it's a simple "can't get to there from here" issue.
We saw how an expansion of both public and private balance sheets created nominal growth. The problem was the unwind.
We were (in 2010) at the point when the capital markets were not in the mood for more borrowed growth and a contraction was required.
The Cons said "no" to more borrowing and were rewarded with low bond yields and now it seems a potential return of growth. Lab said (and says) "just a bit more borrowing" but ignored the fact that there wasn't anyone else who was still willing to lend.
Japan was rewarded with lower bond yields (despite 200pc debt to GDP, as was the US (didn't cut), and Germany and France (inside the eurozone).
Tory policy only influenced low bond yields by killing the nascient recovery in 2009-10.
The subsequent double dip recession and flatlining economy fed into the very low bond yields we have experienced in the last 2 years.
Plus didn't we not have a double-dip recession?
Not yet revised away. Need to wait for June final Q1 GDP release on 27th.
There's a piece on the BBC Sport website suggesting the start of the county championship season should be moved overseas. Somerset vs Kent in Antigua in March for example. Sadly one of the comments has been moderated and I didn't get a chance to copy it first, but it was along the lines of:
'I'm seventy years old and I try to go to every Lancashire home game. I think it's ***** outrageous that I'm expected to go to the West Indies to watch my county play. I rely on my bus pass to get to the ground and what good will that do me'....etc, etc plus some more foul language.
Pure genius. When for example do Lancashire get 4 uninterrupted days of play at home before the end of May? As for the average turnout, maybe this bloke represents half the crowd on an average Tuesday in April-whilst getting drenched of course.
Politicians beware, there's a groundswell of old codger opinion that will be demanding their bus passes include transatlatic flights if this idea goes through.
Good God! What in hell's name is Bopara doing back in the side??? Death penalty for Ashley Giles.
By the way, for those of you too mean to fork out for Sky, (or abroad like me), I recommend Willow Tv. 24 hour a day cricket channel for about 7 quid a month. Great value.
Nice to see the UK economy is starting to grow again. 2% this year and 3% next I predict!
Services growing very strongly, especially new orders, construction growing, we really seemed to have achieved lift off.
During 1994 and 1997 the economy did really well but the tories got almost no credit at all, largely I think because they were blamed for the 1992 recession and Black Wednesday. Will it be different this time? On that question stands the result of the next election.
I worry that this site is becoming nothing more than a diluted version of the House of Commons where all anyone does is point out negative aspects in the policies of the party that the poster supports, with an aversion to admitting anything negative about their own party.
Don't worry about it Sam. PB goes through phases like this. At the moment, the Tories are having a bit of fun at Labours expense. It's all the more pleasurable for them, given the rubbish time they're having.
I still wouldn't bet against the UK (or each of its constituent parts post-Union) joining the Euro within my lifetime.
With idiots like Miliband and Clarke in charge, that's quite possible. It's still idiocy. The ERM and not the Euro - how many times must they try the same thing and expect a different result?
it's a simple "can't get to there from here" issue.
We saw how an expansion of both public and private balance sheets created nominal growth. The problem was the unwind.
We were (in 2010) at the point when the capital markets were not in the mood for more borrowed growth and a contraction was required.
The Cons said "no" to more borrowing and were rewarded with low bond yields and now it seems a potential return of growth. Lab said (and says) "just a bit more borrowing" but ignored the fact that there wasn't anyone else who was still willing to lend.
Japan was rewarded with lower bond yields (despite 200pc debt to GDP, as was the US (didn't cut), and Germany and France (inside the eurozone).
Tory policy only influenced low bond yields by killing the nascient recovery in 2009-10.
The subsequent double dip recession and flatlining economy fed into the very low bond yields we have experienced in the last 2 years.
Japan - borrows from domestic retail investors with nowhere else to go US - the ultimate safe haven Germany - best Euro denominated investment France - probably second best, especially given flight from periphery, but increasinly market aware of the fundamental issues
Why would domestic Japanese investors have less places to go than domestic British investors?
Off topic, I'd just like to register my opposition to those gutter broadcasters at channel 4 for the last episode of SKINT.
The programme uncritically played into the government's narrative on benefits by showing an unemployed family of nine purchasing a giant surround sound television for two and a half grand and telling tax-payers who objected to f8ck off.
A disgraceful distortion of the reality of life on benefits. Shame on them.
For clarity, do not speculate on or discuss the phone hacking case. We are erring on the side of caution, but that's where the line's being drawn. So stay on the right side of it.
"Normally no one wins a stat-slinging contest like this, but today Miliband had the upper hand. That was partly because, instead of engaging in the debate about why the current A&E crisis, Cameron spent most of his time dodging the question and instead making general points about the NHS. And it was partly because, when Cameron did address the A&E crisis, he fell back on the "GP contract to blame" line which is utterly threadbare and which probably ought to be abandoned by the Department of Health as soon as possible."
I'm in China this week and pretty chillaxed about PMQs, if truth be known, but PB draws us addicts back wherever we are, as I'm sure SeanT will attest.
I'm afraid I'm in complete disagreement with you, regarding Europe. I think the risk/reward on core Europe is terrible. If the Eurozone disintegrates, then it will be German banks that take the hit, with a commensurate hit on those companies that depend on domestic banks for funding. And, if the Eurozone survives, then - as stock valuations are relatively high there - you'll see only modest benefits.
The latest numbers out of Europe are very, very interesting. Essentially, the periphery is improving, and the core is weakening. I posted the Randstadt numbers a week or so ago, and now they are being confirmed by the official Spanish unemployment numbers yesterday, which showed the biggest monthly improvement since 1996, with unemployment dropping by 100,000. (Of course, unemployment is still at a frankly horrendous 25%, the same level as 1995, so a 100,000 person improvement is a drop in the ocean.)
Spanish housing is finally being priced to clear. I was in Marbella over the weekend, and you can get an 800 square foot flat (albeit not a fantastically nice one) for €78,000 - this is not the quoted sales price (which was c. €100,000) but what I was told the vendor would accept. These are the kind of prices which finally led to the Florida apartments inventory beginning to move.
I think there are some fantastic investment opportunities in peripheral Europe - and I think these work whether the Eurozone survives or not.
it's a simple "can't get to there from here" issue.
We saw how an expansion of both public and private balance sheets created nominal growth. The problem was the unwind.
We were (in 2010) at the point when the capital markets were not in the mood for more borrowed growth and a contraction was required.
The Cons said "no" to more borrowing and were rewarded with low bond yields and now it seems a potential return of growth. Lab said (and says) "just a bit more borrowing" but ignored the fact that there wasn't anyone else who was still willing to lend.
Japan was rewarded with lower bond yields (despite 200pc debt to GDP, as was the US (didn't cut), and Germany and France (inside the eurozone).
Tory policy only influenced low bond yields by killing the nascient recovery in 2009-10.
The subsequent double dip recession and flatlining economy fed into the very low bond yields we have experienced in the last 2 years.
Japan - borrows from domestic retail investors with nowhere else to go US - the ultimate safe haven Germany - best Euro denominated investment France - probably second best, especially given flight from periphery, but increasinly market aware of the fundamental issues
Why would domestic Japanese investors have less places to go than domestic British investors?
Don't know why (presumably currency risk / culture) but they have been gobbling up domestic bonds at derisory yields for decades
I'm afraid I'm in complete disagreement with you, regarding Europe. I think the risk/reward on core Europe is terrible. If the Eurozone disintegrates, then it will be German banks that take the hit, with a commensurate hit on those companies that depend on domestic banks for funding. And, if the Eurozone survives, then - as stock valuations are relatively high there - you'll see only modest benefits.
The latest numbers out of Europe are very, very interesting. Essentially, the periphery is improving, and the core is weakening. I posted the Randstadt numbers a week or so ago, and now they are being confirmed by the official Spanish unemployment numbers yesterday, which showed the biggest monthly improvement since 1996, with unemployment dropping by 100,000. (Of course, unemployment is still at a frankly horrendous 25%, the same level as 1995, so a 100,000 person improvement is a drop in the ocean.)
Spanish housing is finally being priced to clear. I was in Marbella over the weekend, and you can get an 800 square foot flat (albeit not a fantastically nice one) for €78,000 - this is not the quoted sales price (which was c. €100,000) but what I was told the vendor would accept. These are the kind of prices which finally led to the Florida apartments inventory beginning to move.
I think there are some fantastic investment opportunities in peripheral Europe - and I think these work whether the Eurozone survives or not.
Was just highlighting why German yields are low - not an investor in Europe myself.
For last 9 months or so I've been long US, Pacific Rim, neutral on China, short gold, and long London property. Plus my standard macro themes of obesity, nervous system diosorder and vaccines.
it's a simple "can't get to there from here" issue.
We saw how an expansion of both public and private balance sheets created nominal growth. The problem was the unwind.
We were (in 2010) at the point when the capital markets were not in the mood for more borrowed growth and a contraction was required.
The Cons said "no" to more borrowing and were rewarded with low bond yields and now it seems a potential return of growth. Lab said (and says) "just a bit more borrowing" but ignored the fact that there wasn't anyone else who was still willing to lend.
Japan was rewarded with lower bond yields (despite 200pc debt to GDP, as was the US (didn't cut), and Germany and France (inside the eurozone).
Tory policy only influenced low bond yields by killing the nascient recovery in 2009-10.
The subsequent double dip recession and flatlining economy fed into the very low bond yields we have experienced in the last 2 years.
Japan - borrows from domestic retail investors with nowhere else to go US - the ultimate safe haven Germany - best Euro denominated investment France - probably second best, especially given flight from periphery, but increasinly market aware of the fundamental issues
Why would domestic Japanese investors have less places to go than domestic British investors?
Don't know why (presumably currency risk / culture) but they have been gobbling up domestic bonds at derisory yields for decades
Isn't the story of investment that people always react to the last crisis? So, in the US, when shares crashed they looked to see what investment class had performed best - other than shares - and piled into property. When this fell through, they looked around, and discovered commodities. When that didn't work out they moved on to government bonds. Presumably, as inflation destroys their government bond savings they will turn once again to shares (15 years after the end of the last bull market; coincidentally, or maybe not, about the same gap as between 1968 and 1981 or 1929 and 1945).
Japanese savers saw their equities destroyed in the 1990s, their property destroyed in the 00s, and are now about to see the real value of their money hammered by epic quantitative easing.
Well as long as Ukip win the GE she will be able to claim unlimited legal aid for any court case - as well as child benefit and winter fuel payment for her granny.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I worry that this site is becoming nothing more than a diluted version of the House of Commons where all anyone does is point out negative aspects in the policies of the party that the poster supports, with an aversion to admitting anything negative about their own party.
Why? There's no downside fessing up unless you are a petty point scorer. You're not going to get deselected!
Barely any talk of betting
No response/little discussion of any bets offered
Sam - you came on and made a partizan attack - then whined when one was made back atcha.
Services growing very strongly, especially new orders, construction growing, we really seemed to have achieved lift off.
During 1994 and 1997 the economy did really well but the tories got almost no credit at all, largely I think because they were blamed for the 1992 recession and Black Wednesday. Will it be different this time? On that question stands the result of the next election.
Mike Smithson likes to show the regular polling that has consistently shown that more people blame Labour than the Coalition for Austerity. If decent growth does resume, and Osborne is able to announce figures that are better than forecast for a change, then you'd expect it to make a big difference.
It will take a while for us to be sure about the economy, and longer still for it to feed through to the opinion polls. Those who are reading a lot into the recent improved economic statistics will probably never have a better time to take a punt on Cameron and Osborne remaining in office after the 2015 GE, though.
Well as long as Ukip win the GE she will be able to claim unlimited legal aid for any court case - as well as child benefit and winter fuel payment for her granny.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I worry that this site is becoming nothing more than a diluted version of the House of Commons where all anyone does is point out negative aspects in the policies of the party that the poster supports, with an aversion to admitting anything negative about their own party.
Why? There's no downside fessing up unless you are a petty point scorer. You're not going to get deselected!
Barely any talk of betting
No response/little discussion of any bets offered
Sam - you came on and made a partizan attack - then whined when one was made back atcha.
As mick Pork would say - unspoonable.
I didn't make a partisan attack, I didn't say anything!
I linked to an article about Warsi without commenting
I don;t how reports of sexual affairs can be libellous, if they are true reports. I can see how they intrude on the right to a private life, but that's a different matter.
Well as long as Ukip win the GE she will be able to claim unlimited legal aid for any court case - as well as child benefit and winter fuel payment for her granny.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I worry that this site is becoming nothing more than a diluted version of the House of Commons where all anyone does is point out negative aspects in the policies of the party that the poster supports, with an aversion to admitting anything negative about their own party.
Why? There's no downside fessing up unless you are a petty point scorer. You're not going to get deselected!
Barely any talk of betting
No response/little discussion of any bets offered
Sam - you came on and made a partizan attack - then whined when one was made back atcha.
As mick Pork would say - unspoonable.
I didn't make a partisan attack, I didn't say anything!
I linked to an article about Warsi without commenting
I think he would say unspoofable
Indeed - why post it then ? Has this revelation gone on to dominate today's headlines ?
I'll offer you £20 at evens she's still in her job at the end of the month.
I don;t how reports of sexual affairs can be libellous, if they are true reports. I can see how they intrude on the right to a private life, but that's a different matter.
Yes, but we don't know if they are true or not, as we saw in the McAlpine case.
Yes, but we don't know if they are true or not, as we saw in the McAlpine case
In that case, a sexual affair would in fact be difficult to prove, without a sworn testimony from one of the parties involved, and/or in flagrante photographs.
it's a simple "can't get to there from here" issue.
We saw how an expansion of both public and private balance sheets created nominal growth. The problem was the unwind.
We were (in 2010) at the point when the capital markets were not in the mood for more borrowed growth and a contraction was required.
The Cons said "no" to more borrowing and were rewarded with low bond yields and now it seems a potential return of growth. Lab said (and says) "just a bit more borrowing" but ignored the fact that there wasn't anyone else who was still willing to lend.
Japan was rewarded with lower bond yields (despite 200pc debt to GDP, as was the US (didn't cut), and Germany and France (inside the eurozone).
Tory policy only influenced low bond yields by killing the nascient recovery in 2009-10.
The subsequent double dip recession and flatlining economy fed into the very low bond yields we have experienced in the last 2 years.
Japan - borrows from domestic retail investors with nowhere else to go US - the ultimate safe haven Germany - best Euro denominated investment France - probably second best, especially given flight from periphery, but increasinly market aware of the fundamental issues
Why would domestic Japanese investors have less places to go than domestic British investors?
Don't know why (presumably currency risk / culture) but they have been gobbling up domestic bonds at derisory yields for decades
Supply creates its own demand. If the UK went deeper into debt to fund fiscal stimulus, the income of the UK private sector would be higher, and they would have more money to save. So you'd have a lot more government bonds available, and a lot more money looking for something to invest in. The result is statistics like Japan's.
Off topic, I'd just like to register my opposition to those gutter broadcasters at channel 4 for the last episode of SKINT.
The programme uncritically played into the government's narrative on benefits by showing an unemployed family of nine purchasing a giant surround sound television for two and a half grand and telling tax-payers who objected to f8ck off.
A disgraceful distortion of the reality of life on benefits. Shame on them.
I'm surprised the family didn't hide the surround sound television in the boot of the beemer before the cameras arrived.
Gibraltar became the 54th member of UEFA last month in the face of stiff Spanish opposition, so you'll find the GFA on a collective high when you visit. I'll be there at the match cheering on my team. If you're in the area, FluffyThoughts, or anyone else then give me a shout for a beer!
Tickets I can organise as my company are sponsors. Flights and accommodation not so much :-(
@rcs1000 Which bits of London property do you think will increase the most? My belief is that it will be two to four beds in the nice (but not prime) bits around zone 2 and 3, but would like to hear your thoughts.
Well as long as Ukip win the GE she will be able to claim unlimited legal aid for any court case - as well as child benefit and winter fuel payment for her granny.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I worry that this site is becoming nothing more than a diluted version of the House of Commons where all anyone does is point out negative aspects in the policies of the party that the poster supports, with an aversion to admitting anything negative about their own party.
Why? There's no downside fessing up unless you are a petty point scorer. You're not going to get deselected!
Barely any talk of betting
No response/little discussion of any bets offered
Sam - you came on and made a partizan attack - then whined when one was made back atcha.
As mick Pork would say - unspoonable.
I didn't make a partisan attack, I didn't say anything!
I linked to an article about Warsi without commenting
I think he would say unspoofable
Indeed - why post it then ? Has this revelation gone on to dominate today's headlines ?
I'll offer you £20 at evens she's still in her job at the end of the month.
I posted it because I thought it was a political story that hadn't been discussed on here
It hasn't gone on to dominate today's headlines, you are right. Is that the qualifier for posting links to a story concerning politics then?
it was hardly "a partisan attack"!!
oohh that's a tempter!
can I have a tenner at Evs that tomorrow is Thursday?
Well as long as Ukip win the GE she will be able to claim unlimited legal aid for any court case - as well as child benefit and winter fuel payment for her granny.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I worry that this site is becoming nothing more than a diluted version of the House of Commons where all anyone does is point out negative aspects in the policies of the party that the poster supports, with an aversion to admitting anything negative about their own party.
Why? There's no downside fessing up unless you are a petty point scorer. You're not going to get deselected!
Barely any talk of betting
No response/little discussion of any bets offered
Sam - you came on and made a partizan attack - then whined when one was made back atcha.
As mick Pork would say - unspoonable.
I didn't make a partisan attack, I didn't say anything!
I linked to an article about Warsi without commenting
I think he would say unspoofable
Indeed - why post it then ? Has this revelation gone on to dominate today's headlines ?
I'll offer you £20 at evens she's still in her job at the end of the month.
I posted it because I thought it was a political story that hadn't been discussed on here
It hasn't gone on to dominate today's headlines, you are right. Is that the qualifier for posting links to a story concerning politics then?
it was hardly "a partisan attack"!!
oohh that's a tempter!
can I have a tenner at Evs that tomorrow is Thursday?
it's times like this that you almost miss tim - he would have pointed out the sex and race of the person you were posting a smear on.
An acquaintance works at a PDSA in the North of England, where the unemployed take their sick animals to be treated for free.
They recently had to institute a rule limiting the number of pedigree dogs (ie not mongrels) they treat to two per client.
Thinking about it, if you owned a pedigree dog, you could probably pay an unemployed person cash to have it treated at a PDSA as their own and still save a good deal on private vet's bills.
"Thwack! That was the sound of Ed Miliband being knocked for six at PMQs. He didn’t stand a chance. Even before he could get to his feet, David Cameron had put a question to him. Against the rules. But so what? Cameron wanted to know if the Labour leader would withdraw his constant attacks on Tory plans to remove child benefit from high earners?"
James Forsyth in the Speccie.......counting chickens, I suspect:
"Today must count as one of the most encouraging days for the centre right in British politics in recent times. Labour’s apparent abandonment of universal child benefit is a massive blow to the 1945 settlement. It is akin in significance to when Labour began to accept the privatisations of the Thatcher era."
Services growing very strongly, especially new orders, construction growing, we really seemed to have achieved lift off.
During 1994 and 1997 the economy did really well but the tories got almost no credit at all, largely I think because they were blamed for the 1992 recession and Black Wednesday. Will it be different this time? On that question stands the result of the next election.
David, I am hesitant to get too excited about Q2 2013 growth on the back of these PMIs alone, especially when the SWIFT index is 'nowcasting' only 0.1% growth for the quarter. The news is undoubtedly good, but it is not comprehensive and the economy still remains vulnerable to even small shocks.
For example, the Buzzard North Sea Oil Field, which can produce 200,000 BOE/d equivalent or 10% of UK oil output has stopped production yet again this last week due a steam leak. This may only result in a few days down as in April and February, but, if the problems persist, it could take the field down for a couple of months as happened in late summer last year. It was this unscheduled downtime which is sometimes attributed as being the cause for Q4 2012 GDP being negative.
GDP growth is also highly sensitive to large movements in net foreign investment which we need to keep an eye on.
I don't think you are wrong to be optimistic, it is just that it may be too early to bank a 0.5% increase in Q2 GDP.
Well as long as Ukip win the GE she will be able to claim unlimited legal aid for any court case - as well as child benefit and winter fuel payment for her granny.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I worry that this site is becoming nothing more than a diluted version of the House of Commons where all anyone does is point out negative aspects in the policies of the party that the poster supports, with an aversion to admitting anything negative about their own party.
Why? There's no downside fessing up unless you are a petty point scorer. You're not going to get deselected!
Barely any talk of betting
No response/little discussion of any bets offered
Sam - you came on and made a partizan attack - then whined when one was made back atcha.
As mick Pork would say - unspoonable.
I didn't make a partisan attack, I didn't say anything!
I linked to an article about Warsi without commenting
I think he would say unspoofable
Indeed - why post it then ? Has this revelation gone on to dominate today's headlines ?
I'll offer you £20 at evens she's still in her job at the end of the month.
I posted it because I thought it was a political story that hadn't been discussed on here
It hasn't gone on to dominate today's headlines, you are right. Is that the qualifier for posting links to a story concerning politics then?
it was hardly "a partisan attack"!!
oohh that's a tempter!
can I have a tenner at Evs that tomorrow is Thursday?
it's times like this that you almost miss tim - he would have pointed out the sex and race of the person you were posting a smear on.
I however - am bigger than that
Oh my life, are you serious?! I see the smiley face, Im not 100% sure though
I posted it because I saw a friend of mine, a lefty, Scottish atheist, had posted it on facebook, and I thought people on here might be interested.
I checked the date in case it was old news and it was todays
I thought tim had got your password and loged in as you when you offered the Even money bet!
If you want to go down the road of seeing racism and sexism in comments when there is absolutely none in them, fair enough, but I promise you that wasnt the case, I never even thought about it.
The woman would lie and exaggerate for her own financial gain or to get revenge on people against whom she held a grudge, her lesbian former civil partner told an employment tribunal. She twice won damages from Royal Mail after bringing allegedly false claims of sexual discrimination and a work-related shoulder injury, the hearing was told.
So, Sharapova did win 2-1. Obviously disappointed I chose not to back that, but the lack of clay court matches between the two and recent form made me think Sharapova would win in straight sets.
Japan inflation: well the official target is 2%. However, Kuroda has pledged to double the Japanese monetary base by the end of 2014. Let me repeat that, in case anyone missed it, the man tasked with minding the value of the Yen has announced that he plans to double the number of Yen bouncing around the system. I fear his plans to reintroduce inflation - on a three year view - may become rather more successful than he expects. I would not own long-term Japanese government bonds, as you have the twin risks default through inflation, and default through... errr... not being paid back.
London property: I would tend to agree; 2-3 bedroom places in zones 2-3. It's a very liquid market, and good for rentals.
Novo - still the best diabetes company out there. Don't like Mannkind because the technology is pretty shakey and both Sasy and Lilly have too many other problems. Also looking at a very interesting start up in obesity services in the MENA region...they are looking for funding right now if you want in a ground level (I don't have the spare cash right now as made a big play into alzheimer's)
As it happens, I rather like Luciana Berger, she seems very nice and seems to enjoy the normal things that normal women enjoy (such as getting her hair done) without fear of the political joy police chastising her for frivolousness. She is also clearly very attractive which I know I am not supposed to mention but is nevertheless an undeniable part of her appeal.
I remember her response when the Liverpool Post lambasted her for not knowing who Bill Shankly was: "You can't ask a girl a question about football".
That's exactly the sort of thing my wife would say and I think it typifies Berger's everywoman quality, which may endear her to female voters.
"Today Liberty announced it is representing the checkout assistant suspended from supermarket Morrisons for wearing a Help for Heroes wristband and a small poppy badge."
Lord Ashcroft tweets: "Cruddas wins again. Sunday times defence thrown out. Leave to appeal refused. Injunct given to remove articles from net. Costs agin ST. WOW"
What's with the lack of commenting availability? It seems like the Telegraph want to clamp down on free discussion just as much as South Wales Police. Doesn't exactly enhance your argument...
As it happens, I rather like Luciana Berger, she seems very nice and seems to enjoy the normal things that normal women enjoy (such as getting her hair done) without fear of the political joy police chastising her for frivolousness. She is also clearly very attractive which I know I am not supposed to mention but is nevertheless an undeniable part of her appeal.
I remember her response when the Liverpool Post lambasted her for not knowing who Bill Shankly was: "You can't ask a girl a question about football".
That's exactly the sort of thing my wife would say and I think it typifies Berger's everywoman quality, which may endear her to female voters.
I'm sorry, but I think every working class woman in Liverpool would know who Bill Shankly is. It's just that Berger knows nothing about the city, as she's a private schoolgirl parachuted in from London on the back of her union and family connections.
What's with the lack of commenting availability? It seems like the Telegraph want to clamp down on free discussion just as much as South Wales Police. Doesn't exactly enhance your argument...
Jeez. Talk about ungrateful! you asked me to blog, and I did. I think the editors close comments on articles like this because they attract so many, er, "eccentrics" the moderators get swamped. Nothing to do with me asking for comments to be shut down - rest assured.
I'm not blaming you! Just your minders at the Telegraph. It seems like for all their bluster, they're just as much part of the liberal-left consensus when it comes to allowing the masses to have their views publicised...
"If you think too many will come from Romania and Bulgaria, just wait until Cameron and Clegg get their way and 75 million Turks get free passage here..."
The most worrying thing is not the political career of the young chap or who is right or wrong in this internal dispute, but the fact that the Mayor of Liverpool in his statement wrote " Following this meeting I asked Jake to take a break from his duties as a City Councillor and as a Mayoral Lead for Looked After Children for a period of one month, so he can rest and reflect, "
As Mayor, he can sack him as Lead Member...as Liverpool Labour Leader, he can suspend him from the group....but how the hell can he ask him to take a break from his duties as City Cllr?!
Lord Ashcroft tweets: "Cruddas wins again. Sunday times defence thrown out. Leave to appeal refused. Injunct given to remove articles from net. Costs agin ST. WOW"
Didn't Clegg once criticise parents who give their children jobs?
What a hypocrite!
"You shouldn't be sanctimonious about this. All I'm saying is governments, businesses, those who can open doors to youngsters who don't have the luck and good fortune of having supportive parents and families, I think should do so.
So it's fine to give special access to your kids, as long as a token working class kid gets in too....
What the hell about equal opportunity do these toe rags in power not get?
@CarlottaVance Anyone who reads forums and blogs that are not particularly political would have called this one right. Sometimes the political pundits show that they know absolutely nothing.
Lord Ashcroft tweets: "Cruddas wins again. Sunday times defence thrown out. Leave to appeal refused. Injunct given to remove articles from net. Costs agin ST. WOW"
What was this regarding - the driving thing ?
Peter Cruddas & the ST 'sting' over donations.
Latest Ashcroft tweet: "Ex party treasurer Peter Cruddas now going for malicious falsehood against Sunday times. Trial starts June 17th. Should be a corker!"
Mr. K, worse than that by a long stretch was a Channel 4 documentary/debate about the Danish cartoons. They had a vote amongst the studio audience and about 60% wanted to see them. Jon Snow then fished out an envelope from his jacket pocket which stated that Channel 4 would not show the cartoons.
slogan "We can't control the borders unless we leave the EU"
easy win for out
Freedom of movement? That's the best thing the EU brings.
But you can have freedom on movement with the EU by just being in the EEA, without many of the EU obligations re migration and benefits.
Yes: and I've said that I'm in favour of a semi-detached state, such as EEA membership.
However, I suspect that the choices available to me will be (a) EU, or (b) non-EEA. The majority of UKIP members are so hostile to freedom of movement (not Richard Tyndall, obviously), but see MrJones for details, that I may be required to vote for staying in the EU to maintain that freedom.
If I'm understanding the Ashcroft tweet correctly that is an absolutely outrageous judgement against the free press and investigative journalism in this country.
Comments
'I'm seventy years old and I try to go to every Lancashire home game. I think it's ***** outrageous that I'm expected to go to the West Indies to watch my county play. I rely on my bus pass to get to the ground and what good will that do me'....etc, etc plus some more foul language.
Pure genius. When for example do Lancashire get 4 uninterrupted days of play at home before the end of May? As for the average turnout, maybe this bloke represents half the crowd on an average Tuesday in April-whilst getting drenched of course.
Politicians beware, there's a groundswell of old codger opinion that will be demanding their bus passes include transatlatic flights if this idea goes through.
Good God! What in hell's name is Bopara doing back in the side??? Death penalty for Ashley Giles.
By the way, for those of you too mean to fork out for Sky, (or abroad like me), I recommend Willow Tv. 24 hour a day cricket channel for about 7 quid a month. Great value.
Nice to see the UK economy is starting to grow again. 2% this year and 3% next I predict!
Services growing very strongly, especially new orders, construction growing, we really seemed to have achieved lift off.
During 1994 and 1997 the economy did really well but the tories got almost no credit at all, largely I think because they were blamed for the 1992 recession and Black Wednesday. Will it be different this time? On that question stands the result of the next election.
http://www.economicvoice.com/ukip-mep-warns-of-stealth-moves-which-could-force-mega-truck-menace-on-to-uk-roads/50037411#axzz2VLg4CyA9
The programme uncritically played into the government's narrative on benefits by showing an unemployed family of nine purchasing a giant surround sound television for two and a half grand and telling tax-payers who objected to f8ck off.
A disgraceful distortion of the reality of life on benefits. Shame on them.
For clarity, do not speculate on or discuss the phone hacking case. We are erring on the side of caution, but that's where the line's being drawn. So stay on the right side of it.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jameskirkup/100220374/pmqs-david-camerons-confusing-attack-on-labour-over-child-benefit-cuts/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2013/jun/05/pmqs-cameron-miliband-live-blog
"Normally no one wins a stat-slinging contest like this, but today Miliband had the upper hand. That was partly because, instead of engaging in the debate about why the current A&E crisis, Cameron spent most of his time dodging the question and instead making general points about the NHS. And it was partly because, when Cameron did address the A&E crisis, he fell back on the "GP contract to blame" line which is utterly threadbare and which probably ought to be abandoned by the Department of Health as soon as possible."
I'm in China this week and pretty chillaxed about PMQs, if truth be known, but PB draws us addicts back wherever we are, as I'm sure SeanT will attest.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0At91c3wX1Wu5dExuWDRnN3JqT1BQUUxGNnV0Nm5VWkE#gid=0
1. You will know the people involved.
2. It doesn't involve children.
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/06/labour-and-50p-rate-principle-or-pragmatism
They used megaphones to shout 'racist' and 'facist' at the people going in.
Farage was there and again had to be escorted out, apparently.
I'm afraid I'm in complete disagreement with you, regarding Europe. I think the risk/reward on core Europe is terrible. If the Eurozone disintegrates, then it will be German banks that take the hit, with a commensurate hit on those companies that depend on domestic banks for funding. And, if the Eurozone survives, then - as stock valuations are relatively high there - you'll see only modest benefits.
The latest numbers out of Europe are very, very interesting. Essentially, the periphery is improving, and the core is weakening. I posted the Randstadt numbers a week or so ago, and now they are being confirmed by the official Spanish unemployment numbers yesterday, which showed the biggest monthly improvement since 1996, with unemployment dropping by 100,000. (Of course, unemployment is still at a frankly horrendous 25%, the same level as 1995, so a 100,000 person improvement is a drop in the ocean.)
Spanish housing is finally being priced to clear. I was in Marbella over the weekend, and you can get an 800 square foot flat (albeit not a fantastically nice one) for €78,000 - this is not the quoted sales price (which was c. €100,000) but what I was told the vendor would accept. These are the kind of prices which finally led to the Florida apartments inventory beginning to move.
I think there are some fantastic investment opportunities in peripheral Europe - and I think these work whether the Eurozone survives or not.
http://vimeo.com/67604802
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/localgovernment/2013/06/four-tory-councillors-in-hounslow-defect-to-ukip.html
For last 9 months or so I've been long US, Pacific Rim, neutral on China, short gold, and long London property. Plus my standard macro themes of obesity, nervous system diosorder and vaccines.
Japanese savers saw their equities destroyed in the 1990s, their property destroyed in the 00s, and are now about to see the real value of their money hammered by epic quantitative easing.
As mick Pork would say - unspoonable.
It will take a while for us to be sure about the economy, and longer still for it to feed through to the opinion polls. Those who are reading a lot into the recent improved economic statistics will probably never have a better time to take a punt on Cameron and Osborne remaining in office after the 2015 GE, though.
I linked to an article about Warsi without commenting
I think he would say unspoofable
I don;t how reports of sexual affairs can be libellous, if they are true reports. I can see how they intrude on the right to a private life, but that's a different matter.
I'll offer you £20 at evens she's still in her job at the end of the month.
C'mon, give us a clue? Does it involve Ravi Bopara and England selectors?
In that case, a sexual affair would in fact be difficult to prove, without a sworn testimony from one of the parties involved, and/or in flagrante photographs.
No shame these people. No shame at all.
Tickets I can organise as my company are sponsors. Flights and accommodation not so much :-(
What are you predicting Japanese inflation to be?
http://order-order.com/2013/06/05/labour-suspend-dissident-councillor/
The truth is out there..
It hasn't gone on to dominate today's headlines, you are right. Is that the qualifier for posting links to a story concerning politics then?
it was hardly "a partisan attack"!!
oohh that's a tempter!
can I have a tenner at Evs that tomorrow is Thursday?
I however - am bigger than that
An acquaintance works at a PDSA in the North of England, where the unemployed take their sick animals to be treated for free.
They recently had to institute a rule limiting the number of pedigree dogs (ie not mongrels) they treat to two per client.
Thinking about it, if you owned a pedigree dog, you could probably pay an unemployed person cash to have it treated at a PDSA as their own and still save a good deal on private vet's bills.
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/lloyd-evans/2013/06/pmqs-sketch-moaning-and-groaning-from-ed-miliband/
"Thwack! That was the sound of Ed Miliband being knocked for six at PMQs. He didn’t stand a chance. Even before he could get to his feet, David Cameron had put a question to him. Against the rules. But so what? Cameron wanted to know if the Labour leader would withdraw his constant attacks on Tory plans to remove child benefit from high earners?"
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2013/06/pmqs-sketch-moaning-and-groaning-from-ed-miliband/
"Today must count as one of the most encouraging days for the centre right in British politics in recent times. Labour’s apparent abandonment of universal child benefit is a massive blow to the 1945 settlement. It is akin in significance to when Labour began to accept the privatisations of the Thatcher era."
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2013/06/the-political-centre-just-moved-to-the-right/
For example, the Buzzard North Sea Oil Field, which can produce 200,000 BOE/d equivalent or 10% of UK oil output has stopped production yet again this last week due a steam leak. This may only result in a few days down as in April and February, but, if the problems persist, it could take the field down for a couple of months as happened in late summer last year. It was this unscheduled downtime which is sometimes attributed as being the cause for Q4 2012 GDP being negative.
GDP growth is also highly sensitive to large movements in net foreign investment which we need to keep an eye on.
I don't think you are wrong to be optimistic, it is just that it may be too early to bank a 0.5% increase in Q2 GDP.
Oh my life, are you serious?! I see the smiley face, Im not 100% sure though
I posted it because I saw a friend of mine, a lefty, Scottish atheist, had posted it on facebook, and I thought people on here might be interested.
I checked the date in case it was old news and it was todays
I thought tim had got your password and loged in as you when you offered the Even money bet!
If you want to go down the road of seeing racism and sexism in comments when there is absolutely none in them, fair enough, but I promise you that wasnt the case, I never even thought about it.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/10100958/Lesbian-housekeeper-working-for-Tory-MP-fabricated-sexual-assault-claim.html
The woman would lie and exaggerate for her own financial gain or to get revenge on people against whom she held a grudge, her lesbian former civil partner told an employment tribunal.
She twice won damages from Royal Mail after bringing allegedly false claims of sexual discrimination and a work-related shoulder injury, the hearing was told.
THANK YOU
by the way, when is the next meet-up?
Japan inflation: well the official target is 2%. However, Kuroda has pledged to double the Japanese monetary base by the end of 2014. Let me repeat that, in case anyone missed it, the man tasked with minding the value of the Yen has announced that he plans to double the number of Yen bouncing around the system. I fear his plans to reintroduce inflation - on a three year view - may become rather more successful than he expects. I would not own long-term Japanese government bonds, as you have the twin risks default through inflation, and default through... errr... not being paid back.
London property: I would tend to agree; 2-3 bedroom places in zones 2-3. It's a very liquid market, and good for rentals.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22785074
I hope the thugs responsible get thrown in jail for a long time. People could have died.
Long list of ex Conservative Cabinet Ministers who voted for gay marriage - ie against the amendment:
Baker
Bottomley
Chalker
Deben (ie Gummer)
Fowler
Heseltine
Howard
Hunt
Jenkin
Jopling
King
Shephard
Waldegrave
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/business-papers/lords/lords-divisions/
What are your obesity plays?
Misuse of the term 'racist' in the report, though. Islam/Muslims isn't/aren't a race.
As it happens, I rather like Luciana Berger, she seems very nice and seems to enjoy the normal things that normal women enjoy (such as getting her hair done) without fear of the political joy police chastising her for frivolousness. She is also clearly very attractive which I know I am not supposed to mention but is nevertheless an undeniable part of her appeal.
I remember her response when the Liverpool Post lambasted her for not knowing who Bill Shankly was: "You can't ask a girl a question about football".
That's exactly the sort of thing my wife would say and I think it typifies Berger's everywoman quality, which may endear her to female voters.
"Today Liberty announced it is representing the checkout assistant suspended from supermarket Morrisons for wearing a Help for Heroes wristband and a small poppy badge."
http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/media/press/2013/liberty-represents-supermarket-worker-suspended-for-trib.php
If they are gonna arrest people from Newport they should do so for their accents, above all else.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/seanthomas/100220436/the-muslim-hate-preacher-and-the-t-shirt-salesman-a-bizarre-study-in-double-standards/
slogan
"We can't control the borders unless we leave the EU"
easy win for out
"If you think too many will come from Romania and Bulgaria, just wait until Cameron and Clegg get their way and 75 million Turks get free passage here..."
Didn't Clegg once criticise parents who give their children jobs?
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2013/06/ukip-officially-excluded-from-scottish-referendum-campaign/
http://www.liverpoollabour.org/NewsandPictures/Statement_by_Joe_Anderson_Mayor_of_Liverpool.aspx
As Mayor, he can sack him as Lead Member...as Liverpool Labour Leader, he can suspend him from the group....but how the hell can he ask him to take a break from his duties as City Cllr?!
"You shouldn't be sanctimonious about this. All I'm saying is governments, businesses, those who can open doors to youngsters who don't have the luck and good fortune of having supportive parents and families, I think should do so.
So it's fine to give special access to your kids, as long as a token working class kid gets in too....
What the hell about equal opportunity do these toe rags in power not get?
Latest Ashcroft tweet: "Ex party treasurer Peter Cruddas now going for malicious falsehood against Sunday times. Trial starts June 17th. Should be a corker!"
And some back ground:
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2013/06/from-lordashcroft-former-tory-treasurer-peter-cruddas-receives-major-boost-from-judges-ruling-on-his.html
Its also a bit tricky for 'rush to judgement' Cameron.....
Wonder if the Speaker has just received Sally's legal bill?
LOL
However, I suspect that the choices available to me will be (a) EU, or (b) non-EEA. The majority of UKIP members are so hostile to freedom of movement (not Richard Tyndall, obviously), but see MrJones for details, that I may be required to vote for staying in the EU to maintain that freedom.
OUTRAGEOUS.