Does the left hate England? I just tend to think the English are a rather unpatriotic bunch who aren't particularly fond of themselves. I don't know why and for us celts it does have its advantages. They don't lord it over us in the way an nation with a clearer identity might. ...
Exactly. The English in the main do not feel the need to wave anational flag about to demonstrate who they are. Being comfortable in ones identity does not mean not liking it. England is a large country with many flavours of Englishness. It also recognises The United Kingdom. Its quite absurd to say the English are unpatriotic, we recognise the Union, and the notion of 'lording over' does not exist.
Of course you could also point out to them that the English didn't embrace fascism either, but that gets forgotten. .
Only two European countries wholly embraced Fascism more or less of their own free will, so hardly exceptional. Of course many adopted some version of it once occupied. As ever, the several hundred square miles of the Channel are a much more relevant explanation of 'English' serenity than some innate trait of national character.
plenty sympathisers and if Adolf had got across he would not have been short of recruits.
Every society has its opportunists, perverts, criminals, who see war, revolution, and foreign occupation as a means to enrich themselves and/or enact their most depraved fantasies.
Does the left hate England? I just tend to think the English are a rather unpatriotic bunch who aren't particularly fond of themselves. I don't know why and for us celts it does have its advantages. They don't lord it over us in the way an nation with a clearer identity might. This does cause problems though and I think the apathy of the left, who let's face it tend to be less concerned with identity than the right, can be problematic. George Monbiot's negativity doesn't bode well for a left that wants to change England. The English never really embraced the revolutionary left in the 20th century in the way that most other countries did. Perhaps that tends to frustrate left wing activists. Of course you could also point out to them that the English didn't embrace fascism either, but that gets forgotten. The war time experience seemed to bring bout a more unified country in which old class divisions crumbled and a sense of solidarity emerged. Sadly we seem to be going backwards on that front and I think the left resents that. Their best hope is that the modern world produces such inequalities and benefits most a small majority so the masses might reunite with each other. Struggling to at the moment though. Man United fans singing chanting 'you'll never get a job' at their Liverpool rivals suggests the working class don't know which side their bread is buttered.
Whatever Man Utd fans sing to Liverpool fans is probably slightly less malevolent than what Rangers and Celtic fans sing to each other.
The English have tended to equate England with Britain, much to the annoyance of other parts of the UK; and so overt patriotism has tended to focus on the Union Jack rather than the Cross of St George. That is now beginning to change, of course; and as it does various evocations of and views about Englishness will develop. As can be seen on here today, it is already happening.
Of course you could also point out to them that the English didn't embrace fascism either, but that gets forgotten. .
Only two European countries wholly embraced Fascism more or less of their own free will, so hardly exceptional. Of course many adopted some version of it once occupied. As ever, the several hundred square miles of the Channel are a much more relevant explanation of 'English' serenity than some innate trait of national character.
There was quite considerable support for Fascism in this country in the 1930's, by no means all of it crackpot.
Large parts of France supported the Germans throughout the war, and fascist tendency remain a strong factor in French Political life in many areas, not just around Vichy.
Sure, but I'd still say Germany and Italy were the only 2 countries to embrace Fascism, before 1939 anyway.
Curious to see Populus raise the duopoly to 70% today - YouGov had only 64% on Saturday evening.
The difference isn't explained by the LD/UKIP numbers which are around 22-24% in the polls so it's the discrepancy with the "Others" that is the most marked. The next ICM will be fascinating (as always).
We were of course told by some on here to expect a 10% Conservative lead by Christmas - now it's "January-February" when "the polls will move". This all presumes they will and in the direction most beneficent to the Conservatives.
Does the left hate England? I just tend to think the English are a rather unpatriotic bunch who aren't particularly fond of themselves. I don't know why and for us celts it does have its advantages. They don't lord it over us in the way an nation with a clearer identity might. This does cause problems though and I think the apathy of the left, who let's face it tend to be less concerned with identity than the right, can be problematic. George Monbiot's negativity doesn't bode well for a left that wants to change England. The English never really embraced the revolutionary left in the 20th century in the way that most other countries did. Perhaps that tends to frustrate left wing activists. Of course you could also point out to them that the English didn't embrace fascism either, but that gets forgotten. The war time experience seemed to bring bout a more unified country in which old class divisions crumbled and a sense of solidarity emerged. Sadly we seem to be going backwards on that front and I think the left resents that. Their best hope is that the modern world produces such inequalities and benefits most a small majority so the masses might reunite with each other. Struggling to at the moment though. Man United fans singing chanting 'you'll never get a job' at their Liverpool rivals suggests the working class don't know which side their bread is buttered.
Whatever Man Utd fans sing to Liverpool fans is probably slightly less malevolent than what Rangers and Celtic fans sing to each other.
The English have tended to equate England with Britain, much to the annoyance of other parts of the UK; and so overt patriotism has tended to focus on the Union Jack rather than the Cross of St George. That is now beginning to change, of course; and as it does various evocations of and views about Englishness will develop. As can be seen on here today, it is already happening.
I take your point re Celtic and Rangers but I do think it's symbolic that largely working class fans of so many teams chant that at Liverpool. Same with the London fans waving £10 notes at the northern teams' fans in the 80s.
There was quite considerable support for Fascism in this country in the 1930's, by no means all of it crackpot.
Large parts of France supported the Germans throughout the war, and fascist tendency remain a strong factor in French Political life in many areas, not just around Vichy.
Indeed, it was considered the intellectual and moral response to Communism in its time. It's easy to think of "fascism" as one thing when it came in many distinct flavours. Some flavours of fascism were really authoritarian nationalism - the Italian flavour had quite significant socialist undertones in terms of State control and had none of the racial aspects of the German and some Eastern European versions.
Mussolini, Franco and Salazar can all be called "fascists" up to a point but their brand diffe3red markedly from that of Hitler and others. My recollection is that Mosley was very much in the Mussolini camp.
Of course you could also point out to them that the English didn't embrace fascism either, but that gets forgotten. .
Only two European countries wholly embraced Fascism more or less of their own free will, so hardly exceptional. Of course many adopted some version of it once occupied. As ever, the several hundred square miles of the Channel are a much more relevant explanation of 'English' serenity than some innate trait of national character.
There was quite considerable support for Fascism in this country in the 1930's, by no means all of it crackpot.
Large parts of France supported the Germans throughout the war, and fascist tendency remain a strong factor in French Political life in many areas, not just around Vichy.
Sure, but I'd still say Germany and Italy were the only 2 countries to embrace Fascism, before 1939 anyway.
Edit: actually, I suppose I should include Austria, though they do consider themselves the first victim of Nazi expansionism.
Curious to see Populus raise the duopoly to 70% today - YouGov had only 64% on Saturday evening.
The difference isn't explained by the LD/UKIP numbers which are around 22-24% in the polls so it's the discrepancy with the "Others" that is the most marked. The next ICM will be fascinating (as always).
We were of course told by some on here to expect a 10% Conservative lead by Christmas - now it's "January-February" when "the polls will move". This all presumes they will and in the direction most beneficent to the Conservatives.
I'm not sure where the extra Tory voters will come from. They've picked up a few 2010 Lib Dems for mysterious reasons but otherwise they've lost support to Ukip. They will surely be down on vote share from 2010 meaning we'll likely get a very messy parliament unless Ed Miliband miraculously ups his game.
Man asks woman for sex may have been a scandal in the late Victorian age, but I suspect not in this age.
On the other hand its UKIP and kippers who decry the modern age. They wish we were back in the1950's where women were either Lady Docker or wore curlers and knew their place.
What was it Goebbels said about effective propaganda, "Chose a few simple lies and repeat them endlessly", something like that.
There was quite considerable support for Fascism in this country in the 1930's, by no means all of it crackpot.
Large parts of France supported the Germans throughout the war, and fascist tendency remain a strong factor in French Political life in many areas, not just around Vichy.
Indeed, it was considered the intellectual and moral response to Communism in its time. It's easy to think of "fascism" as one thing when it came in many distinct flavours. Some flavours of fascism were really authoritarian nationalism - the Italian flavour had quite significant socialist undertones in terms of State control and had none of the racial aspects of the German and some Eastern European versions.
Mussolini, Franco and Salazar can all be called "fascists" up to a point but their brand diffe3red markedly from that of Hitler and others. My recollection is that Mosley was very much in the Mussolini camp.
To that you could also add Horthy's Hungary and De Valera's Ireland, which drew on the same senses of nationalist sentiments and grievances.
Does the left hate England? I just tend to think the English are a rather unpatriotic bunch who aren't particularly fond of themselves. I don't know why and for us celts it does have its advantages. They don't lord it over us in the way an nation with a clearer identity might. This does cause problems though and I think the apathy of the left, who let's face it tend to be less concerned with identity than the right, can be problematic. George Monbiot's negativity doesn't bode well for a left that wants to change England. The English never really embraced the revolutionary left in the 20th century in the way that most other countries did. Perhaps that tends to frustrate left wing activists. Of course you could also point out to them that the English didn't embrace fascism either, but that gets forgotten. The war time experience seemed to bring bout a more unified country in which old class divisions crumbled and a sense of solidarity emerged. Sadly we seem to be going backwards on that front and I think the left resents that. Their best hope is that the modern world produces such inequalities and benefits most a small majority so the masses might reunite with each other. Struggling to at the moment though. Man United fans singing chanting 'you'll never get a job' at their Liverpool rivals suggests the working class don't know which side their bread is buttered.
Whatever Man Utd fans sing to Liverpool fans is probably slightly less malevolent than what Rangers and Celtic fans sing to each other.
The English have tended to equate England with Britain, much to the annoyance of other parts of the UK; and so overt patriotism has tended to focus on the Union Jack rather than the Cross of St George. That is now beginning to change, of course; and as it does various evocations of and views about Englishness will develop. As can be seen on here today, it is already happening.
I take your point re Celtic and Rangers but I do think it's symbolic that largely working class fans of so many teams chant that at Liverpool. Same with the London fans waving £10 notes at the northern teams' fans in the 80s.
You chaps are obviously unaware of the "offensive behaviour at football" act of 2012 in Scotland which has banned :
"expressing hatred of, or stirring up hatred against, a group of persons based on their membership (or presumed membership) of—
(i)a religious group,
(ii)a social or cultural group with a perceived religious affiliation,
(iii)a group defined by reference to a thing mentioned in subsection (4),"
The things referred to in subsection (2)(a)(iii) are— (a)colour, (b)race, (c)nationality (including citizenship), (d)ethnic or national origins, (e)sexual orientation, (f)transgender identity, (g)disability.
Murphy ranked third by Malcolm Chisholm, Claudia Beamish, Katy Clark, Michael Connarty, Ian Davidson, Neil Findlay, Rhoda Grant, Hugh Henry, Cara Hilton, Johann Lamont, Margaret McDougall, Graeme Morrice, Eleine Murray, Sandra Osborne, Eleine Smith
Not sure what is the point of a second preference in the Deputy contest
Man asks woman for sex may have been a scandal in the late Victorian age, but I suspect not in this age.
On the other hand its UKIP and kippers who decry the modern age. They wish we were back in the1950's where women were either Lady Docker or wore curlers and knew their place.
What was it Goebbels said about effective propaganda, "Chose a few simple lies and repeat them endlessly", something like that.
Murphy ranked third by Malcolm Chisholm, Claudia Beamish, Katy Clark, Michael Connarty, Ian Davidson, Neil Findlay, Rhoda Grant, Hugh Henry, Cara Hilton, Johann Lamont, Margaret McDougall, Graeme Morrice, Eleine Murray, Sandra Osborne, Eleine Smith
Not sure what is the point of a second preference in the Deputy contest
Actually, I think some of the non-Murphyites (Lamont e.g.) didn't even rank him 3rd.
I'm not sure where the extra Tory voters will come from. They've picked up a few 2010 Lib Dems for mysterious reasons but otherwise they've lost support to Ukip. They will surely be down on vote share from 2010 meaning we'll likely get a very messy parliament unless Ed Miliband miraculously ups his game.
It's entirely possible and one of many scenarios.
The Conservative "view", as I gather, seems to be a combination of the electorate suddenly realising the "recovery" is here and is happening to them and going down on their ballots to worship George Osborne or that at the very sight of Ed Miliband and prospect of a Labour Government poor frightened insecure middle England will run back to the Tories.
Possible but unlikely.
I suspect both Cameron and Miliband are going to have problems in the election campaign with "off message" comments, tweets and the like. There's the huge issue of Nigel Farage in debates and the Scotland conundrum.
Man asks woman for sex may have been a scandal in the late Victorian age, but I suspect not in this age.
On the other hand its UKIP and kippers who decry the modern age. They wish we were back in the1950's where women were either Lady Docker or wore curlers and knew their place.
Even in the 1950's sexual intercourse took place between men and women, shocking as this may seem.
Anyone feel like caricaturing the Tories or Labour for a bit, I am getting bored with Flightpath's endless caricatures of kippers, although I admit he has a talent for generalising the comments and misdemeanours of one of two people to a party of 20,000 members, taking votes from a fifth of the population.
Blaming traffic jams on the M4 on immigrants is a bit beyond carricature. Its bit funny though that St Nigel was on his way to Wales, presumably to meet the man he appointed as leader of the Welsh, MEP Gill. The same man who was found out for employing scores of foreign workers and keeping them in dormitories.
Given that UKIP likes the country the way it imagines it was in the early 1950s, why would they not also like the way it was OK to behave in the 1950s? Sneering at poofs, chinks, and people from Bongo Bongo Land; pestering women for sex, and telling them to clean behind the fridge?
Kippers who insist that these people are somehow untypical of UKIP and not synonymous with its "values" are in the precise position of someone arguing that not all builders wolf whistle at women. They don't of necessity, no. But the set of those who are prepared to do dirty, heavy and dangerous work outdoors in all weathers for what it pays, and the set of those who think it OK to who whistle aggressively at women, overlap heavily, perhaps entirely.
In the same way, while loonies like this may be untypical of UKIP, they seem remarkably easy to find among UKIPpers. Just this year, we've had Roger Helmer's massage parlour visits, that councillor who thought gay marriage caused floods, Geoffrey Bloom's every public utterance, that Bolter woman whom UKIP bigged up in a display of sheeplish PC who has turned out to be a fantasist nutter, Nige not wanting them Romanians moving in next door and GOK what else.
If these prannocks ever get near the levers of power we will not be able to say we weren't warned.
Mr. Isam, the constant wet coldness is irksome, but is certainly seasonal.
In more troubling news, there seems to be no way at all of removing e-books from only some of Amazon's sites (I was going to remove mine from the EU sites [excepting the UK, of course], as a purely precautionary measure). I'm near certain I'll be fine, but if not I'll be livid (I could remove them, but that would make selling books a bit tricky and I could lose any meta-data that's built up [stuff like "People who bought this also bought X, Y and Z" which is handy]).
To that you could also add Horthy's Hungary and De Valera's Ireland, which drew on the same senses of nationalist sentiments and grievances.
Indeed though I would count De Valera in the "Mussolini" camp albeit with a more overt religious sense while Horthy was more of a conservative nationalist and indeed defied Hitler on the deportation of the Hungarian Jews (unlike Vichy France).
For those of a counterfactual history persuasion, here's one to wonder - what if Charles IV had been restored as King of Hungary in 1921 ?
Man asks woman for sex may have been a scandal in the late Victorian age, but I suspect not in this age.
On the other hand its UKIP and kippers who decry the modern age. They wish we were back in the1950's where women were either Lady Docker or wore curlers and knew their place.
What was it Goebbels said about effective propaganda, "Chose a few simple lies and repeat them endlessly", something like that.
If these prannocks ever get near the levers of power we will not be able to say we weren't warned.
Indeed. But they have power. To affect electoral outcomes. Because, despite the window-licking nature of some of their number, they speak openly on some of the key issues of the day that the main parties seem keen to avoid. Immigration, leaving the EU, the PC'isation of our culture, England, identity, freedom to say what you really think, etc, etc. Mainstream politics needs to address these issues and not wave them away with a dismissive de-haut-en-bas metropolitan sneer. They have been warned.
To that you could also add Horthy's Hungary and De Valera's Ireland, which drew on the same senses of nationalist sentiments and grievances.
Indeed though I would count De Valera in the "Mussolini" camp albeit with a more overt religious sense while Horthy was more of a conservative nationalist and indeed defied Hitler on the deportation of the Hungarian Jews (unlike Vichy France).
For those of a counterfactual history persuasion, here's one to wonder - what if Charles IV had been restored as King of Hungary in 1921 ?
Salazar in Portugal was also more of a Mussolini light with strong religious overtones. His was an authoritarian government without a shadow of a doubt. He banned any Marxist based party but also the national socialists. However, his political philosophy owed a n awful more to Catholic principles on social matters than it did to Mein Kampf and the like. As democracy crumbles under its own weight there are a lot worse systems that might emerge.
Murphy ranked third by Malcolm Chisholm, Claudia Beamish, Katy Clark, Michael Connarty, Ian Davidson, Neil Findlay, Rhoda Grant, Hugh Henry, Cara Hilton, Johann Lamont, Margaret McDougall, Graeme Morrice, Eleine Murray, Sandra Osborne, Eleine Smith
Not sure what is the point of a second preference in the Deputy contest
Actually, I think some of the non-Murphyites (Lamont e.g.) didn't even rank him 3rd.
Did they give the actual party membership numbers, and the % turnouts?
The conventional figure for SLAB membership is 13K but the NS has it at 10K in an article a few days ago and there's discussion up here that it could be as low as 6-7K.
The other strand of comment is a number of people surprised at being sent voting forms - even when they have not been in the party or the union for years.
One other thought. The party leader has to be a MSP or MP to be elected. Does anyone know whether he has to remain one? Perhaps academic, as the rules can always be changed, like the one about secret ballot for MSP/MPs was.
This is interesting. It's always possible, of course, that we might see differential turnout between the sexes. Alienation may cause men to vote for silly parties and women simply not to vote.
2) Most of Rory Mac's achievements this year, weren't shown live on terrestrial TV, unlike Hamilton's achievements
This is the golden rule of SPOTY.
It is almost impossible to win if you do not appear regularly on terrestrial TV.
There are now just 6 days of live men's golf per year on terrestrial TV - that is not enough for McIlroy to be well enough known to a BBC audience.
I layed McIlroy yesterday - one of my most confident bets (before the start) of SPOTY. When McIlroy tightened during the event I thought there must be a leak.
Look at the result - Hamilton won easily, McIlroy wasn't that far ahead of Pavey!
Given that UKIP likes the country the way it imagines it was in the early 1950s, why would they not also like the way it was OK to behave in the 1950s? Sneering at poofs, chinks, and people from Bongo Bongo Land; pestering women for sex, and telling them to clean behind the fridge?
Kippers who insist that these people are somehow untypical of UKIP and not synonymous with its "values" are in the precise position of someone arguing that not all builders wolf whistle at women. They don't of necessity, no. But the set of those who are prepared to do dirty, heavy and dangerous work outdoors in all weathers for what it pays, and the set of those who think it OK to who whistle aggressively at women, overlap heavily, perhaps entirely.
In the same way, while loonies like this may be untypical of UKIP, they seem remarkably easy to find among UKIPpers. Just this year, we've had Roger Helmer's massage parlour visits, that councillor who thought gay marriage caused floods, Geoffrey Bloom's every public utterance, that Bolter woman whom UKIP bigged up in a display of sheeplish PC who has turned out to be a fantasist nutter, Nige not wanting them Romanians moving in next door and GOK what else.
If these prannocks ever get near the levers of power we will not be able to say we weren't warned.
Judging by the stuff you post here, there's barely a cigarette paper to be inserted between your opinions, and the opinions you attribute to UKIP members.
Your real objection is that they take the votes that you believe are "yours."
2) Most of Rory Mac's achievements this year, weren't shown live on terrestrial TV, unlike Hamilton's achievements
This is the golden rule of SPOTY.
It is almost impossible to win if you do not appear regularly on terrestrial TV.
There are now just 6 days of live men's golf per year on terrestrial TV - that is not enough for McIlroy to be well enough known to a BBC audience.
I layed McIlroy yesterday - one of my most confident bets (before the start) of SPOTY. When McIlroy tightened during the event I thought there must be a leak.
Look at the result - Hamilton won easily, McIlroy wasn't that far ahead of Pavey!
Hamilton 210k McIlroy 124k Pavey 100k
Fair commrnt but then again Lewis would only have been on terrestrial TV for 18 days and only half of those for actual Grand Prix (the other half for qualification). Furthermore a number of these took pace in the middle of the night , eg from Australia and the the Far East.
Does anyone know if the Conservatives ever published full details of the result of their Rochester Primary? Did Ms Spoilt-Paper win on first preference?
Did they give the actual party membership numbers, and the % turnouts?
The conventional figure for SLAB membership is 13K but the NS has it at 10K in an article a few days ago and there's discussion up here that it could be as low as 6-7K.
The other strand of comment is a number of people surprised at being sent voting forms - even when they have not been in the party or the union for years.
One other thought. The party leader has to be a MSP or MP to be elected. Does anyone know whether he has to remain one? Perhaps academic, as the rules can always be changed, like the one about secret ballot for MSP/MPs was.
No to the first, and strangely nary a journalist willing to push them on it.
On the second, I think you're correct on the rules being changed to suit any given situation. Murphy's strident call for a new constitution for the Scottish Labour party(sic) are a pretty good catch-all for any necessary tweaking.
So another one of Ed's policies unravels at first contact with his own shadow cabinet. It seems ridiculous that the opposition is not in line before a major policy is introduced by the LOTO. It just seems clumsy at best and totally disorganised at worse. I mean this they never even managed to get the policy as far as the public before it fell apart.
2) Most of Rory Mac's achievements this year, weren't shown live on terrestrial TV, unlike Hamilton's achievements
This is the golden rule of SPOTY.
It is almost impossible to win if you do not appear regularly on terrestrial TV.
There are now just 6 days of live men's golf per year on terrestrial TV - that is not enough for McIlroy to be well enough known to a BBC audience.
I layed McIlroy yesterday - one of my most confident bets (before the start) of SPOTY. When McIlroy tightened during the event I thought there must be a leak.
Look at the result - Hamilton won easily, McIlroy wasn't that far ahead of Pavey!
Hamilton 210k McIlroy 124k Pavey 100k
Fair commrnt but then again Lewis would only have been on terrestrial TV for 18 days and only half of those for actual Grand Prix (the other half for qualification). Furthermore a number of these took pace in the middle of the night , eg from Australia and the the Far East.
40 days actually - 20 races + 20 qualifying - I know BBC only shows 50% live but they have very lengthy highlights of the other 50% - 90 minute highlights programmes.
You are basically talking 40 days vs 6 days (and two of McIlroy's 6 days are weekday daytime when audience far, far smaller).
Bonkers proposal by the odious Lynton Crosby to block humanist weddings in non-licenced venues. Jewish, Quaker and Scientolist weddings are allowed anywhere so why not humanist ones? Crosby is unbearable
So another one of Ed's policies unravels at first contact with his own shadow cabinet. It seems ridiculous that the opposition is not in line before a major policy is introduced by the LOTO. It just seems clumsy at best and totally disorganised at worse. I mean this they never even managed to get the policy as far as the public before it fell apart.
Surely the point of this policy/strategy/tactical advice, call it what you will was that it was never intended to reach the ears of the public at all. Now, as soon as a Labour candidate attempts to "move the discussion on" people will know that an attempt is being made to manipulate them and will react accordingly. The techniques salesmen use are only effective as long as the customer doesn't realise they are techniques.
Of course you could also point out to them that the English didn't embrace fascism either, but that gets forgotten. .
Only two European countries wholly embraced Fascism more or less of their own free will, so hardly exceptional. Of course many adopted some version of it once occupied. As ever, the several hundred square miles of the Channel are a much more relevant explanation of 'English' serenity than some innate trait of national character.
plenty sympathisers and if Adolf had got across he would not have been short of recruits.
Not least within the ranks and upper echelons of your ghastly party.
So another one of Ed's policies unravels at first contact with his own shadow cabinet. It seems ridiculous that the opposition is not in line before a major policy is introduced by the LOTO. It just seems clumsy at best and totally disorganised at worse. I mean this they never even managed to get the policy as far as the public before it fell apart.
Surely the point of this policy/strategy/tactical advice, call it what you will was that it was never intended to reach the ears of the public at all. Now, as soon as a Labour candidate attempts to "move the discussion on" people will know that an attempt is being made to manipulate them and will react accordingly. The techniques salesmen use are only effective as long as the customer doesn't realise they are techniques.
It is cute, though:
"we're going to try to deceive you...we're deceiving you...we deceived you..."
Murphy ranked third by Malcolm Chisholm, Claudia Beamish, Katy Clark, Michael Connarty, Ian Davidson, Neil Findlay, Rhoda Grant, Hugh Henry, Cara Hilton, Johann Lamont, Margaret McDougall, Graeme Morrice, Eleine Murray, Sandra Osborne, Eleine Smith
Not sure what is the point of a second preference in the Deputy contest
Deputy Dawg contest had to be Dugdale or they had no-one in Holyrood, what a laugh she will be answering questions. We will never see breakdown of members votes, they will not want to give away how few members they have.
Of course you could also point out to them that the English didn't embrace fascism either, but that gets forgotten. .
Only two European countries wholly embraced Fascism more or less of their own free will, so hardly exceptional. Of course many adopted some version of it once occupied. As ever, the several hundred square miles of the Channel are a much more relevant explanation of 'English' serenity than some innate trait of national character.
plenty sympathisers and if Adolf had got across he would not have been short of recruits.
Not least within the ranks and upper echelons of your ghastly party.
Monica and verbal manure as ever, I think you will find it was the London establishment that were that way inclined, as always.
Bonkers proposal by the odious Lynton Crosby to block humanist weddings in non-licenced venues. Jewish, Quaker and Scientolist weddings are allowed anywhere so why not humanist ones? Crosby is unbearable
Weird. Why are conservatives (small c) often so obsessed with regulating sex, weddings, etc.? I don't care who marries whom where so long as adult mutual consent is given, and see no reason why the State should care either.
Of course you could also point out to them that the English didn't embrace fascism either, but that gets forgotten. .
Only two European countries wholly embraced Fascism more or less of their own free will, so hardly exceptional. Of course many adopted some version of it once occupied. As ever, the several hundred square miles of the Channel are a much more relevant explanation of 'English' serenity than some innate trait of national character.
plenty sympathisers and if Adolf had got across he would not have been short of recruits.
Not least within the ranks and upper echelons of your ghastly party.
So another one of Ed's policies unravels at first contact with his own shadow cabinet. It seems ridiculous that the opposition is not in line before a major policy is introduced by the LOTO. It just seems clumsy at best and totally disorganised at worse. I mean this they never even managed to get the policy as far as the public before it fell apart.
The shambolic part is that the shadow home secy did not sign off on the document. EdMs people are producing reams of stuff without the agreement of the relevant shadow cabinet person. That is a recipe for failure and splits.
SPOTY - my theory, based upon the fact that it is decided by the viewers:
Golf is a tiresome game for boring old farts in shocking plus-fours. A way to ruin a good walk. It is the Nigel Farage of sporting activity and as cool as your dad's jumper.
F1 is a bit more interesting, noisy, fun, glamorous, sexy, in-yer-face and potentially dangerous.
Thus the vote was something akin to knitting vs gladiatorial combat. And Spartacus won.
I think that there have been enough British golfing champions and number ones, but there have only ever been four multiple F1 world driving champions from Britain. Hamilton's achievement is much larger, and given that Hamilton has had a key role in developing the Mercedes car I think people just saying he had it easy because he had the fastest car are wrong.
Bonkers proposal by the odious Lynton Crosby to block humanist weddings in non-licenced venues. Jewish, Quaker and Scientolist weddings are allowed anywhere so why not humanist ones? Crosby is unbearable
Just read the article in The Independent. Strange one. Would it take up much parliamentary time? It's not as if they are doing much right now. It's almost as if they don't want to be seen to be pandering to 'minorities'.
So another one of Ed's policies unravels at first contact with his own shadow cabinet. It seems ridiculous that the opposition is not in line before a major policy is introduced by the LOTO. It just seems clumsy at best and totally disorganised at worse. I mean this they never even managed to get the policy as far as the public before it fell apart.
Surely the point of this policy/strategy/tactical advice, call it what you will was that it was never intended to reach the ears of the public at all. Now, as soon as a Labour candidate attempts to "move the discussion on" people will know that an attempt is being made to manipulate them and will react accordingly. The techniques salesmen use are only effective as long as the customer doesn't realise they are techniques.
It is cute, though:
"we're going to try to deceive you...we're deceiving you...we deceived you..."
and it will probably work.
Amongst their target audience you are probably correct. Sad as it may be .
Mind you it is only a variation on Cameron's own attempt at slight of hand - "People are concerned about too much immigration, therefore I will talk about benefit rules and pretend that will address their concerns. It won't but it might get them talking about something else".
Douglas Carswell talking sense, I hope UKIP supporters follow his wise words about Kerry Smith
“No ifs, not buts, no lacklustre excuses, this sort of language and behaviour is not tolerable,” Mr Carswell told the Evening Standard.
He added: “First and second-generation Britons are as much as part of this country than anyone else. Any Ukip candidate seeking parliamentary office needs to speak with respect for their fellow countrymen and women.”
Bonkers proposal by the odious Lynton Crosby to block humanist weddings in non-licenced venues. Jewish, Quaker and Scientolist weddings are allowed anywhere so why not humanist ones? Crosby is unbearable
Weird. Why are conservatives (small c) often so obsessed with regulating sex, weddings, etc.? I don't care who marries whom where so long as adult mutual consent is given, and see no reason why the State should care either.
It's not as if Labour governments have ever been obsessed with regulating and control.
Douglas Carswell talking sense, I hope UKIP supporters follow his wise words about Kerry Smith
“No ifs, not buts, no lacklustre excuses, this sort of language and behaviour is not tolerable,” Mr Carswell told the Evening Standard.
He added: “First and second-generation Britons are as much as part of this country than anyone else. Any Ukip candidate seeking parliamentary office needs to speak with respect for their fellow countrymen and women.”
Douglas Carswell talking sense, I hope UKIP supporters follow his wise words about Kerry Smith
“No ifs, not buts, no lacklustre excuses, this sort of language and behaviour is not tolerable,” Mr Carswell told the Evening Standard.
He added: “First and second-generation Britons are as much as part of this country than anyone else. Any Ukip candidate seeking parliamentary office needs to speak with respect for their fellow countrymen and women.”
Bonkers proposal by the odious Lynton Crosby to block humanist weddings in non-licenced venues. Jewish, Quaker and Scientolist weddings are allowed anywhere so why not humanist ones? Crosby is unbearable
Weird. Why are conservatives (small c) often so obsessed with regulating sex, weddings, etc.? I don't care who marries whom where so long as adult mutual consent is given, and see no reason why the State should care either.
Property law and tax, Nick. All the time their is ownership of property and inheritance then the state must be interested in marriage. However, that interest need not concern itself with where and by whom and with whom that marriage takes place, providing as you say there is informed adult consent.
Douglas Carswell talking sense, I hope UKIP supporters follow his wise words about Kerry Smith
“No ifs, not buts, no lacklustre excuses, this sort of language and behaviour is not tolerable,” Mr Carswell told the Evening Standard.
He added: “First and second-generation Britons are as much as part of this country than anyone else. Any Ukip candidate seeking parliamentary office needs to speak with respect for their fellow countrymen and women.”
There are rumours that the Hamiltons were behind the Ukip infighting. Once a Tory, always a Tory.
See what I did there? Linked speculation and a full blown smear to insult two parties. You lot are just beginners.
I fully expected the Labour party advice to canvassers to unravel. Probably written by a Spad giving others the benefit of his inexperience. Imagine the scene on the doorstep ...
"What about these 'ere Rotherham thing?"
"You'll be be thrilled to know that the local NHS looked after the girls marvellously. But it's under attack, you know, from those nasty (insert nearest opposition).
Douglas Carswell talking sense, I hope UKIP supporters follow his wise words about Kerry Smith
“No ifs, not buts, no lacklustre excuses, this sort of language and behaviour is not tolerable,” Mr Carswell told the Evening Standard.
He added: “First and second-generation Britons are as much as part of this country than anyone else. Any Ukip candidate seeking parliamentary office needs to speak with respect for their fellow countrymen and women.”
Bonkers proposal by the odious Lynton Crosby to block humanist weddings in non-licenced venues. Jewish, Quaker and Scientolist weddings are allowed anywhere so why not humanist ones? Crosby is unbearable
Weird. Why are conservatives (small c) often so obsessed with regulating sex, weddings, etc.? I don't care who marries whom where so long as adult mutual consent is given, and see no reason why the State should care either.
Bonkers proposal by the odious Lynton Crosby to block humanist weddings in non-licenced venues. Jewish, Quaker and Scientolist weddings are allowed anywhere so why not humanist ones? Crosby is unbearable
Weird. Why are conservatives (small c) often so obsessed with regulating sex, weddings, etc.? I don't care who marries whom where so long as adult mutual consent is given, and see no reason why the State should care either.
I don't quite agree with that as it has legal ramifications. You must admit sham marriages can be an issue. What I don't understand is this location stuff. I thought you could pretty much get married anywhere now. If some religions can get married in unlicenced venues venues hen surely it should apply to everyone. The important thing I would have thought would be the credibility of the person conducting the ceremony.
Douglas Carswell talking sense, I hope UKIP supporters follow his wise words about Kerry Smith
“No ifs, not buts, no lacklustre excuses, this sort of language and behaviour is not tolerable,” Mr Carswell told the Evening Standard.
He added: “First and second-generation Britons are as much as part of this country than anyone else. Any Ukip candidate seeking parliamentary office needs to speak with respect for their fellow countrymen and women.”
Douglas Carswell talking sense, I hope UKIP supporters follow his wise words about Kerry Smith
“No ifs, not buts, no lacklustre excuses, this sort of language and behaviour is not tolerable,” Mr Carswell told the Evening Standard.
He added: “First and second-generation Britons are as much as part of this country than anyone else. Any Ukip candidate seeking parliamentary office needs to speak with respect for their fellow countrymen and women.”
Labour should make a big deal of supporting humanist weddings outside licensed venues. If the Tories block it: "The Tories let Scientologists marry where they like, why not atheists?"
Bonkers proposal by the odious Lynton Crosby to block humanist weddings in non-licenced venues. Jewish, Quaker and Scientolist weddings are allowed anywhere so why not humanist ones? Crosby is unbearable
Weird. Why are conservatives (small c) often so obsessed with regulating sex, weddings, etc.? I don't care who marries whom where so long as adult mutual consent is given, and see no reason why the State should care either.
I don't quite agree with that as it has legal ramifications. You must admit sham marriages can be an issue. What I don't understand is this location stuff. I thought you could pretty much get married anywhere now. If some religions can get married in unlicenced venues venues hen surely it should apply to everyone. The important thing I would have thought would be the credibility of the person conducting the ceremony.
I don't think any valid religious wedding can take place in unlicensed premises. There are two kinds of religious wedding (in England & Wales). One where the celebrant acts as Registrar, (eg C of E clergy, and Catholic priests) and one where he doesn't, but there's a civil registrar present who actually marries the couple. But, in either case, the premises need to be licensed for weddings.
I can't see the appeal of a humanist wedding, but provided it's all above-board, I can't see why it shouldn't be valid.
It's coming to something when atheists are described as a 'minority'. TechnicalIy, from census data, I guess they are but revealed preference (churchgoing) tells a different story...
Widespread sympathy among young Muslims in developed countries for radical Islamist groups. I haven't figured it all out, but when someone holds up a flag saying what cause they're in sympathy with, some things are pretty bloody obvious.
No, it's not bloody obvious until things have ended and an investigation is carried out, as we have seen time and time again.
I predict the person/persons responsible will be male, aged 18-35, from families of Asian origin, resident in Australia, Muslim, Sunni, with a history of online interactions with extremists.
What odds do you want to bet that I'm wrong?
Self-described cleric, Man Maron Monis, 50, first came to attention of police when he penned poisonous letters to the family of dead Australian soldiers.
Sean - according to the Indy, Jews and Quakers can be legally married anywhere, the proposal Crosby is trying to block is to extend such rights to humanists. The best wedding I ever attended was a (technically fake) humanist ceremony. Wild party afterwards
Bonkers proposal by the odious Lynton Crosby to block humanist weddings in non-licenced venues. Jewish, Quaker and Scientolist weddings are allowed anywhere so why not humanist ones? Crosby is unbearable
Weird. Why are conservatives (small c) often so obsessed with regulating sex, weddings, etc.? I don't care who marries whom where so long as adult mutual consent is given, and see no reason why the State should care either.
I don't quite agree with that as it has legal ramifications. You must admit sham marriages can be an issue. What I don't understand is this location stuff. I thought you could pretty much get married anywhere now. If some religions can get married in unlicenced venues venues hen surely it should apply to everyone. The important thing I would have thought would be the credibility of the person conducting the ceremony.
I don't think any valid religious wedding can take place in unlicensed premises. There are two kinds of religious wedding (in England & Wales). One where the celebrant acts as Registrar, (eg C of E clergy, and Catholic priests) and one where he doesn't, but there's a civil registrar present who actually marries the couple. But, in either case, the premises need to be licensed for weddings.
I can't see the appeal of a humanist wedding, but provided it's all above-board, I can't see why it shouldn't be valid.
According to The Independent there's an exception for Jewish and Quaker weddings which can be conducted anywhere.
Bonkers proposal by the odious Lynton Crosby to block humanist weddings in non-licenced venues. Jewish, Quaker and Scientolist weddings are allowed anywhere so why not humanist ones? Crosby is unbearable
Weird. Why are conservatives (small c) often so obsessed with regulating sex, weddings, etc.? I don't care who marries whom where so long as adult mutual consent is given, and see no reason why the State should care either.
The point isn't whether you or I care, it is whether there are significant numbers of people who do care
The use of derogatory terms to describe those who don't agree, often using the term "obsessed" to describe and diminish their mild feelings of disagreement with your own are the reason why so many people are disenchanted with politics and why they feel there is an "us" and "them" today as much as ever, only it used to be "them" and "us"
Bonkers proposal by the odious Lynton Crosby to block humanist weddings in non-licenced venues. Jewish, Quaker and Scientolist weddings are allowed anywhere so why not humanist ones? Crosby is unbearable
Weird. Why are conservatives (small c) often so obsessed with regulating sex, weddings, etc.? I don't care who marries whom where so long as adult mutual consent is given, and see no reason why the State should care either.
Sean - according to the Indy, Jews and Quakers can be legally married anywhere, the proposal Crosby is trying to block is to extend such rights to humanists. The best wedding I ever attended was a (technically fake) humanist ceremony. Wild party afterwards
In which case Crosby is a major twunt. How can one religion be afforded primacy over another w.r.t. marriage law? It's virtually saying God/Allah exist for sure but the Flying Spaghetti Monster (all hail his noodly appendage) certainly doesn't. Being a fairly unmovable libertarian I find this quite awful.
Let marriage be a legal thing available to whoever. And let religious union be a different thing with no status in law and available as each religion sees fit to its adherents.
So another one of Ed's policies unravels at first contact with his own shadow cabinet. It seems ridiculous that the opposition is not in line before a major policy is introduced by the LOTO. It just seems clumsy at best and totally disorganised at worse. I mean this they never even managed to get the policy as far as the public before it fell apart.
Is this about Eds speech or the briefing document? I'm all in favour of laughing at Ed and Labour. But the briefing document issue opens up the wider one of competence. Before that though, that document was not a 'policy' as such, or 'Eds'. It does expose a wider party issue.
Ed gets it in the neck for letting these isues gain momentun, for putting Alexander and the others in charge. And the shadow cabinet are all a bit naff for getting worked up about a document which actually says, acccording to reports that they should “face the issue of immigration directly with identified Ukip supporters”.
Its pretty incompetent to allow a situation where opponents can cherry pick stuff. But parhaps the biggest issue is why it was leaked in the first place? It indicates that Labour is not a happy ship, in the same way that the Kerry Smith episode exposed UKIP. (We now have Carswell slagging off a candidate that Farage was urging not to resign.)
There are rumours that the Hamiltons were behind the Ukip infighting. Once a Tory, always a Tory.
See what I did there? Linked speculation and a full blown smear to insult two parties. You lot are just beginners.
I fully expected the Labour party advice to canvassers to unravel. Probably written by a Spad giving others the benefit of his inexperience. Imagine the scene on the doorstep ...
"What about these 'ere Rotherham thing?"
"You'll be be thrilled to know that the local NHS looked after the girls marvellously. But it's under attack, you know, from those nasty (insert nearest opposition).
What could go wrong?
Long time since Hamilton was a Tory, now Reckless and the other chap that's another matter. Actually, you're probably right about all three.
ISam - if they disapprove they need not be married under the measure themself and can choose to decline to attend such a ceremony if invited to one. As it happens, many people do end up going and change their view. Such was the case with an inlaw who had a same sex marriage. Many of my wife's family did in the end attend and the good experience meant they changed their outlook
There was quite considerable support for Fascism in this country in the 1930's, by no means all of it crackpot.
Large parts of France supported the Germans throughout the war, and fascist tendency remain a strong factor in French Political life in many areas, not just around Vichy.
Indeed, it was considered the intellectual and moral response to Communism in its time. It's easy to think of "fascism" as one thing when it came in many distinct flavours. Some flavours of fascism were really authoritarian nationalism - the Italian flavour had quite significant socialist undertones in terms of State control and had none of the racial aspects of the German and some Eastern European versions.
Mussolini, Franco and Salazar can all be called "fascists" up to a point but their brand diffe3red markedly from that of Hitler and others. My recollection is that Mosley was very much in the Mussolini camp.
The Bolshevik slaughter of the twenties and thirties was really without parallel in European history. Hardly surprising many Eastern European countries, including Poland, adopted forms of nationalist military juntas. Of course many countries, including Hungary and Germany experienced at first hand atrocities and would experience further massacres at the end of the war.
Katyn is a great film that shows the difficult situation these countries were in, many of these massacres represented an even more significant loss as the elite were targeted in particular.
Sean - according to the Indy, Jews and Quakers can be legally married anywhere, the proposal Crosby is trying to block is to extend such rights to humanists. The best wedding I ever attended was a (technically fake) humanist ceremony. Wild party afterwards
Anyone can hold a massive piss-up anywhere they like and for any reason they like and jolly good luck to them. However, if it is a fake wedding, to use your words, then there maybe legal ramifications for the "married couple" down the line. So it may not be the best idea.
Comments
The English in the main do not feel the need to wave anational flag about to demonstrate who they are. Being comfortable in ones identity does not mean not liking it. England is a large country with many flavours of Englishness. It also recognises The United Kingdom. Its quite absurd to say the English are unpatriotic, we recognise the Union, and the notion of 'lording over' does not exist.
The English have tended to equate England with Britain, much to the annoyance of other parts of the UK; and so overt patriotism has tended to focus on the Union Jack rather than the Cross of St George. That is now beginning to change, of course; and as it does various evocations of and views about Englishness will develop. As can be seen on here today, it is already happening.
Curious to see Populus raise the duopoly to 70% today - YouGov had only 64% on Saturday evening.
The difference isn't explained by the LD/UKIP numbers which are around 22-24% in the polls so it's the discrepancy with the "Others" that is the most marked. The next ICM will be fascinating (as always).
We were of course told by some on here to expect a 10% Conservative lead by Christmas - now it's "January-February" when "the polls will move". This all presumes they will and in the direction most beneficent to the Conservatives.
Mussolini, Franco and Salazar can all be called "fascists" up to a point but their brand diffe3red markedly from that of Hitler and others. My recollection is that Mosley was very much in the Mussolini camp.
"expressing hatred of, or stirring up hatred against, a group of persons based on their membership (or presumed membership) of—
(i)a religious group,
(ii)a social or cultural group with a perceived religious affiliation,
(iii)a group defined by reference to a thing mentioned in subsection (4),"
The things referred to in subsection (2)(a)(iii) are—
(a)colour,
(b)race,
(c)nationality (including citizenship),
(d)ethnic or national origins,
(e)sexual orientation,
(f)transgender identity,
(g)disability.
www.scottishlabour.org.uk/page/-/Email%20attachment/Publication%20of%20MP%20MSP%20MEP%20votes%20Final.pdf
Gordon voted for Murphy
Murphy ranked third by Malcolm Chisholm, Claudia Beamish, Katy Clark, Michael Connarty, Ian Davidson, Neil Findlay, Rhoda Grant, Hugh Henry, Cara Hilton, Johann Lamont, Margaret McDougall, Graeme Morrice, Eleine Murray, Sandra Osborne, Eleine Smith
Not sure what is the point of a second preference in the Deputy contest
Weathers a bit normal for this time of year isn't it?
The Conservative "view", as I gather, seems to be a combination of the electorate suddenly realising the "recovery" is here and is happening to them and going down on their ballots to worship George Osborne or that at the very sight of Ed Miliband and prospect of a Labour Government poor frightened insecure middle England will run back to the Tories.
Possible but unlikely.
I suspect both Cameron and Miliband are going to have problems in the election campaign with "off message" comments, tweets and the like. There's the huge issue of Nigel Farage in debates and the Scotland conundrum.
Kippers who insist that these people are somehow untypical of UKIP and not synonymous with its "values" are in the precise position of someone arguing that not all builders wolf whistle at women. They don't of necessity, no. But the set of those who are prepared to do dirty, heavy and dangerous work outdoors in all weathers for what it pays, and the set of those who think it OK to who whistle aggressively at women, overlap heavily, perhaps entirely.
In the same way, while loonies like this may be untypical of UKIP, they seem remarkably easy to find among UKIPpers. Just this year, we've had Roger Helmer's massage parlour visits, that councillor who thought gay marriage caused floods, Geoffrey Bloom's every public utterance, that Bolter woman whom UKIP bigged up in a display of sheeplish PC who has turned out to be a fantasist nutter, Nige not wanting them Romanians moving in next door and GOK what else.
If these prannocks ever get near the levers of power we will not be able to say we weren't warned.
In more troubling news, there seems to be no way at all of removing e-books from only some of Amazon's sites (I was going to remove mine from the EU sites [excepting the UK, of course], as a purely precautionary measure). I'm near certain I'll be fine, but if not I'll be livid (I could remove them, but that would make selling books a bit tricky and I could lose any meta-data that's built up [stuff like "People who bought this also bought X, Y and Z" which is handy]).
Bloody EU. They're completely ****ing stupid.
For those of a counterfactual history persuasion, here's one to wonder - what if Charles IV had been restored as King of Hungary in 1921 ?
The conventional figure for SLAB membership is 13K but the NS has it at 10K in an article a few days ago and there's discussion up here that it could be as low as 6-7K.
The other strand of comment is a number of people surprised at being sent voting forms - even when they have not been in the party or the union for years.
One other thought. The party leader has to be a MSP or MP to be elected. Does anyone know whether he has to remain one? Perhaps academic, as the rules can always be changed, like the one about secret ballot for MSP/MPs was.
It is almost impossible to win if you do not appear regularly on terrestrial TV.
There are now just 6 days of live men's golf per year on terrestrial TV - that is not enough for McIlroy to be well enough known to a BBC audience.
I layed McIlroy yesterday - one of my most confident bets (before the start) of SPOTY. When McIlroy tightened during the event I thought there must be a leak.
Look at the result - Hamilton won easily, McIlroy wasn't that far ahead of Pavey!
Hamilton 210k
McIlroy 124k
Pavey 100k
Your real objection is that they take the votes that you believe are "yours."
On the second, I think you're correct on the rules being changed to suit any given situation. Murphy's strident call for a new constitution for the Scottish Labour party(sic) are a pretty good catch-all for any necessary tweaking.
:-)
You are basically talking 40 days vs 6 days (and two of McIlroy's 6 days are weekday daytime when audience far, far smaller).
Did homosexuality kill off the dinosaurs?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B45mqS_IYAAGg32.jpg:large
The way some conservatives insult those people whose support they desperately need never ceases to amaze.
'You used to vote for us you moronic bastards, start doing it again.'
"we're going to try to deceive you...we're deceiving you...we deceived you..."
and it will probably work.
Mind you it is only a variation on Cameron's own attempt at slight of hand - "People are concerned about too much immigration, therefore I will talk about benefit rules and pretend that will address their concerns. It won't but it might get them talking about something else".
“No ifs, not buts, no lacklustre excuses, this sort of language and behaviour is not tolerable,” Mr Carswell told the Evening Standard.
He added: “First and second-generation Britons are as much as part of this country than anyone else. Any Ukip candidate seeking parliamentary office needs to speak with respect for their fellow countrymen and women.”
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/douglas-carswell-tells-ukip-racism-is-intolerable-9925964.html
One could never see Carswell blaming immigrants on the Motorway for poor timekeeping.
There are rumours that the Hamiltons were behind the Ukip infighting. Once a Tory, always a Tory.
See what I did there? Linked speculation and a full blown smear to insult two parties. You lot are just beginners.
I fully expected the Labour party advice to canvassers to unravel. Probably written by a Spad giving others the benefit of his inexperience. Imagine the scene on the doorstep ...
"What about these 'ere Rotherham thing?"
"You'll be be thrilled to know that the local NHS looked after the girls marvellously. But it's under attack, you know, from those nasty (insert nearest opposition).
What could go wrong?
This is only a small lie clearly, but it is a lie. Undoubtedly the other parties might do such a thing too, but that doesn't excuse it.
Fair enough, I kinda meant for his personal career!
There's no Lord Ashcroft polling between now and the new year.
We're going to have to make do with the Survation poll.
Rumour has it he thinks he can topple Theresa Villiers.
Labour should make a big deal of supporting humanist weddings outside licensed venues. If the Tories block it: "The Tories let Scientologists marry where they like, why not atheists?"
I can't see the appeal of a humanist wedding, but provided it's all above-board, I can't see why it shouldn't be valid.
It's coming to something when atheists are described as a 'minority'. TechnicalIy, from census data, I guess they are but revealed preference (churchgoing) tells a different story...
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/martin-place-sydney-siege-gunman-identified-as-man-maron-monis-20141215-127sxt.html
Looks as if he's a lone wolf nutter.
The use of derogatory terms to describe those who don't agree, often using the term "obsessed" to describe and diminish their mild feelings of disagreement with your own are the reason why so many people are disenchanted with politics and why they feel there is an "us" and "them" today as much as ever, only it used to be "them" and "us"
It's a brave New world.
However, on checking on I am not sure your are actually correct in this case as the following article makes clear:
http://grammarist.com/usage/champing-chomping-at-the-bit/
Let marriage be a legal thing available to whoever. And let religious union be a different thing with no status in law and available as each religion sees fit to its adherents.
Oh come on. Labour can repeal it if they get in. Osborne isn;t seeking to bind you but to flush out your real intentions on spending.
Ed gets it in the neck for letting these isues gain momentun, for putting Alexander and the others in charge. And the shadow cabinet are all a bit naff for getting worked up about a document which actually says, acccording to reports that they should “face the issue of immigration directly with identified Ukip supporters”.
Its pretty incompetent to allow a situation where opponents can cherry pick stuff. But parhaps the biggest issue is why it was leaked in the first place? It indicates that Labour is not a happy ship, in the same way that the Kerry Smith episode exposed UKIP. (We now have Carswell slagging off a candidate that Farage was urging not to resign.)
Actually, you're probably right about all three.
http://news.sky.com/story/1391530/snp-on-course-to-capture-labour-voters
Katyn is a great film that shows the difficult situation these countries were in, many of these massacres represented an even more significant loss as the elite were targeted in particular.
The Milibands would be familiar with the history.