@djmgaffneyw4: I'm pondering the possibility that David Miliband quitting as a backbench MP might have no further implications for anything whatosever.
Tebbit's a very entertaining read, as are some of the others, but I won't be crossing the paywall anytime soon. I don't really know whY I've tended to zone in on the telegraph for articles anyway - cricket coverage? Latent, hidden toryism? - so I'll find some other way to get news.
Not on twitter though, so my options are getting limited.
Its not whining Tim, its a fact. I am sick of my notifications being filled with your usual crap. You have a problem, get over it and give this site and other posters room to breathe. You are sucking the life out of the site with your behaviour, and this new forum has certainly highlighted the fact in spades. Go off and have a break, or simple try to engage politely with the whole community on the site without clogging it up littering it with your usual diet of daily insults to various posters individually or collectively.
It is whining. And it's dull.
Tim's reply to you earlier was milder than most posts on here. By contrast, your response was an all out tantrum.
Who are you to judge whether another poster is "sucking the life out of the site"? Ever crossed your mind that many people enjoy reading tim's insights on politics etc?
I have no problems with tims thoughts. I do have a problem with his repetition of the same point again and again without variety. I also find his relentless negativity tiresome. He does make constant negative comments about the coalition, but never makes poitive comments about any other party.
Nothing positive to say, nothing to say at all really.
That is right Tim, just go ahead and keep digging with the usual ad hom smeary attacks that fill my notifications list. Its like having to clear out the bin when I come on the site.
2/9 available with Coral on Ed Miliband to be labour leader at next GE.
I generally hate long-term short odds bets, but that looks to offer a little value. The main problem being that Coral isn't the healthiest of companies and could conceivably go bust before 2015.
@paulwaugh: Mandelson tells World Tonight: "I don't think this is the end for David Miliband. I think if I can come back he can. U shd not rule him out"
So anyone planning to subscribe to the Telegraph paywall?
For £20 a year it's actually not that expensive. But I'll see how it goes. If I find myself pushing beyond the 20 article limit regularly then yes.
I've become very disillusioned with the Times at the moment, and have been contemplating cancelling it for a variety of reasons, but unless the Telegraph starts using a proper pollster, I can't see me subscribing.
So anyone planning to subscribe to the Telegraph paywall?
For £20 a year it's actually not that expensive. But I'll see how it goes. If I find myself pushing beyond the 20 article limit regularly then yes.
I've become very disillusioned with the Times at the moment, and have been contemplating cancelling it for a variety of reasons, but unless the Telegraph starts using a proper pollster, I can't see me subscribing.
I don't see why anyone buys papers for the polls anymore. Any poll published hits this site long before the paper reaches the newsstand. I understand the business case of The Times cancelling theirs.
You can bet the Labour vote will go down. But it is not quite a marginal. However, more surprising things have happened.
This idea that Ed Miliband is responsible for David's departure to NY is preposterous. What was he supposed to do ? Acquiesce to his brother's coronation ? Remember, this is the Labour Party, not some kind of monarchy.
So anyone planning to subscribe to the Telegraph paywall?
For £20 a year it's actually not that expensive. But I'll see how it goes. If I find myself pushing beyond the 20 article limit regularly then yes.
I've become very disillusioned with the Times at the moment, and have been contemplating cancelling it for a variety of reasons, but unless the Telegraph starts using a proper pollster, I can't see me subscribing.
I don't see why anyone buys papers for the polls anymore. Any poll published hits this site long before the paper reaches the newsstand. I understand the business case of The Times cancelling theirs.
One of the reasons I subscribed to the Times was for the Populus polls, for myself, and for PBers.
It allowed myself and OGH to get a feel for the details of the poll before the story hit the news stands.
The iPad app update really has buggered up the Times, and that the fact the Sunday Times website doesn't update now until after midnight is also a frustration.
But I think I'll keep my Times sub for the Sunday YouGov and the Scotland Mori polling.
Commies don't have an independent morality they judge their political idealogy by. Their political idealogy is their morality hence hypocrisy doesn't bother them at all (except if it makes them look bad to the public) - because to them they're not being hypocritical, they're consistently following their political idealogy (which is their morality).
If you understand where it comes from then it's easier not to get drained by the double standards.
David Miliband - the man who expected everything to fall into his lap. Labour definitely chose the brother who was better equipped for leadership.
Couldn't he have found something worthwhile to do in Britain?
He came so close - had he challenged Brown in 2009 he would probably have become Prime Minister and could well have kept Labour in power. But he hesitated - a catastrophic error of judgement which has now proved fatal to his political career. He would not have made a good leader of the opposition - he would have found it much more difficult than Ed to distance himself from Iraq and been much less inclined to take on Murdoch.
So anyone planning to subscribe to the Telegraph paywall?
For £20 a year it's actually not that expensive. But I'll see how it goes. If I find myself pushing beyond the 20 article limit regularly then yes.
I don't think any of our daily papers merit £2.00 pa yet alone for a shorter period.
Telegraph is moribund filled with bile and stupidity that lacks any balance or objectivity.
Guardian is as good as the Telegraph.
The Times seems to have improved marginally, but as it is owned by Murdoch I won't buy it (my Murdoch boycott dates back some 30 odd years, so no sky here).
Mail, Mirror, Sun, Express, why waste either ink or pixels?
Independent is good value, as copies of that will be very rare antiques in a short time.
BBC is too dominant of news across TV and Web.
All in all, not a resounding thumbs up for our news media and delivery from me.
I nearly forgot, Leevson is a dipstick who was out of his depth.
Maybe a nice seat in the NE for the Blair dynasty to continue....
Possible, although i'd expect there'd be a risk of too much negative publicity in a by-election so they'd rather get them in during a general election.
The main browser I use is Camino and unfortunately every few seconds the PB thread I'm looking at flickers and the page returns to the top few comments. Very annoying.
The main browser I use is Camino and unfortunately every few seconds the PB thread I'm looking at flickers and the page returns to the top few comments. Very annoying.
Try clicking on someone's icon, then go to the discussions link at the top.
If you read the discussions there, they are shown differently and may work for you.
By-election selections are never AWS as men candidates are always able to apply. The NEC panel in charge can judge, in their divine design, that they are crap or unsuitable and shortlist just women. It happened in Rotherham. But I can't remember another recent occasation.
Not that everyone has asked it or mentioned it. Good for you. I see you are learning unlike some papers
New Labour politician gets a taste for the high life, international jet setting, private limos and the glory of being on a global stage. We're supposed to congratulate this guy?
Surbiton, I think the Tories mainly preferred David they agreed with him more, and subconsciously (as all men are want to do) that biased their idea of which it would have been best for Labour to pick.
New Labour politician gets a taste for the high life, international jet setting, private limos and the glory of being on a global stage. We're supposed to congratulate this guy?
He is simply following in the footsteps of another New Labourite !
If anyone can spot anyone missing from this list of candidates selected for the next general election, I'd be interested to know so I can put them on. Thanks.
"I have no inside information but it is possible that the Lib Dems will not contest the byelection . They may leave it to the old Liberal Party as they do most of the wards in this parliamentary seat at local elections . There is also the Progressives who have won one ward in the very recent past and a number of Independents who have also been elected in recent years in some of the wards":
Beacon and Bents: Lab 43.48% Ind Khan 35.6% Con 6.72% Ind 5.71% BNP 4.77% Lib 1.94% Ind 1.79% Biddick and All Saints: Lab 67.4% Ind 17.85% BNP 6.01% Con 4.41% Lib 4.29% Cleadon Park: Lab 45.89% Ind 44.71% Con 9.4% Harton: Lab 59.53% Progressives 26.43% Con 9.96% Lib 4.08% Horsley Hill: Lab 53.28% Ind 36.31% Con 7.72% Lib 2.69% Simonside and Rekendyke: Lab 64.74% Lib 12.72 BNP 11.43% Con 11.1% West Park: Lab 49.66 Progressives 34.35% Con 10.05% Green 5.94 Westoe: Lab 47.25 Ind 29.8 Con 12.36 Prog 7.7 Lib 2.89 Whitburn and Marsden: Lab 76.19 Con 23.81 Whiteleas: Lab 56.26 Ind 30.08 BNP 8.81 Ind 5.9 Con 2.95
William Hill @sharpeangle 14m William Hill make Labour 1/16 favs to retain David Miliband's seat, with UKIP 7/1; Lib Dems 50/1; Tories 200/1. #DavidMiliband #UKIP
Pity John O'Farrell burnt his boat on an unwinnable South coast seat . What he'd like to have happened to Maggie might not have gone down too well in the genteel old age pensioner paradise of Eastleigh but I reckon it could have been a winner in the North East.
I managed to put 68 pence on UKIP at 21.00 with Ladbrokes but I'm having trouble depositing any more funds for some reason because I need to change my payment card and they won't let me do so at present.
Great pity about David M. Probably the most articulate and likeable politician around and would have been a cert for 2015. If Ed wins as seems likely it will be down to lamentable opposition rather than his inspiring leadership.
This could be one of those seminal political moments like when Foot beat Healey by a whisker and we then had to suffer the Hell of years of uninterrupted Maggie. David lost to Ed by a whisker and maybe we'll have to live with Cameron until he becomes as batty as she did.
Twitter Michael Fabricant @Mike_Fabricant 19m So will David Miliband get to fly Thunderbird 5 when he heads up International Rescue? 5 4 3 2 1 #Thunderbirds are GO!
-first comment. Self-explanatory. 131 people have it, so no biggie. -name dropper. Mentioning someone in a discussion (&name). 69 folks have it. -10 comments. Presumably for posting 10 comments. 82 people have it.
In summary, I don't feel too special ;-(
Reminds me of all those Robertsons Gollywog badges we used to have all over our jacket lapels.
I've just been notified that I've won a First Comment Badge. I had previously commented so must be a bug in the software. I don't expect to comment much while Mr AveryLP continues to demolish the lefties on here with his erudite contributions and polite manner - such a change from the bile of some. I miss the "like" function - why take up space agreeing with someone?
Hmm, no. of comments starting from scratch makes me feel like even more a saddo. I mean, I somehow clocked up something like 4000 on discus on about 2 years, but much more venerable figures would always eclipse that by several multiples; now, I fear not will be the case.
In the scheme of things, it looks like a bit of a none story. Failed politician bails out of the back benches to do something far more lucrative. I bet his brother actually breathed a sigh of relief, when he found out. It's not a game changer, but just shows up D. Milliband for what he is. A bloke who's realised he isn't good enough.
Thinking on it, should UKIP prices be a little better? I know this is a safe Labour seat, and even significant numbers are taken off all the big three, the Lab starting point is so high, with a good local organization according to the postal votes info as above, but the UKIP wave of hysteria, and the prominence of their principle issue in the case of Cyprus, are about as high as it could possibly be short of winning the Euros in 2014.
I suppose it's a matter of do they have the gumption to put even more resources into this one than Eastleigh (for such is what it would take, the task itself being harder).
I think they may attempt it, wasting tons of energy and money in the process, but my general feeling with such levels of support for one party in a seat like this, means they are more unlikely to be swayed even if discontented with the incumbent party; they'd rather stay home than someone telling them the party they've been voting for generations was wrong. (blimey, Labour got 70+ in 1997)
FPT @DavidL "Just remember that if those supposedly organising these conspiracies were half as competent as they would need to be we would have competent administration in this country. The record of the last 50 years suggests otherwise."
That only follows if the primary goal of the conspiracy isn't nepotism. If the primary goal is nepotism then being competent conspirators and incompetent administrators goes together especially in the long term as people get promoted higher and higher up after each mistake.
Comments
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/mar/26/the-sun-the-telegraph-online-paywall
Couldn't he have found something worthwhile to do in Britain?
Never one to be outdone, Ed Miliband considers standing down to run Stingray
https://twitter.com/johnrentoul/status/316670916111241217
So has anyone made the obvious joke yet? David Miliband quits politics to spend less time with his family... #sorry
https://twitter.com/rosamundurwin/status/316655538500931585
Not on twitter though, so my options are getting limited.
Is that a threat?
Nothing positive to say, nothing to say at all really.
But no way is it worth subscribing to. The Guardian and BBC sites are far superior anyway, and free.
In comparison a packet of crisps looked a better leader than Gordon Brown.
ukisar.org
I generally hate long-term short odds bets, but that looks to offer a little value. The main problem being that Coral isn't the healthiest of companies and could conceivably go bust before 2015.
Still, 22% return in 2 years....
@mrchrisaddison: Balls, Cooper, Mibliband Minor... What a stellar line-up Labour currently have. They're like an am-dram version of the Labour Party.
Also without the "like" button, it's impossible to gauge our circulation
You can bet the Labour vote will go down. But it is not quite a marginal. However, more surprising things have happened.
This idea that Ed Miliband is responsible for David's departure to NY is preposterous. What was he supposed to do ? Acquiesce to his brother's coronation ? Remember, this is the Labour Party, not some kind of monarchy.
Not interested there, personally! But politically, who might fancy being dropped into a safe as houses Labour seat? JK Rowling?!
It allowed myself and OGH to get a feel for the details of the poll before the story hit the news stands.
The iPad app update really has buggered up the Times, and that the fact the Sunday Times website doesn't update now until after midnight is also a frustration.
But I think I'll keep my Times sub for the Sunday YouGov and the Scotland Mori polling.
If you understand where it comes from then it's easier not to get drained by the double standards.
nb commie is a personality type
'Truly, he was the people's Miliband.'
Hilarious,the former Foreign Secretary that was a national embarrassment and chickened out of challenging Brown,will best be remembered as banana man.
Telegraph is moribund filled with bile and stupidity that lacks any balance or objectivity.
Guardian is as good as the Telegraph.
The Times seems to have improved marginally, but as it is owned by Murdoch I won't buy it (my Murdoch boycott dates back some 30 odd years, so no sky here).
Mail, Mirror, Sun, Express, why waste either ink or pixels?
Independent is good value, as copies of that will be very rare antiques in a short time.
BBC is too dominant of news across TV and Web.
All in all, not a resounding thumbs up for our news media and delivery from me.
I nearly forgot, Leevson is a dipstick who was out of his depth.
It acted like one when Gordon Brown was "crowned".
But then they committed Regicide. Shortly followed by Fratricide.
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/
Those bloody uneducated, right-wing eurosceptics, eh?
Just 40 votes in it.
Never to be repeated, I'd guess...
And the Torygraph is a decent enough paper still, I usually buy it on a Saturday. Just their website is rubbish.
Lab 1.04
UKIP 21
Con 51
LD 101
BNP 101
http://sports.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/Politics-c110000037
If you read the discussions there, they are shown differently and may work for you.
Not that everyone has asked it or mentioned it. Good for you. I see you are learning unlike some papers
Could it be that they believed David was a loser and that is why he was "their favourite" ?
Thanks, I'll try it.
Paddy Power go 2/5 no pre election pact between UKIP & Cons.. surely a good bet at admittedly untempting odds...
If anyone can spot anyone missing from this list of candidates selected for the next general election, I'd be interested to know so I can put them on. Thanks.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0At91c3wX1Wu5dFkzTjFrRmJRN3F6ODBTTEs4NGFhcUE#gid=0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Erik_Rupp
Charity Navigator gives IRC 4 stars - the top rating. Their admin costs are 5% of donations. That is impressive.
Blairite = Cameroon.
Beacon and Bents: Lab 43.48% Ind Khan 35.6% Con 6.72% Ind 5.71% BNP 4.77% Lib 1.94% Ind 1.79%
Biddick and All Saints: Lab 67.4% Ind 17.85% BNP 6.01% Con 4.41% Lib 4.29%
Cleadon Park: Lab 45.89% Ind 44.71% Con 9.4%
Harton: Lab 59.53% Progressives 26.43% Con 9.96% Lib 4.08%
Horsley Hill: Lab 53.28% Ind 36.31% Con 7.72% Lib 2.69%
Simonside and Rekendyke: Lab 64.74% Lib 12.72 BNP 11.43% Con 11.1%
West Park: Lab 49.66 Progressives 34.35% Con 10.05% Green 5.94
Westoe: Lab 47.25 Ind 29.8 Con 12.36 Prog 7.7 Lib 2.89
Whitburn and Marsden: Lab 76.19 Con 23.81
Whiteleas: Lab 56.26 Ind 30.08 BNP 8.81 Ind 5.9 Con 2.95
William Hill @sharpeangle 14m William Hill make Labour 1/16 favs to retain David Miliband's seat, with UKIP 7/1; Lib Dems 50/1; Tories 200/1. #DavidMiliband #UKIP
Details Expand Collapse
checks current favourite on Betfair
Be afraid, Yvette. Be very afraid.
David 234 Ed 46 Burnham 6 Abbott 4 Balls 3
Who are the 13 who voted for Andy-Diane-EdB? They should come out.
Michael Fabricant @Mike_Fabricant 19m
So will David Miliband get to fly Thunderbird 5 when he heads up International Rescue? 5 4 3 2 1 #Thunderbirds are GO!
-first comment. Self-explanatory. 131 people have it, so no biggie.
-name dropper. Mentioning someone in a discussion (&name). 69 folks have it.
-10 comments. Presumably for posting 10 comments. 82 people have it.
In summary, I don't feel too special ;-(
Reminds me of all those Robertsons Gollywog badges we used to have all over our jacket lapels.
Roger, I just got one too. Is it something bad?
It's the sort of thing a vulgarian like SeanT would get lots of. Yes it's bad!!
Everyone has their 15 minutes of fame, now it's time for Hancock's half hour.
Quite a big problem, I'd have thought.
I bet his brother actually breathed a sigh of relief, when he found out.
It's not a game changer, but just shows up D. Milliband for what he is. A bloke who's realised he isn't good enough.
I suppose it's a matter of do they have the gumption to put even more resources into this one than Eastleigh (for such is what it would take, the task itself being harder).
I think they may attempt it, wasting tons of energy and money in the process, but my general feeling with such levels of support for one party in a seat like this, means they are more unlikely to be swayed even if discontented with the incumbent party; they'd rather stay home than someone telling them the party they've been voting for generations was wrong. (blimey, Labour got 70+ in 1997)
@DavidL
"Just remember that if those supposedly organising these conspiracies were half as competent as they would need to be we would have competent administration in this country. The record of the last 50 years suggests otherwise."
That only follows if the primary goal of the conspiracy isn't nepotism. If the primary goal is nepotism then being competent conspirators and incompetent administrators goes together especially in the long term as people get promoted higher and higher up after each mistake.