Telegraph expose sounding very, very bad for the Lib-Dems...
It has no legs beyond Taguri.
Maybe. The headline confirms what people already believe, so it's done its job even though the actual story does not seem terrible for Alexander, as you say.
Hey, maybe it's a conspiracy to help him! "The Tory press want to get rid of Danny Alexander and it's total nonsense, don't let them win by voting him out".
Unlikely both to be the case or to succeed even if it were of course.
At least #Everton are still in Europe, the last remaining British team...
English prem,what a joke.
This may have been the one single thing "tim" got right (his political acuity is otherwise vastly overrated): English football is exciting (and hugely lucrative, and globally popular) but when it comes to it, it is now inferior to continental football.
I mean, losing to French teams?? Eek.
However, there is another flood of many billions of pounds of TV money, about to dump on the EPL, far more than is earned by any other league. It is hard to believe this won't eventually tell in the EPL's favour.
We shall see.
Not just losing to French teams but losing to Ten men French teams.
This new divorce settlement law is just fecking nuts. Can we argue about THAT rather JC?
You have sex 30 years ago, have a baby, break up, she takes the child. But the woman can come back 30 years later and make claims on money you made long long after you last saw her?
WTF. Just, WTF.
They had a lawyer on BBC early and it is a little bit more complex than being reported (it appears the old hippies didn't do the divorce properly and in full), but its still nuts.
I know, and, yep, it's still nuts.
It is the reductio ad absurdam of feminist-driven jurisprudence. Sleep with a man, have a baby, take child, then 30 years later demand a chunk of the money he earned BY HIMSELF decades after he last saw you.
On the face of it, it does not seem that unreasonable for someone who fathers a child to share his money with said child and the person who brought it up for him.
And she couldn't make a claim 20 years ago because? A time limit does not seem unreasonable to me, given the child no longer needs bringing up.
I have no idea about the case in point, but if the bloke had no money 20 years ago what use was going after him? If you father a child then surely you have a permanent responsibility to it (and the person who brings it up), unless you are specifically released from it.
At least #Everton are still in Europe, the last remaining British team...
English prem,what a joke.
However, there is another flood of many billions of pounds of TV money, about to dump on the EPL, far more than is earned by any other league. It is hard to believe this won't eventually tell in the EPL's favour.
We shall see.
I'm beginning to suspect the EPL is a bit like government IT projects or defence procurement - you think you can get a good result by just throwing billions upon billions at something, but the end result can still end up being a joke at worst, mediocre at best, and far far less brilliant than the sums spent suggest it should be.
@FrancisUrquhart Possibly, but there is a far more obvious reason why the "bounce" was short lived. (that is of course if it has subsided, it is one poll after all)
At least #Everton are still in Europe, the last remaining British team...
English prem,what a joke.
This may have been the one single thing "tim" got right (his political acuity is otherwise vastly overrated): English football is exciting (and hugely lucrative, and globally popular) but when it comes to it, it is now inferior to continental football.
I mean, losing to French teams?? Eek.
However, there is another flood of many billions of pounds of TV money, about to dump on the EPL, far more than is earned by any other league. It is hard to believe this won't eventually tell in the EPL's favour.
We shall see.
Not just losing to French teams but losing to Ten men French teams.
I withold any comment until approx 10:00 PM tomorrow.
Wow, even by Telegraph standards that's a really nasty piece of disgraceful smearing of Danny Alexander. On the basis purely of the Telegraph's own article (the one with the incendiary headline and the helpful picture of Danny), it seems that Mr Taguri might have some questions to answer, but not Danny Alexander.
Even on the most basic of criteria, the story falls flat on its face: £7,500? I mean, really?
The question which immediately springs to mind is: why does the Telegraph wants to invent an anti-Danny A story? Is it just the usual 'portray-all-politicians-as-crooks' reason, or something personal against him and/or the LibDems?
Wow, even by Telegraph standards that's a really nasty piece of disgraceful smearing of Danny Alexander. On the basis purely of the Telegraph's own article (the one with the incendiary headline and the helpful picture of Danny), it seems that Mr Taguri might have some questions to answer, but not Danny Alexander.
Even on the most basic of criteria, the story falls flat on its face: £7,500? I mean, really?
The question which immediately springs to mind is: why does the Telegraph wants to invent an anti-Danny A story? Is it just the usual 'portray-all-politicians-as-crooks' reason, or something personal against him and/or the LibDems?
Didn't they do a delayed number of Alexander over expenses, but on closer inspection he hadn't done anything wrong?
This new divorce settlement law is just fecking nuts. Can we argue about THAT rather JC?
You have sex 30 years ago, have a baby, break up, she takes the child. But the woman can come back 30 years later and make claims on money you made long long after you last saw her?
WTF. Just, WTF.
They had a lawyer on BBC early and it is a little bit more complex than being reported (it appears the old hippies didn't do the divorce properly and in full), but its still nuts.
I know, and, yep, it's still nuts.
It is the reductio ad absurdam of feminist-driven jurisprudence. Sleep with a man, have a baby, take child, then 30 years later demand a chunk of the money he earned BY HIMSELF decades after he last saw you.
On the face of it, it does not seem that unreasonable for someone who fathers a child to share his money with said child and the person who brought it up for him.
And she couldn't make a claim 20 years ago because? A time limit does not seem unreasonable to me, given the child no longer needs bringing up.
I have no idea about the case in point, but if the bloke had no money 20 years ago what use was going after him? If you father a child then surely you have a permanent responsibility to it (and the person who brings it up), unless you are specifically released from it.
In this case it would seem he has been rich for some while, so waiting this long has been the mother's choice, therefore the sob story about 16 years of hardship has far less weight with me. I'm not unsympathetic to the plight of single parents - to go all '4 Yorkshireman', my mother had to provide for 4 children on a low income with a father who, despite his many praiseworthy qualities, provided only a third of the modest child support he was supposed to, but that would still be more than the gentleman in this case provided - but I cannot accept that length of delay in claiming as reasonable. You won't know your lousy ex will strike it big in the next 5, 10, 15, 20 or 50 years, perhaps you should try to provide for the child and get as much as you can within a more reasonable timeframe, rather than do nothing and get nothing for over 20 years and getting lucky that the ex ended up doing well for themselves.
Is it wrong of me to chortle at the fact that change.org, which is mainly about changing the world by supporting nice things and opposing bad right-wing things, is finding itself deluged by loud right wing oiks shouting for the return of Clarkson ? Yes, I think it is. File under "heart of stone not to laugh"
At least #Everton are still in Europe, the last remaining British team...
English prem,what a joke.
However, there is another flood of many billions of pounds of TV money, about to dump on the EPL, far more than is earned by any other league. It is hard to believe this won't eventually tell in the EPL's favour.
We shall see.
I'm beginning to suspect the EPL is a bit like government IT projects or defence procurement - you think you can get a good result by just throwing billions upon billions at something, but the end result can still end up being a joke at worst, mediocre at best, and far far less brilliant than the sums spent suggest it should be.
What makes me more angry,English prem fans pay the highest amounts of cash in Europe to watch they teams in what is supposed to be the best league in Europe.
@Richard_Nabavi Smearing, and articles concocted on the flimsiest of evidence are par for the course during elections. A large part of our "press" output is not even fit for bog paper.
This new divorce settlement law is just fecking nuts. Can we argue about THAT rather JC?
You have sex 30 years ago, have a baby, break up, she takes the child. But the woman can come back 30 years later and make claims on money you made long long after you last saw her?
WTF. Just, WTF.
They had a lawyer on BBC early and it is a little bit more complex than being reported (it appears the old hippies didn't do the divorce properly and in full), but its still nuts.
I know, and, yep, it's still nuts.
It is the reductio ad absurdam of feminist-driven jurisprudence. Sleep with a man, have a baby, take child, then 30 years later demand a chunk of the money he earned BY HIMSELF decades after he last saw you.
On the face of it, it does not seem that unreasonable for someone who fathers a child to share his money with said child and the person who brought it up for him.
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
May 7th will be dry.
For me anyway as I will be driving round Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to defeat the DPM
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
May 7th will be dry.
For me anyway as I will be driving round Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to defeat the DPM
I have booked the Friday off. Ready for an all nighter!
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
David Cameron has never lost a general election held on a Thursday.
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
May 7th will be dry.
For me anyway as I will be driving round Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to defeat the DPM
I don't know that running him down in a car is a moral way to achieve that.
In all seriousness, I hope Clegg manages to cling on - I would very much like to see how long he remains as an MP and what his role in his party ends up being following the slaughter on May 7th. He is certainly not the only one to blame for it, the party agreed to the path, nor would it necessarily be fair on the party, but it is happening and him being around to face it and have to deal with it from the Commons, rather than being turfed out and easy for those who remain to disavow, seems an interesting scenario.
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
But what is the lag between fieldwork and publication? If it's exactly a week, people are clearly feeling less well-disposed towards the Tories as the week goes on. If it's 2-3 days, the reverse might be true. Is there enough statistical evidence to discern a correlation? It seems to be happening too often to be coincidence. Maybe a feeling of optimism engendered by the approaching weekend? Or is it just noise?
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
May 7th will be dry.
For me anyway as I will be driving round Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to defeat the DPM
Don't you dare Big John, Clegg wins me about £50 by staying in
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
May 7th will be dry.
For me anyway as I will be driving round Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to defeat the DPM
I have booked the Friday off. Ready for an all nighter!
You coming down to Stonch's place in the smoke too ?
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
May 7th will be dry.
For me anyway as I will be driving round Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to defeat the DPM
I have booked the Friday off. Ready for an all nighter!
Acute Healthcare workers can still get a full day off?
I think you may need a few drinks as an LD could be a bad night.
Looks like the Quad have done some deal to let Osborne to promo Tory stuff in the budget.
But the Chancellor is planning to use a section of his speech – kept separate from measures agreed by the Coalition – to highlight proposals to ease the income tax burden. Tory sources say other measures that appear ‘nailed on’ for their election manifesto include:
Restricting child benefit to three children for new claimants and extending a freeze on benefit increases;
Cutting the overall cap on welfare claims to £23,000 per household from £26,000 now;
Under-25s to lose their right to housing benefit and jobless payouts if they refuse offers of work, training or education.
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
May 7th will be dry.
For me anyway as I will be driving round Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to defeat the DPM
Don't you dare Big John, Clegg wins me about £50 by staying in
At least #Everton are still in Europe, the last remaining British team...
English prem,what a joke.
However, there is another flood of many billions of pounds of TV money, about to dump on the EPL, far more than is earned by any other league. It is hard to believe this won't eventually tell in the EPL's favour.
We shall see.
I'm beginning to suspect the EPL is a bit like government IT projects or defence procurement - you think you can get a good result by just throwing billions upon billions at something, but the end result can still end up being a joke at worst, mediocre at best, and far far less brilliant than the sums spent suggest it should be.
I appreciate your effort, but it's a faintly ludicrous analogy.
An ill judged attempt at hyperbole perhaps - as it happens I am one of those who enjoys the EPL in itself for excitement even if in strict quality terms the top teams elsewhere are better, I am not altogether fussed anymore about European leagues or the national teams not living up to what we would all like them to be at. It is hard to speak against the success argument re finances. Ridiculous amounts of cash, and in politics, sport or, as you say, business, the brand is vitally important, more than objective quality.
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
May 7th will be dry.
For me anyway as I will be driving round Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to defeat the DPM
Don't you dare Big John, Clegg wins me about £50 by staying in
I think it will be close.
TSE tells me local LAB are optimistic
Mind you I reckon bang goes any hope of a LD coalition with anyone if Clegg loses his seat, which is good as I have more winnings on various minority bets...
@SeanT "But at the moment the EPL is still Apple."
Yes, overpriced with way to much style and not enough substance. But the "fanbois" lap it up, and pretend that it is really the best.
Perhaps (I like the style, but haven't actually bought any of the products myself), but that really just adds to the long term risk to the brand, be it Apple/EPL, rather than signalling it as definitely going to lose that top position of course.
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
May 7th will be dry.
For me anyway as I will be driving round Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to defeat the DPM
I have booked the Friday off. Ready for an all nighter!
Couldn't get that day off myself, so I hope, unlike the IndyRef (when I was also ill) I will be able to sleep, but I'm not that hopeful given this could well be a tighter one than even last time.
It would be the most cynical budget announcement in many a year. But if they were really going to do it they wouldnt be floating it now so I'm dubious it will happen.
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
David Cameron has never lost a general election held on a Thursday.
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
May 7th will be dry.
For me anyway as I will be driving round Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to defeat the DPM
I have booked the Friday off. Ready for an all nighter!
You coming down to Stonch's place in the smoke too ?
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
May 7th will be dry.
For me anyway as I will be driving round Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to defeat the DPM
Don't you dare Big John, Clegg wins me about £50 by staying in
I think it will be close.
TSE tells me local LAB are optimistic
Mind you I reckon bang goes any hope of a LD coalition with anyone if Clegg loses his seat, which is good as I have more winnings on various minority bets...
Ms Pulpstar is letting you go to an overnighter on 7/5/15?
Some cracking train prices ATM
Too scary for me to be around non Lefties either a very big party or a wake methinks
It would be the most cynical budget announcement in many a year. But if they were really going to do it they wouldnt be floating it now so I'm dubious it will happen.
Hasn't Steve Webb been pushing something along those lines for the last two years?
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
David Cameron has never lost a general election held on a Thursday.
Neither has Ed Miliband
Ed Miliband has never WON a general election held on a Thursday.
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
David Cameron has never lost a general election held on a Thursday.
Neither has Ed Miliband
Ed Miliband has never WON a general election held on a Thursday.
Weird how we are getting this consistent pattern of the Tories starting off the week well and then Labour coming back as the week goes on.
GE 2015 is on a Thursday.
YEEEES
Hmm, the omens are mixed.
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
May 7th will be dry.
For me anyway as I will be driving round Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to defeat the DPM
Don't you dare Big John, Clegg wins me about £50 by staying in
I think it will be close.
TSE tells me local LAB are optimistic
Mind you I reckon bang goes any hope of a LD coalition with anyone if Clegg loses his seat, which is good as I have more winnings on various minority bets...
Ms Pulpstar is letting you go to an overnighter on 7/5/15?
Some cracking train prices ATM
Too scary for me to be around non Lefties either a very big party or a wake methinks
I'm rooting for the Nats ! And some sort of London Labour surge whilst Ed becomes the PM with 249 seats somehow.
On every General Election held on a Thursday since he became leader of the Conservative Party, Cameron has gained nearly 100 seats. I don't expect him to do quite as well this time round, though.
On every General Election held on a Thursday since he became leader of the Conservative Party, Cameron has gained nearly 100 seats. I don't expect him to do quite as well this time round, though.
Ed Miliband only needs a "1992" result to become PM :P
If you really think that, you are using it wrongly.
Having used both PCs and Macs for both work and home, I am convinced that there is very little between the two, save what you are used to - at least for the things I use them for - writing, spreadsheets, presentations, web, calendar, email and photos.
It would be the most cynical budget announcement in many a year. But if they were really going to do it they wouldnt be floating it now so I'm dubious it will happen.
Hasn't Steve Webb been pushing something along those lines for the last two years?
I agree that the practicalities are daunting.
Yes, the fact that it's a Steve Webb thing more than a HMT thing adds to my suspicion that it wont be announced in the Budget.
Having said that Scotland is looking like a 1997 (Or better) for the Nats. But tbh the Labour total is almost irrelevant to Ed becoming PM - it is the Conservative total that will matter, as well as how deep Labour can gain from the Lib Dems.
If you really think that, you are using it wrongly.
Having used both PCs and Macs for both work and home, I am convinced that there is very little between the two, save what you are used to - at least for the things I use them for - writing, spreadsheets, presentations, web, calendar, email and photos.
I'm repeatedly told Macs are far better for creative stuff - video editing and all that blather - but all I need is standard Office software and good enough components for gaming on higher graphical settings, so like you it doesn't seem it make that much difference to the average basic user.
At least #Everton are still in Europe, the last remaining British team...
English prem,what a joke.
However, there is another flood of many billions of pounds of TV money, about to dump on the EPL, far more than is earned by any other league. It is hard to believe this won't eventually tell in the EPL's favour.
We shall see.
I'm beginning to suspect the EPL is a bit like government IT projects or defence procurement - you think you can get a good result by just throwing billions upon billions at something, but the end result can still end up being a joke at worst, mediocre at best, and far far less brilliant than the sums spent suggest it should be.
I appreciate your effort, but it's a faintly ludicrous analogy.
An ill judged attempt at hyperbole perhaps - as it happens I am one of those who enjoys the EPL in itself for excitement even if in strict quality terms the top teams elsewhere are better, I am not altogether fussed anymore about European leagues or the national teams not living up to what we would all like them to be at. It is hard to speak against the success argument re finances. Ridiculous amounts of cash, and in politics, sport or, as you say, business, the brand is vitally important, more than objective quality.
As a Leicester City fan I have followed the EPL more closely this year than most.
I have seen some sublime football, but also a hell of a lot of dross. Not just from Leicester City either, most of the bottom half are all pretty dire and the top 4 more predictable than other leagues.
The reason that it is better than the Champions league is that there is real passion. Who cares about PSG? Not me. Beating Man U though...
Ed Miliband only needs a "1992" result to become PM :P
In all seriousness: in 1992 the Labour Party had a credible leader and a front-bench team which included Roy Hattersley, John Smith, Gordon Brown [yes, I know, but at that time he looked a serious figure], Robin Cook, Tony Blair, and Jack Straw.
The contrast with the current lot is very striking. I've said before that the current Labour front bench is the weakest in 50 years of any opposition which looked as though it had a chance of winning. And those figures who could be vaguely credible today - which basically comprises Mr and Mrs Balls - hardly seem to be making any effort to be so.
Very interesting. I have twice posted that a petition about a certain gentleman's future employment has exceeded the 600k mark, and it has twice been deleted. Spoilsports!
Mike Smithson @MSmithsonPB LAB, even with their Scottish problem, can probably secure most seats as long as they are within 3 points of the Tories.
Utterly wrong imo. Re-fighting 2010.
Agreed. Delusional bullshit.
If Labour are annihilated in Scotland they will lose overall.
If Labour lose all their seats in Scotland it is still possible for them to get more seats than the Tories. My guess is they would need at least 40 blue gains though.
Very interesting. I have twice posted that a petition about a certain gentleman's future employment has exceeded the 600k mark, and it has twice been deleted. Spoilsports!
Very interesting. I have twice posted that a petition about a certain gentleman's future employment has exceeded the 600k mark, and it has twice been deleted. Spoilsports!
Having said that Scotland is looking like a 1997 (Or better) for the Nats. But tbh the Labour total is almost irrelevant to Ed becoming PM - it is the Conservative total that will matter, as well as how deep Labour can gain from the Lib Dems.
The Scottish polling figures are remarkable and the most interesting thing by far about British politics from outside, far more interesting than these Ukip chaps. Come May, 25 seats for Scottish separatists would be seen as a catastrophe for the SNP. Who saw that coming in 2010 - or even early 2014? Yet if Sturgeon states afterwards that her MPs won't support David Cameron, they may as well be pale red in HM Govt appointment terms and EdM will enter the English premier league.
At least #Everton are still in Europe, the last remaining British team...
English prem,what a joke.
However, there is another flood of many billions of pounds of TV money, about to dump on the EPL, far more than is earned by any other league. It is hard to believe this won't eventually tell in the EPL's favour.
We shall see.
I'm beginning to suspect the EPL is a bit like government IT projects or defence procurement - you think you can get a good result by just throwing billions upon billions at something, but the end result can still end up being a joke at worst, mediocre at best, and far far less brilliant than the sums spent suggest it should be.
I appreciate your effort, but it's a faintly ludicrous analogy.
An ill judged attempt at hyperbole perhaps - as it happens I am one of those who enjoys the EPL in itself for excitement even if in strict quality terms the top teams elsewhere are better, I am not altogether fussed anymore about European leagues or the national teams not living up to what we would all like them to be at. It is hard to speak against the success argument re finances. Ridiculous amounts of cash, and in politics, sport or, as you say, business, the brand is vitally important, more than objective quality.
As a Leicester City fan I have followed the EPL more closely this year than most.
I have seen some sublime football, but also a hell of a lot of dross. Not just from Leicester City either, most of the bottom half are all pretty dire and the top 4 more predictable than other leagues.
The reason that it is better than the Champions league is that there is real passion. Who cares about PSG? Not me. Beating Man U though...
I agree, the Champions league has become rather boring as we saw with tonight's travesty, the EPL is bigger, better and above all more honest.
Scotland could be 47-28-15-4 on votes and 50-7-1-1 on seats. England and Wales could be 36C-32L and tied on seats. I don't see how a 3 per cent C lead can be the outcome of that pair of scenarios. 2 per cent might, though.
Clarkson has passed the 600,000 petition mark. He is now the SECOND most important thing ever ever ever.
Be most amusing if he makes a million (tho I doubt he will).
Nite nite.
Top Gear is shown in over 200 countries. If they cut the series short by not making the last 2 shows, presumably this would cost the beeb a lot of money in contractual issues with those broadcasters who buy the show.
Tory Majority shortening slightly on betfair. Seems an odd response to this poll.
Tory backers can remain Tory backers longer than you can remain solvent. Tory backers = Andy Murray backers at Wimbledon. Lib Dem backers = England backers at World Cup. Labour backers = only the most devoted fans.
Clarkson has passed the 600,000 petition mark. He is now the SECOND most important thing ever ever ever.
Be most amusing if he makes a million (tho I doubt he will).
Nite nite.
The British state broadcaster is widely despised throughout the world for its grotesque propaganda. This is a fine opportunity to give it a good global kicking. I predict millions.
Ed Miliband only needs a "1992" result to become PM :P
In all seriousness: in 1992 the Labour Party had a credible leader and a front-bench team which included Roy Hattersley, John Smith, Gordon Brown [yes, I know, but at that time he looked a serious figure], Robin Cook, Tony Blair, and Jack Straw.
The contrast with the current lot is very striking. I've said before that the current Labour front bench is the weakest in 50 years of any opposition which looked as though it had a chance of winning. And those figures who could be vaguely credible today - which basically comprises Mr and Mrs Balls - hardly seem to be making any effort to be so.
It's really strange.
I'd say there were three things going on:
1) People who were subsequently in government look bigger in hindsight, especially when they go on to retire to the position of grandee and/or die.
2) Labour was in government for a long time, which gradually wears down the remaining talent pool.
3) Labour got back into a potentially winning position very fast, thanks to a combination of the LibDems cutting off their left arm and the original election loss not being very big in the first place.
Clarkson has passed the 600,000 petition mark. He is now the SECOND most important thing ever ever ever.
Be most amusing if he makes a million (tho I doubt he will).
Nite nite.
Top Gear is shown in over 200 countries. If they cut the series short by not making the last 2 shows, presumably this would cost the beeb a lot of money in contractual issues with those broadcasters who buy the show.
BBC probably lost £200m already. Before they sack Clarkson.
Clarkson has passed the 600,000 petition mark. He is now the SECOND most important thing ever ever ever.
Be most amusing if he makes a million (tho I doubt he will).
Nite nite.
The British state broadcaster is widely despised throughout the world for its grotesque propaganda. This is a fine opportunity to give it a good global kicking. I predict millions.
It's an interesting discussion, the BBC were effectively part of the Security Services until the mid 90s. Blairs decision to cut out all BBC Foreign Service activity will likely harm the UK as a Nation and as a military power.
We here in the US got much coverage last weekend of the 50th anniversary of the Selma-Montgomery March, particularly the crossing of the Edmund Pettus bridge, which became iconic in civil rights lore. I have driven over it several times.
What most people don't know is that Edmund Pettis was a racist and a Grand Dragon of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan.
Clarkson has passed the 600,000 petition mark. He is now the SECOND most important thing ever ever ever.
Be most amusing if he makes a million (tho I doubt he will).
Nite nite.
The British state broadcaster is widely despised throughout the world for its grotesque propaganda. This is a fine opportunity to give it a good global kicking. I predict millions.
Bollocks. The BBC is highly thought of at home and abroad.
Clarkson is popular as is Top Gear, but this is not a culture war. It is about a pompous yet occasionally witty TV presenter being a dick, which in a feat of Post Modernism is actually what the programme is about. Life imitating art.
It emerged this morning that Labour MPs took the extraordinary step of blocking the publication of the Health Select Committee report into the NHS – because the conclusions backed up government reforms. I have just been handed details of this report, and it’s clear why Labour wanted it suppressed: it contradicts the party’s attack message.
Clarkson has passed the 600,000 petition mark. He is now the SECOND most important thing ever ever ever.
Be most amusing if he makes a million (tho I doubt he will).
Nite nite.
Top Gear is shown in over 200 countries. If they cut the series short by not making the last 2 shows, presumably this would cost the beeb a lot of money in contractual issues with those broadcasters who buy the show.
BBC probably lost £200m already. Before they sack Clarkson.
Negotiations have been stopped with all 3 presenters, whose contracts are up in a few weeks. The format is owned by the BBC so they could not simply move networks and do the same show. But keeping the three together would be good - speaking personally, as I love the show.
Clarkson has passed the 600,000 petition mark. He is now the SECOND most important thing ever ever ever.
Be most amusing if he makes a million (tho I doubt he will).
Nite nite.
The British state broadcaster is widely despised throughout the world for its grotesque propaganda. This is a fine opportunity to give it a good global kicking. I predict millions.
Bollocks. The BBC is highly thought of at home and abroad.
Clarkson is popular as is Top Gear, but this is not a culture war. It is about a pompous yet occasionally witty TV presenter being a dick, which in a feat of Post Modernism is actually what the programme is about. Life imitating art.
Remember how James May got sacked by Autocar?
At home the BBC is hated due to its extorted tax, abroad it's merely despised as a sanctimonious propaganda tool.
Which seat Labour gaining/CON hold will signify Ed PM or NOT PM ?
Probably no such seat because of the threat of another election So what indicates very likely outcomes either way? Lab GAIN Sheffield, Hallam = EdM more likely Con HOLD Morecambe and Lunesdale = DC nailed on Worcester Woman is not as pivotal these days with the migrant vote affecting more of outer London, but would strongly signal EdM
Clarkson has passed the 600,000 petition mark. He is now the SECOND most important thing ever ever ever.
Be most amusing if he makes a million (tho I doubt he will).
Nite nite.
Top Gear is shown in over 200 countries. If they cut the series short by not making the last 2 shows, presumably this would cost the beeb a lot of money in contractual issues with those broadcasters who buy the show.
BBC probably lost £200m already. Before they sack Clarkson.
Negotiations have been stopped with all 3 presenters, whose contracts are up in a few weeks. The format is owned by the BBC so they could not simply move networks and do the same show. But keeping the three together would be good - speaking personally, as I love the show.
It will be interesting to know what protection the BBC have and how much you can protect the format. After the brand name, you obviously can't stop another car show, I presume things like the stig, star in a reasonably price car, etc will be protected, but not sure after that what they can protect, as Top Gear is pretty random from week to week anyway.
I highly doubt the BBC can protect the idea of 3 middle aged blokes doing a road trip in a foreign country where stuff goes wrong.
A similar thing happened with Championship Manager computer game, after a disagreement, the development team went off and Football Manager was born. Eidos thought they had a lot of stuff tied down including the User Interface and the brand, but ultimately it didn't work because they didn't have the development team and Eidos couldn't protect anywhere near as much stuff as they thought they could.
Clarkson has passed the 600,000 petition mark. He is now the SECOND most important thing ever ever ever.
Be most amusing if he makes a million (tho I doubt he will).
Nite nite.
The British state broadcaster is widely despised throughout the world for its grotesque propaganda. This is a fine opportunity to give it a good global kicking. I predict millions.
Bollocks. The BBC is highly thought of at home and abroad.
Clarkson is popular as is Top Gear, but this is not a culture war. It is about a pompous yet occasionally witty TV presenter being a dick, which in a feat of Post Modernism is actually what the programme is about. Life imitating art.
Remember how James May got sacked by Autocar?
At home the BBC is hated due to its extorted tax, abroad it's merely despised as a sanctimonious propaganda tool.
A bit preposterous to present either of those as a mainstream opinion. By far indifference seems more likely from those without an axe to grind. Honestly, one reason more people probably don't get animated about the BBC when it deserves it (until moments like this when it coincides with something genuinely popular) is the reliable tendency of those who hate the BBC to go over the top with it, to treat every little thing as some egregiously terrible thing, and assure themselves that everyone despises it as much as they do, they just aren't saying it for some reason.
A little more restraint and they'd get more headway with general opinion I'd suggest. Or at least picking the moment (now seems a good one). It gets bloody ridiculous otherwise.
Comments
Hey, maybe it's a conspiracy to help him! "The Tory press want to get rid of Danny Alexander and it's total nonsense, don't let them win by voting him out".
Unlikely both to be the case or to succeed even if it were of course.
lab +4
lib -1
ukip -1
green -1
Possibly, but there is a far more obvious reason why the "bounce" was short lived.
(that is of course if it has subsided, it is one poll after all)
Even on the most basic of criteria, the story falls flat on its face: £7,500? I mean, really?
The question which immediately springs to mind is: why does the Telegraph wants to invent an anti-Danny A story? Is it just the usual 'portray-all-politicians-as-crooks' reason, or something personal against him and/or the LibDems?
YEEEES
Yes, I think it is. File under "heart of stone not to laugh"
What a joke league.
Smearing, and articles concocted on the flimsiest of evidence are par for the course during elections.
A large part of our "press" output is not even fit for bog paper.
Can't see it.
Nor are City...
Chelsea a horrible team to watch tonight. Boring, cynical, cheating, play acting, faux outrage...
Souness going mad now about foreign players cheating.. bit awkward w King Henry sitting next to him
Thurs...day. Thor's day. Thor is the god of Thunder. You often get thunder during periods of heavy rain. Rain makes people stay inside and more able to answer polling questions, but also less likely to go outside and vote. Mandleson I believe once said Tories get a boost in such situations, so...too close to call I think.
For me anyway as I will be driving round Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to defeat the DPM
In all seriousness, I hope Clegg manages to cling on - I would very much like to see how long he remains as an MP and what his role in his party ends up being following the slaughter on May 7th. He is certainly not the only one to blame for it, the party agreed to the path, nor would it necessarily be fair on the party, but it is happening and him being around to face it and have to deal with it from the Commons, rather than being turfed out and easy for those who remain to disavow, seems an interesting scenario.
Mike Smithson @MSmithsonPB
LAB, even with their Scottish problem, can probably secure most seats as long as they are within 3 points of the Tories.
Utterly wrong imo. Re-fighting 2010.
I think you may need a few drinks as an LD could be a bad night.
"But at the moment the EPL is still Apple."
Yes, overpriced with way to much style and not enough substance.
But the "fanbois" lap it up, and pretend that it is really the best.
But the Chancellor is planning to use a section of his speech – kept separate from measures agreed by the Coalition – to highlight proposals to ease the income tax burden. Tory sources say other measures that appear ‘nailed on’ for their election manifesto include:
Restricting child benefit to three children for new claimants and extending a freeze on benefit increases;
Cutting the overall cap on welfare claims to £23,000 per household from £26,000 now;
Under-25s to lose their right to housing benefit and jobless payouts if they refuse offers of work, training or education.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2990587/Osborne-s-big-benefit-freeze-Budget-signal-election-pledge-cut-12bn-welfare.html
TSE tells me local LAB are optimistic
I have got a bet running at Cheltenham at 33/1
For it to win I need
Fewer than 4 Irish trained winners
Fewer than 3 McCoy ridden winners
No Winning Distance of 17l or more
and a 33/1 shot or bigger to oblige...
in the next two days
what are the chances?
Some cracking train prices ATM
Too scary for me to be around non Lefties either a very big party or a wake methinks
I agree that the practicalities are daunting.
@FraserNelson: Scottish Labour has produced excellent Storify summary of today's debate over new GERS finance figures https://t.co/W9bOfk2cQ9
I have seen some sublime football, but also a hell of a lot of dross. Not just from Leicester City either, most of the bottom half are all pretty dire and the top 4 more predictable than other leagues.
The reason that it is better than the Champions league is that there is real passion. Who cares about PSG? Not me. Beating Man U though...
The contrast with the current lot is very striking. I've said before that the current Labour front bench is the weakest in 50 years of any opposition which looked as though it had a chance of winning. And those figures who could be vaguely credible today - which basically comprises Mr and Mrs Balls - hardly seem to be making any effort to be so.
It's really strange.
Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage)
11/03/2015 22:53
Liberal Party urges supporters to vote Ukip: po.st/CaXiMA
Tory backers = Andy Murray backers at Wimbledon. Lib Dem backers = England backers at World Cup. Labour backers = only the most devoted fans.
1) People who were subsequently in government look bigger in hindsight, especially when they go on to retire to the position of grandee and/or die.
2) Labour was in government for a long time, which gradually wears down the remaining talent pool.
3) Labour got back into a potentially winning position very fast, thanks to a combination of the LibDems cutting off their left arm and the original election loss not being very big in the first place.
Conservatives in for a horrendous night if Loughborough goes I reckon though.
But hey, it helped Tony Blair.
What most people don't know is that Edmund Pettis was a racist and a Grand Dragon of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan.
Clarkson is popular as is Top Gear, but this is not a culture war. It is about a pompous yet occasionally witty TV presenter being a dick, which in a feat of Post Modernism is actually what the programme is about. Life imitating art.
Remember how James May got sacked by Autocar?
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/isabel-hardman/2015/03/exclusive-the-nhs-report-that-labour-tried-to-block/
So what indicates very likely outcomes either way?
Lab GAIN Sheffield, Hallam = EdM more likely
Con HOLD Morecambe and Lunesdale = DC nailed on
Worcester Woman is not as pivotal these days with the migrant vote affecting more of outer London, but would strongly signal EdM
I highly doubt the BBC can protect the idea of 3 middle aged blokes doing a road trip in a foreign country where stuff goes wrong.
A similar thing happened with Championship Manager computer game, after a disagreement, the development team went off and Football Manager was born. Eidos thought they had a lot of stuff tied down including the User Interface and the brand, but ultimately it didn't work because they didn't have the development team and Eidos couldn't protect anywhere near as much stuff as they thought they could.
If Con hold Broxtowe, then most likely Dave will have enough to form a solo government.
A little more restraint and they'd get more headway with general opinion I'd suggest. Or at least picking the moment (now seems a good one). It gets bloody ridiculous otherwise.
Night all