Nigel doing well with this audience tonight. Mind you,he looks a bit tired and not as nimble as he is at his best. Bet he can't wait for May 7th to arrive.
PB is such a Tory-dominated place. Look who's been posting tonight: IOS, Roger, tyson, Jonathan, compouter2, FrankBooth, Smarmeron, Dair, surbiton, bigjohnowls, the place is stuffed full of Tories.
Alastair Campbell @campbellclaret · Apr 28 One of the many reasons to want @Ed_Miliband to win is that it will show it can be done in the face of enormous corrupt media bias
I would love to see Campbell on trial for his role in the Iraq war.
Nigel doing well with this audience tonight. Mind you,he looks a bit tired and not as nimble as he is at his best. Bet he can't wait for May 7th to arrive.
Another good audience from the BBC. That's twice in one night. I might faint.
I agree. Anecdotally I haven't met one former Labour voter yet who can stand EdM . My mother in law who's voted Labour all her life is going ukip. Van driver I know from Labour supporting family thinking of conservatives and school teacher and union rep not going Labour either. I think the online polling is muddying the waters and the real undercurrent is with the Tories. Ed is simply not up to the job. Cameron has a fight on his hands but I think he will surprise us in the end. Then again who knows
Alastair Campbell @campbellclaret · Apr 28 One of the many reasons to want @Ed_Miliband to win is that it will show it can be done in the face of enormous corrupt media bias
Nigel doing well with this audience tonight. Mind you,he looks a bit tired and not as nimble as he is at his best. Bet he can't wait for May 7th to arrive.
Nigel doing well with this audience tonight. Mind you,he looks a bit tired and not as nimble as he is at his best. Bet he can't wait for May 7th to arrive.
Another good audience from the BBC. That's twice in one night. I might faint.
O/T- On the Mayweather Paquaio fight- I think a draw is worth a punt (at 18's). Audley Harrisson said this tonight. They're not KO specialists, and will be as prepared for this fight as any. It's likely to go the distance, and a draw will entice a re-match. A long shot because Mayweather is a smotherer and tactician and will clock up rounds, but Pacquaio may land some blows to cancel it out.
Forget the hyperbole, this is the greatest fight in the last generation and in the top three fights of all time.
Let's hope this the last FPTP election. No longer fit for purpose.
If you don't like the result then fiddle the system, eh?
No. I want a system that represents the will of the people and where there are no wasted votes and no need for tactical voting. I have supported PR for 30 years.
Grow up
That's the high level of political debate I love here. I'm amazed that the Tories still stand by FPTP. A triumph of hope over expectation. And nothing to do with fairness or democracy.
No. I want a system that represents the will of the people and where there are no wasted votes and no need for tactical voting.
I want world peace and no hunger in world where everyone loves everyone.....oh and where there are no wasted votes. And i vote socks with sandals are banned, Will my vote make make that happen
Are you ten years old.
What a pleasant person you are. Do you abuse because you can't form an argument or is it just for fun?
Fun mainly. Always amusing to point the obvious out to the socks with sandals brigade. So to form an argument as you say "so no vote is wasted" I vehemently want to deny the right to vote to anyone who wears socks with sandals. So I vote for that . Under whichever PR you chose will my vote count.
He really needs to learn that giving into the bullying doesn't make things easier or close an issue down. It just shows weakness and eggs the bullies on to demand more and more "concessions".
I believe Miliband will win a tiny tiny plurality and become PM (or PM of a party that is slightly smaller than the Tories (this latter statement is not my original prediction)).
He will need SNP support and this will collapse by Holyrood 2016 under the weight of contradictions (not least the SNP demanding a new referendum).
Miliband's government will fall in 2016 and the Tories will sweep back into power.
I predict a second election this year. Miliband might become PM but he might refuse SNP support to kill the SNP scare stories in practice and then go for a second election in the autumn like Wilson in 1974.
Which he does how, precisely?
If Miliband becomes PM, I'd expect him to remain in office until at least Autumn 2016 and probably Spring 2017. It's not in the interests of the other parties to bring him down before then. He has to be seen to fail.
Miliband can orchestrate a loss on a vote of confidence in order to trigger an election, he might even instruct his own party to vote against the government in order to ensure a second election if needed, and he will explain it as such under the Fixed Parliaments Act.
Would it though? There may well be at least the possibility that Cameron might form a government if Labour had kicked their own party out of office on a tactic.
If Cameron could then he would have done it already by then just after the election.
This is on the event that Cameron can't form a majority after this election, Miliband becomes PM and then Miliband triggers a second election by forcing a loss in a vote of confidence in order to bypass the Fixed Parliaments Act.
1. Only if the other parties are prepared to play ball 2. Only if the Tories, perhaps under a different leader, don't fancy giving it a shot. If a government had already been No Confidenced then at worst it would mean a new election with a Tory as PM.
O/T- On the Mayweather Paquaio fight- I think a draw is worth a punt (at 18's). Audley Harrisson said this tonight. They're not KO specialists, and will be as prepared for this fight as any. It's likely to go the distance, and a draw will entice a re-match. A long shot because Mayweather is a smotherer and tactician and will clock up rounds, but Pacquaio may land some blows to cancel it out.
Forget the hyperbole, this is the greatest fight in the last generation and in the top three fights of all time.
The top three fights of all time? How old are you?
Anyway - how many people have voted already - at least 15% of the people that are going to vote I reckon.
Not sure there are many people to shift in the center - just about getting out your core.
Step forward the ground game.
As an Eastleigh resident i am stunned by the lack of the feeling of an election in this area. I always felt this was the lib dems safest seat, yet I have not received a single piece of election literature from them and neither have my work colleagues who also live in Eastleigh . It's very odd . The Tories seem to be the only ones who are making an effort. I'm very confused.
Amazing. I'm seriously beginning to wonder if Ashcroft Question ONE might be the correct one.
Eastleigh was a 3 way split at the by election. Since then then the LD vote has slipped further and I cannot see UKIP doing any where like the same. I think the Cons are value.
Normally a week before an election Eastleigh turns orange with the number of lib dem banners and posters. Not this time.
I was meeting with a travelling med rep today. In the interest of PB posterwatch I asked whether he had seen any on his travels. He said that he had seen a few in Cheshire but not really anywhere else.
Keith Vaz now has a fair few up. I alsa saw a Labour minibus heading along the A47 in the direction. I think just passing through Rutland on the way to Peterborough.
I have now had 2 leaflets. 1 Con and 1 LD. Nill from the others with 1 week to go.
I live in Tory safe seat and can safely say this is the liveliest election we've had since I can remember.
2 leaflets from UKIP, 1 each from Con, Lab, LD and Green - and even received through the door a flyer from Lib Dem District Council candidates.
He really needs to learn that giving into the bullying doesn't make things easier or close an issue down. It just shows weakness and eggs the bullies on to demand more and more "concessions".
Quite right. Every other country where there is a multi party system parties of the left, and right do deals. Sometimes there are centrist grand coalitions - Ed has been egged on by the Daily Mail faction, and he's getting pulled from pillar to post over this.
I wish Nick Robinson a good recovery but what a shame he's back on the telly. Back to his old tendentious self when summing up the Question Time debate tonight. At the end of News at Ten, Huw Edwards having asked for his thoughts, Robinson said Cameron will have left the debate much the happier man. How does he know that? Why do we put up with this level of subjectivity? BBC: rein him in or get someone in who can at least carry off the job of sounding neutral!
I believe Miliband will win a tiny tiny plurality and become PM (or PM of a party that is slightly smaller than the Tories (this latter statement is not my original prediction)).
He will need SNP support and this will collapse by Holyrood 2016 under the weight of contradictions (not least the SNP demanding a new referendum).
Miliband's government will fall in 2016 and the Tories will sweep back into power.
I predict a second election this year. Miliband might become PM but he might refuse SNP support to kill the SNP scare stories in practice and then go for a second election in the autumn like Wilson in 1974.
Which he does how, precisely?
If Miliband becomes PM, I'd expect him to remain in office until at least Autumn 2016 and probably Spring 2017. It's not in the interests of the other parties to bring him down before then. He has to be seen to fail.
Miliband can orchestrate a loss on a vote of confidence in order to trigger an election, he might even instruct his own party to vote against the government in order to ensure a second election if needed, and he will explain it as such under the Fixed Parliaments Act.
Would it though? There may well be at least the possibility that Cameron might form a government if Labour had kicked their own party out of office on a tactic.
If Cameron could then he would have done it already by then just after the election.
This is on the event that Cameron can't form a majority after this election, Miliband becomes PM and then Miliband triggers a second election by forcing a loss in a vote of confidence in order to bypass the Fixed Parliaments Act.
1. Only if the other parties are prepared to play ball 2. Only if the Tories, perhaps under a different leader, don't fancy giving it a shot. If a government had already been No Confidenced then at worst it would mean a new election with a Tory as PM.
But the Tories would need to not only fancy giving it a shot, they would need to have the numbers to get a Majority in Parliament.
Anyway - how many people have voted already - at least 15% of the people that are going to vote I reckon.
Not sure there are many people to shift in the center - just about getting out your core.
Step forward the ground game.
As an Eastleigh resident i am stunned by the lack of the feeling of an election in this area. I always felt this was the lib dems safest seat, yet I have not received a single piece of election literature from them and neither have my work colleagues who also live in Eastleigh . It's very odd . The Tories seem to be the only ones who are making an effort. I'm very confused.
It is an odd one. I live in a safe Tory seat and received nothing from them yet, classic taking the seat for granted behaviour (I am sure I will get something in the final week as a token effort), but I've had 4 leaflets from the LDs already even though they were 20 pts behind last time, and so will likely be a lot further behind this time. Either they are targeting their resources poorly, or they have some enthusiastic locals near to my location at least.
Safe tory seat - why should they bombard you with leaflets 4 weeks ago? I got mine a couple of days ago. V safe sear. What do leaflets tell you.
You misunderstand. It's not the lack of Tory leaflets that surprises me (as you say, it's a safe seat, why would they bother), it's that the LDs are bombarding me in comparison, when they have no chance.
Apart from the held and a few target seats there's nothing organised centrally for LD seats. Local associations have a lot of autonomy so if they're far from a target seat they can suit themselves. They may be targeting a future council election.
Anyway - how many people have voted already - at least 15% of the people that are going to vote I reckon.
Not sure there are many people to shift in the center - just about getting out your core.
Step forward the ground game.
As an Eastleigh resident i am stunned by the lack of the feeling of an election in this area. I always felt this was the lib dems safest seat, yet I have not received a single piece of election literature from them and neither have my work colleagues who also live in Eastleigh . It's very odd . The Tories seem to be the only ones who are making an effort. I'm very confused.
Amazing. I'm seriously beginning to wonder if Ashcroft Question ONE might be the correct one.
Eastleigh was a 3 way split at the by election. Since then then the LD vote has slipped further and I cannot see UKIP doing any where like the same. I think the Cons are value.
Normally a week before an election Eastleigh turns orange with the number of lib dem banners and posters. Not this time.
Surprised at that. LD ground troops there are rabidly busy normally. Keith House keeps them at it.
He really needs to learn that giving into the bullying doesn't make things easier or close an issue down. It just shows weakness and eggs the bullies on to demand more and more "concessions".
Quite right. Every other country where there is a multi party system parties of the left, and right do deals. Sometimes there are centrist grand coalitions - Ed has been egged on by the Daily Mail faction, and he's getting pulled from pillar to post over this.
The press mob are probably going to be demanding any government wins a majority in Southern England next. Is Ed going to give into that too? Ridiculous.
Alastair Campbell @campbellclaret · Apr 28 One of the many reasons to want @Ed_Miliband to win is that it will show it can be done in the face of enormous corrupt media bias
I wish Nick Robinson a good recovery but what a shame he's back on the telly. Back to his old tendentious self when summing up the Question Time debate tonight. At the end of News at Ten, Huw Edwards having asked for his thoughts, Robinson said Cameron will have left the debate much the happier man. How does he know that? Why do we put up with this level of subjectivity? BBC: rein him in or get someone in who can at least carry off the job of sounding neutral!
I love it when people criticise the BBC over pro-Tory bias from a few individuals. I usually dismiss the hyperbolistic reactions of some on the right about the BBC's general lefty bias and how prevalent it may be, so it's nice for variety for one thing to see the more Tory leaning figures eat some criticism, fair or not.
Although out of interest, if he'd said Ed M would leave the happier man, would that have been ok? Don't the polls indicate Cameron 'won'? I don't think that means much to be honest, but each of them will have had a sense how they did, and if that is reflected by the snap poll, it is reasonable and neutral to think Cameron did leave the happier man.
O/T- On the Mayweather Paquaio fight- I think a draw is worth a punt (at 18's). Audley Harrisson said this tonight. They're not KO specialists, and will be as prepared for this fight as any. It's likely to go the distance, and a draw will entice a re-match. A long shot because Mayweather is a smotherer and tactician and will clock up rounds, but Pacquaio may land some blows to cancel it out.
Forget the hyperbole, this is the greatest fight in the last generation and in the top three fights of all time.
The top three fights of all time? How old are you?
I wish Nick Robinson a good recovery but what a shame he's back on the telly. Back to his old tendentious self when summing up the Question Time debate tonight. At the end of News at Ten, Huw Edwards having asked for his thoughts, Robinson said Cameron will have left the debate much the happier man. How does he know that? Why do we put up with this level of subjectivity? BBC: rein him in or get someone in who can at least carry off the job of sounding neutral!
I wish Nick Robinson a good recovery but what a shame he's back on the telly. Back to his old tendentious self when summing up the Question Time debate tonight. At the end of News at Ten, Huw Edwards having asked for his thoughts, Robinson said Cameron will have left the debate much the happier man. How does he know that? Why do we put up with this level of subjectivity? BBC: rein him in or get someone in who can at least carry off the job of sounding neutral!
I love it when people criticise the BBC over pro-Tory bias from a few individuals. I usually dismiss the hyperbolistic reactions of some on the right about the BBC's general lefty bias and how prevalent it may be, so it's nice for variety for one thing to see the more Tory leaning figures eat some criticism, fair or not.
The main criticism I'd make of Robinson is not bias but trivial superficiality. He seems to believe that speculation about Cameron's mood is material political news.
Anyway - how many people have voted already - at least 15% of the people that are going to vote I reckon.
Not sure there are many people to shift in the center - just about getting out your core.
Step forward the ground game.
As an Eastleigh resident i am stunned by the lack of the feeling of an election in this area. I always felt this was the lib dems safest seat, yet I have not received a single piece of election literature from them and neither have my work colleagues who also live in Eastleigh . It's very odd . The Tories seem to be the only ones who are making an effort. I'm very confused.
Amazing. I'm seriously beginning to wonder if Ashcroft Question ONE might be the correct one.
Eastleigh was a 3 way split at the by election. Since then then the LD vote has slipped further and I cannot see UKIP doing any where like the same. I think the Cons are value.
Normally a week before an election Eastleigh turns orange with the number of lib dem banners and posters. Not this time.
Surprised at that. LD ground troops there are rabidly busy normally. Keith House keeps them at it.
OXWAB is a sea of Orange. A fair dash of blue, a little green. Labour is not obvious but helped by several estate agents with red and yellow.
Anyway - how many people have voted already - at least 15% of the people that are going to vote I reckon.
Not sure there are many people to shift in the center - just about getting out your core.
Step forward the ground game.
As an Eastleigh resident i am stunned by the lack of the feeling of an election in this area. I always felt this was the lib dems safest seat, yet I have not received a single piece of election literature from them and neither have my work colleagues who also live in Eastleigh . It's very odd . The Tories seem to be the only ones who are making an effort. I'm very confused.
It is an odd one. I live in a safe Tory seat and received nothing from them yet, classic taking the seat for granted behaviour (I am sure I will get something in the final week as a token effort), but I've had 4 leaflets from the LDs already even though they were 20 pts behind last time, and so will likely be a lot further behind this time. Either they are targeting their resources poorly, or they have some enthusiastic locals near to my location at least.
Safe tory seat - why should they bombard you with leaflets 4 weeks ago? I got mine a couple of days ago. V safe sear. What do leaflets tell you.
You misunderstand. It's not the lack of Tory leaflets that surprises me (as you say, it's a safe seat, why would they bother), it's that the LDs are bombarding me in comparison, when they have no chance.
Apart from the held and a few target seats there's nothing organised centrally for LD seats. Local associations have a lot of autonomy so if they're far from a target seat they can suit themselves. They may be targeting a future council election.
It is an area of traditional LD strength at council elections, even if they are a few years off. A colleague in another council electoral area has had only 1 thing from them. You may have cracked this case.
O/T- On the Mayweather Paquaio fight- I think a draw is worth a punt (at 18's). Audley Harrisson said this tonight. They're not KO specialists, and will be as prepared for this fight as any. It's likely to go the distance, and a draw will entice a re-match. A long shot because Mayweather is a smotherer and tactician and will clock up rounds, but Pacquaio may land some blows to cancel it out.
Forget the hyperbole, this is the greatest fight in the last generation and in the top three fights of all time.
This fight has come years too late to be ranked anywhere close to one of the top three fights of all-time. Both fighters are staring retirement in the face. Mayweather has looked vulnerable in his most recent fights, Pacquiao has lacked the killer instinct he once had. So I definitely think this is going to points without anyone hitting the canvass or really rocking the other.
I think controversial scoring is inevitable as it will setup a very nice rematch and another huge pay day for both fighters. The incentives are too huge to ignore. In situations like this I like to back the draw, and I'd agree 18s seems a worthwhile punt to me.
Anyway - how many people have voted already - at least 15% of the people that are going to vote I reckon.
Not sure there are many people to shift in the center - just about getting out your core.
Step forward the ground game.
As an Eastleigh resident i am stunned by the lack of the feeling of an election in this area. I always felt this was the lib dems safest seat, yet I have not received a single piece of election literature from them and neither have my work colleagues who also live in Eastleigh . It's very odd . The Tories seem to be the only ones who are making an effort. I'm very confused.
Amazing. I'm seriously beginning to wonder if Ashcroft Question ONE might be the correct one.
Eastleigh was a 3 way split at the by election. Since then then the LD vote has slipped further and I cannot see UKIP doing any where like the same. I think the Cons are value.
Normally a week before an election Eastleigh turns orange with the number of lib dem banners and posters. Not this time.
Surprised at that. LD ground troops there are rabidly busy normally. Keith House keeps them at it.
OXWAB is a sea of Orange. A fair dash of blue, a little green. Labour is not obvious but helped by several estate agents with red and yellow.
I happened to be in Jericho last weekend. There were more yellow diamonds than I expected, but on the other hand there were more Labour posters per property than I can remember seeing anywhere in the last decade and a half. Admittedly the urban Oxford bit of OXWAB is not the whole of it, but I'm pretty bullish on a Tory hold here given the amount of tactical LD support that appears to be giving up and going back to Labour, or the principled LD support that's now Green.
Twat on This Week thinks only young people can use the Internet.
@IanAustinMP: You have to feel sorry for Andrew Neil. One of Britain's premier journalists having to listen and pretend to take seriously this simpleton
O/T- On the Mayweather Paquaio fight- I think a draw is worth a punt (at 18's). Audley Harrisson said this tonight. They're not KO specialists, and will be as prepared for this fight as any. It's likely to go the distance, and a draw will entice a re-match. A long shot because Mayweather is a smotherer and tactician and will clock up rounds, but Pacquaio may land some blows to cancel it out.
Forget the hyperbole, this is the greatest fight in the last generation and in the top three fights of all time.
The top three fights of all time? How old are you?
I could think of 33 bigger fights than this one.
I know I'm being hyperbolic, but this is still on of the greatest fight because the protagonists have avoided each other for so many years whilst fighting world championship bouts. In other great rivalries, the fighters got together- this just hasn't happened. So anticipation is factored in.
Hagler, Herns, Leonard and Durant- that is the greatest era- any combination of those was scintillating.
Ed might turn out to be Labour's Ted Heath. The only Tory leader I ever liked. Full of human frailty but a musician a sailor and probably gay. A human being.
Predictably he became a pariah and then came Thatch Howard IDS Hague.....and like Ratners their reputation was irrecoverable
Have you not heard of Haute la Garenne?
Great point tab man. Knowledge levels about the Westminster paedophile ring on here are frighteningly low let alone amongst the general public.
O/T- On the Mayweather Paquaio fight- I think a draw is worth a punt (at 18's). Audley Harrisson said this tonight. They're not KO specialists, and will be as prepared for this fight as any. It's likely to go the distance, and a draw will entice a re-match. A long shot because Mayweather is a smotherer and tactician and will clock up rounds, but Pacquaio may land some blows to cancel it out.
Forget the hyperbole, this is the greatest fight in the last generation and in the top three fights of all time.
The top three fights of all time? How old are you?
I could think of 33 bigger fights than this one.
I think Mayweather is going to win fairly easily.
Brook-Khan should happen though !
I would love for Mayweather to lose but I don't think he will. Even though I am going to be watching the fight I am not that excited about it for some reason.
Anyway - how many people have voted already - at least 15% of the people that are going to vote I reckon.
Not sure there are many people to shift in the center - just about getting out your core.
Step forward the ground game.
As an Eastleigh resident i am stunned by the lack of the feeling of an election in this area. I always felt this was the lib dems safest seat, yet I have not received a single piece of election literature from them and neither have my work colleagues who also live in Eastleigh . It's very odd . The Tories seem to be the only ones who are making an effort. I'm very confused.
Amazing. I'm seriously beginning to wonder if Ashcroft Question ONE might be the correct one.
Eastleigh was a 3 way split at the by election. Since then then the LD vote has slipped further and I cannot see UKIP doing any where like the same. I think the Cons are value.
Normally a week before an election Eastleigh turns orange with the number of lib dem banners and posters. Not this time.
Surprised at that. LD ground troops there are rabidly busy normally. Keith House keeps them at it.
OXWAB is a sea of Orange. A fair dash of blue, a little green. Labour is not obvious but helped by several estate agents with red and yellow.
I happened to be in Jericho last weekend. There were more yellow diamonds than I expected, but on the other hand there were more Labour posters per property than I can remember seeing anywhere in the last decade and a half. Admittedly the urban Oxford bit of OXWAB is not the whole of it, but I'm pretty bullish on a Tory hold here given the amount of tactical LD support that appears to be giving up and going back to Labour, or the principled LD support that's now Green.
Nicola blackwood will be fine providing she polls anywhere near her nigh on 24000 voted last time. Comfortable tory hold.
Anyway - how many people have voted already - at least 15% of the people that are going to vote I reckon.
Not sure there are many people to shift in the center - just about getting out your core.
Step forward the ground game.
As an Eastleigh resident i am stunned by the lack of the feeling of an election in this area. I always felt this was the lib dems safest seat, yet I have not received a single piece of election literature from them and neither have my work colleagues who also live in Eastleigh . It's very odd . The Tories seem to be the only ones who are making an effort. I'm very confused.
Amazing. I'm seriously beginning to wonder if Ashcroft Question ONE might be the correct one.
Eastleigh was a 3 way split at the by election. Since then then the LD vote has slipped further and I cannot see UKIP doing any where like the same. I think the Cons are value.
Normally a week before an election Eastleigh turns orange with the number of lib dem banners and posters. Not this time.
Surprised at that. LD ground troops there are rabidly busy normally. Keith House keeps them at it.
I drove through last week and the biggest effort seemed to be from Labour with 2 billboards and a number of signs
O/T- On the Mayweather Paquaio fight- I think a draw is worth a punt (at 18's). Audley Harrisson said this tonight. They're not KO specialists, and will be as prepared for this fight as any. It's likely to go the distance, and a draw will entice a re-match. A long shot because Mayweather is a smotherer and tactician and will clock up rounds, but Pacquaio may land some blows to cancel it out.
Forget the hyperbole, this is the greatest fight in the last generation and in the top three fights of all time.
The top three fights of all time? How old are you?
I could think of 33 bigger fights than this one.
I know I'm being hyperbolic, but this is still on of the greatest fight because the protagonists have avoided each other for so many years whilst fighting world championship bouts. In other great rivalries, the fighters got together- this just hasn't happened. So anticipation is factored in.
Hagler, Herns, Leonard and Durant- that is the greatest era- any combination of those was scintillating.
Agree this is the biggest fight of the last few years, and that the four you mentioned were involved in truly great fights. But you have ignored the Ali era, the combination of Ali, Frazier, Foreman was huge.
And some of the best fights I have ever seen were all British, Benn, Watson, Eubank, even Groves and Froch.
And for people of my generation Cooper was box office, the night he put Cassius Clay on his arse was legendary.
O/T- On the Mayweather Paquaio fight- I think a draw is worth a punt (at 18's). Audley Harrisson said this tonight. They're not KO specialists, and will be as prepared for this fight as any. It's likely to go the distance, and a draw will entice a re-match. A long shot because Mayweather is a smotherer and tactician and will clock up rounds, but Pacquaio may land some blows to cancel it out.
Forget the hyperbole, this is the greatest fight in the last generation and in the top three fights of all time.
The top three fights of all time? How old are you?
I could think of 33 bigger fights than this one.
I think Mayweather is going to win fairly easily.
Brook-Khan should happen though !
I would love for Mayweather to lose but I don't think he will. Even though I am going to be watching the fight I am not that excited about it for some reason.
I don't like Mayweather, but there is something about carrying your career that is iconic.
Mayweather is the ultimate tactician- he'll smother and frustrate Pacquiao, but if it goes 12, I think that Pacquiao will get at least one 2 point round.
18's is a good punt for a fight that the whole world will want to see again.
The Conservative MP. Peter Bone, had a majority of over 11,000 last time, so it's a pretty safe seat, but it could lead to some embarrassing stories for Labour. Their candidate, Richard Garvie, bought nearly £900 of train tickets using a card for an account he knew was closed, and empty, then claimed this was OK because he thought his bank would pay the debts anyway.
The Conservatives , the Lib Dems, and their friends in the press could easily use this to cast doubt on the financial competence of Labour MPs - 'is this the kind of person you want running the British economy?'
O/T- On the Mayweather Paquaio fight- I think a draw is worth a punt (at 18's). Audley Harrisson said this tonight. They're not KO specialists, and will be as prepared for this fight as any. It's likely to go the distance, and a draw will entice a re-match. A long shot because Mayweather is a smotherer and tactician and will clock up rounds, but Pacquaio may land some blows to cancel it out.
Forget the hyperbole, this is the greatest fight in the last generation and in the top three fights of all time.
The top three fights of all time? How old are you?
I could think of 33 bigger fights than this one.
I know I'm being hyperbolic, but this is still on of the greatest fight because the protagonists have avoided each other for so many years whilst fighting world championship bouts. In other great rivalries, the fighters got together- this just hasn't happened. So anticipation is factored in.
Hagler, Herns, Leonard and Durant- that is the greatest era- any combination of those was scintillating.
Agree this is the biggest fight of the last few years, and that the four you mentioned were involved in truly great fights. But you have ignored the Ali era, the combination of Ali, Frazier, Foreman was huge.
And some of the best fights I have ever seen were all British, Benn, Watson, Eubank, even Groves and Froch.
And for people of my generation Cooper was box office, the night he put Cassius Clay on his arse was legendary.
Yes, after the Hagler, Herns, Durant and Leonard era- yes, for sure, Ali and Frazier and Foreman comes next.
But, as sad as it is, the greatest fights must involve an American fighter. Just the way it is.
The Conservative MP. Peter Bone, had a majority of over 11,000 last time, so it's a pretty safe seat, but it could lead to some embarrassing stories for Labour. Their candidate, Richard Garvie, bought nearly £900 of train tickets using a card for an account he knew was closed, and empty, then claimed this was OK because he thought his bank would pay the debts anyway.
The Conservatives , the Lib Dems, and their friends in the press could easily use this to cast doubt on the financial competence of Labour MPs - 'is this the kind of person you want running the British economy?'
Or more to the point how and why was he selected with this hanging over him?
@PeteWishart: Important front page in the National tomorrow. This is only going to get bigger. All over for Lab, methinks. https://t.co/t3upVzfxGV
Two things 1. Milliband must be very worried about how the SNP issue is playing on the doorstep to keep going on about this. 2. How does he explain getting a queens speech through, with what must be a deal with the SNP.
Miliband was very clear about this tonight. Suppose that Cameron resigns, or loses a vote in the House, and so Miliband has a shot at being PM. What Miliband has said he will do is to put forward a Labour Queen Speech, without negotiating with the SNP to secure their support. So he will basically be daring the SNP to vote [with the Tories] against it and trigger another election.
He has made the calculation that the SNP have committed so completely to anti-Toryism that they will not be able to let the Tories defeat a Labour Queen Speech. Or if they do, it gives him an electoral stick with which to beat them in the following election.
I think that's a pretty clear and principled position, it's just a shame it took him so long to make it clear.
@PeteWishart: Important front page in the National tomorrow. This is only going to get bigger. All over for Lab, methinks. https://t.co/t3upVzfxGV
Two things 1. Milliband must be very worried about how the SNP issue is playing on the doorstep to keep going on about this. 2. How does he explain getting a queens speech through, with what must be a deal with the SNP.
Miliband was very clear about this tonight. Suppose that Cameron resigns, or loses a vote in the House, and so Miliband has a shot at being PM. What Miliband has said he will do is to put forward a Labour Queen Speech, without negotiating with the SNP to secure their support. So he will basically be daring the SNP to vote [with the Tories] against it and trigger another election.
He has made the calculation that the SNP have committed so completely to anti-Toryism that they will not be able to let the Tories defeat a Labour Queen Speech. Or if they do, it gives him an electoral stick with which to beat them in the following election.
I think that's a pretty clear and principled position, it's just a shame it took him so long to make it clear.
O/T- On the Mayweather Paquaio fight- I think a draw is worth a punt (at 18's). Audley Harrisson said this tonight. They're not KO specialists, and will be as prepared for this fight as any. It's likely to go the distance, and a draw will entice a re-match. A long shot because Mayweather is a smotherer and tactician and will clock up rounds, but Pacquaio may land some blows to cancel it out.
Forget the hyperbole, this is the greatest fight in the last generation and in the top three fights of all time.
The top three fights of all time? How old are you?
I could think of 33 bigger fights than this one.
I know I'm being hyperbolic, but this is still on of the greatest fight because the protagonists have avoided each other for so many years whilst fighting world championship bouts. In other great rivalries, the fighters got together- this just hasn't happened. So anticipation is factored in.
Hagler, Herns, Leonard and Durant- that is the greatest era- any combination of those was scintillating.
Agree this is the biggest fight of the last few years, and that the four you mentioned were involved in truly great fights. But you have ignored the Ali era, the combination of Ali, Frazier, Foreman was huge.
And some of the best fights I have ever seen were all British, Benn, Watson, Eubank, even Groves and Froch.
And for people of my generation Cooper was box office, the night he put Cassius Clay on his arse was legendary.
Yes, after the Hagler, Herns, Durant and Leonard era- yes, for sure, Ali and Frazier and Foreman comes next.
But, as sad as it is, the greatest fights must involve an American fighter. Just the way it is.
For box office I agree, not necessarily quality though.
I used to know a leading boxing manager, he had some top British fighters during the early stages of their careers, told me a few stories!
Anyway - how many people have voted already - at least 15% of the people that are going to vote I reckon.
Not sure there are many people to shift in the center - just about getting out your core.
Step forward the ground game.
As an Eastleigh resident i am stunned by the lack of the feeling of an election in this area. I always felt this was the lib dems safest seat, yet I have not received a single piece of election literature from them and neither have my work colleagues who also live in Eastleigh . It's very odd . The Tories seem to be the only ones who are making an effort. I'm very confused.
Amazing. I'm seriously beginning to wonder if Ashcroft Question ONE might be the correct one.
Eastleigh was a 3 way split at the by election. Since then then the LD vote has slipped further and I cannot see UKIP doing any where like the same. I think the Cons are value.
Normally a week before an election Eastleigh turns orange with the number of lib dem banners and posters. Not this time.
Surprised at that. LD ground troops there are rabidly busy normally. Keith House keeps them at it.
OXWAB is a sea of Orange. A fair dash of blue, a little green. Labour is not obvious but helped by several estate agents with red and yellow.
Yeah, there's an estate agent called Purple Bricks whose signs are helping the UKIP score round here.
Anyway - how many people have voted already - at least 15% of the people that are going to vote I reckon.
Not sure there are many people to shift in the center - just about getting out your core.
Step forward the ground game.
As an Eastleigh resident i am stunned by the lack of the feeling of an election in this area. I always felt this was the lib dems safest seat, yet I have not received a single piece of election literature from them and neither have my work colleagues who also live in Eastleigh . It's very odd . The Tories seem to be the only ones who are making an effort. I'm very confused.
Amazing. I'm seriously beginning to wonder if Ashcroft Question ONE might be the correct one.
Eastleigh was a 3 way split at the by election. Since then then the LD vote has slipped further and I cannot see UKIP doing any where like the same. I think the Cons are value.
Normally a week before an election Eastleigh turns orange with the number of lib dem banners and posters. Not this time.
Surprised at that. LD ground troops there are rabidly busy normally. Keith House keeps them at it.
OXWAB is a sea of Orange. A fair dash of blue, a little green. Labour is not obvious but helped by several estate agents with red and yellow.
I happened to be in Jericho last weekend. There were more yellow diamonds than I expected, but on the other hand there were more Labour posters per property than I can remember seeing anywhere in the last decade and a half. Admittedly the urban Oxford bit of OXWAB is not the whole of it, but I'm pretty bullish on a Tory hold here given the amount of tactical LD support that appears to be giving up and going back to Labour, or the principled LD support that's now Green.
I don't doubt it. But having never been in a tight contest before I find it interesting. I've not been off the main drag in Jericho. Have you been down Botley Road and up Cumnor Hill?
@PeteWishart: Important front page in the National tomorrow. This is only going to get bigger. All over for Lab, methinks. https://t.co/t3upVzfxGV
Two things 1. Milliband must be very worried about how the SNP issue is playing on the doorstep to keep going on about this. 2. How does he explain getting a queens speech through, with what must be a deal with the SNP.
Miliband was very clear about this tonight. Suppose that Cameron resigns, or loses a vote in the House, and so Miliband has a shot at being PM. What Miliband has said he will do is to put forward a Labour Queen Speech, without negotiating with the SNP to secure their support.
@PeteWishart: Important front page in the National tomorrow. This is only going to get bigger. All over for Lab, methinks. https://t.co/t3upVzfxGV
Two things 1. Milliband must be very worried about how the SNP issue is playing on the doorstep to keep going on about this. 2. How does he explain getting a queens speech through, with what must be a deal with the SNP.
Miliband was very clear about this tonight. Suppose that Cameron resigns, or loses a vote in the House, and so Miliband has a shot at being PM. What Miliband has said he will do is to put forward a Labour Queen Speech, without negotiating with the SNP to secure their support. So he will basically be daring the SNP to vote [with the Tories] against it and trigger another election.
He has made the calculation that the SNP have committed so completely to anti-Toryism that they will not be able to let the Tories defeat a Labour Queen Speech. Or if they do, it gives him an electoral stick with which to beat them in the following election.
I think that's a pretty clear and principled position, it's just a shame it took him so long to make it clear.
I agree he is betting that SNP with no pact will vote through a queens speech. Or at least no pact that is made public. How long does that parliament last, will be fun to watch. If you have a job in the chaos that ensues.
Ed might turn out to be Labour's Ted Heath. The only Tory leader I ever liked. Full of human frailty but a musician a sailor and probably gay. A human being.
Predictably he became a pariah and then came Thatch Howard IDS Hague.....and like Ratners their reputation was irrecoverable
Have you not heard of Haute la Garenne?
Great point tab man. Knowledge levels about the Westminster paedophile ring on here are frighteningly low let alone amongst the general public.
Indeed Hunchman. Having read up on a lot of this stuff last year it's disturbing hos much is now coming out of the woodwork. Makes you wonder about what's next.
Cameron got the better of tonight but will it move many votes? I doubt it. I still think that Cameron made a serious mistake in not debating Miliband head to head. He thought it was the safe thing to do because swing back was going to deliver this election to him on a plate.
The truth was very far from these now discredited models. The truth was that it was the Tories that had to take the chances and swing from the hip to have any chance of delivering a win. A major misjudgement based on the models has resulted in a series of too cautious decisions. It is only in the last week or so the Tories have started to appreciate how much they were always up against it.
Who will be the largest party is still too close to call but even after tonight who will be able to win a vote of confidence in Parliament is not.
The debates this time and last time were pretty rubbish. Lots of soundbites and waffle. The Question Time tonight was excellent because there were some difficult, direct questions, and the people who asked them were able to challenge the politicians when they didn't give a straight answer.
This also made it so much better than the normal Question Time, because the audience was more involved rather than most of the time being taken up making sure that everyone on the panel has their say.
The BBC should change Question Time so that it features just one politician at a time, and put the parties on rotation.
@PeteWishart: Important front page in the National tomorrow. This is only going to get bigger. All over for Lab, methinks. https://t.co/t3upVzfxGV
Two things 1. Milliband must be very worried about how the SNP issue is playing on the doorstep to keep going on about this. 2. How does he explain getting a queens speech through, with what must be a deal with the SNP.
Miliband was very clear about this tonight. Suppose that Cameron resigns, or loses a vote in the House, and so Miliband has a shot at being PM. What Miliband has said he will do is to put forward a Labour Queen Speech, without negotiating with the SNP to secure their support. So he will basically be daring the SNP to vote [with the Tories] against it and trigger another election.
He has made the calculation that the SNP have committed so completely to anti-Toryism that they will not be able to let the Tories defeat a Labour Queen Speech. Or if they do, it gives him an electoral stick with which to beat them in the following election.
I think that's a pretty clear and principled position, it's just a shame it took him so long to make it clear.
I agree he is betting that SNP with no pact will vote through a queens speech. Or at least no pact that is made public. How long does that parliament last, will be fun to watch. If you have a job in the chaos that ensues.
Yes, basically the SNP get to choose when to pull the plug if Labour and Conservatives refuse to support each other.
The Conservative MP. Peter Bone, had a majority of over 11,000 last time, so it's a pretty safe seat, but it could lead to some embarrassing stories for Labour. Their candidate, Richard Garvie, bought nearly £900 of train tickets using a card for an account he knew was closed, and empty, then claimed this was OK because he thought his bank would pay the debts anyway.
The Conservatives , the Lib Dems, and their friends in the press could easily use this to cast doubt on the financial competence of Labour MPs - 'is this the kind of person you want running the British economy?'
Any thought on what happens if the Royal Baby is born on election day? Its a slight possibility isn't it? Could it affect the media and possibly even turnout?
@PeteWishart: Important front page in the National tomorrow. This is only going to get bigger. All over for Lab, methinks. https://t.co/t3upVzfxGV
Two things 1. Milliband must be very worried about how the SNP issue is playing on the doorstep to keep going on about this. 2. How does he explain getting a queens speech through, with what must be a deal with the SNP.
Miliband was very clear about this tonight. Suppose that Cameron resigns, or loses a vote in the House, and so Miliband has a shot at being PM. What Miliband has said he will do is to put forward a Labour Queen Speech, without negotiating with the SNP to secure their support.
Citation?
This is what Miliband said tonight:
"We do want to put forward a Labour Queen Speech, I want a majority Labour government, and it would be for parties in the House of Commons to vote for it."
Any thought on what happens if the Royal Baby is born on election day? Its a slight possibility isn't it? Could it affect the media and possibly even turnout?
"And over to the hospital now for a declaration.
Hold up....We're told there's a recount to see if it's a boy..."
I was surprised at how well Cameron did and conversely how poor Milliband was.
Hats off to the audience though they gave all the leaders a going over.
The thing I took away is that other than die hard labour fan there is no trust that they can run an economy without running us into a wall and ruining us (again).
That is going to weigh heavily on some waverers as they prepare to put an X on their ballot paper.
Any thought on what happens if the Royal Baby is born on election day? Its a slight possibility isn't it? Could it affect the media and possibly even turnout?
"And over to the hospital now for a declaration.
Hold up....We're told there's a recount to see if it's a boy..."
Heehee.
I was more thinking if it happened say the morning of the election or the night before. Will the less committed voters possibly be put off voting as they have something else to distract them?
Could maybe be worth a point on turnout markets. Not sure if it plays to any partisan advantage if so.
Comments
Nigel handled the questions very well.
On the Mayweather Paquaio fight- I think a draw is worth a punt (at 18's). Audley Harrisson said this tonight. They're not KO specialists, and will be as prepared for this fight as any. It's likely to go the distance, and a draw will entice a re-match. A long shot because Mayweather is a smotherer and tactician and will clock up rounds, but Pacquaio may land some blows to cancel it out.
Forget the hyperbole, this is the greatest fight in the last generation and in the top three fights of all time.
In the evening yes - during the days the Tories dominate
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/fixtures
but four Div1 teams without a game.
The first New Zealand tour match is Friday next week:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/teams/new-zealand/fixtures
So to form an argument as you say "so no vote is wasted" I vehemently want to deny the right to vote to anyone who wears socks with sandals. So I vote for that . Under whichever PR you chose will my vote count.
He really needs to learn that giving into the bullying doesn't make things easier or close an issue down. It just shows weakness and eggs the bullies on to demand more and more "concessions".
2. Only if the Tories, perhaps under a different leader, don't fancy giving it a shot. If a government had already been No Confidenced then at worst it would mean a new election with a Tory as PM.
I could think of 33 bigger fights than this one.
2 leaflets from UKIP, 1 each from Con, Lab, LD and Green - and even received through the door a flyer from Lib Dem District Council candidates.
I watch that program too.
How is he not for scrapping Trident based on this? He's basically reciting the SNP position.
Or maybe Ed was absolutely pathetic and Cameron a colossus beyond reproach, and I just couldn't see it like your good selves.
The Sun, english edition: SNP are the Devil, vote Tory.
The Sun, scottish edition: Vote SNP.
Although out of interest, if he'd said Ed M would leave the happier man, would that have been ok? Don't the polls indicate Cameron 'won'? I don't think that means much to be honest, but each of them will have had a sense how they did, and if that is reflected by the snap poll, it is reasonable and neutral to think Cameron did leave the happier man.
Brook-Khan should happen though !
I think controversial scoring is inevitable as it will setup a very nice rematch and another huge pay day for both fighters. The incentives are too huge to ignore. In situations like this I like to back the draw, and I'd agree 18s seems a worthwhile punt to me.
The unasked question is did Ed struggle at the start as he was without his comforter? I mean lectern.
Hagler, Herns, Leonard and Durant- that is the greatest era- any combination of those was scintillating.
Thank god the young don't bother voting, because they are thick.
Speedy/Scrapheap He was quite telegenic, but Portillo and Neil totally screwed him on Suez
And some of the best fights I have ever seen were all British, Benn, Watson, Eubank, even Groves and Froch.
And for people of my generation Cooper was box office, the night he put Cassius Clay on his arse was legendary.
Mayweather is the ultimate tactician- he'll smother and frustrate Pacquiao, but if it goes 12, I think that Pacquiao will get at least one 2 point round.
18's is a good punt for a fight that the whole world will want to see again.
The Conservative MP. Peter Bone, had a majority of over 11,000 last time, so it's a pretty safe seat, but it could lead to some embarrassing stories for Labour. Their candidate, Richard Garvie, bought nearly £900 of train tickets using a card for an account he knew was closed, and empty, then claimed this was OK because he thought his bank would pay the debts anyway.
The Conservatives , the Lib Dems, and their friends in the press could easily use this to cast doubt on the financial competence of Labour MPs - 'is this the kind of person you want running the British economy?'
But, as sad as it is, the greatest fights must involve an American fighter. Just the way it is.
He has made the calculation that the SNP have committed so completely to anti-Toryism that they will not be able to let the Tories defeat a Labour Queen Speech. Or if they do, it gives him an electoral stick with which to beat them in the following election.
I think that's a pretty clear and principled position, it's just a shame it took him so long to make it clear.
Goodnight.
I used to know a leading boxing manager, he had some top British fighters during the early stages of their careers, told me a few stories!
Miranda Green: "Cameron"
Alan Johnson: "Miliband"
Michael Portillo: "Miliband"
Two Tory, one Green, one LibDem (another a month back), one UKIP.
This also made it so much better than the normal Question Time, because the audience was more involved rather than most of the time being taken up making sure that everyone on the panel has their say.
The BBC should change Question Time so that it features just one politician at a time, and put the parties on rotation.
Tory - Labour
Tory - Lib Dem
Labour - Lib Dem
Tory - UKIP
Lib Dem - UKIP
Labour - UKIP
Labour - SNP
Tory - SNP
Lib Dem - SNP
to be factored in?
"We do want to put forward a Labour Queen Speech, I want a majority Labour government, and it would be for parties in the House of Commons to vote for it."
Hold up....We're told there's a recount to see if it's a boy..."
Hats off to the audience though they gave all the leaders a going over.
The thing I took away is that other than die hard labour fan there is no trust that they can run an economy without running us into a wall and ruining us (again).
That is going to weigh heavily on some waverers as they prepare to put an X on their ballot paper.
I'm going to call it for ED MILIBAND though.
I was more thinking if it happened say the morning of the election or the night before. Will the less committed voters possibly be put off voting as they have something else to distract them?
Could maybe be worth a point on turnout markets. Not sure if it plays to any partisan advantage if so.