Major has said it cannot be right the SNP is seeking to influence policy in a country where it is not fielding candidates.
He is absolutely 100% correct.
Garbage , he is just as thick as he has ever been, the turnip does not realise it is a UK election not an England election. He is obviously not all there.
For UK laws.
For English laws it can not be right that foreign MPs not standing in England are setting devolved laws for England. You can not defend the indefensible.
EDIT: The funny thing is that the SNP used to be honourable and abstain on English-only laws, it was only Labour who did the indefensible.
Labour do it all the time, and Tories single MP does it so what is different. I do not see anything there talking about English law , which is separate from Scottish law. He states clearly , influencing policy in a country. The only country that is having a GE is the UK , which last time I looked Scotland is a part of. So you are happy that English MPs get to vote on all matters affecting Scotland but not vice versa , unionist democracy at a glance.
PS: Common knowledge on here that England does not have devolution , it is whinged about daily.
@SkyNewsBreak: Nicola Sturgeon says Sir John Major's warning about the threat posed by #SNP is an "affront to democracy" & "silly and over the top" #GE2015
fpt, @Tissue_Price "I think the LD's are actually best placed to receive tactical votes as Con <--> Lab is just too much of a jump for many people."
yup. Tactical voting, Edinburgh South.
Ashcroft shows the SNP coming to the lead from nowhere to lead the SLAB incumbent Ian Murray by a short head. The LDs who came second last time have dropped right back. The Conservatives remain third with roughly the same percentage as 2010.
I'm a Conservative unionist, so should I hold my nose and vote "tactically"? I have concluded not, because from my perspective there's really not much difference between SNP and SLAB: if Labour does get into office they will dance to the SNP tune anyway. So to give heart to the Cons in the next election I shall eschew tactics and vote according to my true preferences.
However if Murray wins the seat I'll be pleased that he has saved Roger's bacon.
As a Conservative Unionist I share your concerns. SLAB are deeply unattractive as an organisation and have been a blight on Scottish public life for far too long.
But for me ultimately the Unionist part is more important. Governments come and go. PM Miliband will be a disaster and cause moderate damage to the UK in the way that Labour governments usually do but he is unlikely to be around long enough to do anything like as much damage as the last Labour government did, especially if he is dependent on people as fundamentally dishonest and delusional as the SNP. But the Union is forever.
It is a horrible choice but in Edinburgh South I would vote Labour. In Dundee West I need some evidence that it would not be a pointless gesture to do so and I have not seen it yet. I am canvassing and working in Perth and North Perthshire to offset any guilt I might feel if I eventually decide to vote tactically.
Says a lot about Scottish Tories David, is it any wonder people hate them even more than the Labour donkeys. Two sets of no hope losers grasping to hold onto anything they can even at the expense of the country. Shameful.
I bow to no-one in my disagreements with MalcomG but he does have a point when idiots in the SCons will try to elect SLab MPs in a vain hope of saving the Union. How many SLab voters will be switching to the Tories as quid pro quo? Absolutely none. And the result - a stronger SNP who will join with Miliband in a dangerously leftward lurch. You are putting the interests of Scotland ahead of the UK as a whole and ought to be ashamed of yourself.
You are wrong. I have met several Labour supporters who are voting Tory in North Perthshire for example.
I've heard rumours that David Blunkett's old seat in Sheffield Brightside & Hillsborough might be the scene of a rather impressive UKIP performance. People living in the area might know more about it.
Well the BNP and UKIP got a combined 10% in the seat last time, so they are starting better than most seats.
Plus there's been problems with the Roma Immigrants in Sheffield, particularly around Page Hall Road, so that's going to benefit UKIP.
Plus Blunkett had a huge personal vote for a variety of reasons, and that's going to unwind,
I've heard rumours that David Blunkett's old seat in Sheffield Brightside & Hillsborough might be the scene of a rather impressive UKIP performance. People living in the area might know more about it.
2nd place, huge gap to Labour I reckon. But UKIP will be the opposition here in the future.
Sir John Major hasn't spent the last five years leading a coalition government through the most difficult of economic circumstances, constantly having to fend off mutinies behind him as well as the opposition in front of him. It isn't too difficult to sound refreshed, relaxed and natural if you have had 18 years to get your breath back.
Mr. Divvie, surprised the likeliest result is quite so high [and I say that as someone who's been confident of a great night for the SNP since before the short campaign started].
Mr. Llama, I agree. But after that five years Labour could have a second crushing defeat, this time in England as UKIP and the Conservatives take huge chunks out of the reds.
And, forestalling that, might a slew of northern Labour MPs opt-out, either forming a Not Quite Labour party or defecting to UKIP?
Major has said it cannot be right the SNP is seeking to influence policy in a country where it is not fielding candidates.
He is absolutely 100% correct.
Garbage , he is just as thick as he has ever been, the turnip does not realise it is a UK election not an England election. He is obviously not all there.
Malcolm, is the Ayrshire soil good for turnip planting in spring ?
Pulpstar, it is tatties at this time of year , turnips are later to feed the sheep in winter. First crop of Ayrshires , easily best tasting potato in the world ( not for chips mind you).
Sir John Major hasn't spent the last five years leading a coalition government through the most difficult of economic circumstances, constantly having to fend off mutinies behind him as well as the opposition in front of him. It isn't too difficult to sound refreshed, relaxed and natural if you have had 18 years to get your breath back.
This morning on the way to work I saw a substantial Tory poster in bits in a farmer's field. Someone had driven to more or less the middle of nowhere and snapped a thick fence post in two and left it prominently in tatters.
I have never heard a single work colleague openly admit to voting tory in 15 years. Yet the workforce here is in constituencies with 15K + majorities. Many must do so. It is super-uncool for many many people (for want of a better word)
OT (probably) .We all have our own weathervanes. Unfortunately my two have just told me they are voting Tory. One because of 33 hours child benefit the other (ludicrously) because changing government is too disruptive!!
I've just put some money on the Tories getting between 300-325 seats so at least i'll be able to drown my sorrows with a reasonable bottle.
There could of corse be a game changer but it's difficult to see what.
PS 'Shy Tories' are a thing of the past
There is no evidence of that so far. It is still deeply "uncool" to vote Conservative and while that remains the shy Tory effect will remain.
One of the interesting results from the latest ICM is that Conservative 2010 voters are less likely to answer don't know/refused than Labour 2010 voters (both are well behind 2010 Lib Dems, the figures are 12%, 17% and 30%).
So that evidence suggests that Tory voters are less shy than Labour voters, who are presumably wary of admitting to voting for Miliband. This isn't the sort of result you'd expect for an opposition about to turf out the incumbent government.
45 coalition losses tops for the Gov't to stay on methinks. If the Tories start REALLY eating into the Lib Dem tail could make a Con Gov't less likely... Eat enough and they come out the other side into a DUP/UKIP deal though, mind
Sir John Major hasn't spent the last five years leading a coalition government through the most difficult of economic circumstances, constantly having to fend off mutinies behind him as well as the opposition in front of him. It isn't too difficult to sound refreshed, relaxed and natural if you have had 18 years to get your breath back.
Indeed, and even more so since you can choose the particular issue you want to talk about, whereas current front-bench politicians (of any party) have to contend with whatever is thrown at them.
This is not in any sense to denigrate Sir John's interventions, which have been very well judged. But it's not comparing like-with-like to compare them with those of the current generation.
It's sad that we can't do major infrastructure any more. HS2 and HS3 should have been Maglevs.
Reminds me of the fact that Dubai built their airport terminal 3 in less time than Heathrow T5's planning inquiry! DXB are now building the new replacement airport further out of town as we talk about the third runway, when we need runways 3 and 4 under construction yesterday.
Sir John Major hasn't spent the last five years leading a coalition government through the most difficult of economic circumstances, constantly having to fend off mutinies behind him as well as the opposition in front of him. It isn't too difficult to sound refreshed, relaxed and natural if you have had 18 years to get your breath back.
He does look good for a 72 year old.
He has for many years seemed like a man who has made peace with himself. Losing so heavily in 1997 may have assisted that process.
I expected David Cameron would have made more use of him during the last five years, because he symbolises everything that the current Conservative party lacks and needs to broaden its support. I can only assume that Sir John had no interest in returning to the fray.
I've heard rumours that David Blunkett's old seat in Sheffield Brightside & Hillsborough might be the scene of a rather impressive UKIP performance. People living in the area might know more about it.
Well the BNP and UKIP got a combined 10% in the seat last time, so they are starting better than most seats.
Plus there's been problems with the Roma Immigrants in Sheffield, particularly around Page Hall Road, so that's going to benefit UKIP.
Plus Blunkett had a huge personal vote for a variety of reasons, and that's going to unwind,
@uniondivvie - if you're going to be rude, I won't bet with you.
This is the year of the SNP. You seem very confident they will do very well indeed. So, Final offer: I will offer you for LibLabConUKIP combined (whom all offer a common UK wide unionist policy) to outpoll the SNP alone (with no 50% vote threshold) at evens.
Deal, or no deal?
Your backtrack is quite phenomenal. Typical of the shell that is Unionism - it doesn't even believe in itself.
The bet is that the UK wide unionist parties that adopt a common position across the UK on the union outpoll the SNP.
This is the year of the SNP. As strident Scottish nationalist, who believes your fellow Scots share your cause, surely you are confident that the SNP will get more votes than that lot? Say.. 47% to 46%?
You are more persistent than the cold callers selling windows, PPI , etc
Very well, Morris, and thank you (and others) for your kind words, but I must confess that Rehab is actually code for a small place in the Cotswolds to which I and a special friend repair when in need of respite from The Smoke. It is delightful, not least because of a lack of telecommunications, but not the kind of retreat I may have conjured up in people's minds!
Apologies.
I was starting to feel guilty about assuming that you were joking. You might even have gotten a response from me before 5pm at the rate everyone else was going...
Lol!
But it does show what a kind and thoughtful bunch PBers can be.
Andrew Nicoll @AndrewSNicoll 3 mins3 minutes ago Just in from Paddy Power SNP Seats 3/1 40 or under 7/2 41 to 45 3/1 46 to 50 2/1 51 to 55 9/2 Over 55
Time for Arse-ists to make a killing?
Bigger prices elsewhere on those low bands. The 9/2 looks fairly attractive as that is the same as their price in Orkney & Shetland. However the best SNP whitewash bet out there is Con v Lab tie @ 8/1.
@uniondivvie - if you're going to be rude, I won't bet with you.
This is the year of the SNP. You seem very confident they will do very well indeed. So, Final offer: I will offer you for LibLabConUKIP combined (whom all offer a common UK wide unionist policy) to outpoll the SNP alone (with no 50% vote threshold) at evens.
Deal, or no deal?
Your backtrack is quite phenomenal. Typical of the shell that is Unionism - it doesn't even believe in itself.
The bet is that the UK wide unionist parties that adopt a common position across the UK on the union outpoll the SNP.
This is the year of the SNP. As strident Scottish nationalist, who believes your fellow Scots share your cause, surely you are confident that the SNP will get more votes than that lot? Say.. 47% to 46%?
Yeah but your first post was that Unionist parties would poll a majority of votes.
You no longer offer that in fact you want to offer something totally different.
You eeven tried the most weasely bet I've seen on here.
I offer bets here on the terms I am happy to offer them on. I don't do it to make a point; I do it where I see value. That won't always be coincident. Other posters have hurled accusations on here in the past over the wording of betting matters as well; I think it's silly and pointless. My posts on here aren't legal contracts. But I am very much a man of my word, well-known to the pb.com community and can be relied upon to honour any bet.
In hindsight, I probably should have said UK-wide unionist parties to outpoll the SNP (I don't necessarily consider votes for the Greens or the SSP to be nationalist votes in a Westminster election) However, I note your lack of confidence that the SNP will outpoll LabConLibDemUKIP combined. I find that interesting.
Major has said it cannot be right the SNP is seeking to influence policy in a country where it is not fielding candidates.
He is absolutely 100% correct.
Garbage , he is just as thick as he has ever been, the turnip does not realise it is a UK election not an England election. He is obviously not all there.
For UK laws.
For English laws it can not be right that foreign MPs not standing in England are setting devolved laws for England. You can not defend the indefensible.
EDIT: The funny thing is that the SNP used to be honourable and abstain on English-only laws, it was only Labour who did the indefensible.
When those "English only" votes cut the Scottish budget I think you perhaps doth protest too much. The rest have always done it so it is two faced to say SNP cannot do it and just accept the accompanying budget cuts. Humbug.
Sir John Major hasn't spent the last five years leading a coalition government through the most difficult of economic circumstances, constantly having to fend off mutinies behind him as well as the opposition in front of him. It isn't too difficult to sound refreshed, relaxed and natural if you have had 18 years to get your breath back.
He does look good for a 72 year old.
He has for many years seemed like a man who has made peace with himself. Losing so heavily in 1997 may have assisted that process.
I expected David Cameron would have made more use of him during the last five years, because he symbolises everything that the current Conservative party lacks and needs to broaden its support. I can only assume that Sir John had no interest in returning to the fray.
I've always been a fan of Sir John, I think he's only really wheeled out for the big occasions, so he remains effective.
I know a few people said it was Sir John's intervention in attack Brown for going to Iraq during the Tory conference in 2007 during the election that never was, that really got the Tory confidence back.
I've heard rumours that David Blunkett's old seat in Sheffield Brightside & Hillsborough might be the scene of a rather impressive UKIP performance. People living in the area might know more about it.
Well the BNP and UKIP got a combined 10% in the seat last time, so they are starting better than most seats.
Plus there's been problems with the Roma Immigrants in Sheffield, particularly around Page Hall Road, so that's going to benefit UKIP.
Plus Blunkett had a huge personal vote for a variety of reasons, and that's going to unwind,
Blunkett was pretty UKIP on law and order tbh
'David Blunkett told the head of the Prison Service to call in the Army and "machine-gun" rioting inmates to regain control of a jail in 2002, reports say.'
Reminds me of the fact that Dubai built their airport terminal 3 in less time than Heathrow T5's planning inquiry! DXB are now building the new replacement airport further out of town as we talk about the third runway, when we need runways 3 and 4 under construction yesterday.
Major has said it cannot be right the SNP is seeking to influence policy in a country where it is not fielding candidates.
He is absolutely 100% correct.
Garbage , he is just as thick as he has ever been, the turnip does not realise it is a UK election not an England election. He is obviously not all there.
For UK laws.
For English laws it can not be right that foreign MPs not standing in England are setting devolved laws for England. You can not defend the indefensible.
EDIT: The funny thing is that the SNP used to be honourable and abstain on English-only laws, it was only Labour who did the indefensible.
Labour do it all the time, and Tories single MP does it so what is different. I do not see anything there talking about English law , which is separate from Scottish law. He states clearly , influencing policy in a country. The only country that is having a GE is the UK , which last time I looked Scotland is a part of. So you are happy that English MPs get to vote on all matters affecting Scotland but not vice versa , unionist democracy at a glance.
PS: Common knowledge on here that England does not have devolution , it is whinged about daily.
Keep being stubborn it doesn't make you any less wrong.
No I am not happy that English MPs get to vote on devolved issues for Scotland. But then again English MPs DON'T vote on devolved issues for Scotland.
I know England doesn't have devolution, but Scotland does and we're talking about Scottish MPs. Scottish MPs should not vote (regardless of party) on any issue that have been devolved away from them.
@uniondivvie - if you're going to be rude, I won't bet with you.
This is the year of the SNP. You seem very confident they will do very well indeed. So, Final offer: I will offer you for LibLabConUKIP combined (whom all offer a common UK wide unionist policy) to outpoll the SNP alone (with no 50% vote threshold) at evens.
Deal, or no deal?
Your backtrack is quite phenomenal. Typical of the shell that is Unionism - it doesn't even believe in itself.
The bet is that the UK wide unionist parties that adopt a common position across the UK on the union outpoll the SNP.
This is the year of the SNP. As strident Scottish nationalist, who believes your fellow Scots share your cause, surely you are confident that the SNP will get more votes than that lot? Say.. 47% to 46%?
You are more persistent than the cold callers selling windows, PPI , etc
Miliband on Cameron. "he is demeaning himself. He is demeaning his office. He will say anything and stop at nothing."
Miliband rattled.....
The whole of Labour are completely rattled by this line, they know it plays well in the Midlands marginals and with wavering UKIP/Con voters.
Yet all Miliband has to do to diffuse it is to say he won't deal with the SNP. Would you, Ed?
The problem Ed has with that line - and another reason why the whole Labour / SNP thing is gaining traction - is that he is seen as both weak (so will not stand up to the SNP) and willing to do anything to gain power (a la his brother). Thus people will think he would say one thing to become PM but then would then just get pushed around by the SNP.
You can argue whether the perceptions are fair (partly, I think, but not wholly) but that is what he is stuck with.
In hindsight, I probably should have said UK-wide unionist parties to outpoll the SNP (I don't necessarily consider votes for the Greens or the SSP to be nationalist votes in a Westminster election) However, I note your lack of confidence that the SNP will outpoll LabConLibDemUKIP combined. I find that interesting.
I can get better value than evens on the SNP polling 50%. I've taken better value elsewhere at the SNP polling 50%.
I've heard rumours that David Blunkett's old seat in Sheffield Brightside & Hillsborough might be the scene of a rather impressive UKIP performance. People living in the area might know more about it.
Well the BNP and UKIP got a combined 10% in the seat last time, so they are starting better than most seats.
Plus there's been problems with the Roma Immigrants in Sheffield, particularly around Page Hall Road, so that's going to benefit UKIP.
Plus Blunkett had a huge personal vote for a variety of reasons, and that's going to unwind,
fpt, @Tissue_Price "I think the LD's are actually best placed to receive tactical votes as Con <--> Lab is just too much of a jump for many people."
yup. Tactical voting, Edinburgh South.
Ashcroft shows the SNP coming to the lead from nowhere to lead the SLAB incumbent Ian Murray by a short head. The LDs who came second last time have dropped right back. The Conservatives remain third with roughly the same percentage as 2010.
I'm a Conservative unionist, so should I hold my nose and vote "tactically"? I have concluded not, because from my perspective there's really not much difference between SNP and SLAB: if Labour does get into office they will dance to the SNP tune anyway. So to give heart to the Cons in the next election I shall eschew tactics and vote according to my true preferences.
However if Murray wins the seat I'll be pleased that he has saved Roger's bacon.
As a Conservative Unionist I share your concerns. SLAB are deeply unattractive as an organisation and have been a blight on Scottish public life for far too long.
But for me ultimately the Unionist part is more important. Governments come and go. PM Miliband will be a disaster and cause moderate damage to the UK in the way that Labour governments usually do but he is unlikely to be around long enough to do anything like as much damage as the last Labour government did, especially if he is dependent on people as fundamentally dishonest and delusional as the SNP. But the Union is forever.
It is a horrible choice but in Edinburgh South I would vote Labour. In Dundee West I need some evidence that it would not be a pointless gesture to do so and I have not seen it yet. I am canvassing and working in Perth and North Perthshire to offset any guilt I might feel if I eventually decide to vote tactically.
The legitimacy of the next Prime Minister might come down to the total number of votes their party received. Sod tactical voting - all Tories should vote Tory to have the maximum chance of staying in power UK-wide....
Not the experience in Inverurie where just about every remaining Labour voter in a survey cites Salmond as their second preference.
In my experience it depended on whether they voted Yes or No. I would agree that Labour voters who voted Yes are turning SNP. But the No voters are worried and the more hype there is about the SNP's undoubted success the more worried they get.
Since we seem almost inevitably to be heading towards a hung parliament where the SNP are kingmakers, what likelihood that EVFEL will become a real rather then hypothetical issue PDQ? The SNP are on a wrecking mission - and doing it very well indeed I may say. I'm hoping 2015 is the election that brings England properly into being.
Still unsure how I'll follow the election. May be online, maybe I'll opt for the TV.
I'm feeling embarrassed now about misleading folk with a whimsical remark, but your kind thoughts were nevertheless appreciated.
Yes, I'll be following on tv too, with two computers in front of me. The time flashes by and if last time is anything to go back there will even be little to time to post on here.
Looking forward to it.
Btw, I really am off to Broxtowe tomorrow to join in the Palmer bandwagon. I'll report back, as honestly as my friendship with NPXMP will permit.
You run scottish education. Fine. Good luck with it.
Labour SNP means you will run English education too. And we can't vote you out.
You are talking mince. The supposed "England only" vote sets the Scottish budgets and so is not an England only vote. Going by the ignorance shown on here it sounds like it would be better run from Scotland.
However the best SNP whitewash bet out there is Con v Lab tie @ 8/1.
Not sure that's value, but I'm tempted since it would be the funniest win in the history of political betting!
It's the 1-1 and 2-2 draws that really make it value (not to mention the 0-0 draw with LD retaining Orkney). The straight 59-seat whitewash is at 12/1 with Skybet I believe.
Mr. Patrick, my fear is that the English matter leads to carving up the land to suit party political nonsense, as some seek to create perpetual fiefdoms.
You run scottish education. Fine. Good luck with it.
Labour SNP means you will run English education too. And we can't vote you out.
You are talking mince. The supposed "England only" vote sets the Scottish budgets and so is not an England only vote. Going by the ignorance shown on here it sounds like it would be better run from Scotland.
The big problem is the budget.
This inevitably affects Scotland and so can never fall under EVEL.
Fox hunting, drink driving, and some others can be strictly divided.
If EVEL comes in, FFA is needed as a quid pro quo.
Sir John Major hasn't spent the last five years leading a coalition government through the most difficult of economic circumstances, constantly having to fend off mutinies behind him as well as the opposition in front of him. It isn't too difficult to sound refreshed, relaxed and natural if you have had 18 years to get your breath back.
He does look good for a 72 year old.
He has been well rested for 18 years now. Memories of him the day after the election in 1997 when he left Downing St and headed straight to watch the cricket, you got the feeling that the weight of the past seven years had just been removed from his shoulders...
Major has said it cannot be right the SNP is seeking to influence policy in a country where it is not fielding candidates.
He is absolutely 100% correct.
Garbage , he is just as thick as he has ever been, the turnip does not realise it is a UK election not an England election. He is obviously not all there.
For UK laws.
For English laws it can not be right that foreign MPs not standing in England are setting devolved laws for England. You can not defend the indefensible.
EDIT: The funny thing is that the SNP used to be honourable and abstain on English-only laws, it was only Labour who did the indefensible.
Labour do it all the time, and Tories single MP does it so what is different. I do not see anything there talking about English law , which is separate from Scottish law. He states clearly , influencing policy in a country. The only country that is having a GE is the UK , which last time I looked Scotland is a part of. So you are happy that English MPs get to vote on all matters affecting Scotland but not vice versa , unionist democracy at a glance.
PS: Common knowledge on here that England does not have devolution , it is whinged about daily.
Keep being stubborn it doesn't make you any less wrong.
No I am not happy that English MPs get to vote on devolved issues for Scotland. But then again English MPs DON'T vote on devolved issues for Scotland.
I know England doesn't have devolution, but Scotland does and we're talking about Scottish MPs. Scottish MPs should not vote (regardless of party) on any issue that have been devolved away from them.
I am not being stubborn , where it does not impact Scotland in any way , then I agree. However most times it affects the Scottish pocket money and then it is wrong. Easy solution is a federal UK, but Westminster want their cake and want to eat it at the same time.
However the best SNP whitewash bet out there is Con v Lab tie @ 8/1.
Not sure that's value, but I'm tempted since it would be the funniest win in the history of political betting!
It's the 1-1 and 2-2 draws that really make it value (not to mention the 0-0 draw with LD retaining Orkney). The straight 59-seat whitewash is at 12/1 with Skybet I believe.
NB currently the parties of the Union are in the Dusty Bin formation.
"...what likelihood that EVFEL will become a real rather then hypothetical issue PDQ? "
About zero I should think. Oh, it will be an issue for the people but not for the politicians. The leaders of the two main parties seem terrified of the idea so it will not happen.
You run scottish education. Fine. Good luck with it.
Labour SNP means you will run English education too. And we can't vote you out.
You are talking mince. The supposed "England only" vote sets the Scottish budgets and so is not an England only vote. Going by the ignorance shown on here it sounds like it would be better run from Scotland.
So if you're quite happy for MPs from another nation to run their nation's devolved issues I suppose the right thing to do is end devolution and abolish Holyrood?
Not the experience in Inverurie where just about every remaining Labour voter in a survey cites Salmond as their second preference.
In my experience it depended on whether they voted Yes or No. I would agree that Labour voters who voted Yes are turning SNP. But the No voters are worried and the more hype there is about the SNP's undoubted success the more worried they get.
David , difference is no matter how worried they are they will not be voting Tory or Lib Dem, they will go SNP , Green , SSP.
Can anyone think of any precedent in UK political history where as much attention was given to anyone who is not even a candidate as has been given to Nicola Sturgeon?
I must say that I assumed that leadership of the Westminster elections would largely devolve to someone who was a candidate like Salmond but he has been almost invisible. Clearly the debates have played a very large part in this but I am struggling to think of a precedent.
The times, they are a'changing, as I believe someone once said.
Then you will see that French healthcare is superior... because it is *more* expensive. We spend 9.1% of GDP on healthcare. The Americans spend 17%.1(!). Most European countries spend a little more than us:
USA 17.1 Netherlands 12.9 France 11.7 Switzerland 11.5 Germany 11.3 Canada 10.9 Japan 10.3 Sweden 9.7 Norway 9.6 UK 9.1 Italy 9.1 Ireland 8.9 Spain 8.9
Sir John Major hasn't spent the last five years leading a coalition government through the most difficult of economic circumstances, constantly having to fend off mutinies behind him as well as the opposition in front of him. It isn't too difficult to sound refreshed, relaxed and natural if you have had 18 years to get your breath back.
He does look good for a 72 year old.
He has for many years seemed like a man who has made peace with himself. Losing so heavily in 1997 may have assisted that process.
I expected David Cameron would have made more use of him during the last five years, because he symbolises everything that the current Conservative party lacks and needs to broaden its support. I can only assume that Sir John had no interest in returning to the fray.
I've always been a fan of Sir John, I think he's only really wheeled out for the big occasions, so he remains effective.
I know a few people said it was Sir John's intervention in attack Brown for going to Iraq during the Tory conference in 2007 during the election that never was, that really got the Tory confidence back.
Just remember all the fashionable sycophancy directed to Blair and the approbrium heaped on Major from 1994 onwards. Yet look at their respective reputations now: one a money grubbing, dishonest charlatan - the other an elder statesman.
@uniondivvie - if you're going to be rude, I won't bet with you.
This is the year of the SNP. You seem very confident they will do very well indeed. So, Final offer: I will offer you for LibLabConUKIP combined (whom all offer a common UK wide unionist policy) to outpoll the SNP alone (with no 50% vote threshold) at evens.
Deal, or no deal?
Your backtrack is quite phenomenal. Typical of the shell that is Unionism - it doesn't even believe in itself.
The bet is that the UK wide unionist parties that adopt a common position across the UK on the union outpoll the SNP.
This is the year of the SNP. As strident Scottish nationalist, who believes your fellow Scots share your cause, surely you are confident that the SNP will get more votes than that lot? Say.. 47% to 46%?
You are more persistent than the cold callers selling windows, PPI , etc
You run scottish education. Fine. Good luck with it.
Labour SNP means you will run English education too. And we can't vote you out.
You are talking mince. The supposed "England only" vote sets the Scottish budgets and so is not an England only vote. Going by the ignorance shown on here it sounds like it would be better run from Scotland.
So it's not about fairness. Scotland are better than the rest of us and we should just accept it. Personally I've always supported independence so we could see that Scotland are not being held back.
"I live in Wales and Labour have been in power for 15 years. We now have the worst performing NHS and worst performing education system in the whole of the UK. If Labour cannot provide first class services for 3 million people after 15 years, then there is no way they will do this for 50m+ English people"
I am surprised that Wales is being ignored so much in this election as Labours record there is one of abject failure. ( Like all their administrations)
However, that wasn't really my point - my point was that what people are saying about John Major now bears absolutely no connection whatsoever to what people said about him when he was actually PM.
That's right, at least for Tories (I've never met a Labour supporter who recall Major's government fondly), but which is right, the impression at the time or the nostalgic memory? I've only met him a couple of times, but he struck me as a nice man, not terribly preoccupied with politics and really more interested in cricket. In a backbencher that's arguably a healthy balance, in a PM maybe less so.
Team2015 are going to Broxtowe from St Pancras on Saturday...
Thanks for the helpful info. Enjoy your visit!
PtP is up tomorrow and tyson next week. The idea of a PB pub meet in the Victoria pub on Tuesday May 5 from 8pm has been put up here, but I'm not sure if anyone else is coming - Tissue Price and Fox said they might, I think? I might be tied up till 830 or so, but voters don't like being pestered after that.
I note a certain heat creeping into discussions about Broxtowe on the forum, and I don't want to fan it, so I'll call a unilateral ceasefire and just give the occasional anecdote without further comment on local outlook. One from the weekend:
Inexperienced young canvasser: "You've swung from not sure to Labour? That's fantastic! How is your husband swinging?" Voter: "A bit naughty of you to ask, but I've found he's heterosexual, actually."
Not the experience in Inverurie where just about every remaining Labour voter in a survey cites Salmond as their second preference.
In my experience it depended on whether they voted Yes or No. I would agree that Labour voters who voted Yes are turning SNP. But the No voters are worried and the more hype there is about the SNP's undoubted success the more worried they get.
David , difference is no matter how worried they are they will not be voting Tory or Lib Dem, they will go SNP , Green , SSP.
Not in North Perthshire.
Unless they are atypical they will vote for whichever Unionist party is thought to have the best chance and that will be none of those you have mentioned. I have been told of Labour activists helping Crockett as well and heard rumours about Gordon too.
I am hesitant to generalise too much but there is little doubt there will be more tactical voting in this election than Scotland has ever seen. How much difference it might make is a lot more problematic.
I've heard rumours that David Blunkett's old seat in Sheffield Brightside & Hillsborough might be the scene of a rather impressive UKIP performance. People living in the area might know more about it.
If it is then Ed is in serious trouble. YouGov nowcast suggest 56 - 18 Labour lead!
As a Conservative Unionist I share your concerns. SLAB are deeply unattractive as an organisation and have been a blight on Scottish public life for far too long.
But for me ultimately the Unionist part is more important. Governments come and go. PM Miliband will be a disaster and cause moderate damage to the UK in the way that Labour governments usually do but he is unlikely to be around long enough to do anything like as much damage as the last Labour government did, especially if he is dependent on people as fundamentally dishonest and delusional as the SNP. But the Union is forever.
It is a horrible choice but in Edinburgh South I would vote Labour. In Dundee West I need some evidence that it would not be a pointless gesture to do so and I have not seen it yet. I am canvassing and working in Perth and North Perthshire to offset any guilt I might feel if I eventually decide to vote tactically.
P(your vote for Labour swings the seat) is infintesimal.
P(your vote is used by labour to claim a mandate for something you disapprove of) = 1
You run scottish education. Fine. Good luck with it.
Labour SNP means you will run English education too. And we can't vote you out.
You are talking mince. The supposed "England only" vote sets the Scottish budgets and so is not an England only vote. Going by the ignorance shown on here it sounds like it would be better run from Scotland.
The big problem is the budget.
This inevitably affects Scotland and so can never fall under EVEL.
Fox hunting, drink driving, and some others can be strictly divided.
If EVEL comes in, FFA is needed as a quid pro quo.
Yes it is the elephant in the room, it can never be real EVEL otherwise. As you say there are some things that can be done but not the major items. If they want to save the union they need to get FFR sorted out.
Can anyone think of any precedent in UK political history where as much attention was given to anyone who is not even a candidate as has been given to Nicola Sturgeon?
I must say that I assumed that leadership of the Westminster elections would largely devolve to someone who was a candidate like Salmond but he has been almost invisible. Clearly the debates have played a very large part in this but I am struggling to think of a precedent.
The times, they are a'changing, as I believe someone once said.
@JohnRentoul: Save Ed campaign in full: 1 We would have got away with it if it hadn't been for those pesky Scots 2 Blame the media http://t.co/uaiH5HQQFi
PtP is up tomorrow and tyson next week. The idea of a PB pub meet in the Victoria pub on Tuesday May 5 from 8pm has been put up here, but I'm not sure if anyone else is coming - Tissue Price and Fox said they might, I think? I might be tied up till 830 or so, but voters don't like being pestered after that.
Is it Tuesday now? Might be trickier for me than the weekend or Monday which I think were the earlier suggestions, but I'll try. I think Pulpstar / Alanbrooke expressed interest too IIRC.
Reminds me of the fact that Dubai built their airport terminal 3 in less time than Heathrow T5's planning inquiry! DXB are now building the new replacement airport further out of town as we talk about the third runway, when we need runways 3 and 4 under construction yesterday.
It's still too little too late though, we need Heathrow AND Gatwick to have new runways, and preferably a with a high speed train linking them - maybe a good test bed for the Maglev http://www.500kmh.com/
We used to be good the best in the world at ground breaking technology in the UK, remember Concorde?
You run scottish education. Fine. Good luck with it.
Labour SNP means you will run English education too. And we can't vote you out.
You are talking mince. The supposed "England only" vote sets the Scottish budgets and so is not an England only vote. Going by the ignorance shown on here it sounds like it would be better run from Scotland.
So it's not about fairness. Scotland are better than the rest of us and we should just accept it. Personally I've always supported independence so we could see that Scotland are not being held back.
Yes it is all about fairness. You seem confused. Due to English matters changing the Scottish budget you cannot treat them in isolation and be fair. EVEL as it currently stands would be very unfair.
Comments
So you are happy that English MPs get to vote on all matters affecting Scotland but not vice versa , unionist democracy at a glance.
PS: Common knowledge on here that England does not have devolution , it is whinged about daily.
So, it's working then...
Plus there's been problems with the Roma Immigrants in Sheffield, particularly around Page Hall Road, so that's going to benefit UKIP.
Plus Blunkett had a huge personal vote for a variety of reasons, and that's going to unwind,
Mr. Llama, I agree. But after that five years Labour could have a second crushing defeat, this time in England as UKIP and the Conservatives take huge chunks out of the reds.
And, forestalling that, might a slew of northern Labour MPs opt-out, either forming a Not Quite Labour party or defecting to UKIP?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32392544
Chortle.
You run scottish education. Fine. Good luck with it.
Labour SNP means you will run English education too. And we can't vote you out.
C 34.0 L 31.0, UKIP 12.0, LD 10.0, Green 4.5
This morning on the way to work I saw a substantial Tory poster in bits in a farmer's field. Someone had driven to more or less the middle of nowhere and snapped a thick fence post in two and left it prominently in tatters.
I have never heard a single work colleague openly admit to voting tory in 15 years. Yet the workforce here is in constituencies with 15K + majorities. Many must do so. It is super-uncool for many many people (for want of a better word)
This is not in any sense to denigrate Sir John's interventions, which have been very well judged. But it's not comparing like-with-like to compare them with those of the current generation.
It has been pointed out that even with huge majorities, Blair occasionally had to rely on the conservatives.
Imagine trying to whip 260 MPs in an SNP/Labour coalition, against a backdrop of a country in ferment.
Impossible.
Reminds me of the fact that Dubai built their airport terminal 3 in less time than Heathrow T5's planning inquiry! DXB are now building the new replacement airport further out of town as we talk about the third runway, when we need runways 3 and 4 under construction yesterday.
I expected David Cameron would have made more use of him during the last five years, because he symbolises everything that the current Conservative party lacks and needs to broaden its support. I can only assume that Sir John had no interest in returning to the fray.
But it does show what a kind and thoughtful bunch PBers can be.
Well, some of them, anyway.
Yes, there certainly might be a reckoning at the following GE but that wasn't the question.
As for a slew of MPs jumping ship - it would never happen. MPs that have the courage of their convictions are rarer than hens' teeth.
In hindsight, I probably should have said UK-wide unionist parties to outpoll the SNP (I don't necessarily consider votes for the Greens or the SSP to be nationalist votes in a Westminster election) However, I note your lack of confidence that the SNP will outpoll LabConLibDemUKIP combined. I find that interesting.
Not the experience in Inverurie where just about every remaining Labour voter in a survey cites Salmond as their second preference.
I know a few people said it was Sir John's intervention in attack Brown for going to Iraq during the Tory conference in 2007 during the election that never was, that really got the Tory confidence back.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6057528.stm
So Labour are weaponising the NHS.
And the Tories are weaponising the SNP.
What's the LibDems to do?
No I am not happy that English MPs get to vote on devolved issues for Scotland. But then again English MPs DON'T vote on devolved issues for Scotland.
I know England doesn't have devolution, but Scotland does and we're talking about Scottish MPs. Scottish MPs should not vote (regardless of party) on any issue that have been devolved away from them.
Winning the Pandas vs Scot Tory MPs would be the funniest win.
You can argue whether the perceptions are fair (partly, I think, but not wholly) but that is what he is stuck with.
All depends on what the remaining 6% of Labour does there.
https://twitter.com/ConHistGrp/status/590480941375758336
Yes, I'll be following on tv too, with two computers in front of me. The time flashes by and if last time is anything to go back there will even be little to time to post on here.
Looking forward to it.
Btw, I really am off to Broxtowe tomorrow to join in the Palmer bandwagon. I'll report back, as honestly as my friendship with NPXMP will permit.
Would be somewhat amusing if the SNP prop up a party without any Scottish MPs against a party that has one!
@SkyNews: "The big question is whether the Lib Dems are going to have any MPs left" SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon says #GE2015 http://snpy.tv/1G2Xs6e
Mr. Patrick, my fear is that the English matter leads to carving up the land to suit party political nonsense, as some seek to create perpetual fiefdoms.
Mr. Eagles, reminds me of the FU quote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylu3x72WHTs
This inevitably affects Scotland and so can never fall under EVEL.
Fox hunting, drink driving, and some others can be strictly divided.
If EVEL comes in, FFA is needed as a quid pro quo.
"...what likelihood that EVFEL will become a real rather then hypothetical issue PDQ? "
About zero I should think. Oh, it will be an issue for the people but not for the politicians. The leaders of the two main parties seem terrified of the idea so it will not happen.
The Maglev in Shanghai is brilliant!
I must say that I assumed that leadership of the Westminster elections would largely devolve to someone who was a candidate like Salmond but he has been almost invisible. Clearly the debates have played a very large part in this but I am struggling to think of a precedent.
The times, they are a'changing, as I believe someone once said.
Then you will see that French healthcare is superior... because it is *more* expensive. We spend 9.1% of GDP on healthcare. The Americans spend 17%.1(!). Most European countries spend a little more than us:
"I live in Wales and Labour have been in power for 15 years. We now have the worst performing NHS and worst performing education system in the whole of the UK. If Labour cannot provide first class services for 3 million people after 15 years, then there is no way they will do this for 50m+ English people"
I am surprised that Wales is being ignored so much in this election as Labours record there is one of abject failure. ( Like all their administrations)
PtP is up tomorrow and tyson next week. The idea of a PB pub meet in the Victoria pub on Tuesday May 5 from 8pm has been put up here, but I'm not sure if anyone else is coming - Tissue Price and Fox said they might, I think? I might be tied up till 830 or so, but voters don't like being pestered after that.
I note a certain heat creeping into discussions about Broxtowe on the forum, and I don't want to fan it, so I'll call a unilateral ceasefire and just give the occasional anecdote without further comment on local outlook. One from the weekend:
Inexperienced young canvasser: "You've swung from not sure to Labour? That's fantastic! How is your husband swinging?"
Voter: "A bit naughty of you to ask, but I've found he's heterosexual, actually."
Unless they are atypical they will vote for whichever Unionist party is thought to have the best chance and that will be none of those you have mentioned. I have been told of Labour activists helping Crockett as well and heard rumours about Gordon too.
I am hesitant to generalise too much but there is little doubt there will be more tactical voting in this election than Scotland has ever seen. How much difference it might make is a lot more problematic.
P(your vote is used by labour to claim a mandate for something you disapprove of) = 1
And I am a material girl
http://www.500kmh.com/
We used to be good the best in the world at ground breaking technology in the UK, remember Concorde?