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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The official campaign Day 1: The line-up for Thursday night

SystemSystem Posts: 12,215
edited March 2015 in General

imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The official campaign Day 1: The line-up for Thursday night and an interesting betting market for the 7 sided event

The line up on the stage was decided by lots being drawn this morning. It is hard to work out who has come out best. Farage has Clegg on his left and Miliband on his right though he’s some way along from Cameron.

Read the full story here


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Comments

  • Fascinating.
  • I reckon Dave's a buy.
  • Then again, Dave a sell I reckon
  • JEOJEO Posts: 3,656
    It seems silly that the Prime Minister is out on the far end of the stage. They should do what the Americans do and put those with highest polling support in the middle.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,514
    edited March 2015
    Can I make a bet on the moderator winning again?
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,133
    FPT

    ELBOWing yesterday's ComRes and today's Populus, the Tories are 1.1% ahead so far this week!
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,411

    I reckon Dave's a buy.

    Then again, Dave a sell I reckon

    Nothing like hedging your bets :)
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    edited March 2015
    By my reckoning, Populus are the only regular pollster that haven't had the Tories ahead since the conference season.

    So a tie with Populus is a Tory lead with most other pollsters because of their methodology/house effects.
  • RodCrosbyRodCrosby Posts: 7,737
    Is the man in the middle up to it? Both Left and Right say No...
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,133
    Hell no! I mean Yes!

    Tories on their highest score (33.6%) in ELBOW since the very first week of the series (10th Aug = 33.7)

    https://twitter.com/Sunil_P2/status/582185731872940032
  • ArtistArtist Posts: 1,893
    1.Farage 2.Cameron 3.Miliband 4.Sturgeon 5.Clegg 6. Bennett 7.Wood

    Would be my guess.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,064
    JEO said:

    MaxPB,

    One can fiddle around with the tax system, but it will only have a marginal effect. Under your proposed system, you would get some existing landlords to exit the market, and more houses would be available for those looking to buy. However, the increase in owner-occupied properties would be directly counteracted by the decline in rental stock, meaning those that are far away from being able to afford a property would just see their rent rise given the limited supply. Plus, there will be less incentive for property developers to build rental flats, exacerbating the problem further.

    If you want to solve the rising price issue, you need to sort out supply or demand or both. Policy makers need to accept they can have two of the green belt, affordable housing or high levels of immigration, but they can't have all three.

    I did say there should be a 25 year exemption for new build rental flats. That would ensure new supply always comes in and it would force investors to actually risk their money by building new homes rather than just leeching off the existing stock.
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Shadsy has buzzword bingo up now. I know its a mugs bet but I could not resist "Hell Yes!"at 11.

    Having seen my tip for Bennett he has raised the odds. I may be a rival for rogerdamus in forecasting skill...
  • JEOJEO Posts: 3,656
    Alistair said:

    Sean_F said:

    MaxPB said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Sean_F said:

    http://www.itv.com/news/london/2015-03-30/big-labour-gains-forecast-for-london/

    A good poll for Labour in London. Labour 46%, Con 32%. In fact, the Conservative vote share is only down 2% on 2010, but Labour is up 10%. Recent polls record swings of 3-6% to Labour in London.

    Any reason's why Labour is doing so well in London versus elsewhere?

    I think Ed's rent freeze is very attractive in London. A lot of my friends are willing to give it a go having seen their rents rise by over 10% a year for a few years now. The Tories need to do something about greedy landlords or they can kiss goodbye to London for a long time. Most of my friends should be natural Tory voters (higher rate tax payers, educated, private sector) and most of them are open to it, but they don't believe that the Tories are on the side of young professionals and everyone is worried about being stuck renting until their early forties.

    They really, really need to do something about the private rentals sector and step in and take an axe to buy-to-let. If the Tories are ever going to win in London they absolutely have to do it. Generation rent in London (and other cities) will never vote for a party that stands for greedy landlords ripping them off.
    The problem with rent controls is that they just kill off the rental sector.
    I'm sure all those renting young professionals will be devastated by the sudden influx of properties on the market to buy such a move would result in.
    The young professionals will do nicely. Unfortunately, it will be those on lower incomes who will lose out. As Margaret Thatcher showed us, you can not fix the market, you can only address constraints on the fundamentals of supply and demand. In the London property market that means building on the green belt, reducing immigration, or some combination of the two.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,937
    Given that Cameron has an aloofness problem, psychologically being on the sidelines might subliminally be a bad place to be for him.

    Probably Thursday is not a good day for him to try and do imperious....
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Artist said:

    1.Farage 2.Cameron 3.Miliband 4.Sturgeon 5.Clegg 6. Bennett 7.Wood

    Would be my guess.

    Interesting that you think that David Cameron and Ed Miliband will make up two of the top three. That is my belief too, which if correct makes the action on this market clearcut.

    But I'm not going to get further in on this particular event.
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,173

    By my reckoning, Populus are the only regular pollster that haven't had the Tories ahead since the conference season.

    So a tie with Populus is a Tory lead with most other pollsters because of their methodology/house effects.

    Yes and they were up 3 compared to Labour up 1. So moving in the 'right 'direction. :)
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    JEO said:

    Alistair said:

    Sean_F said:

    MaxPB said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Sean_F said:

    http://www.itv.com/news/london/2015-03-30/big-labour-gains-forecast-for-london/

    A good poll for Labour in London. Labour 46%, Con 32%. In fact, the Conservative vote share is only down 2% on 2010, but Labour is up 10%. Recent polls record swings of 3-6% to Labour in London.

    Any reason's why Labour is doing so well in London versus elsewhere?

    I think Ed's rent freeze is very attractive in London. A lot of my friends are willing to give it a go having seen their rents rise by over 10% a year for a few years now. The Tories need to do something about greedy landlords or they can kiss goodbye to London for a long time. Most of my friends should be natural Tory voters (higher rate tax payers, educated, private sector) and most of them are open to it, but they don't believe that the Tories are on the side of young professionals and everyone is worried about being stuck renting until their early forties.

    They really, really need to do something about the private rentals sector and step in and take an axe to buy-to-let. If the Tories are ever going to win in London they absolutely have to do it. Generation rent in London (and other cities) will never vote for a party that stands for greedy landlords ripping them off.
    The problem with rent controls is that they just kill off the rental sector.
    I'm sure all those renting young professionals will be devastated by the sudden influx of properties on the market to buy such a move would result in.
    The young professionals will do nicely. Unfortunately, it will be those on lower incomes who will lose out. As Margaret Thatcher showed us, you can not fix the market, you can only address constraints on the fundamentals of supply and demand. In the London property market that means building on the green belt, reducing immigration, or some combination of the two.
    It is possible to build up as well as out.

    Europeans and other migrants are much less keen on houses.
  • Speaking to the YouGov chaps last week, they said, generally speaking, whomever finishes last wins these sort of events.

    So do we know who will be going first, and whom will be last
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Sell Clegg
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,064
    JEO said:

    Alistair said:

    Sean_F said:

    MaxPB said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Sean_F said:

    http://www.itv.com/news/london/2015-03-30/big-labour-gains-forecast-for-london/

    A good poll for Labour in London. Labour 46%, Con 32%. In fact, the Conservative vote share is only down 2% on 2010, but Labour is up 10%. Recent polls record swings of 3-6% to Labour in London.

    Any reason's why Labour is doing so well in London versus elsewhere?

    I think Ed's rent freeze is very attractive in London. A lot of my friends are willing to give it a go having seen their rents rise by over 10% a year for a few years now. The Tories need to do something about greedy landlords or they can kiss goodbye to London for a long time. Most of my friends should be natural Tory voters (higher rate tax payers, educated, private sector) and most of them are open to it, but they don't believe that the Tories are on the side of young professionals and everyone is worried about being stuck renting until their early forties.

    They really, really need to do something about the private rentals sector and step in and take an axe to buy-to-let. If the Tories are ever going to win in London they absolutely have to do it. Generation rent in London (and other cities) will never vote for a party that stands for greedy landlords ripping them off.
    The problem with rent controls is that they just kill off the rental sector.
    I'm sure all those renting young professionals will be devastated by the sudden influx of properties on the market to buy such a move would result in.
    The young professionals will do nicely. Unfortunately, it will be those on lower incomes who will lose out. As Margaret Thatcher showed us, you can not fix the market, you can only address constraints on the fundamentals of supply and demand. In the London property market that means building on the green belt, reducing immigration, or some combination of the two.
    Generally I have been talking from a Tories in London point of view, so that is surely their goal. To get the young professionals voting Tory. At the moment they are split heavily towards Labour as Labour are the only party who have recognised there is a big problem with the rental market in London. Natural conservatives are being forced to look at Labour as a solution because the Tories offer literally nothing on housing in London. The new first time buyers ISA, even the first time buyers discount and help to buy do nothing for the Tories in London.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,514
    edited March 2015

    Speaking to the YouGov chaps last week, they said, generally speaking, whomever finishes last wins these sort of events.

    So do we know who will be going first, and whom will be last

    I believe the format is 4 questions....for each question, each speaker gets 1 minute to pitch uninterrupted, then there is 15 mins of arguing among all 7*. Then rinse and repeat.

    * How different people get to argue with one another I don't know.
  • blackburn63blackburn63 Posts: 4,492
    Nigel will win comfortably, he is the best debater by far and has a massive psychological edge over Clegg. We saw last week that Dave and Ed won't answer questions, Nigel will expose that.
  • ItwasriggedItwasrigged Posts: 154
    I predict that Millibland and Clegg will get gangbanged! :)
  • Speaking to the YouGov chaps last week, they said, generally speaking, whomever finishes last wins these sort of events.

    So do we know who will be going first, and whom will be last

    I believe the format is 4 questions....for each question, each speaker gets 1 minute to pitch uninterrupted, then there is 15 mins of arguing among all 7*. Then rinse and repeat.

    * How different people get to argue with one another I don't know.
    Cheers. I reckon this is one market to avoid then.
  • taffystaffys Posts: 9,753
    The Tories offer literally nothing on housing in London.

    Keep shouting this from the rooftops, Mr Max. We have a number of young profs working for us and even the humblest london property is way beyond them. There is a whole army of these people and they are going to to swing it for labour.

    They even know labour are cr8p, but if enough money flees London after a Milli victory, they might have a chance to buy.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,411
    First things first, the market MU is 110 and the overall spread is 104-123.

    Which indicates selling rather than buying is technically correct.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    They'll be standing, right? So height is going to be a factor. In particular, as regards Cameron next to Sturgeon.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    Prediction - the biggest hits on Farage will come from a woman.
  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    taffys said:

    The Tories offer literally nothing on housing in London.

    Keep shouting this from the rooftops, Mr Max. We have a number of young profs working for us and even the humblest london property is way beyond them. There is a whole army of these people and they are going to to swing it for labour.

    They even know labour are cr8p, but if enough money flees London after a Milli victory, they might have a chance to buy.

    If the Economy tanks, those newly unemployed won't be buying property.
  • MarkHopkinsMarkHopkins Posts: 5,584
    MaxPB said:

    JEO said:

    Alistair said:

    Sean_F said:

    MaxPB said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Sean_F said:

    http://www.itv.com/news/london/2015-03-30/big-labour-gains-forecast-for-london/

    A good poll for Labour in London. Labour 46%, Con 32%. In fact, the Conservative vote share is only down 2% on 2010, but Labour is up 10%. Recent polls record swings of 3-6% to Labour in London.

    Any reason's why Labour is doing so well in London versus elsewhere?

    I think Ed's rent freeze is very attractive in London. A lot of my friends are willing to give it a go having seen their rents rise by over 10% a year for a few years now. The Tories need to do something about greedy landlords or they can kiss goodbye to London for a long time. Most of my friends should be natural Tory voters (higher rate tax payers, educated, private sector) and most of them are open to it, but they don't believe that the Tories are on the side of young professionals and everyone is worried about being stuck renting until their early forties.

    They really, really need to do something about the private rentals sector and step in and take an axe to buy-to-let. If the Tories are ever going to win in London they absolutely have to do it. Generation rent in London (and other cities) will never vote for a party that stands for greedy landlords ripping them off.
    The problem with rent controls is that they just kill off the rental sector.
    I'm sure all those renting young professionals will be devastated by the sudden influx of properties on the market to buy such a move would result in.
    The young professionals will do nicely. Unfortunately, it will be those on lower incomes who will lose out. As Margaret Thatcher showed us, you can not fix the market, you can only address constraints on the fundamentals of supply and demand. In the London property market that means building on the green belt, reducing immigration, or some combination of the two.
    Generally I have been talking from a Tories in London point of view, so that is surely their goal. To get the young professionals voting Tory. At the moment they are split heavily towards Labour as Labour are the only party who have recognised there is a big problem with the rental market in London. Natural conservatives are being forced to look at Labour as a solution because the Tories offer literally nothing on housing in London. The new first time buyers ISA, even the first time buyers discount and help to buy do nothing for the Tories in London.

    So what did Labour do about this problem which mostly built-up under their governance?

    Labour do not have a solution, and will only end up making things worse. They always do.


  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,514
    edited March 2015

    Nigel will win comfortably, he is the best debater by far and has a massive psychological edge over Clegg. We saw last week that Dave and Ed won't answer questions, Nigel will expose that.

    People like Farage have an advantage in this kind of setup, because they aren't trying to pitch to the 40-50% that Cameron and Miliband are trying to wriggle and worm their way into their good books. Farage knows his market and can pitch to it, knowing that (and not caring) that the Guardianistas are going to be throwing things at their tellies.

    That is why when the BBC / Guardian lose it over something they deem insensitive that he has said, I always wonder if he does it deliberately, because he doesn't care one jot what they think, but he knows that with the people he is targeting it will get reported upon.
  • PongPong Posts: 4,693
    edited March 2015
    I've had a small punt on Farage.

    Assigning probabilities on a market like this is really hard - but I can't see beyond farage. The chance of him getting over 25% of people saying he "won" is pretty high - 70% perhaps? - and that would be enough to come first or 2nd.

    Anyway, here's my stab at it;

    Farage's chance of coming...

    1st 35%
    2nd 35%
    3rd 15%
    4th 5%
    5-7th 10%

    On that basis he is probably just about a buy at 31.

    Nick Clegg is probably a sell at 13, too.
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708
    JEO said:

    As Margaret Thatcher showed us, you can not fix the market, you can only address constraints on the fundamentals of supply and demand. In the London property market that means building on the green belt, reducing immigration, or some combination of the two.

    You seem to have overlooked a dimension.
  • ItwasriggedItwasrigged Posts: 154
    Is there going to be any actual debate or is it going to be a waffling Q&A session.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    The value has to be selling Clegg

    It's decided by a yougov poll isn't it? Who scores low with YG and who has the least committed supporters?

    Who isn't a new face on the scene? Who is famous for breaking promises from the last campaign? Whose main supporters were nota who feel swindled?
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,363

    Carnyx said:

    There has been a refusal to let the SNP have pre-election discussions with the Civil Service despite being arguably the 3rd Party (at least equal with LDs to error margins). Though I am not sure if this is down to the Mandarins or the Coalition. At any rate, it won't speed up the establishment of a relationship.

    Seems completely correct - they have themselves categorically ruled out coalition with the Conservatives, Labour have ruled out a coalition with the SNP, and the SNP have stated that in any case they'd only support Labour on a case-by-case basis.

    Since, therefore, there is no realistic prospect of them being in government, why on earth would they be involved in pre-election discussions between the Civil Service and the potential parties of government?
    An interesting approach. It does however depend on what actually happens. But, in any case, the argument used to be o the basis of party support - are the goalposts not now being moved?
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    taffys said:

    The Tories offer literally nothing on housing in London.

    Keep shouting this from the rooftops, Mr Max. We have a number of young profs working for us and even the humblest london property is way beyond them. There is a whole army of these people and they are going to to swing it for labour.

    They even know labour are cr8p, but if enough money flees London after a Milli victory, they might have a chance to buy.

    If the Economy tanks, those newly unemployed won't be buying property.
    Its every yoof of today's human right to have a low cost house built just for them.

    No working their way up the ladder, saving for a deposit or poisoning a granny for them just served up on a plate with the moon on a stick thrown in.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,411
    Pong said:

    I've had a small punt on Farage.

    Assigning probabilities on a market like this is really hard - but I can't see beyond farage. The chance of him getting over 25% of people saying he "won" is pretty high - 70% perhaps? - and that would be enough to come first or 2nd.

    Anyway, here's my stab at it;

    Farage's chance of coming...

    1st 35%
    2nd 35%
    3rd 15%
    4th 5%
    5-7th 10%

    On that basis he is probably just about a buy at 31.

    Nick Clegg is probably a sell at 13, too.

    I've sold Clegg at £2 a point and put £3 on him to win at 10-1 to smooth out the risk profile a touch.

    I think Sturgeon could outperform her market expectations and there are sound arguments for Cameron, Miliband and Farage but the market is technically a sell and Clegg looks the best one to flog to me.
  • PongPong Posts: 4,693
    edited March 2015
    Pong said:

    I've had a small punt on Farage.

    Assigning probabilities on a market like this is really hard - but I can't see beyond farage. The chance of him getting over 25% of people saying he "won" is pretty high - 70% perhaps? - and that would be enough to come first or 2nd.

    Anyway, here's my stab at it;

    Farage's chance of coming...

    1st 35%
    2nd 35%
    3rd 15%
    4th 5%
    5-7th 10%

    On that basis he is probably just about a buy at 31.

    Nick Clegg is probably a sell at 13, too.

    Looking again at the market, I think SPIN have done a pretty good job of pricing it up.

    The value, if there is any, is in the spread. :)
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,568
    Cameron and Miliband both look worth a punt there - people will tend to pick the leader of their preferred party, so it's unlikely that they'll be worse than 3rd, which would give no loss for Miliband and only a small one for Cameron.

    Populus:had a 2-point Labour lead on YouGov methodology - Populus weight for certainty to vote, which is slightly higher with the Tories in this poll. I don't think either does ICM-style reweighting to assume that half of don't knows go home? We could really do with an at-a-glance link to show the poll differences.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    Is there going to be any actual debate or is it going to be a waffling Q&A session.

    Saint Nicola will give a sermon at which point the audience will nod sagely and throw petals on her before the evil Westminster elite phone Saudi Arabia and demand an oil price cut to scuttle her chances. Probably.

  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,363
    O/T but a rather startling story of possible interest to those betting on Mr Murphy's and Mr Mundell's constituencies - neither is so confident that he is willing to have his party's name on his literature, it appears:

    http://www.thenational.scot/politics/murphy-and-mundell-hit-by-party-shame-accusations-over-leaflets.1540

  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Carnyx said:

    But, in any case, the argument used to be o the basis of party support

    Are you sure of that? I don't recall that being the case, but I could well be wrong.
  • Tissue_PriceTissue_Price Posts: 9,039
    A big question is surely what YouGov's weighting criteria will be. Are they weighting as per normal VI or to the debate audience?
  • ItwasriggedItwasrigged Posts: 154

    They'll be standing, right? So height is going to be a factor. In particular, as regards Cameron next to Sturgeon.

    Well if she grabs his lapels and jumps up and neeps him she will win every seat in Scotland and probably a few in England as well 3:)
  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    edited March 2015
    TGOHF said:

    taffys said:

    The Tories offer literally nothing on housing in London.

    Keep shouting this from the rooftops, Mr Max. We have a number of young profs working for us and even the humblest london property is way beyond them. There is a whole army of these people and they are going to to swing it for labour.

    They even know labour are cr8p, but if enough money flees London after a Milli victory, they might have a chance to buy.

    If the Economy tanks, those newly unemployed won't be buying property.
    Its every yoof of today's human right to have a low cost house built just for them.

    No working their way up the ladder, saving for a deposit or poisoning a granny for them just served up on a plate with the moon on a stick thrown in.
    I'm hoping that Milliband introduces price controls on Maseratis and 6 bedroom Georgian Rectories in the Home Counties.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    I've changed my mind about this market and had a small punt, selling Leanne Wood at 7. I think she will get lost in the mix and nostalgic socialists who find Ed Miliband too right wing are likely to go either for Natalie Bennett or (more likely) for Nicola Sturgeon.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,411
    edited March 2015
    Things to note once more -

    Fixed odds

    Farage
    Cameron
    Miliband
    Sturgeon
    Clegg
    Bennett
    Wood

    Spreads

    Farage
    Cameron
    Miliband
    Clegg
    Sturgeon
    Wood
    Bennett


    Out of order.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    Ed Miliband on telly lowers the Labour vote. I think someone noted that before the last debate

    Maybe that's why Ed is not in Labour's latest PEB
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,963
    edited March 2015

    A big question is surely what YouGov's weighting criteria will be. Are they weighting as per normal VI or to the debate audience?

    It's the instant reaction poll, so they will limit to people who watched the show, then try and reweight that back to VI

    This is what they did for the Farage/Clegg events last year

    http://cdn.yougov.com/cumulus_uploads/document/ykmpjgw80r/YG-Archive-140326-Clegg-Farage.pdf
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,411

    A big question is surely what YouGov's weighting criteria will be. Are they weighting as per normal VI or to the debate audience?

    It's the instant reaction poll, so they will limit to people who watched the show, then try and reweight that to VI
    Is that good or bad for any of the bods ?
  • Pulpstar said:

    A big question is surely what YouGov's weighting criteria will be. Are they weighting as per normal VI or to the debate audience?

    It's the instant reaction poll, so they will limit to people who watched the show, then try and reweight that to VI
    Is that good or bad for any of the bods ?
    My own hunch is that it is good for Labour and UKIP.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,937
    For all his swagger and cheeky-chappiness, I reckon the most nervous person in the debates may well be Farage.

    Especially if Carswell chooses Wednesday to announce he's leaving UKIP... ;-)
  • FlightpathFlightpath Posts: 4,012
    taffys said:

    The Tories offer literally nothing on housing in London.

    Keep shouting this from the rooftops, Mr Max. We have a number of young profs working for us and even the humblest london property is way beyond them. There is a whole army of these people and they are going to to swing it for labour.

    They even know labour are cr8p, but if enough money flees London after a Milli victory, they might have a chance to buy.

    As an example a 'young prof' couple could buy a house in Byfleet for c£390k. Another one, 4 beds, £340k. A flat for c£200k

    I fail to see why given this opportunity anyone should feel like ruining the entire country just to be selfish.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    edited March 2015
    Labour have screwed up badly with their FT ad. Of course, in general it wouldn't matter a hoot what quotes they take out of context and use without permission - the average voter will not notice, and wouldn't care anyway.

    However, there is one important group who will both notice and care, and that is the type of person who reads the FT. Since presumably this is precisely the group whom Labour were trying to reach, it looks like a very silly, and expensive, own-goal.
  • By the same reasoning the unemployed should be charged income tax on the income they are foregoing by not working.

    This is a false analogy. If you fail to work, you do not ipso facto receive income or anything equivalent to income. There is an argument, of course, that benefits should be charged to tax, but that would be administratively inconvenient and unnecessary. By contrast, an owner occupier receives the beneficial enjoyment of land, an economically productive asset, which is equivalent to receiving a rental income. Indeed, owner occupiers used to be assessed to income tax on the rental value of their properties under Schedule A to the Income Tax Act 1952 for this reason.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,363

    Carnyx said:

    But, in any case, the argument used to be o the basis of party support

    Are you sure of that? I don't recall that being the case, but I could well be wrong.
    I got the impression from the reporting that the third party was pretty much automatically included in CS briefings - i.e. the LDs for the last few decades. But this may be wrong and any correction would be welcome.

  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,937
    Seriously though, surely Wednesday is the best day for any remaining defectors to show their hand? Give Farage a lift going into the debate.....
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,173
    MaxPB said:

    JEO said:

    Alistair said:

    Sean_F said:

    MaxPB said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Sean_F said:

    http://www.itv.com/news/london/2015-03-30/big-labour-gains-forecast-for-london/

    A good poll for Labour in London. Labour 46%, Con 32%. In fact, the Conservative vote share is only down 2% on 2010, but Labour is up 10%. Recent polls record swings of 3-6% to Labour in London.

    Any reason's why Labour is doing so well in London versus elsewhere?

    I think Ed's rent freeze is very attractive in London. A lot of my friends are willing to give it a go having seen their rents rise by over 10% a year for a few years now. The Tories need to do something about greedy landlords or they can kiss goodbye to London for a long time. Most of my friends should be natural Tory voters (higher rate tax payers, educated, private sector) and most of them are open to it, but they don't believe that the Tories are on the side of young professionals and everyone is worried about being stuck renting until their early forties.

    They really, really need to do something about the private rentals sector and step in and take an axe to buy-to-let. If the Tories are ever going to win in London they absolutely have to do it. Generation rent in London (and other cities) will never vote for a party that stands for greedy landlords ripping them off.
    The problem with rent controls is that they just kill off the rental sector.
    I'm sure all those renting young professionals will be devastated by the sudden influx of properties on the market to buy such a move would result in.
    The young professionals will do nicely. Unfortunately, it will be those on lower incomes who will lose out. As Margaret Thatcher showed us, you can not fix the market, you can only address constraints on the fundamentals of supply and demand. In the London property market that means building on the green belt, reducing immigration, or some combination of the two.
    Generally I have been talking from a Tories in London point of view, so that is surely their goal. To get the young professionals voting Tory. At the moment they are split heavily towards Labour as Labour are the only party who have recognised there is a big problem with the rental market in London. Natural conservatives are being forced to look at Labour as a solution because the Tories offer literally nothing on housing in London. The new first time buyers ISA, even the first time buyers discount and help to buy do nothing for the Tories in London.
    Is there any polling evidence that the Labour lipstick in London is connected to rents? It's far more likely to be down to demographics.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,025
    edited March 2015
    Sturgeon and Miliband are the most interesting pair for this.

    If this was a one off I think Sturgeon would be going for Miliband's throat. She wants 30 odd seats off him and one at best from the Tories. But she is going to get another go uninterrupted in the also ran debate and this is going to be her only shot at Cameron.

    There is also the consideration that one way of having a go at SLAB is to prove she can be even tougher on the Conservatives than they are and the positioning above may well tend her that way.

    Cameron is likely to be attacked by the Greens and PC for the same reason, everyone trying to prove who is the most lefty. And then there is Nick trying to differentiate. And of course Farage is going to be coming at him too since UKIP have a far better chance at picking up Tory seats than Labour ones.

    All in all, not a comfortable night for DC. Make your points in your minute short and sharp and then hope it falls into a rammy so you can say I told you so seems the best option. Ed will get his comeuppance in the next debate. I think he is a goodish bet for coming out of this one ok as the fire is focussed on DC.

    Edit, I forgot to add that Ed will want to concentrate on DC too so everyone will be leaving Nicola alone making her a good bet.
  • PlatoPlato Posts: 15,724
    My initial reaction was Hmm for Cameron on the edge of things - then I thought a little longer. He may be out of the crosshairs and the others can fight like ferrets instead.

    I can't believe CCHQ took this slot by accident or under duress.

    Given that Cameron has an aloofness problem, psychologically being on the sidelines might subliminally be a bad place to be for him.

    Probably Thursday is not a good day for him to try and do imperious....

  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821

    By the same reasoning the unemployed should be charged income tax on the income they are foregoing by not working.

    This is a false analogy. If you fail to work, you do not ipso facto receive income or anything equivalent to income. There is an argument, of course, that benefits should be charged to tax, but that would be administratively inconvenient and unnecessary. By contrast, an owner occupier receives the beneficial enjoyment of land, an economically productive asset, which is equivalent to receiving a rental income. Indeed, owner occupiers used to be assessed to income tax on the rental value of their properties under Schedule A to the Income Tax Act 1952 for this reason.
    The unemployed person gets the beneficial enjoyment of free time, which the employed person doesn't get, and which we know has an economic value because the rich pay a lot for people to do things for them in order to get more free time themselves. So the analogy is not false at all, it's perfectly reasonable.

    Or, to put it in plainer English, the original suggestion is bonkers.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    Ukip seem to have the same pledge card as Labour - but in purple.

  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262

    taffys said:

    The Tories offer literally nothing on housing in London.

    Keep shouting this from the rooftops, Mr Max. We have a number of young profs working for us and even the humblest london property is way beyond them. There is a whole army of these people and they are going to to swing it for labour.

    They even know labour are cr8p, but if enough money flees London after a Milli victory, they might have a chance to buy.

    As an example a 'young prof' couple could buy a house in Byfleet for c£390k. Another one, 4 beds, £340k. A flat for c£200k

    I fail to see why given this opportunity anyone should feel like ruining the entire country just to be selfish.
    But why should they slum it as commuters, when by rights, they should be living in a trendy pad in Shoreditch?
  • Tissue_PriceTissue_Price Posts: 9,039
    I still can't quite see why Farage is favourite over Cameron in this market (spreads or fixed-odds) at all, given that the Tories are polling about 2.5 times as well and most Tories rate Cameron.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Plato said:

    My initial reaction was Hmm for Cameron on the edge of things - then I thought a little longer. He may be out of the crosshairs and the others can fight like ferrets instead.

    I can't believe CCHQ took this slot by accident or under duress.

    Given that Cameron has an aloofness problem, psychologically being on the sidelines might subliminally be a bad place to be for him.

    Probably Thursday is not a good day for him to try and do imperious....

    It's a very good position for him. He's trying to portray the other 6 as a motley group of opposition parties, none of which are serious, and so it's better not to be amongst them. He just needs to be careful not to overdo it and look arrogant/aloof. I hope he's rehearsing well with some good impersonators of the other 6.
  • Tissue_PriceTissue_Price Posts: 9,039

    For all his swagger and cheeky-chappiness, I reckon the most nervous person in the debates may well be Farage.

    Especially if Carswell chooses Wednesday to announce he's leaving UKIP... ;-)

    "Anyone can rat, but..."
  • SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 39,672

    Labour have screwed up badly with their FT ad. Of course, in general it wouldn't matter a hoot what quotes they take out of context and use without permission - the average voter will not notice, and wouldn't care anyway.

    However, there is one important group who will both notice and care, and that is the type of person who reads the FT. Since presumably this is precisely the group whom Labour were trying to reach, it looks like a very silly, and expensive, own-goal.

    I doubt it. Those who read the FT are sophisticated enough to understand that the ad does not mean the companies concerned are endorsing Labour and that the companies themselves were bound to react. They'll also notice that none has actually disowned the quotes. None of this will come as a surprise to Labour. Instead, it looks to me like Labour is using the FT name itself, as well as the companies concerned, to counter the Tory charge that the party is anti-business among voters as a whole. Whether that will be successful and whether the money could have been better spent elsewhere are, of course, different matters entirely.

  • I still can't quite see why Farage is favourite over Cameron in this market (spreads or fixed-odds) at all, given that the Tories are polling about 2.5 times as well and most Tories rate Cameron.

    Tories were outpolling the Lib Dems by more than 2 times in 2010 and the most Tories then rated Cameron, and Clegg still won.
  • FlightpathFlightpath Posts: 4,012
    antifrank said:

    Artist said:

    1.Farage 2.Cameron 3.Miliband 4.Sturgeon 5.Clegg 6. Bennett 7.Wood

    Would be my guess.

    Interesting that you think that David Cameron and Ed Miliband will make up two of the top three. That is my belief too, which if correct makes the action on this market clearcut.

    But I'm not going to get further in on this particular event.
    As far as Farage goes you have to ask yourself how clever are the Lefties? Are they capable of bringing out the remark which pulls the rug from under him or are they crass enough to do his sloganising for him? To what extent do the Lefties *want* Farage to do well on the assumption that it hurts the Tories?
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @joeyjonessky: This is the new Labour election broadcast Martin Freeman: 'I choose Labour' – The Labour Party http://t.co/oLXCKyc0Gs
  • Life_ina_market_townLife_ina_market_town Posts: 2,319
    edited March 2015

    The unemployed person gets the beneficial enjoyment of free time, which the employed person doesn't get, and which we know has an economic value because the rich pay a lot for people to do things for them in order to get more free time themselves. So the analogy is not false at all, it's perfectly reasonable.

    Or, to put it in plainer English, the original suggestion is bonkers.

    Free time is not an asset that is capable of being beneficially owned and being put to economic use, unlike realty.
    The situation can be looked at in another way: an owner occupier effectively pays himself the rents and profits of his estate in land. Had he let the property to a tenant, he would be charged to income tax on those rents and profits. Why should he escape liability merely by choosing to live in?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,411

    I still can't quite see why Farage is favourite over Cameron in this market (spreads or fixed-odds) at all, given that the Tories are polling about 2.5 times as well and most Tories rate Cameron.

    Indeed - Interesting to see 365 go top price Miliband though :D
  • PlatoPlato Posts: 15,724
    I'm out of touch re page prices - but LHQ will have spent c£30k for that advert before design costs and of course the negative PR it's generated.

    Some of those quotes are 2yrs old. What were they thinking of? Nevermind hi-jacking them as spurious endorsements?

    It's epically poor form.

    Labour have screwed up badly with their FT ad. Of course, in general it wouldn't matter a hoot what quotes they take out of context and use without permission - the average voter will not notice, and wouldn't care anyway.

    However, there is one important group who will both notice and care, and that is the type of person who reads the FT. Since presumably this is precisely the group whom Labour were trying to reach, it looks like a very silly, and expensive, own-goal.

  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821

    I doubt it. Those who read the FT are sophisticated enough to understand that the ad does not mean the companies concerned are endorsing Labour and that the companies themselves were bound to react. They'll also notice that none has actually disowned the quotes.

    No, their principal reaction will be that it was unacceptable to use the quotes without permission and this will reinforce the already strong impression that business cannot trust Labour.

    Of course, most readers of the FT probably agree that leaving the EU would be a very bad idea, but that's a different point.
  • PongPong Posts: 4,693

    By the same reasoning the unemployed should be charged income tax on the income they are foregoing by not working.

    This is a false analogy. If you fail to work, you do not ipso facto receive income or anything equivalent to income. There is an argument, of course, that benefits should be charged to tax, but that would be administratively inconvenient and unnecessary. By contrast, an owner occupier receives the beneficial enjoyment of land, an economically productive asset, which is equivalent to receiving a rental income. Indeed, owner occupiers used to be assessed to income tax on the rental value of their properties under Schedule A to the Income Tax Act 1952 for this reason.
    The unemployed person gets the beneficial enjoyment of free time, which the employed person doesn't get, and which we know has an economic value because the rich pay a lot for people to do things for them in order to get more free time themselves. So the analogy is not false at all, it's perfectly reasonable.

    Or, to put it in plainer English, the original suggestion is bonkers.
    Of course, the irony is, when people get lots of free time it's often nowhere near as good as they think it will be.

    Retirement is a complete disaster for a lot of people.
  • MarkHopkinsMarkHopkins Posts: 5,584

    Labour have screwed up badly with their FT ad. Of course, in general it wouldn't matter a hoot what quotes they take out of context and use without permission - the average voter will not notice, and wouldn't care anyway.

    However, there is one important group who will both notice and care, and that is the type of person who reads the FT. Since presumably this is precisely the group whom Labour were trying to reach, it looks like a very silly, and expensive, own-goal.

    I doubt it. Those who read the FT are sophisticated enough to understand that the ad does not mean the companies concerned are endorsing Labour and that the companies themselves were bound to react. They'll also notice that none has actually disowned the quotes. None of this will come as a surprise to Labour. Instead, it looks to me like Labour is using the FT name itself, as well as the companies concerned, to counter the Tory charge that the party is anti-business among voters as a whole. Whether that will be successful and whether the money could have been better spent elsewhere are, of course, different matters entirely.


    I suspect it will be as successful as the Tories taking an ad out in the Guardian saying "trust us on the NHS".

  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    DavidL said:

    Sturgeon and Miliband are the most interesting pair for this.

    If this was a one off I think Sturgeon would be going for Miliband's throat. She wants 30 odd seats off him and one at best from the Tories. But she is going to get another go uninterrupted in the also ran debate and this is going to be her only shot at Cameron.

    There is also the consideration that one way of having a go at SLAB is to prove she can be even tougher on the Conservatives than they are and the positioning above may well tend her that way.

    Cameron is likely to be attacked by the Greens and PC for the same reason, everyone trying to prove who is the most lefty. And then there is Nick trying to differentiate. And of course Farage is going to be coming at him too since UKIP have a far better chance at picking up Tory seats than Labour ones.

    All in all, not a comfortable night for DC. Make your points in your minute short and sharp and then hope it falls into a rammy so you can say I told you so seems the best option. Ed will get his comeuppance in the next debate. I think he is a goodish bet for coming out of this one ok as the fire is focussed on DC.

    Edit, I forgot to add that Ed will want to concentrate on DC too so everyone will be leaving Nicola alone making her a good bet.

    Sturgeon will be looking to draw as much equivalency between Miliband and Cameron as possible.

    She'll save the outright attacks for the next debate where she will have more time to work through details.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,514
    edited March 2015
    Scott_P said:

    @joeyjonessky: This is the new Labour election broadcast Martin Freeman: 'I choose Labour' – The Labour Party http://t.co/oLXCKyc0Gs

    No mention of Ed?

    I really hate these "celeb" videos, endorsements, etc. Most are as normally about as in touch with the real world as top politicians.
  • PlatoPlato Posts: 15,724
    With respect, that's wishing well cobblers.

    Labour have screwed up badly with their FT ad. Of course, in general it wouldn't matter a hoot what quotes they take out of context and use without permission - the average voter will not notice, and wouldn't care anyway.

    However, there is one important group who will both notice and care, and that is the type of person who reads the FT. Since presumably this is precisely the group whom Labour were trying to reach, it looks like a very silly, and expensive, own-goal.

    I doubt it. Those who read the FT are sophisticated enough to understand that the ad does not mean the companies concerned are endorsing Labour and that the companies themselves were bound to react. They'll also notice that none has actually disowned the quotes. None of this will come as a surprise to Labour. Instead, it looks to me like Labour is using the FT name itself, as well as the companies concerned, to counter the Tory charge that the party is anti-business among voters as a whole. Whether that will be successful and whether the money could have been better spent elsewhere are, of course, different matters entirely.

  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    I still can't quite see why Farage is favourite over Cameron in this market (spreads or fixed-odds) at all, given that the Tories are polling about 2.5 times as well and most Tories rate Cameron.

    I make Nigel Farage marginal favourite over David Cameron because some Conservative voters like Nigel Farage at least as much as they like David Cameron. But I'm very happy to be on David Cameron in this market at 4/1 and 9/2.
  • SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 39,672

    Labour have screwed up badly with their FT ad. Of course, in general it wouldn't matter a hoot what quotes they take out of context and use without permission - the average voter will not notice, and wouldn't care anyway.

    However, there is one important group who will both notice and care, and that is the type of person who reads the FT. Since presumably this is precisely the group whom Labour were trying to reach, it looks like a very silly, and expensive, own-goal.

    I doubt it. Those who read the FT are sophisticated enough to understand that the ad does not mean the companies concerned are endorsing Labour and that the companies themselves were bound to react. They'll also notice that none has actually disowned the quotes. None of this will come as a surprise to Labour. Instead, it looks to me like Labour is using the FT name itself, as well as the companies concerned, to counter the Tory charge that the party is anti-business among voters as a whole. Whether that will be successful and whether the money could have been better spent elsewhere are, of course, different matters entirely.


    I suspect it will be as successful as the Tories taking an ad out in the Guardian saying "trust us on the NHS".

    I doubt it will change many FT readers' minds. But I doubt it was intended to.

  • SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 39,672
    Plato said:

    With respect, that's wishing well cobblers.

    Labour have screwed up badly with their FT ad. Of course, in general it wouldn't matter a hoot what quotes they take out of context and use without permission - the average voter will not notice, and wouldn't care anyway.

    However, there is one important group who will both notice and care, and that is the type of person who reads the FT. Since presumably this is precisely the group whom Labour were trying to reach, it looks like a very silly, and expensive, own-goal.

    I doubt it. Those who read the FT are sophisticated enough to understand that the ad does not mean the companies concerned are endorsing Labour and that the companies themselves were bound to react. They'll also notice that none has actually disowned the quotes. None of this will come as a surprise to Labour. Instead, it looks to me like Labour is using the FT name itself, as well as the companies concerned, to counter the Tory charge that the party is anti-business among voters as a whole. Whether that will be successful and whether the money could have been better spent elsewhere are, of course, different matters entirely.

    Funnily enough, I could have said exactly the same about the nonsense you posted on this. We disagree. Who'd have thought it?
  • ItwasriggedItwasrigged Posts: 154
    This isn't a bet I would take on in any way. I think a lot of the outcome will depend on what questions get asked and how often. I don't know anything about the demographics of the Opinion Pollsters either. No, too many unknowns even for me and I like to make the odd crazy bets as well.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053

    Farage launching his 5 pledges - saying UKIP has a distinctive offering being the only party wanting to get out of EU pic.twitter.com/AR1gXw5Dlk

    — Rowena Mason (@rowenamason) March 30, 2015
  • SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 39,672

    I doubt it. Those who read the FT are sophisticated enough to understand that the ad does not mean the companies concerned are endorsing Labour and that the companies themselves were bound to react. They'll also notice that none has actually disowned the quotes.

    No, their principal reaction will be that it was unacceptable to use the quotes without permission and this will reinforce the already strong impression that business cannot trust Labour.

    Of course, most readers of the FT probably agree that leaving the EU would be a very bad idea, but that's a different point.

    I doubt it. FT readers understand that you do not need anyone's permission to use quotes that are on the record and in the public domain.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    You have posted 3 times within 60 seconds. A spam block is now in effect on your account. You must wait at least 120 seconds before attempting to post again.

    This came up in brilliant red. Is this something new?
  • PongPong Posts: 4,693

    This isn't a bet I would take on in any way. I think a lot of the outcome will depend on what questions get asked and how often. I don't know anything about the demographics of the Opinion Pollsters either. No, too many unknowns even for me and I like to make the odd crazy bets as well.

    Very sensible.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,326

    I doubt it. Those who read the FT are sophisticated enough to understand that the ad does not mean the companies concerned are endorsing Labour and that the companies themselves were bound to react. They'll also notice that none has actually disowned the quotes.

    No, their principal reaction will be that it was unacceptable to use the quotes without permission and this will reinforce the already strong impression that business cannot trust Labour.

    Of course, most readers of the FT probably agree that leaving the EU would be a very bad idea, but that's a different point.
    The obvious question to ask is this: given that Labour are so concerned about businesses' views on the EU why aren't they equally concerned about what business says about some of their other policies?

    The issue about whether they got approval is a relatively minor (save in the case of the individual who expressed his views on a personal basis but is quoted in his role with a bank) one but it does show a failure to sweat the small stuff. It's this lack of attention to detail which will trip them up in government (if they get there). Nice vague ideas are not enough.

  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,411
    antifrank said:

    I still can't quite see why Farage is favourite over Cameron in this market (spreads or fixed-odds) at all, given that the Tories are polling about 2.5 times as well and most Tories rate Cameron.

    I make Nigel Farage marginal favourite over David Cameron because some Conservative voters like Nigel Farage at least as much as they like David Cameron. But I'm very happy to be on David Cameron in this market at 4/1 and 9/2.
    Sold Clegg £2; Wood £1.50
    Backed Dave £10 4-1; Sturgeon £5 8-1; Clegg £3 10-1; Wood £2 50-1.

    So probably


    Clegg
    Wood
    Farage
    Cameron
    Miliband
    Sturgeon
    Bennett

    Is the order :D
  • GrandioseGrandiose Posts: 2,323
    Re Labour's ad: the spat with Siemens and Kelloggs is like to engulf the ad itself. If Labour honestly didn't think they would object to being quoted in a Labour Party ad, they're idiots. If on the other hand this was a ploy to feed the Miliband v Big Business narrative, then it may yet be successful.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053

    2010 UKIP launch was two cameras and a dog pic.twitter.com/MjljpJMvkY

    — Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) March 30, 2015
  • Tissue_PriceTissue_Price Posts: 9,039

    I still can't quite see why Farage is favourite over Cameron in this market (spreads or fixed-odds) at all, given that the Tories are polling about 2.5 times as well and most Tories rate Cameron.

    Tories were outpolling the Lib Dems by more than 2 times in 2010 and the most Tories then rated Cameron, and Clegg still won.
    From the centre.
  • taffystaffys Posts: 9,753
    Guido is already Johnny on the spot on a Freeman tax story..
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    I would have been a massive loser on the buzzword bingo last time out if I had ventured a punt, I am leaving well alone this time as well.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,064

    I doubt it. Those who read the FT are sophisticated enough to understand that the ad does not mean the companies concerned are endorsing Labour and that the companies themselves were bound to react. They'll also notice that none has actually disowned the quotes.

    No, their principal reaction will be that it was unacceptable to use the quotes without permission and this will reinforce the already strong impression that business cannot trust Labour.

    Of course, most readers of the FT probably agree that leaving the EU would be a very bad idea, but that's a different point.
    Definitely an element of preaching to the converted.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,025
    Oh this is going to be awful. At least it is getting put away at an early stage in the Campaign.

  • PlatoPlato Posts: 15,724
    Your argument has more holes than a string vest.

    That =

    *FT readers won't think it's duplicitous to use quotes without permission that aren't current as faux endorsement of Labour.
    * FT readers won't be bothered by this duplicity as they're *sophisticated*
    * FT readers won't be concerned that their investments won't be negatively effected by such faux endorsements as they weren't really real and everyone knows this?

    It's nonsense on stilts and you know it too. I admire your determination to mitigate this crap PR exercise. But it remains a crap PR exercise. Having those who you used to endorse you saying WTF? How Dare You isn't ever a good outcome.

    Plato said:

    With respect, that's wishing well cobblers.

    Labour have screwed up badly with their FT ad. Of course, in general it wouldn't matter a hoot what quotes they take out of context and use without permission - the average voter will not notice, and wouldn't care anyway.

    However, there is one important group who will both notice and care, and that is the type of person who reads the FT. Since presumably this is precisely the group whom Labour were trying to reach, it looks like a very silly, and expensive, own-goal.

    I doubt it. Those who read the FT are sophisticated enough to understand that the ad does not mean the companies concerned are endorsing Labour and that the companies themselves were bound to react. They'll also notice that none has actually disowned the quotes. None of this will come as a surprise to Labour. Instead, it looks to me like Labour is using the FT name itself, as well as the companies concerned, to counter the Tory charge that the party is anti-business among voters as a whole. Whether that will be successful and whether the money could have been better spent elsewhere are, of course, different matters entirely.

    Funnily enough, I could have said exactly the same about the nonsense you posted on this. We disagree. Who'd have thought it?
  • GrandioseGrandiose Posts: 2,323
    MikeK said:

    Farage launching his 5 pledges - saying UKIP has a distinctive offering being the only party wanting to get out of EU pic.twitter.com/AR1gXw5Dlk

    — Rowena Mason (@rowenamason) March 30, 2015

    This new politics sure looks like the old politics.
This discussion has been closed.