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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Why the Tories have a better chance of retaining Rochester

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    antifrank said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Speedy said:

    I'm sorry OGH, your thread is ludicrous and instantly understood to be ludicrous.
    In the Clacton by election opinion polls 73% 2010 OTHER's voted UKIP, even if they didn't have a candidate in 2010, exactly like Rochester:

    http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Clacton-poll-Full-data-tables-September-2014.pdf

    If your analysis is correct UKIP should have lost Clacton.
    My advice to you is stop digging a bigger hole in your bank account.

    My initial reaction reading the thread was that Mike was wrong, and seemed a bit desperate.... There never has been anything to suggest this would be anything other than a comfortable UKIP victory

    The one thing I thought his argument might have going for if it turned out the polls in Clacton didnt show much support in Clacton for UKIP from non 2010 voters.. I was about to start digging around for the Clacton polls until I saw your post... seems clear enough to me

    Another thing OGH may have missed is that a fair few of the people identifying as 2010 UKIP voters (when UKIP didn't stand) may well be 2010 Conservatives, therefore not flaky non voters at all
    Morning Isam.

    David Little for Dover - 4/1 with Ladbrokes. Wadyatink?
    Hi Peter

    Had it as one of my next bests on my UKIP list from May 2013, so yes they have a decent chance.. 4/1seems alright to me

    Should be 2nd favs IMO

    Wish I was on Pulpstars bet with Antifrank.. I reckon UKIP will get 40 odd second places
    I shall struggle to live that bet down, I think.
    Fret not.

    Roger's position as PB's favorite anti-tipster is cemented for ever.
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    volcanopetevolcanopete Posts: 2,078
    Tories are looking to re-greenwash themselves by supporting Labour's visionary policy behind the Green Investment Bank.How will the 70% of Tory MPs who think this green crap is a fairy story made up by a green blob react to this greenwashing of their blue party?


    http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2014/11/greg-barker-mp-how-i-persuaded-osborne-to-set-up-the-green-investment-bank-and-the-success-that-followed.html
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    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,294
    Ed Miliband's donation to the food bank

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozLMxCszcTw

    Was it really refused? Can't work out what the red badge was. Says something about the reporter, the food bank activists and what might be deemed as 'acceptable; as well, Contrasting the £200 per head with a mean donation, if it was from team Ed, it hardly suggested meanness.

    Does the clip suggest enoogh that this 'donation' was actually from Ed. What the fuck is wrong with pasta and pesto? What might be wrong is the inference that Scots cannot cook.

    The basket ticks a few boxes, local produce, well known reputable brands, fast food, hacks off some - Nestle, non organic, non fair trade MNC brigade, was it a Tesco bag?
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    NinoinozNinoinoz Posts: 1,312
    GIN1138 said:

    Not sure about this. UKIP mainly seem to be a let-down when they are taking on Labour... Like with the PCC fiasco on Friday...

    Agreed. UKIP aren't so potent against an opposition party.

    If Labour form the next Government however.....
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    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,657

    The T-shirt fiasco is but the latest example of the complacency that has characterised his leadership, as well as his lack of self awareness and complete inability to connect with the everyday electorate. It is extraordinary that Labour even has a chance of winning most seats next year with him in charge. God bless the Toxic Tories and FPTP.

    You say that. But when the Tories are sandwiched between Unelectable Ed and UKIP, they have a pretty good shot at being the Least Worst Option candidate next May. Which is Ed's greatest crime - making people all "meh..." about the Tories.

    I idly wonder if a delegation of people at the top in Labour could yet persuade Ed to stand down over the next couple of weeks? But then I remember he is there at the pleasure of the party paymasters, so normal political considerations go out the window. Are the Trade Unions prepared to admit they dropped a bollock? Can't see it...
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    GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071

    weejonnie said:

    chestnut said:

    Implied national Vote from 2010:Now VI in Sample:

    CON 30.29%
    LAB 30.16%

    Fourth time in ten that a minimal Tory lead has been implied. Labour are down 4-5 points in the last six weeks.

    Apart from winning the PCC by-election (and that was muted), when did Labour have any good Press coverage in the last few weeks? As opposed to bad?
    Most days on the BBC (or at least -ve coalition/UKIP reports/ comedy). It is not obvious but the BBC tend to mimic Labour press releases and political stances on various topics.
    Funny that; my impression’s very dissimilar! For example, the attitude of the BBC to the LD’s is very much that of right-wing Tories!
    Your impression is actually, as malcolmg would say, simply "the other cheek of the same arse"

    The Liberals have wandered from the One True Path by getting in to bed with the baby eaters. So they are cast in to the outer darkness by the trendy lefty BBC groupthink with that special loathing reserved for traitors and turncoats.

    The dribbling Cable and Williams are notable exceptions to your generalised point (possibly just as a result of deference to age) which overall I agree with.

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    isamisam Posts: 41,118
    "2010 UKIP voters" that OGH is saying were DNV's and therefore flaky are also very likely to be people who voted for the UKIP candidate in this by election, and therefore were 2010 Tory

    The assumption they are DNV is the fault in the thread header
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    Yorkcity said:

    This t-shirt debacle could be from an episode of Veep or the Thick of It. You can imagine the calls and conversations taking place now. It would be comedy gold if this bloke was not doing such damage to Labour.

    No mention of Clegg as well then ?

    Reading you all the time is the Thick of it.

    You wetted yourself before the Scottish referendum, the hopeless tipster.

    What is your latest prediction for the GE ?

    Same as it has been since the summer of 2010: hung Parliament.

    The day Ed was elected I said on here it was a very bad day for Labour. Unfortunately, I have been proved right on that. With knobs on.

    You are entitled to your view Southam Onserver. But it seems irrational to declare a wager a winner until the result is known
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    Well spotted the Telegraph:

    Ed Miliband is now less popular than Nick Clegg after his approval ratings slumped to an all-time low, a new poll suggests.

    Just 18 per cent of voters think Mr Miliband is doing a good job, against 73 per cent who think he is doing badly – an overall rating of minus 55. That is one point worse than Mr Clegg, on minus 54.


    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ed-miliband/11203788/Ed-Miliband-less-popular-than-Nick-Clegg-poll.html
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    SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322

    Socrates said:

    Socrates said:

    Socrates said:

    79% agree that "the dangers of uncontrolled immigration from the EU are so great that Britain should set a firm limit, even if this means defying EU rules"

    Cameron can't back down to Juncker and Merkel on this now.

    There is no chance of renegotiating the free movement of labour. It was one of the four fundamental freedoms in EEC Treaty. Nor is there much chance of a British government passing legislation designed to derogate from any of the United Kingdom's obligations under TEU or TFEU. So whether Cameron "backs down" or not is irrelevant.
    If he goes against 79% of the British public, then the majority will vote to leave. It's pretty simple.
    Not, I hope, when the horrendous consequences are explained to them during a proper campaign!
    The "horrendous consequences" of leaving are largely a figment of the Europhile's imagination. They have as much likelihood of coming to fruition as the "horrendous consequences" of not joining the Eurozone. A proper campaign will make this clear - just as Farage mopped the floor with Nick Clegg during the EU debates.
    That’s doesn’t appear to be what Farage’s former friends in the City are saying.
    The same friends in the city that said we must join the Eurozone? If "you're going to have to trust the bankers on this" is really going to be your trump card in the referendum debate, I look forward to it with glee...
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    On topic: Mike makes the point that 42 of the ukip voters claimed to have voted ukip in 2010 even though no candidate. But they didn't - they claimed to have voted 'other' according to his table. In 2010 the English democrats got 4.5% of the vote and the greens 1.5%.
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    YorkcityYorkcity Posts: 4,382

    Yorkcity said:

    This t-shirt debacle could be from an episode of Veep or the Thick of It. You can imagine the calls and conversations taking place now. It would be comedy gold if this bloke was not doing such damage to Labour.

    No mention of Clegg as well then ?

    Reading you all the time is the Thick of it.

    You wetted yourself before the Scottish referendum, the hopeless tipster.

    What is your latest prediction for the GE ?

    Same as it has been since the summer of 2010: hung Parliament.

    The day Ed was elected I said on here it was a very bad day for Labour. Unfortunately, I have been proved right on that. With knobs on.

    Unfortunately all the current leaders of the main parties are not the best material.
    Thanks for the tip what you are betting.
    I will change my position to a majority government a conservative one.

    You keep voting Lib dem and losing money.

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    SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322

    Socrates said:
    Since Sinn Fein means “ourselves alone” what’s their position on Ireland’s membership of the EU?
    They're eurosceptic, I believe.
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    We're not the only ones with 'red-lines':

    Germany would be prepared to accept that Britain will have to leave the European Union if David Cameron insists on restricting the number of immigrants from the bloc who can live and work in the UK.

    Mr Cameron’s bid to curb levels of migration from the EU is taking Britain to a “point of no return”, according to Der Spiegel.


    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/11203783/Germany-says-UK-could-leave-EU-if-David-Cameron-insists-on-migrant-quotas.html
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    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,657

    Yorkcity said:

    This t-shirt debacle could be from an episode of Veep or the Thick of It. You can imagine the calls and conversations taking place now. It would be comedy gold if this bloke was not doing such damage to Labour.

    No mention of Clegg as well then ?

    Reading you all the time is the Thick of it.

    You wetted yourself before the Scottish referendum, the hopeless tipster.

    What is your latest prediction for the GE ?

    Same as it has been since the summer of 2010: hung Parliament.

    The day Ed was elected I said on here it was a very bad day for Labour. Unfortunately, I have been proved right on that. With knobs on.

    Well, one knob at least....

  • Options
    SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    edited November 2014

    We're not the only ones with 'red-lines':

    Germany would be prepared to accept that Britain will have to leave the European Union if David Cameron insists on restricting the number of immigrants from the bloc who can live and work in the UK.

    Mr Cameron’s bid to curb levels of migration from the EU is taking Britain to a “point of no return”, according to Der Spiegel.


    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/11203783/Germany-says-UK-could-leave-EU-if-David-Cameron-insists-on-migrant-quotas.html

    It has also been claimed that Mr Cameron will now attempt to appease the Germans by abandoning any plans to reform freedom of movement rules.

    79% support limits regardless of EU rules, Dave.

    79%.

    Who will be David Cameron's boss: the British people or the German Chancellor?
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    Speedy said:

    Socrates said:
    I have said in the past that Gerry Adams is going to win in Ireland.
    The Irish seem to be looking for an outside savior for years, and the SF is rising since Ireland went bust in 2010.
    I wonder how much of Sinn Fein's current popularity is due to its resolute euroscepticism.
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    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,294
    I'm not a fan of Ed Miliband, but I would be happy to receive that bag of donated food. The outrage is cheap, and if it was refused what happened next?

    Who was doing that food bank collection, do any of the Scottish based PBers know?
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    The T-shirt fiasco is but the latest example of the complacency that has characterised his leadership, as well as his lack of self awareness and complete inability to connect with the everyday electorate. It is extraordinary that Labour even has a chance of winning most seats next year with him in charge. God bless the Toxic Tories and FPTP.

    Are the Trade Unions prepared to admit they dropped a bollock? Can't see it...
    And they're trying to stop Jim Murphy in Scotland....

    I am perplexed at this loathing of their three times election winner PM and his mates......

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    GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071
    Poppett said:

    A win IMO is an overall Maj

    Maybe that's a "win" in your opinion.

    I think a "win" is a threesome with Christina Hendricks and Scarlett Johansson.

    I guess it comes down to priorities.
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    JonnyJimmyJonnyJimmy Posts: 2,548
    Charlie Elphicke is being a grade A twat about this cartoon. Even if his constituents have been big enough pillocks to complain to him about it (really, who complains to their MP about a cartoon put on a Facebook page FFS?), how can he not see or ignore the fact that the cartoon is a piss take of UKIP? I'm glad he's not my MP, I wouldn't want to vote for such an obvious numpty.
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,413
    Socrates said:

    Socrates said:

    Socrates said:

    Socrates said:

    79% agree that "the dangers of uncontrolled immigration from the EU are so great that Britain should set a firm limit, even if this means defying EU rules"

    Cameron can't back down to Juncker and Merkel on this now.

    There is no chance of renegotiating the free movement of labour. It was one of the four fundamental freedoms in EEC Treaty. Nor is there much chance of a British government passing legislation designed to derogate from any of the United Kingdom's obligations under TEU or TFEU. So whether Cameron "backs down" or not is irrelevant.
    If he goes against 79% of the British public, then the majority will vote to leave. It's pretty simple.
    Not, I hope, when the horrendous consequences are explained to them during a proper campaign!
    The "horrendous consequences" of leaving are largely a figment of the Europhile's imagination. They have as much likelihood of coming to fruition as the "horrendous consequences" of not joining the Eurozone. A proper campaign will make this clear - just as Farage mopped the floor with Nick Clegg during the EU debates.
    That’s doesn’t appear to be what Farage’s former friends in the City are saying.
    The same friends in the city that said we must join the Eurozone? If "you're going to have to trust the bankers on this" is really going to be your trump card in the referendum debate, I look forward to it with glee...
    Farage was a trader, not a banker!
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    NinoinozNinoinoz Posts: 1,312
    stodge said:

    Speedy said:


    The writing is on the wall for about 2 weeks now, UKIP are going to win Rochester, the polls say it, the ground campaign says it, even the Tory party has read the writing. Only OGH refuses to read it, sadly for his bank account.

    To be fair, I understand OGH's argument and it's entirely possible the poll overstates the UKIP advantage slightly but the point is that UKIP has been able to engage the previously disengaged from politics and they can be (oddly enough) the most zealous of converts.

    True.

    I attended a UKIP meeting this week.

    It was clear from those that spoke that their concerns hadn't been listened to for at least 15 years.
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    On topic: Mike makes the point that 42 of the ukip voters claimed to have voted ukip in 2010 even though no candidate. But they didn't - they claimed to have voted 'other' according to his table. In 2010 the English democrats got 4.5% of the vote and the greens 1.5%.

    Elsewhere in the data 42 people said they voted UKIP there last time.

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    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 24,414

    Speedy said:

    Socrates said:
    I have said in the past that Gerry Adams is going to win in Ireland.
    The Irish seem to be looking for an outside savior for years, and the SF is rising since Ireland went bust in 2010.
    I wonder how much of Sinn Fein's current popularity is due to its resolute euroscepticism.
    Indirectly.

    Most of the recent boost is due to the introduction of water charges which SF has opposed. The water charges ( previously they were in the rates ) have seen a sizeable hike of family budgets and are part of bundesbank imposed austerity.
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,413
    Ninoinoz said:

    stodge said:

    Speedy said:


    The writing is on the wall for about 2 weeks now, UKIP are going to win Rochester, the polls say it, the ground campaign says it, even the Tory party has read the writing. Only OGH refuses to read it, sadly for his bank account.

    To be fair, I understand OGH's argument and it's entirely possible the poll overstates the UKIP advantage slightly but the point is that UKIP has been able to engage the previously disengaged from politics and they can be (oddly enough) the most zealous of converts.

    True.

    I attended a UKIP meeting this week.

    It was clear from those that spoke that their concerns hadn't been listened to for at least 15 years.
    Or they felt thay hadn’t been? Same thing, of course.
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    SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 39,175
    edited November 2014
    Latest opinion poll in Spain shows the right wing PP government is on course for a crushing defeat at the next GE. Left-wing parties currently have well over 50% support - with Podemos, only formally established last year, just ahead of the Socialists.
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    ItajaiItajai Posts: 721

    The T-shirt fiasco is but the latest example of the complacency that has characterised his leadership, as well as his lack of self awareness and complete inability to connect with the everyday electorate. It is extraordinary that Labour even has a chance of winning most seats next year with him in charge. God bless the Toxic Tories and FPTP.

    You say that. But when the Tories are sandwiched between Unelectable Ed and UKIP, they have a pretty good shot at being the Least Worst Option candidate next May. Which is Ed's greatest crime - making people all "meh..." about the Tories.

    I idly wonder if a delegation of people at the top in Labour could yet persuade Ed to stand down over the next couple of weeks? But then I remember he is there at the pleasure of the party paymasters, so normal political considerations go out the window. Are the Trade Unions prepared to admit they dropped a bollock? Can't see it...

    You forget the intellectual self confidence.
    He's a freak. Everyone knows he's a freak, Except he himself.
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    SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322

    Socrates said:

    Socrates said:

    Socrates said:

    Socrates said:

    79% agree that "the dangers of uncontrolled immigration from the EU are so great that Britain should set a firm limit, even if this means defying EU rules"

    Cameron can't back down to Juncker and Merkel on this now.

    There is no chance of renegotiating the free movement of labour. It was one of the four fundamental freedoms in EEC Treaty. Nor is there much chance of a British government passing legislation designed to derogate from any of the United Kingdom's obligations under TEU or TFEU. So whether Cameron "backs down" or not is irrelevant.
    If he goes against 79% of the British public, then the majority will vote to leave. It's pretty simple.
    Not, I hope, when the horrendous consequences are explained to them during a proper campaign!
    The "horrendous consequences" of leaving are largely a figment of the Europhile's imagination. They have as much likelihood of coming to fruition as the "horrendous consequences" of not joining the Eurozone. A proper campaign will make this clear - just as Farage mopped the floor with Nick Clegg during the EU debates.
    That’s doesn’t appear to be what Farage’s former friends in the City are saying.
    The same friends in the city that said we must join the Eurozone? If "you're going to have to trust the bankers on this" is really going to be your trump card in the referendum debate, I look forward to it with glee...
    Farage was a trader, not a banker!
    What traders have been warning leaving the EU would have disastrous consequences?
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    WTF. BBC Impartiality my ar** Sunday Politics show has 3 hacks commenting. TWO from the Guardian? Guardianista in full view at the Beeb.
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    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,294
    Those Glasgow food bank organisers must be pissed off with some of their helpers, trying to take the piss out of Labour. The 'refusal' says more about the protesters' faux outrage.

    http://glasgow.stv.tv/articles/297883-food-bank-protestors-snub-jim-murphy-mps-food-bank-donation/?fromstreampost=177536
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    audreyanneaudreyanne Posts: 1,376
    Ninoinoz said:

    stodge said:

    Speedy said:


    The writing is on the wall for about 2 weeks now, UKIP are going to win Rochester, the polls say it, the ground campaign says it, even the Tory party has read the writing. Only OGH refuses to read it, sadly for his bank account.

    To be fair, I understand OGH's argument and it's entirely possible the poll overstates the UKIP advantage slightly but the point is that UKIP has been able to engage the previously disengaged from politics and they can be (oddly enough) the most zealous of converts.

    True.

    I attended a UKIP meeting this week.

    It was clear from those that spoke that their concerns hadn't been listened to for at least 15 years.
    I wonder how many of them have actually voted previously. I'm pretty sure that UKIP is hoovering up a lot of malcontents who are normally outside the political process. Mike's thread confirms this. Getting them to vote in the General Election will be a hard task.
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    Yorkcity said:

    Yorkcity said:

    This t-shirt debacle could be from an episode of Veep or the Thick of It. You can imagine the calls and conversations taking place now. It would be comedy gold if this bloke was not doing such damage to Labour.

    No mention of Clegg as well then ?

    Reading you all the time is the Thick of it.

    You wetted yourself before the Scottish referendum, the hopeless tipster.

    What is your latest prediction for the GE ?

    Same as it has been since the summer of 2010: hung Parliament.

    The day Ed was elected I said on here it was a very bad day for Labour. Unfortunately, I have been proved right on that. With knobs on.

    Unfortunately all the current leaders of the main parties are not the best material.
    Thanks for the tip what you are betting.
    I will change my position to a majority government a conservative one.

    You keep voting Lib dem and losing money.

    I get back all the money I lose on politics by judiciously betting against Spurs. If they lose to Villa today Poch gone by Xmas might be worth a few quid. I made a fair bit around this time last year backing AVB for an early departure a little bit before all the knives came out.

  • Options

    Tories are looking to re-greenwash themselves by supporting Labour's visionary policy behind the Green Investment Bank.How will the 70% of Tory MPs who think this green crap is a fairy story made up by a green blob react to this greenwashing of their blue party?


    http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2014/11/greg-barker-mp-how-i-persuaded-osborne-to-set-up-the-green-investment-bank-and-the-success-that-followed.html

    Greg Barker seems quite an enlightened Tory.
    Cameron is a short term tactical politician. Hugs huskies when he thinks that's popular, refers to 'green crap' when he thinks that's popular. Does he believe in anything?
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    dr_spyn said:

    Those Glasgow food bank organisers must be pissed off with some of their helpers, trying to take the piss out of Labour. The 'refusal' says more about the protesters' faux outrage.

    http://glasgow.stv.tv/articles/297883-food-bank-protestors-snub-jim-murphy-mps-food-bank-donation/?fromstreampost=177536

    If you go back through his Twitter Feed it appears Darren was supremely confident on September 18th, and sorely disappointed on the 19th. I don't doubt his sincerity on poverty, but on politics he's far from impartial.....
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    ItajaiItajai Posts: 721


    PSOE are also tainted by

    Latest opinion poll in Spain shows the right wing PP government is on course for a crushing defeat at the next GE. Left-wing parties currently have well over 50% support - with Podemos, only formally established last year, just ahead of the Socialists.

    But will Podemos work with PSOE. Podemos is all about anti corruption, and PSOE are not exactly clean themselves. However, left wing parties in Spain have a record of working together (viz Catalonia) albeit with mixed results.

    Podemos may yet ally with IU, Equo etc for a broad left electoral alliance. Although Spain's system is proportional, it is not for most constituencies that have 3-5 seats meaning PP may yet emerge with most seats.
  • Options
    isamisam Posts: 41,118

    On topic: Mike makes the point that 42 of the ukip voters claimed to have voted ukip in 2010 even though no candidate. But they didn't - they claimed to have voted 'other' according to his table. In 2010 the English democrats got 4.5% of the vote and the greens 1.5%.

    Elsewhere in the data 42 people said they voted UKIP there last time.

    Mike, I think you are wrong to assume those 42 people didn't vote.. IMO they are more likely to have misremembered who they voted for than not voted, and as the UKIP candidate stood in 2010 as a Conservative, I think those 42 who said they voted UKIP are very likely 2010 Conservatives
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    JPJ2JPJ2 Posts: 378
    murphy
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    audreyanneaudreyanne Posts: 1,376

    Yorkcity said:

    This t-shirt debacle could be from an episode of Veep or the Thick of It. You can imagine the calls and conversations taking place now. It would be comedy gold if this bloke was not doing such damage to Labour.

    No mention of Clegg as well then ?

    Reading you all the time is the Thick of it.

    You wetted yourself before the Scottish referendum, the hopeless tipster.

    What is your latest prediction for the GE ?

    Same as it has been since the summer of 2010: hung Parliament.

    The day Ed was elected I said on here it was a very bad day for Labour. Unfortunately, I have been proved right on that. With knobs on.

    I watched his victory acceptance speech genuinely hoping that we had a new inspiring prospect, and as it went on my heart sank lower and lower. I remember feeling deflated. I never liked Tony Blair but I could admire his politicking. Likewise leaders like Harold Wilson and even Neil Kinnock could talk the talk. How anyone could have been so awful at a time when everyone was rooting for EdM is beyond me, or rather it's beyond me how the Labour Party could have got into themselves into a situation of electing such an unelectable leader.
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    YorkcityYorkcity Posts: 4,382

    Yorkcity said:

    Yorkcity said:

    This t-shirt debacle could be from an episode of Veep or the Thick of It. You can imagine the calls and conversations taking place now. It would be comedy gold if this bloke was not doing such damage to Labour.

    No mention of Clegg as well then ?

    Reading you all the time is the Thick of it.

    You wetted yourself before the Scottish referendum, the hopeless tipster.

    What is your latest prediction for the GE ?

    Same as it has been since the summer of 2010: hung Parliament.

    The day Ed was elected I said on here it was a very bad day for Labour. Unfortunately, I have been proved right on that. With knobs on.

    Unfortunately all the current leaders of the main parties are not the best material.
    Thanks for the tip what you are betting.
    I will change my position to a majority government a conservative one.

    You keep voting Lib dem and losing money.

    I get back all the money I lose on politics by judiciously betting against Spurs. If they lose to Villa today Poch gone by Xmas might be worth a few quid. I made a fair bit around this time last year backing AVB for an early departure a little bit before all the knives came out.

    On Spurs I agree you , I have supported spurs since a boy , that is a frustration personified.
    Tottenham change managers every year, but make little progress lately
    I know you hate Ed Milliband but I believe he has more chance of becoming PM than Spurs have of getting top six this season.
    In fact Spurs shortly will need to start worrying about relegation.

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    JPJ2JPJ2 Posts: 378
    Sorry-pressed send in error!

    Hadn't actually meant to say anything about him but now that I am on, I just confirm that I cannot see any real likelihood of him failing to become leader of the British Labour Party in Scotland.
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    It would never have occurred to Harman etc to wear Tshirts made in a British factory which paid the 'living wage'.

    Doesn't the Labour party condemn organisations which exploit the poor ?

    I wonder what the profit margin is on a Tshirt sold at £45 which is made at £0.62ph.

    By the time you have paid the "design fee" and "logo license fee" and "brand marketing contribution" to offshore entities, probably not very much...
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    NinoinozNinoinoz Posts: 1,312

    Ninoinoz said:

    stodge said:

    Speedy said:


    The writing is on the wall for about 2 weeks now, UKIP are going to win Rochester, the polls say it, the ground campaign says it, even the Tory party has read the writing. Only OGH refuses to read it, sadly for his bank account.

    To be fair, I understand OGH's argument and it's entirely possible the poll overstates the UKIP advantage slightly but the point is that UKIP has been able to engage the previously disengaged from politics and they can be (oddly enough) the most zealous of converts.

    True.

    I attended a UKIP meeting this week.

    It was clear from those that spoke that their concerns hadn't been listened to for at least 15 years.
    I wonder how many of them have actually voted previously. I'm pretty sure that UKIP is hoovering up a lot of malcontents who are normally outside the political process. Mike's thread confirms this. Getting them to vote in the General Election will be a hard task.
    Ah, but UKIP have a whole slew of "social ambassadors" amongst them. As the single most important reason for voting is "somebody asked me", them I suspect a good chunk of them will vote at the next GE.
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    JPJ2 said:

    Sorry-pressed send in error!

    Hadn't actually meant to say anything about him but now that I am on, I just confirm that I cannot see any real likelihood of him failing to become leader of the British Labour Party in Scotland.

    The Unions decided the last Labour Leader in the UK, why not the next one in Scotland?

    Jim Murphy is facing an uphill struggle to win potentially crucial leftwing support for his campaign to become Labour’s leader in Scotland after the country’s two biggest unions refused to back his candidacy.

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/01/scottish-labour-unions-jim-murphy-neil-findlay
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 118,270
    TCPB Janan Ganesh is normally on DP and he is centre right
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 118,270
    SO Are you sure those figures are right, most polls recently have PP just ahead of the Socialists albeit short of a majority and with Podemos rising
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Spanish_general_election
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    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,294

    dr_spyn said:

    Those Glasgow food bank organisers must be pissed off with some of their helpers, trying to take the piss out of Labour. The 'refusal' says more about the protesters' faux outrage.

    http://glasgow.stv.tv/articles/297883-food-bank-protestors-snub-jim-murphy-mps-food-bank-donation/?fromstreampost=177536

    If you go back through his Twitter Feed it appears Darren was supremely confident on September 18th, and sorely disappointed on the 19th. I don't doubt his sincerity on poverty, but on politics he's far from impartial.....
    Perhaps a guide to faux outrage? For his next cunning stunt, a how to cook on a low budget course might help with Sturgeon and Salmond recipes. Look forward to his gatecrashing of SNP's next big fundraising bash.

    Shelter many years ago, did a Food Aid cookbook, the recipes were good, had contributions from many celebrities who were involved in its promotion.
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 118,270
    Ken Clarke 'If no Tory majority we must have another Coalition' Daily Politics
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    HYUFD said:

    TCPB Janan Ganesh is normally on DP and he is centre right

    From his Twitter feed it appears he's in Barcelona......and the Grauniad hacks have little fearnin sticking it to Miliband - unlike cheerleading Maguire from the Mirror.....
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    YorkcityYorkcity Posts: 4,382

    Yorkcity said:

    This t-shirt debacle could be from an episode of Veep or the Thick of It. You can imagine the calls and conversations taking place now. It would be comedy gold if this bloke was not doing such damage to Labour.

    No mention of Clegg as well then ?

    Reading you all the time is the Thick of it.

    You wetted yourself before the Scottish referendum, the hopeless tipster.

    What is your latest prediction for the GE ?

    Same as it has been since the summer of 2010: hung Parliament.

    The day Ed was elected I said on here it was a very bad day for Labour. Unfortunately, I have been proved right on that. With knobs on.

    I watched his victory acceptance speech genuinely hoping that we had a new inspiring prospect, and as it went on my heart sank lower and lower. I remember feeling deflated. I never liked Tony Blair but I could admire his politicking. Likewise leaders like Harold Wilson and even Neil Kinnock could talk the talk. How anyone could have been so awful at a time when everyone was rooting for EdM is beyond me, or rather it's beyond me how the Labour Party could have got into themselves into a situation of electing such an unelectable leader.
    They had a limited choice in 2010 after New Labour had been defeated.
    To keep the party together and not spilt in opposition like 1981, Ed was probably the best choice to Labour members,
    David would also have been attacked viciously for other reasons.
    It is unusual for an opposition in the uk to come back to government after only one term, with a new leader.

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    HYUFD said:

    SO Are you sure those figures are right, most polls recently have PP just ahead of the Socialists albeit short of a majority and with Podemos rising
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Spanish_general_election

    Here you go ...

    http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/11/01/actualidad/1414865510_731502.html
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    Yorkcity said:

    This t-shirt debacle could be from an episode of Veep or the Thick of It. You can imagine the calls and conversations taking place now. It would be comedy gold if this bloke was not doing such damage to Labour.

    No mention of Clegg as well then ?

    Reading you all the time is the Thick of it.

    You wetted yourself before the Scottish referendum, the hopeless tipster.

    What is your latest prediction for the GE ?

    Same as it has been since the summer of 2010: hung Parliament.

    The day Ed was elected I said on here it was a very bad day for Labour. Unfortunately, I have been proved right on that. With knobs on.

    I watched his victory acceptance speech genuinely hoping that we had a new inspiring prospect, and as it went on my heart sank lower and lower. I remember feeling deflated. I never liked Tony Blair but I could admire his politicking. Likewise leaders like Harold Wilson and even Neil Kinnock could talk the talk. How anyone could have been so awful at a time when everyone was rooting for EdM is beyond me, or rather it's beyond me how the Labour Party could have got into themselves into a situation of electing such an unelectable leader.

    MPs and members did not vote for Ed. The unions delivered him victory.

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    kle4kle4 Posts: 93,589
    GeoffM said:

    Poppett said:

    A win IMO is an overall Maj

    Maybe that's a "win" in your opinion.

    I think a "win" is a threesome with Christina Hendricks and Scarlett Johansson.

    I guess it comes down to priorities.
    And that there are different types of winning.
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    dr_spyn said:

    dr_spyn said:

    Those Glasgow food bank organisers must be pissed off with some of their helpers, trying to take the piss out of Labour. The 'refusal' says more about the protesters' faux outrage.

    http://glasgow.stv.tv/articles/297883-food-bank-protestors-snub-jim-murphy-mps-food-bank-donation/?fromstreampost=177536

    If you go back through his Twitter Feed it appears Darren was supremely confident on September 18th, and sorely disappointed on the 19th. I don't doubt his sincerity on poverty, but on politics he's far from impartial.....
    Perhaps a guide to faux outrage?
    I wonder if the money he spent on booking two rooms at the posh hotel so he could crash the Labour reception (failed) could have helped the poor in some other way?
  • Options
    Yorkcity said:

    Yorkcity said:

    Yorkcity said:

    This t-shirt debacle could be from an episode of Veep or the Thick of It. You can imagine the calls and conversations taking place now. It would be comedy gold if this bloke was not doing such damage to Labour.

    No mention of Clegg as well then ?

    Reading you all the time is the Thick of it.

    You wetted yourself before the Scottish referendum, the hopeless tipster.

    What is your latest prediction for the GE ?

    Same as it has been since the summer of 2010: hung Parliament.

    The day Ed was elected I said on here it was a very bad day for Labour. Unfortunately, I have been proved right on that. With knobs on.

    Unfortunately all the current leaders of the main parties are not the best material.
    Thanks for the tip what you are betting.
    I will change my position to a majority government a conservative one.

    You keep voting Lib dem and losing money.

    I get back all the money I lose on politics by judiciously betting against Spurs. If they lose to Villa today Poch gone by Xmas might be worth a few quid. I made a fair bit around this time last year backing AVB for an early departure a little bit before all the knives came out.

    On Spurs I agree you , I have supported spurs since a boy , that is a frustration personified.
    Tottenham change managers every year, but make little progress lately
    I know you hate Ed Milliband but I believe he has more chance of becoming PM than Spurs have of getting top six this season.
    In fact Spurs shortly will need to start worrying about relegation.

    I don't hate Ed. I just think he has been a terrible Labour leader and actually seems to be getting worse, if anything. Levy is the problem at Spurs. As long as he's there we're going to struggle.

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    IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    Ninoinoz said:

    stodge said:

    Speedy said:


    The writing is on the wall for about 2 weeks now, UKIP are going to win Rochester, the polls say it, the ground campaign says it, even the Tory party has read the writing. Only OGH refuses to read it, sadly for his bank account.

    To be fair, I understand OGH's argument and it's entirely possible the poll overstates the UKIP advantage slightly but the point is that UKIP has been able to engage the previously disengaged from politics and they can be (oddly enough) the most zealous of converts.

    True.

    I attended a UKIP meeting this week.

    It was clear from those that spoke that their concerns hadn't been listened to for at least 15 years.
    I wonder how many of them have actually voted previously. I'm pretty sure that UKIP is hoovering up a lot of malcontents who are normally outside the political process. Mike's thread confirms this. Getting them to vote in the General Election will be a hard task.
    So not being motivated to vote for either of the "two parties, one set of policies" options on offer makes people malcontents ?
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    Not a Miliband fan, but refusing him giving some food to charity seems as churlish and stupid as the Red Cross refusing the proceeds of Mike Read's[sp] awful single. Less grandstanding would be welcome all round.
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    Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 26,231

    dr_spyn said:

    Those Glasgow food bank organisers must be pissed off with some of their helpers, trying to take the piss out of Labour. The 'refusal' says more about the protesters' faux outrage.

    http://glasgow.stv.tv/articles/297883-food-bank-protestors-snub-jim-murphy-mps-food-bank-donation/?fromstreampost=177536

    If you go back through his Twitter Feed it appears Darren was supremely confident on September 18th, and sorely disappointed on the 19th. I don't doubt his sincerity on poverty, but on politics he's far from impartial.....
    I'm no fan of David Milliband, but I'm utterly disgusted at the reaction to what was in his bag. It's clear whoever bought the contents has been at pains to use Scottish produce -anywhere else in the world this would be seen as a GOOD THING. What ghastly, twisted people.
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    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,294
    Resuffle as Jim Murphy resigns from Shadow Cabinet, What does Ed do next, keep a place open if JM doesn't win, shift a few more losers around, finally sack Harman for dropping him in the shit again?

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29870846
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    IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    Not a Miliband fan, but refusing him giving some food to charity seems as churlish and stupid as the Red Cross refusing the proceeds of Mike Read's[sp] awful single. Less grandstanding would be welcome all round.

    There is a lot of it about at the moment

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2816610/Red-Cross-volunteer-71-axed-gay-marriage-protest-Pensioner-told-no-longer-welcome-charity-views-incompatible-values.html

    Charity tells long term volunteer they dont need him to donate his time and effort for free as he has for the past 20 years, because they dont like his VIEWS (not actions, views, so ThoughtCrime), which he promoted on his own time, and not in connection with their work... and judging by the twitter feed following, had a load of people cancelling their direct debits as a result. More spectacular own-goals by Guardianistas.
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 118,270
    Full details of last week's Scotland poll show a Murphy led Labour on 29% compared to 47% for the SNP, Labour is presently on 23% with the SNP on 43%, though a Brown led Labour would be on 33% to 46% for the SNP. 68% think Lamont was right to resign

    http://yougov.co.uk/news/categories/politics/
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    TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 40,748
    edited November 2014


    I'm no fan of David Milliband

    Me neither.
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    Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 26,231


    I'm no fan of David Milliband

    Me neither.
    hahah -I always get those two mixed up. I'm no fan of either brother to be honest. Sorry Millibands.
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    dr_spyn said:

    Resuffle as Jim Murphy resigns from Shadow Cabinet, What does Ed do next, keep a place open if JM doesn't win, shift a few more losers around, finally sack Harman for dropping him in the shit again?

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29870846

    Could be an excuse for a wider shadow cabinet reshuffle. In which case I'm tipping Liz Kennedy for an up front role
  • Options
    SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322

    WTF. BBC Impartiality my ar** Sunday Politics show has 3 hacks commenting. TWO from the Guardian? Guardianista in full view at the Beeb.

    I also note that in the debate over the European Arrest Warrant, some BBC bod forgot to connect the sound to the eurosceptic voice, thus allowing Ken Clarke to give his view unopposed. How convenient.
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    SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    edited November 2014
    Indigo said:

    Not a Miliband fan, but refusing him giving some food to charity seems as churlish and stupid as the Red Cross refusing the proceeds of Mike Read's[sp] awful single. Less grandstanding would be welcome all round.

    There is a lot of it about at the moment

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2816610/Red-Cross-volunteer-71-axed-gay-marriage-protest-Pensioner-told-no-longer-welcome-charity-views-incompatible-values.html

    Charity tells long term volunteer they dont need him to donate his time and effort for free as he has for the past 20 years, because they dont like his VIEWS (not actions, views, so ThoughtCrime), which he promoted on his own time, and not in connection with their work... and judging by the twitter feed following, had a load of people cancelling their direct debits as a result. More spectacular own-goals by Guardianistas.
    I'm ardently pro-gay marriage, but this is outrageous. Since when did you have to subcribe to certain political views - especially those utterly unrelated to healthcare provision - to volunteer for the Red Cross? Disgusting.
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 118,270
    Ann Leslie on DP says she has known Boris since he was a boy and 'saw his nappy come off'
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    dr_spyn said:

    Those Glasgow food bank organisers must be pissed off with some of their helpers, trying to take the piss out of Labour. The 'refusal' says more about the protesters' faux outrage.

    http://glasgow.stv.tv/articles/297883-food-bank-protestors-snub-jim-murphy-mps-food-bank-donation/?fromstreampost=177536

    If you go back through his Twitter Feed it appears Darren was supremely confident on September 18th, and sorely disappointed on the 19th. I don't doubt his sincerity on poverty, but on politics he's far from impartial.....
    The shopping back food list is great fun. Tunnnock's cakes, scotch broth, oatcakes... And pesto!
  • Options
    MonikerDiCanioMonikerDiCanio Posts: 5,792
    edited November 2014

    dr_spyn said:

    Resuffle as Jim Murphy resigns from Shadow Cabinet, What does Ed do next, keep a place open if JM doesn't win, shift a few more losers around, finally sack Harman for dropping him in the shit again?

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29870846

    Could be an excuse for a wider shadow cabinet reshuffle. In which case I'm tipping Liz Kennedy for an up front role
    What's the point of a shadow cabinet reshuffle without an EdM resignation ? He's the elephant turd in the room stinking the whole place out.

  • Options
    Mr. Socrates, some think GamerGate and UKIP are also alike in this regard.

    Mr. Indigo, it's backward. We're drifting away from "reasonable men can have differing views" approach to "you can agree with me or hold an intolerable, unacceptable view"/"everything must be mandatory or forbidden".
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Socrates said:

    79% agree that "the dangers of uncontrolled immigration from the EU are so great that Britain should set a firm limit, even if this means defying EU rules"

    Cameron can't back down to Juncker and Merkel on this now.

    There is no chance of renegotiating the free movement of labour. It was one of the four fundamental freedoms in EEC Treaty. Nor is there much chance of a British government passing legislation designed to derogate from any of the United Kingdom's obligations under TEU or TFEU. So whether Cameron "backs down" or not is irrelevant.
    Where there *may* be some flexibility is on the ability to move countries to *look for a job*.

    I agree there will be no restrictions on work permits once someone has an offer.
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    isamisam Posts: 41,118

    Mr. Socrates, some think GamerGate and UKIP are also alike in this regard.

    Mr. Indigo, it's backward. We're drifting away from "reasonable men can have differing views" approach to "you can agree with me or hold an intolerable, unacceptable view"/"everything must be mandatory or forbidden".

    It's called liberal bigotry
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    maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,429
    2 Labour and a Lib Dem for the BBC's panel this lunchtime on the Sunday Politics. Good stuff.
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    antifrank said:

    The Mail is certainly having fun with this (and well done for good old investigative journalism - did no one in Brewers Green (stop me if you see any jokes in there...) think to look inside the T Shirt to see the 'Made in' label?

    Cheap labour can never be fashionable

    Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman looked ridiculous when they sported their ‘this is what a feminist looks like’ T-shirts last week.
    It came across as cheap gesture politics – and now we know just how cheap.

    The garments are being made by migrant labourers toiling for 62p an hour at factories in Mauritius....

    ...This stunt, from a man who is so ready to brandish his socialist credentials, is what hypocrisy looks like.

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2817327/Cheap-labour-never-fashionable-MAIL-SUNDAY-COIMMENT.html#ixzz3HuECHJv4

    For once, there's an important point in such a (non-)story. Politicians are very keen to lecture large companies on the importance of vetting their supply chains to ensure that there is no exploitation of child labour or slave labour. Perhaps it will now dawn on them that this is by no means a simple process and that what they airily demand of companies can be very onerous.

    Just a thought for our elected representatives to consider.
    Self-awareness from our politicians?

    First belly laugh of the day!
  • Options
    SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    isam said:

    Mr. Socrates, some think GamerGate and UKIP are also alike in this regard.

    Mr. Indigo, it's backward. We're drifting away from "reasonable men can have differing views" approach to "you can agree with me or hold an intolerable, unacceptable view"/"everything must be mandatory or forbidden".

    It's called liberal bigotry
    Nothing liberal about it.
  • Options
    I'm having some fun thinking of the contents of food bank donations by famous politicians:

    Mandrelson: guacamole

    Ken Clarke: beer, cigars

    Major : peas

    Heath: anything from a grocer

    Brown: thin gruel
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    Indigo said:

    Meanwhile, this appears to be what the Tory high command spends political donations on:

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2817318/Heard-one-Tory-Summit-beat-UKIP-MPs-boozed-3am-told-filthy-jokes-enraged-Osborne-picture.html

    A rotten rotten establishment.

    I would think political donations and what they are used for is between parties and their donors, if the donors are happy for it to be used on "refreshment" then thats their business, if they are not they can take their money elsewhere, nothing rotten about it really imo.
    I wonder how people here would be reacting if UKIP MPs were having alcohol fuelled jollies in £200 a night hotels on party funds and unveiling paintings of a naked chancellor holding a large carrot?

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    ItajaiItajai Posts: 721


    He's lucky not to have been arrested. Maybe had he tweeted a "homophobic" tweet, the police would have found the time and manpower to arrest him.
    isam said:

    Mr. Socrates, some think GamerGate and UKIP are also alike in this regard.

    Mr. Indigo, it's backward. We're drifting away from "reasonable men can have differing views" approach to "you can agree with me or hold an intolerable, unacceptable view"/"everything must be mandatory or forbidden".

    It's called liberal bigotry
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 118,270
    Carlotta Indeed, they have even talked of an SNP-Tory agreement, and they also had the ex Mail Ann Leslie
  • Options

    I'm having some fun thinking of the contents of food bank donations by famous politicians:

    Mandrelson: guacamole

    Ken Clarke: beer, cigars

    Major : peas

    Heath: anything from a grocer

    Brown: thin gruel

    Mrs Thatcher: School milk!
  • Options
    GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071

    Mr. Socrates, some think GamerGate and UKIP are also alike in this regard.

    Mr. Indigo, it's backward. We're drifting away from "reasonable men can have differing views" approach to "you can agree with me or hold an intolerable, unacceptable view"/"everything must be mandatory or forbidden".

    We now live in a world of Puritan repressiveness from the Offence-Taking Mafia which has ended the prospect of meaningful intelligent conversations.

    Instead of debate we just have coordinated hysteria and scalp-hunting. The penalty for venturing an opinion that someone else disagrees with is potentially career-ending.
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    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 41,112

    Poppett said:

    TGHOF The point is Cameron couldn't even beat a hated brown .and ask a few tories if they think licking cleggs **** is a victory forget it

    You don't understand much about UK politics do you Poppett?
    1979 Minority Labour government lost to Margaret Thatcher who gained a majority of just over 40.
    1997 Minority Tory government lost to Tony Blair who gained a majority of over 140.
    2010 MAJORITY Labour government lost to David Cameron who just failed to get a majority. Had he faced a minority government as per the 2 previous times there was a change of party in government he would have won a majority.

    In 2010 Labour suffered its second highest loss of seat numbers at a single election. If you are a Labour supporter you should be wishing Ed Bland achieves as much success next May as Michael Foot did in 1983. Right now it doesn't look as though he will.

    Scottish Labour which accounts for almost 17% of Labour MPs is in meltdown. The London chatterati has Jim Murphy already prepared for his coronation but SLAB is a left wing beast dominated by trade unions who are already falling over themselves to support Neil Findlay.
    Perhaps just as much to the point, Mr Murphy faces practical problems getting to Holyrood. The Herald today has a piece pointing out that at least three constituency MSPs are refusing to make way for him (not surprising, given the financial implications adumbrated by Lallans Peat Worrier on his blog).

    http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/scottish-politics/murphys-routes-for-early-move-to-holyrood-ruled-out.25756363

    There aren't as many Labour constituency MSPs as there were, because of the defeat in 2011. They are rare and precious beasts with personal votes and incumbency advantages and not to be squandered unnecessarily even from the party's own point of view, I should think.

    And list MSPs are useless for that purpose - if they resign the post goes to the next on the list, either Labour or failing that the opposition. And to stand in UKGE 2015 in the full knowledge, enthusiastically reiterated by the SNP, Greens, Socialists, etc. etc., that Mr Murphy is going to head north in Holyrood elections 2016 is not a good way of endearing one to voters who don't like unnecessary byelections. And that is without the other uncertainties in the various elections. And remember if he loses his Westminster seat in 2015 before becoming a MSP he's completely disqualified from being SLAB leader (who has to be a MP or MSP, IIRC).

    In other news, he is being very strongly linked with the Better Together team and its facilities - or at least its members, though there's a (disputed) claim they actually booked the room for his launch as a candidate:

    http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/scottish-politics/suspicions-deepen-as-better-together-team-members-back-murphy.25752863

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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 118,270
    SO A huge jump for Podemos, doubling its support in a month, need to see if an outlier with more polls
  • Options

    I'm having some fun thinking of the contents of food bank donations by famous politicians:

    Mandrelson: guacamole

    Ken Clarke: beer, cigars

    Major : peas

    Heath: anything from a grocer

    Brown: thin gruel

    Its got to be said:

    Farage: Fruitcake and Nuts. :-)
  • Options
    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,413
    Socrates said:

    isam said:

    Mr. Socrates, some think GamerGate and UKIP are also alike in this regard.

    Mr. Indigo, it's backward. We're drifting away from "reasonable men can have differing views" approach to "you can agree with me or hold an intolerable, unacceptable view"/"everything must be mandatory or forbidden".

    It's called liberal bigotry
    Nothing liberal about it.
    Now there I agree with you.
  • Options
    Charles said:

    antifrank said:

    The Mail is certainly having fun with this (and well done for good old investigative journalism - did no one in Brewers Green (stop me if you see any jokes in there...) think to look inside the T Shirt to see the 'Made in' label?

    Cheap labour can never be fashionable

    Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman looked ridiculous when they sported their ‘this is what a feminist looks like’ T-shirts last week.
    It came across as cheap gesture politics – and now we know just how cheap.

    The garments are being made by migrant labourers toiling for 62p an hour at factories in Mauritius....

    ...This stunt, from a man who is so ready to brandish his socialist credentials, is what hypocrisy looks like.

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2817327/Cheap-labour-never-fashionable-MAIL-SUNDAY-COIMMENT.html#ixzz3HuECHJv4

    For once, there's an important point in such a (non-)story. Politicians are very keen to lecture large companies on the importance of vetting their supply chains to ensure that there is no exploitation of child labour or slave labour. Perhaps it will now dawn on them that this is by no means a simple process and that what they airily demand of companies can be very onerous.

    Just a thought for our elected representatives to consider.
    Self-awareness from our politicians?

    First belly laugh of the day!
    It is offered in hope not expectation. MPs are curiously averse to competence requirements for their own job too, despite being very trigger happy when it comes to imposing such requirements on others.
  • Options
    IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    Indigo said:

    Meanwhile, this appears to be what the Tory high command spends political donations on:

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2817318/Heard-one-Tory-Summit-beat-UKIP-MPs-boozed-3am-told-filthy-jokes-enraged-Osborne-picture.html

    A rotten rotten establishment.

    I would think political donations and what they are used for is between parties and their donors, if the donors are happy for it to be used on "refreshment" then thats their business, if they are not they can take their money elsewhere, nothing rotten about it really imo.
    I wonder how people here would be reacting if UKIP MPs were having alcohol fuelled jollies in £200 a night hotels on party funds and unveiling paintings of a naked chancellor holding a large carrot?

    I am a Carswellite CON wavering toward UKIP, so I could be either by the time of the election, but seriously as someone who has dropped a few coins in the collection boxes of both parties over the years I think people get too excited about what the members of what amount to private clubs do with subscriptions and donations, I could care less what Labour do with theirs either so long as its in keeping with the Representation of the People Act :)
  • Options
    Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 26,231
    Socrates said:

    Indigo said:

    Not a Miliband fan, but refusing him giving some food to charity seems as churlish and stupid as the Red Cross refusing the proceeds of Mike Read's[sp] awful single. Less grandstanding would be welcome all round.

    There is a lot of it about at the moment

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2816610/Red-Cross-volunteer-71-axed-gay-marriage-protest-Pensioner-told-no-longer-welcome-charity-views-incompatible-values.html

    Charity tells long term volunteer they dont need him to donate his time and effort for free as he has for the past 20 years, because they dont like his VIEWS (not actions, views, so ThoughtCrime), which he promoted on his own time, and not in connection with their work... and judging by the twitter feed following, had a load of people cancelling their direct debits as a result. More spectacular own-goals by Guardianistas.
    I'm ardently pro-gay marriage, but this is outrageous. Since when did you have to subcribe to certain political views - especially those utterly unrelated to healthcare provision - to volunteer for the Red Cross? Disgusting.
    The biggest donors to the British Red Cross are the Government I would bet. They wouldn't have needed much encouragement, but its clear where the instructions are coming from. Same as their refusal to accept UKIP's donation. It's all part of the Government push to demonise their opponents, making any form of dissent socially unacceptable.
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    felixfelix Posts: 15,128

    Latest opinion poll in Spain shows the right wing PP government is on course for a crushing defeat at the next GE. Left-wing parties currently have well over 50% support - with Podemos, only formally established last year, just ahead of the Socialists.

    PP are far from perfect but their policies have brought growth, balanced books and a modest unemployment drop in the last few years. Podemos are essentially a left-wing UKIP and the PSOE are as corrupt as the PP. If Spain relaxes austerity the economy is doomed and it's just about big enough to spark another major EU crisis. As I say PP are far from perfect but they are the best offer in town right now.
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,413
    antifrank said:

    Charles said:

    antifrank said:

    The Mail is certainly having fun with this (and well done for good old investigative journalism - did no one in Brewers Green (stop me if you see any jokes in there...) think to look inside the T Shirt to see the 'Made in' label?

    Cheap labour can never be fashionable

    Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman looked ridiculous when they sported their ‘this is what a feminist looks like’ T-shirts last week.
    It came across as cheap gesture politics – and now we know just how cheap.

    The garments are being made by migrant labourers toiling for 62p an hour at factories in Mauritius....

    ...This stunt, from a man who is so ready to brandish his socialist credentials, is what hypocrisy looks like.

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2817327/Cheap-labour-never-fashionable-MAIL-SUNDAY-COIMMENT.html#ixzz3HuECHJv4

    For once, there's an important point in such a (non-)story. Politicians are very keen to lecture large companies on the importance of vetting their supply chains to ensure that there is no exploitation of child labour or slave labour. Perhaps it will now dawn on them that this is by no means a simple process and that what they airily demand of companies can be very onerous.

    Just a thought for our elected representatives to consider.
    Self-awareness from our politicians?

    First belly laugh of the day!
    It is offered in hope not expectation. MPs are curiously averse to competence requirements for their own job too, despite being very trigger happy when it comes to imposing such requirements on others.
    It’s epitomised by Cameron, isn’t it;
    “Why do you want to be PM?”
    “Because I think I’d be rather good at it!"
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    felixfelix Posts: 15,128
    felix said:

    Latest opinion poll in Spain shows the right wing PP government is on course for a crushing defeat at the next GE. Left-wing parties currently have well over 50% support - with Podemos, only formally established last year, just ahead of the Socialists.

    PP are far from perfect but their policies have brought growth, balanced books and a modest unemployment drop in the last few years. Podemos are essentially a left-wing UKIP and the PSOE are as corrupt as the PP. If Spain relaxes austerity the economy is doomed and it's just about big enough to spark another major EU crisis. As I say PP are far from perfect but they are the best offer in town right now.
    To clarify Podemos are little more than a nota party - their polotical views do not resemble those of UKIP. Their popularity is down to the desire of most western European peoples' love for the politics of the magic money tree.
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    IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    Mr. Socrates, some think GamerGate and UKIP are also alike in this regard.

    Mr. Indigo, it's backward. We're drifting away from "reasonable men can have differing views" approach to "you can agree with me or hold an intolerable, unacceptable view"/"everything must be mandatory or forbidden".

    Exactly. If the Red Cross was an organisation campaigning for gay marriage, or some related area I would be semi-sympathetic, but the whole incremental move toward ThoughtCrime bothers me, and governments and Quangos of all political stripes are guilty of it. Free speech disappeared long ago in this country, much to our shame, free thinking appears to be rapidly following it into obscurity.

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    antifrank said:

    Charles said:

    antifrank said:

    The Mail is certainly having fun with this (and well done for good old investigative journalism - did no one in Brewers Green (stop me if you see any jokes in there...) think to look inside the T Shirt to see the 'Made in' label?

    Cheap labour can never be fashionable

    Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman looked ridiculous when they sported their ‘this is what a feminist looks like’ T-shirts last week.
    It came across as cheap gesture politics – and now we know just how cheap.

    The garments are being made by migrant labourers toiling for 62p an hour at factories in Mauritius....

    ...This stunt, from a man who is so ready to brandish his socialist credentials, is what hypocrisy looks like.

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2817327/Cheap-labour-never-fashionable-MAIL-SUNDAY-COIMMENT.html#ixzz3HuECHJv4

    For once, there's an important point in such a (non-)story. Politicians are very keen to lecture large companies on the importance of vetting their supply chains to ensure that there is no exploitation of child labour or slave labour. Perhaps it will now dawn on them that this is by no means a simple process and that what they airily demand of companies can be very onerous.

    Just a thought for our elected representatives to consider.
    Self-awareness from our politicians?

    First belly laugh of the day!
    It is offered in hope not expectation. MPs are curiously averse to competence requirements for their own job too, despite being very trigger happy when it comes to imposing such requirements on others.
    It’s epitomised by Cameron, isn’t it;
    “Why do you want to be PM?”
    “Because I think I’d be rather good at it!"
    It's his worst ever public statement. No serious politician should want to be Prime Minister. They should want to do something that can only be achieved in that role.

    Britain would be in a much better place had it not largely been led by men who wanted to be Prime Minister.
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,413
    Indigo said:

    Mr. Socrates, some think GamerGate and UKIP are also alike in this regard.

    Mr. Indigo, it's backward. We're drifting away from "reasonable men can have differing views" approach to "you can agree with me or hold an intolerable, unacceptable view"/"everything must be mandatory or forbidden".

    Exactly. If the Red Cross was an organisation campaigning for gay marriage, or some related area I would be semi-sympathetic, but the whole incremental move toward ThoughtCrime bothers me, and governments and Quangos of all political stripes are guilty of it. Free speech disappeared long ago in this country, much to our shame, free thinking appears to be rapidly following it into obscurity.

    Can we have a LIKE button please, Mr Vanilla!
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    Mr. M, indeed. However, we must remind ourselves that just as a whiny little victim fetishist has the right to be offended by anything, so do we have the right to tell them that we don't care.
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    SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322

    I'm having some fun thinking of the contents of food bank donations by famous politicians:

    Mandrelson: guacamole

    Ken Clarke: beer, cigars

    Major : peas

    Heath: anything from a grocer

    Brown: thin gruel

    John Gummer: British beef.
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    MonikerDiCanioMonikerDiCanio Posts: 5,792
    edited November 2014

    Latest opinion poll in Spain shows the right wing PP government is on course for a crushing defeat at the next GE. Left-wing parties currently have well over 50% support - with Podemos, only formally established last year, just ahead of the Socialists.

    According to El Pais, Podemos is neither left nor right wing, it is "a group with a catastrophic diagnosis and a will to disqualify, that rejects being either left-wing or right-wing to hide what it really is: simple and vulgar populism like that which, with other ideological lenses, appears in different parts of Europe”.
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    SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    Indigo said:

    Mr. Socrates, some think GamerGate and UKIP are also alike in this regard.

    Mr. Indigo, it's backward. We're drifting away from "reasonable men can have differing views" approach to "you can agree with me or hold an intolerable, unacceptable view"/"everything must be mandatory or forbidden".

    Exactly. If the Red Cross was an organisation campaigning for gay marriage, or some related area I would be semi-sympathetic, but the whole incremental move toward ThoughtCrime bothers me, and governments and Quangos of all political stripes are guilty of it. Free speech disappeared long ago in this country, much to our shame, free thinking appears to be rapidly following it into obscurity.

    I often donate to the Red Cross when I see them in the street. I shan't any more.
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    isamisam Posts: 41,118

    Indigo said:

    Mr. Socrates, some think GamerGate and UKIP are also alike in this regard.

    Mr. Indigo, it's backward. We're drifting away from "reasonable men can have differing views" approach to "you can agree with me or hold an intolerable, unacceptable view"/"everything must be mandatory or forbidden".

    Exactly. If the Red Cross was an organisation campaigning for gay marriage, or some related area I would be semi-sympathetic, but the whole incremental move toward ThoughtCrime bothers me, and governments and Quangos of all political stripes are guilty of it. Free speech disappeared long ago in this country, much to our shame, free thinking appears to be rapidly following it into obscurity.

    Can we have a LIKE button please, Mr Vanilla!
    http://youtu.be/Rc3aIyF5mS8
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    Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 26,231
    Indigo said:

    Indigo said:

    Meanwhile, this appears to be what the Tory high command spends political donations on:

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2817318/Heard-one-Tory-Summit-beat-UKIP-MPs-boozed-3am-told-filthy-jokes-enraged-Osborne-picture.html

    A rotten rotten establishment.

    I would think political donations and what they are used for is between parties and their donors, if the donors are happy for it to be used on "refreshment" then thats their business, if they are not they can take their money elsewhere, nothing rotten about it really imo.
    I wonder how people here would be reacting if UKIP MPs were having alcohol fuelled jollies in £200 a night hotels on party funds and unveiling paintings of a naked chancellor holding a large carrot?

    I am a Carswellite CON wavering toward UKIP, so I could be either by the time of the election, but seriously as someone who has dropped a few coins in the collection boxes of both parties over the years I think people get too excited about what the members of what amount to private clubs do with subscriptions and donations, I could care less what Labour do with theirs either so long as its in keeping with the Representation of the People Act :)
    You could care less?
This discussion has been closed.