Mr. Neil, then allow them use e-cigarettes inside. Unless the hospital's attacked by the aliens from Signs, water vapour won't hurt anyone.
Water vapour is a greenhouse gas !!!!
Worse still it causes green mold!!!!! http://www.mold-advisor.com/what-is-mold.html And probably pneumonia for all I know. You make my words, water vapour will emerge as one of the most dangerous substances on the planet.
Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.
Anyhow say we go with this plan and their economy contracts by 10% or 20%. What do you think that does to government tax receipts? I know there's an argument that this is better for them long-term, but if the voters didn't like austerity, wait until they try the "abrupt hit".
You're not reading what I've written. The contraction has ALREADY happened. The hit associated by a Default has already occurred in the Greek Economy.
Why are there still deposits and where is the money coming from that's flowing overseas?
Quite simply, this is the money being shoved into the Greek economy from the ECB. I would accept a small part of it will be newly generated wealth but the vast majority is simply the Debt being recycled and those in a position to benefit from the money moving it offshore.
Ordinary deposits do not exist any more. Small businesses will keep their entire working capital in cash, larger business will no doubt have taken measures to ensure their working capital by using offshore accounts but that will have happened YEARS ago.
All that is happening now is money is being churned via the ECB and the Greek Elite who still benefit from government contracts and largesse grabbing most of the bailout funds and offshoring it.
Miss Cyclefree, in 2005 when the loonybins had their little police-escorted march one of the placards read something like "Islam will conquer Rome". It would seem a reasonably likely strategy for the maniacs.
We should also try and help Tunisia to remain if not strong, at least capable of repelling external and internal Islamic State threats.
The Blair hate is extraordinary. Plenty of those Tories and UKIP voters actually voted for him. At the risk of sounding like John Rentoul I don't quite get it myself. Perhaps it's a personal sense of embarrassment.
As you are a Londoner I guess you cycle or use cabs/tube?
I both regularly bike and (fairly often) drive. The former informs the latter. You are damned right in your analysis – many people either a) don't know the rules of the road or b) wilfully ignore them.
Driving right up to the back of cyclists, cutting them up so badly that they are essentially pushing them off the road, tail-gating other cars so, if one stops, they go straight into the back of them.
Self-driving cars should solve much of the problem – as they are not subject to the Mr Toad tendency and will be programmed to keep a reasonable distance at all times.
Will car manufacturers pay the insurance quotes and indemnify the driver when his auto car runs somebody over? Oh I forgot, machines are perfect.
I guess you meant that sarcastically, but I'd assume the answer would be "yes". Since the car makers can get sued and the driver no longer controls the car, insurance will presumably move from the driver to the manufacturer or the rental/lease/taxi firm. It comes out the same in the end, because the costs end up getting passed on to the driver one way or the other.
They won't perfect, but they won't be allowed on the road until they're substantially better than us monkeys. This may not be long, as we're exceedingly crap at driving.
Extra question: Will we be following the quaint example in your post and still calling the person who tells the car where to go the "driver"?
The Blair hate is extraordinary. Plenty of those Tories and UKIP voters actually voted for him. At the risk of sounding like John Rentoul I don't quite get it myself. Perhaps it's a personal sense of embarrassment.
I'm very very proud never to have voted for Tony Blair
Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.
The Blair hate is extraordinary. Plenty of those Tories and UKIP voters actually voted for him. At the risk of sounding like John Rentoul I don't quite get it myself. Perhaps it's a personal sense of embarrassment.
I'm very very proud never to have voted for Tony Blair
No doubt this will be in the Tory manifesto draft by tomorrow morning...
Or alternatively, drivers could obey the law.
It's the variable speed limit ones that pee me off.
You're doing 70. Sign comes up that says you're now in a 50 and there's a camera about 50 yards away that clocks you before you've had the chance to slow down and you get three points on your license for bugger all.
If you're not paying attention to the speed limits, what else are you missing when driving? When you're in charge of a ton of metal travelling at high speed, it's reasonable to expect you to be on your top game at all times.
You don't drive do you ?
Variable speed limits are on a big board on the screen. You get there and it goes from 70 to 50.
The camera is right next to the 50 sign. Most motorists can't slow down that quick.
In 100 years' time, the average attitudes to driving today will seem as incomprehensible to our great grandchildren as the 19th century attitudes towards the Opium Wars seem today.
A remarkable statistic is that over the past 50 years, during which time the number of vehicles using Britain's roads has incresed many times over, fatalities have fallen by over 75% from around an horrific total of 8,000 p.a. in the mid '60s to well below 2,000 p.a now. This must be largely as a result of vehicles being so much safer now as well as from the growth in the motorway network over this period.
In the Sixties, there were still plenty of people driving who had never had to take a driving test. Safer cars, the introduction of breath testing, and generally a more responsible attitude towards driving have driven down casualties enormously. Also, surgeons are much better at saving lives than they were 50 years ago.
Urban congestion also helps reduce casualties. You can't do much harm when you're crawling along. Paradoxically, very few people die on motorways, either, because the field of vision is so good.
The most dangerous roads are country roads. People tend to pick up speed, and then someone steps out in front of them, or an animal leaps out.
"Harm reduction" can't possibly be an acceptable solution because, although it may save thousands of lives, and significantly increase quit rates
Didnt the WHO find that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that they helped people quit smoking?
Don't recall that specific study, but certainly it's a topic of hot debate. There's clear evidence that it isn't a gateway to smoking (i.e. the other way). Additionally, there's clear evidence that people go from (say) 10 a day to 8 e-cigs + 2 cigarettes. What is unproven is whether they then go from 8+2 to 10+0.
John Major's stock is certainly quite high at the moment also, so not surprised to see that. Everyone thought the Major Gov't wasn't great at the time but looking back it was halycon days.
The point is that the current system is set up as a constituency based approach.
If you don't like it, campaign to change it, perhaps have a referendum to ask the people what they would prefer: the current system or an alternative.
Don't do an end run around the system. That's just being cute.
I'm not the one advocating vote-swapping for partisan advantage. It relies entirely on trust so it depends on how much you trust the other person to vote the way you want and expect them to. It's completely unenforceable and without verification but there you go.
I come back to what has always been my central problem with FPTP - why should 36% of the vote (as in 2005) provide 100% of the power ? In my view, 36% of the vote should be 36% of the seats (with variations for England, Scotland, Wales and NI).
That strikes me as "fair" - there will be those who argue it is not a recipe for good governance. I would argue that there are plenty who castigate the current system for giving all the power to the largest minority and that majoritarian Government is no guarantee of good governance. Indeed, one might argue long periods of domination by the largest minority leads to a clear decline in the quality of that governance.
The Party system (which is already a network of coalitions) would rapidly evolve to suit the new way of voting. There would be a recognisable centre-right bloc of parties and one on the centre-left. That's how it works in many other places with proportional systems.
Mr. Neil, then allow them use e-cigarettes inside. Unless the hospital's attacked by the aliens from Signs, water vapour won't hurt anyone.
Water vapour is a greenhouse gas !!!!
Worse still it causes green mold!!!!! http://www.mold-advisor.com/what-is-mold.html And probably pneumonia for all I know. You make my words, water vapour will emerge as one of the most dangerous substances on the planet.
The point is that the current system is set up as a constituency based approach.
If you don't like it, campaign to change it, perhaps have a referendum to ask the people what they would prefer: the current system or an alternative.
Don't do an end run around the system. That's just being cute.
I'm not the one advocating vote-swapping for partisan advantage. It relies entirely on trust so it depends on how much you trust the other person to vote the way you want and expect them to. It's completely unenforceable and without verification but there you go.
I come back to what has always been my central problem with FPTP - why should 36% of the vote (as in 2005) provide 100% of the power ? In my view, 36% of the vote should be 36% of the seats (with variations for England, Scotland, Wales and NI).
That strikes me as "fair" - there will be those who argue it is not a recipe for good governance. I would argue that there are plenty who castigate the current system for giving all the power to the largest minority and that majoritarian Government is no guarantee of good governance. Indeed, one might argue long periods of domination by the largest minority leads to a clear decline in the quality of that governance.
The Party system (which is already a network of coalitions) would rapidly evolve to suit the new way of voting. There would be a recognisable centre-right bloc of parties and one on the centre-left. That's how it works in many other places with proportional systems.
And fundamentally, I take the view that the interests of Hartlepool may not be the same as the interests of England as a whole. So the good people of Hartlepool need someone who they can be sure should speak up for their interests, even when it diverges from the national interest. And they should have the ability to kick that individual out if they don't do their job adequately.
John Major's stock is certainly quite high at the moment also, so not surprised to see that. Everyone thought the Major Gov't wasn't great at the time but looking back it was halycon days.
The Tories would do well to deploy him in the North and Midlands.
No doubt this will be in the Tory manifesto draft by tomorrow morning...
Or alternatively, drivers could obey the law.
It's the variable speed limit ones that pee me off.
You're doing 70. Sign comes up that says you're now in a 50 and there's a camera about 50 yards away that clocks you before you've had the chance to slow down and you get three points on your license for bugger all.
If you're not paying attention to the speed limits, what else are you missing when driving? When you're in charge of a ton of metal travelling at high speed, it's reasonable to expect you to be on your top game at all times.
You don't drive do you ?
Variable speed limits are on a big board on the screen. You get there and it goes from 70 to 50.
The camera is right next to the 50 sign. Most motorists can't slow down that quick.
If the number is on a big board on a screen, you should be able to read it from a fair distance.
One of the reasons that I rarely drive is because I am keenly aware of the responsibility I take on when driving. We live in a nation of Mr Toads who are quite insouciant about the annual death of a small village every year on the roads.
In 100 years' time, the average attitudes to driving today will seem as incomprehensible to our great grandchildren as the 19th century attitudes towards the Opium Wars seem today.
A remarkable statistic is that over the past 50 years, during which time the number of vehicles using Britain's roads has incresed many times over, fatalities have fallen by over 75% from around an horrific total of 8,000 p.a. in the mid '60s to well below 2,000 p.a now. This must be largely as a result of vehicles being so much safer now as well as from the growth in the motorway network over this period.
It's something I like to quote regularly to people who regard our roads as exceptionally dangerous.
The Highway Code was introduced in 1931 in response to the unacceptably high numbers of road fatalities. They had reached about 3,000 a year, a little higher than they are now.
The Blair hate is extraordinary. Plenty of those Tories and UKIP voters actually voted for him. At the risk of sounding like John Rentoul I don't quite get it myself. Perhaps it's a personal sense of embarrassment.
Tony Blair will not acknowledge that no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq (despite him saying that he had no doubt on the point) and that the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq was far worse than the public had been led to expect. It is probably too late to do so now, but his unwillingness to acknowledge these two points, coupled with his apparent enthusiasm for profiting from his post-premiership period, has meant that the public have formed a very damning view of his integrity.
I don't think he gives a toss about what other people think of him any more.
"Harm reduction" can't possibly be an acceptable solution because, although it may save thousands of lives, and significantly increase quit rates
Didnt the WHO find that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that they helped people quit smoking?
Don't recall that specific study, but certainly it's a topic of hot debate. There's clear evidence that it isn't a gateway to smoking (i.e. the other way). Additionally, there's clear evidence that people go from (say) 10 a day to 8 e-cigs + 2 cigarettes. What is unproven is whether they then go from 8+2 to 10+0.
But I'm of the view that 8+2 is better than 0+10.
I think you are about right there Charles.
I am now the proud owner of a V-Revolution, which is pretty good on the highest setting, although I'm looking to change my juices (the generic ones I bought with it aren't great in flavour compared to mates' ones I have tried). Mystic seems to be the brand to go for.
I find that, if I'm having a night on the sauce, I'll have a fair few puffs on the vape, followed by the odd real fag.
In days gone by, I would have nailed a whole packet of fags on a big night. So, yes, I agree with your analysis.
@Charles The delaying of statistics that could possibly show things the government doesn't think would suit its narrative? Openness and transparency is their motto, except where it isn't.
Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.
No doubt this will be in the Tory manifesto draft by tomorrow morning...
Or alternatively, drivers could obey the law.
It's the variable speed limit ones that pee me off.
You're doing 70. Sign comes up that says you're now in a 50 and there's a camera about 50 yards away that clocks you before you've had the chance to slow down and you get three points on your license for bugger all.
If you're not paying attention to the speed limits, what else are you missing when driving? When you're in charge of a ton of metal travelling at high speed, it's reasonable to expect you to be on your top game at all times.
You don't drive do you ?
Variable speed limits are on a big board on the screen. You get there and it goes from 70 to 50.
The camera is right next to the 50 sign. Most motorists can't slow down that quick.
If the number is on a big board on a screen, you should be able to read it from a fair distance.
One of the reasons that I rarely drive is because I am keenly aware of the responsibility I take on when driving. We live in a nation of Mr Toads who are quite insouciant about the annual death of a small village every year on the roads.
In 100 years' time, the average attitudes to driving today will seem as incomprehensible to our great grandchildren as the 19th century attitudes towards the Opium Wars seem today.
A remarkable statistic is that over the past 50 years, during which time the number of vehicles using Britain's roads has incresed many times over, fatalities have fallen by over 75% from around an horrific total of 8,000 p.a. in the mid '60s to well below 2,000 p.a now. This must be largely as a result of vehicles being so much safer now as well as from the growth in the motorway network over this period.
It's something I like to quote regularly to people who regard our roads as exceptionally dangerous.
The Highway Code was introduced in 1931 in response to the unacceptably high numbers of road fatalities. They had reached about 3,000 a year, a little higher than they are now.
As you indicate, extraordinary.
Remarkable to think that the drink driving laws were seem as the evil work of the nanny state when first proposed. I wonder how many lives they have saved over the years? Ditto seatbelts.
No doubt this will be in the Tory manifesto draft by tomorrow morning...
Or alternatively, drivers could obey the law.
It's the variable speed limit ones that pee me off.
You're doing 70. Sign comes up that says you're now in a 50 and there's a camera about 50 yards away that clocks you before you've had the chance to slow down and you get three points on your license for bugger all.
If you're not paying attention to the speed limits, what else are you missing when driving? When you're in charge of a ton of metal travelling at high speed, it's reasonable to expect you to be on your top game at all times.
You don't drive do you ?
Variable speed limits are on a big board on the screen. You get there and it goes from 70 to 50.
The camera is right next to the 50 sign. Most motorists can't slow down that quick.
If the number is on a big board on a screen, you should be able to read it from a fair distance.
One of the reasons that I rarely drive is because I am keenly aware of the responsibility I take on when driving. We live in a nation of Mr Toads who are quite insouciant about the annual death of a small village every year on the roads.
In 100 years' time, the average attitudes to driving today will seem as incomprehensible to our great grandchildren as the 19th century attitudes towards the Opium Wars seem today.
A remarkable statistic is that over the past 50 years, during which time the number of vehicles using Britain's roads has incresed many times over, fatalities have fallen by over 75% from around an horrific total of 8,000 p.a. in the mid '60s to well below 2,000 p.a now. This must be largely as a result of vehicles being so much safer now as well as from the growth in the motorway network over this period.
It's something I like to quote regularly to people who regard our roads as exceptionally dangerous.
The Highway Code was introduced in 1931 in response to the unacceptably high numbers of road fatalities. They had reached about 3,000 a year, a little higher than they are now.
As you indicate, extraordinary.
2,000 a year is still a very high number of deaths by any objective standard. Most activities that resulted in that many deaths would have been made illegal long ago.
Surely one issue with your argument re FPTP arises from the fact that we are a parliamentary democracy. We're not merly electing the legislature but the executive, which is drawn from the legislature. I'd be delighted to have a fully PR election of the legislature if the election of the executive was separate. But I do think a more presidential approach is better when trying to decide who gets to be PM. FPTP is a workable hybrid that has served us well for centuries.
(and , yes, now that we are in a multiparty world that historical fit may no longer be there I accept)...
John Major's stock is certainly quite high at the moment also, so not surprised to see that. Everyone thought the Major Gov't wasn't great at the time but looking back it was halycon days.
The Tories would do well to deploy him in the North and Midlands.
Major is quite simply the most underrated Premier ever – he won an amazing victory on the stickiest of wickets through sheer determination and personal vigour and managed to stay in office through arguably the most turbulent and moribund parliament of modern times, while being viciously attacked by an out-of-control Right. He deserves a better place in history than he got.
Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.
Charming.
That's kind of like the Shipman approach to the elderly. Just get rid of them.
Urban congestion also helps reduce casualties. You can't do much harm when you're crawling along. Paradoxically, very few people die on motorways, either, because the field of vision is so good.
The most dangerous roads are country roads. People tend to pick up speed, and then someone steps out in front of them, or an animal leaps out.
Motorways: not so much the 'field of vision' as the lack of things to hit which are travelling at a very differet speed (either stationary or in the other direction).
A car doing 90mph hitting one doing 70mph is like hitting a solid wall at 10mph. Hitting an oncoming car in a 30mph zone is like hitting a solid wall at 30mph.
Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.
Charming.
Would you feel sorry for someone who falls off a ladder while trying to enter your home illegally?
The point is that the current system is set up as a constituency based approach.
If you don't like it, campaign to change it, perhaps have a referendum to ask the people what they would prefer: the current system or an alternative.
Don't do an end run around the system. That's just being cute.
I'm not the one advocating vote-swapping for partisan advantage. It relies entirely on trust so it depends on how much you trust the other person to vote the way you want and expect them to. It's completely unenforceable and without verification but there you go.
I come back to what has always been my central problem with FPTP - why should 36% of the vote (as in 2005) provide 100% of the power ? In my view, 36% of the vote should be 36% of the seats (with variations for England, Scotland, Wales and NI).
That strikes me as "fair" - there will be those who argue it is not a recipe for good governance. I would argue that there are plenty who castigate the current system for giving all the power to the largest minority and that majoritarian Government is no guarantee of good governance. Indeed, one might argue long periods of domination by the largest minority leads to a clear decline in the quality of that governance.
The Party system (which is already a network of coalitions) would rapidly evolve to suit the new way of voting. There would be a recognisable centre-right bloc of parties and one on the centre-left. That's how it works in many other places with proportional systems.
I like the french knockout system, where if no-one gets more than 50% there's another round of voting.
2,000 a year is still a very high number of deaths by any objective standard. Most activities that resulted in that many deaths would have been made illegal long ago.
Not if they were as useful as driving, they wouldn't.
"Harm reduction" can't possibly be an acceptable solution because, although it may save thousands of lives, and significantly increase quit rates
Didnt the WHO find that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that they helped people quit smoking?
Don't recall that specific study, but certainly it's a topic of hot debate. There's clear evidence that it isn't a gateway to smoking (i.e. the other way). Additionally, there's clear evidence that people go from (say) 10 a day to 8 e-cigs + 2 cigarettes. What is unproven is whether they then go from 8+2 to 10+0.
But I'm of the view that 8+2 is better than 0+10.
I think you are about right there Charles.
I am now the proud owner of a V-Revolution, which is pretty good on the highest setting, although I'm looking to change my juices (the generic ones I bought with it aren't great in flavour compared to mates' ones I have tried). Mystic seems to be the brand to go for.
I find that, if I'm having a night on the sauce, I'll have a fair few puffs on the vape, followed by the odd real fag.
In days gone by, I would have nailed a whole packet of fags on a big night. So, yes, I agree with your analysis.
The evidence that I've seen is that smokers only remember a few of the fags they have - perhaps the one when they wake up or the one with the cup of coffee after lunch. Most of the rest are just habit/autopilot.
So the one that they actually appreciate they carry on smoking a real cig for; the ones that they don't remember, you substitute for a safer alternative
Can I suggest you look out for this brand [Voke]. Not available yet, but much safer than e-cigs: has been approved by the MHRA.
@Charles The delaying of statistics that could possibly show things the government doesn't think would suit its narrative? Openness and transparency is their motto, except where it isn't.
Have they been specifically delayed, or is there just the normal purdah?
Mr. Neil, then allow them use e-cigarettes inside. Unless the hospital's attacked by the aliens from Signs, water vapour won't hurt anyone.
Water vapour is a greenhouse gas !!!!
Worse still it causes green mold!!!!! http://www.mold-advisor.com/what-is-mold.html And probably pneumonia for all I know. You make my words, water vapour will emerge as one of the most dangerous substances on the planet.
The Blair hate is extraordinary. Plenty of those Tories and UKIP voters actually voted for him. At the risk of sounding like John Rentoul I don't quite get it myself. Perhaps it's a personal sense of embarrassment.
Tony Blair will not acknowledge that no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq (despite him saying that he had no doubt on the point) and that the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq was far worse than the public had been led to expect. It is probably too late to do so now, but his unwillingness to acknowledge these two points, coupled with his apparent enthusiasm for profiting from his post-premiership period, has meant that the public have formed a very damning view of his integrity.
I don't think he gives a toss about what other people think of him any more.
I'm just not that convinced that very many people care that much about Iraq. (The ones that do care care intensely). The post-premiership behaviour explanation may well be nearer to the mark.
Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.
Charming.
Would you feel sorry for someone who falls off a ladder while trying to enter your home illegally?
2,000 a year is still a very high number of deaths by any objective standard. Most activities that resulted in that many deaths would have been made illegal long ago.
Not if they were as useful as driving, they wouldn't.
That's the point. Driving is too damn convenient to too many people for them to worry too much about the very high number of deaths that the activity results in.
Health and safety is an outrageous imposition when we're expected to comply with it, rather than (for example) an oil company or an airline.
John Major's stock is certainly quite high at the moment also, so not surprised to see that. Everyone thought the Major Gov't wasn't great at the time but looking back it was halycon days.
The Tories would do well to deploy him in the North and Midlands.
Major is quite simply the most underrated Premier ever – he won an amazing victory on the stickiest of wickets through sheer determination and personal vigour and managed to stay in office through arguably the most turbulent and moribund parliament of modern times, while being viciously attacked by an out-of-control Right. He deserves a better place in history than he got.
Not by me he wasn't.
And he had to control a hopelessly fractious Party.
Mr. Neil, then allow them use e-cigarettes inside. Unless the hospital's attacked by the aliens from Signs, water vapour won't hurt anyone.
Water vapour is a greenhouse gas !!!!
Worse still it causes green mold!!!!! http://www.mold-advisor.com/what-is-mold.html And probably pneumonia for all I know. You make my words, water vapour will emerge as one of the most dangerous substances on the planet.
Scariest places to drive? San Francisco (blind junctions because of the hills) and Malaysia (no concept of lanes).
Scariest place I have been driven was probably northern Pakistan. And that was before the additional risk from the Taliban.... Blind overtaking with a drop of several thousand feet and no wall - just the road edge.
2,000 a year is still a very high number of deaths by any objective standard. Most activities that resulted in that many deaths would have been made illegal long ago.
Not if they were as useful as driving, they wouldn't.
That's the point. Driving is too damn convenient to too many people for them to worry too much about the very high number of deaths that the activity results in.
Health and safety is an outrageous imposition when we're expected to comply with it, rather than (for example) an oil company or an airline.
Given the number of miles driven and the centrality of driving to people's lives, then I don't think the number of deaths occurring is very high at all. That's not to say it can't be lower.
Mr. Neil, then allow them use e-cigarettes inside. Unless the hospital's attacked by the aliens from Signs, water vapour won't hurt anyone.
Water vapour is a greenhouse gas !!!!
Worse still it causes green mold!!!!! http://www.mold-advisor.com/what-is-mold.html And probably pneumonia for all I know. You make my words, water vapour will emerge as one of the most dangerous substances on the planet.
No doubt this will be in the Tory manifesto draft by tomorrow morning...
Or alternatively, drivers could obey the law.
.
If you're not paying attention to the speed limits, what else are you missing when driving? When you're in charge of a ton of metal travelling at high speed, it's reasonable to expect you to be on your top game at all times.
You don't drive do you ?
Variable speed limits are on a big board on the screen. You get there and it goes from 70 to 50.
The camera is right next to the 50 sign. Most motorists can't slow down that quick.
If the number is on a big board on a screen, you should be able to read it from a fair distance.
One of the reasons that I rarely drive is because I am keenly aware of the responsibility I take on when driving. We live in a nation of Mr Toads who are quite insouciant about the annual death of a small village every year on the roads.
In 100 years' time, the average attitudes to driving today will seem as incomprehensible to our great grandchildren as the 19th century attitudes towards the Opium Wars seem today.
A remarkable statistic is that over the past 50 years, during which time the number of vehicles using Britain's roads has incresed many times over, fatalities have fallen by over 75% from around an horrific total of 8,000 p.a. in the mid '60s to well below 2,000 p.a now. This must be largely as a result of vehicles being so much safer now as well as from the growth in the motorway network over this period.
It's something I like to quote regularly to people who regard our roads as exceptionally dangerous.
The Highway Code was introduced in 1931 in response to the unacceptably high numbers of road fatalities. They had reached about 3,000 a year, a little higher than they are now.
As you indicate, extraordinary.
2,000 a year is still a very high number of deaths by any objective standard. Most activities that resulted in that many deaths would have been made illegal long ago.
@Charles Anything to do with Social Security or Universal Credit seems to run into delays and obfuscation if the select committees complaints are to be believed. Probably co-incidence though?
John Major's stock is certainly quite high at the moment also, so not surprised to see that. Everyone thought the Major Gov't wasn't great at the time but looking back it was halycon days.
The Tories would do well to deploy him in the North and Midlands.
Major is quite simply the most underrated Premier ever – he won an amazing victory on the stickiest of wickets through sheer determination and personal vigour and managed to stay in office through arguably the most turbulent and moribund parliament of modern times, while being viciously attacked by an out-of-control Right. He deserves a better place in history than he got.
Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.
Unfortunately it seems just too much for us to copy Australia's successful approach to stopping economic boat migrants. Turn back or detain elsewhere then deport.
Chelsea fans showing they haven't ditched their heritage*
*Their Combat 18 Heritage
Chelsea have strongly condemned a group of their supporters who have been caught on video singing a racist song and preventing a black man from boarding the Paris Métro.
The footage, obtained exclusively by the Guardian, shows the man repeatedly trying to squeeze on to a busy train only to be forcefully shoved out of the door and back on to the platform at the Richelieu – Drouot station before Chelsea’s Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes.
The fans on the train are then heard chanting a song that appears to be celebrating what has just happened and includes the line: “We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it” while a black woman is standing directly in front of them.
John Major's stock is certainly quite high at the moment also, so not surprised to see that. Everyone thought the Major Gov't wasn't great at the time but looking back it was halycon days.
The Tories would do well to deploy him in the North and Midlands.
Major is quite simply the most underrated Premier ever – he won an amazing victory on the stickiest of wickets through sheer determination and personal vigour and managed to stay in office through arguably the most turbulent and moribund parliament of modern times, while being viciously attacked by an out-of-control Right. He deserves a better place in history than he got.
Turbulent AND Moribund?
My 26yr old granddaughter, a Castle Point resident, said today that she intended to hold her nose and vote Tory to stop the Kipper, in spite of he fact that she'd prefer to vote LD.
If you are under 65 with no access to the Gov't free cash and need a 1% return on your money in 79 days... 1-100 looks generous
More rubbish. You are actually giving the govt money for 3 years. It's called National Savings. Macmillan invented premium bonds. It's likely the govt will have 15 bn in its coffers and the interest it pays out will go straight back into the economy and pay vat.
Why aren't they being offered to everyone if they're such a great idea ?
Because pensioners are wait for it... Poor. They rely on interest for their income. National Savings are available for everyone. Don't worry, you will be old and near death one day.
Pensioners poor? Really?!
Having paid off their tiny mortgages for their houses now worth 50 times as much ? With their final salary pensions none of the rest of us have ? With their free bus passes, TV licences and heating allowance ? Claiming their state pension from 65 like I won't be able to?
Of course there are some poor pensioners, but those currently aged 65-80 have had a very favourable set of circumstances that subsequent generations simply will not be able to enjoy.
But they do get out and vote, to their credit, so it's no wonder they get bribed by politicians so much.
More rubbish. How do YOU propose to pay for your home care when you are infirm? Everything you talk about has been paid in for over a lifetime to help cover the relatively short period left. Income is taxed. Our nation is turning into a nasty nation.
Rubbish
You are seeing untold generosity compared to future generations.
I like the french knockout system, where if no-one gets more than 50% there's another round of voting.
Yes, I could live with that. Imagine the fun on here if the GE was one Thursday and Run Off Day was one week later.
How many constituencies would need the second vote - 300, 400 ? Not East Ham methinks.
Good fun for tactical voting fans as well.
I suppose there's no point suggesting the winning candidate should have the votes of 50%+1 of ALL registered voters, not just those voting or we'd never finish.
Scariest places to drive? San Francisco (blind junctions because of the hills) and Malaysia (no concept of lanes).
Scariest place I have been driven was probably northern Pakistan. And that was before the additional risk from the Taliban.... Blind overtaking with a drop of several thousand feet and no wall - just the road edge.
The point is that the current system is set up as a constituency based approach.
If you don't like it, campaign to change it, perhaps have a referendum to ask the people what they would prefer: the current system or an alternative.
Don't do an end run around the system. That's just being cute.
I'm not the one advocating vote-swapping for partisan advantage. It relies entirely on trust so it depends on how much you trust the other person to vote the way you want and expect them to. It's completely unenforceable and without verification but there you go.
I come back to what has always been my central problem with FPTP - why should 36% of the vote (as in 2005) provide 100% of the power ? In my view, 36% of the vote should be 36% of the seats (with variations for England, Scotland, Wales and NI).
That strikes me as "fair" - there will be those who argue it is not a recipe for good governance. I would argue that there are plenty who castigate the current system for giving all the power to the largest minority and that majoritarian Government is no guarantee of good governance. Indeed, one might argue long periods of domination by the largest minority leads to a clear decline in the quality of that governance.
The Party system (which is already a network of coalitions) would rapidly evolve to suit the new way of voting. There would be a recognisable centre-right bloc of parties and one on the centre-left. That's how it works in many other places with proportional systems.
And fundamentally, I take the view that the interests of Hartlepool may not be the same as the interests of England as a whole. So the good people of Hartlepool need someone who they can be sure should speak up for their interests, even when it diverges from the national interest. And they should have the ability to kick that individual out if they don't do their job adequately.
That's an argument for having power devolved down as far as practically possible, rather than to have a ridiculously outmoded electoral system that grants quasi-dictatorial powers to the Prime Minister of the party that receives less than two-fifths of the national vote.
MM..If you ever drive from Mumbai to Poona take a look into the ravine on your left..hundreds of lorries at the bottom..The mechanical version of the mythical Elephants graveyard.
2,000 a year is still a very high number of deaths by any objective standard. Most activities that resulted in that many deaths would have been made illegal long ago.
Not if they were as useful as driving, they wouldn't.
Electricity is useful. As is going to work. People die at work, in fires and from shocks. Accidents happen in all walks of life.
Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.
Unfortunately it seems just too much for us to copy Australia's successful approach to stopping economic boat migrants. Turn back or detain elsewhere then deport.
Not so many economic migrants seeking to get to Russia these days. Any reason why?
Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.
Unfortunately it seems just too much for us to copy Australia's successful approach to stopping economic boat migrants. Turn back or detain elsewhere then deport.
Not so many economic migrants seeking to get to Russia these days. Any reason why?
I think they are put of by Putin hiding in the closet and him acting all macho and invading countries.
If only he came out, he and Russia would be at peace
"Iain Duncan Smith says that when he heard Bishops talking about 'alienation and dwindling relevence' in pre-election intervention he assumed they were talking about their own congregations"
No doubt this will be in the Tory manifesto draft by tomorrow morning...
Or alternatively, drivers could obey the law.
.
If you're not paying attention to the speed limits, what else are you missing when driving? When you're in charge of a ton of metal travelling at high speed, it's reasonable to expect you to be on your top game at all times.
You don't drive do you ?
Variable speed limits are on a big board on the screen. You get there and it goes from 70 to 50.
The camera is right next to the 50 sign. Most motorists can't slow down that quick.
If the number is on a big board on a screen, you should be able to read it from a fair distance.
One of the reasons that I rarely drive is because I am keenly aware of the responsibility I take on when driving. We live in a nation of Mr Toads who are quite insouciant about the annual death of a small village every year on the roads.
In 100 years' time, the average attitudes to driving today will seem as incomprehensible to our great grandchildren as the 19th century attitudes towards the Opium Wars seem today.
A remarkable statistic is that over the past 50 years, during which time the number of vehicles using Britain's roads has incresed many times over, fatalities have fallen by over 75% from around an horrific total of 8,000 p.a. in the mid '60s to well below 2,000 p.a now. This must be largely as a result of vehicles being so much safer now as well as from the growth in the motorway network over this period.
It's something I like to quote regularly to people who regard our roads as exceptionally dangerous.
The Highway Code was introduced in 1931 in response to the unacceptably high numbers of road fatalities. They had reached about 3,000 a year, a little higher than they are now.
As you indicate, extraordinary.
2,000 a year is still a very high number of deaths by any objective standard. Most activities that resulted in that many deaths would have been made illegal long ago.
Major left a golden economic legacy - but kind of by accident and via Black Wednesday. He believed in the ERM and things European, which surely disqualifies him from any historical claim to greatness. (That and fancying Edwina).
Chelsea fans showing they haven't ditched their heritage*
*Their Combat 18 Heritage
Chelsea have strongly condemned a group of their supporters who have been caught on video singing a racist song and preventing a black man from boarding the Paris Métro.
The footage, obtained exclusively by the Guardian, shows the man repeatedly trying to squeeze on to a busy train only to be forcefully shoved out of the door and back on to the platform at the Richelieu – Drouot station before Chelsea’s Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes.
The fans on the train are then heard chanting a song that appears to be celebrating what has just happened and includes the line: “We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it” while a black woman is standing directly in front of them.
Last year in Paris Chelsea fans were accused of running rampage outside a pub and attacking PSG fans, but it later turned out and was confirmed by video evidence that the Chelsea fans were the ones attacked by PSG supporters and did no more than defend themselves.
I would like to see confirmation elsewhere than the Guardian of this, to begin with I know of no song with that line in. However it is well known that the worst of the Chelsea fans from the dark days of the 80's often use these European away games for a meet up, particularly the ones who now live abroad.
MM..If you ever drive from Mumbai to Poona take a look into the ravine on your left..hundreds of lorries at the bottom..The mechanical version of the mythical Elephants graveyard.
Predestination always struck me as a flawed religious belief, but its application to traffic behaviour around India is manifestly catastrophic.
Mind you I have similar misgivings around Finchley, where it seems many are driving according to The Torah rather than the Highway Code.
Urban congestion also helps reduce casualties. You can't do much harm when you're crawling along. Paradoxically, very few people die on motorways, either, because the field of vision is so good.
The most dangerous roads are country roads. People tend to pick up speed, and then someone steps out in front of them, or an animal leaps out.
Motorways: not so much the 'field of vision' as the lack of things to hit which are travelling at a very differet speed (either stationary or in the other direction).
A car doing 90mph hitting one doing 70mph is like hitting a solid wall at 10mph. Hitting an oncoming car in a 30mph zone is like hitting a solid wall at 30mph.
Last Monday week, on a day not unlike today weatherwise, Mrs Stodge and I were heading north on the M1 when the car suffered a puncture just south of J10. I was able to manoeuver the vehicle to the hard shoulder and park up whereupon I suggested firmly to Mrs Stodge we vacate the vehicle.
She was reluctant to do so until I pointed out what a lorry or coach could do to the car at which poit she left the car with more than a modicum of alacrity. We were safely recovered from the roadside 30 minutes later and within 90 minutes were on our way but the hard shoulder isn't a safe place although trying to get over the fence into a farmer's field didn't look inviting either.
If you are under 65 with no access to the Gov't free cash and need a 1% return on your money in 79 days... 1-100 looks generous
More rubbish. You are actually giving the govt money for 3 years. It's called National Savings. Macmillan invented premium bonds. It's likely the govt will have 15 bn in its coffers and the interest it pays out will go straight back into the economy and pay vat.
Why aren't they being offered to everyone if they're such a great idea ?
Because pensioners are wait for it... Poor. They rely on interest for their income. National Savings are available for everyone. Don't worry, you will be old and near death one day.
Pensioners poor? Really?!
Having paid off their tiny mortgages for their houses now worth 50 times as much ? With their final salary pensions none of the rest of us have ? With their free bus passes, TV licences and heating allowance ? Claiming their state pension from 65 like I won't be able to?
Of course there are some poor pensioners, but those currently aged 65-80 have had a very favourable set of circumstances that subsequent generations simply will not be able to enjoy.
But they do get out and vote, to their credit, so it's no wonder they get bribed by politicians so much.
More rubbish. How do YOU propose to pay for your home care when you are infirm? Everything you talk about has been paid in for over a lifetime to help cover the relatively short period left. Income is taxed. Our nation is turning into a nasty nation.
Rubbish
You are seeing untold generosity compared to future generations.
Chelsea fans showing they haven't ditched their heritage*
*Their Combat 18 Heritage
Chelsea have strongly condemned a group of their supporters who have been caught on video singing a racist song and preventing a black man from boarding the Paris Métro.
The footage, obtained exclusively by the Guardian, shows the man repeatedly trying to squeeze on to a busy train only to be forcefully shoved out of the door and back on to the platform at the Richelieu – Drouot station before Chelsea’s Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes.
The fans on the train are then heard chanting a song that appears to be celebrating what has just happened and includes the line: “We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it” while a black woman is standing directly in front of them.
The Kippers would be a truly potent force if they were led by John Major instead of Nigel Farage.
I can't think of anyone more unlike UKIP than John !
David Cameron is the new John Major.
His Premiership ruined by a bunch of anti-European Headbangers, allowing in a Labour government.
Cameron could never get the 43% who backed JM4PM including an extraordinary personal vote in his constituency. Let's compare their personal votes 1992 vs 2010.
Major - 48662 (66%/52%) Cameron - 33973 (59%/43%)
That's total votes followed by the % of the vote they got and the percentage of registered voters who supported them. Amidst all the fuss last week about the Tory fundraiser I thought a vital point was missed. Previous Tory PMs may have cultivated the rich or admired 'buccaneering businessmen' but they were always quite careful about their own image. The one nation tradition that sustained them up to Heath, followed by Thatcher who was always the disciplinarian school marm even if her policies made loads a'money possible and Major was the ordinary bloke from Brixton. That care seems to have been completely lost under Cameron and Osborne. Perhaps they thought if it was okay for New Labour to have an unapologetic appreciation of wealth, why not them? That carelessness could be their undoing.
Not sure about the reasoning here, given the by-products seems to be some sort of vapour rather than actual smoke.
Nicotine? Plus it's meant to make you feel like Audrey Hepburn or George Clooney as opposed to The Crankies. (I doubt the adverts will feature Cruella de Ville)
We will soon be worse than a police state, pathetic. Fit the idiots better to stop people smoking real fags at the doors.
Ditch the motorway speed limits, prosecute Lorries that attempt to overtake each other on the A1, middle lane hoggers and up sentences for drivers that drive recklessly past horses and cyclists on the roads.
Better still - upgrade the **** A1 to a motorway up to Edinburgh. North of Newcastle Upon Tyne it's a death-trap.
Comments
Worse still it causes green mold!!!!!
http://www.mold-advisor.com/what-is-mold.html
And probably pneumonia for all I know.
You make my words, water vapour will emerge as one of the most dangerous substances on the planet.
Mr. F, are you sure? Using evidence and reason to formulate policy would be a rather dramatic change...
Call me psychic, but I just knew that you would not object Charles.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.
Mr. Floater, let me know what you think. Don't read much sci-fi or historical fiction but it sounds interesting.
Why are there still deposits and where is the money coming from that's flowing overseas?
Quite simply, this is the money being shoved into the Greek economy from the ECB. I would accept a small part of it will be newly generated wealth but the vast majority is simply the Debt being recycled and those in a position to benefit from the money moving it offshore.
Ordinary deposits do not exist any more. Small businesses will keep their entire working capital in cash, larger business will no doubt have taken measures to ensure their working capital by using offshore accounts but that will have happened YEARS ago.
All that is happening now is money is being churned via the ECB and the Greek Elite who still benefit from government contracts and largesse grabbing most of the bailout funds and offshoring it.
We should also try and help Tunisia to remain if not strong, at least capable of repelling external and internal Islamic State threats.
Blair an election liability and Major an asset, say voters
https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/02/18/blair-election-liability-and-major-asset-say-voter/
https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/02/18/blair-election-liability-and-major-asset-say-voter/
The Blair hate is extraordinary. Plenty of those Tories and UKIP voters actually voted for him. At the risk of sounding like John Rentoul I don't quite get it myself. Perhaps it's a personal sense of embarrassment.
They won't perfect, but they won't be allowed on the road until they're substantially better than us monkeys. This may not be long, as we're exceedingly crap at driving.
Extra question: Will we be following the quaint example in your post and still calling the person who tells the car where to go the "driver"?
Urban congestion also helps reduce casualties. You can't do much harm when you're crawling along. Paradoxically, very few people die on motorways, either, because the field of vision is so good.
The most dangerous roads are country roads. People tend to pick up speed, and then someone steps out in front of them, or an animal leaps out.
But I'm of the view that 8+2 is better than 0+10.
But object to what, may I ask?
I come back to what has always been my central problem with FPTP - why should 36% of the vote (as in 2005) provide 100% of the power ? In my view, 36% of the vote should be 36% of the seats (with variations for England, Scotland, Wales and NI).
That strikes me as "fair" - there will be those who argue it is not a recipe for good governance. I would argue that there are plenty who castigate the current system for giving all the power to the largest minority and that majoritarian Government is no guarantee of good governance. Indeed, one might argue long periods of domination by the largest minority leads to a clear decline in the quality of that governance.
The Party system (which is already a network of coalitions) would rapidly evolve to suit the new way of voting. There would be a recognisable centre-right bloc of parties and one on the centre-left. That's how it works in many other places with proportional systems.
http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html
You want me to vote Tory
I am torn....
The Highway Code was introduced in 1931 in response to the unacceptably high numbers of road fatalities. They had reached about 3,000 a year, a little higher than they are now.
As you indicate, extraordinary.
I don't think he gives a toss about what other people think of him any more.
http://m.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-31503747
I am now the proud owner of a V-Revolution, which is pretty good on the highest setting, although I'm looking to change my juices (the generic ones I bought with it aren't great in flavour compared to mates' ones I have tried). Mystic seems to be the brand to go for.
I find that, if I'm having a night on the sauce, I'll have a fair few puffs on the vape, followed by the odd real fag.
In days gone by, I would have nailed a whole packet of fags on a big night. So, yes, I agree with your analysis.
The delaying of statistics that could possibly show things the government doesn't think would suit its narrative?
Openness and transparency is their motto, except where it isn't.
Another factor in the sixties was the huge number of stupid, irresponsible young men like me driving around.
Surely one issue with your argument re FPTP arises from the fact that we are a parliamentary democracy. We're not merly electing the legislature but the executive, which is drawn from the legislature. I'd be delighted to have a fully PR election of the legislature if the election of the executive was separate. But I do think a more presidential approach is better when trying to decide who gets to be PM. FPTP is a workable hybrid that has served us well for centuries.
(and , yes, now that we are in a multiparty world that historical fit may no longer be there I accept)...
Simple.
A car doing 90mph hitting one doing 70mph is like hitting a solid wall at 10mph. Hitting an oncoming car in a 30mph zone is like hitting a solid wall at 30mph.
So the one that they actually appreciate they carry on smoking a real cig for; the ones that they don't remember, you substitute for a safer alternative
Can I suggest you look out for this brand [Voke]. Not available yet, but much safer than e-cigs: has been approved by the MHRA.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/09/12/uk-health-ecigarettes-brit-am-tobacco-idUKKBN0H70R220140912
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-12/bat-smokeless-nicotine-partner-discusses-ipo-with-zeus-capital
Major was at heart a decent man, and one of the few politicians I admire.
Health and safety is an outrageous imposition when we're expected to comply with it, rather than (for example) an oil company or an airline.
And he had to control a hopelessly fractious Party.
Scariest place I have been driven was probably northern Pakistan. And that was before the additional risk from the Taliban.... Blind overtaking with a drop of several thousand feet and no wall - just the road edge.
Stairs are a truly dangerous mode of transport.
http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/nov/06/deaths-mortality-rates-cause-death-2011
Anything to do with Social Security or Universal Credit seems to run into delays and obfuscation if the select committees complaints are to be believed.
Probably co-incidence though?
*Their Combat 18 Heritage
Chelsea have strongly condemned a group of their supporters who have been caught on video singing a racist song and preventing a black man from boarding the Paris Métro.
The footage, obtained exclusively by the Guardian, shows the man repeatedly trying to squeeze on to a busy train only to be forcefully shoved out of the door and back on to the platform at the Richelieu – Drouot station before Chelsea’s Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes.
The fans on the train are then heard chanting a song that appears to be celebrating what has just happened and includes the line: “We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it” while a black woman is standing directly in front of them.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/18/racist-chelsea-fans-push-black-man-paris-metro
My 26yr old granddaughter, a Castle Point resident, said today that she intended to hold her nose and vote Tory to stop the Kipper, in spite of he fact that she'd prefer to vote LD.
The number of people out of work in the UK fell by 97,000 to 1.86 million in the three months to December.
The unemployment rate now stands at 5.7% of the adult working population, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31515556
You are seeing untold generosity compared to future generations.
Yes, I could live with that. Imagine the fun on here if the GE was one Thursday and Run Off Day was one week later.
How many constituencies would need the second vote - 300, 400 ? Not East Ham methinks.
Good fun for tactical voting fans as well.
I suppose there's no point suggesting the winning candidate should have the votes of 50%+1 of ALL registered voters, not just those voting or we'd never finish.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/17/bbc-snub-bradford-again-fa-cup-reading-tv
His Premiership ruined by a bunch of anti-European Headbangers, allowing in a Labour government.
If only he came out, he and Russia would be at peace
IDS bashing the bishops
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/11419923/Iain-Duncan-Smith-mocks-Church-of-Englands-dwindling-relevence.html
"Iain Duncan Smith says that when he heard Bishops talking about 'alienation and dwindling relevence' in pre-election intervention he assumed they were talking about their own congregations"
I would like to see confirmation elsewhere than the Guardian of this, to begin with I know of no song with that line in. However it is well known that the worst of the Chelsea fans from the dark days of the 80's often use these European away games for a meet up, particularly the ones who now live abroad.
Mind you I have similar misgivings around Finchley, where it seems many are driving according to The Torah rather than the Highway Code.
She was reluctant to do so until I pointed out what a lorry or coach could do to the car at which poit she left the car with more than a modicum of alacrity. We were safely recovered from the roadside 30 minutes later and within 90 minutes were on our way but the hard shoulder isn't a safe place although trying to get over the fence into a farmer's field didn't look inviting either.
When I went to Stanford bridge only weeks back with half our group of Asian heritage,we had a fantastic time and the Chelsea fans we met were great.
Major - 48662 (66%/52%)
Cameron - 33973 (59%/43%)
That's total votes followed by the % of the vote they got and the percentage of registered voters who supported them. Amidst all the fuss last week about the Tory fundraiser I thought a vital point was missed. Previous Tory PMs may have cultivated the rich or admired 'buccaneering businessmen' but they were always quite careful about their own image. The one nation tradition that sustained them up to Heath, followed by Thatcher who was always the disciplinarian school marm even if her policies made loads a'money possible and Major was the ordinary bloke from Brixton. That care seems to have been completely lost under Cameron and Osborne. Perhaps they thought if it was okay for New Labour to have an unapologetic appreciation of wealth, why not them? That carelessness could be their undoing.