"What could be more natural than two old school friends having a cosy chat in front of the cameras?"
Is that true?
Yes - same year at Eton. Who'd have thought it?
Why the fascination with schools, your parents chose your school for you.
More relevant is choice of university which you by and large chose yourself.
So we get the joy of people campaigning against status and elitism from the most staussy elitist institutions in the country, And they do it with a straight face.
I am not particularly fascinated. But it does strike me as noteworthy that the BBC interviewer and the PM were in the same year at the same school.
what's so noteworty about it ?
Of all the schools in all the world you had to go to mine. I wonder when EdM was last interviewed by someone who went to Haverstock.
Interviewschminterview.
You'll find Ed has been interviewed by Stephanie Flanders his one-time squeeze, should we ban her from the airwaves or him for that matter ?
You'll find most of the frontbenches and media land are Oxbridgers. It's much more likely our elite instuitutions will bag all the top jobs for their mates more than the schools.
What's school got to do with it ?
Absolutely nothing at all :-)
Sunshine breaks out in Warwickshire :-)
It's cold, though. And I have to go to the gym. Drought approaching ...
Why on earth would I want a hard working Prime Minister?
There is very rarely a time when political action is better than inaction - perhaps 1939, but that's about it. I just wish we'd had more lazy politicians.
"Roger, unroll the banknote and put away the powder NOW."
You don't have to be Tapestry to suspect the chances of a BBC interviewer being one of the 12 pupils in Cameron's class at Eton being more than coincidence. The random chances would be literally hundreds of thousands to one.
Therefore it is part of the story and I would be genuinely surprised if the BBC failed to mention it.
Right so you're saying the BBC deliberately targetted the 11 other people in Cameron's class, recruited one of them on a considerable salary, then trained him up just so he could interview Cameron in his kitchen ?
"Roger, unroll the banknote and put away the powder NOW."
You don't have to be Tapestry to suspect the chances of a BBC interviewer being one of the 12 pupils in Cameron's class at Eton being more than coincidence. The random chances would be literally hundreds of thousands to one.
Therefore it is part of the story and I would be genuinely surprised if the BBC failed to mention it.
Of course you would Roger, it fits in with your general view of the world. You know the hypocrisy stviewpointt that you demonstrate so well.
Can't see this will make much difference at all. However, this does seem to be a move that favours GO. If the Tories are in with a shout at the next election it will largely be down to him, so why on earth would they look at another candidate? If they are not, then none of the three that Cameron mentions will stand a chance.
The idea of Boris knuckling down, working hard and mastering a ministerial brief for four or five years as he bides his time waiting for a shot at the leadership is an interesting one. Per the exchanges on here last night: he is certainly very clever, but he is also bone idle and does not bother himself with things like detail - he pays others to do that in London.
The job for Boris is party chair, drawing in the crowds on the rubber chicken circuit.
Not working out the details of the British banana policy.
Not sure he'd be that interested in such a job. Travelling around the country doing meetings in obscure places with obscure people is not Boris's thing either. I suppose he could do it part-time alongside other stuff. If the Tories win in May and Dave manages to do as he says, it seems to me that both Boris and Theresa are now in with almost no chance of taking over.
BoJo's best chance now is if the Tories lose in May or if there is a major bust-up over Europe if they get a new term. I'd be very surprised if he did not take the other side to Dave and George - ie, advocate an Out vote - should there be a referendum.
I would have thought DCMS was the ideal fit for BoJo, he could do most of it with his eyes shut. He probably already known most of the staff from the Olympics anyway. He goes to the opera and the theatre, and was a newspaper columnist and magazine editor. He could be as lazy as he liked and run rings around that department.
David Cameron gives an honest answer to a question and the Westminster Village, BBC and labour go into overdrive with faux outrage while at the same time every public response on Radio 5 live this am complimented him on his honesty and in one classic response someone said 'the Westminster bubble should just float away'. You watch David Cameron's population rise on this.
No, me neither - I'd have guessed Lansdale was younger - and of course he had his battle with cancer a few years back.
He is James Landale was born in 1969, Cameron was born in 1966. Seems unlikely they were class mates at Eton since they are three years different in age. Also wikipedia:
Landale was educated at Eton College, a Public School in the town of Eton in Berkshire,[2] and was a near contemporary of Prime Minister David Cameron
David Cameron gives an honest answer to a question and the Westminster Village, BBC and labour go into overdrive with faux outrage while at the same time every public response on Radio 5 live this am complimented him on his honesty and in one classic response someone said 'the Westminster bubble should just float away'. You watch David Cameron's population rise on this.
"Was it the interview you disliked or the thought that a sympathetic chat might add a fraction to the Tories polling? It won't do any harm? It might mitigate the upward blip for Ukip from the luvvie love-in at the pub on Sunday."
An odd question. Why would I or any normal person care how Cameron appears in an interview?
If you read my post and left your prejudices at the door you'd see that it was the embarrassing stickiness of the interview that I didn't like. As it happens Cameron came over OK if a little awkwardly but I didn't blame him.
He was being asked seriously creepy questions in a seriously creepy way and his embarrassment was there for all to see. My animus is all directed towards the interview
Perhaps David Cameron is trying to improve his chances of bucking the old rule that all political careers end in failure.
Unlike Tony Blair, his pre-announced departure doesn't leave his party with an heir apparent. Whether this makes the Conservative party more or less stable is a matter for debate.
On the topic. I think that in the main this is yet another story that has the 'beltway' around Westminster all fired up, but voters will barely notice. No one really believes any PM who starts predicting when they might go. The only possible way this may have an effect is to appear to be taking a 2nd term for granted, always a mistake.
That's right. What it will do is weaken Cameron in the next Parliament if he is still leader ("You don't like what I say about HS2/defence/Europe/immigration? Well, maybe your successor will.") When Blair said it, I'm not convinced it moved any votes, but it did make governing harder.
"Right so you're saying the BBC deliberately targetted the 11 other people in Cameron's class, recruited one of them on a considerable salary, then trained him up just so he could interview Cameron in his kitchen ?"
There were about 250 boys in Cameron's year at Eton, living in more than 20 individual houses. It is very possible to barely know someone in the same year - and certainly to have no meaningful recollection 30 years later.
In addition, it would make no difference to two professionals doing their respective jobs. Each has more to lose by playing soft than bby just doing a good job.
"Right so you're saying the BBC deliberately targetted the 11 other people in Cameron's class, recruited one of them on a considerable salary, then trained him up just so he could interview Cameron in his kitchen ?"
George Eaton @georgeeaton 12m12 minutes ago Remarkable attack by Cable on Farron in interview with @elashton: not a "credible leader.
“I mean, he’s a very good campaigning MP, but he’s never been in government and has never had to make difficult decisions and I think his credibility isn’t great. “You know, he’s an entertaining speaker and has a bit of a fan club. But I suspect he would not be seen as a very credible leader, at least now.
David Cameron gives an honest answer to a question and the Westminster Village, BBC and labour go into overdrive with faux outrage while at the same time every public response on Radio 5 live this am complimented him on his honesty and in one classic response someone said 'the Westminster bubble should just float away'. You watch David Cameron's population rise on this.
Popularity not population !!!!!
Too late, BigG! The PB Pedantry Police have nabbed you. :-)
There were about 250 boys in Cameron's year at Eton, living in more than 20 individual houses. It is very possible to barely know someone in the same year - and certainly to have no meaningful recollection 30 years later.
In addition, it would make no difference to two professionals doing their respective jobs. Each has more to lose by playing soft than bby just doing a good job.
Especially since they weren't actually in the same year.
How many Prime Ministers have been asked not to retire by public acclamation?
Most eventually get tired, wish to spend their/gain more loot (one recent PM especially), over-believe in their abilities/infallibility or want to do other things.
For a PM with a young and growing family it must be very difficult and those precious times with young children - once lost, can never be regained.
David Cameron gives an honest answer to a question and the Westminster Village, BBC and labour go into overdrive with faux outrage while at the same time every public response on Radio 5 live this am complimented him on his honesty and in one classic response someone said 'the Westminster bubble should just float away'. You watch David Cameron's population rise on this.
Popularity not population !!!!!
Too late, BigG! The PB Pedantry Police have nabbed you. :-)
There were about 250 boys in Cameron's year at Eton, living in more than 20 individual houses. It is very possible to barely know someone in the same year - and certainly to have no meaningful recollection 30 years later.
In addition, it would make no difference to two professionals doing their respective jobs. Each has more to lose by playing soft than bby just doing a good job.
He appears to be an affable chap and as Deputy Political Editor of BBC News, James Lansdale seems an appropriate choice to present these fluffy, low key ‘fly on the wall’ interviews with the party leaders.
Really not sure why Roger is hyperventilating this morning, surely the point is not which school Lansdale attended, but how each interview is conducted, and ased on the two we’ve seen so far, he appears to have treated both equally and fairly imho.
Can't see this will make much difference at all. However, this does seem to be a move that favours GO. If the Tories are in with a shout at the next election it will largely be down to him, so why on earth would they look at another candidate? If they are not, then none of the three that Cameron mentions will stand a chance.
The idea of Boris knuckling down, working hard and mastering a ministerial brief for four or five years as he bides his time waiting for a shot at the leadership is an interesting one. Per the exchanges on here last night: he is certainly very clever, but he is also bone idle and does not bother himself with things like detail - he pays others to do that in London.
Which leads to the thought - who was the laziest Party Leader ever to win a General Election?
Depends what you mean by lazy. Politics was far less time consuming in 19th century. Gladstone read novels by all accounts, thousands of them. He even read part of Treasure Island on the way to kiss hands with the Queen to become PM.
Gladstone was many things, but lazy he was not. Lazy men don't box the political compass, as he and Churchill both did.
I think my vote would be for Eden, but I could easily be persuaded otherwise.
Eden wasn’t, I think, lazy, but he was promoted above his ability.
Baldwin? Maybe not personally lazy but in terms of policy initiatives....
Asquith I think might fit the bill. He was certainly very passive in the run up to WW1.
I understand you used to be a Member of Parliament, so you will likely know a lot about the motivations of MPs. Do you have any idea what the arguments were for the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to vote against protection for whistleblowers in historical child abuse cases? I'm having a bit of a crisis of confidence about my party at the moment.
Really not sure why Roger is hyperventilating this morning, surely the point is not which school Lansdale attended, but how each interview is conducted, and ased on the two we’ve seen so far, he appears to have treated both equally and fairly imho.
He added pointedly: “The closer we get to an election and the more uncertain it seems, the more people will want people who are seen to be competent and reliable.”
David Cameron gives an honest answer to a question and the Westminster Village, BBC and labour go into overdrive with faux outrage while at the same time every public response on Radio 5 live this am complimented him on his honesty and in one classic response someone said 'the Westminster bubble should just float away'. You watch David Cameron's population rise on this.
Spot on.
I just watched Newsnight with Gove and Bad Al, even Campbell struggled to argue with it. In fact Gove did really well and came across with the most sensible answers, something Bad Al seemed to acknowledge.
The breaking news is that WIND is reporting to the JNN the contents of the latest ARSE with added APLOMB 2015 General Election and "JackW Dozen" Projections. (Changes From 21st March Projection) :
Con 310 (+2) .. Lab 246 (-2) .. LibDem 32 (NC) .. SNP 36 (NC) .. PC 2 .. NI 18 .. UKIP 3 .. Respect 1 .. Green 1 .. Ind 0 .. Speaker 1
Conservatives 16 seats short of a majority ......................................................................................
"JackW Dozen" - 13 seats that will shape the General Election result :
Bury North - Con Hold Pudsey - Likely Con Hold Broxtowe - TCTC Warwickshire North - TCTC Cambridge - LibDem Hold Ipswich - Con Hold Watford - TCTC Croydon Central - Con Hold Enfield North - TCTC from Likely Lab Gain Cornwall North - TCTC Great Yarmouth - Con Hold Vale of Glamorgan - Con Hold Ochil and South Perthshire - SNP Gain
Changes From 21 Mar - Enfield North moves from Likely Lab GAIN to TCTC
TCTC - Too Close To Call - Less than 500 votes Likely Hold/Gain - 500 - 2500 votes Gain/Hold - Over 2500 .......................................................................................
ARSE is sponsored by Auchentennach Fine Pies (Est 1745)
WIND - Whimsical Independent News Division JNN - Jacobite News Network ARSE - Anonymous Random Selection of Electors APLOMB - Auchentennach Pies Leading Outsales Mainland Britain
In "Amazing and Extraordinary Facts - Prime Ministers" it maintains:
It is generally agreed that Arthur Balfour was the laziest prime minister ever to hold office. Even as a boy he was markedly indolent. When he was ten years old, his school report described him as 'lacking in vital energy'.....
As prime minister he did all he could to avoid reading newspapers or government documents. His staff had to beg him to cast an eye over important memoranda or articles. He much preferred lighter stuff, and he always read a chapter or two of a cowboy novel before bedtime. He got up late most days, and right through his political career he took a month off every year solely to play golf.
There was a distinctly lethargic element to Balfour's philosophy of life which he summed up, rather brilliantly, in these words: 'Nothing matters very much, and very few things matter at all'
Two economic stories today - inflation at 9.30 - will it be negative ?
Also following on from Scottish unemployment rising - now the Scotch growth is slowing. Labour can't attack on this as highlights how well the rest of the Uk is doing - lucky old Nicola.
"Of 408 firms surveyed, 33% said they saw an increase in turnover in the latest quarterly period, with 34% experiencing static turnover and 33% experiencing a decrease. This gave a net balance of 0% - down from the +16% of the previous quarter and the +18% of the same quarter a year ago.
It was the worst result for turnover in 21 months, suggesting the Scottish economy experienced a sharp jolt to growth at the start of this year, the business monitor said."
"There were about 250 boys in Cameron's year at Eton, living in more than 20 individual houses. It is very possible to barely know someone in the same year - and certainly to have no meaningful recollection 30 years later."
I'm sorry Charles but this has become a case of Chinese whispers. I posted first thing that what was interesting wasn't whether or not Cameron would serve another term but the bizarre awfullness of the sticky interview.
SO then informed me that Cameron and the interviewer were classmates at Eton and suddenly everything seemed to make sense. (As it happens it seems they weren't).
David Cameron gives an honest answer to a question and the Westminster Village, BBC and labour go into overdrive with faux outrage while at the same time every public response on Radio 5 live this am complimented him on his honesty and in one classic response someone said 'the Westminster bubble should just float away'. You watch David Cameron's population rise on this.
Spot on.
I just watched Newsnight with Gove and Bad Al, even Campbell struggled to argue with it. In fact Gove did really well and came across with the most sensible answers, something Bad Al seemed to acknowledge.
Campbell just couldn't comprehend that every answer wasn't carefully planned by strategists - chilling insight into how the Blair machine must have operated.
I don't see Boris as being unpopular. Hammond is boring but not unpopular. The Tory party are being honest with the nation. I do not see that as being unpopular. What any future leader would want is to be handed the vessel with the pestle and not flagon with the dragon.
Election and coronation of the new party leader at the party conference in Autumn 2018, leaving the new PM around 18 months to bed in before the May 2020 General Election.
The breaking news is that WIND is reporting to the JNN the contents of the latest ARSE with added APLOMB 2015 General Election and "JackW Dozen" Projections. (Changes From 21st March Projection) :
Con 310 (+2) .. Lab 246 (-2) .. LibDem 32 (NC) .. SNP 36 (NC) .. PC 2 .. NI 18 .. UKIP 3 .. Respect 1 .. Green 1 .. Ind 0 .. Speaker 1
Conservatives 16 seats short of a majority ......................................................................................
"JackW Dozen" - 13 seats that will shape the General Election result :
Bury North - Con Hold Pudsey - Likely Con Hold Broxtowe - TCTC Warwickshire North - TCTC Cambridge - LibDem Hold Ipswich - Con Hold Watford - TCTC Croydon Central - Con Hold Enfield North - TCTC from Likely Lab Gain Cornwall North - TCTC Great Yarmouth - Con Hold Vale of Glamorgan - Con Hold Ochil and South Perthshire - SNP Gain
Changes From 21 Mar - Enfield North moves from Likely Lab GAIN to TCTC
TCTC - Too Close To Call - Less than 500 votes Likely Hold/Gain - 500 - 2500 votes Gain/Hold - Over 2500 .......................................................................................
ARSE is sponsored by Auchentennach Fine Pies (Est 1745)
WIND - Whimsical Independent News Division JNN - Jacobite News Network ARSE - Anonymous Random Selection of Electors APLOMB - Auchentennach Pies Leading Outsales Mainland Britain
''In fact Gove did really well and came across with the most sensible answers, something Bad Al seemed to acknowledge.'' Wow thats amazing. Are you sure? BJO was saying the exact opposite last night.
Election and coronation of the new party leader at the party conference in Autumn 2018, leaving the new PM around 18 months to bed in before the May 2020 General Election.
Yes both look more than fair. I was thinking in EU referendum terms.
The breaking news is that WIND is reporting to the JNN the contents of the latest ARSE with added APLOMB 2015 General Election and "JackW Dozen" Projections. (Changes From 21st March Projection) :
Con 310 (+2) .. Lab 246 (-2) .. LibDem 32 (NC) .. SNP 36 (NC) .. PC 2 .. NI 18 .. UKIP 3 .. Respect 1 .. Green 1 .. Ind 0 .. Speaker 1
Conservatives 16 seats short of a majority ......................................................................................
"JackW Dozen" - 13 seats that will shape the General Election result :
Bury North - Con Hold Pudsey - Likely Con Hold Broxtowe - TCTC Warwickshire North - TCTC Cambridge - LibDem Hold Ipswich - Con Hold Watford - TCTC Croydon Central - Con Hold Enfield North - TCTC from Likely Lab Gain Cornwall North - TCTC Great Yarmouth - Con Hold Vale of Glamorgan - Con Hold Ochil and South Perthshire - SNP Gain
Changes From 21 Mar - Enfield North moves from Likely Lab GAIN to TCTC
TCTC - Too Close To Call - Less than 500 votes Likely Hold/Gain - 500 - 2500 votes Gain/Hold - Over 2500 .......................................................................................
ARSE is sponsored by Auchentennach Fine Pies (Est 1745)
WIND - Whimsical Independent News Division JNN - Jacobite News Network ARSE - Anonymous Random Selection of Electors APLOMB - Auchentennach Pies Leading Outsales Mainland Britain
No. Try again.
Thank you.
I will on Saturday although I'm fairly sure it'll not be to the liking of sad ARSE deniers like yourself.
@ScottyNational: Limited Terms: Salmond follows Cameron in stating he will limit the time he stays in office - he will resign after second reincarnation.
"What could be more natural than two old school friends having a cosy chat in front of the cameras?"
Is that true?
Yes - same year at Eton. Who'd have thought it?
Why the fascination with schools, your parents chose your school for you.
More relevant is choice of university which you by and large chose yourself.
So we get the joy of people campaigning against status and elitism from the most staussy elitist institutions in the country, And they do it with a straight face.
I am not particularly fascinated. But it does strike me as noteworthy that the BBC interviewer and the PM were in the same year at the same school.
what's so noteworty about it ?
Of all the schools in all the world you had to go to mine. I wonder when EdM was last interviewed by someone who went to Haverstock.
Interviewschminterview.
You'll find Ed has been interviewed by Stephanie Flanders his one-time squeeze, should we ban her from the airwaves or him for that matter ?
If Ed has done Stephanie Flanders he rises in my estimation. This is less of an achievement than it might seem, given that he could not actually fall, the whiny narcissistic over-privileged nepotism-benefiting tax-dodging half-witted booby.
I don't like the idea of political leaders committing to standing for one more election. It makes me feel like they can say what they like now and then can wantonly ignore it later. What's to stop him abandoning the EU referendum, or backing out of his fiscal plans? Come June 2015, he will no longer have any accountability to the voters. This is a big mistake, in my opinion.
"What could be more natural than two old school friends having a cosy chat in front of the cameras?"
Is that true?
Yes - same year at Eton. Who'd have thought it?
Why the fascination with schools, your parents chose your school for you.
More relevant is choice of university which you by and large chose yourself.
So we get the joy of people campaigning against status and elitism from the most staussy elitist institutions in the country, And they do it with a straight face.
I am not particularly fascinated. But it does strike me as noteworthy that the BBC interviewer and the PM were in the same year at the same school.
what's so noteworty about it ?
Of all the schools in all the world you had to go to mine. I wonder when EdM was last interviewed by someone who went to Haverstock.
Interviewschminterview.
You'll find Ed has been interviewed by Stephanie Flanders his one-time squeeze, should we ban her from the airwaves or him for that matter ?
If Ed has done Stephanie Flanders he rises in my estimation. This is less of an achievement than it might seem, given that he could not actually fall, the whiny narcissistic over-privileged nepotism-benefiting tax-dodging half-witted booby.
I'm a big fan of Ed myself, I just want him to keep leading the Labour party.
There were about 250 boys in Cameron's year at Eton, living in more than 20 individual houses. It is very possible to barely know someone in the same year - and certainly to have no meaningful recollection 30 years later.
In addition, it would make no difference to two professionals doing their respective jobs. Each has more to lose by playing soft than bby just doing a good job.
He appears to be an affable chap and as Deputy Political Editor of BBC News, James Lansdale seems an appropriate choice to present these fluffy, low key ‘fly on the wall’ interviews with the party leaders.
Really not sure why Roger is hyperventilating this morning, surely the point is not which school Lansdale attended, but how each interview is conducted, and ased on the two we’ve seen so far, he appears to have treated both equally and fairly imho.
The only other one I have seen was the soft focus one with Sturgeon. So Roger is way wide of the mark. I think we can rest assured that they all were soppy family life, I'm only human honest, ones. The reality is that Cameron is the only one to say something remotely human.
Sturgeon's position is safe until the SNP come up with someone with a vaguely fish like name.
"What could be more natural than two old school friends having a cosy chat in front of the cameras?"
Is that true?
Yes - same year at Eton. Who'd have thought it?
Why the fascination with schools, your parents chose your school for you.
More relevant is choice of university which you by and large chose yourself.
So we get the joy of people campaigning against status and elitism from the most staussy elitist institutions in the country, And they do it with a straight face.
I am not particularly fascinated. But it does strike me as noteworthy that the BBC interviewer and the PM were in the same year at the same school.
what's so noteworty about it ?
Of all the schools in all the world you had to go to mine. I wonder when EdM was last interviewed by someone who went to Haverstock.
Interviewschminterview.
You'll find Ed has been interviewed by Stephanie Flanders his one-time squeeze, should we ban her from the airwaves or him for that matter ?
If Ed has done Stephanie Flanders he rises in my estimation. This is less of an achievement than it might seem, given that he could not actually fall, the whiny narcissistic over-privileged nepotism-benefiting tax-dodging half-witted booby.
Not sure he "sealed the deal", sounds like Balls did though.
Election and coronation of the new party leader at the party conference in Autumn 2018, leaving the new PM around 18 months to bed in before the May 2020 General Election.
Yes both look more than fair. I was thinking in EU referendum terms.
That's one reason why I'd opt for the later date - Bask in the glory of winning the referendum in Autumn 2017 and then move onto the leadership election the following year.
"Right so you're saying the BBC deliberately targetted the 11 other people in Cameron's class, recruited one of them on a considerable salary, then trained him up just so he could interview Cameron in his kitchen ?"
Did you say you were Irish?
depends who I'm talking to
Didn't the BBC then have to ensure that their No1 political correspondent went down with cancer? Dear Mr Alanbrooke - all this can be put down very simply. Labour = politics of envy.
"What could be more natural than two old school friends having a cosy chat in front of the cameras?"
Is that true?
Yes - same year at Eton. Who'd have thought it?
Why the fascination with schools, your parents chose your school for you.
More relevant is choice of university which you by and large chose yourself.
So we get the joy of people campaigning against status and elitism from the most staussy elitist institutions in the country, And they do it with a straight face.
I am not particularly fascinated. But it does strike me as noteworthy that the BBC interviewer and the PM were in the same year at the same school.
what's so noteworty about it ?
Of all the schools in all the world you had to go to mine. I wonder when EdM was last interviewed by someone who went to Haverstock.
Interviewschminterview.
You'll find Ed has been interviewed by Stephanie Flanders his one-time squeeze, should we ban her from the airwaves or him for that matter ?
If Ed has done Stephanie Flanders he rises in my estimation. This is less of an achievement than it might seem, given that he could not actually fall, the whiny narcissistic over-privileged nepotism-benefiting tax-dodging half-witted booby.
Not sure he "sealed the deal", sounds like Balls did though.
I didn't know she had dated either of them. The things you learn on this site! It seems to me that this represents a major conflict of interest for Ms Flanders. How can viewers expect her to impartially interview the Shadow Chancellor if he's an ex-boyfriend? The very least that should be done is for the conflict of interest to be declared at the beginning of any broadcast.
''In fact Gove did really well and came across with the most sensible answers, something Bad Al seemed to acknowledge.'' Wow thats amazing. Are you sure? BJO was saying the exact opposite last night.
Yes I am sure, it's on Guido so see for yourself if you have time.
BJO is one of the many who suffer from tribalism, a very poor trait
"What could be more natural than two old school friends having a cosy chat in front of the cameras?"
Is that true?
Yes - same year at Eton. Who'd have thought it?
Why the fascination with schools, your parents chose your school for you.
More relevant is choice of university which you by and large chose yourself.
So we get the joy of people campaigning against status and elitism from the most staussy elitist institutions in the country, And they do it with a straight face.
I am not particularly fascinated. But it does strike me as noteworthy that the BBC interviewer and the PM were in the same year at the same school.
what's so noteworty about it ?
Of all the schools in all the world you had to go to mine. I wonder when EdM was last interviewed by someone who went to Haverstock.
Interviewschminterview.
You'll find Ed has been interviewed by Stephanie Flanders his one-time squeeze, should we ban her from the airwaves or him for that matter ?
If Ed has done Stephanie Flanders he rises in my estimation. This is less of an achievement than it might seem, given that he could not actually fall, the whiny narcissistic over-privileged nepotism-benefiting tax-dodging half-witted booby.
Not sure he "sealed the deal", sounds like Balls did though.
I didn't know she had dated either of them. The things you learn on this site! It seems to me that this represents a major conflict of interest for Ms Flanders. How can viewers expect her to impartially interview the Shadow Chancellor if he's an ex-boyfriend? The very least that should be done is for the conflict of interest to be declared at the beginning of any broadcast.
On the topic. I think that in the main this is yet another story that has the 'beltway' around Westminster all fired up, but voters will barely notice. No one really believes any PM who starts predicting when they might go. The only possible way this may have an effect is to appear to be taking a 2nd term for granted, always a mistake.
That's right. What it will do is weaken Cameron in the next Parliament if he is still leader ("You don't like what I say about HS2/defence/Europe/immigration? Well, maybe your successor will.") When Blair said it, I'm not convinced it moved any votes, but it did make governing harder.
You have clearly never heard of cabinet government. Sofa government worked well didn't it.
fraser's insight is not reliable even on breakfast cereal... how's that inflation burst he wrote about so many times?
Fraser Nelson@FraserNelson·39 mins39 minutes ago @bbclaurak even bigger question: who easts just two Shredded Wheat for breakfast? Even my baby daughter manages five.
The main effect is another 3 days lost talking about BS when it could be better spent on Con`s campaign priorities.
ROFL yes because labour's campaign priorities are going so well.
How many gains in Scotland do you see ?
Labour`s campaign is focussing on their priorities-NHS and others.
Con`s campaign so far has been to defend Cameron from his cowardice about the debates and now his stupidity of talking about successors before an election campaign.
The main effect is another 3 days lost talking about BS when it could be better spent on Con`s campaign priorities.
ROFL yes because labour's campaign priorities are going so well.
How many gains in Scotland do you see ?
Labour`s campaign is focussing on their priorities-NHS and others.
Con`s campaign so far has been to defend Cameron from his cowardice about the debates and now his stupidity of talking about successors before an election campaign.
"What could be more natural than two old school friends having a cosy chat in front of the cameras?"
Is that true?
Yes - same year at Eton. Who'd have thought it?
Why the fascination with schools, your parents chose your school for you.
More relevant is choice of university which you by and large chose yourself.
So we get the joy of people campaigning against status and elitism from the most staussy elitist institutions in the country, And they do it with a straight face.
I am not particularly fascinated. But it does strike me as noteworthy that the BBC interviewer and the PM were in the same year at the same school.
what's so noteworty about it ?
Of all the schools in all the world you had to go to mine. I wonder when EdM was last interviewed by someone who went to Haverstock.
Interviewschminterview.
You'll find Ed has been interviewed by Stephanie Flanders his one-time squeeze, should we ban her from the airwaves or him for that matter ?
If Ed has done Stephanie Flanders he rises in my estimation. This is less of an achievement than it might seem, given that he could not actually fall, the whiny narcissistic over-privileged nepotism-benefiting tax-dodging half-witted booby.
Not sure he "sealed the deal", sounds like Balls did though.
I didn't know she had dated either of them. The things you learn on this site! It seems to me that this represents a major conflict of interest for Ms Flanders. How can viewers expect her to impartially interview the Shadow Chancellor if he's an ex-boyfriend? The very least that should be done is for the conflict of interest to be declared at the beginning of any broadcast.
Won't be a problem now as Stephanie Flanders has long since left the BBC and now works at J.P. Morgan Asset Management I believe.
Not sure he'd be that interested in such a job. Travelling around the country doing meetings in obscure places with obscure people is not Boris's thing either.
Actually he does a lot of that already, and is very good at it.
The main effect is another 3 days lost talking about BS when it could be better spent on Con`s campaign priorities.
ROFL yes because labour's campaign priorities are going so well.
How many gains in Scotland do you see ?
Labour`s campaign is focussing on their priorities-NHS and others.
Con`s campaign so far has been to defend Cameron from his cowardice about the debates and now his stupidity of talking about successors before an election campaign.
In your world.
meanwhile elsewhere......
Ok.I bet in your world,swingback is happening and Con has increased it`s lead to 7 points over the last 3 weeks...
"What could be more natural than two old school friends having a cosy chat in front of the cameras?"
Is that true?
Yes - same year at Eton. Who'd have thought it?
Why the fascination with schools, your parents chose your school for you.
More relevant is choice of university which you by and large chose yourself.
So we get the joy of people campaigning against status and elitism from the most staussy elitist institutions in the country, And they do it with a straight face.
I am not particularly fascinated. But it does strike me as noteworthy that the BBC interviewer and the PM were in the same year at the same school.
what's so noteworty about it ?
Of all the schools in all the world you had to go to mine. I wonder when EdM was last interviewed by someone who went to Haverstock.
Interviewschminterview.
You'll find Ed has been interviewed by Stephanie Flanders his one-time squeeze, should we ban her from the airwaves or him for that matter ?
If Ed has done Stephanie Flanders he rises in my estimation. This is less of an achievement than it might seem, given that he could not actually fall, the whiny narcissistic over-privileged nepotism-benefiting tax-dodging half-witted booby.
Not sure he "sealed the deal", sounds like Balls did though.
I didn't know she had dated either of them. The things you learn on this site! It seems to me that this represents a major conflict of interest for Ms Flanders. How can viewers expect her to impartially interview the Shadow Chancellor if he's an ex-boyfriend? The very least that should be done is for the conflict of interest to be declared at the beginning of any broadcast.
She no longer works for the BBC.
The BBC saw no conflict of interest in her multiple social contacts with Labour people, no matter how intimate. They even took no action when she attacked Cameron on Newsnight from the personal view of herself being an unmarried parent with a barsteward.
I remember reading on PB a few years ago, that Osborne was stoking inflation....
Stoking inflation would have been a good thing. It would have been a way of distributing some of the pain more evenly between age groups, given all the pampering pensioners have had.
"What could be more natural than two old school friends having a cosy chat in front of the cameras?"
Is that true?
Yes - same year at Eton. Who'd have thought it?
Why the fascination with schools, your parents chose your school for you.
More relevant is choice of university which you by and large chose yourself.
So we get the joy of people campaigning against status and elitism from the most staussy elitist institutions in the country, And they do it with a straight face.
I am not particularly fascinated. But it does strike me as noteworthy that the BBC interviewer and the PM were in the same year at the same school.
what's so noteworty about it ?
Of all the schools in all the world you had to go to mine. I wonder when EdM was last interviewed by someone who went to Haverstock.
Interviewschminterview.
You'll find Ed has been interviewed by Stephanie Flanders his one-time squeeze, should we ban her from the airwaves or him for that matter ?
If Ed has done Stephanie Flanders he rises in my estimation. This is less of an achievement than it might seem, given that he could not actually fall, the whiny narcissistic over-privileged nepotism-benefiting tax-dodging half-witted booby.
Not sure he "sealed the deal", sounds like Balls did though.
I didn't know she had dated either of them. The things you learn on this site! It seems to me that this represents a major conflict of interest for Ms Flanders. How can viewers expect her to impartially interview the Shadow Chancellor if he's an ex-boyfriend? The very least that should be done is for the conflict of interest to be declared at the beginning of any broadcast.
Won't be a problem now as Stephanie Flanders has long since left the BBC and now works at J.P. Morgan Asset Management I believe.
I think a highly trained, professional journalist is quite capable of interviewing a former date.
The main effect is another 3 days lost talking about BS when it could be better spent on Con`s campaign priorities.
ROFL yes because labour's campaign priorities are going so well.
How many gains in Scotland do you see ?
Labour`s campaign is focussing on their priorities-NHS and others.
Con`s campaign so far has been to defend Cameron from his cowardice about the debates and now his stupidity of talking about successors before an election campaign.
In your world.
meanwhile elsewhere......
Ok.I bet in your world,swingback is happening and Con has increased it`s lead to 7 points over the last 3 weeks...
Meanwhile...
No in my world it will be a hung Parlt, cons most votes most seats. labouites won't be arsed to turn out for Ed.
Comments
Ed would be a hard-working PM ... Just saying.
Tap has competition.
"Was it the interview you disliked or the thought that a sympathetic chat might add a fraction to the Tories polling? It won't do any harm? It might mitigate the upward blip for Ukip from the luvvie love-in at the pub on Sunday."
An odd question. Why would I or any normal person care how Cameron appears in an interview?
If you read my post and left your prejudices at the door you'd see that it was the embarrassing stickiness of the interview that I didn't like. As it happens Cameron came over OK if a little awkwardly but I didn't blame him.
He was being asked seriously creepy questions in a seriously creepy way and his embarrassment was there for all to see. My animus is all directed towards the interview
Unlike Tony Blair, his pre-announced departure doesn't leave his party with an heir apparent. Whether this makes the Conservative party more or less stable is a matter for debate.
999 seconds
"Right so you're saying the BBC deliberately targetted the 11 other people in Cameron's class, recruited one of them on a considerable salary, then trained him up just so he could interview Cameron in his kitchen ?"
Did you say you were Irish?
"You watch David Cameron's population rise on this."
Samantha pregnant again?
Yes, it was an honest answer from an honest bloke. The voters do not have a problem with Cameron.
Now what reasonable conclusion would you draw from that?
There were about 250 boys in Cameron's year at Eton, living in more than 20 individual houses. It is very possible to barely know someone in the same year - and certainly to have no meaningful recollection 30 years later.
In addition, it would make no difference to two professionals doing their respective jobs. Each has more to lose by playing soft than bby just doing a good job.
Remarkable attack by Cable on Farron in interview with @elashton: not a "credible leader.
“I mean, he’s a very good campaigning MP, but he’s never been in government and has never had to make difficult decisions and I think his credibility isn’t great.
“You know, he’s an entertaining speaker and has a bit of a fan club. But I suspect he would not be seen as a very credible leader, at least now.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/emilyashton/tim-farron-vince-cable
http://www.buzzfeed.com/emilyashton/tim-farron-vince-cable
Most eventually get tired, wish to spend their/gain more loot (one recent PM especially), over-believe in their abilities/infallibility or want to do other things.
For a PM with a young and growing family it must be very difficult and those precious times with young children - once lost, can never be regained.
Really not sure why Roger is hyperventilating this morning, surely the point is not which school Lansdale attended, but how each interview is conducted, and ased on the two we’ve seen so far, he appears to have treated both equally and fairly imho.
Asquith I think might fit the bill. He was certainly very passive in the run up to WW1.
I understand you used to be a Member of Parliament, so you will likely know a lot about the motivations of MPs. Do you have any idea what the arguments were for the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to vote against protection for whistleblowers in historical child abuse cases? I'm having a bit of a crisis of confidence about my party at the moment.
Thank you.
Bitchy.
I just watched Newsnight with Gove and Bad Al, even Campbell struggled to argue with it. In fact Gove did really well and came across with the most sensible answers, something Bad Al seemed to acknowledge.
The breaking news is that WIND is reporting to the JNN the contents of the latest ARSE with added APLOMB 2015 General Election and "JackW Dozen" Projections. (Changes From 21st March Projection) :
Con 310 (+2) .. Lab 246 (-2) .. LibDem 32 (NC) .. SNP 36 (NC) .. PC 2 .. NI 18 .. UKIP 3 .. Respect 1 .. Green 1 .. Ind 0 .. Speaker 1
Conservatives 16 seats short of a majority
......................................................................................
"JackW Dozen" - 13 seats that will shape the General Election result :
Bury North - Con Hold
Pudsey - Likely Con Hold
Broxtowe - TCTC
Warwickshire North - TCTC
Cambridge - LibDem Hold
Ipswich - Con Hold
Watford - TCTC
Croydon Central - Con Hold
Enfield North - TCTC from Likely Lab Gain
Cornwall North - TCTC
Great Yarmouth - Con Hold
Vale of Glamorgan - Con Hold
Ochil and South Perthshire - SNP Gain
Changes From 21 Mar - Enfield North moves from Likely Lab GAIN to TCTC
TCTC - Too Close To Call - Less than 500 votes
Likely Hold/Gain - 500 - 2500 votes
Gain/Hold - Over 2500
.......................................................................................
ARSE is sponsored by Auchentennach Fine Pies (Est 1745)
WIND - Whimsical Independent News Division
JNN - Jacobite News Network
ARSE - Anonymous Random Selection of Electors
APLOMB - Auchentennach Pies Leading Outsales Mainland Britain
(The BBC dominates 60%+ of the broadcasting media)
https://twitter.com/sharpeangle/status/580291441114611712
I take this as a sign that Dave is so popular and the people won't let him quit in 2020
Geordie Shore's Charlotte Crosby: 'I'd suck off David Cameron'
http://m.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s152/geordie-shore/news/a635304/geordie-shores-charlotte-crosby-id-suck-off-david-cameron.html#~p7Q20ntaefa9So
Also following on from Scottish unemployment rising - now the Scotch growth is slowing. Labour can't attack on this as highlights how well the rest of the Uk is doing - lucky old Nicola.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-32025385
"Of 408 firms surveyed, 33% said they saw an increase in turnover in the latest quarterly period, with 34% experiencing static turnover and 33% experiencing a decrease.
This gave a net balance of 0% - down from the +16% of the previous quarter and the +18% of the same quarter a year ago.
It was the worst result for turnover in 21 months, suggesting the Scottish economy experienced a sharp jolt to growth at the start of this year, the business monitor said."
"There were about 250 boys in Cameron's year at Eton, living in more than 20 individual houses. It is very possible to barely know someone in the same year - and certainly to have no meaningful recollection 30 years later."
I'm sorry Charles but this has become a case of Chinese whispers. I posted first thing that what was interesting wasn't whether or not Cameron would serve another term but the bizarre awfullness of the sticky interview.
SO then informed me that Cameron and the interviewer were classmates at Eton and suddenly everything seemed to make sense. (As it happens it seems they weren't).
He rules it out he presumptuous of winning a second term.
He doesn't rule it out well ..... He's presumptuous of winning a second term.
This would have been the position had such a question been posed to any PM irrespective of party.
.
What any future leader would want is to be handed the vessel with the pestle and not flagon with the dragon.
Election and coronation of the new party leader at the party conference in Autumn 2018, leaving the new PM around 18 months to bed in before the May 2020 General Election.
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/6382199/Wee-Mili-Winkie.html
Wow thats amazing. Are you sure?
BJO was saying the exact opposite last night.
I will on Saturday although I'm fairly sure it'll not be to the liking of sad ARSE deniers like yourself.
Sturgeon's position is safe until the SNP come up with someone with a vaguely fish like name.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1319222/How-BBCs-Stephanie-Flanders-fell-Ed-Miliband-Ed-Balls.html
Dear Mr Alanbrooke - all this can be put down very simply. Labour = politics of envy.
BJO is one of the many who suffer from tribalism, a very poor trait
If Con match that,noone would believe it anyway after they said they had no plans to increase VAT in 2010 and then raised it anyway.
I remember Ed Balls suggesting it in 2010,but was lost on the useless Darling.
Sofa government worked well didn't it.
How many gains in Scotland do you see ?
Fraser Nelson@FraserNelson·39 mins39 minutes ago
@bbclaurak even bigger question: who easts just two Shredded Wheat for breakfast? Even my baby daughter manages five.
Con`s campaign so far has been to defend Cameron from his cowardice about the debates and now his stupidity of talking about successors before an election campaign.
meanwhile elsewhere......
It`s about what a stupid move it was from Cameron and about the succession race.
Meanwhile...
Definitely better for Dave than the Dudley North stuff that was running last evening.