I have heard a rumour that the Nadine Dorries thing is were she and John Bercow to be re-elected, she would call for a formal vote in the House of Commons for his re-election as speaker.
Normally the Speakers are re-elected without a vote and it only takes one MP to force a vote.
I might be wrong.
Would be an interesting situation. Bercow would not be guaranteed to win - and losing would mean he would have to leave the Commons.
Well he should - having been effectively returned unopposed and having lost the confidence of his colleagues - but whether he would give up all that free public money (and whether Sally would let him) is another matter.
But Parliament would be better off without him - of that I have no doubt.
Nadine will not get re elected so the situation will not arise IMO
Would you like to offer odds on that?
She has 15,000 strong majority.
Yeah 15000 majorities are impregnable, except if you're Scottish Labour
It would be great if they would open a SPIN market for Holyrood 2016 - I think that market will be even more exciting than GE2015.
Re Frenchgate, if I were a betting man (which I am), my gut is telling me that this will end up being a ham fisted LibDem leak, with the memo drafted by a SPAD. If this turns out to be the case, the LibDems have just signed their own death warrant.
The way that Damian McBride has been all over this from the outset makes me suspect a Labour-inspired leak. Look at his Twitter feed, including just how quickly he was onto this last night.
That was my initial thought as well, but then I thought why would SLAB leak something which says that Milliband isn't up to being PM. I think McBride just jumped on the bandwagon once he smelt blood.
Old habits die hard for Mr McBride.
There's definitely more to this story, I just have no idea what exactly it is. The end result could be that: a. It all dies out in a day or two, Sir Humprey's 'investigation' can wait until after May 7th. b. That the SNP went in too deep and have been caught swimming with the big fish, especially with the emphatic denial. or c. That a civil servant somewhere will be caught trying to interfere in an election. Not good for him or her but inconsequential to the rest of us.
In a particularly unpalatable line-up on R5 now, with Owen Jones, Louise Mensch and a "child protection" expert who works in Hackney.
On a segement about Tory policy to try to filter access to porn sites (IMO again showing politicians don't get the internet), the "expert" within 2 minutes tried to link BEEEEDDDDRRRRROOOOMMMMMMM TAX to increase in paedos activity. Quite a stunning attempted divergence / attempted smear there.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has offered to help make Ed Miliband the next prime minister, even if Labour wins fewer seats than the Tories on 7 May. Her appeal comes as she angrily rejects claims that she thinks he is not up to the job.
Writing in the Observer – as a furious row erupted over disparaging private remarks she allegedly made about the Labour leader – Sturgeon challenges him to lead Labour into an anti-austerity alliance with the SNP whichever party is the largest in the House of Commons on 8 May.
In terms that will enrage many MPs, Sturgeon throws down the gauntlet to Miliband saying: “If together our parties have the parliamentary numbers required after 7 May, and regardless of which is the biggest party, will he and Labour join with us in locking David Cameron out of Downing Street?”
I thought it was pretty odd that a Tory paper ran the Nicola4Dave story this morning, but if the strategists have gamed this level of rebuttal they have played a blinder.
I have heard a rumour that the Nadine Dorries thing is were she and John Bercow to be re-elected, she would call for a formal vote in the House of Commons for his re-election as speaker.
Normally the Speakers are re-elected without a vote and it only takes one MP to force a vote.
I might be wrong.
Would be an interesting situation. Bercow would not be guaranteed to win - and losing would mean he would have to leave the Commons.
Well he should - having been effectively returned unopposed and having lost the confidence of his colleagues - but whether he would give up all that free public money (and whether Sally would let him) is another matter.
But Parliament would be better off without him - of that I have no doubt.
Nadine will not get re elected so the situation will not arise IMO
Those betting on the SPIN seat markets should note this on the rules:_
"The Speaker's seat will count to their affiliated party's result (i.e John Bercow as Conservative."
An interesting andamusing rule in this time of a Speaker at such odds with the leadership of his former party that his relationship with the party barely seems to qualify as 'affiliated'.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has offered to help make Ed Miliband the next prime minister, even if Labour wins fewer seats than the Tories on 7 May. Her appeal comes as she angrily rejects claims that she thinks he is not up to the job.
Writing in the Observer – as a furious row erupted over disparaging private remarks she allegedly made about the Labour leader – Sturgeon challenges him to lead Labour into an anti-austerity alliance with the SNP whichever party is the largest in the House of Commons on 8 May.
In terms that will enrage many MPs, Sturgeon throws down the gauntlet to Miliband saying: “If together our parties have the parliamentary numbers required after 7 May, and regardless of which is the biggest party, will he and Labour join with us in locking David Cameron out of Downing Street?”
Back from 7 hours on the doorstep, showing nothing very exciting. We're now canvassing about 700 people a day so inevitably we're revisiting people we've seen in the last year. I see a slight hardening for both major parties at UKIP's expense but not much else.
If Sturgeon's showing in the debate is rewarded in the polls, we could see a Labour drop at GB level, and I'd think Farage will have stopped the rot on the UKIP side. But with the holidays it's worth trating whatever the figures are with particular caution,.
I have heard a rumour that the Nadine Dorries thing is were she and John Bercow to be re-elected, she would call for a formal vote in the House of Commons for his re-election as speaker.
Normally the Speakers are re-elected without a vote and it only takes one MP to force a vote.
I might be wrong.
I might be wrong as well, but I think they said on TV that the father of the house has to 'hear' the shouts. If he chooses not to hear, then there is no vote.
An amusing distinction indeed.
Who is going to be the father of the house btw? Clarke or Skinner I think?
Isn't Skinner standing down,18 years too late?
(Remembering Major's comment to Skinner when he announced the 1997 election).
I have heard a rumour that the Nadine Dorries thing is were she and John Bercow to be re-elected, she would call for a formal vote in the House of Commons for his re-election as speaker.
Normally the Speakers are re-elected without a vote and it only takes one MP to force a vote.
I might be wrong.
I might be wrong as well, but I think they said on TV that the father of the house has to 'hear' the shouts. If he chooses not to hear, then there is no vote.
An amusing distinction indeed.
Who is going to be the father of the house btw? Clarke or Skinner I think?
Isn't Skinner standing down,18 years too late?
(Remembering Major's comment to Skinner when he announced the 1997 election).
Kaufman will take the title - because he signed the register first. Such a bizarre way of operating!
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has offered to help make Ed Miliband the next prime minister, even if Labour wins fewer seats than the Tories on 7 May. Her appeal comes as she angrily rejects claims that she thinks he is not up to the job.
Writing in the Observer – as a furious row erupted over disparaging private remarks she allegedly made about the Labour leader – Sturgeon challenges him to lead Labour into an anti-austerity alliance with the SNP whichever party is the largest in the House of Commons on 8 May.
In terms that will enrage many MPs, Sturgeon throws down the gauntlet to Miliband saying: “If together our parties have the parliamentary numbers required after 7 May, and regardless of which is the biggest party, will he and Labour join with us in locking David Cameron out of Downing Street?”
I thought it was pretty odd that a Tory paper ran the Nicola4Dave story this morning, but if the strategists have gamed this level of rebuttal they have played a blinder.
I really would find it difficult to believe there is anyone in the Labour/Liberal/Tory/Kipper Westminster System with the game to outplay the SNP on practically any level.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has offered to help make Ed Miliband the next prime minister, even if Labour wins fewer seats than the Tories on 7 May. Her appeal comes as she angrily rejects claims that she thinks he is not up to the job.
Writing in the Observer – as a furious row erupted over disparaging private remarks she allegedly made about the Labour leader – Sturgeon challenges him to lead Labour into an anti-austerity alliance with the SNP whichever party is the largest in the House of Commons on 8 May.
In terms that will enrage many MPs, Sturgeon throws down the gauntlet to Miliband saying: “If together our parties have the parliamentary numbers required after 7 May, and regardless of which is the biggest party, will he and Labour join with us in locking David Cameron out of Downing Street?”
I thought it was pretty odd that a Tory paper ran the Nicola4Dave story this morning, but if the strategists have gamed this level of rebuttal they have played a blinder.
I really would find it difficult to believe there is anyone in the Labour/Liberal/Tory/Kipper Westminster System with the game to outplay the SNP on practically any level.
They defeated you in the Indyref, they must have some game.
"Each SNP win from Labour increase sthe Tory chances of being the largest party. It is a mathematical fact !"
BUT, it does not increase the likelihood of the Tories having more seats than Labour plus SNP.
AND, remember that if the SNP surge continues, the combined Labour + SNP number of MPs from Scotland will exceed the 47 (GE 2015,say 55) seats they jointly held in 2010-and some seats e.g. Gordon are seats Labour would never be likely win.
So, Scotland is on target to return 55 guaranteed anti-Tory seats ((no vacillating, unreliable, unpredictable, Lib Dems) against 47 last time
Good point. Make the LDs pay for their treachery, I say ! Also, get rid of that lone Tory !
I see Sir Peter Tapsell's wikipedia page has a section saying he was succeeded as Father of the House by Sir Gerald Kaufman. Ok, it's not like he is going to lose his fight for re-election, but still, a little premature to put it in before it's formally done, Wikipedia.
Intriguing... Just did a YouGov all about credit cards and then as a final question they threw in 'Should Labour do any sort of deal with the SNP?'....
Intriguing... Just did a YouGov all about credit cards and then as a final question they threw in 'Should Labour do any sort of deal with the SNP?'....
Nick Sutton @suttonnick · 1 min1 minute ago Observer front page: Sturgeon offers new deal to help Miliband into No 10 #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #GE2015
I see Sir Peter Tapsell's wikipedia page has a section saying he was succeeded as Father of the House by Sir Gerald Kaufman. Ok, it's not like he is going to lose his fight for re-election, but still, a little premature to put it in before it's formally done, Wikipedia.
There is one thing that might stop Kaufman - but I doubt it will happen now.
I expect a small uptick in support for Labour and UKIP as a result of the debate.
Plausible but it wouldn't make a very interesting poll. Labour 36, Tory 34, UKIP 16, say, would only be back to the status quo ante pre-budget.
I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but for the last year or so I've had a rule of thumb for figuring how well the Conservatives do wrt UKIP at the GE.
If the Conservatives get less than double UKIP's vote share (e.g. 31% to 16%), they've done terribly; If they get double to triple (e.g. 40% to 15%) they've done okay. If they get over triple, they've done well, and will probably form the government.
As an aside, UKIP can probably say they've done well if they get more than two seats, and if they get more than 9% they can say they've done brilliantly in tripling their vote share over 2010.
Before anyone gets on their high horse, these are not predictions, and I'm not saying that is what either UKIP or the Conservatives should be aiming at. It's just my own internal measure of that particular battle.
Those betting on the SPIN seat markets should note this on the rules:_
"The Speaker's seat will count to their affiliated party's result (i.e John Bercow as Conservative."
An interesting andamusing rule in this time of a Speaker at such odds with the leadership of his former party that his relationship with the party barely seems to qualify as 'affiliated'.
It would be fun if LAB & CON are tied on seats but Bercow gives it to the Tories according to SPIN rules
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has offered to help make Ed Miliband the next prime minister, even if Labour wins fewer seats than the Tories on 7 May. Her appeal comes as she angrily rejects claims that she thinks he is not up to the job.
Writing in the Observer – as a furious row erupted over disparaging private remarks she allegedly made about the Labour leader – Sturgeon challenges him to lead Labour into an anti-austerity alliance with the SNP whichever party is the largest in the House of Commons on 8 May.
In terms that will enrage many MPs, Sturgeon throws down the gauntlet to Miliband saying: “If together our parties have the parliamentary numbers required after 7 May, and regardless of which is the biggest party, will he and Labour join with us in locking David Cameron out of Downing Street?”
I thought it was pretty odd that a Tory paper ran the Nicola4Dave story this morning, but if the strategists have gamed this level of rebuttal they have played a blinder.
I really would find it difficult to believe there is anyone in the Labour/Liberal/Tory/Kipper Westminster System with the game to outplay the SNP on practically any level.
They defeated you in the Indyref, they must have some game.
Yeah they gamed so well they shrunk a 75/25 margin to 55/45
I really would find it difficult to believe there is anyone in the Labour/Liberal/Tory/Kipper Westminster System with the game to outplay the SNP on practically any level.
No one is trying to outplay the SNP - they're playing for the real prize - England.
I have heard a rumour that the Nadine Dorries thing is were she and John Bercow to be re-elected, she would call for a formal vote in the House of Commons for his re-election as speaker.
Normally the Speakers are re-elected without a vote and it only takes one MP to force a vote.
I might be wrong.
I might be wrong as well, but I think they said on TV that the father of the house has to 'hear' the shouts. If he chooses not to hear, then there is no vote.
An amusing distinction indeed.
Who is going to be the father of the house btw? Clarke or Skinner I think?
Isn't Skinner standing down,18 years too late?
(Remembering Major's comment to Skinner when he announced the 1997 election).
Kaufman will take the title - because he signed the register first. Such a bizarre way of operating!
If I'm right in the way it works, then I expect Kaufman to be very deaf on the day.
Those betting on the SPIN seat markets should note this on the rules:_
"The Speaker's seat will count to their affiliated party's result (i.e John Bercow as Conservative."
An interesting andamusing rule in this time of a Speaker at such odds with the leadership of his former party that his relationship with the party barely seems to qualify as 'affiliated'.
It would be fun if LAB & CON are tied on seats but Bercow gives it to the Tories according to SPIN rules
My sense of fun would be much diminished by all my losing Labour Most Seats bets.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has offered to help make Ed Miliband the next prime minister, even if Labour wins fewer seats than the Tories on 7 May. Her appeal comes as she angrily rejects claims that she thinks he is not up to the job.
Writing in the Observer – as a furious row erupted over disparaging private remarks she allegedly made about the Labour leader – Sturgeon challenges him to lead Labour into an anti-austerity alliance with the SNP whichever party is the largest in the House of Commons on 8 May.
In terms that will enrage many MPs, Sturgeon throws down the gauntlet to Miliband saying: “If together our parties have the parliamentary numbers required after 7 May, and regardless of which is the biggest party, will he and Labour join with us in locking David Cameron out of Downing Street?”
I thought it was pretty odd that a Tory paper ran the Nicola4Dave story this morning, but if the strategists have gamed this level of rebuttal they have played a blinder.
I really would find it difficult to believe there is anyone in the Labour/Liberal/Tory/Kipper Westminster System with the game to outplay the SNP on practically any level.
You're right: the Scots have produced more PMs, more Chancellors, etc., per head of population.
Perhaps we should simply rename the United Kingdom as Scotland, and restrict the franchise to those born North of Hadrian's Wall.
BBC Director General has to sign off jokes Some jokes now have to be signed off at the highest level to get aired on the BBC as the broadcaster fears a scandal
..........and the BBC has only itself to blame, but maybe they like censorship.
Another immense political masterstroke by Sturgeon.
After spending the day castigating her, Miliband has no choice. He either rebukes the offer and he become's the Tory's friend or he accepts and accepts a complete loss in Scotland.
Anyone keeping score, is that 11-1 to Scotland now?
I have heard a rumour that the Nadine Dorries thing is were she and John Bercow to be re-elected, she would call for a formal vote in the House of Commons for his re-election as speaker.
Normally the Speakers are re-elected without a vote and it only takes one MP to force a vote.
I might be wrong.
I might be wrong as well, but I think they said on TV that the father of the house has to 'hear' the shouts. If he chooses not to hear, then there is no vote.
An amusing distinction indeed.
Who is going to be the father of the house btw? Clarke or Skinner I think?
Isn't Skinner standing down,18 years too late?
(Remembering Major's comment to Skinner when he announced the 1997 election).
Kaufman will take the title - because he signed the register first. Such a bizarre way of operating!
If I'm right in the way it works, then I expect Kaufman to be very deaf on the day.
He will only hear his own voice - that is all he has ever been interested in hearing.
Nick Sutton @suttonnick · 1 min1 minute ago Observer front page: Sturgeon offers new deal to help Miliband into No 10 #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #GE2015
Methinks the lady doth protest too much!
Only joking. It's interesting that Heywood has launched an investigation though. How will the Nats explain that one? Isn't he in Cameron's pocket? Perhaps the investigation will 'unfortunately' lead nowhere.
BBC Director General has to sign off jokes Some jokes now have to be signed off at the highest level to get aired on the BBC as the broadcaster fears a scandal
..........and the BBC has only itself to blame, but maybe they like censorship.
Is that why the gags every week on the News Quiz are the same? Or it is because the likes of Marcus Brigstocke are just echo chambers of one another?
I see Sir Peter Tapsell's wikipedia page has a section saying he was succeeded as Father of the House by Sir Gerald Kaufman. Ok, it's not like he is going to lose his fight for re-election, but still, a little premature to put it in before it's formally done, Wikipedia.
There is one thing that might stop Kaufman - but I doubt it will happen now.
I see Sir Peter Tapsell's wikipedia page has a section saying he was succeeded as Father of the House by Sir Gerald Kaufman. Ok, it's not like he is going to lose his fight for re-election, but still, a little premature to put it in before it's formally done, Wikipedia.
There is one thing that might stop Kaufman - but I doubt it will happen now.
Indeed there is, so I was told long ago.
I suspect we have both been told the same thing. But the fact that it hasn't been made public now means that it is unlikely to now - unless someone is waiting for just the right moment.
Lord Ashcroft @LordAshcroft · 38 secs38 seconds ago Whoever leaked the confidential French Ambassador's alleged comments to smear @NicolaSturgeon should be outed and smacked...
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has offered to help make Ed Miliband the next prime minister, even if Labour wins fewer seats than the Tories on 7 May. Her appeal comes as she angrily rejects claims that she thinks he is not up to the job.
Writing in the Observer – as a furious row erupted over disparaging private remarks she allegedly made about the Labour leader – Sturgeon challenges him to lead Labour into an anti-austerity alliance with the SNP whichever party is the largest in the House of Commons on 8 May.
In terms that will enrage many MPs, Sturgeon throws down the gauntlet to Miliband saying: “If together our parties have the parliamentary numbers required after 7 May, and regardless of which is the biggest party, will he and Labour join with us in locking David Cameron out of Downing Street?”
I thought it was pretty odd that a Tory paper ran the Nicola4Dave story this morning, but if the strategists have gamed this level of rebuttal they have played a blinder.
I really would find it difficult to believe there is anyone in the Labour/Liberal/Tory/Kipper Westminster System with the game to outplay the SNP on practically any level.
You're right: the Scots have produced more PMs, more Chancellors, etc., per head of population.
Perhaps we should simply rename the United Kingdom as Scotland, and restrict the franchise to those born North of Hadrian's Wall.
Good idea.
Would need to be a suitable English property tax to help the London based businesses relocate to their new home on Skye**. A quick default then implementation of Scottish notes as the only currency would sort things out.
** There actually was a proposal by The Economist in 1989 or 1990 to relocate Hong Kong (as in ALL of Hong Kong's people and businesses) to a newly built city in the Western Isles before it was ceded back to China
So deliberately designed to be tax neutral (although no one ever remembers the good stuff) but to rebalance tax to property.
Realty is already subject to excessive taxation. The one way that tax on real property could be legitimately increased would be to remove the exemption for first homes from the charge to capital gains tax, but that is never going to happen for obvious political reasons. In any event, if the aim if greater taxation of property, why stop at realty? Why not levy a tax on personalty, such as savers' choses in action against banks, or a tax on the aggregate value of chattels? It is astonishing to see so-called conservatives and liberals supporting greater taxation of assets.
Which is why I wanted to remove stamp duty and reduce council tax by 2/3.
But it seems to me that residential property is a fundamentally unproductive investment, and we should be fine incentivising investment in productive assets
It also is easy to identify and can't be hidden. And catches foreign owners (the issue we are seeing is that assets are being bought, particularly by the gulf families, stuck into trusts and kept empty. But that means they are *permanently* out of the property supply
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has offered to help make Ed Miliband the next prime minister, even if Labour wins fewer seats than the Tories on 7 May. Her appeal comes as she angrily rejects claims that she thinks he is not up to the job.
Writing in the Observer – as a furious row erupted over disparaging private remarks she allegedly made about the Labour leader – Sturgeon challenges him to lead Labour into an anti-austerity alliance with the SNP whichever party is the largest in the House of Commons on 8 May.
In terms that will enrage many MPs, Sturgeon throws down the gauntlet to Miliband saying: “If together our parties have the parliamentary numbers required after 7 May, and regardless of which is the biggest party, will he and Labour join with us in locking David Cameron out of Downing Street?”
I thought it was pretty odd that a Tory paper ran the Nicola4Dave story this morning, but if the strategists have gamed this level of rebuttal they have played a blinder.
I'd be surprised if Miliband's head has not already exploded. The Telegraph ran with the leak they were given. Should they have buried it? Lets face it the leaker could have taken it somewhere else. Like all papers the Telegraph is desperate for circulation and website hits.
The increasing point about the SNP is that its only reason for existence now is to be a far left party that thinks it can dominate Scotland. Its the Left part that is increasingly important. It hopes to to this by demonstrating that it can dominate England through tame Labour MPs. These MPs are already pushing for more far left policies. Lets not loose sight of the tribal Far Left ambitions that the SNP now have. Of course the only way it can do this is by the voters of England depriving the Tory Party of a majority.
Another immense political masterstroke by Sturgeon.
After spending the day castigating her, Miliband has no choice. He either rebukes the offer and he become's the Tory's friend or he accepts and accepts a complete loss in Scotland.
Anyone keeping score, is that 11-1 to Scotland now?
SNP seems to me be that unpopular boy in school who has the best cricket bat.
You don`t want to be seen with him but would really like to use his bat.
Lord Ashcroft @LordAshcroft · 38 secs38 seconds ago Whoever leaked the confidential French Ambassador's alleged comments to smear @NicolaSturgeon should be outed and smacked...
The crossbreaks are never what makes a Yougov "interesting" or well they can be for us lot here but this will mean a headline change for someone or other, the SNP floats around 3-4 and I'm not even sure Yougov always attempts to weight them coprrectly as they are trying to determine correct Green, UKIP, Lib Dem, Tory, Labour scores.
I call another mini Milligasm or a big Con to UKIP switch, which gives Lab a hefty lead.
I bought £15 of Lab majority @ 40ish today. Lunacy.
All it needs is one outlier and that becomes a wonderful trading bet.
Since taking a bath on the accidentally leaked 7 point Yes lead ComRes poll and the complete non reaction of the market I have sworn off trading bets.
Another immense political masterstroke by Sturgeon.
After spending the day castigating her, Miliband has no choice. He either rebukes the offer and he become's the Tory's friend or he accepts and accepts a complete loss in Scotland.
Anyone keeping score, is that 11-1 to Scotland now?
Hasn`t Nicola said that like a thousand times.
We are going to have to form a new group PB Nats for this level of devotion.
Seeing a few comments from parties in the last few days when asked about coalition possibilities, and sticking to the script re 'focusing on a majority' on all that, part of me wonders if they shouldn't change the script by now.
Obviously no-one wants to give the impression they are planning for such an outcome, or think it is likely, but the current evasive answer has had it's short lifespan already I feel, and surely doesn't fool anyone with its carefully phrased generalities. Just mix up the words and say something like 'We are confident we will win and that is our focus, but obviously we will consider the situation carefully whatever happens, but cannot confirm what would happen before then'. Ok, maybe it shows a little less bravado than they want, but how much would it hurt, honestly, to say they think they will win (even if they do not think that), and even if they didn't wouldn't guarantee working with anyone else.
Another immense political masterstroke by Sturgeon.
After spending the day castigating her, Miliband has no choice. He either rebukes the offer and he become's the Tory's friend or he accepts and accepts a complete loss in Scotland.
Anyone keeping score, is that 11-1 to Scotland now?
Ah, the old SNP = Scotland schtick.
Presumably Sturgeon thinks Ed is prime ministerial now. Has she said so yet?
I don't think the memo story is that complicated. The writer of the memo got the wrong end of the stick but dutifully wrote down something they thought was accurate but not true and heavily caveated it. Another civil servant who has animosity towards the SNP saw it and leaked it to a paper that loathes the SNP. Paper goes with story.
BBC Director General has to sign off jokes Some jokes now have to be signed off at the highest level to get aired on the BBC as the broadcaster fears a scandal
..........and the BBC has only itself to blame, but maybe they like censorship.
Is that why the gags every week on the News Quiz are the same? Or it is because the likes of Marcus Brigstocke are just echo chambers of one another?
Come on - Mike believes the BBC is the ultimate in propriety.
Comments
"The Speaker's seat will count to their affiliated party's result (i.e John Bercow as Conservative."
There's definitely more to this story, I just have no idea what exactly it is. The end result could be that:
a. It all dies out in a day or two, Sir Humprey's 'investigation' can wait until after May 7th.
b. That the SNP went in too deep and have been caught swimming with the big fish, especially with the emphatic denial.
or
c. That a civil servant somewhere will be caught trying to interfere in an election. Not good for him or her but inconsequential to the rest of us.
On a segement about Tory policy to try to filter access to porn sites (IMO again showing politicians don't get the internet), the "expert" within 2 minutes tried to link BEEEEDDDDRRRRROOOOMMMMMMM TAX to increase in paedos activity. Quite a stunning attempted divergence / attempted smear there.
Thinking of Louise Mensch
Apologies
If Sturgeon's showing in the debate is rewarded in the polls, we could see a Labour drop at GB level, and I'd think Farage will have stopped the rot on the UKIP side. But with the holidays it's worth trating whatever the figures are with particular caution,.
(Remembering Major's comment to Skinner when he announced the 1997 election).
Observer front page:
Sturgeon offers new deal to help Miliband into No 10
#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #GE2015
If the Conservatives get less than double UKIP's vote share (e.g. 31% to 16%), they've done terribly;
If they get double to triple (e.g. 40% to 15%) they've done okay.
If they get over triple, they've done well, and will probably form the government.
As an aside, UKIP can probably say they've done well if they get more than two seats, and if they get more than 9% they can say they've done brilliantly in tripling their vote share over 2010.
Before anyone gets on their high horse, these are not predictions, and I'm not saying that is what either UKIP or the Conservatives should be aiming at. It's just my own internal measure of that particular battle.
Perhaps we should simply rename the United Kingdom as Scotland, and restrict the franchise to those born North of Hadrian's Wall.
BBC Director General has to sign off jokes
Some jokes now have to be signed off at the highest level to get aired on the BBC as the broadcaster fears a scandal
..........and the BBC has only itself to blame, but maybe they like censorship.
It would be fun if the left coalition and right coalition were equal in size giving Bercow a deciding vote.
After spending the day castigating her, Miliband has no choice. He either rebukes the offer and he become's the Tory's friend or he accepts and accepts a complete loss in Scotland.
Anyone keeping score, is that 11-1 to Scotland now?
Only joking. It's interesting that Heywood has launched an investigation though. How will the Nats explain that one? Isn't he in Cameron's pocket? Perhaps the investigation will 'unfortunately' lead nowhere.
Whoever leaked the confidential French Ambassador's alleged comments to smear @NicolaSturgeon should be outed and smacked...
ie about 3mm (0.1 of an inch for the benefit of Kippers among us)
Would need to be a suitable English property tax to help the London based businesses relocate to their new home on Skye**. A quick default then implementation of Scottish notes as the only currency would sort things out.
** There actually was a proposal by The Economist in 1989 or 1990 to relocate Hong Kong (as in ALL of Hong Kong's people and businesses) to a newly built city in the Western Isles before it was ceded back to China
But it seems to me that residential property is a fundamentally unproductive investment, and we should be fine incentivising investment in productive assets
It also is easy to identify and can't be hidden. And catches foreign owners (the issue we are seeing is that assets are being bought, particularly by the gulf families, stuck into trusts and kept empty. But that means they are *permanently* out of the property supply
The increasing point about the SNP is that its only reason for existence now is to be a far left party that thinks it can dominate Scotland. Its the Left part that is increasingly important. It hopes to to this by demonstrating that it can dominate England through tame Labour MPs. These MPs are already pushing for more far left policies. Lets not loose sight of the tribal Far Left ambitions that the SNP now have.
Of course the only way it can do this is by the voters of England depriving the Tory Party of a majority.
You don`t want to be seen with him but would really like to use his bat.
We are going to have to form a new group PB Nats for this level of devotion.
Obviously no-one wants to give the impression they are planning for such an outcome, or think it is likely, but the current evasive answer has had it's short lifespan already I feel, and surely doesn't fool anyone with its carefully phrased generalities. Just mix up the words and say something like 'We are confident we will win and that is our focus, but obviously we will consider the situation carefully whatever happens, but cannot confirm what would happen before then'. Ok, maybe it shows a little less bravado than they want, but how much would it hurt, honestly, to say they think they will win (even if they do not think that), and even if they didn't wouldn't guarantee working with anyone else.
Presumably Sturgeon thinks Ed is prime ministerial now. Has she said so yet?
Hope you're not 20% out in other estimates