world from London. I remember the place with something akin to horror as I was evacuated (in WW2) to Durham and then to a village on the outskirts of Newcastle.

    Mind you it must have changed in 70 odd years. LOL

  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,950
    Dr. Prasannan, cheers for the correction.

    I wish to also clarify that I am not Chris Bryant either.
  • NeilNeil Posts: 7,983

    The original plan was for a Cameron-Clegg-style deputy, but Merkel doesn't want to appoint Schulz to her Commission slot, so he can't take that job unless some other country gives him their slot.

    There was no plan to do this outside the heads of the MEPs who cant seem to udnerstand that they have zero democratic legitimacy.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,950
    Mr. Welshowl, but I did learn that Durchfall is diarrhoea (admittedly, not from a videogame).

    In seriousness, I do think playing games in other languages can be educational.
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708
    Socrates said:

    Neil said:

    Merke says Council President could go to an outsider, from a non-Euro country such as Denmark. I can think of another non-Euro country such as Denmark which happens to be in need of a lollipop.

    But they really need to send Hague or somebody serious to do it. If Cameron didn't trust Lansley with a meaningful job it's hard to believe the other 27 PMs are going to.
    There's no way the Council President would go to a rightwinger if / when Juncker becomes Commission President. It would have to go to a socialist. Luckily the unpopular PM of Denmark is a...
    Barroso and HvR were both conservatives. Socialists got the presidency of the parliament, which it sounds like they'll get again.
    If Juncker gets the Commission job, it would be a massive blow for Cameron. The only way it could be softened to a serious degree is for the UK to get the Council position. If that went to a europhile socialist like the Danish PM, it would be full scale surrender on all fronts.
    One of the weird gymnastics Cameron has ended up performing this time has been suggesting a Europhile socialist Kinnock relative as the kind of compromise candidate Britain wants. If she'd run and won the election while Juncker had stayed out of the race, Cameron would now be backing Juncker (conservative, deal-maker, ex-PM of a financial centre) as the UK-friendly compromise candidate, while Thorning-Schmidt would be the menace who had to be stopped at all costs.
  • NeilNeil Posts: 7,983

    If she'd run and won the election while Juncker had stayed out of the race, Cameron would now be backing Juncker (conservative, deal-maker, ex-PM of a financial centre) as the UK-friendly compromise candidate, while Thorning-Schmidt would be the menace who had to be stopped at all costs.

    I think that's unfair - Juncker is orders of magnitude worse than almost any other candidate mentioned for the role.
  • welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,464

    Mr. Welshowl, but I did learn that Durchfall is diarrhoea (admittedly, not from a videogame).

    In seriousness, I do think playing games in other languages can be educational.

    As indeed is following a sports commentary. Loads of vocabulary soon picked up as you know the context.
  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322

    Socrates said:

    Neil said:

    Merke says Council President could go to an outsider, from a non-Euro country such as Denmark. I can think of another non-Euro country such as Denmark which happens to be in need of a lollipop.

    But they really need to send Hague or somebody serious to do it. If Cameron didn't trust Lansley with a meaningful job it's hard to believe the other 27 PMs are going to.
    There's no way the Council President would go to a rightwinger if / when Juncker becomes Commission President. It would have to go to a socialist. Luckily the unpopular PM of Denmark is a...
    Barroso and HvR were both conservatives. Socialists got the presidency of the parliament, which it sounds like they'll get again.
    Didn't they lose the parliamentary election?

    It's ridiculous that the governance of this continent, from which half our laws come from, is just about people taking turns for jobs. Either elect the person, or appoint them on a merit basis.
    I agree, the election was a much better way to pick the Commission president than the previous member-state-haggle-backed buggin's turn system. That said, although the socialists lost the election, the conservatives didn't get a majority, so the socialists still get something. The original plan was for a Cameron-Clegg-style deputy, but Merkel doesn't want to appoint Schulz to her Commission slot, so he can't take that job unless some other country gives him their slot.
    The whole system is clearly a mess, but clearly it can't be improved because everyone understandably wants their own nation represented. Ultimately what this comes down to is that people are patriots of their own countries first, and don't really identify with being European.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    AndyJS said:

    An in-depth preview of Portsmouth South from the ElectionData blog:

    http://www.election-data.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/the-constituency-of-portsmouth-south.html

    Election Data is a great site.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,950
    Mr. Welshowl, watched some Chinese football commentary some years ago. They managed to get Emile Heskey and Michael Owen mixed up.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    Wheels have come off for Sri Lanka !
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    Hat-trick for Broad
  • VerulamiusVerulamius Posts: 1,549
    Does any one know of an (ex) Labour politician with sufficient weight to be President of the European Council?

    How would a certain Tony Blair go down?
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    4 wickets for 1 run.
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708
    Socrates said:

    Socrates said:

    Neil said:

    Merke says Council President could go to an outsider, from a non-Euro country such as Denmark. I can think of another non-Euro country such as Denmark which happens to be in need of a lollipop.

    But they really need to send Hague or somebody serious to do it. If Cameron didn't trust Lansley with a meaningful job it's hard to believe the other 27 PMs are going to.
    There's no way the Council President would go to a rightwinger if / when Juncker becomes Commission President. It would have to go to a socialist. Luckily the unpopular PM of Denmark is a...
    Barroso and HvR were both conservatives. Socialists got the presidency of the parliament, which it sounds like they'll get again.
    Didn't they lose the parliamentary election?

    It's ridiculous that the governance of this continent, from which half our laws come from, is just about people taking turns for jobs. Either elect the person, or appoint them on a merit basis.
    I agree, the election was a much better way to pick the Commission president than the previous member-state-haggle-backed buggin's turn system. That said, although the socialists lost the election, the conservatives didn't get a majority, so the socialists still get something. The original plan was for a Cameron-Clegg-style deputy, but Merkel doesn't want to appoint Schulz to her Commission slot, so he can't take that job unless some other country gives him their slot.
    The whole system is clearly a mess, but clearly it can't be improved because everyone understandably wants their own nation represented. Ultimately what this comes down to is that people are patriots of their own countries first, and don't really identify with being European.
    That's partly true of the heads of government but it doesn't match how the voters voted. Juncker probably got a decent home-state boost (as happens in small states in the US) but Schulz didn't particularly shine in Germany. And Merkel stopping the guy from her own country being deputy because he's from the wrong party doesn't fit that narrative either.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    I'm so glad I've got tickets for the test this weekend.

    Watch Ballance and Root smash Lara's test best.
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708

    Does any one know of an (ex) Labour politician with sufficient weight to be President of the European Council?

    How would a certain Tony Blair go down?

    That sounds like a proposal that would create a wide consensus among all member states and institutions and unite voters of all political persuasions in agreement with each other.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    Socrates said:

    Socrates said:

    Neil said:

    Merke says Council President could go to an outsider, from a non-Euro country such as Denmark. I can think of another non-Euro country such as Denmark which happens to be in need of a lollipop.

    But they really need to send Hague or somebody serious to do it. If Cameron didn't trust Lansley with a meaningful job it's hard to believe the other 27 PMs are going to.
    There's no way the Council President would go to a rightwinger if / when Juncker becomes Commission President. It would have to go to a socialist. Luckily the unpopular PM of Denmark is a...
    Barroso and HvR were both conservatives. Socialists got the presidency of the parliament, which it sounds like they'll get again.
    Didn't they lose the parliamentary election?

    It's ridiculous that the governance of this continent, from which half our laws come from, is just about people taking turns for jobs. Either elect the person, or appoint them on a merit basis.
    I agree, the election was a much better way to pick the Commission president than the previous member-state-haggle-backed buggin's turn system. That said, although the socialists lost the election, the conservatives didn't get a majority, so the socialists still get something. The original plan was for a Cameron-Clegg-style deputy, but Merkel doesn't want to appoint Schulz to her Commission slot, so he can't take that job unless some other country gives him their slot.
    The whole system is clearly a mess, but clearly it can't be improved because everyone understandably wants their own nation represented. Ultimately what this comes down to is that people are patriots of their own countries first, and don't really identify with being European.
    That's partly true of the heads of government but it doesn't match how the voters voted. Juncker probably got a decent home-state boost (as happens in small states in the US) but Schulz didn't particularly shine in Germany. And Merkel stopping the guy from her own country being deputy because he's from the wrong party doesn't fit that narrative either.
    It's a nonsense to suggest that the election was conducted on this basis anywhere. 9 out of 10 Europeans couldn't name Juncker in a recent opinion poll after the election. In only one member state (Luxembourg) could more than 25% of respondents name any of the candidates of the various blocs in the European Parliaments.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,534
    Socrates said:

    Mr. Socrates, whilst I concur it would be bad, can it be considered a surrender?

    The inherent flaw of a federation of 27 nation-states is that at any given time a large minority are not getting what they want. We see this at its most serious with the eurozone. It's why the EU (and especially the single currency) are plain broken.

    Full scale collapse then. He would have lost the Commission to the one person we didn't want to get, and then be getting another Europhile in as President, and a socialist to boot. Just an epic disaster.

    I still think a compromise candidate for the Commission will be reached, but the compromise would likely be a Eurofederalist that's not Juncker, so heavily weighted against us. At this point, Juncker would just be disastrous.
    Junker is awful. That's why he should get the job.

  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    Pulpstar said:

    Betting Post

    Sri Lanka are 222/5 and the draw is 3.75 on Betfair.

    I've got my red there.

    DYOR.

    Lay off England now and back once the openers are out cheaply ?
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    FPT



    http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f4798152-f858-11e3-a333-00144feabdc0.html#axzz35B3by4M9

    This is the real story today, the growing economy is not seeing a growth in tax receipts, so no wonder Avery wants to bury us in detail.

    Importing millions of extra people isn't "growth" or "recovery".

    And if the bulk of those extra millions are low-paid then it obviously won't improve the national finances at all. In fact it will make it worse.

    And if all the extra hospitals, schools, houses, roads, prisons etc needed to maintain the same level of infrastructure were being built for all these extra millions of people then the effect on the national finances would be much worse so a large part of the worsening situation is disguised inside the overloading of the existing infrastructure.

    The people who benefit are people who employ large quantities of low-paid workers as they are effectively off-loading their wage bill onto the taxpayers. This is just another example of privatizing profits while socializing costs which has become the dominant driver of the economy since the political class were bought.

  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189

    Does any one know of an (ex) Labour politician with sufficient weight to be President of the European Council?

    How would a certain Tony Blair go down?

    He would go down quicker than the Lusitania, and his candidacy would be torpedoed as effectively.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    Greg Dyke says Woy will stay until 2016.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,534
    ToryJim said:

    Does any one know of an (ex) Labour politician with sufficient weight to be President of the European Council?

    How would a certain Tony Blair go down?

    He would go down quicker than the Lusitania, and his candidacy would be torpedoed as effectively.
    He's the only person I can think of who'd be worse than Junker.

  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Wouldn't Michael Portillo make a rather good candidate from Britain for one of the top EU jobs? Suitably Eurosceptic yet from an impeccable European background, heavyweight and his own man. I'm surprised his name hasn't been floated before.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    Sean_F said:

    ToryJim said:

    Does any one know of an (ex) Labour politician with sufficient weight to be President of the European Council?

    How would a certain Tony Blair go down?

    He would go down quicker than the Lusitania, and his candidacy would be torpedoed as effectively.
    He's the only person I can think of who'd be worse than Junker.

    Assad ? Mandy ? Ed Miliband ?
  • SimonStClareSimonStClare Posts: 7,976
    @ToryJim - Sorry to hear the grotty news, hope you find something to pay the bills quickly.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    TGOHF said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Betting Post

    Sri Lanka are 222/5 and the draw is 3.75 on Betfair.

    I've got my red there.

    DYOR.

    Lay off England now and back once the openers are out cheaply ?
    Yep sounds like a plan.

    Laid England at 1.45 for £15 latest move:

    Eng +.51
    Sri Lanka +48.45
    Draw -16.45 now.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    edited June 2014
    antifrank said:

    Wouldn't Michael Portillo make a rather good candidate from Britain for one of the top EU jobs? Suitably Eurosceptic yet from an impeccable European background, heavyweight and his own man. I'm surprised his name hasn't been floated before.

    He's utterly detested by all wings of the Tory party.

    As someone who was active in the Kensington Tory association put it to me years ago.

    "There are two types of people in the world, those who hate Michael Portillo and those yet to meet him"
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    antifrank said:

    Wouldn't Michael Portillo make a rather good candidate from Britain for one of the top EU jobs? Suitably Eurosceptic yet from an impeccable European background, heavyweight and his own man. I'm surprised his name hasn't been floated before.

    He's utterly detested by all wings of the Tory party.

    As someone who was active in Kensington Tory party put it to me years ago.

    "There are two types of people in the world, those who hate Michael Portillo and those yet to meet him"
    That's a plus. By sending him to Brussels, he becomes their problem.
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189

    @ToryJim - Sorry to hear the grotty news, hope you find something to pay the bills quickly.

    Many thanks. I am investigating options but I'm sure something will come up.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    antifrank said:

    antifrank said:

    Wouldn't Michael Portillo make a rather good candidate from Britain for one of the top EU jobs? Suitably Eurosceptic yet from an impeccable European background, heavyweight and his own man. I'm surprised his name hasn't been floated before.

    He's utterly detested by all wings of the Tory party.

    As someone who was active in Kensington Tory party put it to me years ago.

    "There are two types of people in the world, those who hate Michael Portillo and those yet to meet him"
    That's a plus. By sending him to Brussels, he becomes their problem.
    He would become our problem.

    It would be the worst appointment since that South African chap was asked to sign at Nelson Mandela's funeral.

  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    Costa Rica looking the more likely team to score here.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Sri Lanka lose last 5 wickets for 29 runs in 45 minutes.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    I wonder how much pressure Malcolm Rifkind is privately being put under to vacate his Kensington constituency for Boris?
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189

    antifrank said:

    antifrank said:

    Wouldn't Michael Portillo make a rather good candidate from Britain for one of the top EU jobs? Suitably Eurosceptic yet from an impeccable European background, heavyweight and his own man. I'm surprised his name hasn't been floated before.

    He's utterly detested by all wings of the Tory party.

    As someone who was active in Kensington Tory party put it to me years ago.

    "There are two types of people in the world, those who hate Michael Portillo and those yet to meet him"
    That's a plus. By sending him to Brussels, he becomes their problem.
    He would become our problem.

    It would be the worst appointment since that South African chap was asked to sign at Nelson Mandela's funeral.

    I don't think he could restrict himself to the London-Brussels train ;)
  • OMG that crystal swing cover of livin' la vida loca...
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    AndyJS said:

    I wonder how much pressure Malcolm Rifkind is privately being put under to vacate his Kensington constituency for Boris?

    Anyone who is will feel the wrath of Nuala

  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    My position in the test isn't too bad considering I started off with a lay of England at 2.4...

    Had to keep digging on the way down !
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,564
    Socrates said:



    The whole system is clearly a mess, but clearly it can't be improved because everyone understandably wants their own nation represented. Ultimately what this comes down to is that people are patriots of their own countries first, and don't really identify with being European.

    Not the usual criticism of European Commissioners, especially from a Eurosceptic like your good self.Isn't your usual assertion that they go native and sell out the home country?

    Certainly in lobbying Commissioners myself, it's not struck me that they feel any particular need to follow home country policy. Nor they should.

    Good luck with the job-hunt, ToryJim.

  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    The kremlinology over Junkers shows why EUSSR is such a good name for the EU.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    Tricky hour for Cook to negotiate here.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    edited June 2014

    AndyJS said:

    I wonder how much pressure Malcolm Rifkind is privately being put under to vacate his Kensington constituency for Boris?

    Anyone who is will feel the wrath of Nuala

    I suppose it depends what else he is offered.
  • NeilNeil Posts: 7,983

    OMG that crystal swing cover of livin' la vida loca...

    It's one of their finest, isnt it?

  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    Roy Hodgson will remain as England manager until 2016. says Football Association chairman Greg Dyke - BBC Sport ticker.

    Good day to bury bad news.
  • NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    antifrank said:

    AndyJS said:

    I wonder how much pressure Malcolm Rifkind is privately being put under to vacate his Kensington constituency for Boris?

    Anyone who is will feel the wrath of Nuala

    I suppose it depends what else he is offered.
    Only a Dukedom would satisfy Nuala.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    Neil said:

    OMG that crystal swing cover of livin' la vida loca...

    It's one of their finest, isnt it?

    It is their finest after Total Eclipse.

  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    antifrank said:

    AndyJS said:

    I wonder how much pressure Malcolm Rifkind is privately being put under to vacate his Kensington constituency for Boris?

    Anyone who is will feel the wrath of Nuala

    I suppose it depends what else he is offered.
    I suppose he might want to become an Independent Scotland's first Prime Minister.

  • NeilNeil Posts: 7,983

    Neil said:

    OMG that crystal swing cover of livin' la vida loca...

    It's one of their finest, isnt it?

    It is their finest after Total Eclipse.

    I'm a Tequila man myself.

    Mind you I'm also a Mary man so my tastes may not be representative.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    I don't expect a draw at Headingley but I've backed one at 8 in the hope it'll move in a bit at some stage.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,031

    antifrank said:

    AndyJS said:

    I wonder how much pressure Malcolm Rifkind is privately being put under to vacate his Kensington constituency for Boris?

    Anyone who is will feel the wrath of Nuala

    I suppose it depends what else he is offered.
    I suppose he might want to become an Independent Scotland's first Prime Minister.

    He'll rue the day.
  • Neil said:

    OMG that crystal swing cover of livin' la vida loca...

    It's one of their finest, isnt it?

    I have to agree and that video beats all their previous....

  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    edited June 2014
    Neil said:

    Neil said:

    OMG that crystal swing cover of livin' la vida loca...

    It's one of their finest, isnt it?

    It is their finest after Total Eclipse.

    I'm a Tequila man myself.

    Mind you I'm also a Mary man so my tastes may not be representative.
    It's ok we've all thought about having a sportsman's double involving Mary.


    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sportsman's+double
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,031
    Best of luck to ToryJim in finding a new job!
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    AndyJS said:

    I don't expect a draw at Headingley but I've backed one at 8 in the hope it'll move in a bit at some stage.

    O_O
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    Has camera forshortening saved Cook ?
  • NeilNeil Posts: 7,983

    Neil said:

    Neil said:

    OMG that crystal swing cover of livin' la vida loca...

    It's one of their finest, isnt it?

    It is their finest after Total Eclipse.

    I'm a Tequila man myself.

    Mind you I'm also a Mary man so my tastes may not be representative.
    It's ok we've all thought about having a sportsman's double involving Mary.


    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sportsman's+double
    Why is that not called an Alan Clark?
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Another one of those stupid decisions regarding low catches.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    Costa Rica robbed of a penalty there.
  • SimonStClareSimonStClare Posts: 7,976

    Neil said:

    OMG that crystal swing cover of livin' la vida loca...

    It's one of their finest, isnt it?

    I have to agree and that video beats all their previous....
    Ye gods, even with the sound off, it was horrible - who was that tattooed thing in the bath..?

    http://tinyurl.com/mvdy3zq
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Pulpstar said:

    AndyJS said:

    I don't expect a draw at Headingley but I've backed one at 8 in the hope it'll move in a bit at some stage.

    O_O
    That was your idea I know!
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    Neil said:

    Neil said:

    Neil said:

    OMG that crystal swing cover of livin' la vida loca...

    It's one of their finest, isnt it?

    It is their finest after Total Eclipse.

    I'm a Tequila man myself.

    Mind you I'm also a Mary man so my tastes may not be representative.
    It's ok we've all thought about having a sportsman's double involving Mary.


    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sportsman's+double
    Why is that not called an Alan Clark?
    An Alan Clark involves the mother and two daughters.
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    Costa Rica....
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    Costa Rica lead.

    Cash the feck out.
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    edited June 2014
    Alan Clark - mother and two daughters...

    Oswald Moseley - step-mother, two daughters...(wife and her sister).
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    AndyJS said:

    Pulpstar said:

    AndyJS said:

    I don't expect a draw at Headingley but I've backed one at 8 in the hope it'll move in a bit at some stage.

    O_O
    That was your idea I know!
    No, I recommended laying the draw at ~ 4.

    Right now I'd recommend lay England at 1.39. Or back Lanka at 6.4.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    Costa Rica abd Uruguay to get out of the group ?
  • NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    It's like 20 years ago in Giant's Stadium.
  • NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    dr_spyn said:

    Alan Clark - mother and two daughters...

    Oswald Moseley - step-mother, two daughters...(wife and her sister).

    It's not a competition!
  • Scrapheap_as_wasScrapheap_as_was Posts: 10,069
    Nul points for England.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Once again the cash out strategy works.

    Must be about 70% of matches where the outsider has scored first.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    I should have put more than 50p on Costa Rica at 2000-1 !
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    Lloyd George and daughter in law...not sure if he managed a mother daughter combo.

    Costa Rica ought to be 2 up.
  • QuincelQuincel Posts: 4,042
    It's half time, Costa Rica lead 1-0 and Stan James are STILL offering 1/10 on England going out in the groups! That was generous pre-match even using a treble of their own odds on the three results needed!
  • Scrapheap_as_wasScrapheap_as_was Posts: 10,069
    Phew - means we can enjoy our 3rd defeat on Tues when it's a dead rubber.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    Quincel said:

    It's half time, Costa Rica lead 1-0 and Stan James are STILL offering 1/10 on England going out in the groups! That was generous pre-match even using a treble of their own odds on the three results needed!

    Barred from Stan James.

    This sort of offer is precisely why people get banned too.
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    Costa Rica forwards will enjoy meeting England's defence.
  • FalseFlagFalseFlag Posts: 1,801
    dr_spyn said:

    Roy Hodgson will remain as England manager until 2016. says Football Association chairman Greg Dyke - BBC Sport ticker.

    Good day to bury bad news.

    Not too late to correct a terrible mistake and appoint Harry, enough with these managers so strongly influenced by Italian football, so alien to our mentality and playing style.
  • LennonLennon Posts: 1,782

    Phew - means we can enjoy our 3rd defeat on Tues when it's a dead rubber.

    Indeed - we can revel in that defeat knowing that it condemns one of Italy or Uruguay to ignominous exit too, as well as meaning that that English favourite the 'underdog' wins the group.
This discussion has been closed.