The Speaker has granted 3 Urgent Questions this morning, looks like he is trying to delay the vote to buy his Labour and UKIP allies some time to try and protect him.
In any event each Parliament is supreme. One Parliament cannot bind the next one.
One of the two pilots of the Germanwings plane that crashed in the French Alps was locked out of the cockpit, according to reports. Early findings from the cockpit voice recorder suggest the pilot made desperate efforts to get back in, sources close to the investigation say.
Not surprising that this is looking more like a terrorist attack or the work of a pilot turned nutter. I think the former reason will prevail.
Isn't keeping the cockpit door locked intended as a safety measure to prevent hijackers getting in?
Anecdotally, I know the Labour candidate very well (she's my boss). She's fighting it as though it was a marginal, which I don't think Labour did last time. What that does to the overall picture in the seat, I'm not sure.
Where rightwingers get the idea that some charities are job clubs for the Labour Party I have no idea.
It's not a charity and receives no public funding of any kind. Views in the organisation are diverse, and we were at the Tory, LibDem and UKIP conferences - we've also done SNP and DUP events in the past.
Plus the ease with which the Argentinian navy, such as it is, could be dispatched by one of our modern destroyers. This threatens leaving troops got onshore with rapid and serious resupply problems engaged in a battle. It is nonsense really.
A agree, but I thought we'd withdrawn the standard destroyer that patrols the south atlantic? So don't know if we would be there in time to intercept an invasion fleet
Here is a paragraph about the Argentine Navy from Wikipedia which gives a flavour of its capability to muster an invasion fleet:
The Argentine Navy is under-funded and struggling to meet maintenance and training requirements, as a result only 15 out of a total of 42 navy vessels are in a condition to sail. The 2013 defence budget allowed for the 15 operational vessels to each spend less than 11 days at sea, while the submarines averaged just over 6 hours submerged in the whole of 2012.[20] ARA Espora spent 73 days in late 2012 stranded in South Africa for lack of spares. The Almirante Brown-class destroyers are short of spares and their ordnance has expired while the Antarctic patrol ship ARA Almirante Irizar has been under repair since a fire in 2007.[20] On 23 January 2013 the Type 42 destroyer ARA Santísima Trinidad sank at her moorings having been mothballed for ten years.
I don't know how this has changed in 2014. When I first heard that British reinforcements to the Falklands amounted to two Chinook helicopters I thought it was pathetic and ridiculous, but I'm now inclined to think that it qualifies as robust.
@paulwaugh: Bercow has granted 3 Urgent Questions on undercover cops, blood products + change to business. Allows his allies more time to circle wagons?
Morning all.
Bercow has a history of allowing frivolous and partisan ‘urgent questions’ in the house, hardly surprising then that his antagonists should be suspicious of his motives. - However, could these questions be just normal house business, rather than the vivid imaginations of Paul Waugh?
Interesting that Sky are going big on the Cameron v Miliband programme tonight and virtually nothing on BBC. Also tonight's programme doesn't finish until 10.30 thereby missing tonight's news coverage.
It's explicitly pitching at equidistance. That's a long way from the stances of Paddy Ashdown and Charles Kennedy.
It's also a long way from reality (their fiscal plans would have them on more or less the same side of the road as Labour). But that's politics and it's a good poster.
I notice that the latest attempt at producing a Scotland anti-SNP tactical voting wheel has collapsed as the producer of the latest one was recommending voting Conservative in Dumfries and Galloway and Labour (as the incumbents) have very much taken the hump at that.
Guess which party and which constituency the person who produced and promoted the wheel is an activist for.
This one had everything. Even "Ordinary Mum" Clare Lally ended up being part of it. SLAB comedy.
Sun Politics: A new Falklands invasion by Argentina is “a live threat”, says the Defence Secretary.
Is Argentina planning such an attack once Parliament has been dissolved, i.e. when the UK is at its most impotent in terms of being in a position to respond in any meaningful way? Not that we would be in any position to mount a task force on anything like the scale that was put in place by the Thatcher Government in 1982. Instead passive resistance would presumably be the order of the day, coupled with unworkable sanctions. Lots of huffing and puffing but probably game over to all intents and purposes.
And what would be the implications for the imminent General Election?
We have RAF Mount Pleasant there now, with a wing of Typhoons based there and a couple of thousand men including substantial anti-aircraft assets. This means a) it would be a lot harder to take than before, and b) attacking a British base would probably be considered an act of war.
A "wing" of Typhoons? surely not even a full squadron?
I think this is more noise than substance but if it did occur there would be no "probably" (be considered an act of war) about it.
doesn't change the fact that we could not take the Islands back without air cover though.
A few submarine launched TLAMs landing on Bueno Aires and other locations would liven things up a bit for the Argies.
I wouldn't take huge notice of that. How would you poll High Peak without great knowledge of the area, must be impossible. Locally the Conservatives are happy and confident.
Peter the Punter will be pleased with another cross dresser and a muslim one at that. Ukip diversity on show if nothing else from a covered up @MikeK
Titter ....
Very funny and a good laugh. But of course I don't wear fancy dress, unlike you, my friend, wearing a kilt and funny socks. So put that in your sporran.
One of the two pilots of the Germanwings plane that crashed in the French Alps was locked out of the cockpit, according to reports. Early findings from the cockpit voice recorder suggest the pilot made desperate efforts to get back in, sources close to the investigation say.
Not surprising that this is looking more like a terrorist attack or the work of a pilot turned nutter. I think the former reason will prevail.
Isn't keeping the cockpit door locked intended as a safety measure to prevent hijackers getting in?
A quite possible scenario is that the co-pilot goes for a pee, and whilst out of the cockpit, the central cockpit window fails....
The door locks are designed to release in the event of decompression.
@afneil: Nicola Sturgeon forced to remind us "I'm leading the SNP campaign" as Salmond continues solo manoeuvres in Westminster over pink champagne
Journalist: Are you the leader of the SNP? Sturgeon: Yes
SNP IN LEADERSHIP CRISIS - WHO RUNS THE SNP? Sturgeon forced into damaging restatement of leadership
The thing I find funniest is that the pink champagne was ordered with fish & chips. It's almost like Salmond knew which part was going to get reported.
I don't know what's funnier.
Salmon playing the Loyalists like a fiddle. Or maybe a recorder. Or the Loyalist straw clutching over an entirely made up Telegraph story.
This might be wasted on you, but I don't think using Northern Ireland style sectarian language like that is helpful.
You're the bloke that likes 'hilarious' terms such as Yestapo and WaffenSSNP, ain't you?
It's WaffenYesYes, actually. Sorry to hear you're still feeling sensitive about it.
I have a sense of humour, and can take the p*ss out of myself as well as others. It's what keeps us all grounded. But this does seem to be something the SNP (and, to be fair, UKIP too) seem to struggle with.
On the other hand, deliberately introducing sectarian language in earnest, to frame a debate in a particular way, is ugly.
I think Labour can be quite happy about Cameron's VAT pledge.
Ed certainly didn't look as though he was happy about it at PMQs and as a Labour flunky handed our briefing notes to journalists after PMQs which claimed "The Tories refuse to rule out an increase in VAT." I'd imagine it was not expected either.
Judging by the leafleting effort here in Morley the local Tories think Morley & Outwood is not out of reach. I have it on good authority that they think Wakefield is far from a gimme for Labour too.
Anecdote is no substitute for hard data. What "good authority"?
Peter the Punter will be pleased with another cross dresser and a muslim one at that. Ukip diversity on show if nothing else from a covered up @MikeK
Titter ....
Very funny and a good laugh. But of course I don't wear fancy dress, unlike you, my friend, wearing a kilt and funny socks. So put that in your sporran.
Sun Politics: A new Falklands invasion by Argentina is “a live threat”, says the Defence Secretary.
Is Argentina planning such an attack once Parliament has been dissolved, i.e. when the UK is at its most impotent in terms of being in a position to respond in any meaningful way? Not that we would be in any position to mount a task force on anything like the scale that was put in place by the Thatcher Government in 1982.
And what would be the implications for the imminent General Election?
We have RAF Mount Pleasant there now, with a wing of Typhoons based there and a couple of thousand men including substantial anti-aircraft assets. This means a) it would be a lot harder to take than before, and b) attacking a British base would probably be considered an act of war.
i had the pleasure of spending 18 months living on RAF Mount Pleasant, i think you over state it's strength. There are actually about 1,200 military personal on the islands, of these around 150 are actually combat ready. The quality of these combat forces is variable, depends who is on rotation. If it's the Gurkha rifles or 2 Para then they'll make a good fight of it. Other less so.
I'm not sure what you call a wing of Typhoons, but there are only 4 of them. On any given day, perhaps 3 are ready for use.
The security of the islands is really guaranteed by the argentine fear of a submarine sinking their invasion fleet. The Argentine navy still carries the scars of '82
Correct about the submarines. I suspect wrong about the Typhoons since the point of the MoD announcement is to prepare the way for more to go if intelligence says they might be needed. Even 4 Typhoons and their missiles can do a lot of damage to any attacking force. The simple fact is an attack on the Falklands would be a blatant act of war. It would cripple Argentina.
Which is why it is all sound and fury, signifying nothing. BTW, is a combat personnel ratio of under 10% typical of to-day's RAF? I think that in the Army it's about 1:6 or 1:7 - someone here will know.
I agree there is zero prospect of an invasion happening.
I pretty much discount the RAF ground personal as a combat force, I'm only counting the re-enforced infantry company at MPA and whatever smattering of special forces happen to be there for training.
Military scaremongering again. Disgraceful really, the most hysterical of all special interests, teachers have more honour.
Of course we could easily relocate forces based in Afghanistan, Eastern Europe or the Middle East where we have no interests.
Back to the '50s looks about right: "UKIP more likely than the population as a whole to support the death penalty (75% to 48%), consider young people do not have enough respect for British values (86% to 66%), and believe that people who want to have children should get married (46% to 23%)." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32055110
Judging by the survey, those viewpoints seem pretty mainstream among the population as a whole.
The telegraph article on the survey had a different emphasis Ukip wise
Telegraph Politics (@TelePolitics) 26/03/2015 00:06 Forget what you think you know about Ukip voters tgr.ph/1HHTtBm
@paulwaugh: Bercow has granted 3 Urgent Questions on undercover cops, blood products + change to business. Allows his allies more time to circle wagons?
Morning all.
Bercow has a history of allowing frivolous and partisan ‘urgent questions’ in the house, hardly surprising then that his antagonists should be suspicious of his motives. - However, could these questions be just normal house business, rather than the vivid imaginations of Paul Waugh?
Judging by the leafleting effort here in Morley the local Tories think Morley & Outwood is not out of reach. I have it on good authority that they think Wakefield is far from a gimme for Labour too.
Anecdote is no substitute for hard data. What "good authority"?
A poll is usually the summary of 1000 anecdotes.
Yes but where efforts are made to present it as representative of the electorate.
Sun Politics: A new Falklands invasion by Argentina is “a live threat”, says the Defence Secretary.
Is Argentina planning such an attack once Parliament has been dissolved, i.e. when the UK is at its most impotent in terms of being in a position to respond in any meaningful way? Not that we would be in any position to mount a task force on anything like the scale that was put in place by the Thatcher Government in 1982. Instead passive resistance would presumably be the order of the day, coupled with unworkable sanctions. Lots of huffing and puffing but probably game over to all intents and purposes.
And what would be the implications for the imminent General Election?
We have RAF Mount Pleasant there now, with a wing of Typhoons based there and a couple of thousand men including substantial anti-aircraft assets. This means a) it would be a lot harder to take than before, and b) attacking a British base would probably be considered an act of war.
A "wing" of Typhoons? surely not even a full squadron?
I think this is more noise than substance but if it did occur there would be no "probably" (be considered an act of war) about it.
doesn't change the fact that we could not take the Islands back without air cover though.
Yes, I misread the entry, a flight from a wing, not a wing
Even so I think 4 Typhoons will give a few Mirages, A-4s and Pucaras a run for their money, they don't appear to have bought anything new since the last war, and a Type 45 destroyer a serious bit of anti-air warfare kit, especially combined with the Rapier batteries on the island.
@paulwaugh: Bercow has granted 3 Urgent Questions on undercover cops, blood products + change to business. Allows his allies more time to circle wagons?
Morning all.
Bercow has a history of allowing frivolous and partisan ‘urgent questions’ in the house, hardly surprising then that his antagonists should be suspicious of his motives. - However, could these questions be just normal house business, rather than the vivid imaginations of Paul Waugh?
None of the questions sound particularly urgent.
Parliament will be dissolved Monday, presumably giving added urgency to even the most mundane enquiries.
Sun Politics: A new Falklands invasion by Argentina is “a live threat”, says the Defence Secretary.
Is Argentina planning such an attack once Parliament has been dissolved, i.e. when the UK is at its most impotent in terms of being in a position to respond in any meaningful way? Not that we would be in any position to mount a task force on anything like the scale that was put in place by the Thatcher Government in 1982. Instead passive resistance would presumably be the order of the day, coupled with unworkable sanctions. Lots of huffing and puffing but probably game over to all intents and purposes.
And what would be the implications for the imminent General Election?
We have RAF Mount Pleasant there now, with a wing of Typhoons based there and a couple of thousand men including substantial anti-aircraft assets. This means a) it would be a lot harder to take than before, and b) attacking a British base would probably be considered an act of war.
A "wing" of Typhoons? surely not even a full squadron?
I think this is more noise than substance but if it did occur there would be no "probably" (be considered an act of war) about it.
doesn't change the fact that we could not take the Islands back without air cover though.
A few submarine launched TLAMs landing on Bueno Aires and other locations would liven things up a bit for the Argies.
We could use Trident, our white elephant aircraft carriers and the F35 which we will be lucky if it never comes into service as its useless.
Sun Politics: A new Falklands invasion by Argentina is “a live threat”, says the Defence Secretary.
Is Argentina planning such an attack once Parliament has been dissolved, i.e. when the UK is at its most impotent in terms of being in a position to respond in any meaningful way? Not that we would be in any position to mount a task force on anything like the scale that was put in place by the Thatcher Government in 1982. Instead passive resistance would presumably be the order of the day, coupled with unworkable sanctions. Lots of huffing and puffing but probably game over to all intents and purposes.
And what would be the implications for the imminent General Election?
We have RAF Mount Pleasant there now, with a wing of Typhoons based there and a couple of thousand men including substantial anti-aircraft assets. This means a) it would be a lot harder to take than before, and b) attacking a British base would probably be considered an act of war.
A "wing" of Typhoons? surely not even a full squadron?
I think this is more noise than substance but if it did occur there would be no "probably" (be considered an act of war) about it.
doesn't change the fact that we could not take the Islands back without air cover though.
A few submarine launched TLAMs landing on Bueno Aires and other locations would liven things up a bit for the Argies.
We could use Trident, our white elephant aircraft carriers and the F35 which we will be lucky if it never comes into service as its useless.
No she didn't . What we are burying is a Shakespearian character epitomised by the greatest actor of his generation. That's the image. And everyone was a tyrant and despot in those days, you would be hard pressed to bury anyone who wasn't. The country was in an endless state of civil war - real war - not analogies to a war. We should be grateful that out of that came democracies.
Peter the Punter will be pleased with another cross dresser and a muslim one at that. Ukip diversity on show if nothing else from a covered up @MikeK
Titter ....
Very funny and a good laugh. But of course I don't wear fancy dress, unlike you, my friend, wearing a kilt and funny socks. So put that in your sporran.
Stop being such a grumpy little moo
Ahah! A defender of the faith pops up.
If you don't want criticism then don't throw out a dog whistle about veils.
Sun Politics: A new Falklands invasion by Argentina is “a live threat”, says the Defence Secretary.
Is Argentina planning such an attack once Parliament has been dissolved, i.e. when the UK is at its most impotent in terms of being in a position to respond in any meaningful way? Not that we would be in any position to mount a task force on anything like the scale that was put in place by the Thatcher Government in 1982. Instead passive resistance would presumably be the order of the day, coupled with unworkable sanctions. Lots of huffing and puffing but probably game over to all intents and purposes.
And what would be the implications for the imminent General Election?
We have RAF Mount Pleasant there now, with a wing of Typhoons based there and a couple of thousand men including substantial anti-aircraft assets. This means a) it would be a lot harder to take than before, and b) attacking a British base would probably be considered an act of war.
A "wing" of Typhoons? surely not even a full squadron?
I think this is more noise than substance but if it did occur there would be no "probably" (be considered an act of war) about it.
doesn't change the fact that we could not take the Islands back without air cover though.
A few submarine launched TLAMs landing on Bueno Aires and other locations would liven things up a bit for the Argies.
We could use Trident, our white elephant aircraft carriers and the F35 which we will be lucky if it never comes into service as its useless.
You should get to canvassing the doors Nick. The Scottish YouGov sub samples are not "unweighted". On the contrary the SNP indentifiers are now being weighted sharply down. There is a good discussion of this in a site which I have recently looked at called Scotgoespop.
The point is that for some as yet unexplained reason this week's identifiers have been weighted downwards 54-31,65-38 and today stonking 57-31. This compares for example with a typical previous downrating of 39-29 from last Sunday.
If you applied last Sunday's downrating the SNP vote goes back to the mid, indeed to the high 40s. This is roughly where it has been in this week's ICM proper Scottish poll, yesterday's published YouGov super poll of 8000 or indeed today's Survation sub sample in the Mirror.
In other words best not to clutch at staw polls. Trust in real ones like ICM. Right now you will learn more about the SNP vote in your own constituency than from the current YouGov cross breaks!
One of the two pilots of the Germanwings plane that crashed in the French Alps was locked out of the cockpit, according to reports. Early findings from the cockpit voice recorder suggest the pilot made desperate efforts to get back in, sources close to the investigation say.
Not surprising that this is looking more like a terrorist attack or the work of a pilot turned nutter. I think the former reason will prevail.
Isn't keeping the cockpit door locked intended as a safety measure to prevent hijackers getting in?
A quite possible scenario is that the co-pilot goes for a pee, and whilst out of the cockpit, the central cockpit window fails....
The door locks are designed to release in the event of decompression.
And as Dr Strangelove might have said... 'Surely Mr Ambassador the whole point of locking the cockpit door is lost if terrorists can force a steward to open it from the outside?'
In other words best not to clutch at staw polls. Trust in real ones like ICM. Right now you will learn more about the SNP vote in your own constituency than from the current YouGov cross breaks!
Sun Politics: A new Falklands invasion by Argentina is “a live threat”, says the Defence Secretary.
Is Argentina planning such an attack once Parliament has been dissolved, i.e. when the UK is at its most impotent in terms of being in a position to respond in any meaningful way? Not that we would be in any position to mount a task force on anything like the scale that was put in place by the Thatcher Government in 1982. Instead passive resistance would presumably be the order of the day, coupled with unworkable sanctions. Lots of huffing and puffing but probably game over to all intents and purposes.
And what would be the implications for the imminent General Election?
We have RAF Mount Pleasant there now, with a wing of Typhoons based there and a couple of thousand men including substantial anti-aircraft assets. This means a) it would be a lot harder to take than before, and b) attacking a British base would probably be considered an act of war.
A "wing" of Typhoons? surely not even a full squadron?
I think this is more noise than substance but if it did occur there would be no "probably" (be considered an act of war) about it.
doesn't change the fact that we could not take the Islands back without air cover though.
A few submarine launched TLAMs landing on Bueno Aires and other locations would liven things up a bit for the Argies.
We could use Trident, our white elephant aircraft carriers and the F35 which we will be lucky if it never comes into service as its useless.
The Russians have Trident and F35?
The Americans control both actually.
Not answering the point I note.
Talking rubbish does not help your cause. Although to be fair your cause is rubbish. It is of course always wise to comment on how Labour totally mismanaged our defence budget.
No she didn't . What we are burying is a Shakespearian character epitomised by the greatest actor of his generation. That's the image. And everyone was a tyrant and despot in those days, you would be hard pressed to bury anyone who wasn't. The country was in an endless state of civil war - real war - not analogies to a war. We should be grateful that out of that came democracies.
Whether or not Richard III was a child-murderer, he was a usurper who executed people without trial. Even by the standard of his times, his behaviour was considered bad.
You should get to canvassing the doors Nick. The Scottish YouGov sub samples are not "unweighted". On the contrary the SNP indentifiers are now being weighted sharply down. There is a good discussion of this in a site which I have recently looked at called Scotgoespop.
The point is that for some as yet unexplained reason this week's identifiers have been weighted downwards 54-31,65-38 and today stonking 57-31. This compares for example with a typical previous downrating of 39-29 from last Sunday.
If you applied last Sunday's downrating the SNP vote goes back to the mid, indeed to the high 40s. This is roughly where it has been in this week's ICM proper Scottish poll, yesterday's published YouGov super poll of 8000 or indeed today's Survation sub sample in the Mirror.
In other words best not to clutch at staw polls. Trust in real ones like ICM. Right now you will learn more about the SNP vote in your own constituency than from the current YouGov cross breaks!
James at the site which shall not be named is well known to the residents of pb.com
Dreadful message from the shameless party. 'Hey, these people look stupid in some photos, so vote for us'.
Dreadful because:
a) even more childish than the usual election poster b) doesn't have any issue highlighted apart from outdated assumptions of the political spectrum c) doesn't resonate with public perceptions - GO one of the most popular politicians in the country d) the irony will resonate with public perceptions more - LDs are terribly unpopular. So much so that people are not even mentioning them in public. Not even in a whisper.
It is so bad I doubt there will even be any parodies produced by opponents.
In other words best not to clutch at staw polls. Trust in real ones like ICM. Right now you will learn more about the SNP vote in your own constituency than from the current YouGov cross breaks!
The SNP vote in Broxtowe is well-hidden...
What's your view on the constitutional lies being peddled by Jim Murphy ?
No she didn't . What we are burying is a Shakespearian character epitomised by the greatest actor of his generation. That's the image. And everyone was a tyrant and despot in those days, you would be hard pressed to bury anyone who wasn't. The country was in an endless state of civil war - real war - not analogies to a war. We should be grateful that out of that came democracies.
Whether or not Richard III was a child-murderer, he was a usurper who executed people without trial. Even by the standard of his times, his behaviour was considered bad.
And to be most effective, propaganda has to have some basis in truth
Dreadful message from the shameless party. 'Hey, these people look stupid in some photos, so vote for us'.
Dreadful because:
a) even more childish than the usual election poster b) doesn't have any issue highlighted apart from outdated assumptions of the political spectrum c) doesn't resonate with public perceptions - GO one of the most popular politicians in the country d) the irony will resonate with public perceptions more - LDs are terribly unpopular. So much so that people are not even mentioning them in public. Not even in a whisper.
It is so bad I doubt there will even be any parodies produced by opponents.
A London man has been found not guilty of a terrorist plot, which the Crown had claimed may have included plans to murder former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
27-year-old Erol Incedal, a law student of Turkish origin, was cleared of preparing acts terrorism after a re-trial at the Old Bailey, which has been highly controversial as it was held mostly in secret.
Sun Politics: A new Falklands invasion by Argentina is “a live threat”, says the Defence Secretary.
Is Argentina planning such an attack once Parliament has been dissolved, i.e. when the UK is at its most impotent in terms of being in a position to respond in any meaningful way? Not that we would be in any position to mount a task force on anything like the scale that was put in place by the Thatcher Government in 1982. Instead passive resistance would presumably be the order of the day, coupled with unworkable sanctions. Lots of huffing and puffing but probably game over to all intents and purposes.
And what would be the implications for the imminent General Election?
We have RAF Mount Pleasant there now, with a wing of Typhoons based there and a couple of thousand men including substantial anti-aircraft assets. This means a) it would be a lot harder to take than before, and b) attacking a British base would probably be considered an act of war.
A "wing" of Typhoons? surely not even a full squadron?
I think this is more noise than substance but if it did occur there would be no "probably" (be considered an act of war) about it.
doesn't change the fact that we could not take the Islands back without air cover though.
A few submarine launched TLAMs landing on Bueno Aires and other locations would liven things up a bit for the Argies.
We could use Trident, our white elephant aircraft carriers and the F35 which we will be lucky if it never comes into service as its useless.
The Russians have Trident and F35?
The Americans control both actually.
Not answering the point I note.
Talking rubbish does not help your cause. Although to be fair your cause is rubbish. It is of course always wise to comment on how Labour totally mismanaged our defence budget.
No excuse for being ignorant of sunk costs when evaluating projects.
Peter the Punter will be pleased with another cross dresser and a muslim one at that. Ukip diversity on show if nothing else from a covered up @MikeK
Titter ....
Very funny and a good laugh. But of course I don't wear fancy dress, unlike you, my friend, wearing a kilt and funny socks. So put that in your sporran.
Stop being such a grumpy little moo
Ahah! A defender of the faith pops up.
If you don't want criticism then don't throw out a dog whistle about veils.
Is everyone going barmy on PB - more than usual, I mean - this morning? my using the word veil, has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with any reference to muslims. Must be the latent racism coming out from the tory and labour fringes.
Dreadful message from the shameless party. 'Hey, these people look stupid in some photos, so vote for us'.
Dreadful because:
a) even more childish than the usual election poster b) doesn't have any issue highlighted apart from outdated assumptions of the political spectrum c) doesn't resonate with public perceptions - GO one of the most popular politicians in the country d) the irony will resonate with public perceptions more - LDs are terribly unpopular. So much so that people are not even mentioning them in public. Not even in a whisper.
It is so bad I doubt there will even be any parodies produced by opponents.
Yes, yes, you don't like the LDs and you think George Osborne is wonderful.
I don't know what it is about some Tories on here - happy to throw the vitriol around when it comes to their opponents but as soon as anyone fights back they get all brittle and prickly (like their leader).
You've got £70 million to spend on this election - go out and buy a sense of humour and a thicker skin - you won't make it to election day without them.
"Word reaches Steerpike that Miliband has hired the help of American public relations guru Michael Sheehan to prepare him for the interview. Sheehan – who has worked closely with Barack Obama – has been trying to help Miliband improve his public speaking ahead of tonight’s event. This is not the first time Ed has tried to emulate Obama, he previously enlisted the help of David Axelrod, one of the president’s most senior advisers, for his election campaign."
No she didn't . What we are burying is a Shakespearian character epitomised by the greatest actor of his generation. That's the image. And everyone was a tyrant and despot in those days, you would be hard pressed to bury anyone who wasn't. The country was in an endless state of civil war - real war - not analogies to a war. We should be grateful that out of that came democracies.
Whether or not Richard III was a child-murderer, he was a usurper who executed people without trial. Even by the standard of his times, his behaviour was considered bad.
And to be most effective, propaganda has to have some basis in truth
I'm no fan of Richard III but to try to equate the goings on of 1485 with 2015 seems a bit silly.
@afneil: Nicola Sturgeon forced to remind us "I'm leading the SNP campaign" as Salmond continues solo manoeuvres in Westminster over pink champagne
Journalist: Are you the leader of the SNP? Sturgeon: Yes
SNP IN LEADERSHIP CRISIS - WHO RUNS THE SNP? Sturgeon forced into damaging restatement of leadership
The thing I find funniest is that the pink champagne was ordered with fish & chips. It's almost like Salmond knew which part was going to get reported.
I don't know what's funnier.
Salmon playing the Loyalists like a fiddle. Or maybe a recorder. Or the Loyalist straw clutching over an entirely made up Telegraph story.
This might be wasted on you, but I don't think using Northern Ireland style sectarian language like that is helpful.
You're the bloke that likes 'hilarious' terms such as Yestapo and WaffenSSNP, ain't you?
It's WaffenYesYes, actually. Sorry to hear you're still feeling sensitive about it.
I have a sense of humour, and can take the p*ss out of myself as well as others. It's what keeps us all grounded. But this does seem to be something the SNP (and, to be fair, UKIP too) seem to struggle with.
On the other hand, deliberately introducing sectarian language in earnest, to frame a debate in a particular way, is ugly.
I'm not sensitive about it, I enjoy adding to my collection of PB Hypocrites. I think several of these definitions would apply to a great many posters on here.
loy·al·ist (loi′ə-lĭst) n. 1. One who maintains loyalty to an established government, political party, or sovereign, especially during war or revolutionary change. 2. Loyalist See Tory. 3. Loyalist One who supported the established government of Spain during the Spanish Civil War.
loyalist (ˈlɔɪəlɪst) n 1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a patriotic supporter of his sovereign or government ˈloyalism n
No she didn't . What we are burying is a Shakespearian character epitomised by the greatest actor of his generation. That's the image. And everyone was a tyrant and despot in those days, you would be hard pressed to bury anyone who wasn't. The country was in an endless state of civil war - real war - not analogies to a war. We should be grateful that out of that came democracies.
Whether or not Richard III was a child-murderer, he was a usurper who executed people without trial. Even by the standard of his times, his behaviour was considered bad.
And to be most effective, propaganda has to have some basis in truth
Something the US, NATO and the EU should be cognizant of when they whine about losing the information war on the Ukraine, and before they waste yet more of my money on pumping out even more propaganda.
@May2015NS: Ed Miliband won't be on tonight until 10.05pm (via @chrisshipitv). Won't make the news and fewer people will watch him than Cameron.
Did not Miliband choose the later slot?
Someone open a window
Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) 26/03/2015 10:05 Ed Miliband will debate Jeremy Paxman on the Sky/ Channel 4 leaders debates from a lecturn, while David Cameron has opted to go for a stool
@afneil: Nicola Sturgeon forced to remind us "I'm leading the SNP campaign" as Salmond continues solo manoeuvres in Westminster over pink champagne
Journalist: Are you the leader of the SNP? Sturgeon: Yes
SNP IN LEADERSHIP CRISIS - WHO RUNS THE SNP? Sturgeon forced into damaging restatement of leadership
The thing I find funniest is that the pink champagne was ordered with fish & chips. It's almost like Salmond knew which part was going to get reported.
I don't know what's funnier.
Salmon playing the Loyalists like a fiddle. Or maybe a recorder. Or the Loyalist straw clutching over an entirely made up Telegraph story.
This might be wasted on you, but I don't think using Northern Ireland style sectarian language like that is helpful.
Thanksfully. Someone else picks him up on this. It makes my spine run cold to see such language used in the mainland.
A London man has been found not guilty of a terrorist plot, which the Crown had claimed may have included plans to murder former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
27-year-old Erol Incedal, a law student of Turkish origin, was cleared of preparing acts terrorism after a re-trial at the Old Bailey, which has been highly controversial as it was held mostly in secret.
@afneil: Nicola Sturgeon forced to remind us "I'm leading the SNP campaign" as Salmond continues solo manoeuvres in Westminster over pink champagne
Journalist: Are you the leader of the SNP? Sturgeon: Yes
SNP IN LEADERSHIP CRISIS - WHO RUNS THE SNP? Sturgeon forced into damaging restatement of leadership
The thing I find funniest is that the pink champagne was ordered with fish & chips. It's almost like Salmond knew which part was going to get reported.
I don't know what's funnier.
Salmon playing the Loyalists like a fiddle. Or maybe a recorder. Or the Loyalist straw clutching over an entirely made up Telegraph story.
This might be wasted on you, but I don't think using Northern Ireland style sectarian language like that is helpful.
Thanksfully. Someone else picks him up on this. It makes my spine run cold to see such language used in the mainland.
In other words best not to clutch at staw polls. Trust in real ones like ICM. Right now you will learn more about the SNP vote in your own constituency than from the current YouGov cross breaks!
@May2015NS: Ed Miliband won't be on tonight until 10.05pm (via @chrisshipitv). Won't make the news and fewer people will watch him than Cameron.
Did not Miliband choose the later slot?
Someone open a window
Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) 26/03/2015 10:05 Ed Miliband will debate Jeremy Paxman on the Sky/ Channel 4 leaders debates from a lecturn, while David Cameron has opted to go for a stool
Just think, at least two adults will have been paid large sums of money to brainstorm the seating/standing arrangements of the party leaders for electoral purposes.
No she didn't . What we are burying is a Shakespearian character epitomised by the greatest actor of his generation. That's the image. And everyone was a tyrant and despot in those days, you would be hard pressed to bury anyone who wasn't. The country was in an endless state of civil war - real war - not analogies to a war. We should be grateful that out of that came democracies.
Whether or not Richard III was a child-murderer, he was a usurper who executed people without trial. Even by the standard of his times, his behaviour was considered bad.
Whether he was a usurper is conditioned by the question of whether the throne of England was purely hereditary. It was elective up to 1066 and William I was succeeded by his second son. Other usurpers include Stephen, many of the houses of York and Lancaster, William III and George I. And I very much doubt they took quite the same view of child murder as being uniquely depraved as we do.
Peter the Punter will be pleased with another cross dresser and a muslim one at that. Ukip diversity on show if nothing else from a covered up @MikeK
Titter ....
Very funny and a good laugh. But of course I don't wear fancy dress, unlike you, my friend, wearing a kilt and funny socks. So put that in your sporran.
Stop being such a grumpy little moo
Ahah! A defender of the faith pops up.
If you don't want criticism then don't throw out a dog whistle about veils.
Is everyone going barmy on PB - more than usual, I mean - this morning? my using the word veil, has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with any reference to muslims. Must be the latent racism coming out from the tory and labour fringes.
Not going barmy - just thought your response to @JackW's (admittedly not very funny) witticism was a little intemperate
@May2015NS: Ed Miliband won't be on tonight until 10.05pm (via @chrisshipitv). Won't make the news and fewer people will watch him than Cameron.
Did not Miliband choose the later slot?
Someone open a window
Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) 26/03/2015 10:05 Ed Miliband will debate Jeremy Paxman on the Sky/ Channel 4 leaders debates from a lecturn, while David Cameron has opted to go for a stool
Just think, at least two adults will have been paid large sums of money to brainstorm the seating/standing arrangements of the party leaders for electoral purposes.
The real betting money is on whether Milliband will get out from behind the lectern or Cameron stand up from the stool.
@afneil: Nicola Sturgeon forced to remind us "I'm leading the SNP campaign" as Salmond continues solo manoeuvres in Westminster over pink champagne
Journalist: Are you the leader of the SNP? Sturgeon: Yes
SNP IN LEADERSHIP CRISIS - WHO RUNS THE SNP? Sturgeon forced into damaging restatement of leadership
The thing I find funniest is that the pink champagne was ordered with fish & chips. It's almost like Salmond knew which part was going to get reported.
I don't know what's funnier.
Salmon playing the Loyalists like a fiddle. Or maybe a recorder. Or the Loyalist straw clutching over an entirely made up Telegraph story.
This might be wasted on you, but I don't think using Northern Ireland style sectarian language like that is helpful.
You're the bloke that likes 'hilarious' terms such as Yestapo and WaffenSSNP, ain't you?
It's WaffenYesYes, actually. Sorry to hear you're still feeling sensitive about it.
I have a sense of humour, and can take the p*ss out of myself as well as others. It's what keeps us all grounded. But this does seem to be something the SNP (and, to be fair, UKIP too) seem to struggle with.
On the other hand, deliberately introducing sectarian language in earnest, to frame a debate in a particular way, is ugly.
I'm not sensitive about it, I enjoy adding to my collection of PB Hypocrites. I think several of these definitions would apply to a great many posters on here.
loy·al·ist (loi′ə-lĭst) n. 1. One who maintains loyalty to an established government, political party, or sovereign, especially during war or revolutionary change. 2. Loyalist See Tory. 3. Loyalist One who supported the established government of Spain during the Spanish Civil War.
loyalist (ˈlɔɪəlɪst) n 1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a patriotic supporter of his sovereign or government ˈloyalism n
@May2015NS: Ed Miliband won't be on tonight until 10.05pm (via @chrisshipitv). Won't make the news and fewer people will watch him than Cameron.
Did not Miliband choose the later slot?
Someone open a window
Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) 26/03/2015 10:05 Ed Miliband will debate Jeremy Paxman on the Sky/ Channel 4 leaders debates from a lecturn, while David Cameron has opted to go for a stool
Just think, at least two adults will have been paid large sums of money to brainstorm the seating/standing arrangements of the party leaders for electoral purposes.
The real betting money is on whether Milliband will get out from behind the lectern or Cameron stand up from the stool.
True professionals like Westlife only stand up from their stools when there's a key change.
@May2015NS: Ed Miliband won't be on tonight until 10.05pm (via @chrisshipitv). Won't make the news and fewer people will watch him than Cameron.
Did not Miliband choose the later slot?
Someone open a window
Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) 26/03/2015 10:05 Ed Miliband will debate Jeremy Paxman on the Sky/ Channel 4 leaders debates from a lecturn, while David Cameron has opted to go for a stool
Just think, at least two adults will have been paid large sums of money to brainstorm the seating/standing arrangements of the party leaders for electoral purposes.
An episode of the West Wing President Bartlet mentioned that at a public Q&A, whether he should take off him jacket or not, was discussed by his staff, as it might fit in with his folksy charm but it might make him look unPresidential.
I then read an article, that a few years prior, Bill Clinton's team had polled a question on such a thing.
@May2015NS: Ed Miliband won't be on tonight until 10.05pm (via @chrisshipitv). Won't make the news and fewer people will watch him than Cameron.
Did not Miliband choose the later slot?
Someone open a window
Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) 26/03/2015 10:05 Ed Miliband will debate Jeremy Paxman on the Sky/ Channel 4 leaders debates from a lecturn, while David Cameron has opted to go for a stool
Just think, at least two adults will have been paid large sums of money to brainstorm the seating/standing arrangements of the party leaders for electoral purposes.
The real betting money is on whether Milliband will get out from behind the lectern or Cameron stand up from the stool.
a rocking chair worked well for Val Doonican - but Ronnie Corbett prospered on a comfy but static chair.
@May2015NS: Ed Miliband won't be on tonight until 10.05pm (via @chrisshipitv). Won't make the news and fewer people will watch him than Cameron.
Did not Miliband choose the later slot?
Someone open a window
Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) 26/03/2015 10:05 Ed Miliband will debate Jeremy Paxman on the Sky/ Channel 4 leaders debates from a lecturn, while David Cameron has opted to go for a stool
Just think, at least two adults will have been paid large sums of money to brainstorm the seating/standing arrangements of the party leaders for electoral purposes.
The real betting money is on whether Milliband will get out from behind the lectern or Cameron stand up from the stool.
True professionals like Westlife only stand up from their stools when there's a key change.
I was going for Cameron stands up from stool to show he is passionate about something and Milliband walks in front of podium to explain something technical.
@May2015NS: Ed Miliband won't be on tonight until 10.05pm (via @chrisshipitv). Won't make the news and fewer people will watch him than Cameron.
Did not Miliband choose the later slot?
Someone open a window
Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) 26/03/2015 10:05 Ed Miliband will debate Jeremy Paxman on the Sky/ Channel 4 leaders debates from a lecturn, while David Cameron has opted to go for a stool
Just think, at least two adults will have been paid large sums of money to brainstorm the seating/standing arrangements of the party leaders for electoral purposes.
Could make the crucial difference!
A thread in June identifying this moment as the turning point is not 100/1!
@May2015NS: Ed Miliband won't be on tonight until 10.05pm (via @chrisshipitv). Won't make the news and fewer people will watch him than Cameron.
Did not Miliband choose the later slot?
Someone open a window
Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) 26/03/2015 10:05 Ed Miliband will debate Jeremy Paxman on the Sky/ Channel 4 leaders debates from a lecturn, while David Cameron has opted to go for a stool
Just think, at least two adults will have been paid large sums of money to brainstorm the seating/standing arrangements of the party leaders for electoral purposes.
The real betting money is on whether Milliband will get out from behind the lectern or Cameron stand up from the stool.
True professionals like Westlife only stand up from their stools when there's a key change.
@May2015NS: Ed Miliband won't be on tonight until 10.05pm (via @chrisshipitv). Won't make the news and fewer people will watch him than Cameron.
Did not Miliband choose the later slot?
Someone open a window
Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) 26/03/2015 10:05 Ed Miliband will debate Jeremy Paxman on the Sky/ Channel 4 leaders debates from a lecturn, while David Cameron has opted to go for a stool
Strewth! What's the rationale behind that? He's going to look like an utter numpty - so keen to get a "debate" he's going to put up a defensive wall between himself and the journalist asking questions?
@May2015NS: Ed Miliband won't be on tonight until 10.05pm (via @chrisshipitv). Won't make the news and fewer people will watch him than Cameron.
Did not Miliband choose the later slot?
Someone open a window
Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) 26/03/2015 10:05 Ed Miliband will debate Jeremy Paxman on the Sky/ Channel 4 leaders debates from a lecturn, while David Cameron has opted to go for a stool
Just think, at least two adults will have been paid large sums of money to brainstorm the seating/standing arrangements of the party leaders for electoral purposes.
The real betting money is on whether Milliband will get out from behind the lectern or Cameron stand up from the stool.
True professionals like Westlife only stand up from their stools when there's a key change.
@May2015NS: Ed Miliband won't be on tonight until 10.05pm (via @chrisshipitv). Won't make the news and fewer people will watch him than Cameron.
Did not Miliband choose the later slot?
Someone open a window
Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) 26/03/2015 10:05 Ed Miliband will debate Jeremy Paxman on the Sky/ Channel 4 leaders debates from a lecturn, while David Cameron has opted to go for a stool
Strewth! What's the rationale behind that? He's going to look like an utter numpty - so keen to get a "debate" he's going to put up a defensive wall between himself and the journalist asking questions?
Comments
Bercow has a history of allowing frivolous and partisan ‘urgent questions’ in the house, hardly surprising then that his antagonists should be suspicious of his motives. - However, could these questions be just normal house business, rather than the vivid imaginations of Paul Waugh?
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2015/03/why-are-people-venerating-richard-iii-he-was-a-murderous-tyrant/
#votesnpgettories
But also
#Votegreengettories
#Votelabourgettories
#Voteukipgettories
#votelibdemgettories
I have a sense of humour, and can take the p*ss out of myself as well as others. It's what keeps us all grounded. But this does seem to be something the SNP (and, to be fair, UKIP too) seem to struggle with.
On the other hand, deliberately introducing sectarian language in earnest, to frame a debate in a particular way, is ugly.
Of course we could easily relocate forces based in Afghanistan, Eastern Europe or the Middle East where we have no interests.
Telegraph Politics (@TelePolitics)
26/03/2015 00:06
Forget what you think you know about Ukip voters tgr.ph/1HHTtBm
https://twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/status/580047344604975104
Keep this up over the campaign and there wont be much left for Labour to take from us.
Even so I think 4 Typhoons will give a few Mirages, A-4s and Pucaras a run for their money, they don't appear to have bought anything new since the last war, and a Type 45 destroyer a serious bit of anti-air warfare kit, especially combined with the Rapier batteries on the island.
I see the cantankerous gnome is on the run. Boo hiss to Bercow!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBBD1ONWkAAs-1c.jpg
Not answering the point I note.
You should get to canvassing the doors Nick. The Scottish YouGov sub samples are not "unweighted". On the contrary the SNP indentifiers are now being weighted sharply down. There is a good discussion of this in a site which I have recently looked at called Scotgoespop.
The point is that for some as yet unexplained reason this week's identifiers have been weighted downwards 54-31,65-38 and today stonking 57-31. This compares for example with a typical previous downrating of 39-29 from last Sunday.
If you applied last Sunday's downrating the SNP vote goes back to the mid, indeed to the high 40s. This is roughly where it has been in this week's ICM proper Scottish poll, yesterday's published YouGov super poll of 8000 or indeed today's Survation sub sample in the Mirror.
In other words best not to clutch at staw polls. Trust in real ones like ICM. Right now you will learn more about the SNP vote in your own constituency than from the current YouGov cross breaks!
'Surely Mr Ambassador the whole point of locking the cockpit door is lost if terrorists can force a steward to open it from the outside?'
It is of course always wise to comment on how Labour totally mismanaged our defence budget.
Dreadful because:
a) even more childish than the usual election poster
b) doesn't have any issue highlighted apart from outdated assumptions of the political spectrum
c) doesn't resonate with public perceptions - GO one of the most popular politicians in the country
d) the irony will resonate with public perceptions more - LDs are terribly unpopular. So much so that people are not even mentioning them in public. Not even in a whisper.
It is so bad I doubt there will even be any parodies produced by opponents.
Will the Tories field a candidate in Buckingham?
A London man has been found not guilty of a terrorist plot, which the Crown had claimed may have included plans to murder former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
27-year-old Erol Incedal, a law student of Turkish origin, was cleared of preparing acts terrorism after a re-trial at the Old Bailey, which has been highly controversial as it was held mostly in secret.
http://news.sky.com/story/1453031/secret-terror-trial-incedal-not-guilty
http://order-order.com/2015/03/26/bye-bye-bercow/
my using the word veil, has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with any reference to muslims.
Must be the latent racism coming out from the tory and labour fringes.
I don't know what it is about some Tories on here - happy to throw the vitriol around when it comes to their opponents but as soon as anyone fights back they get all brittle and prickly (like their leader).
You've got £70 million to spend on this election - go out and buy a sense of humour and a thicker skin - you won't make it to election day without them.
No wonder he wants to be in the "also rans" debate
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/steerpike/2015/03/has-ed-miliband-been-spending-10000-a-day-on-obama-debate-coach/
"Word reaches Steerpike that Miliband has hired the help of American public relations guru Michael Sheehan to prepare him for the interview. Sheehan – who has worked closely with Barack Obama – has been trying to help Miliband improve his public speaking ahead of tonight’s event. This is not the first time Ed has tried to emulate Obama, he previously enlisted the help of David Axelrod, one of the president’s most senior advisers, for his election campaign."
I think several of these definitions would apply to a great many posters on here.
loy·al·ist
(loi′ə-lĭst)
n.
1. One who maintains loyalty to an established government, political party, or sovereign, especially during war or revolutionary change.
2. Loyalist See Tory.
3. Loyalist One who supported the established government of Spain during the Spanish Civil War.
loyalist
(ˈlɔɪəlɪst)
n
1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a patriotic supporter of his sovereign or government
ˈloyalism n
http://www.unz.com/akarlin/the-moor-has-done-his-duty/
Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford)
26/03/2015 10:05
Ed Miliband will debate Jeremy Paxman on the Sky/ Channel 4 leaders debates from a lecturn, while David Cameron has opted to go for a stool
I then read an article, that a few years prior, Bill Clinton's team had polled a question on such a thing.
A thread in June identifying this moment as the turning point is not 100/1!
EDIT: how do you remove an auto-embed?
Like this?