Speaking about following proper procedures do we have any information as to vote totals in the 'open' Conservative Rochester primary ?
Or know who organised it even ?
I would have thought that if you are asking the general public to give some sort of legitimacy to an election that there are some minimum electoral standards which have to be met.
@RobD Since the Dutch knew, and were setting aside funds for it, we can only speculate that our treasury did not do "due diligence" before the government signed on the dotted line?
Speaking about following proper procedures do we have any information as to vote totals in the 'open' Conservative Rochester primary ?
Or know who organised it even ?
I would have thought that if you are asking the general public to give some sort of legitimacy to an election that there are some minimum electoral standards which have to be met.
Michael Crick couldn't be bothered to investigate, sadly.
@Socrates Same thing as a tax return, you tell the IR that you are only earning so much, then later you tell them you were earning more. Now, the time all this should have been discussed is well before, but it seems somewhere between the treasury, and the PM, "the eye was off the ball". His government were in meetings signing it off a fortnight ago.
So you think Ed Miliband will pay it then?
Whoever's elected will pay it. Even Farage would pay it. Cameron will just be hoping to delay the payment until after the election.
@RobD Since the Dutch knew, and were setting aside funds for it, we can only speculate that our treasury did not do "due diligence" before the government signed on the dotted line?
Or alternatively that our GDP is so good and our unemployment rate so close to "perfect" that nobody in Whitehall really gives a flying fuck about a silly EU 2Bn Gbp bill...
Betting: just put some dosh on Jeb Bush for US President and for being Rep candidate. Odds on Betfair are roughly 6/1 and 10/1 on these two events. My thinking is when he announces a run these will shorten considerably.
Speaking about following proper procedures do we have any information as to vote totals in the 'open' Conservative Rochester primary ?
Or know who organised it even ?
I would have thought that if you are asking the general public to give some sort of legitimacy to an election that there are some minimum electoral standards which have to be met.
Michael Crick couldn't be bothered to investigate, sadly.
I'm amazed that this farce hasn't received more comment outside of a few specialist blogs.
The debauching of the electoral process should be a concern of the 'quality' media.
@Socrates Same thing as a tax return, you tell the IR that you are only earning so much, then later you tell them you were earning more. Now, the time all this should have been discussed is well before, but it seems somewhere between the treasury, and the PM, "the eye was off the ball". His government were in meetings signing it off a fortnight ago.
So you think Ed Miliband will pay it then?
Whoever's elected will pay it. Even Farage would pay it. Cameron will just be hoping to delay the payment until after the election.
@Scott_P You would have thought someone in the treasury would have dug out the agreement and performed an impact assessment, perhaps they were to busy elsewhere?
PM, we have had a letter from the Treasury saying there will be the annual adjustment to the EU contribution this year.
Does it say how much?
Um...
Well, that obviously means it will be a huge number, payable instantly.
My sharp mind clairvoyance is really working here.
I wish I had as much faith in Cameron's second sight as you do...
You want the PM to be the kind of punter that sees things before others do and gets the value early, not some shmuck who sees a poll come out, tries to get on out of date prices then moans when all his accounts are closed
Proactive not reactive
Maybe he isn't as good at it as he thought he might be
@Scott_P You would have thought someone in the treasury would have dug out the agreement and performed an impact assessment, perhaps they were to busy elsewhere?
Seriously, Don't answer this Shite Scott P.
When they start giving us a Civil Service salary for our genius we will answer. Until then - Let's just try and have us much fun as possible.
@Scott_P You would have thought someone in the treasury would have dug out the agreement and performed an impact assessment, perhaps they were to busy elsewhere?
Couldn't be done until they had the figures, which were not available.
@Scott_P You would have thought someone in the treasury would have dug out the agreement and performed an impact assessment, perhaps they were to busy elsewhere?
EU Referendum seems to have the story.
"...what I think has happened is that, guided by Directive 89/130/EEC and Decision 2014/335, the UK and other Member States have revised their GNIs retrospectively using ESA 2010, which has given rise to the adjustments recorded. But it must also be remembered that the procedure requires Member States to calculate their own GNIs, and send the results to the Commission. This is not something the Commission does for us – we do it for ourselves.
Thus, as far as the awareness and the advance notice goes, my previous report would seem to be accurate (unless or until we see further developments). The UK was informed that changes were in progress. It is unlikely that Mr Cameron can claim that the Commissions was not entitled to the money it is claiming, as the sum is based on data provided by the UK – presumably calculated by the ONS - in accordance with well-established procedures. "
@Socrates Same thing as a tax return, you tell the IR that you are only earning so much, then later you tell them you were earning more. Now, the time all this should have been discussed is well before, but it seems somewhere between the treasury, and the PM, "the eye was off the ball". His government were in meetings signing it off a fortnight ago.
So you think Ed Miliband will pay it then?
Whoever's elected will pay it. Even Farage would pay it. Cameron will just be hoping to delay the payment until after the election.
I doubt it. This is becoming totemic. Cameron can't afford, politically, to pay the whole whack. The EU will know this.
Expect a ridiculous eurosmudge. Some hugely complex formula whereby the UK "hookers n blow" Surcharge is reduced by £x00m, over a decade, blah blah, so the EU can claim the rules are being enforced and the UK can claim it has won a massive victory, and so forth.
If the EU really does enforce full payment by December 1 and/or then successfully fines the UK for late payment, I will be entirely flabbergasted and electorally aroused, as it will ensure an enormous UKIP surge and increase the chances of Brexit (utterly dreaded by the EU) by about 50% overnight.
Windfall nations [France] are going to want the UK to pay.
[Expect a ridiculous eurosmudge. Some hugely complex formula whereby the UK "hookers n blow" Surcharge is reduced by £x00m, over a decade, blah blah, so the EU can claim the rules are being enforced and the UK can claim it has won a massive victory, and so forth.]
It's probably some bod's spreadsheet and is well under control.
@Scott_P They would have had all the calculations, or perhaps no one in the treasury knows about finances? No wonder we are fruked if our government signs on too things with no idea of the cost?
@Scott_P They would have had all the calculations, or perhaps no one in the treasury knows about finances? No wonder we are fruked if our government signs on too things with no idea of the cost?
Team Casio in your Government Smarmy. Apparently they know spreadsheets...
This EU budget saga could well be Dave's Falklands moment. Clearly the Kippers are in a blind panic - flapping over arcane irrelevances about who said what to whom and why was it not foreseen? I've never seen them so rattled. Perhaps Cameron had Farage's measure all along and was just biding his time.
@Scott_P The numbers were a state secret, only known to readers of financial articles? I can see definite signs that the treasury has no idea about world economies....
@Scott_P The numbers were a state secret, only known to readers of financial articles? I can see definite signs that the treasury has no idea about world economies....
Lol lol lol lol
Arf arf arf arf
But, Yes
You'll be getting a 2200 Brisky update at this rate Smarmy...
@SeanT is right. If Cameron ends up paying the shakedown, or the majority of the shakedown, or fines for not paying the shakedown then UKIP will surge.
There's only one response to this level of feebleness.
Put your house on them beating Spurs at the weekend - it's an absolute dead cert. Best price is only 13/5 but likely to improve before then...
It pleases me that another team is pants too. Leicester City have been useless since they beat Man U. Cannot score for toffee and witless elsewhere. Our only hope is that there are 3 teams more crap than we are, or at least we get some form back before we go to Southampton...
I have joined one of those online get rich quick syndicates, but nothing seems straightforward.. it costs a bomb every month and lots of people tell me I should leave as its a big ponzi style con, but I haven't got the guts... now they've presented me with a huge bill that I don't want to pay but apparently I am obliged to as its in the t's and c's that I signed on joining
Cameron will also need to now come up with some strong proposals on EU immigration. The biggest danger for him right now is that he looks weak after Merkel tells him what to do.
@Socrates Same thing as a tax return, you tell the IR that you are only earning so much, then later you tell them you were earning more. Now, the time all this should have been discussed is well before, but it seems somewhere between the treasury, and the PM, "the eye was off the ball". His government were in meetings signing it off a fortnight ago.
So you think Ed Miliband will pay it then?
Whoever's elected will pay it. Even Farage would pay it. Cameron will just be hoping to delay the payment until after the election.
I doubt it. This is becoming totemic. Cameron can't afford, politically, to pay the whole whack. The EU will know this.
Expect a ridiculous eurosmudge. Some hugely complex formula whereby the UK "hookers n blow" Surcharge is reduced by £x00m, over a decade, blah blah, so the EU can claim the rules are being enforced and the UK can claim it has won a massive victory, and so forth.
If the EU really does enforce full payment by December 1 and/or then successfully fines the UK for late payment, I will be entirely flabbergasted and electorally aroused, as it will ensure an enormous UKIP surge and increase the chances of Brexit (utterly dreaded by the EU) by about 50% overnight.
As I understand it the demand for €2bn from Britain arises from one single amendment to the budget - but there are seven amendments in total to be considered.
My suspicion is that this has been a set-up from the start. The total amount that Britain will have to pay from all seven amendments in total will be considerably less than €2bn, because some of the other six amendments will involve Britain receiving money. Cameron will be able to present this as a great victory, because no-one is interested in arcane EU procedures.
Alistair Campbell would be proud. You have a situation where the UK will have to pay the EU perhaps a few hundred million Euros extra, but Osborne & co. have so successfully managed the media reveal that this will be presented as a huge Cameron victory over unreasonable EU demands for €2bn.
This EU budget saga could well be Dave's Falklands moment. Clearly the Kippers are in a blind panic - flapping over arcane irrelevances about who said what to whom and why was it not foreseen? I've never seen them so rattled. Perhaps Cameron had Farage's measure all along and was just biding his time.
Falklands moment? Only if his name is Galtieri. Its not UKIP whose parliamentary party are threatening to knife their leader dependent on what he eventually does about the Tart Tax.
@Socrates Same thing as a tax return, you tell the IR that you are only earning so much, then later you tell them you were earning more. Now, the time all this should have been discussed is well before, but it seems somewhere between the treasury, and the PM, "the eye was off the ball". His government were in meetings signing it off a fortnight ago.
So you think Ed Miliband will pay it then?
Whoever's elected will pay it. Even Farage would pay it. Cameron will just be hoping to delay the payment until after the election.
I doubt it. This is becoming totemic. Cameron can't afford, politically, to pay the whole whack. The EU will know this.
Expect a ridiculous eurosmudge. Some hugely complex formula whereby the UK "hookers n blow" Surcharge is reduced by £x00m, over a decade, blah blah, so the EU can claim the rules are being enforced and the UK can claim it has won a massive victory, and so forth.
If the EU really does enforce full payment by December 1 and/or then successfully fines the UK for late payment, I will be entirely flabbergasted and electorally aroused, as it will ensure an enormous UKIP surge and increase the chances of Brexit (utterly dreaded by the EU) by about 50% overnight.
Cameron would have a lot more space after a successful reelection, and if UKIP surge then, who cares? But I agree they'd probably come up with something complicated and impenetrable to help him (or whoever else wins, as Labour may end up marching up this particular hill as well) save face.
Cameron will also need to now come up with some strong proposals on EU immigration. The biggest danger for him right now is that he looks weak after Merkel tells him what to do.
Frau Merkel is increasingly alone.
The French are in an extended economic mess, the Italians recession is never ending and the British have had enough.
She needs an ally who actually has an economy that is vaguely breathing.
Cameron will also need to now come up with some strong proposals on EU immigration. The biggest danger for him right now is that he looks weak after Merkel tells him what to do.
It's getting to the point where Cameron and perhaps a large part of the Tory party will be secretly relieved if they lose the election to Miliband. Can you imagine the carnage if all these EU related issues blow up in Cameron's face after the election? The Tory party could splinter into pieces.
@SeanT is right. If Cameron ends up paying the shakedown, or the majority of the shakedown, or fines for not paying the shakedown then UKIP will surge.
But nobody is going to believe him if he claims he wont pay it.
Incidentally how are payments to and from the EU organised ?
Are they netted off or does the treasury pay over a lump sum every month and the EU then make multiple payments to all the things it funds in this country.
What happens if the EU stopped making those payments if Cameron blocked the extra payment ? Would Cameron then up the ante by stopping all payments to the EU ?
Cameron will also need to now come up with some strong proposals on EU immigration. The biggest danger for him right now is that he looks weak after Merkel tells him what to do.
Frau Merkel is increasingly alone.
The French are in an extended economic mess, the Italians recession is never ending and the British have had enough.
She needs an ally who actually has an economy that is vaguely breathing.
She's not alone on freedom of movement. All the other member states agree, and Cameron probably agrees in private as well.
I don't get the kipper frothing because Cameron won't get any negotiated change in the immigration / free movement issue. They should be delighted by this, not frothing.
It means his 2017 referendum will be about immigration etc, and the inability to change it. That I thought, is what they wanted. I thought they feared a successful negotiation leading to an in vote, not an unsuccessful one making out more likely.
I hope my fear-mongering is misplaced, and this loathsome bunch of rape-culty death-Nazis falls apart through the winter. Recent history suggests they are much more resilient and much more intelligent than we would wish. Far cleverer than al-Qaeda, for example. So this is unlikely.
We may have to fight them on the ground, or at least give significant military aid to those who will - i.e. the KURDS.
So you accept your 'ISIS are now only 10 miles from Baghdad' excitement turned out a little incorrect.
ISIS aren't a nice bunch but then the Middle East abounds with not very nice people, many of which are our official friends.
I don't get the kipper frothing because Cameron won't get any negotiated change in the immigration / free movement issue. They should be delighted by this, not frothing.
It means his 2017 referendum will be about immigration etc, and the inability to change it. That I thought, is what they wanted. I thought they feared a successful negotiation leading to an in vote, not an unsuccessful one making out more likely.
Very strange bunch.
All I did was point out Miliband turned him over in the HofC today.... dogs abuse followed
@tnewtondunn: YouGov/Sun poll tonight: Tories + Labour tying again, 5th poll in a row. CON 32%, LAB 32%, UKIP 18%, LD 8%. 4 year Lab lead gone for good?
I've been hearing there should be a Scottish poll for ages, which judging by the Scottish subsamples should be about 6 (LD) - 19 (Con) - 29 Labour - 40 SNP or so.
I don't get the kipper frothing because Cameron won't get any negotiated change in the immigration / free movement issue. They should be delighted by this, not frothing.
It means his 2017 referendum will be about immigration etc, and the inability to change it. That I thought, is what they wanted. I thought they feared a successful negotiation leading to an in vote, not an unsuccessful one making out more likely.
Very strange bunch.
All I did was point out Miliband turned him over in the HofC today.... dogs abuse followed
Isam - remember, Ed is crap. Silly memo by silly Ed (is crap) changes nothing.
She's not alone on freedom of movement. All the other member states agree, and Cameron probably agrees in private as well.
It isn't just about that though. It's about who foots the bill and how the bill is distributed.
If Britain backs out, who picks up our net contribution? Germany makes a big profit from trading with the UK. Does it want to jeopardise that whilst supporting the floundering economies of France and Italy?
@Socrates Same thing as a tax return, you tell the IR that you are only earning so much, then later you tell them you were earning more. Now, the time all this should have been discussed is well before, but it seems somewhere between the treasury, and the PM, "the eye was off the ball". His government were in meetings signing it off a fortnight ago.
So you think Ed Miliband will pay it then?
Whoever's elected will pay it. Even Farage would pay it. Cameron will just be hoping to delay the payment until after the election.
Expect a ridiculous eurosmudge. Some hugely complex formula whereby the UK "hookers n blow" Surcharge is reduced by £x00m, over a decade, blah blah, so the EU can claim the rules are being enforced and the UK can claim it has won a massive victory, and so forth.
Sounds plausible. It is surely the only conceivable way we will not pay the full amount (that 2bn is trivial in the larger scheme is pretty irrelevant, as people don't mind wasting tens of billions on things they like, vs spending even 1bn on things they do not like), so I expect a review will be announced soon to evaluate this EU demand which will readjust all the figures by small amounts?
So, Labour really might poll less than in 2010. How soon before we get a sub-30% score?
I don't know, but if they keep tying with the Tories I might eventually have to amend my long standing prediction of a Labour majority in 2015, and after 4.5 years of banging that drum, that won't be easy. As it is, if UKIP keep up their momentum I'm down £100 already, so that would be hurt enough without calling the whole thing incorrectly.
@Socrates Same thing as a tax return, you tell the IR that you are only earning so much, then later you tell them you were earning more. Now, the time all this should have been discussed is well before, but it seems somewhere between the treasury, and the PM, "the eye was off the ball". His government were in meetings signing it off a fortnight ago.
So you think Ed Miliband will pay it then?
Whoever's elected will pay it. Even Farage would pay it. Cameron will just be hoping to delay the payment until after the election.
I doubt it. This is becoming totemic. Cameron can't afford, politically, to pay the whole whack. The EU will know this.
Expect a ridiculous eurosmudge. Some hugely complex formula whereby the UK "hookers n blow" Surcharge is reduced by £x00m, over a decade, blah blah, so the EU can claim the rules are being enforced and the UK can claim it has won a massive victory, and so forth.
If the EU really does enforce full payment by December 1 and/or then successfully fines the UK for late payment, I will be entirely flabbergasted and electorally aroused, as it will ensure an enormous UKIP surge and increase the chances of Brexit (utterly dreaded by the EU) by about 50% overnight.
As I understand it the demand for €2bn from Britain arises from one single amendment to the budget - but there are seven amendments in total to be considered.
My suspicion is that this has been a set-up from the start. The total amount that Britain will have to pay from all seven amendments in total will be considerably less than €2bn, because some of the other six amendments will involve Britain receiving money. Cameron will be able to present this as a great victory, because no-one is interested in arcane EU procedures.
Alistair Campbell would be proud. You have a situation where the UK will have to pay the EU perhaps a few hundred million Euros extra, but Osborne & co. have so successfully managed the media reveal that this will be presented as a huge Cameron victory over unreasonable EU demands for €2bn.
The EU Budget Commissioner said much the same this evening. He inferred that if Britain had waited we might have seen a very different pattern of payments and receipts.
As such we no longer really even have control over our economy as dumbfounded Dave has just demonstrated.
You Kippers seem to have lost all touch with reality. How in the name of heaven is a disputed membership fee even remotely 'not having control over our economy'?
It's a haggle over a bill, that's all. And Dave ain't gonna pay it, but if UKIP succeed in their goal of putting Ed M into No 10, I expect he will.
Trouble is, very few believe that Cameron will not roll over and pay up.
Comments
Or know who organised it even ?
I would have thought that if you are asking the general public to give some sort of legitimacy to an election that there are some minimum electoral standards which have to be met.
Hahahaha
Oh well at least he isn't in charge of anything that needs a sharp mind like running the country
Being rich and posh doesn't get you out of playing by the rules like everyone else.. if he had any bottle and was that fired up about it, he'd leave
Another Edit there.. oh the embarrassment!
Since the Dutch knew, and were setting aside funds for it, we can only speculate that our treasury did not do "due diligence" before the government signed on the dotted line?
Shrewdies must be all over the 5/4 not to be mustn't they?!
"So if I put on £4 Mr Sky Bet, how much does that mean I get back?
Am I laying you the bet or you to me? So if he appears do I win or...."
click brrrrrrrr
http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/british-politics/itv-four-way-debate-to-take-place
Does it say how much?
Um...
Well, that obviously means it will be a huge number, payable instantly.
My
sharp mindclairvoyance is really working here.I wish I had as much faith in Cameron's second sight as you do...
The debauching of the electoral process should be a concern of the 'quality' media.
You would have thought someone in the treasury would have dug out the agreement and performed an impact assessment, perhaps they were to busy elsewhere?
Proactive not reactive
Maybe he isn't as good at it as he thought he might be
When they start giving us a Civil Service salary for our genius we will answer. Until then - Let's just try and have us much fun as possible.
Apart from that, good point.
Your faith in his ability is touching. Maybe he can give us the lottery numbers at PMQs?
They had someone signing it off, are you suggesting that they signed it without knowing?
A - Nobody signed it. Ed is crap remember. The PB golden rule. Yes, even within the house of commons
B - Cammo ain't paying no silly EU 2BN GBP Bill. Got it?
"...what I think has happened is that, guided by Directive 89/130/EEC and Decision 2014/335, the UK and other Member States have revised their GNIs retrospectively using ESA 2010, which has given rise to the adjustments recorded. But it must also be remembered that the procedure requires Member States to calculate their own GNIs, and send the results to the Commission. This is not something the Commission does for us – we do it for ourselves.
Thus, as far as the awareness and the advance notice goes, my previous report would seem to be accurate (unless or until we see further developments). The UK was informed that changes were in progress. It is unlikely that Mr Cameron can claim that the Commissions was not entitled to the money it is claiming, as the sum is based on data provided by the UK – presumably calculated by the ONS - in accordance with well-established procedures. "
http://www.eureferendum.com/blogview.aspx?blogno=85276
It's probably some bod's spreadsheet and is well under control.
Why aren't you on message Sean?
Wow!
And that's exactly the problem.
But that's what we signed up to.
BOO
What's going on with the Telegraph's blogs today? There haven't been any new posts.
They would have had all the calculations, or perhaps no one in the treasury knows about finances?
No wonder we are fruked if our government signs on too things with no idea of the cost?
One for Mr Dancer if he is around: using an old railway tunnel as a wind tunnel. And no, it's not April 1st.
http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/industry/exclusive-secret-aerodynamic-test-facility-revealed/
And it's already been done in the USA:
http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/nascar/the-secrets-of-laurel-hill/
Catesby Tunnel is quite near several of the F1 teams - SIlverstone is only thirteen miles away.
On another F1 topic: it's a shame to see Marussia folding. Hopefully the rumours that they will be bought out of receivership are true.
The calculations are based on the numbers from all of the other member nations, which the UK Treasury does not keep (amazingly enough)
EDIT. Of course if Cameron was up to the job he could have guessed all of the missing numbers...
Apart from that, spot on again.
Ultimately, the big nations gang up and tell the Commission where to go.
There may be 28 in the EU, but only 4 really matter; Germany, France, Italy and Britain.
The numbers were a state secret, only known to readers of financial articles?
I can see definite signs that the treasury has no idea about world economies....
Arf arf arf arf
But, Yes
You'll be getting a 2200 Brisky update at this rate Smarmy...
You showed with your bottling of the Farage bet you wont admit when you are plain wrong so its to be expected I suppose
Over 8 hours since they scored in the PL.
5 defeats on the bounce.
There's only one response to this level of feebleness.
Put your house on them beating Spurs at the weekend - it's an absolute dead cert. Best price is only 13/5 but likely to improve before then...
The lottery numbers are a doddle in comparison.
its the curse of their most (in)famous supporter once again. it's the curse of Cameron!
I have joined one of those online get rich quick syndicates, but nothing seems straightforward.. it costs a bomb every month and lots of people tell me I should leave as its a big ponzi style con, but I haven't got the guts... now they've presented me with a huge bill that I don't want to pay but apparently I am obliged to as its in the t's and c's that I signed on joining
Can you help?"
David, Chipping Norton
And they don't.
As I remember you were claiming that ISIS were about to capture Baghdad a few weeks ago.
What happened to that ?
Perhaps all those PPI calls should be directed to Dave and Ozzie?
No win no fee basis?
My suspicion is that this has been a set-up from the start. The total amount that Britain will have to pay from all seven amendments in total will be considerably less than €2bn, because some of the other six amendments will involve Britain receiving money. Cameron will be able to present this as a great victory, because no-one is interested in arcane EU procedures.
Alistair Campbell would be proud. You have a situation where the UK will have to pay the EU perhaps a few hundred million Euros extra, but Osborne & co. have so successfully managed the media reveal that this will be presented as a huge Cameron victory over unreasonable EU demands for €2bn.
Tory MPs threaten trouble for PM over EU bill
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/10/tory-mps-threaten-trouble-for-pm-over-eu-bill/
Osborne's going to miss his borrowing prediction by over £60bn this year.
I thought people here did that every day.
The French are in an extended economic mess, the Italians recession is never ending and the British have had enough.
She needs an ally who actually has an economy that is vaguely breathing.
I wonder if they'll be releasing a compilation of hilarious out takes and goofs for Christmas?
Incidentally how are payments to and from the EU organised ?
Are they netted off or does the treasury pay over a lump sum every month and the EU then make multiple payments to all the things it funds in this country.
What happens if the EU stopped making those payments if Cameron blocked the extra payment ? Would Cameron then up the ante by stopping all payments to the EU ?
Mike Smithson @MSmithsonPB
Coming up big polling news from the ComRes phone poll for the Indy. Due out at 10pm
Fuck you Lord A!!!
If Dave was a bettor I think he'd be just that guy
Pure speculation, but another "flounce bounce"?
(I know you can't answer)
Coming up at 10pm. A shocker of a poll for one party & a big boost for another
OK, I know how to read OGH after all these years, especially the little nuance of excitement..
Tories and UKIP to be v v close to each other...
Let's see if I'm a spurs striker or not.
It means his 2017 referendum will be about immigration etc, and the inability to change it. That I thought, is what they wanted. I thought they feared a successful negotiation leading to an in vote, not an unsuccessful one making out more likely.
Very strange bunch.
ISIS aren't a nice bunch but then the Middle East abounds with not very nice people, many of which are our official friends.
Wrong again!! Well half wrong, pls forgive me OGH
Mike Smithson @MSmithsonPB
LAB down 5 UKIP up 4 in new ComRes phone poll for Indy
CON 30+1, LAB 30-5, LD 9-1, UKIP 19+4, GRN 4=
Tom Newton Dunn @tnewtondunn
YouGov/Sun poll tonight: Tories + Labour tying again, 5th poll in a row. CON 32%, LAB 32%, UKIP 18%, LD 8%. 4 year Lab lead gone for good?
If Britain backs out, who picks up our net contribution? Germany makes a big profit from trading with the UK. Does it want to jeopardise that whilst supporting the floundering economies of France and Italy?
Merkel needs a (big) friend.
"Anger as minister says saving people encourages others to risk Mediterranean voyage"
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/oct/27/uk-mediterranean-migrant-rescue-plan