politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » CON maintain their 14 seat lead on the main Commons seats spread market
Meanwhile SPIN has now introduced a range of seat markets which take into account the second placed party. Basically you have a spread from 0 to 25 with the top figure for the winner and 10 for the second place.
I think the Kippers could grab 2nd in my patch (Bishop Auckland). Town mayor was a recent high-profile defector to the Kippers, and the opposition vote was formerly spread between LD and Con.
The mid-points of these spreads add up to 634.4, which is a bit high given the 632 seats on offer and the chance of Galloway holding on in Bradford West. Do they count the Speaker as a Conservative for this total, or should he also be excluded from the number available?
This suggests that most punters have sought to buy the party they think will outperform the spread, and more value exists in identifying the party you think will underperform the current prices.
I really don't like TimM and his carping - this sums him up
I found the article noteworthy for two reasons. First, because as well as being one of Britain’s foremost political commentators, Tim Montgomerie reflects the views of a significant element of the Conservative party. And second, because until today I thought this “we must be careful not to win the wrong way” nonsense was the preserve of the Labour party.
I know what I’m about to tell you sounds mad. But look at it from Danny Alexander’s point of view. Seven weeks from now, he won’t be a minister any more. He may not even be an MP. This, almost certainly, was his last chance to realise a lifelong dream. So this morning, less than 24 hours after the Budget, he went to the Commons to present a Budget of his own.
Now, you may be thinking, “Hang on a minute. Danny Alexander is Chief Secretary to the Treasury. He co-wrote the Budget.” And you’d be right. He confirmed this to a bewildered House. “The policy measures in the Budget were ones that I helped put together on an equal measure with the Chancellor,” he said proudly, “and I will be voting in favour of all the Budget resolutions.”
And yet here he was, at the exact same time, telling the House how he’d actually prefer to do it all differently. “To those asking whether there is another way,” he cried, “I say, ‘Yes – there is a better way!’” A better way than the Budget he’d co-written, and was still firmly intending to vote for.
"One of Labour’s key NHS election pledges, designed to protect services from being privatised, has been rejected as impossible to deliver by the King’s Fund.
The influential health thinktank has warned that it would be extremely unlikely that a Labour government could implement Andy Burnham’s promise to exempt the NHS from EU procurement and competition rules."
Labour revival, albeit in part-ELBOW for the 7 polls so far this week:
Lab 34.1 Con 33.3 UKIP 13.4 LD 7.9 Green 5.8
Lab lead 0.8% - was 0.0% week-ending Sunday 15th March, and 0.3% 8th March!
It looks like a small weakening of UKIP and Green and a slight strengthening of Labour.
In my switching model, this has the biggest effect in Scotland even though I haven't altered the proportion of 2010 vote that SNP takes from Lab and LibDem. The small increase in Lab vote has a big impact on the Lab/SNP marginals but not on the English Lab/Con marginals because Con benefits from the lower UKIP figure.
I have ten scottish constituencies with Lab/SNP or SNP/Lab majorities less than 2% i.e. in the hundreds.
@JasonGroves1: George Osborne hails IFS verdict that incomes will be higher this year than in 2010 as a 'very significant moment in our economic debate'
Ed "I won't reverse any of this budget" Balls slapped down by the IFS.
No risk of that, I'm in profit for all Scottish outcomes apart from a loss of a few quid at about 8 SNP seats, and I'm not losing much sleep over that.
The word "simply" used to describe getting a bet on with Sporting Index... you're a one Richard!
Simple for me (and on credit too) - I've always found them one of the better bookies for getting reasonable liquidity. Alternatively you could have used Spreadex.
I know what I’m about to tell you sounds mad. But look at it from Danny Alexander’s point of view. Seven weeks from now, he won’t be a minister any more. He may not even be an MP. This, almost certainly, was his last chance to realise a lifelong dream. So this morning, less than 24 hours after the Budget, he went to the Commons to present a Budget of his own.
Now, you may be thinking, “Hang on a minute. Danny Alexander is Chief Secretary to the Treasury. He co-wrote the Budget.” And you’d be right. He confirmed this to a bewildered House. “The policy measures in the Budget were ones that I helped put together on an equal measure with the Chancellor,” he said proudly, “and I will be voting in favour of all the Budget resolutions.”
And yet here he was, at the exact same time, telling the House how he’d actually prefer to do it all differently. “To those asking whether there is another way,” he cried, “I say, ‘Yes – there is a better way!’” A better way than the Budget he’d co-written, and was still firmly intending to vote for.
What's the problem? It's a coalition, neither George nor Danny got what they completely wanted. They got what they wanted where they agreed and elsewhere they compromised. I'm fine with both of them saying what they would have liked to have - and no doubt that will happen over the next few weeks.
Labour revival, albeit in part-ELBOW for the 7 polls so far this week:
Lab 34.1 Con 33.3 UKIP 13.4 LD 7.9 Green 5.8
Lab lead 0.8% - was 0.0% week-ending Sunday 15th March, and 0.3% 8th March!
It looks like a small weakening of UKIP and Green and a slight strengthening of Labour.
In my switching model, this has the biggest effect in Scotland even though I haven't altered the proportion of 2010 vote that SNP takes from Lab and LibDem. The small increase in Lab vote has a big impact on the Lab/SNP marginals but not on the English Lab/Con marginals because Con benefits from the lower UKIP figure.
I have ten scottish constituencies with Lab/SNP or SNP/Lab majorities less than 2% i.e. in the hundreds.
Britons are still living in the same 'tribes' that they did in the 7th Century, Oxford University has found after an astonishing study into our genetic make-up.
Archaeologists and geneticists were amazed to find that genetically similar individuals inhabit the same areas they did following the Anglo-Saxon invasion, following the fall of the Roman Empire.
In fact, a map showing tribes of Britain in 600AD is almost identical to a new chart showing genetic variability throughout the UK, suggesting that local communities have stayed put for the past 1415 years.
For anyone interested, my parents restored Lord Armstrong's [of gun making fame] home/banqueting hall in Jesmond Dene and we lived there for a while - the banks opposite were full of cannon ball holes. It and the surrounding grounds were epic for a little girl like me.
The grim reality is that unless there is a random unforeseen event which upends the race, Labour’s poll rating history will repeat itself with the party headed for one of its worst ever election results.
I'm not sure why the Greens have risen to 1.4 - 1.8. Anyway, I've sold them at 1.4.
The Conservatives should be a sell at 282 on fundamentals, but the irrational exuberance supporting them in the markets at present is a phenomenon to behold. Labour and the Conservatives look the wrong way around to me on current data.
Labour revival, albeit in part-ELBOW for the 7 polls so far this week:
Lab 34.1 Con 33.3 UKIP 13.4 LD 7.9 Green 5.8
Lab lead 0.8% - was 0.0% week-ending Sunday 15th March, and 0.3% 8th March!
It looks like a small weakening of UKIP and Green and a slight strengthening of Labour.
In my switching model, this has the biggest effect in Scotland even though I haven't altered the proportion of 2010 vote that SNP takes from Lab and LibDem. The small increase in Lab vote has a big impact on the Lab/SNP marginals but not on the English Lab/Con marginals because Con benefits from the lower UKIP figure.
I have ten scottish constituencies with Lab/SNP or SNP/Lab majorities less than 2% i.e. in the hundreds.
Britons are still living in the same 'tribes' that they did in the 7th Century, Oxford University has found after an astonishing study into our genetic make-up.
Archaeologists and geneticists were amazed to find that genetically similar individuals inhabit the same areas they did following the Anglo-Saxon invasion, following the fall of the Roman Empire.
In fact, a map showing tribes of Britain in 600AD is almost identical to a new chart showing genetic variability throughout the UK, suggesting that local communities have stayed put for the past 1415 years.
For anyone interested, my parents restored Lord Armstrong's [of gun making fame] home/banqueting hall in Jesmond Dene and we lived there for a while - the banks opposite were full of cannon ball holes. It and the surrounding grounds were epic for a little girl like me.
I knew you were a Geordie lass at heart!
Oh, the days of the Fisherman's Lodge! (and its wood panelled sibling the Fisherman's Wharf on the Quayside)
The Conservatives should be a sell at 282 on fundamentals, but the irrational exuberance supporting them in the markets at present is a phenomenon to behold. Labour and the Conservatives look the wrong way around to me on current data.
They may be the wrong way round, but if so it's not necessarily irrational exuberance amongst punters. Ask the academics what they are predicting:
Britons are still living in the same 'tribes' that they did in the 7th Century, Oxford University has found after an astonishing study into our genetic make-up.
Archaeologists and geneticists were amazed to find that genetically similar individuals inhabit the same areas they did following the Anglo-Saxon invasion, following the fall of the Roman Empire.
In fact, a map showing tribes of Britain in 600AD is almost identical to a new chart showing genetic variability throughout the UK, suggesting that local communities have stayed put for the past 1415 years.
For anyone interested, my parents restored Lord Armstrong's [of gun making fame] home/banqueting hall in Jesmond Dene and we lived there for a while - the banks opposite were full of cannon ball holes. It and the surrounding grounds were epic for a little girl like me.From the article:
"The ‘People of the British Isles’ study analysed the DNA of 2,039 people from rural areas of the UK, whose four grandparents were all born within 80km of each other.
Because a quarter of our genome comes from each of our grandparents, the researchers were effectively sampling DNA from these ancestors, allowing a snapshot of UK genetics in the late 19th Century before mass migration events caused by the industrial revolution."
So it wasn't looking at the status today, in 2015, but in something like 1885, which would be 1285 years after 600AD, not the 1415 stated.
Very surprised by the Yorkshire results, though, that suggest no long-lasting Viking presence.
Labour revival, albeit in part-ELBOW for the 7 polls so far this week:
Lab 34.1 Con 33.3 UKIP 13.4 LD 7.9 Green 5.8
Lab lead 0.8% - was 0.0% week-ending Sunday 15th March, and 0.3% 8th March!
It looks like a small weakening of UKIP and Green and a slight strengthening of Labour.
In my switching model, this has the biggest effect in Scotland even though I haven't altered the proportion of 2010 vote that SNP takes from Lab and LibDem. The small increase in Lab vote has a big impact on the Lab/SNP marginals but not on the English Lab/Con marginals because Con benefits from the lower UKIP figure.
I have ten scottish constituencies with Lab/SNP or SNP/Lab majorities less than 2% i.e. in the hundreds.
I know what I’m about to tell you sounds mad. But look at it from Danny Alexander’s point of view. Seven weeks from now, he won’t be a minister any more. He may not even be an MP. This, almost certainly, was his last chance to realise a lifelong dream. So this morning, less than 24 hours after the Budget, he went to the Commons to present a Budget of his own.
Now, you may be thinking, “Hang on a minute. Danny Alexander is Chief Secretary to the Treasury. He co-wrote the Budget.” And you’d be right. He confirmed this to a bewildered House. “The policy measures in the Budget were ones that I helped put together on an equal measure with the Chancellor,” he said proudly, “and I will be voting in favour of all the Budget resolutions.”
And yet here he was, at the exact same time, telling the House how he’d actually prefer to do it all differently. “To those asking whether there is another way,” he cried, “I say, ‘Yes – there is a better way!’” A better way than the Budget he’d co-written, and was still firmly intending to vote for.
What's the problem? It's a coalition, neither George nor Danny got what they completely wanted. They got what they wanted where they agreed and elsewhere they compromised. I'm fine with both of them saying what they would have liked to have - and no doubt that will happen over the next few weeks.
It was a complete farce. Danny and his little toy yellow My First Budget Box, playing at being Chancellor.
It just confirmed what most people have thought all along about the Lib Dems since the formation of the "Coalition".
Still, they can't fall much further, they might as well go demob happy and have a bit of fun.
I recommended selling LibLabCon (for want of a better word, I wouldn't normally use that!) at 588, so that seems to have come my way if anyone did it
Also UKIP x4 seems to add up to more than the Lib Dem quotes.. everyone tells me I have had a shocking bet there...
isam: the UKIP spread bet captures the implicit optionality. I am long UKIP seats, but don't expect them to get more than 4 or 5, because if UKIP gets 20% in the election (or if the LibDems get to 15%, and eat into the Labour and Conservative vote), then they could get 20, 30 or even 50 seats. Essentially, I'm getting huge upside, and very limited downside.
Labour revival, albeit in part-ELBOW for the 7 polls so far this week:
Lab 34.1 Con 33.3 UKIP 13.4 LD 7.9 Green 5.8
Lab lead 0.8% - was 0.0% week-ending Sunday 15th March, and 0.3% 8th March!
It looks like a small weakening of UKIP and Green and a slight strengthening of Labour.
In my switching model, this has the biggest effect in Scotland even though I haven't altered the proportion of 2010 vote that SNP takes from Lab and LibDem. The small increase in Lab vote has a big impact on the Lab/SNP marginals but not on the English Lab/Con marginals because Con benefits from the lower UKIP figure.
I have ten scottish constituencies with Lab/SNP or SNP/Lab majorities less than 2% i.e. in the hundreds.
Labour revival, albeit in part-ELBOW for the 7 polls so far this week:
Lab 34.1 Con 33.3 UKIP 13.4 LD 7.9 Green 5.8
Lab lead 0.8% - was 0.0% week-ending Sunday 15th March, and 0.3% 8th March!
It looks like a small weakening of UKIP and Green and a slight strengthening of Labour.
In my switching model, this has the biggest effect in Scotland even though I haven't altered the proportion of 2010 vote that SNP takes from Lab and LibDem. The small increase in Lab vote has a big impact on the Lab/SNP marginals but not on the English Lab/Con marginals because Con benefits from the lower UKIP figure.
I have ten scottish constituencies with Lab/SNP or SNP/Lab majorities less than 2% i.e. in the hundreds.
When my parents got it - it was totally derelict and unsafe. Our Great Dane [almost as 70s as an Afghan Hound] fell through a staircase as woodworm was endemic. It had lead pipes, no viable heating and holes in the roof.
It was called The Victoria during our stay. I had my 9th birthday party in the ballroom with an 8-Track. I think we had a 999yr lease and as ever, my dad got bored and sold it on and became a software man instead [in 010101 language].
It is too bizarre to explain living in a condemned building and couldn't drink the water, getting trapped in the eaves/frightened of falling through the floor, lost in the grounds and crying my eyes out when the field next to it was tarmaced over.
We used to steal dry ice from the Walls ice cream delivery man and drop it on the river rats!
Britons are still living in the same 'tribes' that they did in the 7th Century, Oxford University has found after an astonishing study into our genetic make-up.
Archaeologists and geneticists were amazed to find that genetically similar individuals inhabit the same areas they did following the Anglo-Saxon invasion, following the fall of the Roman Empire.
In fact, a map showing tribes of Britain in 600AD is almost identical to a new chart showing genetic variability throughout the UK, suggesting that local communities have stayed put for the past 1415 years.
For anyone interested, my parents restored Lord Armstrong's [of gun making fame] home/banqueting hall in Jesmond Dene and we lived there for a while - the banks opposite were full of cannon ball holes. It and the surrounding grounds were epic for a little girl like me.
I knew you were a Geordie lass at heart!
Oh, the days of the Fisherman's Lodge! (and its wood panelled sibling the Fisherman's Wharf on the Quayside)
The Conservatives should be a sell at 282 on fundamentals, but the irrational exuberance supporting them in the markets at present is a phenomenon to behold. Labour and the Conservatives look the wrong way around to me on current data.
They may be the wrong way round, but if so it's not necessarily irrational exuberance amongst punters. Ask the academics what they are predicting:
I'm not sure why the Greens have risen to 1.4 - 1.8. Anyway, I've sold them at 1.4.
The Conservatives should be a sell at 282 on fundamentals, but the irrational exuberance supporting them in the markets at present is a phenomenon to behold. Labour and the Conservatives look the wrong way around to me on current data.
'Twas ever thus. But the markets only overestimated the Conservatives by 10 seats in 2010GE.
It was Labour they under predicted and Lib Dems they over predicted. But arguably that's evidence for inertia in the system and innate favourability to the government.
Anyway, I agree. I was bullish on the Tories chances. Until I saw that disastrous Ashcroft marginals poll.
The Conservatives should be a sell at 282 on fundamentals, but the irrational exuberance supporting them in the markets at present is a phenomenon to behold. Labour and the Conservatives look the wrong way around to me on current data.
They may be the wrong way round, but if so it's not necessarily irrational exuberance amongst punters. Ask the academics what they are predicting:
The Conservatives should be a sell at 282 on fundamentals, but the irrational exuberance supporting them in the markets at present is a phenomenon to behold. Labour and the Conservatives look the wrong way around to me on current data.
They may be the wrong way round, but if so it's not necessarily irrational exuberance amongst punters. Ask the academics what they are predicting:
The Conservatives should be a sell at 282 on fundamentals, but the irrational exuberance supporting them in the markets at present is a phenomenon to behold. Labour and the Conservatives look the wrong way around to me on current data.
They may be the wrong way round, but if so it's not necessarily irrational exuberance amongst punters. Ask the academics what they are predicting:
I've been a seller of the Tories at 280 since before Christmas.
Just got back from London with some very good info. I'm getting my bets on before sharing.
Whatever you've heard in London, I think it is pretty certain now that a goodly chunk of those 52% of Voters who have not made their mind up yet will decide to stick with the devil they know and consider being compassionate and voting Labour a luxury they cannot risk.
Not sure whether the Tories will get a bigger % than 2010 or fall a couple of points short but I think for Labour the question is whether Miliband can beat Kinnock or Foots share of the vote with floating voters leaking to the Tories, the scots to SNP, the left to Green/Respect and White Van Man to UKIP.
FIFA announce 2022 World Cup Final will be played on the 18th December 2022. The Sunday before Christmas.. Just when everyone is busy getting ready for Christmas.
I really don't like TimM and his carping - this sums him up
I found the article noteworthy for two reasons. First, because as well as being one of Britain’s foremost political commentators, Tim Montgomerie reflects the views of a significant element of the Conservative party. And second, because until today I thought this “we must be careful not to win the wrong way” nonsense was the preserve of the Labour party.
FIFA announce 2022 World Cup Final will be played on the 18th December 2022. The Sunday before Christmas.. Just when everyone is busy getting ready for Christmas.
#boycottworldcup2022
A lot of the World wont! Its not the Christian Cup!
The Conservatives should be a sell at 282 on fundamentals, but the irrational exuberance supporting them in the markets at present is a phenomenon to behold. Labour and the Conservatives look the wrong way around to me on current data.
They may be the wrong way round, but if so it's not necessarily irrational exuberance amongst punters. Ask the academics what they are predicting:
Even if it is irrational exuberance, it's not necessarily a bubble that will pop until the votes are counted. cf, Romney/intrade.
I mean, which was more silly; Investing in dutch tulips, or not investing in dutch tulips before everyone else got in on the game? The intrinsic value of dutch tulips never really mattered an awful lot, did it?
I'm expecting Paul to officially announce his candidacy any day or moment now in a rally or something but he has to be fast because the cat is out of the bag.
I've been just watching the Japanese bit pre-nukes and Kamikazes et al. They really were no different to suicide bombers of today since their planes were flying bombs and they were waved off as heroes destined never to return - just with a nationalistic agenda. I remain very impressed by their resolve whatever the case.
FIFA announce 2022 World Cup Final will be played on the 18th December 2022. The Sunday before Christmas.. Just when everyone is busy getting ready for Christmas.
#boycottworldcup2022
At least we know the home nations will not be involved.
I'm expecting Paul to officially announce his candidacy any day or moment now in a rally or something but he has to be fast because the cat is out of the bag.
Even after he didn't clap Netanyahu's speech sufficiently enthusiastically?
Be about as popular with the Israel and military industrial complex as JFK.
When did the BBC make anything so fabulous bar David Attenborough?
Wasn't the 'Cold War' series narrated by Kenneth Branagh a BBC/CNN production? That was pretty good as I recall.
The World at War is in my view the best documentary ever made. Knocking very hard on it's door is the earlier 'The Great War'. I think these both owe a lot in their ambition to a certain W Churchill - happily though they are somewhat less strongly biased.
The BBC make some outstanding programmes all the time. The days of really cold, hard, and interesting have perhaps somewhat passed - Horizon for example has really gone downhill. There's lots of 'lets break for some commercials, and a recap' which goes on. But.. once in a while they actually let proper programming off the leash. I've really liked some of Lucy Worsley's stuff in the last couple of years (although she's made some hideous stuff too), but the thing that really sticks in my mind is 'the joy of stats' with Hans Rosling - it was (and is) a really good example of what broadcasters can do.
I imagine that once upon a time people who knew a great deal about their subject saw the opportunity of making a BBC documentary as a real chance to set their views clearly, and to try to explain what their subject was all about. Modern academics should follow that example. Be clear, but don't talk down. If an academic isn't up to that then he doesn't understand his subject anyway.
So.... I have all this general love for the BBC, and yet I'd shut it down tomorrow - it never lives up to these ideals, it is nearly always biased, and it should be ashamed of itself. I'd open a very similar new BBC the day after.
FIFA announce 2022 World Cup Final will be played on the 18th December 2022. The Sunday before Christmas.. Just when everyone is busy getting ready for Christmas.
#boycottworldcup2022
A lot of the World wont! Its not the Christian Cup!
And I'm not religious but it will severely disrupt two seasons football for the continent of the most heavily viewed football there is with considerable financial implications for the clubs and their sponsors and why because a bunch of fat cat Oil Shieks bribed a bunch of corrupt administrators.
That's why it should be boycotted. FIFA represent everything that is wrong with unaccountable global organisations and as for Blatter. I hope its a complete and utter failure.
Oh and thats not even going into the alleged issues around slave labour being used to build the stadiums.
I just watched The Cat From Outer Space on YouTube - I haven't seen that in 30yrs. Disney's use of MASH actors makes it very funny in retrospect. And what YouTube was made for!
They really were no different to suicide bombers of today since their planes were flying bombs and they were waved off as heroes destined never to return
Yes and no.
The Kamikazi pilots hurled themselves at heavily armed military shipping. You can see the anti aircraft fire pouring out at them in the World at War programme. Their enemies were seasoned troops with a fighting chance of survival.
Suicide bombers go for civilians.
This is what annoys me about islamists. A decent army would go through them like a dose of salts.
In fact the Tories enoy a significantly larger lead of almost 20 seats with IG's GE Seats spread market, i.e 289 vs 269.5 seats. I imagine that IG's market is far more actively traded, bearing in mind that it is a vastly larger operation than Sporting and also taking into account the fact that Sporting have only very recently reduced their spread from a hitherto hefty 6 seats to 5, whereas IG operate on a narrower spread of just 4 seats.
I'm expecting Paul to officially announce his candidacy any day or moment now in a rally or something but he has to be fast because the cat is out of the bag.
Nah, US president not my cup of tea. I did think of having a go as an independent in Mid Beds in May but couldn't be bothered.
In fact the Tories enoy a significantly larger lead of almost 20 seats with IG's GE Seats spread market, i.e 289 vs 269.5 seats. I imagine that IG's market is far more actively traded, bearing in mind that it is a vastly larger operation than Sporting and also taking into account the fact that Sporting have only very recently reduced their spread from a hitherto hefty 6 seats to 5, whereas IG operate on a narrower spread of just 4 seats.
At the same stage post budget in March 2010 the Conservative spread was 324-329 . A similar overstatement on polling day would see Labour as the largest party .
They really were no different to suicide bombers of today since their planes were flying bombs and they were waved off as heroes destined never to return
Yes and no.
The Kamikazi pilots hurled themselves at heavily armed military shipping. You can see the anti aircraft fire pouring out at them in the World at War programme. Their enemies were seasoned troops with a fighting chance of survival.
Suicide bombers go for civilians.
This is what annoys me about islamists. A decent army would go through them like a dose of salts.
While the south Mediterranean nutters are the last people who I would stand up for, exactly why should anyone fight a war in a way that their enemy is rather better at than them? Once you start a war the end largely justifies the means.
Ignoring posts like Roger's meal with his mate.. and Rosaree's ridiculous posts what actual vibes are you getting re Budget 2015???. I've met lots of people but not a soul has mentioned it in any way whatsoever.
Comments
Lab 34.1
Con 33.3
UKIP 13.4
LD 7.9
Green 5.8
Lab lead 0.8% - was 0.0% week-ending Sunday 15th March, and 0.3% 8th March!
The Spread firms have a nasty habit of suspending markets just when it would suit you most to trade out
This suggests that most punters have sought to buy the party they think will outperform the spread, and more value exists in identifying the party you think will underperform the current prices.
@TeleComment: If David Cameron wins on Lynton Crosby's ticket, it will be open season on all the old Tory values, says @DPJHodges http://t.co/QuXxyl9oq3
One for SeanT, I know he loves this stuff, and it is a fascinating study!
Also UKIP x4 seems to add up to more than the Lib Dem quotes.. everyone tells me I have had a shocking bet there...
At least I didn't sell them at 20 though
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/mar/18/key-labour-nhs-pledge-impossible-to-deliver-says-influential-thinktank
"One of Labour’s key NHS election pledges, designed to protect services from being privatised, has been rejected as impossible to deliver by the King’s Fund.
The influential health thinktank has warned that it would be extremely unlikely that a Labour government could implement Andy Burnham’s promise to exempt the NHS from EU procurement and competition rules."
In my switching model, this has the biggest effect in Scotland even though I haven't altered the proportion of 2010 vote that SNP takes from Lab and LibDem. The small increase in Lab vote has a big impact on the Lab/SNP marginals but not on the English Lab/Con marginals because Con benefits from the lower UKIP figure.
I have ten scottish constituencies with Lab/SNP or SNP/Lab majorities less than 2% i.e. in the hundreds.
Latest seats projection
Con 262 ... (262)
Lab 294 ... (283)
LD 28 ... (30)
UKIP 2 ... (2)
Grn 1 ... (1)
SNP 42 ... (51)
Better together..
Ed "I won't reverse any of this budget" Balls slapped down by the IFS.
The Conservatives should be a sell at 282 on fundamentals, but the irrational exuberance supporting them in the markets at present is a phenomenon to behold. Labour and the Conservatives look the wrong way around to me on current data.
Dumfries X 2
Dunbarton
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Invercly
Motherwell
Paisley
Rutherg
You'll have to work out which specific constituencies. I'm just off to a St Patrick's do.
I knew you were a Geordie lass at heart!
Oh, the days of the Fisherman's Lodge! (and its wood panelled sibling the Fisherman's Wharf on the Quayside)
http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/complaints-lodged-over-shut-fishermans-4394256
1730 Wolves Madakheel 66-1 ew (StanJames)
Conservative:
May2015 277
Election Forecast 284
Elections etc 285
Guardian 277
Labour:
May2015 268
Election Forecast 279
Elections etc 279
Guardian 269
http://may2015.com/category/seat-calculator/
"The ‘People of the British Isles’ study analysed the DNA of 2,039 people from rural areas of the UK, whose four grandparents were all born within 80km of each other.
Because a quarter of our genome comes from each of our grandparents, the researchers were effectively sampling DNA from these ancestors, allowing a snapshot of UK genetics in the late 19th Century before mass migration events caused by the industrial revolution."
So it wasn't looking at the status today, in 2015, but in something like 1885, which would be 1285 years after 600AD, not the 1415 stated.
Very surprised by the Yorkshire results, though, that suggest no long-lasting Viking presence.
Really baffling - I wish it was true that their prospects were improving - but where is the objective evidence?
It was a complete farce. Danny and his little toy yellow My First Budget Box, playing at being Chancellor.
It just confirmed what most people have thought all along about the Lib Dems since the formation of the "Coalition".
Still, they can't fall much further, they might as well go demob happy and have a bit of fun.
I wonder if the final thing being argued over is whether Farage moves from the 16 April "Challengers" event to the 30 April "Final" event.
Edinburgh SW
Glasgow Central and NW
Paisley South which is the most marginal seat in my model for the whole UK - one vote in it!
Now I really must go.
It was called The Victoria during our stay. I had my 9th birthday party in the ballroom with an 8-Track. I think we had a 999yr lease and as ever, my dad got bored and sold it on and became a software man instead [in 010101 language].
It is too bizarre to explain living in a condemned building and couldn't drink the water, getting trapped in the eaves/frightened of falling through the floor, lost in the grounds and crying my eyes out when the field next to it was tarmaced over.
We used to steal dry ice from the Walls ice cream delivery man and drop it on the river rats! I knew you were a Geordie lass at heart!
Oh, the days of the Fisherman's Lodge! (and its wood panelled sibling the Fisherman's Wharf on the Quayside)
http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/complaints-lodged-over-shut-fishermans-4394256
Just got back from London with some very good info. I'm getting my bets on before sharing.
It was Labour they under predicted and Lib Dems they over predicted. But arguably that's evidence for inertia in the system and innate favourability to the government.
Anyway, I agree. I was bullish on the Tories chances. Until I saw that disastrous Ashcroft marginals poll.
Britain out of Europe?
Not sure whether the Tories will get a bigger % than 2010 or fall a couple of points short but I think for Labour the question is whether Miliband can beat Kinnock or Foots share of the vote with floating voters leaking to the Tories, the scots to SNP, the left to Green/Respect and White Van Man to UKIP.
When did the BBC make anything so fabulous bar David Attenborough?
FIFA announce 2022 World Cup Final will be played on the 18th December 2022. The Sunday before Christmas.. Just when everyone is busy getting ready for Christmas.
#boycottworldcup2022
Isn't a bit premature of Dan Hodges to be declaring a Conservative victory?
Even if the Conservatives were to form a minority government on, say, 297 seats, I don't think the argument would be settled.
giphy.com/gifs/CmP32SBiePG4o
I mean, which was more silly; Investing in dutch tulips, or not investing in dutch tulips before everyone else got in on the game? The intrinsic value of dutch tulips never really mattered an awful lot, did it?
Mr. Isam, don't have to be a Christian to do something for Christmas.
Where's Nige..?
Reuters: CNBC reports U.S. Republican Senator Rand Paul has filed to run for president in 2016
Olivier's narration is utterly masterful...
At least we know the home nations will not be involved.
Be about as popular with the Israel and military industrial complex as JFK.
Most/all of it is on YouTube I think. Well worth a watch.
The BBC make some outstanding programmes all the time. The days of really cold, hard, and interesting have perhaps somewhat passed - Horizon for example has really gone downhill. There's lots of 'lets break for some commercials, and a recap' which goes on. But.. once in a while they actually let proper programming off the leash. I've really liked some of Lucy Worsley's stuff in the last couple of years (although she's made some hideous stuff too), but the thing that really sticks in my mind is 'the joy of stats' with Hans Rosling - it was (and is) a really good example of what broadcasters can do.
I imagine that once upon a time people who knew a great deal about their subject saw the opportunity of making a BBC documentary as a real chance to set their views clearly, and to try to explain what their subject was all about. Modern academics should follow that example. Be clear, but don't talk down. If an academic isn't up to that then he doesn't understand his subject anyway.
So.... I have all this general love for the BBC, and yet I'd shut it down tomorrow - it never lives up to these ideals, it is nearly always biased, and it should be ashamed of itself. I'd open a very similar new BBC the day after.
That's why it should be boycotted. FIFA represent everything that is wrong with unaccountable global organisations and as for Blatter. I hope its a complete and utter failure.
Oh and thats not even going into the alleged issues around slave labour being used to build the stadiums.
This series left an impression on me.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0074p90/the-great-war-12-for-gawds-sake-dont-send-me
I just watched The Cat From Outer Space on YouTube - I haven't seen that in 30yrs. Disney's use of MASH actors makes it very funny in retrospect. And what YouTube was made for!
youtube.com/watch?v=9SEaSW1jtnQ
Yes and no.
The Kamikazi pilots hurled themselves at heavily armed military shipping. You can see the anti aircraft fire pouring out at them in the World at War programme. Their enemies were seasoned troops with a fighting chance of survival.
Suicide bombers go for civilians.
This is what annoys me about islamists. A decent army would go through them like a dose of salts.
@BBCBreaking: UKIP MEP & #GE2015 candidate Janice Atkinson suspended from party over "allegations of serious financial nature" http://t.co/7YyhsDasmw