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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The Telegraph’s big political news..about Jack Straw and Si

SystemSystem Posts: 12,215
edited February 2015 in General

imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The Telegraph’s big political news..about Jack Straw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind

Tonight’s dramatic big political news pic.twitter.com/erNWzuBYo5

Read the full story here


«13

Comments

  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    The most irksome aspect of the various political sleaze stories is not the sheer unambitiousness of the avarice shown by the errant politicians, but the annoyance we will get in a week's time from political insiders complaining that the public get their poor perception of politicians from a few rotten apples. The supply of rotten apples seems inexhaustible.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    What makes Sir Malcolm a real issue, that unlike Jack Straw, is that he has a real, proper job.

    He's Chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

    He'll have to quit that, I expect

    On the positive side for some, looks like the uber safe Tory seat of Kensington is about to become available for a SPAD
  • Scrapheap_as_wasScrapheap_as_was Posts: 10,069
    Evenly balanced prats at the moment.
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    The other big question for tonight (apart from the polling impact) is are there others to be unveiled?

    Goodnight.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,514
    Speedy said:

    The other big question for tonight (apart from the polling impact) is are there others to be unveiled?

    Goodnight.

    I highly doubt they are the only ones (unless MP's are a lot less money grabbing than a few years ago). Last time they approached about 15-20 MPs I think and got (I think) 9 to bite to some degree.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,039
    I assume the usual 'Ed is Crap' thread was dropped? A shame.
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    Scott_P said:

    @TimGatt: Jack Straw on Byers, Hewitt + Hoon in 2010: "There's anger...and incredulity about their stupidity...getting suckered by a sting like this"

    Cab no 2010 Steve Byers said - money for nothing, God helps those who help themselves, but God help those who help themselves and get caught.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,514
    edited February 2015
    @robindbrantsir malcolm rifkind has told me he would've been happy to say what he said in this undercover filming in a channel 4 interview, and adds..

    @robindbrant...he was not offering to get information that was secret or not publically available

    @robindbrantsir malcolm also claimed there are numerous errors in the telegraph report


    There is only two problems with this...One should he be offering to do this in the first place given his position and really companies are willing to pay £1000's per day for info that is in the public domain?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    RobD said:

    I assume the usual 'Ed is Crap' thread was dropped? A shame.

    Yup, I even managed to get a Hannibal reference into it as well.

    But I'm happy, I managed to do a PB thread today which said "Ed Balls deep in trouble"

    Just got one more dream headline left on the list.
  • glwglw Posts: 9,955
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    What makes Sir Malcolm a real issue, that unlike Jack Straw, is that he has a real, proper job.

    He's Chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

    Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, and apparently a total bloody idiot.
  • Peter_the_PunterPeter_the_Punter Posts: 14,466
    edited February 2015
    Rossenshaw was always a stiff task for Labour and I suppose it just got a bit stiffer.

    I took some 1/2 on the Tories. Will probably be 4/9 tomorrow. Young Will may be innocent but a little mud is likely to stick.

    Otherwise, looks like a score draw, with marginal benefits to UKIP, Greens, SNP, MRLP etc.

    Nite all.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,514
    edited February 2015
    glw said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    What makes Sir Malcolm a real issue, that unlike Jack Straw, is that he has a real, proper job.

    He's Chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

    Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, and apparently a total bloody idiot.
    Unable or unwilling for himself or a lacky to spend 10 mins to check if this Chinese company were real or not. First thing I would do if approached by anybody at anytime as an MP, even if I wasn't going to do anything dodgy...more out of fear of being spoofed.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,538
    antifrank said:

    The most irksome aspect of the various political sleaze stories is not the sheer unambitiousness of the avarice shown by the errant politicians, but the annoyance we will get in a week's time from political insiders complaining that the public get their poor perception of politicians from a few rotten apples. The supply of rotten apples seems inexhaustible.

    I'm not sure I agree. Labour MP's tend to be grubbily venial, forging electricians' receipts, fiddling a hew thousand here and there. But, Tory MP's are flamboyantly wicked, billing the taxpayer for their moats, helipads, and duck houses.

  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    glw said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    What makes Sir Malcolm a real issue, that unlike Jack Straw, is that he has a real, proper job.

    He's Chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

    Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, and apparently a total bloody idiot.
    My mistake, he's Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,039
    FrancisUrquhart said:

    glw said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    What makes Sir Malcolm a real issue, that unlike Jack Straw, is that he has a real, proper job.

    He's Chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

    Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, and apparently a total bloody idiot.
    Unable or unwilling for himself or a lacky to spend 10 mins to check if this Chinese company were real or not.
    You'd think he'd be able to have the spooks do him a favour and check them out.
  • Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091
    Seems a bit of a weak sauce "scandal".
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    Last post on this nice little scandal, something that is fitting with the atmosphere of these past few weeks:

    Faisal Islam ‏@faisalislam 14m14 minutes ago
    Banks, papers, politicians ... entire british establishment seems to be in some sort of cannibalistic feast.

    Cue Bach for a nice pompous soundtrack on the messy scandals
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdfI8NOZvmY
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,039
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    I assume the usual 'Ed is Crap' thread was dropped? A shame.

    Yup, I even managed to get a Hannibal reference into it as well.

    But I'm happy, I managed to do a PB thread today which said "Ed Balls deep in trouble"

    Just got one more dream headline left on the list.
    What is the last one, if I can ask?
  • NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    TheScreamingEagles said:



    He's Chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

    He'll have to quit that, I expect

    Isnt the Yeo precedent to temporarily step aside (before being deselected, maybe not a route Nuala would favour!)?

    Can anyone summarise what he is meant to have done yet? Or is any form of paid lobbying a no-no for former foreign secretaries?
  • MP_SEMP_SE Posts: 3,642
    Will they both have to resign or can they carry on as MPs?

  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    RobD said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    I assume the usual 'Ed is Crap' thread was dropped? A shame.

    Yup, I even managed to get a Hannibal reference into it as well.

    But I'm happy, I managed to do a PB thread today which said "Ed Balls deep in trouble"

    Just got one more dream headline left on the list.
    What is the last one, if I can ask?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be overwhelmed by the Santorum surge?
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,514
    edited February 2015
    Interesting how this will play out in the sense of think back to HSBC account holders. Fink shouted from the rooftops at being innocent, media spotlight on him, Lord Paul, no comment, media ignored him.

    Straw is basically saying hands up, I refer myself to be judged...Rifkind is saying I am innocent.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    MP_SE said:

    Will they both have to resign or can they carry on as MPs?

    Have they done anything wrong ?
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Looks pretty small beer, to be perfectly frank. No votes will change hands on the basis of a couple of old-timers boasting about their contacts.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,704
    Don't these cretins ever learn?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    Neil said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:



    He's Chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

    He'll have to quit that, I expect

    Isnt the Yeo precedent to temporarily step aside (before being deselected, maybe not a route Nuala would favour!)?

    Can anyone summarise what he is meant to have done yet? Or is any form of paid lobbying a no-no for former foreign secretaries?
    In a second meeting, Sir Malcolm suggested that he would be willing to write to ministers on behalf of the company without declaring the name of the firm.

    Sir Malcolm’s offer to write to ministers without “nam[ing] who was asking” is likely to cause concern because of the rules governing interests when communicating with ministers or officials.

    Sir Alistair said it would be a “clear breach of the code of conduct if he’s not explaining that he’s acting as a consultant on behalf of a particular company when he’s seeking information”.
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    Has the going rate for MPs' access risen to keep pace with inflation?

    http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/davidhughes/100031050/jack-straws-woeful-performance-over-labours-lobbying-scandal/

    David Hughes' article might raise a few knowing smiles.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,039
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    I assume the usual 'Ed is Crap' thread was dropped? A shame.

    Yup, I even managed to get a Hannibal reference into it as well.

    But I'm happy, I managed to do a PB thread today which said "Ed Balls deep in trouble"

    Just got one more dream headline left on the list.
    What is the last one, if I can ask?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be overwhelmed by the Santorum surge?
    Lovely
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    edited February 2015
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    I assume the usual 'Ed is Crap' thread was dropped? A shame.

    Yup, I even managed to get a Hannibal reference into it as well.

    But I'm happy, I managed to do a PB thread today which said "Ed Balls deep in trouble"

    Just got one more dream headline left on the list.
    What is the last one, if I can ask?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be overwhelmed by the Santorum surge?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be swallowed by the Santorum surge?

    Republican Party Presidential contenders find Santorum surge hard to swallow
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    RobD said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    I assume the usual 'Ed is Crap' thread was dropped? A shame.

    Yup, I even managed to get a Hannibal reference into it as well.

    But I'm happy, I managed to do a PB thread today which said "Ed Balls deep in trouble"

    Just got one more dream headline left on the list.
    What is the last one, if I can ask?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be overwhelmed by the Santorum surge?
    Lovely
    Blame Neil, he suggested it one night.
  • oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,844
    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Looks pretty small beer, to be perfectly frank. No votes will change hands on the basis of a couple of old-timers boasting about their contacts.

    Couldn't agree more
  • Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091
    edited February 2015
    If they're not ministers anymore, and so not in a position to actually make partial decisions in favour of the people they're advising, I don't see what the issue is.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,039
    Tim_B said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    I assume the usual 'Ed is Crap' thread was dropped? A shame.

    Yup, I even managed to get a Hannibal reference into it as well.

    But I'm happy, I managed to do a PB thread today which said "Ed Balls deep in trouble"

    Just got one more dream headline left on the list.
    What is the last one, if I can ask?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be overwhelmed by the Santorum surge?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be swallowed by the Santorum surge?

    Republican Party Presidential contenders find Santorum surge hard to swallow
    I had a little titter at that one.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    As we see, there is really no difference between Labour and Tory: UKIP has been saying this all along.

    matt lilleker ‏@mlilleker 35m35 minutes ago
    Jack Straw & Malcolm Rifkind to star in tomorrows Dispatches #CashForAccess
  • FlightpathFlightpath Posts: 4,012
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    What makes Sir Malcolm a real issue, that unlike Jack Straw, is that he has a real, proper job.

    He's Chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

    He'll have to quit that, I expect

    On the positive side for some, looks like the uber safe Tory seat of Kensington is about to become available for a SPAD

    He says he has said nothing he would not have repeated in an outside public interview if asked about the same subjects.
    They both earn and disclose outside money. There is no rule to say a committee chairman cannot. If someone is lobbying they should disclose it according to the rules.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    @faisalislam: Dispatches/ telegraph wrote to 12 MPs with offer from fictitious chinese comoany ... Six no response...One replied "not for sale"... Own up!
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    Danny565 said:

    If they're not ministers anymore, and so not in a position to actually make partial decisions in favour of the people they're advising, I don't see what the issue is.

    Money for access - here it's known as a campaign contribution.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,514
    edited February 2015
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    @faisalislam: Dispatches/ telegraph wrote to 12 MPs with offer from fictitious chinese comoany ... Six no response...One replied "not for sale"... Own up!

    LOL..."Not for Sale"...I presume that MP has learned to use the interwebs!! So that leaves another 3 that responded to some extent.

    Compared to last time, seems like they have managed to entrap a lot less.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    FrancisUrquhart said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    @faisalislam: Dispatches/ telegraph wrote to 12 MPs with offer from fictitious chinese comoany ... Six no response...One replied "not for sale"... Own up!

    LOL..."Not for Sale"...I presume that MP has learned to use the interwebs!!

    So that leaves another 3 that responded to some extent.
    I have a hunch that MP is Jacob Rees-Mogg, well I hope it is.

    Seems sooo him
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    MikeK said:

    As we see, there is really no difference between Labour and Tory: UKIP has been saying this all along.

    That's the ultra-clean UKIP which has never had the faintest taint of any wrongdoing associated with any of its elected politicians, right?
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,568
    To reply to tlg on the last thread - no, MPs don't routinely get offers of consultancies, dodgy or otherwise. But I suspect that it's mostly senior MPs who get approached.

    It does seem a shame that the MPs who refused the bait aren't highlighted and given credit (just as in the case of Cash for Questions - none of those who refused were named though people would have been pleased that they'd proved their honesty).
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    Some cracking quotes from Jack Straw after the last Dispatches floating about. Lol.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    So far no sign of this news re Jack Straw & Malcolm Rifkind on the BBC leading web page; not even as a breaking news.

    They are more interested in smearing UKIP tonight.
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    RobD said:

    Tim_B said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    I assume the usual 'Ed is Crap' thread was dropped? A shame.

    Yup, I even managed to get a Hannibal reference into it as well.

    But I'm happy, I managed to do a PB thread today which said "Ed Balls deep in trouble"

    Just got one more dream headline left on the list.
    What is the last one, if I can ask?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be overwhelmed by the Santorum surge?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be swallowed by the Santorum surge?

    Republican Party Presidential contenders find Santorum surge hard to swallow
    I had a little titter at that one.
    Santorum rubs viagra in his eyes to make himself look hard, surges and swallows Republican field, and spits out minor candidates.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,704
    It's almost as shocking to me that someone would pay £5,000 to hear Jack Straw speak.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,514
    It appears not only is one of the suspected racist Chelsea fans an ex-plod, he is a Human Rights Activist.

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2964345/Chelsea-racist-chant-suspect-named-former-police-officer-work-HUMAN-RIGHTS-charity.html
  • FlightpathFlightpath Posts: 4,012
    TGOHF said:

    MP_SE said:

    Will they both have to resign or can they carry on as MPs?

    Have they done anything wrong ?
    Does 'refering yourself' not mean he thinks he is innocent? Straw is standing down anyway - so he has no access or influence or as an exMP no responsibility.
  • NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    One of the Chelsea fans the police were looking for is a human rights' activist!

    http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/ex-ni-policeman-at-centre-of-chelsea-incident-denies-he-is-racist-1.2113228

    He denies being a racist.
  • perdixperdix Posts: 1,806
    Sean_F said:

    antifrank said:

    The most irksome aspect of the various political sleaze stories is not the sheer unambitiousness of the avarice shown by the errant politicians, but the annoyance we will get in a week's time from political insiders complaining that the public get their poor perception of politicians from a few rotten apples. The supply of rotten apples seems inexhaustible.

    I'm not sure I agree. Labour MP's tend to be grubbily venial, forging electricians' receipts, fiddling a hew thousand here and there. But, Tory MP's are flamboyantly wicked, billing the taxpayer for their moats, helipads, and duck houses.

    @seanf I think you are wrong. Nobody actually billed the taxpayer for moats and duck houses but they did ask whether they could be paid for. The requests were refused iirc. Typical kipper smear.

  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,704
    On topic, from what I've experienced personally when mixing socially with MPs in the past, bragging about their well-connectedness is rife. As is the name-dropping.

    It is normally exaggerated.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,514
    Neil said:

    One of the Chelsea fans the police were looking for is a human rights' activist!

    http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/ex-ni-policeman-at-centre-of-chelsea-incident-denies-he-is-racist-1.2113228

    He denies being a racist.

    Maybe he wants a world where its every bodies human right to be an equal opportunity racist?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    Neil said:

    One of the Chelsea fans the police were looking for is a human rights' activist!

    http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/ex-ni-policeman-at-centre-of-chelsea-incident-denies-he-is-racist-1.2113228

    He denies being a racist.

    I'm shocked that a Northern Irishman engaged in racist/sectarian abuse
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,039
    Flightpath said:

    TGOHF said:

    MP_SE said:

    Will they both have to resign or can they carry on as MPs?

    Have they done anything wrong ?
    Does 'refering yourself' not mean he thinks he is innocent? Straw is standing down anyway - so he has no access or influence or as an exMP no responsibility.
    I'm pretty sure senior MPs don't just stop having influence the minute they leave office.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Casino_Royale said:

    On topic, from what I've experienced personally when mixing socially with MPs in the past, bragging about their well-connectedness is rife. As is the name-dropping.

    It is normally exaggerated.

    Not just MPs, of course. In fact pretty much anyone at a London drinks party.
  • PongPong Posts: 4,693
    Neil said:

    One of the Chelsea fans the police were looking for is a human rights' activist!

    http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/ex-ni-policeman-at-centre-of-chelsea-incident-denies-he-is-racist-1.2113228

    He denies being a racist.

    Are you saying racists don't deserve human rights?
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    RobD said:

    Flightpath said:

    TGOHF said:

    MP_SE said:

    Will they both have to resign or can they carry on as MPs?

    Have they done anything wrong ?
    Does 'refering yourself' not mean he thinks he is innocent? Straw is standing down anyway - so he has no access or influence or as an exMP no responsibility.
    I'm pretty sure senior MPs don't just stop having influence the minute they leave office.
    Nor the right to work. Storm in a teacup. Couple of yesterday's men topping up their pensions. Don't vote for them if you don't like it.
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    Casino_Royale said:

    It's almost as shocking to me that someone would pay £5,000 to hear Jack Straw speak.

    Hillary Clinton gets fees of $200-300k. It's a mystery to me too.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    I suspect most Brits, will be more focussed on the front page of the Times

    https://twitter.com/suttonnick/status/569625545358630913
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,704
    Despite being paid £67,000 as an MP, Sir Malcolm said he was “self-employed”:

    “You’d be surprised how much free time I have. I spend a lot of time reading, I spend a lot of time walking. I’m self-employed. So nobody pays me a salary.”
  • FlightpathFlightpath Posts: 4,012
    MikeK said:

    So far no sign of this news re Jack Straw & Malcolm Rifkind on the BBC leading web page; not even as a breaking news.

    They are more interested in smearing UKIP tonight.

    Whatever Straw or Rifkind said they said. Whatever the kippers said they said. The kippers did know the cameras were there. Tell us how did they smear themselves (since I did not see the programme)?
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    Jack Straw is trending on Twitter...Janus face...I mean puzzled face...
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Looks pretty small beer, to be perfectly frank. No votes will change hands on the basis of a couple of old-timers boasting about their contacts.

    You would be foaming at the mouth if they were UKIP MP's.
  • NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    On topic, from what I've experienced personally when mixing socially with MPs in the past, bragging about their well-connectedness is rife. As is the name-dropping.

    It is normally exaggerated.

    Not just MPs, of course. In fact pretty much anyone at a London drinks party.
    Except PB Drinks of course!

  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,704
    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    On topic, from what I've experienced personally when mixing socially with MPs in the past, bragging about their well-connectedness is rife. As is the name-dropping.

    It is normally exaggerated.

    Not just MPs, of course. In fact pretty much anyone at a London drinks party.
    I have a rule: the more you have to talk about it, the less true it probably is.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,704
    Tim_B said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    It's almost as shocking to me that someone would pay £5,000 to hear Jack Straw speak.

    Hillary Clinton gets fees of $200-300k. It's a mystery to me too.
    You'd have to pay me more than that to listen to him.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    Shocked that the Church of England are full of hypocrites when it comes to low wages

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-e6P7FIUAAm-4C.jpg
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    Flightpath said:

    MikeK said:

    So far no sign of this news re Jack Straw & Malcolm Rifkind on the BBC leading web page; not even as a breaking news.

    They are more interested in smearing UKIP tonight.

    Whatever Straw or Rifkind said they said. Whatever the kippers said they said. The kippers did know the cameras were there. Tell us how did they smear themselves (since I did not see the programme)?
    It hasn't yet been covered in The Guardian...
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    Neil said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    On topic, from what I've experienced personally when mixing socially with MPs in the past, bragging about their well-connectedness is rife. As is the name-dropping.

    It is normally exaggerated.

    Not just MPs, of course. In fact pretty much anyone at a London drinks party.
    Except PB Drinks of course!

    That's because we're worried/wondering if JohnO has got home safely.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,937
    Tim_B said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    It's almost as shocking to me that someone would pay £5,000 to hear Jack Straw speak.

    Hillary Clinton gets fees of $200-300k. It's a mystery to me too.
    That anybody pays anything to hear Gordon Brown is surely the biggest mystery of all....
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    MikeK said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Looks pretty small beer, to be perfectly frank. No votes will change hands on the basis of a couple of old-timers boasting about their contacts.

    You would be foaming at the mouth if they were UKIP MP's.
    I would be - but at the fact that Ukip has MPs - nothing to do with Dispatches...
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    edited February 2015
    She is a STUNNER. I'd vote for her anywhere.

    #UKIP Emily Santos to stand in #Gordon #GE2015 will you shake hand? @AlexSalmond you didn't last time! @UKIP pic.twitter.com/z1MNi1A25H

    — Caroline Santos (@Casumptious) February 22, 2015
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,704
    I'll be (one of) the first to say: Rifkind has to go. Not just as Chair of the intelligence committee, but as an MP. His remarks are disgraceful. He also shows contempt for his job as a constituency MP.

    His egotism and pomposity have been obvious for some time. Particularly the churlish way he refused to join the Conservative administration, just because he wasn't offered the plum job of Foreign Secretary.
  • FlightpathFlightpath Posts: 4,012
    MikeK said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Looks pretty small beer, to be perfectly frank. No votes will change hands on the basis of a couple of old-timers boasting about their contacts.

    You would be foaming at the mouth if they were UKIP MP's.
    The UKIP MP is currently being smeared by The Mirror.
  • MarkHopkinsMarkHopkins Posts: 5,584
    MarqueeMark said:

    Tim_B said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    It's almost as shocking to me that someone would pay £5,000 to hear Jack Straw speak.

    Hillary Clinton gets fees of $200-300k. It's a mystery to me too.
    That anybody pays anything to hear Gordon Brown is surely the biggest mystery of all....

    People used to pay to visit Bedlam.

  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Neil said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    On topic, from what I've experienced personally when mixing socially with MPs in the past, bragging about their well-connectedness is rife. As is the name-dropping.

    It is normally exaggerated.

    Not just MPs, of course. In fact pretty much anyone at a London drinks party.
    Except PB Drinks of course!

    Yeah, at PB drinks we don't so much boast about our contacts, as boast about our betting positions.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    MikeK said:

    She is a STUNNER. I'd vote for her anywhere.

    #UKIP Emily Santos to stand in #Gordon #GE2015 will you shake hand? @AlexSalmond you didn't last time! @UKIP pic.twitter.com/z1MNi1A25H

    — Caroline Santos (@Casumptious) February 22, 2015

    not Eck's type - won't be a distraction.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    TGOHF said:

    MikeK said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Looks pretty small beer, to be perfectly frank. No votes will change hands on the basis of a couple of old-timers boasting about their contacts.

    You would be foaming at the mouth if they were UKIP MP's.
    I would be - but at the fact that Ukip has MPs - nothing to do with Dispatches...
    You poor man. To think that after May 7th, you will be full of rabid indignation; a full foaming mouth.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,684
    edited February 2015
    FPT

    "2014 is the hottest year on record - the facts speak for themselves. Anyway the KEY thing is the trend and that is UP not down. Yes, UP!!!!

    http://www.wmo.int/media/?q=content/warming-trend-continues-2014

    Yes, the right-wing loons that inhabit this blog will continue to say - "nah, this is all made up" and "conspiracy!".

    I'd rather believe the WMO than like nut-jobs like Christopher Booker and his ilk...

    And Mr Richard Tyndall - continue to discredit me and throw mud - that's fine."

    I have no need to discredit you - you do that yourself by making false and unsupportable claims whilst clearly knowing sweet FA about what you are discussing.

    You can keep claiming these things and I and others will continue to point out that you are either utterly ignorant or utterly dishonest. I am not sure which it is but it doesn't really matter. One way or another you are wrong which is why, I assume, you refuse to engage in the science.

    Oh and I would rather believe the satellite data than the comprehensively flawed surface station data.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,039
    Richard_Tyndall said:

    FPT

    "2014 is the hottest year on record - the facts speak for themselves. Anyway the KEY thing is the trend and that is UP not down. Yes, UP!!!!

    http://www.wmo.int/media/?q=content/warming-trend-continues-2014

    Yes, the right-wing loons that inhabit this blog will continue to say - "nah, this is all made up" and "conspiracy!".

    I'd rather believe the WMO than like nut-jobs like Christopher Booker and his ilk...

    And Mr Richard Tyndall - continue to discredit me and throw mud - that's fine."

    I have no need to discredit you - you do that yourself by making false and unsupportable claims whilst clearly knowing sweet FA about what you are discussing.

    You can keep claiming these things and I and others will continue to point out that you are either utterly ignorant or utterly dishonest. I am not sure which it is but it doesn't really matter. One way or another you are wrong which is why, I assume, you refuse to engage in the science.

    Oh and I would rather believe the satellite data than the comprehensively flawed surface station data.

    Average global air temperatures over land and sea surface in 2014 were 0.57 °C (1.03°F) above the long-term average of 14.00°C (57.2 °F) for the 1961-1990 reference period. By comparison, temperatures were 0.55 °C (1.00°F) above average in 2010 and 0.54°C (0.98°F) above average in 2005, according to WMO calculations. The estimated margin of uncertainty was 0.10°C (0.18°F).

    A phrase used often on here - "within the margin of error" ;)
  • Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091
    edited February 2015
    Casino_Royale said:


    “You’d be surprised how much free time I have. I spend a lot of time reading, I spend a lot of time walking. I’m self-employed.”

    LOL, that statement is probably more damning than the original scandal.
  • Chris_AChris_A Posts: 1,237
    Casino_Royale said:

    I'll be (one of) the first to say: Rifkind has to go. Not just as Chair of the intelligence committee, but as an MP. His remarks are disgraceful. He also shows contempt for his job as a constituency MP.

    His egotism and pomposity have been obvious for some time. Particularly the churlish way he refused to join the Conservative administration, just because he wasn't offered the plum job of Foreign Secretary.

    His complete incompetence at chairing the intelligence committee (his ability to believe the security services could do nothing but good being on the same level as Denning's "appalling vista") should rule him out of running anything.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @PickardJE: Labour has suspended Jack Straw from Parliamentary Labour Party after what leadership calls "disturbing allegations".
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    @PickardJE: Labour has suspended Jack Straw from Parliamentary Labour Party after what leadership calls "disturbing allegations".
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    Labour have suspended Jack Straw from the Parliamentary Labour Party
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    Ed Miliband is considering taking tighter control of public spending in a move which would clip the wings of the Treasury under Labour.

    Senior figures in Labour are considering a cross-party report that makes the case for reshaping Whitehall to ensure the prime minister has a greater say on Treasury matters.

    ...

    Lucy Powell, the shadow cabinet office minister, attended the launch of GovernUp and welcomed the report. However, last night the party distanced itself from the ideas, claiming it was “not remotely looking at” them.
    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4362385.ece
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    Is it any wonder why some MPs wanted to muzzle the press
  • saddenedsaddened Posts: 2,245
    MikeK said:

    As we see, there is really no difference between Labour and Tory: UKIP has been saying this all along.

    matt lilleker ‏@mlilleker 35m35 minutes ago
    Jack Straw & Malcolm Rifkind to star in tomorrows Dispatches #CashForAccess

    Pure as the driven snow are UKIP.

    http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=chrome-mobile&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8&q=how+many+ukip+politicians+jailed

    5 seconds of googling.
  • MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034
    RobD said:

    Tim_B said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    I assume the usual 'Ed is Crap' thread was dropped? A shame.

    Yup, I even managed to get a Hannibal reference into it as well.

    But I'm happy, I managed to do a PB thread today which said "Ed Balls deep in trouble"

    Just got one more dream headline left on the list.
    What is the last one, if I can ask?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be overwhelmed by the Santorum surge?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be swallowed by the Santorum surge?

    Republican Party Presidential contenders find Santorum surge hard to swallow
    I had a little titter at that one.
    After swallowing a Santorum, do you have to Rince with Priebus?
  • glwglw Posts: 9,955
    Somebody wake Dave up and tell him to give Rifkind the boot.
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    Richard_Tyndall said:

    FPT

    Oh and I would rather believe the satellite data than the comprehensively flawed surface station data.

    The satellite data is also somewhat problematic - from failing or mis-reading satellite sensors.

    There is the famous case of Egg Harbor WI where satellite sensors recorded surface water temperatures in excess of 400 degrees fahrenheit.

    But you are probably correct - overall the satellite data is of higher quality than surface station data.
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    How keen were Straw & Rifkind on Leveson Report?

    http://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/dec/03/leveson-report-maria-miller-press-solution
  • NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    MTimT said:

    RobD said:

    Tim_B said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    I assume the usual 'Ed is Crap' thread was dropped? A shame.

    Yup, I even managed to get a Hannibal reference into it as well.

    But I'm happy, I managed to do a PB thread today which said "Ed Balls deep in trouble"

    Just got one more dream headline left on the list.
    What is the last one, if I can ask?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be overwhelmed by the Santorum surge?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be swallowed by the Santorum surge?

    Republican Party Presidential contenders find Santorum surge hard to swallow
    I had a little titter at that one.
    After swallowing a Santorum, do you have to Rince with Priebus?
    Just when you think PB couldnt go any lower!

    I'm disgusted and ashamed of you all.

  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,937
    MarkHopkins said:

    MarqueeMark said:

    Tim_B said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    It's almost as shocking to me that someone would pay £5,000 to hear Jack Straw speak.

    Hillary Clinton gets fees of $200-300k. It's a mystery to me too.
    That anybody pays anything to hear Gordon Brown is surely the biggest mystery of all....

    People used to pay to visit Bedlam.

    True

    "Come on, roll up, roll up, only a halfpenny to see The Shouty Sweary Man...."

  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    Neil said:

    MTimT said:

    RobD said:

    Tim_B said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    I assume the usual 'Ed is Crap' thread was dropped? A shame.

    Yup, I even managed to get a Hannibal reference into it as well.

    But I'm happy, I managed to do a PB thread today which said "Ed Balls deep in trouble"

    Just got one more dream headline left on the list.
    What is the last one, if I can ask?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be overwhelmed by the Santorum surge?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be swallowed by the Santorum surge?

    Republican Party Presidential contenders find Santorum surge hard to swallow
    I had a little titter at that one.
    After swallowing a Santorum, do you have to Rince with Priebus?
    Just when you think PB couldnt go any lower!

    I'm disgusted and ashamed of you all.

    Just think we're less than a year away from the Republican Primary Debates.
  • GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071
    MarqueeMark said:

    MarkHopkins said:

    MarqueeMark said:

    Tim_B said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    It's almost as shocking to me that someone would pay £5,000 to hear Jack Straw speak.

    Hillary Clinton gets fees of $200-300k. It's a mystery to me too.
    That anybody pays anything to hear Gordon Brown is surely the biggest mystery of all....

    People used to pay to visit Bedlam.

    True

    "Come on, roll up, roll up, only a halfpenny to see The Shouty Sweary Man...."

    On PB you can see malcolmg for free :)
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    MTimT said:

    RobD said:

    Tim_B said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    I assume the usual 'Ed is Crap' thread was dropped? A shame.

    Yup, I even managed to get a Hannibal reference into it as well.

    But I'm happy, I managed to do a PB thread today which said "Ed Balls deep in trouble"

    Just got one more dream headline left on the list.
    What is the last one, if I can ask?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be overwhelmed by the Santorum surge?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be swallowed by the Santorum surge?

    Republican Party Presidential contenders find Santorum surge hard to swallow
    I had a little titter at that one.
    After swallowing a Santorum, do you have to Rince with Priebus?
    - and after the rince (sic) do you spit or swallow?
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    Scott_P said:

    Ed Miliband is considering taking tighter control of public spending in a move which would clip the wings of the Treasury under Labour.

    Senior figures in Labour are considering a cross-party report that makes the case for reshaping Whitehall to ensure the prime minister has a greater say on Treasury matters.

    ...

    Lucy Powell, the shadow cabinet office minister, attended the launch of GovernUp and welcomed the report. However, last night the party distanced itself from the ideas, claiming it was “not remotely looking at” them.
    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4362385.ece

    History repeats itself as farce.

    Shades of Harold Wilson, George Brown and Department of Economic Affairs.

  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    edited February 2015
    Jack Straw MP ‏@JackStraw_MP 7m7 minutes ago
    Shit

    (not the real JS).
  • NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Neil said:

    MTimT said:

    RobD said:

    Tim_B said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    RobD said:

    I assume the usual 'Ed is Crap' thread was dropped? A shame.

    Yup, I even managed to get a Hannibal reference into it as well.

    But I'm happy, I managed to do a PB thread today which said "Ed Balls deep in trouble"

    Just got one more dream headline left on the list.
    What is the last one, if I can ask?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be overwhelmed by the Santorum surge?
    Will the Republican Party Presidential contenders be swallowed by the Santorum surge?

    Republican Party Presidential contenders find Santorum surge hard to swallow
    I had a little titter at that one.
    After swallowing a Santorum, do you have to Rince with Priebus?
    Just when you think PB couldnt go any lower!

    I'm disgusted and ashamed of you all.

    Just think we're less than a year away from the Republican Primary Debates.
    I doubt they'll surpass their efforts of last time when they booed armed forces personnel serving abroad! But I'll stay up for them all just in case.

  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,684
    Tim_B said:

    Richard_Tyndall said:

    FPT

    Oh and I would rather believe the satellite data than the comprehensively flawed surface station data.

    The satellite data is also somewhat problematic - from failing or mis-reading satellite sensors.

    There is the famous case of Egg Harbor WI where satellite sensors recorded surface water temperatures in excess of 400 degrees fahrenheit.

    But you are probably correct - overall the satellite data is of higher quality than surface station data.
    The joy of the satellite data is that the people running it at RSS and UAH are always on the look out for possible errors and correct for them in a completely open manner which has allowed the wider scientific community to see what has been done and - so far at least - agree with the corrections.

    This is in stark contrast to the continuous corrections that are being made to the historical surface temperature record with little or no public explanation as to why it is being done and with an unwillingness to accept the problems within the measurement systems even when they conflict with their own rules (most particularly on the siting of measurement stations).
This discussion has been closed.