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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Local By-Election Preview : September 11th 2014

SystemSystem Posts: 12,213
edited September 2014 in General

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Local By-Election Preview : September 11th 2014

Castle on Carlisle (Lab Defence)
Result of last election to council (2014): Labour 29, Conservatives 19, Independents 2, Liberal Democrats 2 (Labour majority of 6)
Result of ward at last election (2011): Labour 539 (42%), Liberal Democrats 438 (34%), Greens 135 (10%), TUSC 90 (7%), BNP 84 (7%)
Candidates duly nominated:

Read the full story here


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Comments

  • JohnLoonyJohnLoony Posts: 1,790
    I predict that:

    UKIP will win Heywood & Middleton;
    UKIP will come 3rd in Clacton;
    UKIP will win seats in 2015 with no coastline, but none on the coast;
    Conservative Party will win the general election in 2015 with an absolute majority of seats;
    Labour Party will get an absolute majority of the votes in 2015;
    Nicola Sturgeon will turn into a pelican on 19th September.
  • Apologies to Harry Hayfield. This should have been published last night but was deferred because of the new YouGov IndyRef poll
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    Excellent article from Philip Collins in The Times

    A Yes win means the return of the Blairites

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/columnists/article4204106.ece
  • As ever, thanks Harry.

    Note from the people FPT that the UKIP crowd's screams that Farage was uninvolved with the 2010 GE manifesto because he was not leader is slightly disingenuous.

    Farage co-wrote the forward to the manifesto, and put his name to it. Does he always put his name to things he does not read? Given the van incident last night, perhaps not.

    For people who want a laugh:
    http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge10/man/parties/UKIPManifesto2010.pdf
    I particularly liked this bit:

    " Invest in three new 200mph plus high-speed rail lines including a new line between London
    and Newcastle with a spur to Manchester, a London-Bristol-Exeter line and a linking route
    via Birmingham"

    So they wanted three HS2's, not one.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,514
    edited September 2014
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @TelePolitics: Alex Salmond, you're no Nelson Mandela - Scotland is free already http://t.co/keTicDjvzu
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,514
    edited September 2014
    Even the oil price is now "scaremongering". Brent crude at lowest pont for a year.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,703
    I’m beginning to wonder if a narrow NO vote won’t cause more problems than a YES. If the Westminster parties don’t honour their promises, and we’ve discussed here whether the promised timetable is achievable, then the SNP will be able to campaign in May on an “honesty” ticket. Further, one can assume, I think that Eck will resign at some point in the reasonably near future and I would expect Nicola Sturgeon to both succeed hime, and be a more politically, as well as physically (!) attractive leader.
    This will result in us going through all this again, probably around the time of the next GE in 2020.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,514
    malcolmg said:
    LOL, lucky Prince Philip didn't get there first.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,514

    I’m beginning to wonder if a narrow NO vote won’t cause more problems than a YES. If the Westminster parties don’t honour their promises, and we’ve discussed here whether the promised timetable is achievable, then the SNP will be able to campaign in May on an “honesty” ticket. Further, one can assume, I think that Eck will resign at some point in the reasonably near future and I would expect Nicola Sturgeon to both succeed hime, and be a more politically, as well as physically (!) attractive leader.
    This will result in us going through all this again, probably around the time of the next GE in 2020.

    Sturgoen will take the SNP further left by attacking Labour. Labour really have cocked up in Scotland they've spent so long yelling Tories that they ignored the SNP becoming the real opposition a trend exacerbated by their line of attack doing half of Salmond;s job for him.

    Simply put Labour need a total rethink and probably for a resurgent right to reclaim its votes from the SNP's unsustainable coalition.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,496

    I’m beginning to wonder if a narrow NO vote won’t cause more problems than a YES. If the Westminster parties don’t honour their promises, and we’ve discussed here whether the promised timetable is achievable, then the SNP will be able to campaign in May on an “honesty” ticket. Further, one can assume, I think that Eck will resign at some point in the reasonably near future and I would expect Nicola Sturgeon to both succeed hime, and be a more politically, as well as physically (!) attractive leader.
    This will result in us going through all this again, probably around the time of the next GE in 2020.

    Sturgoen will take the SNP further left by attacking Labour. Labour really have cocked up in Scotland they've spent so long yelling Tories that they ignored the SNP becoming the real opposition a trend exacerbated by their line of attack doing half of Salmond;s job for him.

    Simply put Labour need a total rethink and probably for a resurgent right to reclaim its votes from the SNP's unsustainable coalition.
    Alan, We will be independent by then and Labour will self implode. Ironically , if they take the chance , the biggest beneficiaries could be the Tories assuming they clear out the dead wood.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,452
    edited September 2014

    I’m beginning to wonder if a narrow NO vote won’t cause more problems than a YES. If the Westminster parties don’t honour their promises, and we’ve discussed here whether the promised timetable is achievable, then the SNP will be able to campaign in May on an “honesty” ticket. Further, one can assume, I think that Eck will resign at some point in the reasonably near future and I would expect Nicola Sturgeon to both succeed hime, and be a more politically, as well as physically (!) attractive leader.
    This will result in us going through all this again, probably around the time of the next GE in 2020.

    I agree. This week's shenanigan's from the three party leaders has been counter-productive in the long term, IMHO. It would be interesting to know exactly when it was planned; was it really as last-minute as it looked?
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    Scott_P said:

    @TelePolitics: Alex Salmond, you're no Nelson Mandela - Scotland is free already http://t.co/keTicDjvzu

    He didn't say that Eck was no "Winnie" mind you...
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    edited September 2014
    JohnLoony said:

    I predict that:

    UKIP will win Heywood & Middleton;
    UKIP will come 3rd in Clacton;
    UKIP will win seats in 2015 with no coastline, but none on the coast;
    Conservative Party will win the general election in 2015 with an absolute majority of seats;
    Labour Party will get an absolute majority of the votes in 2015;
    Nicola Sturgeon will turn into a pelican on 19th September.

    A bottle of whisky says Sturgeon will not turn into a pelican before 31 Dec.

    My prediction is she turns into a buttrrfly.
  • Betfair Yes price surprisingly steady at 4.9ish, thought it would lurch further than that.

    In other news, a technical assessment of Miliband's utility in the Indy campaign.

    'Ed Miliband Useful As A 'Boil On The Scrotum,' Says Radio Caller

    http://tinyurl.com/m5lcrh2

  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453


    In other news, a technical assessment of Miliband's utility in the Indy campaign.

    'Ed Miliband Useful As A 'Boil On The Scrotum,' Says Radio Caller

    Be fair. That assessment is not limited to his Indyref contribution...
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,703
    malcolmg said:

    I’m beginning to wonder if a narrow NO vote won’t cause more problems than a YES. If the Westminster parties don’t honour their promises, and we’ve discussed here whether the promised timetable is achievable, then the SNP will be able to campaign in May on an “honesty” ticket. Further, one can assume, I think that Eck will resign at some point in the reasonably near future and I would expect Nicola Sturgeon to both succeed hime, and be a more politically, as well as physically (!) attractive leader.
    This will result in us going through all this again, probably around the time of the next GE in 2020.

    Sturgoen will take the SNP further left by attacking Labour. Labour really have cocked up in Scotland they've spent so long yelling Tories that they ignored the SNP becoming the real opposition a trend exacerbated by their line of attack doing half of Salmond;s job for him.

    Simply put Labour need a total rethink and probably for a resurgent right to reclaim its votes from the SNP's unsustainable coalition.
    Alan, We will be independent by then and Labour will self implode. Ironically , if they take the chance , the biggest beneficiaries could be the Tories assuming they clear out the dead wood.
    Malcolm, I hate to ask you to face reality, but from all I read, here and elsewhere, and from info I have from family in Scotland, it’s a NO. Narrow, I agree, much narrower than often anticipated at the start of the campaign, but still a NO.

    You could be right though, in that Labour in Scotland will split. I suspect Alanbrooke is right too, when the says the SNP’s coalition is, in thge long term unsustainable. Most Nationalist parties are, as are all fundamentally one-issue campaign groups, once the primne objective has been achieved.
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    I see that "Life and Style" has a feature on how to de-tartanise your wardrobe.

    Just one aspect of the backlash to come.

    No longer will the Celtic tail wag the English dog.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    Betfair Yes price surprisingly steady at 4.9ish, thought it would lurch further than that.

    In other news, a technical assessment of Miliband's utility in the Indy campaign.

    'Ed Miliband Useful As A 'Boil On The Scrotum,' Says Radio Caller

    http://tinyurl.com/m5lcrh2

    The price won't be a straight line to 1000/1 but it's on its way.
  • A very cool and clear headed summary of the cold, hard, economic facts facing an iScotland from Andrew Lilico in the DT:

    http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/andrewlilico/100028096/standard-life-rbs-lloyds-and-others-show-just-how-real-the-impacts-of-scottish-independence-would-be/

    Key points are:
    The SNP can rail at the alleged wickedness of its opponents all it likes, but that will not change certain simple truths. And those simple truths include these:
    There will be no currency union with the remainder of the UK
    An independent Scotland will not automatically be a member of the EU
    An independent Scotland that does not have a central bank, but instead uses the pound sterling without a currency union, will be forbidden by EU rules from joining the EU
    An independent Scotland that does not have a central bank, but instead uses the pound sterling without a currency union, will see the departure of almost all its current banks
    An independent Scotland that reneges on its share of UK debt will not be welcome to join the EU
    An independent Scotland that joins the EU will be obliged to commit to joining the euro and making efforts in good faith to do so at the earliest convenient opportunity
    An independent Scotland that joins the EU will not have the UK rebate, but will instead (if the rest of the UK remains in the EU) have to pay to fund the rebate for the rest of the UK

    I'm now pretty sure myself it will be a NO. Eck's lies and bluster about the the absolute core issue have gone too far and the world and his wife are now forcefully pointing out that it would not be freedom and jam but freedom and vinegar. And when the heart of your story is brutally exposed as a self serving lie -well where does Eck go from here? Has no answers.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,703

    I’m beginning to wonder if a narrow NO vote won’t cause more problems than a YES. If the Westminster parties don’t honour their promises, and we’ve discussed here whether the promised timetable is achievable, then the SNP will be able to campaign in May on an “honesty” ticket. Further, one can assume, I think that Eck will resign at some point in the reasonably near future and I would expect Nicola Sturgeon to both succeed hime, and be a more politically, as well as physically (!) attractive leader.
    This will result in us going through all this again, probably around the time of the next GE in 2020.

    I agree. This week's shenanigan's from the three party leaders has been counter-productive in the long term, IMHO. It would be interesting to know exactly when it was planned; was it really as last-minute as it looked?
    Planned Mr Jessop, planned? Cobbled together in a panic more like, as was Cameron’s meeting with the supermarket chiefs and much else from the NO side in this campaign!
  • And an equally good article explaining precisely why Scotland can have independence or socialism but not both:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11091064/Alex-Salmond-is-chasing-away-the-private-sector-firms-he-so-desperately-needs.html

    I must say the DT columnists are really really good these days. Incl one our own - ahem!
  • alexalex Posts: 244
    Patrick said:

    A very cool and clear headed summary of the cold, hard, economic facts facing an iScotland from Andrew Lilico in the DT:

    http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/andrewlilico/100028096/standard-life-rbs-lloyds-and-others-show-just-how-real-the-impacts-of-scottish-independence-would-be/

    Key points are:
    The SNP can rail at the alleged wickedness of its opponents all it likes, but that will not change certain simple truths. And those simple truths include these:
    There will be no currency union with the remainder of the UK
    An independent Scotland will not automatically be a member of the EU
    An independent Scotland that does not have a central bank, but instead uses the pound sterling without a currency union, will be forbidden by EU rules from joining the EU
    An independent Scotland that does not have a central bank, but instead uses the pound sterling without a currency union, will see the departure of almost all its current banks
    An independent Scotland that reneges on its share of UK debt will not be welcome to join the EU
    An independent Scotland that joins the EU will be obliged to commit to joining the euro and making efforts in good faith to do so at the earliest convenient opportunity
    An independent Scotland that joins the EU will not have the UK rebate, but will instead (if the rest of the UK remains in the EU) have to pay to fund the rebate for the rest of the UK

    I'm now pretty sure myself it will be a NO. Eck's lies and bluster about the the absolute core issue have gone too far and the world and his wife are now forcefully pointing out that it would not be freedom and jam but freedom and vinegar. And when the heart of your story is brutally exposed as a self serving lie -well where does Eck go from here? Has no answers.

    I've never really understood why the UKIP's sole MEP in Scotland isn't a strong supporter of "Yes" ;)

    Couldn't be naked self-interest getting in the way, could it?
  • I’m beginning to wonder if a narrow NO vote won’t cause more problems than a YES. If the Westminster parties don’t honour their promises, and we’ve discussed here whether the promised timetable is achievable, then the SNP will be able to campaign in May on an “honesty” ticket. Further, one can assume, I think that Eck will resign at some point in the reasonably near future and I would expect Nicola Sturgeon to both succeed hime, and be a more politically, as well as physically (!) attractive leader.
    This will result in us going through all this again, probably around the time of the next GE in 2020.

    I agree. This week's shenanigan's from the three party leaders has been counter-productive in the long term, IMHO. It would be interesting to know exactly when it was planned; was it really as last-minute as it looked?
    Planned Mr Jessop, planned? Cobbled together in a panic more like, as was Cameron’s meeting with the supermarket chiefs and much else from the NO side in this campaign!
    If it was a last-minute panic, then no wonder they did not think through the longer-term implications of what they were saying.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    Patrick said:

    And an equally good article explaining precisely why Scotland can have independence or socialism but not both:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11091064/Alex-Salmond-is-chasing-away-the-private-sector-firms-he-so-desperately-needs.html

    I must say the DT columnists are really really good these days. Incl one our own - ahem!

    But YES have spoof Daily Mail front pages....
  • TGOHF said:
    It might show that Salmond is wrong but is unlikely to be why he is losing.
  • malcolmg said:

    Sturgoen will take the SNP further left by attacking Labour. Labour really have cocked up in Scotland they've spent so long yelling Tories that they ignored the SNP becoming the real opposition a trend exacerbated by their line of attack doing half of Salmond;s job for him.

    Simply put Labour need a total rethink and probably for a resurgent right to reclaim its votes from the SNP's unsustainable coalition.

    Alan, We will be independent by then and Labour will self implode. Ironically , if they take the chance , the biggest beneficiaries could be the Tories assuming they clear out the dead wood.
    Malcolm, I hate to ask you to face reality, but from all I read, here and elsewhere, and from info I have from family in Scotland, it’s a NO. Narrow, I agree, much narrower than often anticipated at the start of the campaign, but still a NO.

    You could be right though, in that Labour in Scotland will split. I suspect Alanbrooke is right too, when the says the SNP’s coalition is, in thge long term unsustainable. Most Nationalist parties are, as are all fundamentally one-issue campaign groups, once the primne objective has been achieved.
    Much as it goes against the grain for me to be on the same side as Malcolm, it's far too early to call it for No. The polls are extremely tight and methodologically untested in any directly comparable vote (as there hasn't been one). They may be right, in which case No will win; they could be understating No, in which case No will still win; they could be understating Yes, in which case there's a good chance Yes will win; or they could be correct at the moment but public opinion could move in the next week, in which case Yes could still win. The game is very far from over.

    Labour will not split if Scotland remains in the UK. In an independent Scotland, frankly, anything's possible but institutional inertia is a powerful thing. What keeps Fine Gail and Fianna Fail together apart from each other? It's true that independence would cause tensions in the SNP as to 'where next' but I've little doubt that they'd find a place on the spectrum where their activists and supporters were comfortable, perhaps replacing the Lib Dems in the centre as they're the weakest of the current three UK parties in Scotland, and the centre / centre-left would be an easy place for the SNP to slot into.
  • TGOHF said:

    Patrick said:

    And an equally good article explaining precisely why Scotland can have independence or socialism but not both:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11091064/Alex-Salmond-is-chasing-away-the-private-sector-firms-he-so-desperately-needs.html

    I must say the DT columnists are really really good these days. Incl one our own - ahem!

    But YES have spoof Daily Mail front pages....
    That was extremely funny though - and thanks Malc, enjoyed it.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,534
    FPT some pretty desperate anti-UKIP arguments; less popular than the Lib Dems (which party has 7% in this morning's poll, and which party has 16%?); Carswell's unpopular (polling and canvassing suggests the reverse). By all means argue against UKIP, but try to keep the argument grounded in reality, rather than fantasy.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,496

    malcolmg said:

    I’m beginning to wonder if a narrow NO vote won’t cause more problems than a YES. If the Westminster parties don’t honour their promises, and we’ve discussed here whether the promised timetable is achievable, then the SNP will be able to campaign in May on an “honesty” ticket. Further, one can assume, I think that Eck will resign at some point in the reasonably near future and I would expect Nicola Sturgeon to both succeed hime, and be a more politically, as well as physically (!) attractive leader.
    This will result in us going through all this again, probably around the time of the next GE in 2020.

    Sturgoen will take the SNP further left by attacking Labour. Labour really have cocked up in Scotland they've spent so long yelling Tories that they ignored the SNP becoming the real opposition a trend exacerbated by their line of attack doing half of Salmond;s job for him.

    Simply put Labour need a total rethink and probably for a resurgent right to reclaim its votes from the SNP's unsustainable coalition.
    Alan, We will be independent by then and Labour will self implode. Ironically , if they take the chance , the biggest beneficiaries could be the Tories assuming they clear out the dead wood.
    Malcolm, I hate to ask you to face reality, but from all I read, here and elsewhere, and from info I have from family in Scotland, it’s a NO. Narrow, I agree, much narrower than often anticipated at the start of the campaign, but still a NO.

    You could be right though, in that Labour in Scotland will split. I suspect Alanbrooke is right too, when the says the SNP’s coalition is, in thge long term unsustainable. Most Nationalist parties are, as are all fundamentally one-issue campaign groups, once the primne objective has been achieved.
    OKC, I am afraid your voodoo poll of a couple of family members does not cut it. In real life in Scotland it is just a little different. Just yesterday the BBC had to as YES teenagers to pretend to be undecided as they could not get enough NO supporters. Everywhere you go in Scotland you see YES , one exception is in fields. The fields are for NO the towns are for YES, I will leave you to guess where the voters live.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,703
    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    I’m beginning to wonder if a narrow NO vote won’t cause more problems than a YES. If the Westminster parties don’t honour their promises, and we’ve discussed here whether the promised timetable is achievable, then the SNP will be able to campaign in May on an “honesty” ticket. Further, one can assume, I think that Eck will resign at some point in the reasonably near future and I would expect Nicola Sturgeon to both succeed hime, and be a more politically, as well as physically (!) attractive leader.
    This will result in us going through all this again, probably around the time of the next GE in 2020.

    Sturgoen will take the SNP further left by attacking Labour. Labour really have cocked up in Scotland they've spent so long yelling Tories that they ignored the SNP becoming the real opposition a trend exacerbated by their line of attack doing half of Salmond;s job for him.

    Simply put Labour need a total rethink and probably for a resurgent right to reclaim its votes from the SNP's unsustainable coalition.
    Alan, We will be independent by then and Labour will self implode. Ironically , if they take the chance , the biggest beneficiaries could be the Tories assuming they clear out the dead wood.
    Malcolm, I hate to ask you to face reality, but from all I read, here and elsewhere, and from info I have from family in Scotland, it’s a NO. Narrow, I agree, much narrower than often anticipated at the start of the campaign, but still a NO.

    You could be right though, in that Labour in Scotland will split. I suspect Alanbrooke is right too, when the says the SNP’s coalition is, in thge long term unsustainable. Most Nationalist parties are, as are all fundamentally one-issue campaign groups, once the primne objective has been achieved.
    OKC, I am afraid your voodoo poll of a couple of family members does not cut it. In real life in Scotland it is just a little different. Just yesterday the BBC had to as YES teenagers to pretend to be undecided as they could not get enough NO supporters. Everywhere you go in Scotland you see YES , one exception is in fields. The fields are for NO the towns are for YES, I will leave you to guess where the voters live.
    Malcolm I was a Liberal Party activist for many years. Posters do not equal votes. Not even in windows!
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,496
    Patrick said:

    A very cool and clear headed summary of the cold, hard, economic facts facing an iScotland from Andrew Lilico in the DT:

    http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/andrewlilico/100028096/standard-life-rbs-lloyds-and-others-show-just-how-real-the-impacts-of-scottish-independence-would-be/

    Key points are:
    The SNP can rail at the alleged wickedness of its opponents all it likes, but that will not change certain simple truths. And those simple truths include these:
    There will be no currency union with the remainder of the UK
    An independent Scotland will not automatically be a member of the EU
    An independent Scotland that does not have a central bank, but instead uses the pound sterling without a currency union, will be forbidden by EU rules from joining the EU
    An independent Scotland that does not have a central bank, but instead uses the pound sterling without a currency union, will see the departure of almost all its current banks
    An independent Scotland that reneges on its share of UK debt will not be welcome to join the EU
    An independent Scotland that joins the EU will be obliged to commit to joining the euro and making efforts in good faith to do so at the earliest convenient opportunity
    An independent Scotland that joins the EU will not have the UK rebate, but will instead (if the rest of the UK remains in the EU) have to pay to fund the rebate for the rest of the UK

    I'm now pretty sure myself it will be a NO. Eck's lies and bluster about the the absolute core issue have gone too far and the world and his wife are now forcefully pointing out that it would not be freedom and jam but freedom and vinegar. And when the heart of your story is brutally exposed as a self serving lie -well where does Eck go from here? Has no answers.

    Patrick, you boys still do not get it. Cameron's chums spouting crap on his orders will not convince real people. We have had jobs destroyed for many years due to the union , not as a benefit for us. Stick your head out of the bubble.
  • I see that "Life and Style" has a feature on how to de-tartanise your wardrobe.

    Just one aspect of the backlash to come.

    No longer will the Celtic tail wag the English dog.
    Because a backlash against Scotland won't boost YES in the next referendum?
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    I see that "Life and Style" has a feature on how to de-tartanise your wardrobe.

    Just one aspect of the backlash to come.

    No longer will the Celtic tail wag the English dog.
    Because a backlash against Scotland won't boost YES in the next referendum?
    Won't be for another 35 years - relax ...
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    I see that "Life and Style" has a feature on how to de-tartanise your wardrobe.

    Just one aspect of the backlash to come.

    No longer will the Celtic tail wag the English dog.
    Because a backlash against Scotland won't boost YES in the next referendum?
    It may be unwise, but it is inevitable.

    EVFEL has a lot of implications, but is the counterpart to any further discussion of devolution.

    I think No will win and open a whole can of worms. In many ways I would like to see Yes win.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,703
    Mr Herdson, your point about Fine Gail and Fianna Fail is an extremely good one. Their basis for existence, AFAIK, is on which side they were in the Civil War of 1923-3 or thereabouts. There doesn’t seem to be any philosophical basis, or is one now developing?
  • malcolmg said:

    Patrick said:

    A very cool and clear headed summary of the cold, hard, economic facts facing an iScotland from Andrew Lilico in the DT:

    http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/andrewlilico/100028096/standard-life-rbs-lloyds-and-others-show-just-how-real-the-impacts-of-scottish-independence-would-be/

    Key points are:
    The SNP can rail at the alleged wickedness of its opponents all it likes, but that will not change certain simple truths. And those simple truths include these:
    There will be no currency union with the remainder of the UK
    An independent Scotland will not automatically be a member of the EU
    An independent Scotland that does not have a central bank, but instead uses the pound sterling without a currency union, will be forbidden by EU rules from joining the EU
    An independent Scotland that does not have a central bank, but instead uses the pound sterling without a currency union, will see the departure of almost all its current banks
    An independent Scotland that reneges on its share of UK debt will not be welcome to join the EU
    An independent Scotland that joins the EU will be obliged to commit to joining the euro and making efforts in good faith to do so at the earliest convenient opportunity
    An independent Scotland that joins the EU will not have the UK rebate, but will instead (if the rest of the UK remains in the EU) have to pay to fund the rebate for the rest of the UK

    I'm now pretty sure myself it will be a NO. Eck's lies and bluster about the the absolute core issue have gone too far and the world and his wife are now forcefully pointing out that it would not be freedom and jam but freedom and vinegar. And when the heart of your story is brutally exposed as a self serving lie -well where does Eck go from here? Has no answers.

    Patrick, you boys still do not get it. Cameron's chums spouting crap on his orders will not convince real people. We have had jobs destroyed for many years due to the union , not as a benefit for us. Stick your head out of the bubble.
    I agree wholeheartedly. (With Malcolm? What's wrong with me!) All these "head" arguments have been made - not least on this forum - for months (it feels like years) when those who vote "yes" will do so with their hearts and have always intended to do so.

    After all, it's Scotland's oil. When it isn't Shetland's. Or Ailsa Craig's. Well it's someone's oil, dammit...

  • TGOHF said:

    I see that "Life and Style" has a feature on how to de-tartanise your wardrobe.

    Just one aspect of the backlash to come.

    No longer will the Celtic tail wag the English dog.
    Because a backlash against Scotland won't boost YES in the next referendum?
    Won't be for another 35 years - relax ...
    It won't be ever probably. The SNP have got close to the finishing line avoiding answers on the currency and all the knock-on horrors having none will imply. After the NO Scotland will get more Devo and all the pathetically unanswered questions would emerge right at the beginning of any future Sindy effort. Dave is right that this is it. YES or NO is now. And then forever.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,496
    Patrick said:

    TGOHF said:

    Patrick said:

    And an equally good article explaining precisely why Scotland can have independence or socialism but not both:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11091064/Alex-Salmond-is-chasing-away-the-private-sector-firms-he-so-desperately-needs.html

    I must say the DT columnists are really really good these days. Incl one our own - ahem!

    But YES have spoof Daily Mail front pages....
    That was extremely funny though - and thanks Malc, enjoyed it.
    Patrick, certainly better than some demented halfwit in charge of an American Supermarket chain claiming prices will go up whilst low price rivals are already stealing their lunch. Sounds like the idiot could not run a bath never mind a Supermarket chain.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,496

    malcolmg said:

    Patrick said:

    A very cool and clear headed summary of the cold, hard, economic facts facing an iScotland from Andrew Lilico in the DT:

    http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/andrewlilico/100028096/standard-life-rbs-lloyds-and-others-show-just-how-real-the-impacts-of-scottish-independence-would-be/

    Key points are:
    The SNP can rail at the alleged wickedness of its opponents all it likes, but that will not change certain simple truths. And those simple truths include these:
    There will be no currency union with the remainder of the UK
    An independent Scotland will not automatically be a member of the EU
    An independent Scotland that does not have a central bank, but instead uses the pound sterling without a currency union, will be forbidden by EU rules from joining the EU
    An independent Scotland that does not have a central bank, but instead uses the pound sterling without a currency union, will see the departure of almost all its current banks
    An independent Scotland that reneges on its share of UK debt will not be welcome to join the EU
    An independent Scotland that joins the EU will be obliged to commit to joining the euro and making efforts in good faith to do so at the earliest convenient opportunity
    An independent Scotland that joins the EU will not have the UK rebate, but will instead (if the rest of the UK remains in the EU) have to pay to fund the rebate for the rest of the UK

    I'm now pretty sure myself it will be a NO. Eck's lies and bluster about the the absolute core issue have gone too far and the world and his wife are now forcefully pointing out that it would not be freedom and jam but freedom and vinegar. And when the heart of your story is brutally exposed as a self serving lie -well where does Eck go from here? Has no answers.

    Patrick, you boys still do not get it. Cameron's chums spouting crap on his orders will not convince real people. We have had jobs destroyed for many years due to the union , not as a benefit for us. Stick your head out of the bubble.
    I agree wholeheartedly. (With Malcolm? What's wrong with me!) All these "head" arguments have been made - not least on this forum - for months (it feels like years) when those who vote "yes" will do so with their hearts and have always intended to do so.

    After all, it's Scotland's oil. When it isn't Shetland's. Or Ailsa Craig's. Well it's someone's oil, dammit...

    Innocent , sometimes I do actually post sensible stuff. This barrage of abuse and duplicity can only harden the YES vote. We do not like being bullied and certainly not by snake oil politicians and their grasping millionaire arse licking chums.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    malcolmg said:

    We do not like being bullied and certainly not by snake oil politicians and their grasping millionaire arse licking chums.

    So you are calling on Eck to renounce his Brownshirts who are terrorising voters in their homes and streets, and calling for him to cut all ties with his BFF Rupert Murdoch?

    Welcome to the club Malc.
  • Sean_F said:

    FPT some pretty desperate anti-UKIP arguments; less popular than the Lib Dems (which party has 7% in this morning's poll, and which party has 16%?); Carswell's unpopular (polling and canvassing suggests the reverse). By all means argue against UKIP, but try to keep the argument grounded in reality, rather than fantasy.

    You mean reality like the 'fact' Clacton's in the northeast?

    I feel a little sorry for decent UKIP supporters such as yourself. You really don't seem to understand why vociferous UKIP supporters spouting terms like "indigenous peoples" turns off large swathes of the electorate.

    Especially when they do not have the guts to say what they actually mean.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,496

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    I’m beginning to wonder if a narrow NO vote won’t cause more problems than a YES. If the Westminster parties don’t honour their promises, and we’ve discussed here whether the promised timetable is achievable, then the SNP will be able to campaign in May on an “honesty” ticket. Further, one can assume, I think that Eck will resign at some point in the reasonably near future and I would expect Nicola Sturgeon to both succeed hime, and be a more politically, as well as physically (!) attractive leader.
    This will result in us going through all this again, probably around the time of the next GE in 2020.



    Simply put Labour need a total rethink and probably for a resurgent right to reclaim its votes from the SNP's unsustainable coalition.
    Alan, We will be independent by then and Labour will self implode. Ironically , if they take the chance , the biggest beneficiaries could be the Tories assuming they clear out the dead wood.


    OKC, I am afraid your voodoo poll of a couple of family members does not cut it. In real life in Scotland it is just a little different. Just yesterday the BBC had to as YES teenagers to pretend to be undecided as they could not get enough NO supporters. Everywhere you go in Scotland you see YES , one exception is in fields. The fields are for NO the towns are for YES, I will leave you to guess where the voters live.
    Malcolm I was a Liberal Party activist for many years. Posters do not equal votes. Not even in windows!
    OKC, I well appreciate that but I repeat, it is hard to find anyone here will will admit to being NO, yet you will get shed loads for YES. Look on social media , NO sites are non existent or deserts, whilst hundreds of YES sites. Meetings , loads every day organised by YES, NO meetings are non existent or closed to the public. It if is to be NO they must have some well hidden SHY voters.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,496

    TGOHF said:
    It might show that Salmond is wrong but is unlikely to be why he is losing.
    John, only losers like Flash would stupidly state that he is losing as well.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    malcolmg said:

    it is hard to find anyone here will will admit to being NO

    Intimidated by the shouty aggressive Yes supporters. It's a disgrace.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
    edited September 2014
    Innocent, Malc,

    Don't get me wrong. I like posting about the economic absurdities of YES. I'm pointing out that YES means freedom and vinegar (by the bucketful). But I'm not advocating a NO. Actually, as an Englishman, I feel very very pissed off that Scotland gets a better political and financial arrangement. I want my kids to qualify for free uni and resent my taxes making this possible in Scotland. I resent my taxes enabling free prescriptions for Scotland. I want equal public spending for England. I want EVFEL. I want a federal UK. The pandering to Scotland must stop. Be a full and equal part of the UK or eff off. If the Scots choose to 'eff off then thanks very much' - I'm OK with that. Go - I wish you well.
  • PlatoPlato Posts: 15,724
    Thought he really put his finger on the issue.

    Well worth a read for anyone who hasn't done so.
    Scott_P said:

    Excellent article from Philip Collins in The Times

    A Yes win means the return of the Blairites

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/columnists/article4204106.ece

  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,703
    One has to agree with Malcolm that pople, especially Scots "do not like being bullied and certainly not by snake oil politicians and their grasping millionaire arse licking chums.”

    However, the distribution of snake oil is not confined to one side and I am getting the feeling that “it’ll be alright on the night” doesn’t always cut it.

    I’m somewhat sad about it, too. If I were resident in Scotland my preference would be for Yes.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    malcolmg said:

    TGOHF said:
    It might show that Salmond is wrong but is unlikely to be why he is losing.
    John, only losers like Flash would stupidly state that he is losing as well.
    Yes is losing.
  • malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    I’m beginning to wonder if a narrow NO vote won’t cause more problems than a YES. If the Westminster parties don’t honour their promises, and we’ve discussed here whether the promised timetable is achievable, then the SNP will be able to campaign in May on an “honesty” ticket. Further, one can assume, I think that Eck will resign at some point in the reasonably near future and I would expect Nicola Sturgeon to both succeed hime, and be a more politically, as well as physically (!) attractive leader.
    This will result in us going through all this again, probably around the time of the next GE in 2020.



    Simply put Labour need a total rethink and probably for a resurgent right to reclaim its votes from the SNP's unsustainable coalition.
    Alan, We will be independent by then and Labour will self implode. Ironically , if they take the chance , the biggest beneficiaries could be the Tories assuming they clear out the dead wood.


    OKC, I am afraid your voodoo poll of a couple of family members does not cut it. In real life in Scotland it is just a little different. Just yesterday the BBC had to as YES teenagers to pretend to be undecided as they could not get enough NO supporters. Everywhere you go in Scotland you see YES , one exception is in fields. The fields are for NO the towns are for YES, I will leave you to guess where the voters live.
    Malcolm I was a Liberal Party activist for many years. Posters do not equal votes. Not even in windows!
    OKC, I well appreciate that but I repeat, it is hard to find anyone here will will admit to being NO, yet you will get shed loads for YES. Look on social media , NO sites are non existent or deserts, whilst hundreds of YES sites. Meetings , loads every day organised by YES, NO meetings are non existent or closed to the public. It if is to be NO they must have some well hidden SHY voters.
    SNP vessels make the most noise but the silent majority will win, easily.
  • YBarddCwscYBarddCwsc Posts: 7,172
    Let's assume they Scotland votes No.

    The argument that will have done for Scotland is the same one that did for Quebec. Could an independent Quebec use the Candian dollar?

    So isn't the country with a very serious problem now Spain.

    Because, that argument won't apply in Catalonia? It already has the euro.

  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,336

    Mr Herdson, your point about Fine Gail and Fianna Fail is an extremely good one. Their basis for existence, AFAIK, is on which side they were in the Civil War of 1923-3 or thereabouts. There doesn’t seem to be any philosophical basis, or is one now developing?

    Doubt it. LDs and Tories (rebranded) should form suitable nuclei as they appear to have legal status separate from London - though that is something that cannot be said of Labour.

    Incidentally, the example of the successive Free Churches reminds me. What happens to the money of the SCUP on indy? Does it go over the border or is it retained to act as a nucleus for a rebranded party? Or might the new right/free enterprise grouping need to start completely anew?

  • Patrick said:

    It won't be ever probably....Dave is right that this is it. YES or NO is now. And then forever.

    It's a privilege to be enlightened on your personal hopes and fears.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,336
    BTW the FT has reportedly lifted the paywall on indyref stories. A quick check shows it's not completely lifted, but useful all the same.
  • Everyone in Scotland must know that the leaders of the Westminster parties could have offered a thought-through Devo-max package months or even years ago, and that they have only done so now because they fear - rightly - that they are about to see the UK split up on their watch, so securing their legacies as they people who lost the Union. The three leaders, and assorted other grandees know that when there is a Yes vote that will define everything that they have done or will do in politics. That is what history will remember them for, nothing else. Thus, they are clearly desperate. And so instead of coherence they have presented a dog's dinner, without beginning to engage with the rest of us in the UK about what is a fundamental issue of governance. Frankly, it is pathetic.

    That said, something has now begun that cannot be reversed. major change is coming. I believe it will be kick-started by Scotland's cessation, but if I am wrong it will be because Scotland cannot have Devo-max without similar devolution of powers in other parts of the UK: there has to be a balance. So we will see more powers for Wales and NI, and we will see either an English Parliament or English votes on English laws. I would also expect a change to the voting system.

    It is hard to overstate what historically significant times we are living through for this country.


  • TGOHF said:

    Patrick said:

    And an equally good article explaining precisely why Scotland can have independence or socialism but not both:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11091064/Alex-Salmond-is-chasing-away-the-private-sector-firms-he-so-desperately-needs.html

    I must say the DT columnists are really really good these days. Incl one our own - ahem!

    But YES have spoof Daily Mail front pages....
    Says the man who uses the Telegraph as his window into Scotland.

  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,514

    Mr Herdson, your point about Fine Gail and Fianna Fail is an extremely good one. Their basis for existence, AFAIK, is on which side they were in the Civil War of 1923-3 or thereabouts. There doesn’t seem to be any philosophical basis, or is one now developing?

    the FF \ FG analogy won't work in Scotland, having someone murder your relatives tends to make you less favourable to their political arguments. So unless Scotland is planning it's own Civil War ...
  • Let's assume they Scotland votes No.

    The argument that will have done for Scotland is the same one that did for Quebec. Could an independent Quebec use the Candian dollar?

    So isn't the country with a very serious problem now Spain.

    Because, that argument won't apply in Catalonia? It already has the euro.

    Spain is very different. The Catalans overwhelmingly approved the Spanish constitution in a referendum. And the Spanish constitution states that Spain is an indivisible whole that can only be divided with the agreement of all Spaniards. There is no legal way for Catalonia to become independent, so the only option is UDI. And that automatically locks Catalonia out of the international community.

  • I believe it will be kick-started by Scotland's cessation

    Golly, I was hoping we'd continue to exist whatever the outcome.
  • PlatoPlato Posts: 15,724
    I thought @fitalass‌' comment about *going all Corporal Jones* was spot on.

    It looked exactly like that to me.

    I’m beginning to wonder if a narrow NO vote won’t cause more problems than a YES. If the Westminster parties don’t honour their promises, and we’ve discussed here whether the promised timetable is achievable, then the SNP will be able to campaign in May on an “honesty” ticket. Further, one can assume, I think that Eck will resign at some point in the reasonably near future and I would expect Nicola Sturgeon to both succeed hime, and be a more politically, as well as physically (!) attractive leader.
    This will result in us going through all this again, probably around the time of the next GE in 2020.

    I agree. This week's shenanigan's from the three party leaders has been counter-productive in the long term, IMHO. It would be interesting to know exactly when it was planned; was it really as last-minute as it looked?
  • YBarddCwscYBarddCwsc Posts: 7,172
    Southam Observer,

    The sovereignty of a people rests with them. What has been approved in a referendum (the Spanish constitution) can be reversed in a referendum.

    A law passed in Madrid saying Spain cannot be divided is just not worth the paper it is written on.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,336
    edited September 2014

    I believe it will be kick-started by Scotland's cessation

    Golly, I was hoping we'd continue to exist whatever the outcome.
    Mr Observer got it right, for Scotland will sometime disappear, as James Hutton said long ago. He just got the timing a wee bittie awry!

    But I thought his piece was pretty good. Though indyref can sometimes seem like James Hutton's view of the Earth: "No vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end".

    Edit: which is the recherché connection to the three parties' presser at Dynamic Earth, below Hutton's classic site at Salisbury Crags, earlier this week.

  • I believe it will be kick-started by Scotland's cessation

    Golly, I was hoping we'd continue to exist whatever the outcome.
    Well, I propose to continue to exist, DV, whatever the outcome. And I hope each of you do, too.

  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,014
    I agree that the last minute back of a fag packet devolution package looks pretty desperate and not particularly credible. The principle of further devolution was signed up to by the main parties months ago but there was a failure, either through difficulties in getting agreement or otherwise, to put meat on the bones.

    My suspicion is that Labour in particular have been very anxious about the tax raising powers. If, or more accurately when, we also have EVEL they will have a major problem in getting a budget. We are at risk of having an absurd situation where a party has an overall majority in the Commons but no ability at all to govern 90% of the population.

    At the moment I really don't trust the polls. Most Scottish polling has been from companies with very poor track records or who have made an arse of themselves. We will hopefully get a better idea today from ICM but the likelihood is that this is going to be TCTC with considerations such as differential turnout capable of swinging the vote one way or another. Those that bet on higher levels of turnout should be grateful for all this angst!
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,937
    Forget Mail spoofs, we have the Daily Mash, as ever nailing it on Salmond's Flight from Reality on the Flight of Capital.

    http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/rbs-says-relocation-is-scare-story-and-true-story-2014091190446
  • PlatoPlato Posts: 15,724
    edited September 2014
    Will elderly couples no longer have white Scottie dogs as child substitutes? What about tartan dog coat and collar manufacturers!?

    Will Caesar have a RUK dog on their tins instead? No doubt Kippers will worry about a EuroMutt taking over.

    I Think We Should Be Told.

    I see that "Life and Style" has a feature on how to de-tartanise your wardrobe.

    Just one aspect of the backlash to come.

    No longer will the Celtic tail wag the English dog.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,336
    Plato said:

    Will elderly couples no longer have white Scottie dogs as child substitutes? What about tartan dog coat and collar manufacturers!?

    Will Caesar have a RUK dog on their tins instead? No doubt Kippers will worry about a EuroMutt taking over.

    I Think We Should Be Told.

    I see that "Life and Style" has a feature on how to de-tartanise your wardrobe.

    Just one aspect of the backlash to come.

    No longer will the Celtic tail wag the English dog.
    You mean West Highland terriers, surely?



  • FinancierFinancier Posts: 3,916
    Jehovah (GOD) led the Israelites (out of Egypt) into Canaan - the promised land - the land flowing with milk and honey (see the Book of Exodus etc). In fact he gave them a credible vision, even though they had to undergo many trials and tribulations along the way, including tests of faith and temptations, and their leader (Moses) died during that long journey.

    It would appear that the SNP has not given the Scottish people a credible vision of where they will finish and how they would get to that destination. The SNP has leaders with great hope and ideals but not visionaries who with forethought and certainty can map out that journey leading to their promised land and describe that land with some accuracy.

    As many people prefer to hold on to a currently comfortable and secure life (£ in your pocket), without a more credible vision the SNP may struggle to cross the winning line first.



  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,937

    Southam Observer,

    The sovereignty of a people rests with them. What has been approved in a referendum (the Spanish constitution) can be reversed in a referendum.

    A law passed in Madrid saying Spain cannot be divided is just not worth the paper it is written on.

    Have you learnt nothing from the Euro crisis about how ruthless Brussels is when faced with the prospect of dislocation, failure, loss of parts of the Great Unification? At the prospect of independence of any component part, then Project Fear in Scotland will be as nothing compared to Project Spanish Inquisition.....
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,564
    edited September 2014
    The YouGov details are interesting. Points:

    * Certainty to vote (10/10) is virtually identical for Y/N (at 90-91). Just 4% say they don't know how they'll vote.
    * There is a bigger swing on "Scotland would be better/worse off" (from -2 to -11) than for the VI (+2 to -5).
    * More people have heard from or seen something about the Yes campaign (e.g. leaflets, posters) than No. Amazingly, 24% say they've heard and seen NOTHING from No, and 17% say they've heard and seen NOTHING from Yes. "You mean there's a referendum campaign in progress?" All political professionals are familiar with this phenomenon ("I've not heard from you for years." "But I delivered a leaflet to you only last month!" "Huh. Haven't seen it.").
    * There is deep scepticism about all the politicians. Salmond is net -20, Sturgeon -15, Brown -23, Darling -31, Cameron -46, Miliband -45, Lamont -31, Rennie -35, Davidson -31. The SNP leaders are down 9, Brown up a net 3 (and +26 among No supporters, +41 among Lab supporters), everyone else MOE changes.
    * The dominant argument for Yes is "Scotland will not have to implement policies made in London that Scots reject" with 48% - the poll tax issue still resonating? There is no one No argument that dominates - 30-odd% for various financial arguments.
    * Holyrood VI is SNP 34, Lab 33, Con 14, Green 8 (!), everyone else 4 or less (regional votes).

    I'd think from these figures that the trip by the 3 party leaders won't have don't much good, and that the SNP leaders still have an edge personally which is holding off the negative undertow of the "worse off" figures. The figures look pretty settled to me.


  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    Financier said:


    It would appear that the SNP has not given the Scottish people a credible vision of where they will finish

    That's deliberate policy. it has allowed them to collect yes votes from people who have radically different views of what a separate Scotland would look like. All of them will be disappointed, either way.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,514
    edited September 2014
    I believe Prof Ronald Macdonald has advised that the new Scottish currency should be called the "Quarter pounder" since that's what it will be worth.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118

    As ever, thanks Harry.

    Note from the people FPT that the UKIP crowd's screams that Farage was uninvolved with the 2010 GE manifesto because he was not leader is slightly disingenuous.

    Farage co-wrote the forward to the manifesto, and put his name to it. Does he always put his name to things he does not read? Given the van incident last night, perhaps not.

    For people who want a laugh:
    http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge10/man/parties/UKIPManifesto2010.pdf
    I particularly liked this bit:

    " Invest in three new 200mph plus high-speed rail lines including a new line between London
    and Newcastle with a spur to Manchester, a London-Bristol-Exeter line and a linking route
    via Birmingham"

    So they wanted three HS2's, not one.

    Good lord

    I didn't say he was uninvolved, just corrected someone who said he was leader at the last GE

    Also @flightpath I didn't bring colour into it, @foxinsox said Carswell would lose WWC support for ukip and I said there were a lot of WWC in Clacton where he is a very popular MP

    The van incident... Ukip shuttled people from the North to clacton in a Ukip North East van... I don't see how this is a story unless you genuinely thought they had spray painted ukip North East onto it thin king clacton was in South Shields
  • malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    I’m beginning to wonder if a narrow NO vote won’t cause more problems than a YES. If the Westminster parties don’t honour their promises, and we’ve discussed here whether the promised timetable is achievable, then the SNP will be able to campaign in May on an “honesty” ticket. Further, one can assume, I think that Eck will resign at some point in the reasonably near future and I would expect Nicola Sturgeon to both succeed hime, and be a more politically, as well as physically (!) attractive leader.
    This will result in us going through all this again, probably around the time of the next GE in 2020.



    Simply put Labour need a total rethink and probably for a resurgent right to reclaim its votes from the SNP's unsustainable coalition.
    Alan, We will be independent by then and Labour will self implode. Ironically , if they take the chance , the biggest beneficiaries could be the Tories assuming they clear out the dead wood.


    OKC, I am afraid your voodoo poll of a couple of family members does not cut it. In real life in Scotland it is just a little different. Just yesterday the BBC had to as YES teenagers to pretend to be undecided as they could not get enough NO supporters. Everywhere you go in Scotland you see YES , one exception is in fields. The fields are for NO the towns are for YES, I will leave you to guess where the voters live.
    Malcolm I was a Liberal Party activist for many years. Posters do not equal votes. Not even in windows!
    OKC, I well appreciate that but I repeat, it is hard to find anyone here will will admit to being NO, yet you will get shed loads for YES. Look on social media , NO sites are non existent or deserts, whilst hundreds of YES sites. Meetings , loads every day organised by YES, NO meetings are non existent or closed to the public. It if is to be NO they must have some well hidden SHY voters.
    You're right. I don't know we bother even having a ballot. We should just count up the posters in the streets and on the internet. It would save a lot of money.
  • Southam Observer,

    The sovereignty of a people rests with them. What has been approved in a referendum (the Spanish constitution) can be reversed in a referendum.

    A law passed in Madrid saying Spain cannot be divided is just not worth the paper it is written on.

    Have you learnt nothing from the Euro crisis about how ruthless Brussels is when faced with the prospect of dislocation, failure, loss of parts of the Great Unification? At the prospect of independence of any component part, then Project Fear in Scotland will be as nothing compared to Project Spanish Inquisition.....
    No one expects the Project Spanish Inquisition!

    (sorry I had to)
  • Looking forward to next Thursday night from Deep England. Win win. If the Scots go, which I very much hope, politically and economically it will free rUK of an increasingly incompatible deadweight,(disruptive in the short term admittedly but strategically well worth it). On the otherhand as seems probable, we will enjoy endless shots of distraught Yessers sobbing into their Saltires as the penny drops that their fellow countrymen have put their FREEDOM!! back in its box. Top stuff.

    Incidently still no interest from The Birmingham Office Girls. Pistorius yesterday but still not one comment or reference to the referendum. Not one. Ever. They simply do not care.
  • Looking forward to next Thursday night from Deep England. Win win. If the Scots go, which I very much hope, politically and economically it will free rUK of an increasingly incompatible deadweight,(disruptive in the short term admittedly but strategically well worth it). On the otherhand as seems probable, we will enjoy endless shots of distraught Yessers sobbing into their Saltires as the penny drops that their fellow countrymen have put their FREEDOM!! back in its box. Top stuff.

    Incidently still no interest from The Birmingham Office Girls. Pistorius yesterday but still not one comment or reference to the referendum. Not one. Ever. They simply do not care.

    I think that's pretty much how a lot of people in England view it.

    Of course the big NO benefit is that we might finally get the WLQ sorted out, and EV4EL or some form of devolution for England.






  • OKC, I am afraid your voodoo poll of a couple of family members does not cut it. In real life in Scotland it is just a little different. Just yesterday the BBC had to as YES teenagers to pretend to be undecided as they could not get enough NO supporters. Everywhere you go in Scotland you see YES , one exception is in fields. The fields are for NO the towns are for YES, I will leave you to guess where the voters live.

    Malcolm I was a Liberal Party activist for many years. Posters do not equal votes. Not even in windows!

    OKC, I well appreciate that but I repeat, it is hard to find anyone here will will admit to being NO, yet you will get shed loads for YES. Look on social media , NO sites are non existent or deserts, whilst hundreds of YES sites. Meetings , loads every day organised by YES, NO meetings are non existent or closed to the public. It if is to be NO they must have some well hidden SHY voters.

    If Quebec is any guide,there are shy No voters,put off by the aggression of Yes and a lot of them,which is why I'm still happy with my increased wager on 40-45 for Yes.Swingback to No on the day could prove more reliable in the indyref than in GE2015.

  • welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,464
    DavidL said:

    I agree that the last minute back of a fag packet devolution package looks pretty desperate and not particularly credible. The principle of further devolution was signed up to by the main parties months ago but there was a failure, either through difficulties in getting agreement or otherwise, to put meat on the bones.

    My suspicion is that Labour in particular have been very anxious about the tax raising powers. If, or more accurately when, we also have EVEL they will have a major problem in getting a budget. We are at risk of having an absurd situation where a party has an overall majority in the Commons but no ability at all to govern 90% of the population.

    At the moment I really don't trust the polls. Most Scottish polling has been from companies with very poor track records or who have made an arse of themselves. We will hopefully get a better idea today from ICM but the likelihood is that this is going to be TCTC with considerations such as differential turnout capable of swinging the vote one way or another. Those that bet on higher levels of turnout should be grateful for all this angst!

    I think your pretty much spot on on all counts here. The Devo Max option at the last minute looks cobbled together and it's very odd it was brought to the fore after people had started voting via post. It is also ridiculous that the English (again!) are just treated like a cheque writing door mat with constitutional promises being made without any reference to them. Essentially the whole current devolution set up is one gigantic Labour gerrymander to ring fence off elements of their fiefdoms from any Tory influence ever on education/health etc whilst still having these fiefdoms' votes available the other way round. It's just plain wrong and has been for 15 years now. How about the Tories seal off income tax policy in East Anglia from a future Labour government but still let the voters of Bury St Edmond's vote on the ambulance service in East Kilbride? Well that would be absurd wouldn't it, except it's pretty much what we've got in reverse.
  • PlatoPlato Posts: 15,724
    Epic!
    A spokesman said: “We’re 81% owned by the UK government so it’s not like we’re going to move to Hawaii.

    “So, London it is. We are definitely going.”

    But SNP leader Alex Salmond said: “No you’re not.”

    The spokesman added: “Yes we are. We’ve just said so.”

    Salmond insisted: “No, you’re not. You’re just trying to scare people.”

    The spokesman said: “We’re not actually trying to scare people, we’re running a business. But if people are scared, it’s probably because it’s a bit scary.

    “Because it’s true.”

    Salmond then accused the spokesman of working for MI6 before producing an ‘incriminating dossier’ consisting of random cuttings from local newspapers.

    The RBS spokesman said: “Is everything okay?”

    Forget Mail spoofs, we have the Daily Mash, as ever nailing it on Salmond's Flight from Reality on the Flight of Capital.

    http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/rbs-says-relocation-is-scare-story-and-true-story-2014091190446

  • PlatoPlato Posts: 15,724
    I can think of somewhere to stick Moses' Staff myself... If only I could get my hands on such a Weapon of Mass Smiting ;^ )
    Financier said:

    Jehovah (GOD) led the Israelites (out of Egypt) into Canaan - the promised land - the land flowing with milk and honey (see the Book of Exodus etc). In fact he gave them a credible vision, even though they had to undergo many trials and tribulations along the way, including tests of faith and temptations, and their leader (Moses) died during that long journey.

    It would appear that the SNP has not given the Scottish people a credible vision of where they will finish and how they would get to that destination. The SNP has leaders with great hope and ideals but not visionaries who with forethought and certainty can map out that journey leading to their promised land and describe that land with some accuracy.

    As many people prefer to hold on to a currently comfortable and secure life (£ in your pocket), without a more credible vision the SNP may struggle to cross the winning line first.



  • PlatoPlato Posts: 15,724
    Oh dammit - too early for me - yes Westies.

    I'm trying to think of a suitable EuroMutt - a Labradoodle doesn't cut the mustard. More of a Daschoodle perhaps?
    Carnyx said:

    Plato said:

    Will elderly couples no longer have white Scottie dogs as child substitutes? What about tartan dog coat and collar manufacturers!?

    Will Caesar have a RUK dog on their tins instead? No doubt Kippers will worry about a EuroMutt taking over.

    I Think We Should Be Told.

    I see that "Life and Style" has a feature on how to de-tartanise your wardrobe.

    Just one aspect of the backlash to come.

    No longer will the Celtic tail wag the English dog.
    You mean West Highland terriers, surely?



  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    isam said:

    As ever, thanks Harry.

    Note from the people FPT that the UKIP crowd's screams that Farage was uninvolved with the 2010 GE manifesto because he was not leader is slightly disingenuous.

    Farage co-wrote the forward to the manifesto, and put his name to it. Does he always put his name to things he does not read? Given the van incident last night, perhaps not.

    For people who want a laugh:
    http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge10/man/parties/UKIPManifesto2010.pdf
    I particularly liked this bit:

    " Invest in three new 200mph plus high-speed rail lines including a new line between London
    and Newcastle with a spur to Manchester, a London-Bristol-Exeter line and a linking route
    via Birmingham"

    So they wanted three HS2's, not one.

    Good lord

    I didn't say he was uninvolved, just corrected someone who said he was leader at the last GE

    Also @flightpath I didn't bring colour into it, @foxinsox said Carswell would lose WWC support for ukip and I said there were a lot of WWC in Clacton where he is a very popular MP

    The van incident... Ukip shuttled people from the North to clacton in a Ukip North East van... I don't see how this is a story unless you genuinely thought they had spray painted ukip North East onto it thin king clacton was in South Shields
    I have a fairly busy day ahead, but happy to elaborate on my position on Carswell tonight.

    I think he will win in Clacton, but will bring some hidden tensions in UKIP into the spotlight. It may welk be a pyrhic victory.
  • Good morning, everyone.

    Pathetic weasel Clegg backs 'radical devolution for England', which amounts to mayors and shitty regional powers:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29155854

    Give us a Parliament, you fool.
  • PlatoPlato Posts: 15,724
    *CLAPS*

    A great pen pix of the absurdity of this and the sly motives for it.
    welshowl said:

    DavidL said:

    I agree that the last minute back of a fag packet devolution package looks pretty desperate and not particularly credible. The principle of further devolution was signed up to by the main parties months ago but there was a failure, either through difficulties in getting agreement or otherwise, to put meat on the bones.

    My suspicion is that Labour in particular have been very anxious about the tax raising powers. If, or more accurately when, we also have EVEL they will have a major problem in getting a budget. We are at risk of having an absurd situation where a party has an overall majority in the Commons but no ability at all to govern 90% of the population.

    At the moment I really don't trust the polls. Most Scottish polling has been from companies with very poor track records or who have made an arse of themselves. We will hopefully get a better idea today from ICM but the likelihood is that this is going to be TCTC with considerations such as differential turnout capable of swinging the vote one way or another. Those that bet on higher levels of turnout should be grateful for all this angst!

    I think your pretty much spot on on all counts here. The Devo Max option at the last minute looks cobbled together and it's very odd it was brought to the fore after people had started voting via post. It is also ridiculous that the English (again!) are just treated like a cheque writing door mat with constitutional promises being made without any reference to them. Essentially the whole current devolution set up is one gigantic Labour gerrymander to ring fence off elements of their fiefdoms from any Tory influence ever on education/health etc whilst still having these fiefdoms' votes available the other way round. It's just plain wrong and has been for 15 years now. How about the Tories seal off income tax policy in East Anglia from a future Labour government but still let the voters of Bury St Edmond's vote on the ambulance service in East Kilbride? Well that would be absurd wouldn't it, except it's pretty much what we've got in reverse.
  • isam said:

    As ever, thanks Harry.

    Note from the people FPT that the UKIP crowd's screams that Farage was uninvolved with the 2010 GE manifesto because he was not leader is slightly disingenuous.

    Farage co-wrote the forward to the manifesto, and put his name to it. Does he always put his name to things he does not read? Given the van incident last night, perhaps not.

    For people who want a laugh:
    http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge10/man/parties/UKIPManifesto2010.pdf
    I particularly liked this bit:

    " Invest in three new 200mph plus high-speed rail lines including a new line between London
    and Newcastle with a spur to Manchester, a London-Bristol-Exeter line and a linking route
    via Birmingham"

    So they wanted three HS2's, not one.

    Good lord

    I didn't say he was uninvolved, just corrected someone who said he was leader at the last GE

    Also @flightpath I didn't bring colour into it, @foxinsox said Carswell would lose WWC support for ukip and I said there were a lot of WWC in Clacton where he is a very popular MP

    The van incident... Ukip shuttled people from the North to clacton in a Ukip North East van... I don't see how this is a story unless you genuinely thought they had spray painted ukip North East onto it thin king clacton was in South Shields
    Its pointless trying to use facts or logic with people like JJ or Flightpath. They are simply blind Tory supporters whose critical faculties evaporate when it comes to UKIP.

    'Facts' have no place in their arguments as they are fed entirely by their idiotic belief that anything other than a perpetual Tory government - in Flightpath's case a puppet Tory government directed by the All-Father in Brussels - must mean the end of civilisation as we know it.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,608

    Let's assume they Scotland votes No.

    The argument that will have done for Scotland is the same one that did for Quebec. Could an independent Quebec use the Candian dollar?

    So isn't the country with a very serious problem now Spain.

    Because, that argument won't apply in Catalonia? It already has the euro.

    Yes: although as @Southam points out, it was not a law passed in Madrid, it was the acceptance of the constitution of Spain by the overwhelming majority of people in Catalonia.

    Catalonia can always pass a UDI, but to amend the constitution of Spain requires a vote of the whole country.

    It is worth noting that Catalonia is one of the richest parts of Spain, and therefore the loss of it would be very keenly felt by Spain as a whole. However, it's worth noting that the Basque Country next door has a much longer history of desiring statehood (and had an armed insurrection, of course).

    My guess would be that we will see DevoMax on a Basque-scale for Catalonia, but we shall see.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,703

    Good morning, everyone.

    Pathetic weasel Clegg backs 'radical devolution for England', which amounts to mayors and shitty regional powers:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29155854

    Give us a Parliament, you fool.

    Problem is that in a “federal UK", or, even if such a thing were possible a federal British Isles, England would totally outweigh the rest. Even collectively. It would be like a Federal West America ..... California, Oregon and Washington.
  • welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,464

    Good morning, everyone.

    Pathetic weasel Clegg backs 'radical devolution for England', which amounts to mayors and shitty regional powers:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29155854

    Give us a Parliament, you fool.

    That's because they're scared of the unfolding logic that's a plain as a pikestaff before them, and are still trying to wriggle around the logic void that devolution opened up in 1999, and which they cheerfully brushed under the carpet. Hence we get some wishy/washy Cleggy hand wringing about "the regions" or "cities" or "bringing democracy closer" or whatever other guff he can think of to avoid something like EVEL. I can see this from my double voting privileged position west of Offa's dike, I'm sure Clagg can see it from Sheffield too but just doesn't want to take his head out of the sand long enough to acknowledge it.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,608

    Good morning, everyone.

    Pathetic weasel Clegg backs 'radical devolution for England', which amounts to mayors and shitty regional powers:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29155854

    Give us a Parliament, you fool.

    I want a London parliament with full powers. I'm not interested in being bundled together with people from Bedford and Bradford and Birmingham. (No offence, dad.)
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,564
    The Clacton turnout for the Tory open primary has been announced: it's 0.36%. [67,000 eligible voters, actually voting 240]

    Open primaries are an interesting idea, but maybe need a bit more thought.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,608

    isam said:

    As ever, thanks Harry.

    Note from the people FPT that the UKIP crowd's screams that Farage was uninvolved with the 2010 GE manifesto because he was not leader is slightly disingenuous.

    Farage co-wrote the forward to the manifesto, and put his name to it. Does he always put his name to things he does not read? Given the van incident last night, perhaps not.

    For people who want a laugh:
    http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge10/man/parties/UKIPManifesto2010.pdf
    I particularly liked this bit:

    " Invest in three new 200mph plus high-speed rail lines including a new line between London
    and Newcastle with a spur to Manchester, a London-Bristol-Exeter line and a linking route
    via Birmingham"

    So they wanted three HS2's, not one.

    Good lord

    I didn't say he was uninvolved, just corrected someone who said he was leader at the last GE

    Also @flightpath I didn't bring colour into it, @foxinsox said Carswell would lose WWC support for ukip and I said there were a lot of WWC in Clacton where he is a very popular MP

    The van incident... Ukip shuttled people from the North to clacton in a Ukip North East van... I don't see how this is a story unless you genuinely thought they had spray painted ukip North East onto it thin king clacton was in South Shields
    I have a fairly busy day ahead, but happy to elaborate on my position on Carswell tonight.

    I think he will win in Clacton, but will bring some hidden tensions in UKIP into the spotlight. It may welk be a pyrhic victory.
    Carswell appeals to a very different demographic to Farage. I could see myself voting for Carswell, in a way I could not for a naked populist like Farage.

    However, the market for libertarians seems to be: Douglas Carswell, Richard Tyndall and myself.
This discussion has been closed.