Votes at 16 is bloody stupid. Should never have been allowed in the referendum.
?
I agree with at least the first bit. It was my daughter's first vote (she was 17) and she was heavily involved in the referendum campaign. She voted no and you don't get much more sensible than that!
I saw a number of debates with younger voters and they were at least as informed as that of the supposed adults and generally more measured. I went into the referendum dead set against a voting age of 16 and came out a convert. It does not surprise me at all that all the party leaders in Scotland have come out the same way.
(I should say that my 11 year old son was infuriated that he did not have a vote using the compelling argument that he was going to live with the consequences a lot longer than us oldies but that would be going too far.) Sorry David.
Fair enough Mr. L., so presumably you will be in favour of 16 year-olds being allowed all the currently age-barred privileges of adulthood. Drinking, smoking, not having to do education, being able to enter into binding contracts and all the rest of it.
I think there are a number of different considerations on each of those topics but if was restricted to a one word answer it would be yes.
The idea that we stop our 16 year olds from drinking at the moment is frankly delusional. There was an excellent comment this morning which said that politicians must be amazed that murder still happens when they have passed a law against it (might have been Socrates, honestly can't remember). The law simply makes that drinking unregulated and arguably less safe.
I hate the idea of anyone smoking, it caused the premature death of both of my parents, but again is the law really serving any useful purpose? Its a difficult one. Perhaps the permitted age for smoking ought to be raised to 75 or so.
I have real reservations about compulsory education beyond 16. I left school at 16. I was bored. I was able to go to University then but before that I got a job working in a DIY shop (my wife still bursts out laughing every time this is mentioned). If I hadn't been going to Uni would I have done worse from regular employment? So much of our education seems designed to achieve no more than keeping kids off the employment market.
In Scotland you can enter a binding contract at 16 and have full legal capacity but the court has a discretion to intervene in the case of prejudicial contracts set aside if entered between the ages of 16 and 18 if challenged before the person is 21.
Please don't tell me Cameron has agreed to Scottish 16 year olds' voting in the general election.
He has. What a numpty. Like Labour before him, he's rifling up the differences between north and south of the border.
On that argument, we'd never be allowed to have any differences at all because they would inevitably lead to independence. At least that Dalyellist position is logically coherent, even if it misses the fact that not permitting differences is likely to cause other problems ...
Votes at 16 is bloody stupid. Should never have been allowed in the referendum.
it aint broke. Only reason the SNP wanted it was for a Gerrymander- what next - the recently deceased ? Why not 14 , 12 , 10 ?
All of the 16 year olds I know who voted in the referendum took it as seriously as anyone else. At the end of the day you can get married, join the army, leave school etc at 16 - not being able to vote seems ridiculous.
From some of the bigoted nonsense I see on this site, I think there is just as good a case for stopping some of you from voting !!
I agree with at least the first bit. It was my daughter's first vote (she was 17) and she was heavily involved in the referendum campaign. She voted no and you don't get much more sensible than that!
I saw a number of debates with younger voters and they were at least as informed as that of the supposed adults and generally more measured. I went into the referendum dead set against a voting age of 16 and came out a convert. It does not surprise me at all that all the party leaders in Scotland have come out the same way.
(I should say that my 11 year old son was infuriated that he did not have a vote using the compelling argument that he was going to live with the consequences a lot longer than us oldies but that would be going too far.) Sorry David.
Huzzah. I knew we would get a USA destabilising Russia sooner or later.
Not sure where you've been; it's been going on for ages. Putin wisely banned foreign NGOs a few years ago. The difference now is the US is batshit crazy enough to upset the entire post cold war settlement and provoke open war. Pissed off the whole world, sitting on a debt mountain, I suppose there's little left to do but keep digging.
The US isn't the one annexing parts of its neighbours. It is the Russian government that has plunged its economy into crisis through constant government seizures of private property, clampdowns on political protests and foreign imperialism. Yet you'll blame the Americans if it all goes pear-shaped. Insane.
US ally Turkey seized Northern Cyprus in 1974, US ally Israel unilaterally annexed Syria's Golan Heights in 1981.
Con Maj has now overtaken Lab Maj in the Majority market:
NOM 1.45/1.46 Con Maj 6.0/6.2 Lab Maj 6.6/7.0
Yep, I flagged that up last night. At the time Lab were 7 and Con 5.7.
Yet Lab are still favourite for most seats at 1.93 - baffling given the SNP numbers.
The SNP should create a disconnect between OM and Most Seats.
Basically it makes it easier for the CONs to win Most Seats but not an OM.
They make it harder (longer odds) for Labour OM and Labour Most Seats.
What they don't affect is increase a chance of Con OM
It's actually quite simple, Labour in England are doing very well, Labour in Scotland are doing catastrophically bad. The 65-70 english seat gains from the Tories more that cover the 20-30 seat losses in scotland for Labour to the SNP.
Speedy my dear fellow, other than in your imagination and that of a couple of questionable pollsters where is the evidence of Labour doing well in England?
In parliamentary by-elections? No can't be because they almost lost a rock solid seat to the Kippers and their vote collapsed in Rochester where the Kippers have replaced them as the main threat to the Tories.
In council by-elections? Well no they are losing these to the Tories, Kippers and even to the LibDems.
Labour will be heading towards 25% come the General Election not 35%.
Huzzah. I knew we would get a USA destabilising Russia sooner or later.
Not sure where you've been; it's been going on for ages. Putin wisely banned foreign NGOs a few years ago. The difference now is the US is batshit crazy enough to upset the entire post cold war settlement and provoke open war. Pissed off the whole world, sitting on a debt mountain, I suppose there's little left to do but keep digging.
Point of information - Putin hasn't banned foreign NGOs. I was in the Duma a couple of months ago having a sensible discussion on animal testing for my NGO. But we have a specialised horizon.
Not wonder she always look so smug sitting on the sofa next to Portillo.
As long as she pays her taxes her anti Brown rants were worth every penny (£15k pa.) We get to call her a hypocrite for free. Look at the alternatives we have had - I mean Campbell; puke?
Huzzah. I knew we would get a USA destabilising Russia sooner or later.
Not sure where you've been; it's been going on for ages. Putin wisely banned foreign NGOs a few years ago. The difference now is the US is batshit crazy enough to upset the entire post cold war settlement and provoke open war. Pissed off the whole world, sitting on a debt mountain, I suppose there's little left to do but keep digging.
The US isn't the one annexing parts of its neighbours. It is the Russian government that has plunged its economy into crisis through constant government seizures of private property, clampdowns on political protests and foreign imperialism. Yet you'll blame the Americans if it all goes pear-shaped. Insane.
US ally Turkey seized Northern Cyprus in 1974, US ally Israel unilaterally annexed Syria's Golan Heights in 1981.
And when did either of those acts gain approval from the international community? I have a degree of sympathy for Israel given the state of the region at the time, but it doesn't make their continuing occupation right.
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Back in April I ventured as far as Redditch station when I did the West Midlands Day Ranger map. Seems like Alvechurch station has recently seen its (former single) track doubled, according to my fellow railway-geeks.
Huzzah. I knew we would get a USA destabilising Russia sooner or later.
Not sure where you've been; it's been going on for ages. Putin wisely banned foreign NGOs a few years ago. The difference now is the US is batshit crazy enough to upset the entire post cold war settlement and provoke open war. Pissed off the whole world, sitting on a debt mountain, I suppose there's little left to do but keep digging.
The US isn't the one annexing parts of its neighbours. It is the Russian government that has plunged its economy into crisis through constant government seizures of private property, clampdowns on political protests and foreign imperialism. Yet you'll blame the Americans if it all goes pear-shaped. Insane.
US ally Turkey seized Northern Cyprus in 1974, US ally Israel unilaterally annexed Syria's Golan Heights in 1981.
In WWI lots of Scots fought on the Western Front aged 16 having lied about their age.
I'm pretty sure lads from all parts of the UK did that. My 16-year-old father forged his father's signature to join the RN in 1942. My grandad went to the training camp and pulled my dad back by the lug (not just metaphorically I'd imagine). Of course my dad went back and did it legally on his 18th birthday.
Of course what the US really wants is Yeltsin's Russia, weak, servile and dominated by criminals and oligarchs. Afraid that won't happen. Putin has at least seen to that, let's hope his anti corruption drive has similar success now.
Russia is currently weak, and dominated by criminals and oligarchs.
What does that make us and our planeless carriers and useless nuclear deferrent then. Dead?
History teaches that countries with political problems and strong leaders see foreign wars as a way of diverting the attention of the voters.
See the Falklands, WW2, Putin invading Ukraine, Iraq invading Iran
I think there are a number of different considerations on each of those topics but if was restricted to a one word answer it would be yes.
The idea that we stop our 16 year olds from drinking at the moment is frankly delusional. There was an excellent comment this morning which said that politicians must be amazed that murder still happens when they have passed a law against it (might have been Socrates, honestly can't remember). The law simply makes that drinking unregulated and arguably less safe.
I hate the idea of anyone smoking, it caused the premature death of both of my parents, but again is the law really serving any useful purpose? Its a difficult one. Perhaps the permitted age for smoking ought to be raised to 75 or so.
I have real reservations about compulsory education beyond 16. I left school at 16. I was bored. I was able to go to University then but before that I got a job working in a DIY shop (my wife still bursts out laughing every time this is mentioned). If I hadn't been going to Uni would I have done worse from regular employment? So much of our education seems designed to achieve no more than keeping kids off the employment market.
In Scotland you can enter a binding contract at 16 and have full legal capacity but the court has a discretion to intervene in the case of prejudicial contracts set aside if entered between the ages of 16 and 18 if challenged before the person is 21.
Fair enough, Mr. L.. If 16 year olds are to be treated as adults then treat them as adults throughout. That is a a reasonable position, not one I agree with, but at least its consistent.
Huzzah. I knew we would get a USA destabilising Russia sooner or later.
Not sure where you've been; it's been going on for ages. Putin wisely banned foreign NGOs a few years ago. The difference now is the US is batshit crazy enough to upset the entire post cold war settlement and provoke open war. Pissed off the whole world, sitting on a debt mountain, I suppose there's little left to do but keep digging.
The US isn't the one annexing parts of its neighbours. It is the Russian government that has plunged its economy into crisis through constant government seizures of private property, clampdowns on political protests and foreign imperialism. Yet you'll blame the Americans if it all goes pear-shaped. Insane.
US ally Turkey seized Northern Cyprus in 1974, US ally Israel unilaterally annexed Syria's Golan Heights in 1981.
I think there are a number of different considerations on each of those topics but if was restricted to a one word answer it would be yes.
The idea that we stop our 16 year olds from drinking at the moment is frankly delusional. There was an excellent comment this morning which said that politicians must be amazed that murder still happens when they have passed a law against it (might have been Socrates, honestly can't remember). The law simply makes that drinking unregulated and arguably less safe.
I hate the idea of anyone smoking, it caused the premature death of both of my parents, but again is the law really serving any useful purpose? Its a difficult one. Perhaps the permitted age for smoking ought to be raised to 75 or so.
I have real reservations about compulsory education beyond 16. I left school at 16. I was bored. I was able to go to University then but before that I got a job working in a DIY shop (my wife still bursts out laughing every time this is mentioned). If I hadn't been going to Uni would I have done worse from regular employment? So much of our education seems designed to achieve no more than keeping kids off the employment market.
In Scotland you can enter a binding contract at 16 and have full legal capacity but the court has a discretion to intervene in the case of prejudicial contracts set aside if entered between the ages of 16 and 18 if challenged before the person is 21.
If there is to be a single age at which a person is presumed to be competent, it must also encompass the age of criminal responsibility. It seems somewhat bizarre that the state says that a fourteen year old is capable of forming a culpable intention to commit murder, but cannot vote in an election to a local authority.
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Bit rich from the guy from Crawley. :-)
However the petrol station is the one I use if I'm trying to access the M42 which I did today and was amazed at the price. Villages round us tend not to have petrol stations any more so you have to go look for it. :-(
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Huzzah. I knew we would get a USA destabilising Russiayou've been; it's been going on for ages. Putin wisely banned foreign NGOs a few years ago. The difference now is the US is batshit crazy enough to upset the entire post cold war settlement and provoke open war. Pissed off the whole world, sitting on a debt mountain, I suppose there's little left to do but keep digging.
The US isn't the one annexing parts of its neighbours. It is the Russian government that has plunged its economy into crisis through constant government seizures of private property, clampdowns on political protests and foreign imperialism. Yet you'll blame the Americans if it all goes pear-shaped. Insane.
You really don't get it do you? America already HAS its neighbours; it doesn't need to annexe them. Do you think for one mjnute that if the UK ever grows a pair and stands up to the US that they will not subject us to the same? Foment unrest amongst discontented groups, then report on the 'crackdown' in sensationalist terms? Push for sanctions, humanitarian intervention?
Putin did the absolute minimum needed to preserve Russia's access to the Med after the legitimate Government of Ukraine was toppled.
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Bit rich from the guy from Crawley. :-)
However the petrol station is the one I use if I'm trying to access the M42 which I did today and was amazed at the price. Villages round us tend not to have petrol stations any more so you have to go look for it. :-(
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Back in April I ventured as far as Redditch station when I did the West Midlands Day Ranger map. Seems like Alvechurch station has recently seen its (former single) track doubled, according to my fellow railway-geeks.
You were probably wise to not venture further into the hinterland from the station. You would not have liked it.
As a part time railway geek I am pleased to note that the track to Alvechurch station has been doubled. Sensible railway development like that, as opposed to the grand white elephant schemes, are always worthy of celebration.
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Bit rich from the guy from Crawley. :-)
However the petrol station is the one I use if I'm trying to access the M42 which I did today and was amazed at the price. Villages round us tend not to have petrol stations any more so you have to go look for it. :-(
Saw 114.9 at Sainsbury's on the A45 in Coventry this afternoon.
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Redditch is in Worcestershire.
It's also the location of only two "cloverleaf" type intersections between A-roads in the UK. The other being the A19/A66 junction in Middlesbrough.
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Bit rich from the guy from Crawley. :-)
However the petrol station is the one I use if I'm trying to access the M42 which I did today and was amazed at the price. Villages round us tend not to have petrol stations any more so you have to go look for it. :-(
Harvest A435 off J3 M42. It's always about 2-3p cheaper than Bimingham. Bizarrely Leamingston Spa also seems to have a different price point being 2 p cheaper than B'ham whereas Stratford upon Avon is always 2p more expensive.
Con Maj has now overtaken Lab Maj in the Majority market:
NOM 1.45/1.46 Con Maj 6.0/6.2 Lab Maj 6.6/7.0
Yep, I flagged that up last night. At the time Lab were 7 and Con 5.7.
Yet Lab are still favourite for most seats at 1.93 - baffling given the SNP numbers.
The SNP should create a disconnect between OM and Most Seats.
Basically it makes it easier for the CONs to win Most Seats but not an OM.
They make it harder (longer odds) for Labour OM and Labour Most Seats.
What they don't affect is increase a chance of Con OM
It's actually quite simple, Labour in England are doing very well, Labour in Scotland are doing catastrophically bad. The 65-70 english seat gains from the Tories more that cover the 20-30 seat losses in scotland for Labour to the SNP.
Speedy my dear fellow, other than in your imagination and that of a couple of questionable pollsters where is the evidence of Labour doing well in England?
In parliamentary by-elections? No can't be because they almost lost a rock solid seat to the Kippers and their vote collapsed in Rochester where the Kippers have replaced them as the main threat to the Tories.
In council by-elections? Well no they are losing these to the Tories, Kippers and even to the LibDems.
Labour will be heading towards 25% come the General Election not 35%.
Any overperformance that Labour enjoy in England, is likely to be offset by a first-time incumbency boost for the Conservatives in Con/Lab marginal seats (not all, by any means, but in general).
Thus a swing of 5% to Labour in England is probably equivalent to a swing of 3.5-4% in such seats. On present polling, one would regard most English Conservative seats with majorities of 7-8% or less over Labour as being likely to fall.
Any overperformance that Labour enjoy in England, is likely to be offset by a first-time incumbency boost for the Conservatives in Con/Lab marginal seats (not all, by any means, but in general).
Thus a swing of 5% to Labour in England is probably equivalent to a swing of 3.5-4% in such seats. On present polling, one would regard most English Conservative seats with majorities of 7-8% or less over Labour as being likely to fall.
Do we have any evidence for this "incumbency" theory or is it Conservative wishful thinking ? Labour had an extremely good night in London in the May local elections and I still think will do markedly better in the capital in May than other areas of England.
2/3 of the LD vote has gone while UKIP have increased their vote six-fold from 2010 which is impressive by any measure. As OGH frequently asserts, it's folly to try to apply national UNS to the current situation.
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Redditch is in Worcestershire.
Sorry, my mistake. Two counties both starting with W, both next to each other, both North of the Watford Gap it, is easy to get confused.
I think my point stands though (despite Mr. Brooke's feeble and inaccurate counter attack about Crawley).
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Redditch is in Worcestershire.
Sorry, my mistake. Two counties both starting with W, both next to each other, both North of the Watford Gap it, is easy to get confused.
I think my point stands though (despite Mr. Brooke's feeble and inaccurate counter attack about Crawley).
Having been to both Crawley and Redditch I think I'd rather get lost in Redditch.
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Redditch is in Worcestershire.
Sorry, my mistake. Two counties both starting with W, both next to each other, both North of the Watford Gap it, is easy to get confused.
I think my point stands though (despite Mr. Brooke's feeble and inaccurate counter attack about Crawley).
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Bit rich from the guy from Crawley. :-)
However the petrol station is the one I use if I'm trying to access the M42 which I did today and was amazed at the price. Villages round us tend not to have petrol stations any more so you have to go look for it. :-(
Harvest A435 off J3 M42. It's always about 2-3p cheaper than Bimingham. Bizarrely Leamingston Spa also seems to have a different price point being 2 p cheaper than B'ham whereas Stratford upon Avon is always 2p more expensive.
It's 117.9 pence per litre in the garage across the road from us currently. Maybe a penny or two less at Sainsburys and ASDA.
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Bit rich from the guy from Crawley. :-)
However the petrol station is the one I use if I'm trying to access the M42 which I did today and was amazed at the price. Villages round us tend not to have petrol stations any more so you have to go look for it. :-(
Harvest A435 off J3 M42. It's always about 2-3p cheaper than Bimingham. Bizarrely Leamingston Spa also seems to have a different price point being 2 p cheaper than B'ham whereas Stratford upon Avon is always 2p more expensive.
It's 117.9 pence per litre in the garage across the road from us currently. Maybe a penny or two less at Sainsburys and ASDA.
Have you tried Morrisons, it always seems to be the cheapest in L\Spa.
You really don't get it do you? America already HAS its neighbours; it doesn't need to annexe them. Do you think for one mjnute that if the UK ever grows a pair and stands up to the US that they will not subject us to the same? Foment unrest amongst discontented groups, then report on the 'crackdown' in sensationalist terms? Push for sanctions, humanitarian intervention?
Putin did the absolute minimum needed to preserve Russia's access to the Med after the legitimate Government of Ukraine was toppled.
If "getting it" means believing your ridiculous anti-American conspiracy theories, then no, I don't. France has "stood up" to the US by getting an independent nuclear deterrent, leaving NATO etc. The US hasn't formented unrest there. I think you'll find that the US pushes for democratic change and giving people rights even for reliable allies: they pushed Musharraf aside, Ben Ali aside, Mubarak aside. Because they believe in democracy and liberalism.
Whereas you seem to have this weird double standard where you criticise Turkey for being autocratic, but ignore Russia doing exactly the same thing. The only time you care about authoritarianism is when it's a US-ally that does it.
And you keep on spreading lies about Ukraine. It was not "the government" that was toppled. The Ukrainian parliament is as much as part of the Ukrainian government as the president was, and they were the ones that voted him out of power. Even the previously pro-Russian Party of Regions turned against Yanukovyuch after he ordered snipers to kill unarmed civilians. And besides, there have been fresh elections since then, and Russia continues to back militias in the East.
It's shocking that you consider the territorial integrity of a sovereign country something to be sacrificed to Russia maintaining the military bases it wants. Your anti-Americanism trumps your respect for basic liberal principles every time.
Any overperformance that Labour enjoy in England, is likely to be offset by a first-time incumbency boost for the Conservatives in Con/Lab marginal seats (not all, by any means, but in general).
Thus a swing of 5% to Labour in England is probably equivalent to a swing of 3.5-4% in such seats. On present polling, one would regard most English Conservative seats with majorities of 7-8% or less over Labour as being likely to fall.
Do we have any evidence for this "incumbency" theory or is it Conservative wishful thinking ? Labour had an extremely good night in London in the May local elections and I still think will do markedly better in the capital in May than other areas of England.
2/3 of the LD vote has gone while UKIP have increased their vote six-fold from 2010 which is impressive by any measure. As OGH frequently asserts, it's folly to try to apply national UNS to the current situation.
According to Peter Kellner, it's pretty well-established, by now. Of course, what's happened in the past is not necessarily guaranteed to happen in the present. As you say, the rise of UKIP and the decline in the Lib Dems will surely produce all kinds of strange results.
I too think Labour will overperform in London, but I think the scope for major gains from the Conservatives is limited. The Conservatives gained 7 seats from Labour in 2010. Even if Labour reversed all of those, which I doubt, it doesn't take them that far.
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Bit rich from the guy from Crawley. :-)
However the petrol station is the one I use if I'm trying to access the M42 which I did today and was amazed at the price. Villages round us tend not to have petrol stations any more so you have to go look for it. :-(
Harvest A435 off J3 M42. It's always about 2-3p cheaper than Bimingham. Bizarrely Leamingston Spa also seems to have a different price point being 2 p cheaper than B'ham whereas Stratford upon Avon is always 2p more expensive.
It's 117.9 pence per litre in the garage across the road from us currently. Maybe a penny or two less at Sainsburys and ASDA.
Name Distance Price Last Update Asda Wolstanton Wolstanton Retail Park, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 0AP112.7p Dec 13th Sainsburys Hanley Etruria Road, Hanley, Stoke-on-trent, Staffordshire, ST1 5SA 112.9p Dec 13th Sainsburys Stoke-on-trent London Road, Stoke-on-trent, Staffordshire, ST4 7QD 113.9p Dec 13th
The West Midlands seems to have a lot of the cheapest petrol prices, maybe because the cost of living is generally lower, plus the fact that many of the distribution centres are obviously in the middle of the country.
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Redditch is in Worcestershire.
Sorry, my mistake. Two counties both starting with W, both next to each other, both North of the Watford Gap it, is easy to get confused.
I think my point stands though (despite Mr. Brooke's feeble and inaccurate counter attack about Crawley).
Having been to both Crawley and Redditch I think I'd rather get lost in Redditch.
Oh, I agree Mr. Brooke. Crawley is a complete shIthole and it gets worse by the year, thank God I don't live in or close to it.
P.S. Crawley does have a very fine, if outrageously expensive, curry house though. Just been done up (local rumour is that they spent over a million on it) and with a new trendy modern-indian menu. It is very nice. They even have proper knives and forks not like your formica- topped tabled bhalti houses beloved of the West Midlands (fine that those are in their way - like the road-side burger stands).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Sydney_hostage_crisis Uber Sydney's automatic pricing led to people leaving the city being charged a minimum of $100 during the siege. After public outcry, Uber announced on its Twitter profile that trips from Sydney's central business district "will be free for riders"; however, surge pricing into the CBD was retained to attract drivers.[37]
Confirmation Trident renewal is key for any potential SNP agreement with Labour post GE2015 and that the SNP,PC and the Greens are working together as a common left group as UK politics becomes more and more Europeanised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30479621
Its called devolution. The Scottish Conservative leader supports votes at 16. All five Holyrood parties called for the relevant powers to be devolved in "sufficient time" for changes to be made for the 2016 election. Repeat its called devolution. Maybe in your eagerness you are smearing the wrong leader. Its nice to see Nicola smiling so sweetly at Cameron. Where is the expected scowl?
Cameron does not support votes at 16 for Westminster. Given devolution, what he or anyone in England things is not relevant.
Aren't elections a reserved matter?
So are referendums. There was a majority in the Scottish parliament for one. Should it have been refused? Reserved matters are not set in stone and can be changed and have been. Section 30 Orders (there seem to be other possible Orders as well). I do not like votes at 16. However I would like to see more scottish tories and tory seats, so I see no valid reason to upset all the parties in Scotland over a purely Scottish matter. All the parties in scotland want it. What we do get on here though is an instant Cameron reaction, all his fault, when really looking at it, it would be absurd to deny it and absolutely dumb politics.
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Redditch is in Worcestershire.
Sorry, my mistake. Two counties both starting with W, both next to each other, both North of the Watford Gap it, is easy to get confused.
I think my point stands though (despite Mr. Brooke's feeble and inaccurate counter attack about Crawley).
Having been to both Crawley and Redditch I think I'd rather get lost in Redditch.
Oh, I agree Mr. Brooke. Crawley is a complete shIthole and it gets worse by the year, thank God I don't live in or close to it.
P.S. Crawley does have a very fine, if outrageously expensive, curry house though. Just been done up (local rumour is that they spent over a million on it) and with a new trendy modern-indian menu. It is very nice. They even have proper knives and forks not like your formica- topped tabled bhalti houses beloved of the West Midlands (fine that those are in their way - like the road-side burger stands).
Why not just demolish Crawley and set up some of those excellent vineyards you do ?
Con Maj has now overtaken Lab Maj in the Majority market:
NOM 1.45/1.46 Con Maj 6.0/6.2 Lab Maj 6.6/7.0
Yep, I flagged that up last night. At the time Lab were 7 and Con 5.7.
Yet Lab are still favourite for most seats at 1.93 - baffling given the SNP numbers.
The SNP should create a disconnect between OM and Most Seats.
Basically it makes it easier for the CONs to win Most Seats but not an OM.
They make it harder (longer odds) for Labour OM and Labour Most Seats.
What they don't affect is increase a chance of Con OM
It's actually quite simple, Labour in England are doing very well, Labour in Scotland are doing catastrophically bad. The 65-70 english seat gains from the Tories more that cover the 20-30 seat losses in scotland for Labour to the SNP.
Speedy my dear fellow, other than in your imagination and that of a couple of questionable pollsters where is the evidence of Labour doing well in England?
In parliamentary by-elections? No can't be because they almost lost a rock solid seat to the Kippers and their vote collapsed in Rochester where the Kippers have replaced them as the main threat to the Tories.
In council by-elections? Well no they are losing these to the Tories, Kippers and even to the LibDems.
Labour will be heading towards 25% come the General Election not 35%.
Confirmation Trident renewal is key for any potential SNP agreement with Labour post GE2015 and that the SNP,PC and the Greens are working together as a common left group as UK politics becomes more and more Europeanised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30479621
And what do they do if Labour says no? Vote to bring down a minority Labour government? I can't see that happening somehow.
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Bit rich from the guy from Crawley. :-)
However the petrol station is the one I use if I'm trying to access the M42 which I did today and was amazed at the price. Villages round us tend not to have petrol stations any more so you have to go look for it. :-(
Harvest A435 off J3 M42. It's always about 2-3p cheaper than Bimingham. Bizarrely Leamingston Spa also seems to have a different price point being 2 p cheaper than B'ham whereas Stratford upon Avon is always 2p more expensive.
It's 117.9 pence per litre in the garage across the road from us currently. Maybe a penny or two less at Sainsburys and ASDA.
Have you tried Morrisons, it always seems to be the cheapest in L\Spa.
I haven't. But I only tend to fill up once or twice a month, so it's not really worth searching out an extra penny or two off.
There's a rather good Indian - IIRC it's called the Curry House in Heathfield. The chappy who runs it - Anthony is a delightful host. The Indians in Hailsham and Polegate are terrible.
I haven't found a good one in Eastbourne yet. We do have a few excellent Chinese though.
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Redditch is in Worcestershire.
Sorry, my mistake. Two counties both starting with W, both next to each other, both North of the Watford Gap it, is easy to get confused.
I think my point stands though (despite Mr. Brooke's feeble and inaccurate counter attack about Crawley).
Having been to both Crawley and Redditch I think I'd rather get lost in Redditch.
Oh, I agree Mr. Brooke. Crawley is a complete shIthole and it gets worse by the year, thank God I don't live in or close to it.
P.S. Crawley does have a very fine, if outrageously expensive, curry house though. Just been done up (local rumour is that they spent over a million on it) and with a new trendy modern-indian menu. It is very nice. They even have proper knives and forks not like your formica- topped tabled bhalti houses beloved of the West Midlands (fine that those are in their way - like the road-side burger stands).
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Redditch is in Worcestershire.
Sorry, my mistake. Two counties both starting with W, both next to each other, both North of the Watford Gap it, is easy to get confused.
I think my point stands though (despite Mr. Brooke's feeble and inaccurate counter attack about Crawley).
Having been to both Crawley and Redditch I think I'd rather get lost in Redditch.
Oh, I agree Mr. Brooke. Crawley is a complete shIthole and it gets worse by the year, thank God I don't live in or close to it.
P.S. Crawley does have a very fine, if outrageously expensive, curry house though. Just been done up (local rumour is that they spent over a million on it) and with a new trendy modern-indian menu. It is very nice. They even have proper knives and forks not like your formica- topped tabled bhalti houses beloved of the West Midlands (fine that those are in their way - like the road-side burger stands).
Mr L, recent posts make it sound as if you navigate the country by curry houses. "Redditch? That's easy to get to guvnor. Turn left at the Curry King, then continue to the Taj Mahal and then right to reach Manzils."
Mind you, I tend to do the same with long-distance trails. "Redditch? That's just off the Monarch's Way. Might take you a good fifteen days to get there mind, and you wouldn't half want a good curry after that sort of hike. I had that nice Mr L in the back of my cab the other day ..."
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Bit rich from the guy from Crawley. :-)
However the petrol station is the one I use if I'm trying to access the M42 which I did today and was amazed at the price. Villages round us tend not to have petrol stations any more so you have to go look for it. :-(
Harvest A435 off J3 M42. It's always about 2-3p cheaper than Bimingham. Bizarrely Leamingston Spa also seems to have a different price point being 2 p cheaper than B'ham whereas Stratford upon Avon is always 2p more expensive.
It's 117.9 pence per litre in the garage across the road from us currently. Maybe a penny or two less at Sainsburys and ASDA.
Name Distance Price Last Update Asda Wolstanton Wolstanton Retail Park, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 0AP112.7p Dec 13th Sainsburys Hanley Etruria Road, Hanley, Stoke-on-trent, Staffordshire, ST1 5SA 112.9p Dec 13th Sainsburys Stoke-on-trent London Road, Stoke-on-trent, Staffordshire, ST4 7QD 113.9p Dec 13th
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Redditch is in Worcestershire.
Sorry, my mistake. Two counties both starting with W, both next to each other, both North of the Watford Gap it, is easy to get confused.
I think my point stands though (despite Mr. Brooke's feeble and inaccurate counter attack about Crawley).
Having been to both Crawley and Redditch I think I'd rather get lost in Redditch.
Oh, I agree Mr. Brooke. Crawley is a complete shIthole and it gets worse by the year, thank God I don't live in or close to it.
P.S. Crawley does have a very fine, if outrageously expensive, curry house though. Just been done up (local rumour is that they spent over a million on it) and with a new trendy modern-indian menu. It is very nice. They even have proper knives and forks not like your formica- topped tabled bhalti houses beloved of the West Midlands (fine that those are in their way - like the road-side burger stands).
Mr L, recent posts make it sound as if you navigate the country by curry houses. "Redditch? That's easy to get to guvnor. Turn left at the Curry King, then continue to the Taj Mahal and then right to reach Manzils."
Mind you, I tend to do the same with long-distance trails. "Redditch? That's just off the Monarch's Way. Might take you a good fifteen days to get there mind, and you wouldn't half want a good curry after that sort of hike. I had that nice Mr L in the back of my cab the other day ..."
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Redditch is in Worcestershire.
Sorry, my mistake. Two counties both starting with W, both next to each other, both North of the Watford Gap it, is easy to get confused.
I think my point stands though (despite Mr. Brooke's feeble and inaccurate counter attack about Crawley).
Having been to both Crawley and Redditch I think I'd rather get lost in Redditch.
Oh, I agree Mr. Brooke. Crawley is a complete shIthole and it gets worse by the year, thank God I don't live in or close to it.
P.S. Crawley does have a very fine, if outrageously expensive, curry house though. Just been done up (local rumour is that they spent over a million on it) and with a new trendy modern-indian menu. It is very nice. They even have proper knives and forks not like your formica- topped tabled bhalti houses beloved of the West Midlands (fine that those are in their way - like the road-side burger stands).
Mr L, recent posts make it sound as if you navigate the country by curry houses. "Redditch? That's easy to get to guvnor. Turn left at the Curry King, then continue to the Taj Mahal and then right to reach Manzils."
Mind you, I tend to do the same with long-distance trails. "Redditch? That's just off the Monarch's Way. Might take you a good fifteen days to get there mind, and you wouldn't half want a good curry after that sort of hike. I had that nice Mr L in the back of my cab the other day ..."
Confirmation Trident renewal is key for any potential SNP agreement with Labour post GE2015 and that the SNP,PC and the Greens are working together as a common left group as UK politics becomes more and more Europeanised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30479621
And what do they do if Labour says no? Vote to bring down a minority Labour government? I can't see that happening somehow.
The Conservatives support Trident. So logic says there would be a majority for it in parliament post 2015. Where is the right for the SNP - a regional party, to oppose it?
Confirmation Trident renewal is key for any potential SNP agreement with Labour post GE2015 and that the SNP,PC and the Greens are working together as a common left group as UK politics becomes more and more Europeanised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30479621
And what do they do if Labour says no? Vote to bring down a minority Labour government? I can't see that happening somehow.
The Conservatives support Trident. So logic says there would be a majority for it in parliament post 2015. Where is the right for the SNP - a regional party, to oppose it?
On Foreign, National Finance and Defence matters , all parties have a right to vote. This has not been disputed by anyone.
Of course, the SNP can discuss trident. After all the Scots will be the first people to be blown apart in the event of a war.
Confirmation Trident renewal is key for any potential SNP agreement with Labour post GE2015 and that the SNP,PC and the Greens are working together as a common left group as UK politics becomes more and more Europeanised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30479621
And what do they do if Labour says no? Vote to bring down a minority Labour government? I can't see that happening somehow.
The Conservatives support Trident. So logic says there would be a majority for it in parliament post 2015. Where is the right for the SNP - a regional party, to oppose it?
On Foreign, National Finance and Defence matters , all parties have a right to vote. This has not been disputed by anyone.
Of course, the SNP can discuss trident. After all the Scots will be the first people to be blown apart in the event of a war.
Confirmation Trident renewal is key for any potential SNP agreement with Labour post GE2015 and that the SNP,PC and the Greens are working together as a common left group as UK politics becomes more and more Europeanised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30479621
And what do they do if Labour says no? Vote to bring down a minority Labour government? I can't see that happening somehow.
They can say No to a government motion too ! Unless, there is a Con - Lab pact, it won't go through.
One of my local petrol stations has dropped the price to 112.9.
Mine is now 109.7p. Lowest since Blair was PM.
Whereabouts is that?
Redditch
Redditch? You have never confessed that before. I mean to say, Redditch? It is sort of the Harlow New Town of Warwickshire. You left Ulster and dragged your poor wife out of Horsham only to end up in Redditch? Gosh, I think Mrs. Brooke is entitled to a refund.
Except you aren't serious, are you? Its just like when I tell people from afar I live near Brighton. I expect you live somewhere very nice near Redditch. Assuming there are such places.
Redditch is in Worcestershire.
Sorry, my mistake. Two counties both starting with W, both next to each other, both North of the Watford Gap it, is easy to get confused.
I think my point stands though (despite Mr. Brooke's feeble and inaccurate counter attack about Crawley).
Having been to both Crawley and Redditch I think I'd rather get lost in Redditch.
Oh, I agree Mr. Brooke. Crawley is a complete shIthole and it gets worse by the year, thank God I don't live in or close to it.
P.S. Crawley does have a very fine, if outrageously expensive, curry house though. Just been done up (local rumour is that they spent over a million on it) and with a new trendy modern-indian menu. It is very nice. They even have proper knives and forks not like your formica- topped tabled bhalti houses beloved of the West Midlands (fine that those are in their way - like the road-side burger stands).
Mr L, recent posts make it sound as if you navigate the country by curry houses. "Redditch? That's easy to get to guvnor. Turn left at the Curry King, then continue to the Taj Mahal and then right to reach Manzils."
Mind you, I tend to do the same with long-distance trails. "Redditch? That's just off the Monarch's Way. Might take you a good fifteen days to get there mind, and you wouldn't half want a good curry after that sort of hike. I had that nice Mr L in the back of my cab the other day ..."
I suspect Osborne has presided over one of the most stable periods ever. I'd also say that beyond the 'UK will have to default' question he's been largely innocuous.
Confirmation Trident renewal is key for any potential SNP agreement with Labour post GE2015 and that the SNP,PC and the Greens are working together as a common left group as UK politics becomes more and more Europeanised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30479621
And what do they do if Labour says no? Vote to bring down a minority Labour government? I can't see that happening somehow.
The Conservatives support Trident. So logic says there would be a majority for it in parliament post 2015. Where is the right for the SNP - a regional party, to oppose it?
On Foreign, National Finance and Defence matters , all parties have a right to vote. This has not been disputed by anyone.
Of course, the SNP can discuss trident. After all the Scots will be the first people to be blown apart in the event of a war.
The Tories are a regional party too !
And there's me thinking it will be London.
I am sure Faslane is etched in the Russian and probably Chinese ICBM's.
Confirmation Trident renewal is key for any potential SNP agreement with Labour post GE2015 and that the SNP,PC and the Greens are working together as a common left group as UK politics becomes more and more Europeanised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30479621
And what do they do if Labour says no? Vote to bring down a minority Labour government? I can't see that happening somehow.
The Conservatives support Trident. So logic says there would be a majority for it in parliament post 2015. Where is the right for the SNP - a regional party, to oppose it?
On Foreign, National Finance and Defence matters , all parties have a right to vote. This has not been disputed by anyone.
Of course, the SNP can discuss trident. After all the Scots will be the first people to be blown apart in the event of a war.
The Tories are a regional party too !
And there's me thinking it will be London.
I am sure Faslane is etched in the Russian and probably Chinese ICBM's.
Confirmation Trident renewal is key for any potential SNP agreement with Labour post GE2015 and that the SNP,PC and the Greens are working together as a common left group as UK politics becomes more and more Europeanised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30479621
And what do they do if Labour says no? Vote to bring down a minority Labour government? I can't see that happening somehow.
The Conservatives support Trident. So logic says there would be a majority for it in parliament post 2015. Where is the right for the SNP - a regional party, to oppose it?
On Foreign, National Finance and Defence matters , all parties have a right to vote. This has not been disputed by anyone.
Of course, the SNP can discuss trident. After all the Scots will be the first people to be blown apart in the event of a war.
The Tories are a regional party too !
Care to explain why Russia would bother nuking empty dockyards at Rosyth because you being a clever fellow obviously know in time of heightened tension anything fit for sea will be at sea. It's sort of the point.
I suspect Osborne has presided over one of the most stable periods ever. I'd also say that beyond the 'UK will have to default' question he's been largely innocuous.
stable as in the slowest recovery ever ? stable as in the deficit is flatlining ? stable as in there are no economic reforms ? stable as in the banks are still to big to fail ?
Folk on here appear to be getting extraordinarily excited about 10p off the price of a litre of 4* - How does £10,000 off the value of your house grab you?
Confirmation Trident renewal is key for any potential SNP agreement with Labour post GE2015 and that the SNP,PC and the Greens are working together as a common left group as UK politics becomes more and more Europeanised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30479621
And what do they do if Labour says no? Vote to bring down a minority Labour government? I can't see that happening somehow.
The Conservatives support Trident. So logic says there would be a majority for it in parliament post 2015. Where is the right for the SNP - a regional party, to oppose it?
On Foreign, National Finance and Defence matters , all parties have a right to vote. This has not been disputed by anyone.
Of course, the SNP can discuss trident. After all the Scots will be the first people to be blown apart in the event of a war.
The Tories are a regional party too !
Care to explain why Russia would bother nuking empty dockyards at Rosyth because you being a clever fellow obviously know in time of heightened tension anything fit for sea will be at sea. It's sort of the point.
Well, it could be that Putin just doesn't like the Scots.
Confirmation Trident renewal is key for any potential SNP agreement with Labour post GE2015 and that the SNP,PC and the Greens are working together as a common left group as UK politics becomes more and more Europeanised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30479621
And what do they do if Labour says no? Vote to bring down a minority Labour government? I can't see that happening somehow.
They can say No to a government motion too ! Unless, there is a Con - Lab pact, it won't go through.
Chances are , it will be deferred yet again.
That's hardly a killer blow though, is it? If Labour wind most seats and the SNP has 20 plus MPs it probably means Labour will have most MPs in England. That will be enough for Labour to govern as they know there is no way that the SNP will vote with the Tories to bring a Labour government down. They did that once before and it destroyed them for a generation. Whatever the SNP says in public, what they want is 20 plus seats and a minority Tory government. Then they will have some leverage.
Please don't tell me Cameron has agreed to Scottish 16 year olds' voting in the general election.
Good move. I'm delighted to see politics being engaged with younger people and it will give great opportunities to make links whilst they're at school before they vanish in the university system. In other words, to build it into what NuLab once tried to call 'Citizenship.'
Ed Miliband's speech today on immigration lasted seven minutes. They really don't have anything to say other than the patronising "we hear your concerns".
But he can talk for hours about Gareth who he met in the park...
Or, as HIGNFY so memorable subbed it 'Ed met Gareth on Hampstead Heath.'
I suspect Osborne has presided over one of the most stable periods ever. I'd also say that beyond the 'UK will have to default' question he's been largely innocuous.
stable as in the slowest recovery ever ? stable as in the deficit is flatlining ? stable as in there are no economic reforms ? stable as in the banks are still to big to fail ?
Well yes. Stable. That's not necessarily good. No-one's spotted that the emperor has no clothes for example. Boring, dull and stable though it most certainly is.
My view personally is that the aforementioned emperor has very slightly more foliage to hide his embarrassment than before 2010.
Confirmation Trident renewal is key for any potential SNP agreement with Labour post GE2015 and that the SNP,PC and the Greens are working together as a common left group as UK politics becomes more and more Europeanised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30479621
And what do they do if Labour says no? Vote to bring down a minority Labour government? I can't see that happening somehow.
The Conservatives support Trident. So logic says there would be a majority for it in parliament post 2015. Where is the right for the SNP - a regional party, to oppose it?
On Foreign, National Finance and Defence matters , all parties have a right to vote. This has not been disputed by anyone.
Of course, the SNP can discuss trident. After all the Scots will be the first people to be blown apart in the event of a war.
The Tories are a regional party too !
Care to explain why Russia would bother nuking empty dockyards at Rosyth because you being a clever fellow obviously know in time of heightened tension anything fit for sea will be at sea. It's sort of the point.
This is why we don't have missile silos! I think the midwest in the US would have been decimated as the Soviets tried to take out the huge number of silos they have there.
Confirmation Trident renewal is key for any potential SNP agreement with Labour post GE2015 and that the SNP,PC and the Greens are working together as a common left group as UK politics becomes more and more Europeanised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30479621
And what do they do if Labour says no? Vote to bring down a minority Labour government? I can't see that happening somehow.
The Conservatives support Trident. So logic says there would be a majority for it in parliament post 2015. Where is the right for the SNP - a regional party, to oppose it?
On Foreign, National Finance and Defence matters , all parties have a right to vote. This has not been disputed by anyone.
Of course, the SNP can discuss trident. After all the Scots will be the first people to be blown apart in the event of a war.
The Tories are a regional party too !
Care to explain why Russia would bother nuking empty dockyards at Rosyth because you being a clever fellow obviously know in time of heightened tension anything fit for sea will be at sea. It's sort of the point.
This is why we don't have missile silos! I think the midwest in the US would have been decimated as the Soviets tried to take out the huge number of silos they have there.
ISTR we invented the concept of missile silos and built the first one somewhere up north, only to realise they weren't very practical in our country. As usual, the Americans than nicked our wonderful idea.
We also invented the chicken-warmed nuclear bomb as well. For some reason that did not catch on ...
It's a bit temperamental - but now I can copy my DVDs and everything talks to each other on a good day!
Some apps really are crap. I'm going to format my W8.1 PC to W7 at the weekend. Fingers crossed. Found some great DIY videos on YouTube.
EDIT I found a great free FLACSquisher > avi converter as my PCs never play FLAC files except using a dismal clunky bit of shareware. Now I can play them in Media Player - YEAH! Highly recommend it.
Folk on here appear to be getting extraordinarily excited about 10p off the price of a litre of 4* - How does £10,000 off the value of your house grab you?
Hyper inflation in house prices in the last 40 years has made it hard to get on the housing ladder and hard to move up the ladder.
Lower house prices would be good for the majority of people. The people who would suffer are those whose equity would be wiped out so they get stuck in their existing property and arguably not so good for people downsizing at retirement..
OGH reports Populus on Twitter as Lab 36, Con 34, UKIP 12, LD 10:
twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/status/544440903595999232
Just the one then?
I noticed the Betfair price on Labour Overall Majority drifted out t0 7.2 this morning. Either I missed a poll or JackW was shaking the loose change out of his trouser turnups.
Me too - I used to be a whizz and then totally lost the plot and have had to learn all over again as so much has changed. I'm still a bit lost about some stuff but getting there. Formatting my new laptop and trying to locate all the drivers is rather daunting as I could end up with a paving slab if I get it wrong...
I suspect Osborne has presided over one of the most stable periods ever. I'd also say that beyond the 'UK will have to default' question he's been largely innocuous.
stable as in the slowest recovery ever ? stable as in the deficit is flatlining ? stable as in there are no economic reforms ? stable as in the banks are still to big to fail ?
Pretty rubbish answer. Pretty much the same as labour spouting about taking spending back to 1930s levels. Labours claim is of course the very reason why you should be praisng the govt. in planning spending below 35% of GDP.
Managed spending has come down from 45% to 40% and planned to 36% Taking the squeeze on day-to-day spending, which is public sector current expenditure, ie mainly the spending on public services, it needs to come down, the OBR say it must come down to 32.7% of GDP to eliminate the deficit. Already it has come down from 40% tp 36% next year. So the govt is not doing a bad job and is on track for 33% by the end of next parliament.
OGH reports Populus on Twitter as Lab 36, Con 34, UKIP 12, LD 10:
twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/status/544440903595999232
Just the one then?
I noticed the Betfair price on Labour Overall Majority drifted out t0 7.2 this morning. Either I missed a poll or JackW was shaking the loose change out of his trouser turnups.
Comments
The idea that we stop our 16 year olds from drinking at the moment is frankly delusional. There was an excellent comment this morning which said that politicians must be amazed that murder still happens when they have passed a law against it (might have been Socrates, honestly can't remember). The law simply makes that drinking unregulated and arguably less safe.
I hate the idea of anyone smoking, it caused the premature death of both of my parents, but again is the law really serving any useful purpose? Its a difficult one. Perhaps the permitted age for smoking ought to be raised to 75 or so.
I have real reservations about compulsory education beyond 16. I left school at 16. I was bored. I was able to go to University then but before that I got a job working in a DIY shop (my wife still bursts out laughing every time this is mentioned). If I hadn't been going to Uni would I have done worse from regular employment? So much of our education seems designed to achieve no more than keeping kids off the employment market.
In Scotland you can enter a binding contract at 16 and have full legal capacity but the court has a discretion to intervene in the case of prejudicial contracts set aside if entered between the ages of 16 and 18 if challenged before the person is 21.
In parliamentary by-elections? No can't be because they almost lost a rock solid seat to the Kippers and their vote collapsed in Rochester where the Kippers have replaced them as the main threat to the Tories.
In council by-elections? Well no they are losing these to the Tories, Kippers and even to the LibDems.
Labour will be heading towards 25% come the General Election not 35%.
Look at the alternatives we have had - I mean Campbell; puke?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-30479640
My 16-year-old father forged his father's signature to join the RN in 1942. My grandad went to the training camp and pulled my dad back by the lug (not just metaphorically I'd imagine). Of course my dad went back and did it legally on his 18th birthday.
See the Falklands,
WW2,
Putin invading Ukraine,
Iraq invading Iran
etc...
However the petrol station is the one I use if I'm trying to access the M42 which I did today and was amazed at the price. Villages round us tend not to have petrol stations any more so you have to go look for it. :-(
As a part time railway geek I am pleased to note that the track to Alvechurch station has been doubled. Sensible railway development like that, as opposed to the grand white elephant schemes, are always worthy of celebration.
Thus a swing of 5% to Labour in England is probably equivalent to a swing of 3.5-4% in such seats. On present polling, one would regard most English Conservative seats with majorities of 7-8% or less over Labour as being likely to fall.
2/3 of the LD vote has gone while UKIP have increased their vote six-fold from 2010 which is impressive by any measure. As OGH frequently asserts, it's folly to try to apply national UNS to the current situation.
I think my point stands though (despite Mr. Brooke's feeble and inaccurate counter attack about Crawley).
Whereas you seem to have this weird double standard where you criticise Turkey for being autocratic, but ignore Russia doing exactly the same thing. The only time you care about authoritarianism is when it's a US-ally that does it.
And you keep on spreading lies about Ukraine. It was not "the government" that was toppled. The Ukrainian parliament is as much as part of the Ukrainian government as the president was, and they were the ones that voted him out of power. Even the previously pro-Russian Party of Regions turned against Yanukovyuch after he ordered snipers to kill unarmed civilians. And besides, there have been fresh elections since then, and Russia continues to back militias in the East.
It's shocking that you consider the territorial integrity of a sovereign country something to be sacrificed to Russia maintaining the military bases it wants. Your anti-Americanism trumps your respect for basic liberal principles every time.
http://www.theverge.com/2014/12/15/7393473/france-bans-uberpop-after-taxi-unions-protest-uber-paris
I too think Labour will overperform in London, but I think the scope for major gains from the Conservatives is limited. The Conservatives gained 7 seats from Labour in 2010. Even if Labour reversed all of those, which I doubt, it doesn't take them that far.
Asda Wolstanton
Wolstanton Retail Park, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 0AP112.7p Dec 13th
Sainsburys Hanley
Etruria Road, Hanley, Stoke-on-trent, Staffordshire, ST1 5SA 112.9p Dec 13th
Sainsburys Stoke-on-trent
London Road, Stoke-on-trent, Staffordshire, ST4 7QD 113.9p Dec 13th
P.S. Crawley does have a very fine, if outrageously expensive, curry house though. Just been done up (local rumour is that they spent over a million on it) and with a new trendy modern-indian menu. It is very nice. They even have proper knives and forks not like your formica- topped tabled bhalti houses beloved of the West Midlands (fine that those are in their way - like the road-side burger stands).
Uber Sydney's automatic pricing led to people leaving the city being charged a minimum of $100 during the siege. After public outcry, Uber announced on its Twitter profile that trips from Sydney's central business district "will be free for riders"; however, surge pricing into the CBD was retained to attract drivers.[37]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30479621
Reserved matters are not set in stone and can be changed and have been. Section 30 Orders (there seem to be other possible Orders as well).
I do not like votes at 16. However I would like to see more scottish tories and tory seats, so I see no valid reason to upset all the parties in Scotland over a purely Scottish matter. All the parties in scotland want it.
What we do get on here though is an instant Cameron reaction, all his fault, when really looking at it, it would be absurd to deny it and absolutely dumb politics.
We have a few round us but not in your league.
http://www.bearleyvineyard.co.uk/
this is the one closest to me ( about 5 miles ) but the beer and the cider makers are better.
I haven't found a good one in Eastbourne yet. We do have a few excellent Chinese though.
Mind you, I tend to do the same with long-distance trails. "Redditch? That's just off the Monarch's Way. Might take you a good fifteen days to get there mind, and you wouldn't half want a good curry after that sort of hike. I had that nice Mr L in the back of my cab the other day ..."
Of course, the SNP can discuss trident. After all the Scots will be the first people to be blown apart in the event of a war.
The Tories are a regional party too !
The economy must be in freefall.
You can never quite tell with Osborne.
It pretty serious, isn't it?
Chances are , it will be deferred yet again.
(How did you get on with your sound/video system?)
Any due?
It's a brilliant move. Or, as HIGNFY so memorable subbed it 'Ed met Gareth on Hampstead Heath.'
My view personally is that the aforementioned emperor has very slightly more foliage to hide his embarrassment than before 2010.
Chelsea could be going cheap.
twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/status/544440903595999232
We also invented the chicken-warmed nuclear bomb as well. For some reason that did not catch on ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Peacock#Chicken_power
Some apps really are crap. I'm going to format my W8.1 PC to W7 at the weekend. Fingers crossed. Found some great DIY videos on YouTube.
EDIT I found a great free FLACSquisher > avi converter as my PCs never play FLAC files except using a dismal clunky bit of shareware. Now I can play them in Media Player - YEAH! Highly recommend it.
Lower house prices would be good for the majority of people. The people who would suffer are those whose equity would be wiped out so they get stuck in their existing property and arguably not so good for people downsizing at retirement..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbPa31KOZg0
I noticed the Betfair price on Labour Overall Majority drifted out t0 7.2 this morning. Either I missed a poll or JackW was shaking the loose change out of his trouser turnups.
Pretty much the same as labour spouting about taking spending back to 1930s levels.
Labours claim is of course the very reason why you should be praisng the govt. in planning spending below 35% of GDP.
Managed spending has come down from 45% to 40% and planned to 36%
Taking the squeeze on day-to-day spending, which is public sector current expenditure, ie mainly the spending on public services, it needs to come down, the OBR say it must come down to 32.7% of GDP to eliminate the deficit. Already it has come down from 40% tp 36% next year. So the govt is not doing a bad job and is on track for 33% by the end of next parliament.
The Guardian/ICM should be out this week.