Have a look at the comment below the line which seriously questions that that was actually said. And Mr Salmond is not the same thing as the SNP anyway.
If, as some contest, SNP = Scotland, then I think it's fair to say Alex Salmond = SNP.
Demanding everything puts Scotland first is not a recipe for coalition. Its one thing to represent a wider countrywide political viewpoint, but to press for a narrow regional (and politically narrow as well) hegemony can only alienate voters in England. Since the SNP plan only works with Labour the largest party then everything the SNP have said makes it ever more mad for anyone in the North of England to vote Labour.
You cannot desperately give "vows" to keep Scotland within the Union and then complain that their politics is narrow. The SNP stands for the independence of Scotland.
As they see it, by holding the balance of power, even if there is a minority Tory government with ,say, 290 seats, they can agree or disagree any government legislation. A form of guerrilla legislative warfare. Basically, drive the government crazy ! It is then the "English" who will want them out ! The SNP wins through the back door - same result. Can't fault them with their strategy. It is not up to them to worry about a stable UK government.
For starters the person who waded in and promised Scotland Home Rule was Brown. Salmond's tactic has always been to provoke the English. Nothing new. As for independence that vote has gone. I do not see another one being offered, all it as presented quite clearly is English Votes for English Laws. Salmond also shows what a divided pork barrel place a regionalised UK or even England would become. My point is that their desire to hold Labour to ransom (they have already said no deals at all with the tories) is likely to alienate the Labour vote and get Scotland nothing.
Demanding the HS2 start in Scotland seems a bit daft as well, where would it go? The market for puely Edinburgh to Manchester must be limited. Starting in Birmingham might make sense. Thanks to devolution then if it starts in Scotland then it must I would have thought come out of the Scotland transport budget. Indeed I think Scotland have still to decide about the link beyond Leeds Manchester.
I have no idea who will come out best / win in this "charade" but it now seems that the future of the country, our destiny As a nation will depend on a sodding Tv programme.
FFS. It's not democracy it's "Soaps" box politic. Everyone will claim they won the debate as will the papers along political lines and no guesses as to where the BBC will fall. What does it prove? Nada , zilch, nothing absolutely feckall. . A complete shambles where the debate over a debate has hidden the important issues for weeks and months.
We deserve everything we are going to get .....we truly do
A country that it's people perceive that they don't have any major national problems will drift to charades like that. I remember in the late 90's America's only problem was where did President Clinton put his cigar, so they elected G.W.Bush so that they can have other more serious problems to deal with.
So anti-UKIP protestors have failed to win over UKIP supporters on pb. I am not sure that they'll write the protest off as a failure solely on that account.
And its hardly a surprise that you would come running to their defence either. I bet you wish you were there?
I'm not defending them. I think this kind of protest is crass and counter-productive.
I'm noting that two dozen Bufton Tuftons spluttering about anarchy in the UK isn't going to deter them. The opposite, in fact.
Well you clearly have a delusionally overblown view of the impact of Pb.com. I really don't think what is expressed on here matters that much.
So anti-UKIP protestors have failed to win over UKIP supporters on pb. I am not sure that they'll write the protest off as a failure solely on that account.
And its hardly a surprise that you would come running to their defence either. I bet you wish you were there?
I'm not defending them. I think this kind of protest is crass and counter-productive.
I'm noting that two dozen Bufton Tuftons spluttering about anarchy in the UK isn't going to deter them. The opposite, in fact.
Well you clearly have a delusionally overblown view of the impact of Pb.com. I really don't think what is expressed on here matters that much.
Demanding the HS2 start in Scotland seems a bit daft as well, where would it go?
He didn't demand that, he used it as a notional example of an amendment to a Labour Budget if Labour wouldn't play ball with the SNP in a hung parliament.
The article is simply wrong - he did not say that.
He said the SNP proposed UK economic plan was for no tax rises but he didn't say he wouldn't support a 50p rate. His only statement on the top rate of tax is that he would vote against a reduction in the top rate of tax.
In fact Salmond poitned out that the SNP voted against lowering 50p rate at the time. So the take away if you want to paraphrase anything is that the SNP supports the 50p tax rate.
The pub stunt is now number 1 on the BBC most read.
The protestors will be overjoyed and Ukip will probably gain a little.
The thought occurs, and I'm sure others have had it, is that if it's someone just having lunch, can it really be called 'protesting' unless they were protesting his choice of lunch?
I really don't think what is expressed on here matters that much.
Quite. This makes the repetitive partisan shilling by various posters here rather curious.
No it isn't- it's not about other people being convinced or having an impact, it's about having a platform for expression, clearly. It certainly saves me from being even more of a boring old [under-30] fart who drones on about political minutiae at work and home. Or at least moderates it somewhat; I am still known partly as the guy who is interested in politics.
Off topic, Chelsea are once again a bloody lucky team.
So anti-UKIP protestors have failed to win over UKIP supporters on pb. I am not sure that they'll write the protest off as a failure solely on that account.
And its hardly a surprise that you would come running to their defence either. I bet you wish you were there?
I'm not defending them. I think this kind of protest is crass and counter-productive.
I'm noting that two dozen Bufton Tuftons spluttering about anarchy in the UK isn't going to deter them. The opposite, in fact.
Well you clearly have a delusionally overblown view of the impact of Pb.com. I really don't think what is expressed on here matters that much.
Er. No.
Do keep missing the point I am making.
You suggested that the comments here opposing the demonstrators would motivate them. I suggested the comments on this site are not important enough to do so. I think my response is perfectly on point.
Have a look at the comment below the line which seriously questions that that was actually said. And Mr Salmond is not the same thing as the SNP anyway.
If, as some contest, SNP = Scotland, then I think it's fair to say Alex Salmond = SNP.
.
You cannot desperately give "vows" to keep Scotland within the Union and then complain that their politics is narrow. The SNP stands for the independence of Scotland.
As they see it, by holding the balance of power, even if there is a minority Tory government with ,say, 290 seats, they can agree or disagree any government legislation. A form of guerrilla legislative warfare. Basically, drive the government crazy ! It is then the "English" who will want them out ! The SNP wins through the back door - same result. Can't fault them with their strategy. It is not up to them to worry about a stable UK government.
For starters the person who waded in and promised Scotland Home Rule was Brown. Salmond's tactic has always been to provoke the English. Nothing new. As for independence that vote has gone. I do not see another one being offered, all it as presented quite clearly is English Votes for English Laws. Salmond also shows what a divided pork barrel place a regionalised UK or even England would become. My point is that their desire to hold Labour to ransom (they have already said no deals at all with the tories) is likely to alienate the Labour vote and get Scotland nothing.
Demanding the HS2 start in Scotland seems a bit daft as well, where would it go? The market for puely Edinburgh to Manchester must be limited. Starting in Birmingham might make sense. Thanks to devolution then if it starts in Scotland then it must I would have thought come out of the Scotland transport budget. Indeed I think Scotland have still to decide about the link beyond Leeds Manchester.
The fact is that if the SNP gets 40+ seats then I cannot imagine a scenario at the moment where it will not hold the balance of power. So whether there is a formal coalition with Labour or the Tories is immaterial. Nothing gets passed without their consent unless Labour and Conservative agree on some issues.
Ironically, the Lib Dems held the same position and did FA with it. Rank amateurs. They played the responsible game and the people are about to give them a suitable reward for it.
No it isn't- it's not about other people being convinced or having an impact, it's about having a platform for expression, clearly. It certainly saves me from being even more of a boring old [under-30] fart who drones on about political minutiae at work and home.
It varies. If most posts were as I describe I wouldn't still be here. I'm talking about a fairly small minority of posters here.
No it isn't- it's not about other people being convinced or having an impact, it's about having a platform for expression, clearly. It certainly saves me from being even more of a boring old [under-30] fart who drones on about political minutiae at work and home.
It varies. If most posts were as I describe I wouldn't still be here. I'm talking about a fairly small minority of posters here.
Ah yes, an inevitable side affect of providing a platform unfortunately.
So anti-UKIP protestors have failed to win over UKIP supporters on pb. I am not sure that they'll write the protest off as a failure solely on that account.
And its hardly a surprise that you would come running to their defence either. I bet you wish you were there?
I'm not defending them. I think this kind of protest is crass and counter-productive.
I'm noting that two dozen Bufton Tuftons spluttering about anarchy in the UK isn't going to deter them. The opposite, in fact.
Well you clearly have a delusionally overblown view of the impact of Pb.com. I really don't think what is expressed on here matters that much.
Er. No.
Do keep missing the point I am making.
You suggested that the comments here opposing the demonstrators would motivate them. I suggested the comments on this site are not important enough to do so. I think my response is perfectly on point.
You might be taking the point a tad too literally however. As I read it I thought the point was that people in general getting upset about such peoples' actions, would only please them, the thought of the 'right' people getting upset at them for it, is surely something they would be happy about.
Flightpath Fascinating scenes from Leicester on C4 streets packed for Richard's Cortege as it makes its way to the cathedral led by 2 knights on horseback and all races and ages present too
Surbiton The Tories + LDs + DUP could just scrape a majority without the SNP, which would ironically give the party of the most loyal part of the union, Ulster, the balance of power
News UK News Nigel Farage UKIP leader Nigel Farage says his children are 'missing' after family chased out of pub by protesters
Absolute scum. There is a time and a place for protesting and it is certainly not during a family meal.
What pisses me off most is the organiser comes from the other end of the country and is doing it on the back of taxpayer. They should throw the parasite off his MSc!
Charlie Gilmour was not punished by Cambridge at all for his criminal behaviour and now has a nice job as a journo.
Wonder if he had been exposed an EDL member and had gone round smashing stuff up what their opinion would have been?
It's pretty difficult to get actually kicked out of Cambridge. Getting arrested, and getting a criminal record certainly won't do it.
Something for you HYUFD, Ted Cruz will announce tomorrow his presidential bid and Rand Paul calls for americans to boycott S.Arabia for it's segregation against women:
A Buddhist monk and a Muslim Imam in the congregation at Leicester Cathedral, along with the Duke of Gloucester to add to the surreal occasion. Ceremony conducted by the Bishop of Leicester alongside Cardinal Vincent Nichols to represent Richard's Catholic past
News UK News Nigel Farage UKIP leader Nigel Farage says his children are 'missing' after family chased out of pub by protesters
Absolute scum. There is a time and a place for protesting and it is certainly not during a family meal.
What pisses me off most is the organiser comes from the other end of the country and is doing it on the back of taxpayer. They should throw the parasite off his MSc!
Charlie Gilmour was not punished by Cambridge at all for his criminal behaviour and now has a nice job as a journo.
Wonder if he had been exposed an EDL member and had gone round smashing stuff up what their opinion would have been?
It's pretty difficult to get actually kicked out of Cambridge. Getting arrested, and getting a criminal record certainly won't do it.
Surely Cambridge would realise that it needs to defend its talent the same way the BBC does with stars like Clarkson? Where would Cambridge be without the intellectual gravitas of Charlie Gilmour? I'd also wonder whether some of the dons might not be sympathetic to the misdeeds of some of their undergraduates. Maybe not so much as say the assistant professor for Hugo Chavez studies at generic metropolitan university former polytechnic.
Surbiton The Tories + LDs + DUP could just scrape a majority without the SNP, which would ironically give the party of the most loyal part of the union, Ulster, the balance of power
Thanks Speedy, kudos to Rand Paul there, he has an excellent chance of winning Iowa in my view and will do well in NH too. Cruz could also take S Carolina, plenty for Jeb Bush or Christie to think about, whichever of them wins NH will then take on Paul and Cruz
Farage attacked by protestors supporting gay rights, the right to public breastfeeding and a muslim call to prayer eh?
You could get away with that combo in a Kent pub, would like to see them try it in a mosque
These type of people have been around for years. If it was not UKIP they would find something else to protest about as they are desperate for finding a purpose to their sorry lives. They are literally the dregs of society.
The police used to take a very active interest in these types of groups as they considered them subversive.
A Buddhist monk and a Muslim Imam in the congregation at Leicester Cathedral, along with the Duke of Gloucester to add to the surreal occasion. Ceremony conducted by the Bishop of Leicester alongside Cardinal Vincent Nichols to represent Richard's Catholic past
It is surreal. The BBC say that the coffin was made from English Oak from the Duchy of Cornwall. Looks like flatpack from IKEA to me!
Fascinating polling out of Spain: Podemos, the PP and the Socialists have all lost a remarkable amount of support in the last six months - with all of them dropping votes to a (relative) newcomer the Citizen's Party (which has historically been Catalonia only).
Citizens has gone from about 3% in the polls a year ago, to 13-15% now. And it looks like Spain could have four parties all within a couple of percent of 20% shares. (The PP and Podemos just above, and the Socialists and the Citizen's Party just below.)
As Spain is a completely proportional system (with no first party boost), some kind of coalition is going to be needed post election - my guess would be PP + Citizens. It's hard to see who Podemos could go into coalition with, except possibly the Socialists - and I think the Socialists would rather be in opposition than be the junior coalition partner of Podemos.
there’s probably only one or two game changers left for the Tories, one of them is the debates,
But the coward is only appearing in one where he's likely to be the target. Thats hardly going to change the game the Tories way.
There are lots of potential game changers on all sides though it seems certain that the SNP will decimate labour in Scotland
I disagree to the extent I think the chances of a positive game changer that allows the Tories to get a significant advantage over Labour or vice versa are minimal. I think the parlous state of the public sector finances and their own self inflicted ideological restrictions means they have very little room to move. Both parties have tied their hands behind their backs before the campaign has started so I doubt very much we will see any game changers from them. The only game changer for them is if someone or something screws up.
For the other parties there are game changers for sure but given none of them are likely to see 3 figure numbers of seats such game changers are relatively small in terms of the election as a whole and in reality the big game changer (the Scottish Independence referendum and the Scots response to that turning away from Labour and to the SNP) has already happened.
So Ed has been cribbing for awhile on the debates....and Dave has been carrying out the duties of a prime minister. Hmmmm..Just shows why Dave is right not to engage on the debates as the red team have spent the last few months trying to come up with elephant traps for them...
News UK News Nigel Farage UKIP leader Nigel Farage says his children are 'missing' after family chased out of pub by protesters
Absolute scum. There is a time and a place for protesting and it is certainly not during a family meal.
What pisses me off most is the organiser comes from the other end of the country and is doing it on the back of taxpayer. They should throw the parasite off his MSc!
Charlie Gilmour was not punished by Cambridge at all for his criminal behaviour and now has a nice job as a journo.
Wonder if he had been exposed an EDL member and had gone round smashing stuff up what their opinion would have been?
It's pretty difficult to get actually kicked out of Cambridge. Getting arrested, and getting a criminal record certainly won't do it.
Surely Cambridge would realise that it needs to defend its talent the same way the BBC does with stars like Clarkson? Where would Cambridge be without the intellectual gravitas of Charlie Gilmour? I'd also wonder whether some of the dons might not be sympathetic to the misdeeds of some of their undergraduates. Maybe not so much as say the assistant professor for Hugo Chavez studies at generic metropolitan university former polytechnic.
I have always wondered why universities are supposed to take an interest in the lives of its students. While what Mr Gilmour did was clearly wrong, I can't see that Cambridge University has any authority to expel him.
So Ed has been cribbing for awhile on the debates....and Dave has been carrying out the duties of a prime minister. Hmmmm..Just shows why Dave is right not to engage on the debates as the red team have spent the last few months trying to come up with elephant traps for them...
So Cameron is not adept enough at debating to stand on his own record and is running scared of Labour 'elephant traps'. Yep thats a positive image for one of the leaders of the democratic world to give...
there’s probably only one or two game changers left for the Tories, one of them is the debates,
But the coward is only appearing in one where he's likely to be the target. Thats hardly going to change the game the Tories way.
There are lots of potential game changers on all sides though it seems certain that the SNP will decimate labour in Scotland
I disagree to the extent I think the chances of a positive game changer that allows the Tories to get a significant advantage over Labour or vice versa are minimal. I think the parlous state of the public sector finances and their own self inflicted ideological restrictions means they have very little room to move. Both parties have tied their hands behind their backs before the campaign has started so I doubt very much we will see any game changers from them. The only game changer for them is if someone or something screws up.
For the other parties there are game changers for sure but given none of them are likely to see 3 figure numbers of seats such game changers are relatively small in terms of the election as a whole and in reality the big game changer (the Scottish Independence referendum and the Scots response to that turning away from Labour and to the SNP) has already happened.
The game changers are still in play and notwithstanding your analysis of the parties the voters are not engaged yet (other than in Scotland). There is plenty to play for even without something dramatic like a terrorist attack
Brilliant analysis in today's Observer where William Keegan looks at the budget. He criticised Osborne's jokes which he sees as demeaning one of the great offices of state. Osborne is compared to a spiv who uses a variety of dodgy devices to prove things that are untrue.Keegan quotes the IFS 'there is no real increase in incomes in the data we have seen so far.' Osborne persisted with the lie by including university income etc.in his calculation.He is a national disgrace.
Brilliant analysis in today's Observer where William Keegan looks at the budget. He criticised Osborne's jokes which he sees as demeaning one of the great offices of state. Osborne is compared to a spiv who uses a variety of dodgy devices to prove things that are untrue.Keegan quotes the IFS 'there is no real increase in incomes in the data we have seen so far.' Osborne persisted with the lie by including university income etc.in his calculation.He is a national disgrace.
Most popular politician in the UK at present outside of Scotland
News UK News Nigel Farage UKIP leader Nigel Farage says his children are 'missing' after family chased out of pub by protesters
Absolute scum. There is a time and a place for protesting and it is certainly not during a family meal.
What pisses me off most is the organiser comes from the other end of the country and is doing it on the back of taxpayer. They should throw the parasite off his MSc!
Charlie Gilmour was not punished by Cambridge at all for his criminal behaviour and now has a nice job as a journo.
Wonder if he had been exposed an EDL member and had gone round smashing stuff up what their opinion would have been?
It's pretty difficult to get actually kicked out of Cambridge. Getting arrested, and getting a criminal record certainly won't do it.
Surely Cambridge would realise that it needs to defend its talent the same way the BBC does with stars like Clarkson? Where would Cambridge be without the intellectual gravitas of Charlie Gilmour? I'd also wonder whether some of the dons might not be sympathetic to the misdeeds of some of their undergraduates. Maybe not so much as say the assistant professor for Hugo Chavez studies at generic metropolitan university former polytechnic.
I have always wondered why universities are supposed to take an interest in the lives of its students. While what Mr Gilmour did was clearly wrong, I can't see that Cambridge University has any authority to expel him.
Lets just remember Gilmour didn't just "get arrested". He was given a 16 months custodial sentence. His swinging from the flags on Cenotaph was a minor part of what he was up to.
Cambridge absolutely does have the right and authority to have "sent him down" i.e expel him. Gilmour could under the terms of being a member of the university have been at the worse end rusticated for a year or sent down, or at the lower end had his privileges removed, made to do community service and very least a formal apologies for his behaviour.
None of the above was handed out.
I am not saying they should have kicked him out, I am just saying he received zero punishment from his college / university.
This anti-UKIP stuff is bullshit now. You can just about defend egging a politician at hustings, or even harrassing a pol trying to make a Glasgow speech or open a party office in Rotherham.
Impossible to justify invading his private life, scaring his kids, pushing him out of a pub, jumping up and down on his car, etc.
The police have to arrest these people before they get Farage elected as prime minister.
Even I find some of these people annoying. Here in Cardiff we had enough of it with the Nato summit. Whilst a lot of people were understandably frustrated about town being shut down and the endless security rigmarole, the band of protesters beomaning the evil rulers of the world and their nefarious plans to enslave the world's poor was tiresome in the extreme.
Farage attacked by protestors supporting gay rights, the right to public breastfeeding and a muslim call to prayer eh?
You could get away with that combo in a Kent pub, would like to see them try it in a mosque
These type of people have been around for years. If it was not UKIP they would find something else to protest about as they are desperate for finding a purpose to their sorry lives. They are literally the dregs of society.
The police used to take a very active interest in these types of groups as they considered them subversive.
there’s probably only one or two game changers left for the Tories, one of them is the debates,
But the coward is only appearing in one where he's likely to be the target. Thats hardly going to change the game the Tories way.
There are lots of potential game changers on all sides though it seems certain that the SNP will decimate labour in Scotland
I disagree to the extent I think the chances of a positive game changer that allows the Tories to get a significant advantage over Labour or vice versa are minimal. I think the parlous state of the public sector finances and their own self inflicted ideological restrictions means they have very little room to move. Both parties have tied their hands behind their backs before the campaign has started so I doubt very much we will see any game changers from them. The only game changer for them is if someone or something screws up.
For the other parties there are game changers for sure but given none of them are likely to see 3 figure numbers of seats such game changers are relatively small in terms of the election as a whole and in reality the big game changer (the Scottish Independence referendum and the Scots response to that turning away from Labour and to the SNP) has already happened.
The game changers are still in play and notwithstanding your analysis of the parties the voters are not engaged yet (other than in Scotland). There is plenty to play for even without something dramatic like a terrorist attack
You talk about these game changers but what are they?
The news has been saturated with Cameron and Miliband and their parties for three months now notwithstanding almost 5 years of their tedious bickering. For them because they have restricted themselves already all that is left is to keep plugging away. They have nothing of real resonance to catch the voters imagination with so neither is going to make big gains or losses in vote share. Its going to be attritional and as such that many voters have not switched on yet is probably a good thing because many of them will probably switch off just as quickly when they realise there is not a lot on offer.
Fascinating polling out of Spain: Podemos, the PP and the Socialists have all lost a remarkable amount of support in the last six months - with all of them dropping votes to a (relative) newcomer the Citizen's Party (which has historically been Catalonia only).
Citizens has gone from about 3% in the polls a year ago, to 13-15% now. And it looks like Spain could have four parties all within a couple of percent of 20% shares. (The PP and Podemos just above, and the Socialists and the Citizen's Party just below.)
As Spain is a completely proportional system (with no first party boost), some kind of coalition is going to be needed post election - my guess would be PP + Citizens. It's hard to see who Podemos could go into coalition with, except possibly the Socialists - and I think the Socialists would rather be in opposition than be the junior coalition partner of Podemos.
I read an article the other day where Podemos were talking down their chances in Catalonia as it is slightly different to the rest of Spain.
So Ed has been cribbing for awhile on the debates....and Dave has been carrying out the duties of a prime minister. Hmmmm..Just shows why Dave is right not to engage on the debates as the red team have spent the last few months trying to come up with elephant traps for them...
So Cameron is not adept enough at debating to stand on his own record and is running scared of Labour 'elephant traps'. Yep thats a positive image for one of the leaders of the democratic world to give...
Cardinal Nichols 'In his day political power was settled on the battlefield in often bloody battle, we may be thankful political power is now achieved in a rather different manner'
A pity, a battle between Ed and Dave's armies would be rather amusing, with Clegg at the side seeing which way the wind blows, Salmond and Farage's hordes attacking from the rear and Natalie Bennett knitting a CND scarf in the background!
Brilliant analysis in today's Observer where William Keegan looks at the budget. He criticised Osborne's jokes which he sees as demeaning one of the great offices of state. Osborne is compared to a spiv who uses a variety of dodgy devices to prove things that are untrue.Keegan quotes the IFS 'there is no real increase in incomes in the data we have seen so far.' Osborne persisted with the lie by including university income etc.in his calculation.He is a national disgrace.
Will there any corrections be forthcoming from yesterdays factually incorrect trollings?
Lee Jasper (@LeeJasper) 22/03/2015 07:11 Trevor Phillips @MaajidNawaz two men who put profit before principle I'd debate both anytime on their abysmal record pic.twitter.com/rKf5oW2aZz
Adil Ray (@adilray) 22/03/2015 12:34 . @LeeJasper@MaajidNawaz Maajid. As a Muslim could you please avoid having an opinion your own faith and the issues that surround it. Thx
Maajid Nawaz (@MaajidNawaz) 22/03/2015 18:03 .@adilray yes, sir. I promise to only think "brown thoughts" : )
Brilliant analysis in today's Observer where William Keegan looks at the budget. He criticised Osborne's jokes which he sees as demeaning one of the great offices of state. Osborne is compared to a spiv who uses a variety of dodgy devices to prove things that are untrue.Keegan quotes the IFS 'there is no real increase in incomes in the data we have seen so far.' Osborne persisted with the lie by including university income etc.in his calculation.He is a national disgrace.
there’s probably only one or two game changers left for the Tories, one of them is the debates,
But the coward is only appearing in one where he's likely to be the target. Thats hardly going to change the game the Tories way.
There are lots of potential game changers on all sides though it seems certain that the SNP will decimate labour in Scotland
I disagree to the extent I think the chances of a positive game changer that allows the Tories to get a significant advantage over Labour or vice versa are minimal. I think the parlous state of the public sector finances and their own self inflicted ideological restrictions means they have very little room to move. Both parties have tied their hands behind their backs before the campaign has started so I doubt very much we will see any game changers from them. The only game changer for them is if someone or something screws up.
For the other parties there are game changers for sure but given none of them are likely to see 3 figure numbers of seats such game changers are relatively small in terms of the election as a whole and in reality the big game changer (the Scottish Independence referendum and the Scots response to that turning away from Labour and to the SNP) has already happened.
The game changers are still in play and notwithstanding your analysis of the parties the voters are not engaged yet (other than in Scotland). There is plenty to play for even without something dramatic like a terrorist attack
You talk about these game changers but what are they?
The news has been saturated with Cameron and Miliband and their parties for three months now notwithstanding almost 5 years of their tedious bickering. For them because they have restricted themselves already all that is left is to keep plugging away. They have nothing of real resonance to catch the voters imagination with so neither is going to make big gains or losses in vote share. Its going to be attritional and as such that many voters have not switched on yet is probably a good thing because many of them will probably switch off just as quickly when they realise there is not a lot on offer.
It will be interesting to see how RUK reacts to Alex Salmond's red lines with labour with the cancellation of Trident and an end of austerity. Quite a quick response from the conservatives with a catchy parody of Salmond and Miliband being shown now on Sky News. All elections are influenced by 'events'
Brilliant analysis in today's Observer where William Keegan looks at the budget. He criticised Osborne's jokes which he sees as demeaning one of the great offices of state. Osborne is compared to a spiv who uses a variety of dodgy devices to prove things that are untrue.Keegan quotes the IFS 'there is no real increase in incomes in the data we have seen so far.' Osborne persisted with the lie by including university income etc.in his calculation.He is a national disgrace.
History may well prove him to be the best Chancellor ever.
News UK News Nigel Farage UKIP leader Nigel Farage says his children are 'missing' after family chased out of pub by protesters
Absolute scum. There is a time and a place for protesting and it is certainly not during a family meal.
What pisses me off most is the organiser comes from the other end of the country and is doing it on the back of taxpayer. They should throw the parasite off his MSc!
Charlie Gilmour was not punished by Cambridge at all for his criminal behaviour and now has a nice job as a journo.
Wonder if he had been exposed an EDL member and had gone round smashing stuff up what their opinion would have been?
It's pretty difficult to get actually kicked out of Cambridge. Getting arrested, and getting a criminal record certainly won't do it.
Surely Cambridge would realise that it needs to defend its talent the same way the BBC does with stars like Clarkson? Where would Cambridge be without the intellectual gravitas of Charlie Gilmour? I'd also wonder whether some of the dons might not be sympathetic to the misdeeds of some of their undergraduates. Maybe not so much as say the assistant professor for Hugo Chavez studies at generic metropolitan university former polytechnic.
I have always wondered why universities are supposed to take an interest in the lives of its students. While what Mr Gilmour did was clearly wrong, I can't see that Cambridge University has any authority to expel him.
Lets just remember Gilmour didn't just "get arrested". He was given a 16 months custodial sentence. His swinging from the flags on Cenotaph was a minor part of what he was up to.
Cambridge absolutely does have the right and authority to have "sent him down" i.e expel him. Gilmour could under the terms of being a member of the university have been at the worse end rusticated for a year or sent down, or at the lower end had his privileges removed, made to do community service and very least a formal apologies for his behaviour.
None of the above was handed out.
I am not saying they should have kicked him out, I am just saying he received zero punishment from his college / university.
Lee Jasper (@LeeJasper) 22/03/2015 07:11 Trevor Phillips @MaajidNawaz two men who put profit before principle I'd debate both anytime on their abysmal record pic.twitter.com/rKf5oW2aZz
Adil Ray (@adilray) 22/03/2015 12:34 . @LeeJasper@MaajidNawaz Maajid. As a Muslim could you please avoid having an opinion your own faith and the issues that surround it. Thx
Maajid Nawaz (@MaajidNawaz) 22/03/2015 18:03 .@adilray yes, sir. I promise to only think "brown thoughts" : )
So anti-UKIP protestors have failed to win over UKIP supporters on pb. I am not sure that they'll write the protest off as a failure solely on that account.
And its hardly a surprise that you would come running to their defence either. I bet you wish you were there?
I'm not defending them. I think this kind of protest is crass and counter-productive.
I'm noting that two dozen Bufton Tuftons spluttering about anarchy in the UK isn't going to deter them. The opposite, in fact.
Well you clearly have a delusionally overblown view of the impact of Pb.com. I really don't think what is expressed on here matters that much.
Cardinal Nichols 'In his day political power was settled on the battlefield in often bloody battle, we may be thankful political power is now achieved in a rather different manner'
A pity, a battle between Ed and Dave's armies would be rather amusing, with Clegg at the side seeing which way the wind blows, Salmond and Farage's hordes attacking from the rear and Natalie Bennett knitting a CND scarf in the background!
News UK News Nigel Farage UKIP leader Nigel Farage says his children are 'missing' after family chased out of pub by protesters
Absolute scum. There is a time and a place for protesting and it is certainly not during a family meal.
What pisses me off most is the organiser comes from the other end of the country and is doing it on the back of taxpayer. They should throw the parasite off his MSc!
Charlie Gilmour was not punished by Cambridge at all for his criminal behaviour and now has a nice job as a journo.
Wonder if he had been exposed an EDL member and had gone round smashing stuff up what their opinion would have been?
It's pretty difficult to get actually kicked out of Cambridge. Getting arrested, and getting a criminal record certainly won't do it.
Surely Cambridge would realise that it needs to defend its talent the same way the BBC does with stars like Clarkson? Where would Cambridge be without the intellectual gravitas of Charlie Gilmour? I'd also wonder whether some of the dons might not be sympathetic to the misdeeds of some of their undergraduates. Maybe not so much as say the assistant professor for Hugo Chavez studies at generic metropolitan university former polytechnic.
I have always wondered why universities are supposed to take an interest in the lives of its students. While what Mr Gilmour did was clearly wrong, I can't see that Cambridge University has any authority to expel him.
Lets just remember Gilmour didn't just "get arrested". He was given a 16 months custodial sentence. His swinging from the flags on Cenotaph was a minor part of what he was up to.
Cambridge absolutely does have the right and authority to have "sent him down" i.e expel him. Gilmour could under the terms of being a member of the university have been at the worse end rusticated for a year or sent down, or at the lower end had his privileges removed, made to do community service and very least a formal apologies for his behaviour.
None of the above was handed out.
I am not saying they should have kicked him out, I am just saying he received zero punishment from his college / university.
Brilliant analysis in today's Observer where William Keegan looks at the budget. He criticised Osborne's jokes which he sees as demeaning one of the great offices of state. Osborne is compared to a spiv who uses a variety of dodgy devices to prove things that are untrue.Keegan quotes the IFS 'there is no real increase in incomes in the data we have seen so far.' Osborne persisted with the lie by including university income etc.in his calculation.He is a national disgrace.
History may well prove him to be the best Chancellor ever.
Hengists Gift Well Wellington said Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton, perhaps Cameron could win on its dining halls, especially as he is fond of his puddings
The link to the article on the FT is not working for me but Open Europe have already been discredited as a think tank who peddle half truths and falsities.
Given that the list of people rusticated from Oxbridge includes Milton, Dryden, Shelley, Landor Swinburne, Oscar Wilde, Marc Boxer as well as Jon Snow, then I'd have thought Gilmour would have been absolutely delighted if his college had rusticated him.
I can't think of anything that would have got his journalism career off to a better start.
Amazing scenes in Leicester as hordes of Jacobites line the streets to honour the White Rose of York.
Is that the White Cockade lining up with the White Rose?
Personally I'm all for Henry Tewdur, although his treatment of the "undeserving poor' was far worse than IDS'. The Jacobites after all wanted to bring back Popery!
Well done TSE ..... a blue bar chart on PB.com at last, if ever I saw one.
For those with access to Matthew Parris' weekly articles in The Times, yesterday's piece headed "The Tories are going to win – and win well" was particularly interesting.
Amazing scenes in Leicester as hordes of Jacobites line the streets to honour the White Rose of York.
Is that the White Cockade lining up with the White Rose?
Personally I'm all for Henry Tewdur, although his treatment of the "undeserving poor' was far worse than IDS'. The Jacobites after all wanted to bring back Popery!
JackW Wouldn't the Jacobites have been neutral on the wars as it was several centuries before both the Stuarts and Hanoverians took the throne?
Certainly not.
The Stuart line is traced through to Elizabeth of York (Queen Consort of Henry Tudor) - daughter of Edward IV and niece of Richard III.
She was the grandmother of James V of Scotland and through his daughter Mary Queen of Scots and her son James VI & I the Stuart line descends. The Jacobite symbol of the white cockade is from the white rose of York.
Given that the list of people rusticated from Oxbridge includes Milton, Dryden, Shelley, Landor Swinburne, Oscar Wilde, Marc Boxer as well as Jon Snow, then I'd have thought Gilmour would have been absolutely delighted if his college had rusticated him.
I can't think of anything that would have got his journalism career off to a better start.
Jon Snow wasn't rusticated from Oxbridge, it was from University of Liverpool.
The link to the article on the FT is not working for me but Open Europe have already been discredited as a think tank who peddle half truths and falsities.
Well done TSE ..... a blue bar chart on PB.com at last, if ever I saw one.
For those with access to Matthew Parris' weekly articles in The Times, yesterday's piece headed "The Tories are going to win – and win well" was particularly interesting.
Parris seems to be getting ever more deeper into never-never land; I bet he plays with Tinker-Bell every night.
"The report sets out four scenarios in the event of so-called Brexit, ranging from a worst-case situation — the loss of 2.2 per cent of national GDP (or £56bn) by 2030 — to one where GDP rises by 1.6 per cent."
Or in other words "Brexit could scoop UK £41bn a year, report says".
Antifrank He would have preferred to be buried in York Minster at least, but considering he may well have been a serial killer, as David Starkey is now saying 99% certain he murdered his nephews, I don't think he can have too many complaints about his solemn burial in Leicester Cathedral today. (Personally as someone who also has had scoliosis, and had an operation for it 10 years ago, I have some sympathy for Richard, and he did introduce some key reforms, but he was no Saint)
Comments
Salmond's tactic has always been to provoke the English. Nothing new. As for independence that vote has gone. I do not see another one being offered, all it as presented quite clearly is English Votes for English Laws. Salmond also shows what a divided pork barrel place a regionalised UK or even England would become.
My point is that their desire to hold Labour to ransom (they have already said no deals at all with the tories) is likely to alienate the Labour vote and get Scotland nothing.
Demanding the HS2 start in Scotland seems a bit daft as well, where would it go? The market for puely Edinburgh to Manchester must be limited. Starting in Birmingham might make sense.
Thanks to devolution then if it starts in Scotland then it must I would have thought come out of the Scotland transport budget. Indeed I think Scotland have still to decide about the link beyond Leeds Manchester.
I remember in the late 90's America's only problem was where did President Clinton put his cigar, so they elected G.W.Bush so that they can have other more serious problems to deal with.
Do keep missing the point I am making.
The protestors will be overjoyed and Ukip will probably gain a little.
Off topic, Chelsea are once again a bloody lucky team.
Ironically, the Lib Dems held the same position and did FA with it. Rank amateurs. They played the responsible game and the people are about to give them a suitable reward for it.
So, anything on France's elections upcoming?
there’s probably only one or two game changers left for the Tories, one of them is the debates,
But the coward is only appearing in one where he's likely to be the target. Thats hardly going to change the game the Tories way.
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/sen-ted-cruz-2016-presidential-bid-116285.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/03/21/sen-rand-paul-calls-for-a-boycott-of-saudi-arabia/
I'm out.
You could get away with that combo in a Kent pub, would like to see them try it in a mosque
The police used to take a very active interest in these types of groups as they considered them subversive.
*cough* And it's fewer
It's theoretically possible there could be more Conservative Scottish MPs than Labour ones, but I really don't think it'll happen.
Citizens has gone from about 3% in the polls a year ago, to 13-15% now. And it looks like Spain could have four parties all within a couple of percent of 20% shares. (The PP and Podemos just above, and the Socialists and the Citizen's Party just below.)
As Spain is a completely proportional system (with no first party boost), some kind of coalition is going to be needed post election - my guess would be PP + Citizens. It's hard to see who Podemos could go into coalition with, except possibly the Socialists - and I think the Socialists would rather be in opposition than be the junior coalition partner of Podemos.
For the other parties there are game changers for sure but given none of them are likely to see 3 figure numbers of seats such game changers are relatively small in terms of the election as a whole and in reality the big game changer (the Scottish Independence referendum and the Scots response to that turning away from Labour and to the SNP) has already happened.
And what do you make of the view espoused here earlier in the day that Greece may 'accidentally' leave the single currency?
Cambridge absolutely does have the right and authority to have "sent him down" i.e expel him. Gilmour could under the terms of being a member of the university have been at the worse end rusticated for a year or sent down, or at the lower end had his privileges removed, made to do community service and very least a formal apologies for his behaviour.
None of the above was handed out.
I am not saying they should have kicked him out, I am just saying he received zero punishment from his college / university.
FYI, Jon Snow, was rusticated.
The news has been saturated with Cameron and Miliband and their parties for three months now notwithstanding almost 5 years of their tedious bickering. For them because they have restricted themselves already all that is left is to keep plugging away. They have nothing of real resonance to catch the voters imagination with so neither is going to make big gains or losses in vote share. Its going to be attritional and as such that many voters have not switched on yet is probably a good thing because many of them will probably switch off just as quickly when they realise there is not a lot on offer.
A pity, a battle between Ed and Dave's armies would be rather amusing, with Clegg at the side seeing which way the wind blows, Salmond and Farage's hordes attacking from the rear and Natalie Bennett knitting a CND scarf in the background!
22/03/2015 17:58
Was it something I said? @thetwerkinggirl pic.twitter.com/KRX76axr8o
22/03/2015 07:11
Trevor Phillips @MaajidNawaz two men who put profit before principle I'd debate both anytime on their abysmal record pic.twitter.com/rKf5oW2aZz
Adil Ray (@adilray)
22/03/2015 12:34
. @LeeJasper @MaajidNawaz Maajid. As a Muslim could you please avoid having an opinion your own faith and the issues that surround it. Thx
Maajid Nawaz (@MaajidNawaz)
22/03/2015 18:03
.@adilray yes, sir. I promise to only think "brown thoughts" : )
It does also posit a positive outcome from leaving the EU. That would, it says, require open borders.
http://www.eureferendum.com/blogview.aspx?blogno=85484
I can't think of anything that would have got his journalism career off to a better start.
ump 29%
fn 26%
ps 21%
Personally I'm all for Henry Tewdur, although his treatment of the "undeserving poor' was far worse than IDS'.
The Jacobites after all wanted to bring back Popery!
For those with access to Matthew Parris' weekly articles in The Times, yesterday's piece headed "The Tories are going to win – and win well" was particularly interesting.
The Stuart line is traced through to Elizabeth of York (Queen Consort of Henry Tudor) - daughter of Edward IV and niece of Richard III.
She was the grandmother of James V of Scotland and through his daughter Mary Queen of Scots and her son James VI & I the Stuart line descends. The Jacobite symbol of the white cockade is from the white rose of York.
I hope Richard is saying 'Look at this Tudor!! ' 'How many people saw you funeral then 100? mine ?- millions mate!
We can survive a Brexit, but banks would take a hit
The economic risks of a leaving the EU are both slighter and more nuanced than Gordon Brown with his 'North Korea' claims will admit
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/eureferendum/11462085/We-can-survive-a-Brexit-but-banks-would-take-a-hit.html
Or in other words "Brexit could scoop UK £41bn a year, report says".
Thanks for retweeting!