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  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,861
    Farage looks a ridiculously short priced favourite to me at 6/4 in a field of 7. I think both Sturgeon and Wood should struggle given the size of their natural constituencies and Bennett has already proved herself to be out of her depth in interviews. But Sturgeon is only 9/1 best price and as short at 6/1 so I am probably missing something in analysing her chances.

    Both Cameron and Miliband look decent value at 7/2 and 9/2 respectively. But Clegg looks the value bet to me at 12/1. He's got form in winning the first UK 2010 debate and comes into this on the back of poor poll ratings and low expectations.

    I'm hoping for a multiple Cleggasm!
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    @Dair Danczuk was sitting on a majority of 889, he has raised his profile over the last 5 years, and so too has his wife, but will tonight's story do enough to turf him out?

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/d71.stm

  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,064
    He is probably the one politician that I believe hasn't had a hangover for a long time. Ed Miliband seems like a real bore.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,483
    To be honest, his handwriting is far better than mine.

    (My handwriting was so poor that relatives said I should become a GP).
  • DairDair Posts: 6,108
    MikeK said:

    One of nine Britons detained in Turkey for allegedly trying to cross illegally into Syria has been named as the son of a Labour councillor.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32165337

    Well fancy that, and from Rochdale too.

    To be fair.

    It is possible they weren't trying to join ISIS and had another reason to get out of the country as quickly as possible....
  • JackWJackW Posts: 14,787
    edited April 2015
    A few pre-debate musings before the gladiators enter the arena.

    I think the Q&A part of the debate is likely to pass off without too much blood spilled. Each participant will give their pre-rehearsed sound bites that we've heard regularly enough. Points will be gained through body language, delivery and a sense of confidence. Some may even be convinced by what is said. :smile:

    I expect the fireworks will come during each of the 18 minute open debate sections. The positioning of Sturgeon next to Cameron offers the prospect of the First Minister burnishing her anti-Conservatives credentials with a full throated denunciation. How will Cameron respond. He has to be careful not do the "calm down dear" tactic.

    Farage is the other joker in the pack. This is his chance. IMO tonight is sh*t or bust. Fail to deliver and the present slow slide of Ukip will gather pace. OTOH he has the capability and presence to barn storm the proceedings.

    If both these possibilities come to pass both Miliband and Clegg will be bystanders and suffer accordingly.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,533
    edited April 2015
    "Mr Miliband tells us about sexting, his hangover cure, and - perhaps best of all - what the last text message he received was."

    This is a spoof right?

    But Cameron has done "heat" magazine...the video trailer for that was cringe-worthy. I hate to think what the actual interview will be like.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    stjohn said:

    But Clegg looks the value bet to me at 12/1. He's got form in winning the first UK 2010 debate and comes into this on the back of poor poll ratings and low expectations.

    I'm hoping for a multiple Cleggasm!

    @SamCoatesTimes: Apparently at some of the recent Tory rehearsals for tonight's debate, the Clegg character (Hunt) wiped the floor. Yes, I'm surprised too..

    @SamCoatesTimes: ... apparently the simplicity of the Clegg message cut through easily in the Tory rehearsal...
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    Dair said:

    MikeK said:

    One of nine Britons detained in Turkey for allegedly trying to cross illegally into Syria has been named as the son of a Labour councillor.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32165337

    Well fancy that, and from Rochdale too.

    To be fair.

    It is possible they weren't trying to join ISIS and had another reason to get out of the country as quickly as possible....
    Yep, could be........... escaping from a UKIP surge perhaps. ;)
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,533
    edited April 2015
    Dair said:

    MikeK said:

    One of nine Britons detained in Turkey for allegedly trying to cross illegally into Syria has been named as the son of a Labour councillor.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32165337

    Well fancy that, and from Rochdale too.

    To be fair.

    It is possible they weren't trying to join ISIS and had another reason to get out of the country as quickly as possible....
    An amazing offer on Islamist version of PriceLine that they just couldn't turn down. A 5* all inclusive spring break for 9, just no mention of which country it was located in?
  • DairDair Posts: 6,108
    It's too big an opportunity for Farage not to go with this tonight. None of the others will touch it for obvious reasons but Farage has an open goal and he's 6 yards out.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,064
    Dair said:

    MikeK said:

    One of nine Britons detained in Turkey for allegedly trying to cross illegally into Syria has been named as the son of a Labour councillor.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32165337

    Well fancy that, and from Rochdale too.

    To be fair.

    It is possible they weren't trying to join ISIS and had another reason to get out of the country as quickly as possible....
    Rochdale eh...
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,861
    Scott_P said:

    stjohn said:

    But Clegg looks the value bet to me at 12/1. He's got form in winning the first UK 2010 debate and comes into this on the back of poor poll ratings and low expectations.

    I'm hoping for a multiple Cleggasm!

    @SamCoatesTimes: Apparently at some of the recent Tory rehearsals for tonight's debate, the Clegg character (Hunt) wiped the floor. Yes, I'm surprised too..

    @SamCoatesTimes: ... apparently the simplicity of the Clegg message cut through easily in the Tory rehearsal...
    I think Clegg has got a good story to tell. Responsibility in government, prepared to compromise in the national interest, tough decisions, a check on the Tories, credit for contributing to the economic recovery .....
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,483
    Scott_P said:

    stjohn said:

    But Clegg looks the value bet to me at 12/1. He's got form in winning the first UK 2010 debate and comes into this on the back of poor poll ratings and low expectations.

    I'm hoping for a multiple Cleggasm!

    @SamCoatesTimes: Apparently at some of the recent Tory rehearsals for tonight's debate, the Clegg character (Hunt) wiped the floor. Yes, I'm surprised too..

    @SamCoatesTimes: ... apparently the simplicity of the Clegg message cut through easily in the Tory rehearsal...
    And that's #53 of #810 reasons I dislike the debates: it has people preparing for pointless, meaningless dross rather than getting on with their real jobs. The same could be said for PMQs, except most weeks a backbenchers risks the wrath of the whips to ask a question of genuine interest to their constituents or the nation.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    http://ukipdaily.com/are-we-just-seeing-a-narrative/

    I don’t want to be branded as a conspiracy theorist, but I study what’s going on, research it, think about it, and draw conclusions. And what I see going on right now in the mainstream media, and from the lips of LibLabCon politicians, is a consistent “narrative” which is based on the premise of:

    “UKIP is still a minority party, who have quite a few fruitcakes in their ranks, whose policies aren’t well formed, who have some nasty tendencies and whose voters will desert them for us in the election.”

    Try it, test everything you see in the media against that “narrative” (with some notable exceptions such as the Express and Star on a good day, and Breitbart on most days) and I think my point is proven.
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,928
    stjohn said:

    Scott_P said:

    stjohn said:

    But Clegg looks the value bet to me at 12/1. He's got form in winning the first UK 2010 debate and comes into this on the back of poor poll ratings and low expectations.

    I'm hoping for a multiple Cleggasm!

    @SamCoatesTimes: Apparently at some of the recent Tory rehearsals for tonight's debate, the Clegg character (Hunt) wiped the floor. Yes, I'm surprised too..

    @SamCoatesTimes: ... apparently the simplicity of the Clegg message cut through easily in the Tory rehearsal...
    I think Clegg has got a good story to tell. Responsibility in government, prepared to compromise in the national interest, tough decisions, a check on the Tories, credit for contributing to the economic recovery .....
    The question is whether people have wised up to that kind of Clintonian/Blairite triangulation and if it works anymore. I suspect people will want clear vision not someone who cleverly plays the system in the middle.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    IOS said:

    Charles

    Labour went into that election knowing that it couldn't win a majority. So it decided to run a scorched earth campaign coupled with a frantic defense. For its stated aim of blocking a Tory majority it was an excellent campaign.

    Maybe the Tories are just trying to prevent a Lab majority?

    No: Labour's campaign in 2010 was one of fear ("they will turn you out on the streets and take away the things you need to live"). The Tories are pointing out, in their view, that Labour is unprepared for government. There's a difference.

  • EPGEPG Posts: 6,653
    How is "loser" decided? Lowest rating or fewest votes as first-place winner?
  • DairDair Posts: 6,108
    MikeK said:

    http://ukipdaily.com/are-we-just-seeing-a-narrative/

    I don’t want to be branded as a conspiracy theorist, but I study what’s going on, research it, think about it, and draw conclusions. And what I see going on right now in the mainstream media, and from the lips of LibLabCon politicians, is a consistent “narrative” which is based on the premise of:

    “UKIP is still a minority party, who have quite a few fruitcakes in their ranks, whose policies aren’t well formed, who have some nasty tendencies and whose voters will desert them for us in the election.”

    Try it, test everything you see in the media against that “narrative” (with some notable exceptions such as the Express and Star on a good day, and Breitbart on most days) and I think my point is proven.

    Just because it's a media narrative doesn't mean it isn't true.

    UKIP are a minority party and on course for 10% of the vote.
    UKIP are filled with fruitcakes, often discards from other parties.
    Said fruitcakes and discards have some very, very nasty tendencies.

    UKIP is an extreme right wing race hate party, founded on the principle of gaining votes by "Othering". They lie about immigrants, they lie about the EU. Anything with a grain of truth they say is distorted until meaningless.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Charles said:

    IOS said:

    Charles

    Did we win in 2010?!?

    You did a lot better than expected, certainly.

    But I'm interested in your implication that 2010's negativity would have been justified if you had won

    All parties go negative. Presumably they feel the ends justifies the means.

    Of course they do! I'm just gently mocking IOS's sanctimoniousness.

    I remember when he was claiming that Labour were going to sweep Cornwall
  • GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071
    Dair said:

    MikeK said:

    http://ukipdaily.com/are-we-just-seeing-a-narrative/

    I don’t want to be branded as a conspiracy theorist, but I study what’s going on, research it, think about it, and draw conclusions. And what I see going on right now in the mainstream media, and from the lips of LibLabCon politicians, is a consistent “narrative” which is based on the premise of:

    “UKIP is still a minority party, who have quite a few fruitcakes in their ranks, whose policies aren’t well formed, who have some nasty tendencies and whose voters will desert them for us in the election.”

    Try it, test everything you see in the media against that “narrative” (with some notable exceptions such as the Express and Star on a good day, and Breitbart on most days) and I think my point is proven.

    Just because it's a media narrative doesn't mean it isn't true.

    UKIP are a minority party and on course for 10% of the vote.
    UKIP are filled with fruitcakes, often discards from other parties.
    Said fruitcakes and discards have some very, very nasty tendencies.

    UKIP is an extreme right wing race hate party, founded on the principle of gaining votes by "Othering". They lie about immigrants, they lie about the EU. Anything with a grain of truth they say is distorted until meaningless.
    Cheers for that. It's nice to get such an impartial observer's opinion every now and then.
    Breaks up the partisan stuff.
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,913

    TV alert:

    BBC 4 at 22.00. Building Burma's Death Railway.

    Might be of interest to the historians / military fans / railway nuts.

    Just from the title I suspect it'll not appeal to any of those listed. I'd probably classify myself as o the periphery of all of your 3 categories. I'm 99% sure I'll finish up wanting more focus rather than a 'please all' programme.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    IOS said:

    Charles

    Labour went into that election knowing that it couldn't win a majority. So it decided to run a scorched earth campaign ...

    Party before Country, as always.

    Spot on. The only patriotic thing to have done would have been to stand down and not to contest the election. I am continually outraged that any party stands against the Tories. How dare they act against the national interest in that way?

    That wasn't Watcher's point.

    Labour behaved dreadfully in the run up to the last election, from setting landmines to deferring key decisions to utterly petty decisions like cutting the PM's salary.

    That is worthy of criticism.

    Osborne could have gone for a tax-cutting, handout driven budget. But he didn't. If he had, I would have criticised him for putting Party before Country. Of course you can argue that Osborne didn't because he couldn't (either because of the facts of life, or because of the LibDems) but the facts of the matter are that he didn't.
  • Rob1909Rob1909 Posts: 18
    Is anybody else doing the YouGov slider poll during the debate?
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207
    MaxPB said:

    Never mind the debates. Look what's about to come hurtling over the horizon.

    'Greece will go bankrupt in seven days, government officials have told their creditors as the fragile trust between the debtor country and its lenders shows no signs of repairing.'

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11510976/Trust-frays-in-bail-out-talks-as-Varoufakis-slams-lenders-for-leaking-reforms.html

    Never underestimate the EU capacity to fudge it at the last minute.
    Though if the EU came and asked us for more money would that count as a black swan event?
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,928

    Scott_P said:

    stjohn said:

    But Clegg looks the value bet to me at 12/1. He's got form in winning the first UK 2010 debate and comes into this on the back of poor poll ratings and low expectations.

    I'm hoping for a multiple Cleggasm!

    @SamCoatesTimes: Apparently at some of the recent Tory rehearsals for tonight's debate, the Clegg character (Hunt) wiped the floor. Yes, I'm surprised too..

    @SamCoatesTimes: ... apparently the simplicity of the Clegg message cut through easily in the Tory rehearsal...
    And that's #53 of #810 reasons I dislike the debates: it has people preparing for pointless, meaningless dross rather than getting on with their real jobs. The same could be said for PMQs, except most weeks a backbenchers risks the wrath of the whips to ask a question of genuine interest to their constituents or the nation.
    But what do you propose? No election campaign? Democracy is not perfect but we have to have a way to assess the qualities of our potential leaders. Andrew Cooper wrote in The Guardian about how the debates will add nothing and are a waste of time. Fine but propose an alternative. Too many of these people seem to think it's rather demeaning of our enlightened leaders to have to abase themselves in front of the plebs. Is scrutiny beneath them?
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    What time does the debate start?
    And where can we find the yougov slider, I found the telegraph twitter worm:
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/politics-blog/11512203/Election-debates-Who-does-Twitter-think-is-winning.html
    Rob1909 said:

    Is anybody else doing the YouGov slider poll during the debate?

  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207
    IOS said:

    Debates will be dire and forgotten pretty quickly.

    But another day down for Ed and another day (so far) without any cock ups.


    just over 30 more days like that and he's PM.

    ANOTHER day without cockups?

    spinner or someone who hasn't being paying attention.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,483
    edited April 2015
    Speedy said:

    What time does the debate start?
    And where can we find the yougov slider, I found the telegraph twitter worm:
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/politics-blog/11512203/Election-debates-Who-does-Twitter-think-is-winning.html

    Rob1909 said:

    Is anybody else doing the YouGov slider poll during the debate?

    Oh God, not a Worm. And for once, science backs me up. :-)

    Edit:
    http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0018154
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,533
    edited April 2015
    According to Mr Ahmed, the others being held include Waheed's aunt Zadia Bi, 50, two of Zadia's sons and one of the son's wives, the Manchester Evening News reports. The couple also have two children who were among the four children detained.

    Bit of a family vacation...
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,483
    edited April 2015

    Scott_P said:

    stjohn said:

    But Clegg looks the value bet to me at 12/1. He's got form in winning the first UK 2010 debate and comes into this on the back of poor poll ratings and low expectations.

    I'm hoping for a multiple Cleggasm!

    @SamCoatesTimes: Apparently at some of the recent Tory rehearsals for tonight's debate, the Clegg character (Hunt) wiped the floor. Yes, I'm surprised too..

    @SamCoatesTimes: ... apparently the simplicity of the Clegg message cut through easily in the Tory rehearsal...
    And that's #53 of #810 reasons I dislike the debates: it has people preparing for pointless, meaningless dross rather than getting on with their real jobs. The same could be said for PMQs, except most weeks a backbenchers risks the wrath of the whips to ask a question of genuine interest to their constituents or the nation.
    But what do you propose? No election campaign? Democracy is not perfect but we have to have a way to assess the qualities of our potential leaders. Andrew Cooper wrote in The Guardian about how the debates will add nothing and are a waste of time. Fine but propose an alternative. Too many of these people seem to think it's rather demeaning of our enlightened leaders to have to abase themselves in front of the plebs. Is scrutiny beneath them?
    We've managed a few hundred years of election campaigns - some of them even democratic - without debates. Considering they add f'all to human knowledge and exist only to give TV and newspaper execs hard-ons, why have them?

    And this is not a presidential election. We vote for MPs, not national leaders. We should not be moving even further towards the latter, which just gives more power to the parties (boo, hiss).
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Scott_P said:

    stjohn said:

    But Clegg looks the value bet to me at 12/1. He's got form in winning the first UK 2010 debate and comes into this on the back of poor poll ratings and low expectations.

    I'm hoping for a multiple Cleggasm!

    @SamCoatesTimes: Apparently at some of the recent Tory rehearsals for tonight's debate, the Clegg character (Hunt) wiped the floor. Yes, I'm surprised too..

    @SamCoatesTimes: ... apparently the simplicity of the Clegg message cut through easily in the Tory rehearsal...
    And that's #53 of #810 reasons I dislike the debates: it has people preparing for pointless, meaningless dross rather than getting on with their real jobs. The same could be said for PMQs, except most weeks a backbenchers risks the wrath of the whips to ask a question of genuine interest to their constituents or the nation.
    The point about PMQ is - to some extent - it forces the PM to be briefed and reasonably up to speed on the full range of governmental matters
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,540
    Dair said:

    MikeK said:

    http://ukipdaily.com/are-we-just-seeing-a-narrative/

    I don’t want to be branded as a conspiracy theorist, but I study what’s going on, research it, think about it, and draw conclusions. And what I see going on right now in the mainstream media, and from the lips of LibLabCon politicians, is a consistent “narrative” which is based on the premise of:

    “UKIP is still a minority party, who have quite a few fruitcakes in their ranks, whose policies aren’t well formed, who have some nasty tendencies and whose voters will desert them for us in the election.”

    Try it, test everything you see in the media against that “narrative” (with some notable exceptions such as the Express and Star on a good day, and Breitbart on most days) and I think my point is proven.

    Just because it's a media narrative doesn't mean it isn't true.

    UKIP are a minority party and on course for 10% of the vote.
    UKIP are filled with fruitcakes, often discards from other parties.
    Said fruitcakes and discards have some very, very nasty tendencies.

    UKIP is an extreme right wing race hate party, founded on the principle of gaining votes by "Othering". They lie about immigrants, they lie about the EU. Anything with a grain of truth they say is distorted until meaningless.
    Bow Locks to all of that.
  • TW1R64TW1R64 Posts: 56
    The YouGov slider poll thingy is by invitation. You're invited to download the app and watch the first hour sliding left to right depending on if you approve of what's being said.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,533
    edited April 2015
    Oh dear...oh dear...oh dear...as SO would say.

    Labour has removed a signatory from a letter of support amid claims that she was a benefits cheat who conned the state out of nearly £30,000.

    She claimed tax credits and child benefits for three children, two of whom did not live with her, even though she was barred from making claims because she was under "immigration control".

    She subsequently moved in with a new partner but went on to submit tax credits as a single person, claiming nearly £30,000 over three years.

    Her "husband" went on to work for HMRC as a security officer. They both also admitted to allowing others to use their names and national insurance numbers to work illegally in the UK.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ed-miliband/11512051/Labour-forced-to-remove-suspected-benefits-cheat-from-letter-of-support.html

    These dick waving letters always end up like this, but given Labour reputation on benefits and immigration, this is a double whammy.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,540
    Floater said:

    IOS said:

    Debates will be dire and forgotten pretty quickly.

    But another day down for Ed and another day (so far) without any cock ups.


    just over 30 more days like that and he's PM.

    ANOTHER day without cockups?

    spinner or someone who hasn't being paying attention.
    It sounds like damning with faint praise.

  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,064
    Rob1909 said:

    Is anybody else doing the YouGov slider poll during the debate?

    My gf has been invited.
  • MarkHopkinsMarkHopkins Posts: 5,584
    edited April 2015
    TW1R64 said:

    The YouGov slider poll thingy is by invitation. You're invited to download the app and watch the first hour sliding left to right depending on if you approve of what's being said.

    "watch the first hour sliding left to right"

    Won't that wear a hole in your trousers?

    :wink:
  • MikeSmithsonMikeSmithson Posts: 7,382
    The tension mounts.
  • MikeSmithsonMikeSmithson Posts: 7,382
    I'm part of Survation's sample for tonight
  • I think UKIP has the most to lose tonight and the fewest ways to avoid losing badly. The dynamics of the debate are poor for them. Attacks on Cameron for not being conservative enough will be undermined by being followed by five other leaders accusing Cameron of being "too conservative" and the failure to be able to follow-up will make Farage look pathetic. Furthermore his options are limited to defending Cameron from those attacks and looking redundant, or joining in populist ones accusing Cameron of abandoning British workers and the unemployed, and looking as if he is joining a leftwing/nationalist pile-on. At the same this whole thing will remind right-wing voters who they let in by voting for UKIP. And Farage has been declared the "favorite" by morons on the media with no strategic sense.

    Farage has to make a credible case that there is some value in voting for UKIP and I really don't see how he does it. If the Tories end up winning a majority or a near majority with UKIP at 6.5% of the vote, it will start tonight.
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100

    Speedy said:

    What time does the debate start?
    And where can we find the yougov slider, I found the telegraph twitter worm:
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/politics-blog/11512203/Election-debates-Who-does-Twitter-think-is-winning.html

    Rob1909 said:

    Is anybody else doing the YouGov slider poll during the debate?

    Oh God, not a Worm. And for once, science backs me up. :-)

    Edit:
    http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0018154
    I know, but it provides some live audience reaction.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,214
    If Natalie gets stuck again tonight she could always resort to the Father Jack approach 'That would be an ecumenical matter'
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    Wurms'R'us

    @tnewtondunn: Watching #leadersdebate? Follow how well the 7 party leaders are doing live on The Sun's Twitter Worm here; http://t.co/bEC3Qu6blr
  • Tissue_PriceTissue_Price Posts: 9,039
    Rob1909 said:

    Is anybody else doing the YouGov slider poll during the debate?

    Yes, foxandsox and I have the 2nd half...
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,913
    If I was a Tory strategist tonight I'd be trying to get Ed to sneer. It's an unattractive trait in all of us, and Ed does it very well - and thus poorly for his prospects.

    That simple thing is all they need.

  • IOSIOS Posts: 1,450
    I would have a lot more respect for farage if he didnt feel the need to put him in front of the cliffs of dover.
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,928
    I'm wondering whether Cameron could be in for it tonight. You've surely got 4 people who are going to engage in endless Tory-bashing and two others who'll do a fair bit of it too.
  • JackWJackW Posts: 14,787

    The tension mounts.

    Steady on Mike .... keep your hair on ....

    :smile:

  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,214
    Nigel Dodds has just come out with a mix of Lab Con Kip policies on the BBC. DUP up for a deal with anyone.
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    Blast, I was focusing on the debate and we get a deal with our new best friend, Iran.

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/apr/02/iran-talks-framework-deal-announcement-eu-live
  • FregglesFreggles Posts: 3,486
    Here we go. Looks like Deal or No Deal.
  • JackWJackW Posts: 14,787
    Seconds out .... Round one ....
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,483
    Speedy said:

    Speedy said:

    What time does the debate start?
    And where can we find the yougov slider, I found the telegraph twitter worm:
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/politics-blog/11512203/Election-debates-Who-does-Twitter-think-is-winning.html

    Rob1909 said:

    Is anybody else doing the YouGov slider poll during the debate?

    Oh God, not a Worm. And for once, science backs me up. :-)

    Edit:
    http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0018154
    I know, but it provides some live audience reaction.
    But it also feeds back into the audience reactions. It's awful as it stands, but worse, it is utterly open to being gamed by unscrupulous parties.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,483
    JackW said:

    Seconds out .... Round one ....

    Of Masterchef. ;-)
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,947
    No red tie for Ed....
  • FregglesFreggles Posts: 3,486
    Cameron in full on Steve Bell mode here. Not sure which is creepier, looking at the camera or not looking at it
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,913

    If Natalie gets stuck again tonight she could always resort to the Father Jack approach 'That would be an ecumenical matter'

    She is beyond terrible. It's a tragedy for 'Green' issues that Caroline Lucas isn't there. They're both wrong of course, but it's harder to work out why CL is. (Issue by issue of course a stopped clock can work too)
  • FregglesFreggles Posts: 3,486
    Bennett cribbing from notes. Looks extremely nervous. Possible meltdown?
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    edited April 2015
    Bennett looks like Gordon Brown with a blonde wig.
  • old_labourold_labour Posts: 3,238
    Natalie Bennett's voice would quickly cure a nervous person of constipation.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,064
    Glad I didn't take the tie bets. :)
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,591
    Omnium said:

    If Natalie gets stuck again tonight she could always resort to the Father Jack approach 'That would be an ecumenical matter'

    She is beyond terrible. It's a tragedy for 'Green' issues that Caroline Lucas isn't there. They're both wrong of course, but it's harder to work out why CL is. (Issue by issue of course a stopped clock can work too)
    Tim Stanley ‏@timothy_stanley 18s18 seconds ago
    Natalie Bennett has the words "Green party" written on the back of her hand. #leadersdebate
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,533

    No red tie for Ed....

    But has he got his new Clarks on :-)
  • Ishmael_XIshmael_X Posts: 3,664
    farage looks ill, and suit doesn't fit round the neck.
  • Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091
    edited April 2015
    I thought Natalie Bennett was alright just then. Too much glancing at notes, but still a very clear argument.
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    Farage still thinks it's the euro-debate.
  • JackWJackW Posts: 14,787
    Bennett through opening statement without falling flat.
  • FregglesFreggles Posts: 3,486
    Clegg opting for the masochist strategy
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,223
    Speedy said:

    Farage still thinks it's the euro-debate.

    You mean he's going to piss all over Nick Clegg?
  • Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091
    I feel Clegg is just going to be completely forgotten tonight.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 26,803

    Scott_P said:

    stjohn said:

    But Clegg looks the value bet to me at 12/1. He's got form in winning the first UK 2010 debate and comes into this on the back of poor poll ratings and low expectations.

    I'm hoping for a multiple Cleggasm!

    @SamCoatesTimes: Apparently at some of the recent Tory rehearsals for tonight's debate, the Clegg character (Hunt) wiped the floor. Yes, I'm surprised too..

    @SamCoatesTimes: ... apparently the simplicity of the Clegg message cut through easily in the Tory rehearsal...
    And that's #53 of #810 reasons I dislike the debates: it has people preparing for pointless, meaningless dross rather than getting on with their real jobs. The same could be said for PMQs, except most weeks a backbenchers risks the wrath of the whips to ask a question of genuine interest to their constituents or the nation.
    But what do you propose? No election campaign? Democracy is not perfect but we have to have a way to assess the qualities of our potential leaders. Andrew Cooper wrote in The Guardian about how the debates will add nothing and are a waste of time. Fine but propose an alternative. Too many of these people seem to think it's rather demeaning of our enlightened leaders to have to abase themselves in front of the plebs. Is scrutiny beneath them?
    We've managed a few hundred years of election campaigns - some of them even democratic - without debates. Considering they add f'all to human knowledge and exist only to give TV and newspaper execs hard-ons, why have them?

    And this is not a presidential election. We vote for MPs, not national leaders. We should not be moving even further towards the latter, which just gives more power to the parties (boo, hiss).
    Agreed.

    Anyway have fun all who watch it.

    I won't be - watching seven egomaniacs competing to tell the most convincing lies isn't my idea of fun or of enlightenment.
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    Clegg is begging for forgiveness.
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,591
    Miliband standing and doing nothing so far is going down gangbusters with the sun worm crowd
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,135
    edited April 2015
    Woohoo debate time!
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,483
    A chicken tikka masala in the first round ... a risky strategy.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,688

    TW1R64 said:

    The YouGov slider poll thingy is by invitation. You're invited to download the app and watch the first hour sliding left to right depending on if you approve of what's being said.

    "watch the first hour sliding left to right"

    Won't that wear a hole in your trousers?

    :wink:
    Somewhat peeved. Been out all day on a Mesolithic dig and got back about 7.50 to find I had a yougov invite to do the slider but had missed the deadline.

    Ho hum.
  • EDW2000EDW2000 Posts: 29
    My first post in nearly 5 years, lol.
  • Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091
    Sturgeon a bit flat by her own very high standards, I thought.
  • FregglesFreggles Posts: 3,486
    Nicola is blinking 'I'm the leader not Salmond' in Morse code
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    Sturgeon and Bennett have the same speech.
  • PongPong Posts: 4,693
    Yay for the tie bet.
  • EDW2000EDW2000 Posts: 29
    Is Nick Palmer still here?
  • JackWJackW Posts: 14,787
    Decent familiar start from Farage.

    Good opening from Clegg.

    Sturgeon Ok

    Cameron solid and straight forward
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    Cameron looks stressed oh and" Long Term Economic Plan".
  • EPGEPG Posts: 6,653
    20.06, Long-term economic plan pays out already
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,135
    Nice cartoon Marf!

    My old dad reckons Julie Etchingham's jacket looks like a dentist's coat :)
  • JackWJackW Posts: 14,787
    Wood ok. Smiles, looking confident.
  • Farage and Clegg already diminished by coming after Bennett. Sturgeon looked more serious in proportion to her greater distance from the Greens. Also these speaking times are too short, and reinforcing the comedy skit atmosphere.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,135
    Ed is good, Ed is great! :)
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    Wood was all PC this and PC that.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,064
    Eyebrow Man!
  • DairDair Posts: 6,108
    Miliband already tripping over his words.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,533
    edited April 2015
    Speedy said:

    Cameron looks stressed oh and" Long Term Economic Plan".

    That is really is a shit slogan. I don't know why they keep using it.
  • Ishmael_XIshmael_X Posts: 3,664
    EIC
  • glwglw Posts: 9,956
    Two serious politicians and five chumps.
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Bit of a late start with the rele's.

    Have I missed anything?
  • JackWJackW Posts: 14,787
    Ed goes all doom and gloom.

    "If I'm Prime Minister ...."

    Do the punters see it in him ?
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    Ed is cool but he used too much "If I'm PM".
  • chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341
    Ed nosedives on the worm, Cameron shoots up
This discussion has been closed.