Keith Vaz is a numpty. If a job is paid less than £30k a year (and I think he's got his numbers wrong on that anyway) you can definitely train someone up in the UK to do it.
Not following the logic. You say that anything paid less than £30K is definitely easy to learn?
Anecdotally, in the specific case, I talked last year to an Asian restaurant manager who said he'd made a deliberate attempt to recruit non-Asian cooks to save the hassle of getting visas - he only asked that they should have general cooking experience, and offered to train them in Asian food - but got only two applicants, who gave up after a week and a fortnight respectively. "They just found it outside their comfort zone," he said.
The restaurant owner is obviously not paying his cooks enough money. That, or the state pays too much to people who don't work. Or perhaps the cooks took better jobs elsewhere. And if the owner can only make it work by paying peanuts then he doesn't have viable business.
The same applies to farmers who rely on cheap imported labour to pick crops. All it shows is that the price of strawberries is too low. Put wages up, locals will do the work, charge a bit more in the shops. Sorted. If the farmer can't sell at the higher price he should use his land for something else.
I'd forgotten quite how dishonest the Nats were - the second biggest reason for voting 'Yes' was the (Scottish run, Scottish controlled) NHS..... which got an extra £125 million today from Osborne......
All the left leaning media are focusing on the "massive" cuts programmed in by George. I kinda of wonder if he doesn't mind that. I mean we have had 4 years of those same voices telling us the world will end due to cuts and it hasn't happened. The boy that cried wolf and all that. Also, the question then becomes, well what would Labour do, given they say they will basically follow general George's plans on borrowing.
I suspect a Miliband Govt would disappoint supporters unprepared for the reality that bankers and mansions cannot fill the ( still huge) deficit and notwithstanding some further tax rises serious cuts would still follow. Voyez Hollande mes amis.....
How many of them were among the 62% that were always going to vote no?
Why did the others decide to vote no? Was it Salmonds smug visage? The unconvincing economics? The lack of a real defence policy? Or the lack of a viable currency?
Personally, I think the currency was critical, but possibly you are right and the Scottish public saw through another part of Salmonds bluff and bluster.
Your beer seems a little spittle flecked, if not tear diluted.
You were one of the SNP imploders and 60/40ers, weren't you?
YouGov/Sun poll tonight - Tories take one-point lead, Lib Dems fall to fifth: CON 32%, LAB 31%, LD 6%, UKIP 17%, GRN 7%
A handy starting point for tomorrow... will we see a bigger Tory lead than the odd 1% ones we've been seeing more and more....
Will Bobby Sol be back up front on Saturday...
Will Chelsea complete their usual double over Spurs in a few short weeks.
At least one is a cert.
If the Tories had been able to hold on to their own loyalist voter base, they'd be heading for a clear victory next year. Sadly, they preferred to insult and ignore them instead.
Has SeanT stopped doing his nut on twitter about this yet. Holed up in a 6* Oz resort and was losing his mind over not being able to watch UK made spanking videos (only the foreign mucky stuff).
All the left leaning media are focusing on the "massive" cuts programmed in by George. I kinda of wonder if he doesn't mind that. I mean we have had 4 years of those same voices telling us the world will end due to cuts and it hasn't happened. The boy that cried wolf and all that. Also, the question then becomes, well what would Labour do, given they say they will basically follow general George's plans on borrowing.
After 4 years of "bankers bonuses, the 1%, mansion taxes, it's not fair" etc etc under Ed Labour are actually 6-7 points down.
(Diminishing) Tribal loyalty and a divided right is all they are hanging on to.
Support for independence went up after his speech. At the start of the year Indy was polling at 35%.
No currency Union was cited by many of the 55% as the reason to vote No.
IMF ... ''Britain's economy is growing faster than those of every other major developed country, the International Monetary Fund has disclosed. Britain is expected to grow faster than countries including America, Germany, France and Canada'' (Telegraph)
Where does Britain stand in the G20 growth table since 2010 ? They were not elected in 2013.
You realise that government policy isn't instantaneous in its effects, right?
A government is elected for 5 years, right ?
Yes. I think it's entirely reasonable to judge the Coalition on their economic record from about a year into power to the time when they leave power. They should be benchmarked against other large developed countries for that period.
The government hasn't done bad with the economy, thanks to it's u-turn in economic policy they did what Labour would have done anyway. And that's a point, Balls, Darling and Osborne had the same ideas and plans, the economy will be the same regardless of who's in power.
Help me out here. If the tories did what Labour would have done (stop sniggering at the back) can you explain what Labour have been whining about?
you seem to be saying that Labour are opportunistic little shits.
This govt has not done what Labour would have done (at least going by their rhetoric). This govt has cut spending. Labours policy was to spend more. The Institute for Fiscal Studies, says that in 2010-11, there was a discretionary fiscal tightening of 1.6% of GDP, followed by 2.4%, 1.4%, 1% and a planned 0.6% this year. Over the course of the parliament the coalition will have tightened by 7% of GDP. The govt has made real progress in cutting the structural deficit. The International Monetary Fund say the cyclically-adjusted deficit has come down from 10.3% of gross domestic product in 2009 to 4.1% this year.
Britain’s GDP is now 3.4% above pre-crisis levels, (Germany 3.1%), France 1.4%, Spain -5.8% and Italy -9.4%)
Alan Titchmarsh is the latest celebrity to come out against the mansion tax. (front page of Mirror)
Excellent
An enterprising journalist could contact all of the Blair era Labour lovies including all those musician who went to No 10 - many of whom will live in £2m houses - and ask if they still support Labour. Would make a good article for the Mail. Maybe they've already done it.
THE UK government dealt a blow to the SNP’s property tax reforms today when Chancellor George Osborne unveiled a major overhaul of Stamp Duty which will offer savings to average home purchasers UK-wide.
How many of them were among the 62% that were always going to vote no?
Why did the others decide to vote no? Was it Salmonds smug visage? The unconvincing economics? The lack of a real defence policy? Or the lack of a viable currency?
Personally, I think the currency was critical, but possibly you are right and the Scottish public saw through another part of Salmonds bluff and bluster.
Your beer seems a little spittle flecked, if not tear diluted.
You were one of the SNP imploders and 60/40ers, weren't you?
I won a fair amount of British pounds by backing the McARSE.
We shall see how the SNP does. I think that it will struggle to hold ground in 2011.
Nice to know our civil servants are busily occupied drawing up laws that no-one is going to pay any attention to, such as banning spanking and watersports videos. I'm sure millions of people will still be watching such videos in this country regardless of these ridiculous laws.
@steve_hawkes: Labour are left to argue the Chancellor hasn't cut borrowing by as much as he vowed to, despite having earlier warned he was going too fast
@iainmartin1: Risk for Labour is that sounds as though they're saying if govt had borrowed more the deficit would now be, er, lower.
THE UK government dealt a blow to the SNP’s property tax reforms today when Chancellor George Osborne unveiled a major overhaul of Stamp Duty which will offer savings to average home purchasers UK-wide.
The sure sign for me that the Tories were starting to edge ahead has been the unmistakeable bashing they've been taking in the PB thread headings evident over the past couple of weeks. If you don't agree, go back and count them for yourself!
I know it's a place politicians don't want to go, but I'd support any who made it easier for muslims to renounce the faith. Obviously that applies to all other faiths, but I don't think there's much problem there. I just got back from Egypt (90% muslim, 10 christian, no option to be an atheist) and am a bit shocked by the power of religion, the existence of blasphemy and the persecution of the faithless. I am guessing apostasy for UK muslims is not a cakewalk either. It should be, and it falls to politician to clear the way.
Nice to know our civil servants are busily occupied drawing up laws that no-one is going to pay any attention to, such as banning spanking and watersports videos. I'm sure millions of people will still be watching such videos in this country regardless of these ridiculous laws.
Watching them isn't illegal and still won't be. It's the buying them, which is (apparently) already illegal in physical sex shops. I haven't be able to verify that...
The sure sign for me that the Tories were starting to edge ahead has been the unmistakeable bashing they've been taking in the PB thread headings evident over the past couple of weeks. If you don't agree, go back and count them for yourself!
haha!
Brilliant headlines from the right and centre papers tomorrow.
The Sun has come up with a particular gem, both for Osborne and EdM.
Nice to know our civil servants are busily occupied drawing up laws that no-one is going to pay any attention to, such as banning spanking and watersports videos. I'm sure millions of people will still be watching such videos in this country regardless of these ridiculous laws.
Watching them isn't illegal and still won't be. It's the buying them, which is (apparently) already illegal in physical sex shops. I haven't be able to verify that...
The sure sign for me that the Tories were starting to edge ahead has been the unmistakeable bashing they've been taking in the PB thread headings evident over the past couple of weeks. If you don't agree, go back and count them for yourself!
Counting them all up would be another challenge for the Tories which will be hard for us to overcome.
@MichaelPDeacon: I don't want to speak too soon, but I sense we may have another "shows how much you know about pike" on our hands https://t.co/rq2YntzWDM
Should the Tories win next May, they will probably be able to look back to this particular period and consider themselves very fortunate that three quite separate aspects worked together in their favour in blowing away Labour's chances: First the SNP's surge in the polls which will probably result in them winning between 25-30 seats at the General Election (compared with Ladbrokes' line bet of 7.5 seats just four short months ago), principally at Labour's expense. Second the Greens' resurgence suggesting that they are likely to win 6% - 7% of the vote in those seats they contest, again principally at Labour's expense and perhaps sufficient to precent them from otherwise winning in say 5 - 10 marginals. Third, the reported falling out between Danny Alexander and Vince Cable over spending cuts at this week's Cabinet, coupled with Clegg's rather petulant decision in refusing to sit next to Cameron or Osborne in the House of Commons, thereby in effect bringing the coalition to an end and in all likelihood doing the LibDems no favours come the General Election. All that is now needed is for UKIP to mess up big time in some way or other and the Tories might even find themselves looking at the prospect of an overall majority.
Third, the reported falling out between Danny Alexander and Vince Cable over spending cuts at this week's Cabinet, coupled with Clegg's rather petulant decision in refusing to sit next to Cameron or Osborne in the House of Commons
Yes, what on earth was Nick Clegg thinking? There's a case (a very strong one, in my view) for the LibDems to be proud of their record in helping provide the stability and good economic management which has led to amazing turnaround in the UK's economic position compared with our competitors. There's an alternative strategy which the LibDems could adopt (or at least could have adopted), which is to try to win back defectors to Labour by capitalising on the irrational hatred of the Tories, and having nothing to do with the coalition. But staying in the coalition, whilst pretending it's nothing to do with the LibDems, makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Doing so just at the time when the reward for getting the economy back in shape is coming into focus is utterly bizarre as a strategy. It gives them all of the downside of being in the coalition without the upside. Danny Alexander seems to understand this very obvious point, but he seems to be one of the few LibDems who does.
Should the Tories win next May, they will probably be able to look back to this particular period and consider themselves very fortunate that three quite separate aspects worked together in their favour in blowing away Labour's chances: First the SNP's surge in the polls which will probably result in them winning between 25-30 seats at the General Election (compared with Ladbrokes' line bet of 7.5 seats just four short months ago), principally at Labour's expense. Second the Greens' resurgence suggesting that they are likely to win 6% - 7% of the vote in those seats they contest, again principally at Labour's expense and perhaps sufficient to precent them from otherwise winning in say 5 - 10 marginals. Third, the reported falling out between Danny Alexander and Vince Cable over spending cuts at this week's Cabinet, coupled with Clegg's rather petulant decision in refusing to sit next to Cameron or Osborne in the House of Commons, thereby in effect bringing the coalition to an end and in all likelihood doing the LibDems no favours come the General Election. All that is now needed is for UKIP to mess up big time in some way or other and the Tories might even find themselves looking at the prospect of an overall majority.
Fourth.
Dave vs Ed at their conferences.
It gave a lot of senior blues confidence that our boy will thrash Ed in an election campaign.
Had to be worth a few percentage points on Election Day.
Nice to know our civil servants are busily occupied drawing up laws that no-one is going to pay any attention to, such as banning spanking and watersports videos. I'm sure millions of people will still be watching such videos in this country regardless of these ridiculous laws.
Watching them isn't illegal and still won't be. It's the buying them, which is (apparently) already illegal in physical sex shops. I haven't be able to verify that...
Every resource the police have to expend dealing with consensual adult pornography offences is of course time and money which could be devoted to tackling the truly odious stuff, ie. material which is neither adult nor consensual.
@jessbowie: According to @labourpress, Balls will appear on various media outlets tomo at 0640; 0730; 0810; 0817; 0850; 0905 & 0920 <-rather him than me
Nice to know our civil servants are busily occupied drawing up laws that no-one is going to pay any attention to, such as banning spanking and watersports videos. I'm sure millions of people will still be watching such videos in this country regardless of these ridiculous laws.
Watching them isn't illegal and still won't be. It's the buying them, which is (apparently) already illegal in physical sex shops. I haven't be able to verify that...
Every resource the police have to expend dealing with consensual adult pornography offences is of course time and money which could be devoted to tackling the truly odious stuff, ie. material which is neither adult nor consensual.
I am slightly bemused that he was able to announce that the deficit will be lower this year than last. I really thought he was snookered on that and so did most of the analysts I read. He is several billion behind last year at the moment.
Surely George would not have achieved some slight of hand such as some deferred payments?
How does the 'independent' Office For Budget Responsibility fit into all this?
My mum and dad have a "traditional" style barometer in their hallway but although I visit most weekends, I can't remember the last time I even consulted it!
Should the Tories win next May, they will probably be able to look back to this particular period and consider themselves very fortunate that three quite separate aspects worked together in their favour in blowing away Labour's chances: First the SNP's surge in the polls which will probably result in them winning between 25-30 seats at the General Election (compared with Ladbrokes' line bet of 7.5 seats just four short months ago), principally at Labour's expense. Second the Greens' resurgence suggesting that they are likely to win 6% - 7% of the vote in those seats they contest, again principally at Labour's expense and perhaps sufficient to precent them from otherwise winning in say 5 - 10 marginals. Third, the reported falling out between Danny Alexander and Vince Cable over spending cuts at this week's Cabinet, coupled with Clegg's rather petulant decision in refusing to sit next to Cameron or Osborne in the House of Commons, thereby in effect bringing the coalition to an end and in all likelihood doing the LibDems no favours come the General Election. All that is now needed is for UKIP to mess up big time in some way or other and the Tories might even find themselves looking at the prospect of an overall majority.
Fourth.
Dave vs Ed at their conferences.
It gave a lot of senior blues confidence that our boy will thrash Ed in an election campaign.
Had to be worth a few percentage points on Election Day.
Ffith: Labour still gives no reason to vote Labour. Today shows they are absent from the field of battle on the economy.
The Swedish election may have some influence on the UK election campaign since the former is being held on 22nd March, just a few days before the start of the UK campaign.
Second the Greens' resurgence suggesting that they are likely to win 6% - 7% of the vote in those seats they contest, again principally at Labour's expense and perhaps sufficient to precent them from otherwise winning in say 5 - 10 marginals.
I think 6% - 7% in the seats they contest (5% ish overall) is way too high for the Green party at the GE. Indeed there is surely some comfort for Labour that the high Green polling now is squeezable in their favour by next May.
Second the Greens' resurgence suggesting that they are likely to win 6% - 7% of the vote in those seats they contest, again principally at Labour's expense and perhaps sufficient to precent them from otherwise winning in say 5 - 10 marginals.
I think 6% - 7% in the seats they contest (5% ish overall) is way too high for the Green party at the GE. Indeed there is surely some comfort for Labour that the high Green polling now is squeezable in their favour by next May.
What would you roughly predict for the Greens?
(Aside: do you not meet even bigger "deficit-deniers" than me in the Greens?!)
Second the Greens' resurgence suggesting that they are likely to win 6% - 7% of the vote in those seats they contest, again principally at Labour's expense and perhaps sufficient to precent them from otherwise winning in say 5 - 10 marginals.
I think 6% - 7% in the seats they contest (5% ish overall) is way too high for the Green party at the GE. Indeed there is surely some comfort for Labour that the high Green polling now is squeezable in their favour by next May.
My anecdotal evidence is not whilst Ed is in charge. He is the reason a number of my leftist chums have gone green.....
Vince Cable's face today was a picture. Chewing on a hornet doesn't begin to convey his obvious displeasure at being sat on the side of the House delivering this Statement.
I really don't know why he carries on in politics.
Second the Greens' resurgence suggesting that they are likely to win 6% - 7% of the vote in those seats they contest, again principally at Labour's expense and perhaps sufficient to precent them from otherwise winning in say 5 - 10 marginals.
I think 6% - 7% in the seats they contest (5% ish overall) is way too high for the Green party at the GE. Indeed there is surely some comfort for Labour that the high Green polling now is squeezable in their favour by next May.
What would you roughly predict for the Greens?
(Aside: do you not meet even bigger "deficit-deniers" than me in the Greens?!)
More than last time (well, standing in roughly 50% more seats so that shouldnt be hard) but less than current poll ratings (due to not standing everywhere but, more importantly, due to being squeezed in many constituencies). 3% would be perfectly acceptable. The key for the Greens isnt national vote share though - it's places in constituencies. Retaining Brighton Pavilion and taking 2 or even 3 second places would be a fantastic result regardless of national vote share.
I can honestly say that I dont think I've ever met anyone who on the one hand sees no problem running 10%+ deficits in perpetuity but on the other hand refuses to engage with the logical consequences of such a policy (ie what it would mean to welfare recipients and others when others stopped funding those deficits).
Andy JS The polls show little change from the general election other than a further increase in the Swedish Democrats' score to 16% and a slight decrease in the SPD score.
The centre left become largest party but with the balance of power held by a rightwing, populist party and new elections held just months later, hope it is not an omen for next May?
Vince Cable's face today was a picture. Chewing on a hornet doesn't begin to convey his obvious displeasure at being sat on the side of the House delivering this Statement.
I really don't know why he carries on in politics.
Today was quite a success for the Business Secretary. Many of the arguments he has been making over the course of this Parliament were accepted. His department is an obvious winner from the Statement (eg the extension of British Business Bank schemes).
Second the Greens' resurgence suggesting that they are likely to win 6% - 7% of the vote in those seats they contest, again principally at Labour's expense and perhaps sufficient to precent them from otherwise winning in say 5 - 10 marginals.
I think 6% - 7% in the seats they contest (5% ish overall) is way too high for the Green party at the GE. Indeed there is surely some comfort for Labour that the high Green polling now is squeezable in their favour by next May.
My anecdotal evidence is not whilst Ed is in charge. He is the reason a number of my leftist chums have gone green.....
Second the Greens' resurgence suggesting that they are likely to win 6% - 7% of the vote in those seats they contest, again principally at Labour's expense and perhaps sufficient to precent them from otherwise winning in say 5 - 10 marginals.
I think 6% - 7% in the seats they contest (5% ish overall) is way too high for the Green party at the GE. Indeed there is surely some comfort for Labour that the high Green polling now is squeezable in their favour by next May.
My anecdotal evidence is not whilst Ed is in charge. He is the reason a number of my leftist chums have gone green.....
Second the Greens' resurgence suggesting that they are likely to win 6% - 7% of the vote in those seats they contest, again principally at Labour's expense and perhaps sufficient to precent them from otherwise winning in say 5 - 10 marginals.
I think 6% - 7% in the seats they contest (5% ish overall) is way too high for the Green party at the GE. Indeed there is surely some comfort for Labour that the high Green polling now is squeezable in their favour by next May.
My anecdotal evidence is not whilst Ed is in charge. He is the reason a number of my leftist chums have gone green.....
Well, yes, anecdotal evidence!
Yes, anecdotal. But life-long Labour, active Tory-haters, who find the idea of Osborne continuing in office about on a par with Ebola appearing down their street - but they are voting Green.
Vince Cable's face today was a picture. Chewing on a hornet doesn't begin to convey his obvious displeasure at being sat on the side of the House delivering this Statement.
I really don't know why he carries on in politics.
Today was quite a success for the Business Secretary. Many of the arguments he has been making over the course of this Parliament were accepted. His department is an obvious winner from the Statement (eg the extension of British Business Bank schemes).
Well, given that he and Danny Alexander have reportedly not spoken for weeks, maybe Danny will claim the credit for those parts of the Curate's Egg budget that the LibDem faithful (SId and Doris Bonkers) quite liked.....
“Total public spending is now projected to fall to 35.2% of GDP by 2019-20, taking it below the previous post-war lows reached in 1957-8 and 1999-2000 to what would probably be its lowest level in 80 years”. According to the OBR, however Cable and Clegg seem to differ with Osborne on this point http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/dec/03/autumn-statement-2014-george-osborne-spending-cuts
Second the Greens' resurgence suggesting that they are likely to win 6% - 7% of the vote in those seats they contest, again principally at Labour's expense and perhaps sufficient to precent them from otherwise winning in say 5 - 10 marginals.
I think 6% - 7% in the seats they contest (5% ish overall) is way too high for the Green party at the GE. Indeed there is surely some comfort for Labour that the high Green polling now is squeezable in their favour by next May.
My anecdotal evidence is not whilst Ed is in charge. He is the reason a number of my leftist chums have gone green.....
Second the Greens' resurgence suggesting that they are likely to win 6% - 7% of the vote in those seats they contest, again principally at Labour's expense and perhaps sufficient to precent them from otherwise winning in say 5 - 10 marginals.
I think 6% - 7% in the seats they contest (5% ish overall) is way too high for the Green party at the GE. Indeed there is surely some comfort for Labour that the high Green polling now is squeezable in their favour by next May.
My anecdotal evidence is not whilst Ed is in charge. He is the reason a number of my leftist chums have gone green.....
Well, yes, anecdotal evidence!
Yes, anecdotal. But life-long Labour, active Tory-haters, who find the idea of Osborne continuing in office about on a par with Ebola appearing down their street - but they are voting Green.
We all love our friends. But we'd be foolish to base any political judgements on them.
Both George Osborne and Danny Alexander will be delighted with the Scotsman front page too. Twitter Scotsman @TheScotsman now39 seconds ago Today's Scotsman front page: Race against time to avoid SNP's tax hike http://bit.ly/1zjqPPR
The sure sign for me that the Tories were starting to edge ahead has been the unmistakeable bashing they've been taking in the PB thread headings evident over the past couple of weeks. If you don't agree, go back and count them for yourself!
haha!
Brilliant headlines from the right and centre papers tomorrow.
The Sun has come up with a particular gem, both for Osborne and EdM.
Meanwhile, Anthony Wells and UK Polling Report now officially predicting a hung Parliament with Labour just short of a majority http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/
Comments
The same applies to farmers who rely on cheap imported labour to pick crops. All it shows is that the price of strawberries is too low. Put wages up, locals will do the work, charge a bit more in the shops. Sorted. If the farmer can't sell at the higher price he should use his land for something else.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30297932
EICIPM
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/12/02/uk-porn-law-sexist-female-ejaculation-ban_n_6254678.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/LORD-ASHCROFT-POLLS-Post-referendum-poll-tables-Sept-2014.pdf
You were one of the SNP imploders and 60/40ers, weren't you?
3 out of the 4 phone pollsters have shown Tory leads this year.
Right, heading to bed now too. Goodnight.
(Diminishing) Tribal loyalty and a divided right is all they are hanging on to.
This govt has cut spending. Labours policy was to spend more. The Institute for Fiscal Studies, says that in 2010-11, there was a discretionary fiscal tightening of 1.6% of GDP, followed by 2.4%, 1.4%, 1% and a planned 0.6% this year. Over the course of the parliament the coalition will have tightened by 7% of GDP.
The govt has made real progress in cutting the structural deficit. The International Monetary Fund say the cyclically-adjusted deficit has come down from 10.3% of gross domestic product in 2009 to 4.1% this year.
Britain’s GDP is now 3.4% above pre-crisis levels, (Germany 3.1%), France 1.4%, Spain -5.8% and Italy -9.4%)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30306992
http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/stamp-duty-revamp-blow-to-snp-property-tax-reforms-1-3623960
Chortle.......
Con 32%, Lab 40%, LD 9%, UKIP 12%, Green 3%
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_2015_United_Kingdom_general_election#2013
We shall see how the SNP does. I think that it will struggle to hold ground in 2011.
It will be when BigJohn tells us a poll is only the position now and it'll be different when it matters in May.
http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/africa/west-africa/nigeria/216-curbing-violence-in-nigeria-ii-the-boko-haram-insurgency.pdf
In Dec 2013, in the last full YouGov conducted before the Autumn Statement, Lab had a 12% lead (con 29, Lab 41)
In the first YouGov poll conducted entirely after the Autumn Statement, Lab's lead was slashed to 5% (con 34, Lab 39)
So I have this theory, the more we see of Ozzy on TV, the Tories get a boost.
George Osborne is awesome.
@iainmartin1: Risk for Labour is that sounds as though they're saying if govt had borrowed more the deficit would now be, er, lower.
Repeat, every day until the election...
...or not.
If you don't agree, go back and count them for yourself!
Brilliant headlines from the right and centre papers tomorrow.
The Sun has come up with a particular gem, both for Osborne and EdM.
I'll go do some research tomorrow.
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/ex-rotherham-mayor-barry-dodson-charged-with-indecent-assault-of-teenage-girl-1-6986163#.VH-V1yI6kgE.twitter
Wonder if the trial will be done by May.
@MichaelPDeacon: I don't want to speak too soon, but I sense we may have another "shows how much you know about pike" on our hands https://t.co/rq2YntzWDM
First the SNP's surge in the polls which will probably result in them winning between 25-30 seats at the General Election (compared with Ladbrokes' line bet of 7.5 seats just four short months ago), principally at Labour's expense.
Second the Greens' resurgence suggesting that they are likely to win 6% - 7% of the vote in those seats they contest, again principally at Labour's expense and perhaps sufficient to precent them from otherwise winning in say 5 - 10 marginals.
Third, the reported falling out between Danny Alexander and Vince Cable over spending cuts at this week's Cabinet, coupled with Clegg's rather petulant decision in refusing to sit next to Cameron or Osborne in the House of Commons, thereby in effect bringing the coalition to an end and in all likelihood doing the LibDems no favours come the General Election.
All that is now needed is for UKIP to mess up big time in some way or other and the Tories might even find themselves looking at the prospect of an overall majority.
Which is short for Bassam.
I think it was the producers trolling those oddballs.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mehdi-hasan/autumn-statement-deficit_b_6261134.html
Dave vs Ed at their conferences.
It gave a lot of senior blues confidence that our boy will thrash Ed in an election campaign.
Had to be worth a few percentage points on Election Day.
I've just bought one of these > amazon.co.uk/18cm-Storm-Glass-Barometer-Wooden/dp/B00FF8XN88/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1417649628&sr=8-15&keywords=barometers The original FitzRoy design for a storm glass from c1700 and The Beagle.
http://www.thelocal.se/20141203/crisis-in-sweden-as-coalition-budget-fails
Good luck with defining consent though...
A week later, this had opened up to 2.1% Lab lead.
The first five polls so far this week (ie. excluding tonight's YG) show a 1.4% Lab lead.
My mum and dad have a "traditional" style barometer in their hallway but although I visit most weekends, I can't remember the last time I even consulted it!
Balls' stance is also shackling Labour from the policy innovation needed to excite and reunite the left as Cruddas bemoaned a couple of months ago.
(Aside: do you not meet even bigger "deficit-deniers" than me in the Greens?!)
I really don't know why he carries on in politics.
I can honestly say that I dont think I've ever met anyone who on the one hand sees no problem running 10%+ deficits in perpetuity but on the other hand refuses to engage with the logical consequences of such a policy (ie what it would mean to welfare recipients and others when others stopped funding those deficits).
The centre left become largest party but with the balance of power held by a rightwing, populist party and new elections held just months later, hope it is not an omen for next May?
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/dec/03/autumn-statement-2014-george-osborne-spending-cuts
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/03/snp-suspends-renfrewshire-councillors-burning-smith-commission-report-sturgeon
Appointed on 3rd October.
Lost budget vote on 3rd December.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefan_Löfven
Twitter
Scotsman @TheScotsman now39 seconds ago
Today's Scotsman front page: Race against time to avoid SNP's tax hike http://bit.ly/1zjqPPR
Meanwhile, Anthony Wells and UK Polling Report now officially predicting a hung Parliament with Labour just short of a majority http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/
Night!
Russell Brand pays £5k a month to his tax-exile landlords
Fight the power, fight the man...what you want five grand a month to rent that pad and you want it wired to a tax haven, no problem mate. PARKLIFE....