Yet more evidence in the Populus splits that the Scottish Tories and UKIP are benefiting hugely from the Better Together campaign. Conversely, the Lib-Labs (who governed in coalition for 8 years) are getting totally thumped. Donald Dewar, Robin Cook, John Smith et al must be spinning in their graves.
Populus - Westminster voting intention - Scotland Sub-sample size = 194 (+/- change from UK GE 2010)
I think the Scottish tories would be happy with 3 of them, probably West Aberdeenshire, Berwickshire and Dumfries, but there is increasing evidence that some of the tartan tories who have been voting SNP for a long time now in the glens and the countryside are having second thoughts.
The Tory gains are going to result from the drop in the Labour and Lib Dem votes, not from any decline in the SNP vote. The shifts are entirely within the existing Unionist bloc, not between blocs:
SLD to SCon swing: 9.5 points SLab to SCon swing: 8 points SNP to SCon swing: 0.5 points
I repeat: the Lib-Labs are getting totally thumped. Cameron pulled a total blinder when he appointed Alistair Darling as his lieutenant in North Britain. It sapped the will to fight from half of the Scottish Labour Party.
What a load of utter drivel . What are the comparable swings based on the sub samples from the previous two Populus polls
Will the ICM continue to show that George Osborne is the most popular UK wide politician, and that Ed Miliband is worse than Nick Clegg?
One of my theories about Osborne is that he is much more comfortable in his own skin than Cameron. He has no problems at all being posh or rich. No trips on Easyjet flights for him or his wife. No hesitation about going on expensive skiing trips.
Ultimately, he looks more genuine as a result. Dave's worst moments have all been when he pretends to be something he isn't. Ed has similar problems when he tries to pretend he has anything in common with those he purports to represent.
Of course rolling a double 6 on the economy has not done him any harm either.
Osborne has turned positively loquacious on Twitter. It makes a big difference from a couple of years ago when the was hunkered down in No 11 and had the 'submarine' nickname.
Interestingly, ever since she watched a documentary about Mandelson that was released just after GE2010, my wife has always said Osborne has a bit of a spark about him. This was based on a little dig he had at Mandelson when he appeared alongside him in a scene at the leaders debate.
I think it is a pity that the country has not found a use for Mandelson's talents over the last 4 years. We don't have enough people of his competence involved in our politics.
The Tory gains are going to result from the drop in the Labour and Lib Dem votes
I dont suppose you're prepared to bet on the Tories gaining 8 MPs in Scotland?
Of course not. That just ain't gonna happen. I said "the Tory gains", not "the eight Tory gains".
Not least because the Scottish Tories have a proven record at being abominable at GOTV. They are national champions in underachievement on polling day, when it actually counts.
But the BT campaign is pure air-war gold for Davidson's bunch.
Blimey RT @ConHistGrp Tomorrow will be the 1st day of Conservative (or Con-led) Govt. since 1972 which doesn't include Ken Clarke #reshuffle
Tom Newton Dunn @tnewtondunn 36s Lurking lobby hacks are being evicted from the back of the Speaker's chair... where the PM is firing people in his Commons office.
Yet more evidence in the Populus splits that the Scottish Tories and UKIP are benefiting hugely from the Better Together campaign. Conversely, the Lib-Labs (who governed in coalition for 8 years) are getting totally thumped. Donald Dewar, Robin Cook, John Smith et al must be spinning in their graves.
Populus - Westminster voting intention - Scotland Sub-sample size = 194 (+/- change from UK GE 2010)
I think the Scottish tories would be happy with 3 of them, probably West Aberdeenshire, Berwickshire and Dumfries, but there is increasing evidence that some of the tartan tories who have been voting SNP for a long time now in the glens and the countryside are having second thoughts.
The Tory gains are going to result from the drop in the Labour and Lib Dem votes, not from any decline in the SNP vote. The shifts are entirely within the existing Unionist bloc, not between blocs:
SLD to SCon swing: 9.5 points SLab to SCon swing: 8 points SNP to SCon swing: 0.5 points
I repeat: the Lib-Labs are getting totally thumped. Cameron pulled a total blinder when he appointed Alistair Darling as his lieutenant in North Britain. It sapped the will to fight from half of the Scottish Labour Party.
What a load of utter drivel . What are the comparable swings based on the sub samples from the previous two Populus polls
For someone who feigns to profess that sub-samples are worthless you have an uncanny fascination with them.
Twitter BBC Politics @BBCPolitics 28s Welsh Secretary David Jones is out of the cabinet after a reshuffle by Prime Minister David Cameron. http://bbc.in/1zBTt0m
Nick Robinson @bbcnickrobinson 55s BREAKING Reshuffle has begun. Ken Clarke is leaving govt. Told friends he spent 3 days at test match last week in anticipation
Tom Newton Dunn @tnewtondunn 36s Lurking lobby hacks are being evicted from the back of the Speaker's chair... where the PM is firing people in his Commons office.
I wonder why Cameron has dispensed with the Downing St 'walk of shame' - tis the best bit..!
Feeling sad I never took the really long odds on David Jones being the next out of cabinet which were around immediately after Miller left. Would have made a nice return. Alas.
"Dave's worst moments have all been when he pretends to be something he isn't."
I agree evertime Cameron tries to look like a leader he comes across as a fake.
Not a coincidence that your icon is a cat is it?
Not really thought about it that way, Mr. L. Cats can, with care, be led, they cannot be driven and they know the difference - a bit like most Englishmen.
The picture, by the way is of The Brute who last night, because of electrical failure/carelessness on my part, had his bedtime milk served too cold for his liking. By the cringe, did he have his revenge. From 3am we had the cat serenade meow session interspersed with games of elephants on the landing, squeaky toy smack down and zooms across the bed. It was as if he had been reading the CatfoodBreath twitter feed and using it as a guide. Finally, as it got towards getting up time, The Brute decided to play, "Guess how loudly I can purr". Needless to say he has barely moved from his chair since breakfast and I have made fixing the bottle warmer my priority.
"Dave's worst moments have all been when he pretends to be something he isn't."
I agree evertime Cameron tries to look like a leader he comes across as a fake.
Not a coincidence that your icon is a cat is it?
Not really thought about it that way, Mr. L. Cats can, with care be led, they cannot be driven and they know the difference - a bit like most Englishmen.
Well said Mr Llama. I suspect that the British Establishment is about to learn the bounds when it comes to attempting to drive Englishmen.
Yet more evidence in the Populus splits that the Scottish Tories and UKIP are benefiting hugely from the Better Together campaign. Conversely, the Lib-Labs (who governed in coalition for 8 years) are getting totally thumped. Donald Dewar, Robin Cook, John Smith et al must be spinning in their graves.
Populus - Westminster voting intention - Scotland Sub-sample size = 194 (+/- change from UK GE 2010)
Oh gawd , the Scottish sub sample dolt is back with us . Strange he was not here posting Friday's Populus sub sample or last Monday's . Could it be that those polls had the Lib Dems at 11% in the Scottish sub samples and he did not like the figures .
No. It could be that this particular Scot has a real life. You really ought to try to get one yourself.
"Dave's worst moments have all been when he pretends to be something he isn't."
I agree evertime Cameron tries to look like a leader he comes across as a fake.
Not a coincidence that your icon is a cat is it?
Not really thought about it that way, Mr. L. Cats can, with care, be led, they cannot be driven and they know the difference - a bit like most Englishmen.
The picture, by the way is of The Brute who last night, because of electrical failure/carelessness on my part, had his bedtime milk served too cold for his liking. By the cringe, did he have his revenge. From 3am we had the cat serenade meow session interspersed with games of elephants on the landing, squeaky toy smack down and zooms across the bed. It was as if he had been reading the CatfoodBreath twitter feed and using it as a guide. Finally, as it got towards getting up time, The Brute decided to play, "Guess how loudly I can purr". Needless to say he has barely moved from his chair since breakfast and I have made fixing the bottle warmer my priority.
My daughter won't feed her cats milk. She says it is not good for them. They do, however, have a range of tricks, some of which were amusing even on the second occasion.
It sounds as if yours has you well trained though.
"Dave's worst moments have all been when he pretends to be something he isn't."
I agree evertime Cameron tries to look like a leader he comes across as a fake.
Not a coincidence that your icon is a cat is it?
Not really thought about it that way, Mr. L. Cats can, with care, be led, they cannot be driven and they know the difference - a bit like most Englishmen.
The picture, by the way is of The Brute who last night, because of electrical failure/carelessness on my part, had his bedtime milk served too cold for his liking. By the cringe, did he have his revenge. From 3am we had the cat serenade meow session interspersed with games of elephants on the landing, squeaky toy smack down and zooms across the bed. It was as if he had been reading the CatfoodBreath twitter feed and using it as a guide. Finally, as it got towards getting up time, The Brute decided to play, "Guess how loudly I can purr". Needless to say he has barely moved from his chair since breakfast and I have made fixing the bottle warmer my priority.
My daughter won't feed her cats milk. She says it is not good for them. They do, however, have a range of tricks, some of which were amusing even on the second occasion.
It sounds as if yours has you well trained though.
My cat shrieks at me when it sees me making my morning tea. Even though it has been fed, it insists on milk, and miaows incessantly and loiudly the minute it sees my hand on the milk bottle.
Yet more evidence in the Populus splits that the Scottish Tories and UKIP are benefiting hugely from the Better Together campaign. Conversely, the Lib-Labs (who governed in coalition for 8 years) are getting totally thumped. Donald Dewar, Robin Cook, John Smith et al must be spinning in their graves.
Populus - Westminster voting intention - Scotland Sub-sample size = 194 (+/- change from UK GE 2010)
Oh gawd , the Scottish sub sample dolt is back with us . Strange he was not here posting Friday's Populus sub sample or last Monday's . Could it be that those polls had the Lib Dems at 11% in the Scottish sub samples and he did not like the figures .
No. It could be that this particular Scot has a real life. You really ought to try to get one yourself.
If you expect us to believe that you were following your real life when those polls were published but suddenly have time today when there is one that suits your meme you are fooling only yourself .
Reshuffles usually consist of people one had never heard of being sacked or resigning and being replaced by another set of people one is never going to hear from again.
Yet more evidence in the Populus splits that the Scottish Tories and UKIP are benefiting hugely from the Better Together campaign. Conversely, the Lib-Labs (who governed in coalition for 8 years) are getting totally thumped. Donald Dewar, Robin Cook, John Smith et al must be spinning in their graves.
Populus - Westminster voting intention - Scotland Sub-sample size = 194 (+/- change from UK GE 2010)
Oh gawd , the Scottish sub sample dolt is back with us . Strange he was not here posting Friday's Populus sub sample or last Monday's . Could it be that those polls had the Lib Dems at 11% in the Scottish sub samples and he did not like the figures .
No. It could be that this particular Scot has a real life. You really ought to try to get one yourself.
If you expect us to believe that you were following your real life when those polls were published but suddenly have time today when there is one that suits your meme you are foolling only yourself .
Reshuffles usually consist of people one had never heard of being sacked or resigning and being replaced by another set of people one is never going to hear from again.
Yet more evidence in the Populus splits that the Scottish Tories and UKIP are benefiting hugely from the Better Together campaign. Conversely, the Lib-Labs (who governed in coalition for 8 years) are getting totally thumped. Donald Dewar, Robin Cook, John Smith et al must be spinning in their graves.
Populus - Westminster voting intention - Scotland Sub-sample size = 194 (+/- change from UK GE 2010)
"Dave's worst moments have all been when he pretends to be something he isn't."
I agree evertime Cameron tries to look like a leader he comes across as a fake.
Not a coincidence that your icon is a cat is it?
Not really thought about it that way, Mr. L. Cats can, with care, be led, they cannot be driven and they know the difference - a bit like most Englishmen.
The picture, by the way is of The Brute who last night, because of electrical failure/carelessness on my part, had his bedtime milk served too cold for his liking. By the cringe, did he have his revenge. From 3am we had the cat serenade meow session interspersed with games of elephants on the landing, squeaky toy smack down and zooms across the bed. It was as if he had been reading the CatfoodBreath twitter feed and using it as a guide. Finally, as it got towards getting up time, The Brute decided to play, "Guess how loudly I can purr". Needless to say he has barely moved from his chair since breakfast and I have made fixing the bottle warmer my priority.
My daughter won't feed her cats milk. She says it is not good for them. They do, however, have a range of tricks, some of which were amusing even on the second occasion.
It sounds as if yours has you well trained though.
That is very unfair, Mr L.. The Bute doesn't have me trained but as, he is going to live with us whether I like it or not, I find it easier and less expensive to reach a mutually acceptable modus vivendi.
P.S. Re milk being bad for cats. Herself read that a while back and tried to impose the rule. It was while we were recovering from that fiasco that we got into the whole "temperature of the milk at bed time" nonsense. Not my fault, I was away when she first started warming The Brute's milk.
"Dave's worst moments have all been when he pretends to be something he isn't."
I agree evertime Cameron tries to look like a leader he comes across as a fake.
Not a coincidence that your icon is a cat is it?
Not really thought about it that way, Mr. L. Cats can, with care, be led, they cannot be driven and they know the difference - a bit like most Englishmen.
The picture, by the way is of The Brute who last night, because of electrical failure/carelessness on my part, had his bedtime milk served too cold for his liking. By the cringe, did he have his revenge. From 3am we had the cat serenade meow session interspersed with games of elephants on the landing, squeaky toy smack down and zooms across the bed. It was as if he had been reading the CatfoodBreath twitter feed and using it as a guide. Finally, as it got towards getting up time, The Brute decided to play, "Guess how loudly I can purr". Needless to say he has barely moved from his chair since breakfast and I have made fixing the bottle warmer my priority.
My daughter won't feed her cats milk. She says it is not good for them. They do, however, have a range of tricks, some of which were amusing even on the second occasion.
It sounds as if yours has you well trained though.
That is very unfair, Mr L.. The Bute doesn't have me trained but as, he is going to live with us whether I like it or not, I find it easier and less expensive to reach a mutually acceptable modus vivendi.
P.S. Re milk being bad for cats. Herself read that a while back and tried to impose the rule. It was while we were recovering from that fiasco that we got into the whole "temperature of the milk at bed time" nonsense. Not my fault, I was away when she first started warming The Brute's milk.
Apparently pretty much all cats are lactose intolerant. Presumably no one has ever told them.
Yet more evidence in the Populus splits that the Scottish Tories and UKIP are benefiting hugely from the Better Together campaign. Conversely, the Lib-Labs (who governed in coalition for 8 years) are getting totally thumped. Donald Dewar, Robin Cook, John Smith et al must be spinning in their graves.
Populus - Westminster voting intention - Scotland Sub-sample size = 194 (+/- change from UK GE 2010)
The plan is apparently for the Prime Minister to remove all those who are going this evening (presumably wary of a repeat of last time, when Baroness Warsi effectively refused to be sacked), and then doing appointments tomorrow, so there is no word as yet who might replace them.
Can someone fill me in as to what happened with Warsi last time?
The plan is apparently for the Prime Minister to remove all those who are going this evening (presumably wary of a repeat of last time, when Baroness Warsi effectively refused to be sacked), and then doing appointments tomorrow, so there is no word as yet who might replace them.
Can someone fill me in as to what happened with Warsi last time?
She was demoted from Party Chairman (inside Cabinet) to Minister of State at FCO (with 'attending' Cabinet).
The plan is apparently for the Prime Minister to remove all those who are going this evening (presumably wary of a repeat of last time, when Baroness Warsi effectively refused to be sacked), and then doing appointments tomorrow, so there is no word as yet who might replace them.
Can someone fill me in as to what happened with Warsi last time?
She was demoted from Party Chairman (inside Cabinet) to Minister of State at FCO (with 'attending' Cabinet).
But she was supposed to have been given the boot entirely?
The plan is apparently for the Prime Minister to remove all those who are going this evening (presumably wary of a repeat of last time, when Baroness Warsi effectively refused to be sacked), and then doing appointments tomorrow, so there is no word as yet who might replace them.
Can someone fill me in as to what happened with Warsi last time?
He tried to fire her out of the cabinet and as Tory Chairman, but she refused, so eventually he made her a Foreign Office Minister and made her Chair of a few cabinet committees
Yet more evidence in the Populus splits that the Scottish Tories and UKIP are benefiting hugely from the Better Together campaign. Conversely, the Lib-Labs (who governed in coalition for 8 years) are getting totally thumped. Donald Dewar, Robin Cook, John Smith et al must be spinning in their graves.
Populus - Westminster voting intention - Scotland Sub-sample size = 194 (+/- change from UK GE 2010)
Yet more evidence in the Populus splits that the Scottish Tories and UKIP are benefiting hugely from the Better Together campaign. Conversely, the Lib-Labs (who governed in coalition for 8 years) are getting totally thumped. Donald Dewar, Robin Cook, John Smith et al must be spinning in their graves.
Populus - Westminster voting intention - Scotland Sub-sample size = 194 (+/- change from UK GE 2010)
Yet more evidence in the Populus splits that the Scottish Tories and UKIP are benefiting hugely from the Better Together campaign. Conversely, the Lib-Labs (who governed in coalition for 8 years) are getting totally thumped. Donald Dewar, Robin Cook, John Smith et al must be spinning in their graves.
Populus - Westminster voting intention - Scotland Sub-sample size = 194 (+/- change from UK GE 2010)
Yet more evidence in the Populus splits that the Scottish Tories and UKIP are benefiting hugely from the Better Together campaign. Conversely, the Lib-Labs (who governed in coalition for 8 years) are getting totally thumped. Donald Dewar, Robin Cook, John Smith et al must be spinning in their graves.
Populus - Westminster voting intention - Scotland Sub-sample size = 194 (+/- change from UK GE 2010)
No he's not, he's either using specific polls that are Scotland only, or the ones that have been aggregated so not your 100 plus samples, but the ones approaching 2k.
Edit: Look, not one of them has a sample size of less than 1k
Yet more evidence in the Populus splits that the Scottish Tories and UKIP are benefiting hugely from the Better Together campaign. Conversely, the Lib-Labs (who governed in coalition for 8 years) are getting totally thumped. Donald Dewar, Robin Cook, John Smith et al must be spinning in their graves.
Populus - Westminster voting intention - Scotland Sub-sample size = 194 (+/- change from UK GE 2010)
Yet more evidence in the Populus splits that the Scottish Tories and UKIP are benefiting hugely from the Better Together campaign. Conversely, the Lib-Labs (who governed in coalition for 8 years) are getting totally thumped. Donald Dewar, Robin Cook, John Smith et al must be spinning in their graves.
Populus - Westminster voting intention - Scotland Sub-sample size = 194 (+/- change from UK GE 2010)
Yet more evidence in the Populus splits that the Scottish Tories and UKIP are benefiting hugely from the Better Together campaign. Conversely, the Lib-Labs (who governed in coalition for 8 years) are getting totally thumped. Donald Dewar, Robin Cook, John Smith et al must be spinning in their graves.
Populus - Westminster voting intention - Scotland Sub-sample size = 194 (+/- change from UK GE 2010)
Reshuffles tend to be an exercise in giving hacks something to write about while the world shrugs its shoulders. I suspect this one will be no different.
Tomorrows Cineworld secret screening Planet of the Apes odds on favourite Guardians of the Galaxy 2nd favourite Hercules or expendables 3 outside possibilities
Tomorrows Cineworld secret screening Planet of the Apes odds on favourite Guardians of the Galaxy 2nd favourite Hercules or expendables 3 outside possibilities
I asked the other day, it's not Guardians of the Galaxy.
Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard!
Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard!
Tomorrows Cineworld secret screening Planet of the Apes odds on favourite Guardians of the Galaxy 2nd favourite Hercules or expendables 3 outside possibilities
I asked the other day, it's not Guardians of the Galaxy.
Screen 17 only 20 seats left.
145 minitues running time which is 15 mins longer than the normal running time
Tomorrows Cineworld secret screening Planet of the Apes odds on favourite Guardians of the Galaxy 2nd favourite Hercules or expendables 3 outside possibilities
I asked the other day, it's not Guardians of the Galaxy.
Screen 17 only 20 seats left.
145 minitues running time which is 15 mins longer than the normal running time
Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard! Crossover with the Gold Standard!
There is also a marked contrast in Tory support between Scotland (21%), Wales (18%) and the north as a whole (21%), a very different picture from the Midlands, where Cameron's party stands on 46%.
"Dave's worst moments have all been when he pretends to be something he isn't."
I agree evertime Cameron tries to look like a leader he comes across as a fake.
Not a coincidence that your icon is a cat is it?
Not really thought about it that way, Mr. L. Cats can, with care, be led, they cannot be driven and they know the difference - a bit like most Englishmen.
The picture, by the way is of The Brute who last night, because of electrical failure/carelessness on my part, had his bedtime milk served too cold for his liking. By the cringe, did he have his revenge. From 3am we had the cat serenade meow session interspersed with games of elephants on the landing, squeaky toy smack down and zooms across the bed. It was as if he had been reading the CatfoodBreath twitter feed and using it as a guide. Finally, as it got towards getting up time, The Brute decided to play, "Guess how loudly I can purr". Needless to say he has barely moved from his chair since breakfast and I have made fixing the bottle warmer my priority.
My daughter won't feed her cats milk. She says it is not good for them. They do, however, have a range of tricks, some of which were amusing even on the second occasion.
It sounds as if yours has you well trained though.
That is very unfair, Mr L.. The Bute doesn't have me trained but as, he is going to live with us whether I like it or not, I find it easier and less expensive to reach a mutually acceptable modus vivendi.
P.S. Re milk being bad for cats. Herself read that a while back and tried to impose the rule. It was while we were recovering from that fiasco that we got into the whole "temperature of the milk at bed time" nonsense. Not my fault, I was away when she first started warming The Brute's milk.
My cats have all had cow's milk, until one of the latest one's whose digestive system didn't agree with it. I guess it varies from cat to cat, just as it does with humans.
Interestingly, over-generalising from single incidents is something that helped to kill off the Greenland Norse. For some reason they decided to stop eating fish - perhaps one of their chieftains choked on a fish bone at some point and wouldn't allow them? - and this meant that as the climate cooled down they were too reliant on a small range of food sources and couldn't survive. Unlike the Inuit who ate everything that was available to them.
As long as it's not someone called Ed... from Speccie (Hague?)
Isabel on a rumour doing the rounds: In terms of what we can expect from this evening, it looks as though the announcements will predominantly be sackings. But there is a rumour that there may be a big announcement at some point tonight, possibly an unexpected retirement.
Will the ICM continue to show that George Osborne is the most popular UK wide politician, and that Ed Miliband is worse than Nick Clegg?
One of my theories about Osborne is that he is much more comfortable in his own skin than Cameron. He has no problems at all being posh or rich. No trips on Easyjet flights for him or his wife. No hesitation about going on expensive skiing trips.
Ultimately, he looks more genuine as a result. Dave's worst moments have all been when he pretends to be something he isn't. Ed has similar problems when he tries to pretend he has anything in common with those he purports to represent.
Of course rolling a double 6 on the economy has not done him any harm either.
Osborne has turned positively loquacious on Twitter. It makes a big difference from a couple of years ago when the was hunkered down in No 11 and had the 'submarine' nickname.
Interestingly, ever since she watched a documentary about Mandelson that was released just after GE2010, my wife has always said Osborne has a bit of a spark about him. This was based on a little dig he had at Mandelson when he appeared alongside him in a scene at the leaders debate.
I think it is a pity that the country has not found a use for Mandelson's talents over the last 4 years. We don't have enough people of his competence involved in our politics.
You've got to be kidding. The man is pure, peculating slime. He is unfit for public life in any way.
I am reminded of that comment of Napoleon's on St Helena that his greatest regret was never having had Fouché shot.
Or do I mean that comment of Napoleon's about Talleyrand where he told him he was "shit in silk stockings"?
Comments
Veteran Conservative MP Ken Clarke is to step down as a minister as David Cameron begins his Cabinet reshuffle.
Mr Clarke is quitting his role as a minister without portfolio, BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson says.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28291281#TWEET1183678
RT @itvwales David Jones confirms to @ITVWales he is no longer Welsh Secretary as part of Cabinet reshuffle http://itv.co/1nonIOu
Still plenty of stick but plenty of regard too.
I think it is a pity that the country has not found a use for Mandelson's talents over the last 4 years. We don't have enough people of his competence involved in our politics.
Yay.
Not least because the Scottish Tories have a proven record at being abominable at GOTV. They are national champions in underachievement on polling day, when it actually counts.
But the BT campaign is pure air-war gold for Davidson's bunch.
Blimey RT @ConHistGrp Tomorrow will be the 1st day of Conservative (or Con-led) Govt. since 1972 which doesn't include Ken Clarke #reshuffle
Tom Newton Dunn @tnewtondunn 36s
Lurking lobby hacks are being evicted from the back of the Speaker's chair... where the PM is firing people in his Commons office.
BBC Politics @BBCPolitics 28s
Welsh Secretary David Jones is out of the cabinet after a reshuffle by Prime Minister David Cameron. http://bbc.in/1zBTt0m
Nick Robinson @bbcnickrobinson 55s
BREAKING Reshuffle has begun. Ken Clarke is leaving govt. Told friends he spent 3 days at test match last week in anticipation
Lurking lobby hacks are being evicted from the back of the Speaker's chair... where the PM is firing people in his Commons office.
I wonder why Cameron has dispensed with the Downing St 'walk of shame' - tis the best bit..!
The picture, by the way is of The Brute who last night, because of electrical failure/carelessness on my part, had his bedtime milk served too cold for his liking. By the cringe, did he have his revenge. From 3am we had the cat serenade meow session interspersed with games of elephants on the landing, squeaky toy smack down and zooms across the bed. It was as if he had been reading the CatfoodBreath twitter feed and using it as a guide. Finally, as it got towards getting up time, The Brute decided to play, "Guess how loudly I can purr". Needless to say he has barely moved from his chair since breakfast and I have made fixing the bottle warmer my priority.
It sounds as if yours has you well trained though.
Does it really matter who is Welsh secretary? Is one really needed?
Will this one be any different?
P.S. Re milk being bad for cats. Herself read that a while back and tried to impose the rule. It was while we were recovering from that fiasco that we got into the whole "temperature of the milk at bed time" nonsense. Not my fault, I was away when she first started warming The Brute's milk.
http://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2014/07/live-blog-reshuffle-2014.html
and the Guardian is as well here
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2014/jul/14/mps-question-theresa-may-over-child-abuse-inquiry-and-surveillance-bill-politics-live-blog
My absolute favourite Kipling story was about the Cat. "I am the cat who walks by himself and all places are alike to me."
I inflicted this on all of my children. It is character building but, as I say, my daughter has not heeded the warning.
And will they be able to find a Conservative who will similarly bemoan ?
There goes my 40/1 tip as next Foreign Secretary.
Those bloody badgers wot did it.
Ben Bradshaw @BenPBradshaw · 25m
Sorry to see Ken Clarke leave Government. Was a rare voice of sanity on Europe in today's Tory Party.
She was demoted from Party Chairman (inside Cabinet) to Minister of State at FCO (with 'attending' Cabinet).
But she was supposed to have been given the boot entirely?
He tried to fire her out of the cabinet and as Tory Chairman, but she refused, so eventually he made her a Foreign Office Minister and made her Chair of a few cabinet committees
Ask Mr Baxter what he is smoking.
http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/polls_scot.html
Identity politics and similar nonsense is partly to blame, but Cameron deserves blame as well.
Ed is crap is PM
Edit: Look, not one of them has a sample size of less than 1k
"The Scottish sample size of each individual poll is small (around 150 voters), which is not usable in isolation."
Ed is crap is PM. Every poll has EICIPM less than 9.75 months to gp.
Reshuffles tend to be an exercise in giving hacks something to write about while the world shrugs its shoulders. I suspect this one will be no different.
According to tonight's Standard Cam chose Butler-Sloss. Front page of the paper this evening.
Con 34 (+3) lab 33 (+1) LD 12 (+2) UKIP 9 (-7)
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jul/14/ukip-guardian-icm-poll-tories-labour-nigel-farage
Ed is not PM : Con + LD + Orange NI = Cam PM.
The trend is your friend.
145 minitues running time which is 15 mins longer than the normal running time
I don't think there's been a methodology change with ICM.
There is also a marked contrast in Tory support between Scotland (21%), Wales (18%) and the north as a whole (21%), a very different picture from the Midlands, where Cameron's party stands on 46%.
Ed is crap is PM
No tressle tables required
Interestingly, over-generalising from single incidents is something that helped to kill off the Greenland Norse. For some reason they decided to stop eating fish - perhaps one of their chieftains choked on a fish bone at some point and wouldn't allow them? - and this meant that as the climate cooled down they were too reliant on a small range of food sources and couldn't survive. Unlike the Inuit who ate everything that was available to them.
Isabel on a rumour doing the rounds:
In terms of what we can expect from this evening, it looks as though the announcements will predominantly be sackings. But there is a rumour that there may be a big announcement at some point tonight, possibly an unexpected retirement.
I am reminded of that comment of Napoleon's on St Helena that his greatest regret was never having had Fouché shot.
Or do I mean that comment of Napoleon's about Talleyrand where he told him he was "shit in silk stockings"?
http://www.mediafire.com/view/ppajez4nrpjapp4/ICM_Guardian_polls_since_2010_GE.jpg
(UKIP gaps due not always prompted)
Showing a similar squeeze to an averaged YouGov polls over the same period...
http://www.mediafire.com/view/3xdx8azi2b2ggjq/10-Poll_YouGov_since_2010_GE.jpg