Labour has suspended one of its general election candidates in Scotland after he appeared in court accused of driving offences. Sumon Hoque, 32, was standing in Banff and Buchan. He appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court today, where he denied five breaches of the Road Traffic Act, including driving without a licence and being over the legal drink-driving limit. You can find a full list of candidates standing in the constituency here .
A Scottish Labour spokesman said:
Sumon Hoque has been suspended from representing the Labour Party and we have, therefore, withdrawn support from him as the general election candidate."
The legal drink drive limit in Scotland as from January this year is just over half that in England.
Surprisingly when as an English tourist I mentioned that to a young female shop assistant dressed in blue tartan in a whisky shop a couple of weeks ago in an isolated small town in Moray she visibly bristled and jumped to the defence of the new SNP government law saying it is needed to catch recidivist old men who never learn. It was then I realised Danny in the neighbouring seat was probably doomed. Young people up these seem to love the SNP.
It wasn't the thread, just the graphs of the polling outcome in a dozen or so Scottish seats, which were nearly uniformly showing SNP wins, and also nearly uniformly odds-against with a couple of bookmakers, whose night shifts weren't the sharpest.
Not that anyone here would take advantage of such a thing, of course.
I was merely helping the bookmaker to correct their prices by placing modest maximum bets which I felt sure they would notice.
Good times.
When Ashcroft released his second set of Scottish polls (which included Edinburgh SW) some bookmakers (Betfair Sportsbook) just took down the named seats and left all the other Scottish seats up. I extended my position in Edinburgh with haste.
Actually, the most chaotic time for the Scottish constituency polls was last weekend after the updated polling from Lord Ashcroft. By that stage far more bookies had entered the fray and they were being pushed all over the place.
I had no bankroll left so was unable to take advantage of the arbs that were available.
Labour has suspended one of its general election candidates in Scotland after he appeared in court accused of driving offences. Sumon Hoque, 32, was standing in Banff and Buchan. He appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court today, where he denied five breaches of the Road Traffic Act, including driving without a licence and being over the legal drink-driving limit. You can find a full list of candidates standing in the constituency here .
A Scottish Labour spokesman said:
Sumon Hoque has been suspended from representing the Labour Party and we have, therefore, withdrawn support from him as the general election candidate."
The lengths the unionists will go to to put forward a single anti-SNP candidate.
It has emerged that Ed Miliband has been taking “leadership lessons” from a private consultancy called Extended Mind. The company offers to “build leadership skills” using business psychology and neuroscience. Miliband told Sky News he takes advice from a “range of people”, adding that he’d leave it to others to judge his performance.
The Conservatives have cited this news as an example of Miliband’s authenticity. The party’s Michael Ellis said: “There’s nothing authentic about Ed Miliband. He’s had to hire someone to tell him how to act like a leader. Even after all his extensive coaching, could you imagine him standing up to Putin on the world stage? He should ask for his money back.”
Labour has suspended one of its general election candidates in Scotland after he appeared in court accused of driving offences. Sumon Hoque, 32, was standing in Banff and Buchan. He appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court today, where he denied five breaches of the Road Traffic Act, including driving without a licence and being over the legal drink-driving limit. You can find a full list of candidates standing in the constituency here .
A Scottish Labour spokesman said:
Sumon Hoque has been suspended from representing the Labour Party and we have, therefore, withdrawn support from him as the general election candidate."
Sorry, Labour postal voters, you can't "have another go...."
Neil Hay has put Nicola Sturgeon in an impossible situation. If she boots him out, she is left without an SNP candidate in a winnable seat. Yet this approach would not be without precedent. During the 2010 general election, the Conservative candidate for North Ayrshire and Arran referred to homosexuality as “not normal” and when the comments came to light, the Tories suspended him and withdrew support for his campaign. It sent a clear message that his remarks were not acceptable to the party.
The same path is open to Sturgeon but it would mean sacrificing a seat to Labour. Some things, though, are above politics.
Perhaps she’ll get lucky and Hay will make the decision for her. But people look to the First Minister for leadership and, perhaps for the first time since she took office, she didn’t show it on Thursday.
@ Ooh, I like that. It's a bit like that trippy True Detective music.
I've always liked sad songs which is a bit weird given I'm a really happy person. Songs like Joni Mitchell's A Case of You, Aimee Mann's Wise Up and Damien Rice's The Blower's Daughter. They don't get the party going but they are good for the comedown
I fear - the way this GE is going - I'll be listening to them when Ed is measuring up the curtains to No 10.
It's not the official position of Labour party, from what I've been told.
Gordon Brown saving the Party?
Going AWOL, again. Just like the promise of a new Home Rule bill - which threw Labour, Tories and LD into utter chaos.
If it had been official we'd have heard a lot more about it - the lack of reaction so far has surprised me. Gordon Brown saving the Party?
Going AWOL, again. Just like the promise of a new Home Rule bill - which threw Labour, Tories and LD into utter chaos.
If it had been official we'd have heard a lot more about it - the lack of reaction so far has surprised me. Gordonzilla running riot again, as you suggest, it seems.
The Clunking Fist has gone rogue.
-Free Bru and Tennants for the over 5's
-Subsidised curry
-State sponsored kilt shops
Still not a £30bn black hole with that lot though
Is it something to do with a deficit in the NHS Pension Fund due to the bottlers who were frightened of Lansley, and took early retirement?
No did you not read the IFS report.
More to do with Tories making it up as they go along.
Like a certain Troll
Is that the IFS report that said Labour has been "considerably more vague about how much they would want to borrow”, and would leave Britain with £90billion more debt than the Tories? The same Think Tank who's figures Labour regularly dispute, and dismiss as nonsense. Yes thats the one.
They say Tories cuts will be massive but are mainly unexplained as with £30bn black hole in funding promises from Magic Money Tree.
Perhaps you could hellp with two of the main elements.
What cuts will make up the £12bn welfare reduction?
Where is the additional £8bn NHS monies coming from?
Please copy the IFS into your response.
An NHS retirees pension being the main cause might impress them give it a try, they are reporting again next Tuesday
Stunning really having bitched and moaned for some 5 years about the so called "savage cuts" they now bitch and moan about the same party spending more?
Meanwhile they are so vague about their own plans a 3rd party steps in and infers Labour will itself have a black hole but 3 times larger than the party Labour are whining about?
The best father and son song was written by a man who has just been given a lifetime achievement award for folk music by the BBC. I'm sure we can all applaud this overdue recognition of a supremely talented artist.
Are we talking about the convert who said Salmon Rushdie should die?
Burned alive I believe.
Suprised the BBC havn't handed out an award to Gary Glitter.
Ed Miliband has been asked on BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat about his record on raising the issue of Libya at Prime Minister's Questions. This follows his claims that David Cameron and other leaders had failedto plan properly for Libya's future after airstrikes.
In a question and answer session in Radio 1's Live Lounge, the Labour leader was asked why he hadn't raised it with David Cameron in the Commons for four years.
I was setting out today my approach to foreign policy. One of the things I said was we've got to engage in the problems of the world but we've got to engage in them in a way that learns the lessons of the past."
So determined is Ed to learn the lessons of the past, he voted against the Chilcot Inquiry, four times
I think that if Reckless loses he will take Roger Bird's old job as general secretary. They have not filled the vacancy since he stepped down several months ago.
Presumably if Farage wins, and Reckless loses - there is no way that Farage can 'give' Reckless his MEP seat?
It's not the official position of Labour party, from what I've been told.
Gordon Brown saving the Party?
Going AWOL, again. Just like the promise of a new Home Rule bill - which threw Labour, Tories and LD into utter chaos.
If it had been official we'd have heard a lot more about it - the lack of reaction so far has surprised me. Gordon Brown saving the Party?
Going AWOL, again. Just like the promise of a new Home Rule bill - which threw Labour, Tories and LD into utter chaos.
If it had been official we'd have heard a lot more about it - the lack of reaction so far has surprised me. Gordonzilla running riot again, as you suggest, it seems.
The Clunking Fist has gone rogue.
-Free Bru and Tennants for the over 5's
-Subsidised curry
-State sponsored kilt shops
Still not a £30bn black hole with that lot though
Is it something to do with a deficit in the NHS Pension Fund due to the bottlers who were frightened of Lansley, and took early retirement?
No did you not read the IFS report.
More to do with Tories making it up as they go along.
Like a certain Troll
Is that the IFS report that said Labour has been "considerably more vague about how much they would want to borrow”, and would leave Britain with £90billion more debt than the Tories? The same Think Tank who's figures Labour regularly dispute, and dismiss as nonsense.
Yes thats the one.
They say Tories cuts will be massive but are mainly unexplained as with £30bn black hole in funding promises from Magic Money Tree.
Perhaps you could hellp with two of the main elements.
What cuts will make up the £12bn welfare reduction?
Where is the additional £8bn NHS monies coming from?
Please copy the IFS into your response.
An NHS retirees pension being the main cause might impress them give it a try, they are reporting again next Tuesday
Stunning really having bitched and moaned for some 5 years about the so called "savage cuts" they now bitch and moan about the same party spending more?
Meanwhile they are so vague about their own plans a 3rd party steps in and infers Labour will itself have a black hole but 3 times larger than the party Labour are whining about?
Labour......redefining hypocriscy
Not True the IFS singled out the Tories as the party that has £30 bn blackhole
What % of the E&W vote would ukip need to win most seats?
33%?
Entirely depends what the other parties got and where it was distributed. (Trivially Lab 60%, UKIP 33% Con 5%, LD1%, Grn 1% would be a massive Lab landslide... / UKIP 33% Lab 20% Con 20% LD 15% Grn 12% would be a massive UKIP landslide )
@CCHQPress: Caller tells @Ed_Miliband she can't imagine him as Prime Minister on @LBC - time to ask his "leadership consultancy" for refund #NotUpToIt
Given that a common criticism of Cameron is he has an arrogant assumption about his own leadership skills, I'm surprised this is a line of attack CCHQ are pursuing - I guess it's a pursuit of the Ed is Weird angle, but which has more substance to it (or the appearance of it) as leadership skill is a relevant issue to some degree.
Labour has suspended one of its general election candidates in Scotland after he appeared in court accused of driving offences. Sumon Hoque, 32, was standing in Banff and Buchan. He appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court today, where he denied five breaches of the Road Traffic Act, including driving without a licence and being over the legal drink-driving limit. You can find a full list of candidates standing in the constituency here .
A Scottish Labour spokesman said:
Sumon Hoque has been suspended from representing the Labour Party and we have, therefore, withdrawn support from him as the general election candidate."
Sorry, Labour postal voters, you can't "have another go...."
Even if suspended by the party; he remains a candidate - just not a SLAB one.
Wonder how strong postal votes will be.Some anecdotal reports that particularly in key marginals the parties have gone flat out and there will be a large increase in postal votes. Could it be a third of votes?
Wonder how strong postal votes will be.Some anecdotal reports that particularly in key marginals the parties have gone flat out and there will be a large increase in postal votes. Could it be a third of votes?
You never know. Lutfur Rahman's at a loose end today.
Neil Hay has put Nicola Sturgeon in an impossible situation. If she boots him out, she is left without an SNP candidate in a winnable seat. Yet this approach would not be without precedent. During the 2010 general election, the Conservative candidate for North Ayrshire and Arran referred to homosexuality as “not normal” and when the comments came to light, the Tories suspended him and withdrew support for his campaign. It sent a clear message that his remarks were not acceptable to the party.
The same path is open to Sturgeon but it would mean sacrificing a seat to Labour. Some things, though, are above politics.
Perhaps she’ll get lucky and Hay will make the decision for her. But people look to the First Minister for leadership and, perhaps for the first time since she took office, she didn’t show it on Thursday.
ings Over Scotland @WingsScotland · 16 mins 16 minutes ago And that automatically makes it, by about a billion miles, the best mainstream media coverage of the issue.
Wonder how strong postal votes will be.Some anecdotal reports that particularly in key marginals the parties have gone flat out and there will be a large increase in postal votes. Could it be a third of votes?
In Torbay, it was about 1 in 7 of all electors. I suspect that translates into nearer 1 in 5 of all votes that will be cast.
Wonder how strong postal votes will be.Some anecdotal reports that particularly in key marginals the parties have gone flat out and there will be a large increase in postal votes. Could it be a third of votes?
What % of the E&W vote would ukip need to win most seats?
33%?
Entirely depends what the other parties got and where it was distributed. (Trivially Lab 60%, UKIP 33% Con 5%, LD1%, Grn 1% would be a massive Lab landslide... / UKIP 33% Lab 20% Con 20% LD 15% Grn 12% would be a massive UKIP landslide )
Sure. If the big 2 were to drop down to 24-26 & LD's on 6, the kippers could form the largest party on 31% according to baxter.
It's incredibly unlikely, but not inconceivable, that Nigel could be PM in a couple of weeks.
@ Ooh, I like that. It's a bit like that trippy True Detective music.
I've always liked sad songs which is a bit weird given I'm a really happy person. Songs like Joni Mitchell's A Case of You, Aimee Mann's Wise Up and Damien Rice's The Blower's Daughter. They don't get the party going but they are good for the comedown
I fear - the way this GE is going - I'll be listening to them when Ed is measuring up the curtains to No 10.
What % of the E&W vote would ukip need to win most seats?
33%?
Entirely depends what the other parties got and where it was distributed. (Trivially Lab 60%, UKIP 33% Con 5%, LD1%, Grn 1% would be a massive Lab landslide... / UKIP 33% Lab 20% Con 20% LD 15% Grn 12% would be a massive UKIP landslide )
Sure. If the big 2 were to drop down to 24-26 & LD's on 6, the kippers could form the largest party on 31% according to baxter.
It's incredibly unlikely, but not inconceivable, that Nigel could be PM in a couple of weeks.
What % of the E&W vote would ukip need to win most seats?
33%?
Entirely depends what the other parties got and where it was distributed. (Trivially Lab 60%, UKIP 33% Con 5%, LD1%, Grn 1% would be a massive Lab landslide... / UKIP 33% Lab 20% Con 20% LD 15% Grn 12% would be a massive UKIP landslide )
Sure. If the big 2 were to drop down to 24-26 & LD's on 6, the kippers could form the largest party on 31% according to baxter.
It's incredibly unlikely, but not inconceivable, that Nigel could be PM in a couple of weeks.
True. Although even then Nigel would be leader of the largest party, but in all likelihood without a absolute majority of MP's - would the Tories really provide C&S to UKIP, or would you see a 'not so Grand Coalition'? or UKIP Minority Government whilst the other 2 parties tried to work out what the hell had gone wrong?
I think that if Reckless loses he will take Roger Bird's old job as general secretary. They have not filled the vacancy since he stepped down several months ago.
Presumably if Farage wins, and Reckless loses - there is no way that Farage can 'give' Reckless his MEP seat?
Farage could give Reckless his seat if UKIP agree to put him next on the list for the south east. Would no doubt annoy a number of Kippers and look quite undemocratic.
That is one of the reasons why Roger Helmer ended up with UKIP as he wanted to retire and Baroness Warsi tried to replace the candidate who came 3rd with a female a-lister from London. He defected rather than face a stitch up. Another one of Baroness Warsi's many many failures.
The brass neck of Nick Clegg would take some beating. I know he's got form but to say "I think using the tragedy in Libya to score party political points during an election campaign is pretty disreputable!!"
It's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for the Lib Dems doing exactly that over Iraq during two elections he wouldn't now be Deputy PM
What % of the E&W vote would ukip need to win most seats?
33%?
Entirely depends what the other parties got and where it was distributed. (Trivially Lab 60%, UKIP 33% Con 5%, LD1%, Grn 1% would be a massive Lab landslide... / UKIP 33% Lab 20% Con 20% LD 15% Grn 12% would be a massive UKIP landslide )
Sure. If the big 2 were to drop down to 24-26 & LD's on 6, the kippers could form the largest party on 31% according to baxter.
It's incredibly unlikely, but not inconceivable, that Nigel could be PM in a couple of weeks.
True. Although even then Nigel would be leader of the largest party, but in all likelihood without a absolute majority of MP's - would the Tories really provide C&S to UKIP, or would you see a 'not so Grand Coalition'? or UKIP Minority Government whilst the other 2 parties tried to work out what the hell had gone wrong?
There would also be Tory and Labour howls of outrage about the 'unfair' FPTP voting system. Quite amusing.
What % of the E&W vote would ukip need to win most seats?
33%?
Entirely depends what the other parties got and where it was distributed. (Trivially Lab 60%, UKIP 33% Con 5%, LD1%, Grn 1% would be a massive Lab landslide... / UKIP 33% Lab 20% Con 20% LD 15% Grn 12% would be a massive UKIP landslide )
Sure. If the big 2 were to drop down to 24-26 & LD's on 6, the kippers could form the largest party on 31% according to baxter.
It's incredibly unlikely, but not inconceivable, that Nigel could be PM in a couple of weeks.
True. Although even then Nigel would be leader of the largest party, but in all likelihood without a absolute majority of MP's - would the Tories really provide C&S to UKIP, or would you see a 'not so Grand Coalition'? or UKIP Minority Government whilst the other 2 parties tried to work out what the hell had gone wrong?
There would also be Tory and Labour howls of outrage about the 'unfair' FPTP voting system. Quite amusing.
I don't think anyone would hear that howling over the sound of markets crashing.....
And so we say farewell to another Fantabadoozy Campaign day for Labour..one wonders how long they can keep this amazing record going..is anyone actually managing it.
The brass neck of Nick Clegg would take some beating. I know he's got form but to say "I think using the tragedy in Libya to score party political points during an election campaign is pretty disreputable!!"
It's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for the Lib Dems doing exactly that over Iraq during two elections he wouldn't now be Deputy PM
The LDs were anti-intervention from the start. Miliband just turned against the Libyan intervention today having supported it at the time.
Clegg is in the clear on this one, it is Ed who is the opportunist.
The brass neck of Nick Clegg would take some beating. I know he's got form but to say "I think using the tragedy in Libya to score party political points during an election campaign is pretty disreputable!!"
It's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for the Lib Dems doing exactly that over Iraq during two elections he wouldn't now be Deputy PM
I think you need to learn to distinguish between a conviction politician and an opportunist
1) The SNP are favourites in 54 seats. 2) They are at 5/6 or less in 50 seats. 3) They are at 1/2 or better in 46 seats. 4) They are no longer than 2/1 in 57 seats.
So the question is whether you think the seat markets are now broadly right. If you do, the SNP should be backed with SkyBet or William Hill at 6/4 to get more than 50 seats. The 5/6 with Sporting Bet that the SNP will exceed 47.5 seats also looks like a good bet if you take this view.
If you take the opposite view, there are some odds against bets to be placed in individual constituencies on Labour.
I think there's scope for both. The Sporting Bet bet looks decent to me, but one or two of the prices on Labour may have gone out a bit too far.
There is an arb available on the Conservatives in Scotland. You can back them to take at least one seat in Scotland with William Hill at 2/5 and back them to get no seats with Ladbrokes at 3/1 for a guaranteed profit. I suspect that the value is mainly with the latter bet.
Tories out in force here in Wimbledon - two knocks on the door this week. I politely told them them to get lost of course! The ground war is pretty intense by both Labour and the Tories. Surely Wimbledon can't be in play?
The best father and son song was written by a man who has just been given a lifetime achievement award for folk music by the BBC. I'm sure we can all applaud this overdue recognition of a supremely talented artist.
Are we talking about the convert who said Salmon Rushdie should die?
Burned alive I believe.
Suprised the BBC havn't handed out an award to Gary Glitter.
‘The Egton Wing at Broadcasting House was renamed the John Peel Wing in March 2012,’ says a Corporation spokesman. ‘We intend to put up clear signage on the building which includes John’s name and will keep his family fully updated.’
Tories out in force here in Wimbledon - two knocks on the door this week. I politely told them them to get lost of course! The ground war is pretty intense by both Labour and the Tories. Surely Wimbledon can't be in play?
You're too honest.
You should have told them you were an undecided voter and wasted their time for a while.
Ross Kemp has been wheeled out today for his every 4-5 years duty for Labour. He campaigned in South Thanet.
There really has been a surprising lack of celebs so far. The hyprocrite hobbit at the start. Eddie Izzard is a given. And that is about it really.
Not that it is a bad thing. I don't think just because you are an actor or whatever you have anymore of a valid view than Bob from Bognor, and normally Bob is better informed of the real world.
A bloke from Bollywood came to Leicester to parade with Keith Vaz.
And after watching the video (link to an Indian online newspaper) about the visit, I am now getting pop ups with breaking news from India every 10 minutes on my desktop...
Ross Kemp has been wheeled out today for his every 4-5 years duty for Labour. He campaigned in South Thanet.
There really has been a surprising lack of celebs so far. The hyprocrite hobbit at the start. Eddie Izzard is a given. And that is about it really.
Not that it is a bad thing. I don't think just because you are an actor or whatever you have anymore of a valid view than Bob from Bognor, and normally Bob is better informed of the real world.
It's also worth noting that with the SNP being priced at 1/2 or shorter in 46 seats, the Sporting Index price, even at 45-47, could well be a good buy.
Not that I'm doing it, because I bought at a much lower figure.
Firstly the depth of corruption in our political, police and prosecution systems. Corruption not by bribery but of looking the other way when it is politically convenient to so do.
Secondly, in allowing the immigration - often unchecked for political purposes (votes) - of people from countries where political, legal and police corruption is the normal way of life rather than the exception.
Thirdly the failure to enforce the same law (and not to allow any other laws) for all people regardless of rank, nation or creed.
It all these had been enforced by our politicians and police - without fear or favour - then the chances of Rotherham, Rochdale and Oxford etc occurring would have been minimised. Unfortunately, by their silence on these subjects during this pre-election period, I do not see any of our leaders looking at these important matters and correcting such inaction. "
Exactly.
Whenever the corruption and criminality is exposed it is always by outsiders whether that is in Parliament or the BBC or local government or the hospitals or the plods or the City.
And for every exposure we can be sure that there are many more which remain hidden.
The regulatory systems in this country have totally failed.
There is no shortage of government organisations which need proper outside investigation - we could start with the South Yorkshire police, the Thames Valley police, the Greater Manchester police, the Metropolitan police ...
"Not that it is a bad thing. I don't think just because you are an actor or whatever you have anymore of a valid view than Bob from Bognor, and normally Bob is better informed of the real world."
Do you think businesses would pay fortunes for celebrity endorsement if they could achieve the same with Bob from Bognor? Do you think George Clooney needs to understand Nespresso in order to sell it? You don't seem to have grasped the reason for using celebrities.
The brass neck of Nick Clegg would take some beating. I know he's got form but to say "I think using the tragedy in Libya to score party political points during an election campaign is pretty disreputable!!"
It's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for the Lib Dems doing exactly that over Iraq during two elections he wouldn't now be Deputy PM
The two are not even remotely comparable as I am sure even you must know.
The LDs consistently opposed the Iraq war.
Miliband supported the action in Libya, hasn't mentioned it at all since, it is not in Labour's manifesto, yet today he uses drowning refugees (mainly not even from Libya) to make cheap political points, without in any way saying what he would have done differently.
1) Labour are favourites in just two seats in Scotland: Rutherglen & Hamilton West (5/6) and Glasgow North East (4/6). 2) They are not as short as 1/2 in any seats at all. 3) They are 2/1 or shorter in just ten seats, the other eight being Edinburgh South, East Renfrewshire, Dunfermline & West Fife, East Lothian, Coatbridge Chryston & Bellshill, Glenrothes, Paisley & Renfrewshire North and Ayrshire Central.
Firstly the depth of corruption in our political, police and prosecution systems. Corruption not by bribery but of looking the other way when it is politically convenient to so do.
Secondly, in allowing the immigration - often unchecked for political purposes (votes) - of people from countries where political, legal and police corruption is the normal way of life rather than the exception.
Thirdly the failure to enforce the same law (and not to allow any other laws) for all people regardless of rank, nation or creed.
It all these had been enforced by our politicians and police - without fear or favour - then the chances of Rotherham, Rochdale and Oxford etc occurring would have been minimised. Unfortunately, by their silence on these subjects during this pre-election period, I do not see any of our leaders looking at these important matters and correcting such inaction. "
Exactly.
Whenever the corruption and criminality is exposed it is always by outsiders whether that is in Parliament or the BBC or local government or the hospitals or the plods or the City.
And for every exposure we can be sure that there are many more which remain hidden.
The regulatory systems in this country have totally failed.
There is no shortage of government organisations which need proper outside investigation - we could start with the South Yorkshire police, the Thames Valley police, the Greater Manchester police, the Metropolitan police ...
It is truly only UKIP and a few independent voices, that are drawing attention to the corruption and bribery, and have been for months. Sadly, falling on deaf ears and not opening blind eyes.
"Not that it is a bad thing. I don't think just because you are an actor or whatever you have anymore of a valid view than Bob from Bognor, and normally Bob is better informed of the real world."
Do you think businesses would pay fortunes for celebrity endorsement if they could achieve the same with Bob from Bognor? Do you think George Clooney needs to understand Nespresso in order to sell it? You don't seem to have grasped the reason for using celebrities.
Roger my old mucker...You seem to have a reading comphresion issue. Still waiting for that apology.
I was saying it isn't a bad thing that my tv screen isn't rammed with a Eddie Izzard or Gary Barlow telling me I should vote Labour or Tory etc. It is quite a relief that I am not being bombared by them.
Just because people it works that people buy products because celebs endorse them, doesn't mean what they are selling is better. Classic example is Beat by Dr Dre. Yes is works, the headphone still suck though. I am not a sheep who buys items like that, and hence, why I rock a far superior set of cans (as the kids would say).
A bloke from Bollywood came to Leicester to parade with Keith Vaz.
And after watching the video (link to an Indian online newspaper) about the visit, I am now getting pop ups with breaking news from India every 10 minutes on my desktop...
Ross Kemp has been wheeled out today for his every 4-5 years duty for Labour. He campaigned in South Thanet.
There really has been a surprising lack of celebs so far. The hyprocrite hobbit at the start. Eddie Izzard is a given. And that is about it really.
Not that it is a bad thing. I don't think just because you are an actor or whatever you have anymore of a valid view than Bob from Bognor, and normally Bob is better informed of the real world.
The Kipper standing against Vaz is possibly the most easy on the eye of local candidates (excepting the small yet perfectly formed Liz Kendall!).
Moat Community College is in Highfields and was described as a good school in Jan 14 by OFSTED with "almost all students are from minority ethnic backgrounds". Must be some interesting conversations in the staff room!
But on the other hand a British Asian Colleague of mine said that having reviewed all the manifestos she was going to vote UKIP (In Chesterfield).
@ Ooh, I like that. It's a bit like that trippy True Detective music.
I've always liked sad songs which is a bit weird given I'm a really happy person. Songs like Joni Mitchell's A Case of You, Aimee Mann's Wise Up and Damien Rice's The Blower's Daughter. They don't get the party going but they are good for the comedown
I fear - the way this GE is going - I'll be listening to them when Ed is measuring up the curtains to No 10.
Nirvana unplugged Beck Sea Change REM night swimming country feedback etc KD Lang Constant craving
Great sad songs!
I would add most of Jann Arden's debut album'Time for Mercy to that list.
Greens are being received very well in Canterbury, but have confirmed Labour and LD strong candidates are likely to result in them both doing traditionally much better. The UKIP effect is very, very strong in the county - will do very well in the local elections.
I'm unsure about South Thanet; from all the data I can find, there is probably a point or two separating UKIP and CON. If Farage does win, I don't think it will be a significant margin. But UKIP are quietly confident.
Greens are being received very well in Canterbury, but have confirmed Labour and LD strong candidates are likely to result in them both doing traditionally much better. The UKIP effect is very, very strong in the county - will do very well in the local elections.
I'm unsure about South Thanet; from all the data I can find, there is probably a point or two separating UKIP and CON. If Farage does win, I don't think it will be a significant margin. But UKIP are quietly confident.
People are saying there will be a strong 'keep out Farage' vote in Thanet South... This should really have shown itself when he was named as candidate in the survation poll
Greens are being received very well in Canterbury, but have confirmed Labour and LD strong candidates are likely to result in them both doing traditionally much better. The UKIP effect is very, very strong in the county - will do very well in the local elections.
I'm unsure about South Thanet; from all the data I can find, there is probably a point or two separating UKIP and CON. If Farage does win, I don't think it will be a significant margin. But UKIP are quietly confident.
1) Labour are favourites in just two seats in Scotland: Rutherglen & Hamilton West (5/6) and Glasgow North East (4/6). 2) They are not as short as 1/2 in any seats at all. 3) They are 2/1 or shorter in just ten seats, the other eight being Edinburgh South, East Renfrewshire, Dunfermline & West Fife, East Lothian, Coatbridge Chryston & Bellshill, Glenrothes, Paisley & Renfrewshire North and Ayrshire Central.
Thanks for all your work on Scotland AF.
Its been very helpful and I expect it to be very profitable as well.
1) Labour are favourites in just two seats in Scotland: Rutherglen & Hamilton West (5/6) and Glasgow North East (4/6). 2) They are not as short as 1/2 in any seats at all. 3) They are 2/1 or shorter in just ten seats, the other eight being Edinburgh South, East Renfrewshire, Dunfermline & West Fife, East Lothian, Coatbridge Chryston & Bellshill, Glenrothes, Paisley & Renfrewshire North and Ayrshire Central.
Undoubted sterling work on the Scottish seats, but do you ever consider the bookmaker you are recommending the bets with? I don't know anybody who can get more than £1 on w sporting bet, I genuinely just ignore their prices
Samuel Knowles (@theboyknowles) 24/04/2015 16:15 When @spreadexsports call you 0.5-1.5 on a long term non arb 25 index they're showing 0-0.5 on & you dare question it pic.twitter.com/D8UGhMgmsX
People are saying there will be a strong 'keep out Farage' vote in Thanet South... This should really have shown itself when he was named as candidate in the survation poll
Under 30s, yes. I know several traditional Labour voters, who are switching to Tories just to stop Farage. Do they have the numbers? I doubt it. Labour are running a strong campaign and now loosening up to help the Tories.
I'm becoming increasingly worried by the comres polling. There is every chance they could be proven correct and we will have to wait and see but they are easy to criticize currently:
Dodgy looking South Thanet Poll not in line with Survation or Bown Dodgy looking SW poll not in line with the Lord (new levels of dodgyness!?) Dodgy looking four point CON leads when yougov and populus have consistent LAB+1 or 2
I think there is a few more, there was a london one a while back. All speculation though, the polling world is going to be divided and labelled come the 8th
Then this week as he launched Labour campaign billboards in Nuneaton, he spoke from behind a lectern, even though he was in the middle of a cricket pitch.
The constant use of the lectern is thought to be part of a strategy to make Mr Miliband look more like a man who could be prime minister.
Last month it was reported that he had hired US speech coach Michael Sheehan on a £10,000 daily fee to improve his delivery and charisma.
Mr Sheehan’s website includes a video where he advises politicians on how to speak at a lectern, including not holding onto the sides in what he calls a ‘death grip’.
It comes as it was revealed that Mr Miliband has hired a 'leadership consultancy' firm which coaches people to look 'authentic' and cope with anxiety, it has emerged.
The Labour leader, who has seen his party's lead in the polls slip with less than two weeks until the general election, has engaged the services of 'ExtendedMind' – a specialist firm offering 'performance coaching'.
Miliband supported the action in Libya, hasn't mentioned it at all since, it is not in Labour's manifesto, yet today he uses drowning refugees (mainly not even from Libya) to make cheap political points, without in any way saying what he would have done differently.
The man is appalling
Really? Really? Ed has to make a foreign policy speech in the campaign to demonstrate his PM credentials. The biggest issue at the minute is the destabilisation of Europe through Libya which we helped contribute to. I live with this on a daily basis here in Firenze. We have an increasing supply of migrants flooding into the city. I tell them to try and get to the UK where at least they might have some hope for work (London) and can mingle. I hope Italy funnels as many up north as quick as possible. The only good thing that Berlusconi did was reach a pact with Gaddafi to stabalise the coastal areas from the traffikers. If only we could turn the clock black we would not have touched Benghazi with a barge pole- we probably would have provided military support to Mummar as we are presently providing for Hassad.
I'm becoming increasingly worried by the comres polling. There is every chance they could be proven correct and we will have to wait and see but they are easy to criticize currently:
Dodgy looking South Thanet Poll not in line with Survation or Bown Dodgy looking SW poll not in line with the Lord (new levels of dodgyness!?) Dodgy looking four point CON leads when yougov and populus have consistent LAB+1 or 2
I think there is a few more, there was a london one a while back. All speculation though, the polling world is going to be divided and labelled come the 8th
Well, you would think if this carries on some polling companies are going to have some serious egg on face in a couple of weeks.
I do seem to remember that 2010, polls were saying slightly different things. I seemed to remember people banging on particuarly about YouGov being out of whack with 2-3 week to ago...until the final poll or two before the GE, when all the established pollsters bacame much more aligned.
1) Labour are favourites in just two seats in Scotland: Rutherglen & Hamilton West (5/6) and Glasgow North East (4/6). 2) They are not as short as 1/2 in any seats at all. 3) They are 2/1 or shorter in just ten seats, the other eight being Edinburgh South, East Renfrewshire, Dunfermline & West Fife, East Lothian, Coatbridge Chryston & Bellshill, Glenrothes, Paisley & Renfrewshire North and Ayrshire Central.
Undoubted sterling work on the Scottish seats, but do you ever consider the bookmaker you are recommending the bets with? I don't know anybody who can get more than £1 on w sporting bet, I genuinely just ignore their prices
I've barely bet with them before. I got £50 on.
I'm heavily restricted or unwelcome with various others.
If EM had not blocked the vote against military action in Syria we would be bombing Assad for cruelty to ISIS rebels. Saved Dave from himself there IMO
Ross Kemp.. that man of the people very in touch with the WWC.. Obviously everyone has a swimming pool in the basement of their large South London homes... Bit like Roger really..completely out of touch.
Really? Really? Ed has to make a foreign policy speech in the campaign to demonstrate his PM credentials. The biggest issue at the minute is the destabilisation of Europe through Libya which we helped contribute to. I live with this on a daily basis here in Firenze. We have an increasing supply of migrants flooding into the city. I tell them to try and get to the UK where at least they might have some hope for work (London) and can mingle. I hope Italy funnels as many up north as quick as possible. The only good thing that Berlusconi did was reach a pact with Gaddafi to stabalise the coastal areas from the traffikers. If only we could turn the clock black we would not have touched Benghazi with a barge pole- we probably would have provided military support to Mummar as we are presently providing for Hassad.
People are saying there will be a strong 'keep out Farage' vote in Thanet South... This should really have shown itself when he was named as candidate in the survation poll
Under 30s, yes. I know several traditional Labour voters, who are switching to Tories just to stop Farage. Do they have the numbers? I doubt it. Labour are running a strong campaign and now loosening up to help the Tories.
Labour have been pushing it being a three way tie for a while now. I would imagine they have left it too late to make any noticeable difference. If they really wanted to keep Farage out they should not have stood at all. Quite amusing as he is pretty much standing on an anti-UKIP ticket and could potentially let Farage in.
I will be very interested in Matthew Goodwin's upcoming book as it will hopefully provide a valuable insight in to how not to run a campaign. Having hordes of metropolitan liberals forcing their progressive policies down people's throats and being disruptive doesn't tend to go down too well.
People are saying there will be a strong 'keep out Farage' vote in Thanet South... This should really have shown itself when he was named as candidate in the survation poll
Under 30s, yes. I know several traditional Labour voters, who are switching to Tories just to stop Farage. Do they have the numbers? I doubt it. Labour are running a strong campaign and now loosening up to help the Tories.
Family party in Castle Point last weekend. "Sadly we've got to vote for the Tories to stop UKIP".
@ Ooh, I like that. It's a bit like that trippy True Detective music.
I've always liked sad songs which is a bit weird given I'm a really happy person. Songs like Joni Mitchell's A Case of You, Aimee Mann's Wise Up and Damien Rice's The Blower's Daughter. They don't get the party going but they are good for the comedown
I fear - the way this GE is going - I'll be listening to them when Ed is measuring up the curtains to No 10.
Janis Ian / Seventeen
Didn't she sing that on the very first Saturday Night Live?
I'm becoming increasingly worried by the comres polling. There is every chance they could be proven correct and we will have to wait and see but they are easy to criticize currently:
Dodgy looking South Thanet Poll not in line with Survation or Bown Dodgy looking SW poll not in line with the Lord (new levels of dodgyness!?) Dodgy looking four point CON leads when yougov and populus have consistent LAB+1 or 2
I think there is a few more, there was a london one a while back. All speculation though, the polling world is going to be divided and labelled come the 8th
Well, you would think if this carries on some polling companies are going to have some serious egg on face in a couple of weeks.
I do seem to remember that 2010, polls were saying slightly different things. I seemed to remember people banging on particuarly about YouGov being out of whack with 2-3 week to ago...until the final poll or two before the GE, when all the established pollsters bacame much more aligned.
Yes 2010 was all over the place with the LD %, other than a few rogues I think it ping ponged between CON +2 and CON+12
This current oscillation between CON majority and LAB majority is unforgivable really. Big funded major companies are going to go by the wayside for this, It must come down to the methodology change from Yougov and populus, both showing labour leads.
This is either natural selection through clever adaptation or an almighty nail in their own coffins!
If EM had not blocked the vote against military action in Syria we would be bombing Assad for cruelty to ISIS rebels. Saved Dave from himself there IMO
There was a r eport the other day that suggested that ISIS strategy was planned in US-run internement camps by former officers of Saddam's army
First name on that list, David Attenborough. A patron of Population Matters, who have wrote a number of articles outlining the impact of immigration to the UK. Not quite in line with the Green's opinion.
Lily Cole trousers 200k of taxpayers cash to blow on a completely pointless website which was always going to be a failure:
If EM had not blocked the vote against military action in Syria we would be bombing Assad for cruelty to ISIS rebels. Saved Dave from himself there IMO
There was a r eport the other day that suggested that ISIS strategy was planned in US-run internement camps by former officers of Saddam's army
There was an hour BBC program on the origins of ISIS. Quite interesting and learned a few things I didn't know beforehand. Although, stopped short of really explaining what it is that drives ISIS and what is their fundamentist goal.
If EM had not blocked the vote against military action in Syria we would be bombing Assad for cruelty to ISIS rebels. Saved Dave from himself there IMO
There was a r eport the other day that suggested that ISIS strategy was planned in US-run internement camps by former officers of Saddam's army
That's really interesting as I was having a pub politics debate yesterday and we concluded that the reason Saddam and Gaddafi were so hardcore was because it was people like ISIS they had to keep in tow.
The suggestion it is an offshoot of loyalist bathists throws the argument wide open! I mean where do you go with this one? Bomb them? Hug them? Send Nigel Farage there?
If EM had not blocked the vote against military action in Syria we would be bombing Assad for cruelty to ISIS rebels. Saved Dave from himself there IMO
There was a r eport the other day that suggested that ISIS strategy was planned in US-run internement camps by former officers of Saddam's army
There was an hour BBC program on the origins of ISIS. Quite interesting and learned a few things I didn't know beforehand. Although, stopped short of really explaining what it is that drives ISIS and what is their fundamentist goal.
Ah yes; must have a look at iPlayer. Much obliged.
Comments
Surprisingly when as an English tourist I mentioned that to a young female shop assistant dressed in blue tartan in a whisky shop a couple of weeks ago in an isolated small town in Moray she visibly bristled and jumped to the defence of the new SNP government law saying it is needed to catch recidivist old men who never learn. It was then I realised Danny in the neighbouring seat was probably doomed. Young people up these seem to love the SNP.
That's a rather silly attack line. If he thinks it is a weakness and he's working to correct it, good for him.
Just as long as the taxpayer isn't paying for it ...
Re: #milifandom, teenage girls have been braver than many commentators in noting that Ed Mililband has been unfairly attacked by Murdoch.
Yes thats the one.
They say Tories cuts will be massive but are mainly unexplained as with £30bn black hole in funding promises from Magic Money Tree.
Perhaps you could hellp with two of the main elements.
What cuts will make up the £12bn welfare reduction?
Where is the additional £8bn NHS monies coming from?
Please copy the IFS into your response.
An NHS retirees pension being the main cause might impress them give it a try, they are reporting again next Tuesday
Stunning really having bitched and moaned for some 5 years about the so called "savage cuts" they now bitch and moan about the same party spending more?
Meanwhile they are so vague about their own plans a 3rd party steps in and infers Labour will itself have a black hole but 3 times larger than the party Labour are whining about?
Labour......redefining hypocriscy
What % of the E&W vote would ukip need to win most seats?
33%?
Suprised the BBC havn't handed out an award to Gary Glitter.
They say Tories cuts will be massive but are mainly unexplained as with £30bn black hole in funding promises from Magic Money Tree.
Perhaps you could hellp with two of the main elements.
What cuts will make up the £12bn welfare reduction?
Where is the additional £8bn NHS monies coming from?
Please copy the IFS into your response.
An NHS retirees pension being the main cause might impress them give it a try, they are reporting again next Tuesday
Stunning really having bitched and moaned for some 5 years about the so called "savage cuts" they now bitch and moan about the same party spending more?
Meanwhile they are so vague about their own plans a 3rd party steps in and infers Labour will itself have a black hole but 3 times larger than the party Labour are whining about?
Labour......redefining hypocriscy
Not True the IFS singled out the Tories as the party that has £30 bn blackhole
@CCHQPress: Caller tells @Ed_Miliband she can't imagine him as Prime Minister on @LBC - time to ask his "leadership consultancy" for refund #NotUpToIt
Dreams do come true, I just got to meet @Ed_Miliband the reason I joined @UKLabour #milifandom
https://twitter.com/aliciajumman/status/591585964608331776
Time to get a snifter on the Tories there...
The article says quite a bit more than that - but has at least one comment already on Twitter:
Wings Over Scotland @WingsScotland
· 16 mins 16 minutes ago
I fundamentally disagree with this basic view, but it's a balanced and reasoned expression of it: http://news.stv.tv/scotland-decides/analysis/318256-commentary-stephen-daisley-on-snp-candidate-neil-hay-and-nationalism/ …
ings Over Scotland @WingsScotland
· 16 mins 16 minutes ago
And that automatically makes it, by about a billion miles, the best mainstream media coverage of the issue.
"@BBCPolitics: The kiss that shows #milifandom is not just for teenage girls? http://bbc.co.uk/electionlive "@Marjthechicken
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDXFxkgW8AEs1dd.jpg
He is even more popular with the ladies than Boris...
No, they think it's too much about Scottish independence/further devolution.
No one asked them about the role of Scottish MPs in a hung parliament......
Everybody over 23 just threw up a little bit in their mouth.....
It's incredibly unlikely, but not inconceivable, that Nigel could be PM in a couple of weeks.
or Watercolours
Indeed I suspect that Sunils switch from purple to red shows some milifandom too.
That is one of the reasons why Roger Helmer ended up with UKIP as he wanted to retire and Baroness Warsi tried to replace the candidate who came 3rd with a female a-lister from London. He defected rather than face a stitch up. Another one of Baroness Warsi's many many failures.
:-)
It's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for the Lib Dems doing exactly that over Iraq during two elections he wouldn't now be Deputy PM
Clegg is in the clear on this one, it is Ed who is the opportunist.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bygi8eZw-4q1djJFOEhGS3FIOGc/view?usp=sharing
Points to note:
1) The SNP are favourites in 54 seats.
2) They are at 5/6 or less in 50 seats.
3) They are at 1/2 or better in 46 seats.
4) They are no longer than 2/1 in 57 seats.
So the question is whether you think the seat markets are now broadly right. If you do, the SNP should be backed with SkyBet or William Hill at 6/4 to get more than 50 seats. The 5/6 with Sporting Bet that the SNP will exceed 47.5 seats also looks like a good bet if you take this view.
If you take the opposite view, there are some odds against bets to be placed in individual constituencies on Labour.
I think there's scope for both. The Sporting Bet bet looks decent to me, but one or two of the prices on Labour may have gone out a bit too far.
There is an arb available on the Conservatives in Scotland. You can back them to take at least one seat in Scotland with William Hill at 2/5 and back them to get no seats with Ladbrokes at 3/1 for a guaranteed profit. I suspect that the value is mainly with the latter bet.
Is this still the case?
You should have told them you were an undecided voter and wasted their time for a while.
Not that it is a bad thing. I don't think just because you are an actor or whatever you have anymore of a valid view than Bob from Bognor, and normally Bob is better informed of the real world.
And after watching the video (link to an Indian online newspaper) about the visit, I am now getting pop ups with breaking news from India every 10 minutes on my desktop...
Not that I'm doing it, because I bought at a much lower figure.
" The Tower Hamlets judgement shows three things:
Firstly the depth of corruption in our political, police and prosecution systems. Corruption not by bribery but of looking the other way when it is politically convenient to so do.
Secondly, in allowing the immigration - often unchecked for political purposes (votes) - of people from countries where political, legal and police corruption is the normal way of life rather than the exception.
Thirdly the failure to enforce the same law (and not to allow any other laws) for all people regardless of rank, nation or creed.
It all these had been enforced by our politicians and police - without fear or favour - then the chances of Rotherham, Rochdale and Oxford etc occurring would have been minimised. Unfortunately, by their silence on these subjects during this pre-election period, I do not see any of our leaders looking at these important matters and correcting such inaction. "
Exactly.
Whenever the corruption and criminality is exposed it is always by outsiders whether that is in Parliament or the BBC or local government or the hospitals or the plods or the City.
And for every exposure we can be sure that there are many more which remain hidden.
The regulatory systems in this country have totally failed.
There is no shortage of government organisations which need proper outside investigation - we could start with the South Yorkshire police, the Thames Valley police, the Greater Manchester police, the Metropolitan police ...
Do you think businesses would pay fortunes for celebrity endorsement if they could achieve the same with Bob from Bognor? Do you think George Clooney needs to understand Nespresso in order to sell it? You don't seem to have grasped the reason for using celebrities.
The LDs consistently opposed the Iraq war.
Miliband supported the action in Libya, hasn't mentioned it at all since, it is not in Labour's manifesto, yet today he uses drowning refugees (mainly not even from Libya) to make cheap political points, without in any way saying what he would have done differently.
The man is appalling
1) Labour are favourites in just two seats in Scotland: Rutherglen & Hamilton West (5/6) and Glasgow North East (4/6).
2) They are not as short as 1/2 in any seats at all.
3) They are 2/1 or shorter in just ten seats, the other eight being Edinburgh South, East Renfrewshire, Dunfermline & West Fife, East Lothian, Coatbridge Chryston & Bellshill, Glenrothes, Paisley & Renfrewshire North and Ayrshire Central.
I was saying it isn't a bad thing that my tv screen isn't rammed with a Eddie Izzard or Gary Barlow telling me I should vote Labour or Tory etc. It is quite a relief that I am not being bombared by them.
Just because people it works that people buy products because celebs endorse them, doesn't mean what they are selling is better. Classic example is Beat by Dr Dre. Yes is works, the headphone still suck though. I am not a sheep who buys items like that, and hence, why I rock a far superior set of cans (as the kids would say).
http://m.leicestermercury.co.uk/UKIP-Greens-Lib-Dems-join-race-Leicester-East-s/story-26242538-detail/story.html
Moat Community College is in Highfields and was described as a good school in Jan 14 by OFSTED with "almost all students are from minority ethnic backgrounds". Must be some interesting conversations in the staff room!
But on the other hand a British Asian Colleague of mine said that having reviewed all the manifestos she was going to vote UKIP (In Chesterfield).
I'm unsure about South Thanet; from all the data I can find, there is probably a point or two separating UKIP and CON. If Farage does win, I don't think it will be a significant margin. But UKIP are quietly confident.
Its been very helpful and I expect it to be very profitable as well.
Samuel Knowles (@theboyknowles)
24/04/2015 16:15
When @spreadexsports call you 0.5-1.5 on a long term non arb 25 index they're showing 0-0.5 on & you dare question it pic.twitter.com/D8UGhMgmsX
Dodgy looking South Thanet Poll not in line with Survation or Bown
Dodgy looking SW poll not in line with the Lord (new levels of dodgyness!?)
Dodgy looking four point CON leads when yougov and populus have consistent LAB+1 or 2
I think there is a few more, there was a london one a while back.
All speculation though, the polling world is going to be divided and labelled come the 8th
The constant use of the lectern is thought to be part of a strategy to make Mr Miliband look more like a man who could be prime minister.
Last month it was reported that he had hired US speech coach Michael Sheehan on a £10,000 daily fee to improve his delivery and charisma.
Mr Sheehan’s website includes a video where he advises politicians on how to speak at a lectern, including not holding onto the sides in what he calls a ‘death grip’.
It comes as it was revealed that Mr Miliband has hired a 'leadership consultancy' firm which coaches people to look 'authentic' and cope with anxiety, it has emerged.
The Labour leader, who has seen his party's lead in the polls slip with less than two weeks until the general election, has engaged the services of 'ExtendedMind' – a specialist firm offering 'performance coaching'.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3053956/Miliband-hires-leadership-consultancy-firm-specialises-making-people-look-authentic.html
Miliband supported the action in Libya, hasn't mentioned it at all since, it is not in Labour's manifesto, yet today he uses drowning refugees (mainly not even from Libya) to make cheap political points, without in any way saying what he would have done differently.
The man is appalling
Really? Really? Ed has to make a foreign policy speech in the campaign to demonstrate his PM credentials. The biggest issue at the minute is the destabilisation of Europe through Libya which we helped contribute to.
I live with this on a daily basis here in Firenze. We have an increasing supply of migrants flooding into the city. I tell them to try and get to the UK where at least they might have some hope for work (London) and can mingle. I hope Italy funnels as many up north as quick as possible.
The only good thing that Berlusconi did was reach a pact with Gaddafi to stabalise the coastal areas from the traffikers. If only we could turn the clock black we would not have touched Benghazi with a barge pole- we probably would have provided military support to Mummar as we are presently providing for Hassad.
I do seem to remember that 2010, polls were saying slightly different things. I seemed to remember people banging on particuarly about YouGov being out of whack with 2-3 week to ago...until the final poll or two before the GE, when all the established pollsters bacame much more aligned.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/24/celebrities-sign-statement-support-caroline-lucas-not-green-party
I'm heavily restricted or unwelcome with various others.
And please learn to use the quotes system.
I will be very interested in Matthew Goodwin's upcoming book as it will hopefully provide a valuable insight in to how not to run a campaign. Having hordes of metropolitan liberals forcing their progressive policies down people's throats and being disruptive doesn't tend to go down too well.
The South – all Con to Lab
11.7: Ipsos Mori (six poll average)
8.5: Survation (last six)
7.1: ICM (last six)
6.7: Populus (last 6 -excl SW)
6.6 Yougov (last 10)
6.1 Ashcroft (last six – excl SW)
4.6 Comres (last 6)
Midlands
6.2 Yougov (incl Wales)
4.5 Survation
4.5 ICM
3.8 Populus
3.1 Ashcroft
2.9 Ipsos Mori (incl Wales)
2.0 Comres
Wales Only
3.8 Survation (Wales only)
0.9 ICM (Wales Only)
- 4.0 Opinium (Wales Only)
Wales/SW
6.8 Ashcroft
5.7 Populus
North
4.2 ICM
3.6 Yougov
2.8 Ipsos Mori
2.7 Populus
2.4 Comres
2.1 Survation
0.5 Ashcroft
This current oscillation between CON majority and LAB majority is unforgivable really. Big funded major companies are going to go by the wayside for this, It must come down to the methodology change from Yougov and populus, both showing labour leads.
This is either natural selection through clever adaptation or an almighty nail in their own coffins!
Lily Cole trousers 200k of taxpayers cash to blow on a completely pointless website which was always going to be a failure:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/03/25/how_did_millionaire_supermodel_lily_cole_get_200000_of_taxpayers_cash/
The suggestion it is an offshoot of loyalist bathists throws the argument wide open! I mean where do you go with this one? Bomb them? Hug them? Send Nigel Farage there?