Interestingly it sounds like the SNP/Nicola's message for the final days of the campaign is giong to be "An opportunity for Scotland to Unite" - both behind the SNP and for a strong voice.
That could be a very effective message.
How much more effective can you be when its is predicted you could win all the seats in Scotland?
60% instead of 55%.
SLAB need to be utterly destroyed AND demoralised. They can be given no way back, no route to power. After 2016 the SNP can finally remove all the publicly funded SLAB placemen in the Scottish public service sector.
I wouldn't call it a gaffe. I'd call it a smart move. Firstly, I think it makes Ed stand out from the crowd.
Oh it makes him stand out alright. No doubt about that. Ed's going to be standing out a lot.
I mean the first visceral reaction surely is: "What a joke?" The second response is: "Is he being serious?" Doesn't he know that politics is all about over-promising and under-delivering. The third response is: Does it ring more shallow than endless repetition of the term: "long-term economic plan."
Interestingly it sounds like the SNP/Nicola's message for the final days of the campaign is giong to be "An opportunity for Scotland to Unite" - both behind the SNP and for a strong voice.
That could be a very effective message.
How much more effective can you be when its is predicted you could win all the seats in Scotland?
The odd thing about EdStone is that its so obviously prime meat for a send up. One wonders whether it was deliberate. A means to get attention and deny oxygen to other things. Eds keeping us entertained. We have to give him that.
How much do you reckon it'll have cost? Five grand maybe? Plus a few hundred quid every time they want to take it somewhere. That's going to get thrown at him. If I were a Labour donor I'd be serious pissed off if they'd spend my £25 on that.
Just finished a day canvassing a hyper marginal north west con held seat with labour chasing. Canvassing those who either undecided or have not had contact with. I have to say the undecided are falling to the Cons more than Lab.
It is now becoming very clear that the Con support in this constituency is now a few percent above that which was won in 2010.
According to national and regional sub samples this seat should be long lost to Labour. There is *no* swing against Con in constituency (though of course the configuration of those who arent voting Con coalescing around the lab candidate could be enough ).
A note of caution. I have been a party agent a number of times and I can tell you that impressions of how it is going based on the anecdotes of canvassers are hardly worth the breath of repeating them. People on the ground, particularly in marginals, tend to fluctuate between wild optimism and even wilder optimism. I have also known canvassers that put anyone that doesn't actually physically remove them from the doorstep as "undecided".
Yes, most certainly true. But this is like for like. I've canvassed for eighteen years, i know when someone is telling me what i want to know. My understanding of the situation is constituency wide, not just on a few boards on the odd evening.
I wouldn't call it a gaffe. I'd call it a smart move. Firstly, I think it makes Ed stand out from the crowd.
Oh it makes him stand out alright. No doubt about that. Ed's going to be standing out a lot.
The third response is: Does it ring more shallow than endless repetition of the term: "long-term economic plan."
Personally I think it does. It's so obviously a stupid gimmick, whereas endless repetition of a phrase just shows a lack of imagination/willingness to go off message (or have a broader message). Some people will find that annoying, but it's not a silly gimmick at least.
It certainly won't swing any votes, and I assume it was approved on the basis that it would get attention and some people will like it even if his opponents won't, but Ed's been shown to be pretty canny up to now, I'm surprised he would make a misstep like this.
I think this innings should be treated as a 1 day and focus on the run rate. Given what's happened, 60 overs seems to be all the WIndies should be planning for. That means they are on 2.7 and need 3.1
Worse for Labour, it's back up to trending number one on Twitter while the Chelsea championship trends down.
Think about that. An electoral gaffe which started trending at around 11am is now trending much more strongly than the winning of the Premiership at 4pm.
I think about it and think 'political activists are typing on twitter while Chelsea fans are out on the lash'
But people tweet while they are shagging these days. Tweeting is certainly not incompatible with being out on the lash.
This is trending because people with a vested interest in seeing him fail are keeping it trending, so that the people who slavishly follow them report it trending
Yeah, those people with a vested interest in seeing him fail are the electorate.
Interestingly it sounds like the SNP/Nicola's message for the final days of the campaign is giong to be "An opportunity for Scotland to Unite" - both behind the SNP and for a strong voice.
That could be a very effective message.
How much more effective can you be when its is predicted you could win all the seats in Scotland?
60% instead of 55%.
SLAB need to be utterly destroyed AND demoralised. They can be given no way back, no route to power. After 2016 the SNP can finally remove all the publicly funded SLAB placemen in the Scottish public service sector.
Yarm is an Integral Part of the Borough of Stockton on Tees. That didn't stop them having a referendum to leave and join North Yorkshire.
Not sure what you mean by 'integral'. Yarm is part of Yorkshire which Stockton isn't. That's a divide far more profound that what some recent council boundary reform might have thrown up.
On that basis Ingleby Barwick should be treated in the same way as Yarm, but the Yarmites want to be rid of them too.
They might well but it was your assertion that Yarm was an Integral Part the borough of Stockton on Tees (capital letters, no less), that I was disputing. In fact, nothing is integral if the people concerned don't believe it to be so.
So is Berwick an integral part of England?
Do the good folk there believe it to be? History matters; the current settlement matters; but neither is definitive.
I went through school in Berwick before moving to Edinburgh to start work (early 60's) and I always felt English, though there was a mixture of views, but mainly we felt proud of being from Berwick and Northumberland
Maybe Scotland shouldn't stop are repatriating just Berwick and allow the whole of Northumbria and Cumbria to join.
Maybe Northumberland and Cumbria could repatriate the Scottish borders!!!!!!!!
I think this innings should be treated as a 1 day and focus on the run rate. Given what's happened, 60 overs seems to be all the WIndies should be planning for. That means they are on 2.7 and need 3.1
The thing that I don't get is that 8 foot limestone tablets don't come cheap or quick - that means that many people over the space of many months could have pointed out just how stupid the EdStone was.
Maybe it is a thin veneer, or ashlar, it would be appropriate
Ed tweeted this earlier, he seems to be saying should he break any of his key election promises he will not stand for PM next time around. He's set a very high bar here not quite sure he thought this one through:
If Ed scrapes home propped up by the SNP Labour will have bigger problems come the next election than student fees and I rather think he knows it.
Ed's only hope is that he can somehow get 300 seats and LD+DUP are over 25. I don't think there is much chance of either.
DUP will be 9. Not seen many predictions of LD below 16.
Perhaps.
But the underlying point is that Lab+LD+DUP is the only viable "get out of the trap" for Milimandias and it's one of the less likely options. It is also, completely overlooked by the Bubble Media (again for the reasons I gave before - ignorance of where the DUP really stand).
The DUP will only work with the Tories. Reason is because they'll not work with the SNP and Labour won't get to a position where the DUP hold the balance of power without the SNP.
The odd thing about EdStone is that its so obviously prime meat for a send up. One wonders whether it was deliberate. A means to get attention and deny oxygen to other things. Eds keeping us entertained. We have to give him that.
How much do you reckon it'll have cost? Five grand maybe? Plus a few hundred quid every time they want to take it somewhere. That's going to get thrown at him. If I were a Labour donor I'd be serious pissed off if they'd spend my £25 on that.
Bet it's made of polystyrene, like Stonehenge in Spinal Tap...
Ed tweeted this earlier, he seems to be saying should he break any of his key election promises he will not stand for PM next time around. He's set a very high bar here not quite sure he thought this one through:
If Ed scrapes home propped up by the SNP Labour will have bigger problems come the next election than student fees and I rather think he knows it.
Ed's only hope is that he can somehow get 300 seats and LD+DUP are over 25. I don't think there is much chance of either.
DUP will be 9. Not seen many predictions of LD below 16.
Perhaps.
But the underlying point is that Lab+LD+DUP is the only viable "get out of the trap" for Milimandias and it's one of the less likely options. It is also, completely overlooked by the Bubble Media (again for the reasons I gave before - ignorance of where the DUP really stand).
The DUP will only work with the Tories. Reason is because they'll not work with the SNP and Labour won't get to a position where the DUP hold the balance of power without the SNP.
DUP will find very little way to work with the Tories.
But your second point is what I was saying. It's what Ed needs to "Get Out of Jail" but it's really unlikely to happen given the numbers.
Five hours later #EdStone is the top UK trend again.
I wonder if this will have an impact, now.
No. People don't care were politicians put their election pledges, as long as it's not toilet paper.
And I looked at the BBC's most read and watched and it's nowhere, the most interesting on the list was "Chernobyl Fox Makes Sandwich" on No.9.
The BBC are being very "kind" in not putting the EdStone story on the front page. That's the only reason it's not right up there. Anything else which had caused such a kerfuffle - and made the web-pages of every single newspaper - would have been given due prominence.
It is without doubt the biggest story of the election, today. It's also been on C4 News and SkyNews.
The BBC are often very kind - like pulling the plug on a couple of Labour party spokesman train crashes and David Cameron's live speech this morning. Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, third time is enemy action. Presumably the champagne is NOT on a sale or return basis.
The Tory-run BBC seems to be leading on Cameron's EU referendum and does include Edstone. Doubtless if it promoted the stone above Cameron, you'd be complaining about that too.
The BBC must be thinking,Christ,what have we done,Ed could be PM by end of the week.
I think a few might be thinking that when their hand hovers over the ballot in the booth.
Strangely no mention of Ed Stone on R5, just more of his "Tory Secret Plan" revelations, this time that the Tories are going to put up Tuition fees.
The BBC report all this stuff as fact, rather than what Labour can think up today as the tax / fee the Tories will increase. If you are going to make these claims, you need evidence.
None of the main media outlets, bar the the Express, has mentioned Dromey, Watson et al speaking at the sex-segregated meeting in Birmingham yesterday. To my mind, that's the bigger story, especially since Miliband has vowed to make 'Islamophobia' illegal. It's totally biased to not report it because the public would be genuinely interested to know that very senior Labour politicians are doing this. It is for instance of far greater public interest than reporting some some UKIP nobody liked a mildly dodgy joke on Facebook which is all it normally takes for the BBC run a story.
Just finished a day canvassing a hyper marginal north west con held seat with labour chasing. Canvassing those who either undecided or have not had contact with. I have to say the undecided are falling to the Cons more than Lab.
It is now becoming very clear that the Con support in this constituency is now a few percent above that which was won in 2010.
According to national and regional sub samples this seat should be long lost to Labour. There is *no* swing against Con in constituency (though of course the configuration of those who arent voting Con coalescing around the lab candidate could be enough ).
A note of caution. I have been a party agent a number of times and I can tell you that impressions of how it is going based on the anecdotes of canvassers are hardly worth the breath of repeating them. People on the ground, particularly in marginals, tend to fluctuate between wild optimism and even wilder optimism. I have also known canvassers that put anyone that doesn't actually physically remove them from the doorstep as "undecided".
Yes, most certainly true. But this is like for like. I've canvassed for eighteen years, i know when someone is telling me what i want to know. My understanding of the situation is constituency wide, not just on a few boards on the odd evening.
Pity you can't tell us the constituency so I can look out for it on Friday (and that is meant sarcastically by the way)
Five hours later #EdStone is the top UK trend again.
I wonder if this will have an impact, now.
No. People don't care were politicians put their election pledges, as long as it's not toilet paper.
And I looked at the BBC's most read and watched and it's nowhere, the most interesting on the list was "Chernobyl Fox Makes Sandwich" on No.9.
The BBC are being very "kind" in not putting the EdStone story on the front page. That's the only reason it's not right up there. Anything else which had caused such a kerfuffle - and made the web-pages of every single newspaper - would have been given due prominence.
It is without doubt the biggest story of the election, today. It's also been on C4 News and SkyNews.
The BBC are often very kind - like pulling the plug on a couple of Labour party spokesman train crashes and David Cameron's live speech this morning. Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, third time is enemy action. Presumably the champagne is NOT on a sale or return basis.
The Tory-run BBC seems to be leading on Cameron's EU referendum and does include Edstone. Doubtless if it promoted the stone above Cameron, you'd be complaining about that too.
The BBC must be thinking,Christ,what have we done,Ed could be PM by end of the week.
I think a few might be thinking that when their hand hovers over the ballot in the booth.
Strangely no mention of Ed Stone on R5, just more of his "Tory Secret Plan" revelations, this time that the Tories are going to put up Tuition fees.
The BBC report all this stuff as fact, rather than what Labour can think up today as the tax / fee the Tories will increase. If you are going to make these claims, you need evidence.
It's the good ol' pluck numbers out of thin air. The last thing I saw was Balls saying the Tories will up fees to £11,500.
Any evidence for that, or just making up any old nonsense?
I mean the first visceral reaction surely is: "What a joke?"
Judging by the response on the internet that's where most people have stopped. I'm sure that was the plan, "hey guys lets do something that makes Ed look very odd and makes people laugh at our campaign". It probably won't make much difference, but only a fool would say it was a good idea.
The odd thing about EdStone is that its so obviously prime meat for a send up. One wonders whether it was deliberate. A means to get attention and deny oxygen to other things. Eds keeping us entertained. We have to give him that.
How much do you reckon it'll have cost? Five grand maybe? Plus a few hundred quid every time they want to take it somewhere. That's going to get thrown at him. If I were a Labour donor I'd be serious pissed off if they'd spend my £25 on that.
Bet it's made of polystyrene, like Stonehenge in Spinal Tap...
It's a shame it's not made of marble or granite. That way if they don't get in they could flog it to a luxury kitchen manufacturer like Smeg, Neff, Poggenpohl or Bosch!
Just finished a day canvassing a hyper marginal north west con held seat with labour chasing. Canvassing those who either undecided or have not had contact with. I have to say the undecided are falling to the Cons more than Lab.
It is now becoming very clear that the Con support in this constituency is now a few percent above that which was won in 2010.
According to national and regional sub samples this seat should be long lost to Labour. There is *no* swing against Con in constituency (though of course the configuration of those who arent voting Con coalescing around the lab candidate could be enough ).
A note of caution. I have been a party agent a number of times and I can tell you that impressions of how it is going based on the anecdotes of canvassers are hardly worth the breath of repeating them. People on the ground, particularly in marginals, tend to fluctuate between wild optimism and even wilder optimism. I have also known canvassers that put anyone that doesn't actually physically remove them from the doorstep as "undecided".
Yes, most certainly true. But this is like for like. I've canvassed for eighteen years, i know when someone is telling me what i want to know. My understanding of the situation is constituency wide, not just on a few boards on the odd evening.
Pity you can't tell us the constituency so I can look out for it on Friday (and that is meant sarcastically by the way)
The canvassing doesnt show we are going to win, it shows there is not fallback from 2010. So my prediction is that the Tories will get either the same, if not a bit more that it got then, if turnout is different, that will be a percentage rather then an absolute number. What is in doubt is how the none tory vote falls.
None of the main media outlets, bar the the Express, has mentioned Dromey, Watson et al speaking at the sex-segregated meeting in Birmingham yesterday. To my mind, that's the bigger story, especially since Miliband has vowed to make 'Islamophobia' illegal. It's totally biased to not report it because the public would be genuinely interested to know that very senior Labour politicians are doing this. It is for instance of far greater public interest than reporting some some UKIP nobody liked a mildly dodgy joke on Facebook which is all it normally takes for the BBC run a story.
I agree. I think it is a fairly newsworthy story. If you are a party who campaigns really really hard on equity, against racism, sexism, etc etc etc...then you are happy to pander to people who hold meetings where sexes are kept apart.
If Tories ministers or UKIP senior individuals had a campaign rally with whites on one side of the room and non-whites on the other, it would be the biggest story bar none. Just look at all the time devoted to the post about being beach body ready last week.
But every day real world sexism in its truest form, nothing.
Ed tweeted this earlier, he seems to be saying should he break any of his key election promises he will not stand for PM next time around. He's set a very high bar here not quite sure he thought this one through:
If Ed scrapes home propped up by the SNP Labour will have bigger problems come the next election than student fees and I rather think he knows it.
Ed's only hope is that he can somehow get 300 seats and LD+DUP are over 25. I don't think there is much chance of either.
DUP will be 9. Not seen many predictions of LD below 16.
Perhaps.
But the underlying point is that Lab+LD+DUP is the only viable "get out of the trap" for Milimandias and it's one of the less likely options. It is also, completely overlooked by the Bubble Media (again for the reasons I gave before - ignorance of where the DUP really stand).
The DUP will only work with the Tories. Reason is because they'll not work with the SNP and Labour won't get to a position where the DUP hold the balance of power without the SNP.
Has anyone asked the SNP on their position on Irish unity? They say they want to govern the UK after all.
Interestingly it sounds like the SNP/Nicola's message for the final days of the campaign is giong to be "An opportunity for Scotland to Unite" - both behind the SNP and for a strong voice.
That could be a very effective message.
How much more effective can you be when its is predicted you could win all the seats in Scotland?
60% instead of 55%.
SLAB need to be utterly destroyed AND demoralised. They can be given no way back, no route to power. After 2016 the SNP can finally remove all the publicly funded SLAB placemen in the Scottish public service sector.
A cleansing of the country.
Right, that sounds very healthy and not at all menacing.
The odd thing about EdStone is that its so obviously prime meat for a send up. One wonders whether it was deliberate. A means to get attention and deny oxygen to other things. Eds keeping us entertained. We have to give him that.
How much do you reckon it'll have cost? Five grand maybe? Plus a few hundred quid every time they want to take it somewhere. That's going to get thrown at him. If I were a Labour donor I'd be serious pissed off if they'd spend my £25 on that.
Bet it's made of polystyrene, like Stonehenge in Spinal Tap...
I guess we'll find out when they publish their election expenses. In the meantime I'm sure there'll be estimates from quarrymen and funeral directors in tomorrow's papers.
I liked Ladbrokes' book on it.
Ladbrokes Politics @LadPolitics · 4h 4 hours ago Where will the Labour stone plinth be after the election? 10/1 Labour Hq 5/4 Downing Street Rose Gardens 4/5 Anywhere else! #EdStone
I looked up Labour HQ and wondered about the ceiling height, but then remembered I had something better to do.
"It makes Neil Kinnock’s 1992 “We’re all right” Sheffield rally moment look almost clever."
When you're the leader of Labour and the New Statesman and Guardian are calling your campaign stunt utterly stupid and ridiculous, it tends to indicate you have a problem.
Just finished a day canvassing a hyper marginal north west con held seat with labour chasing. Canvassing those who either undecided or have not had contact with. I have to say the undecided are falling to the Cons more than Lab.
It is now becoming very clear that the Con support in this constituency is now a few percent above that which was won in 2010.
According to national and regional sub samples this seat should be long lost to Labour. There is *no* swing against Con in constituency (though of course the configuration of those who arent voting Con coalescing around the lab candidate could be enough ).
A note of caution. I have been a party agent a number of times and I can tell you that impressions of how it is going based on the anecdotes of canvassers are hardly worth the breath of repeating them. People on the ground, particularly in marginals, tend to fluctuate between wild optimism and even wilder optimism. I have also known canvassers that put anyone that doesn't actually physically remove them from the doorstep as "undecided".
Yes, most certainly true. But this is like for like. I've canvassed for eighteen years, i know when someone is telling me what i want to know. My understanding of the situation is constituency wide, not just on a few boards on the odd evening.
Pity you can't tell us the constituency so I can look out for it on Friday (and that is meant sarcastically by the way)
Rattled lefty syndrome on the increase. Slipping away, innit?
None of the main media outlets, bar the the Express, has mentioned Dromey, Watson et al speaking at the sex-segregated meeting in Birmingham yesterday. To my mind, that's the bigger story, especially since Miliband has vowed to make 'Islamophobia' illegal. It's totally biased to not report it because the public would be genuinely interested to know that very senior Labour politicians are doing this. It is for instance of far greater public interest than reporting some some UKIP nobody liked a mildly dodgy joke on Facebook which is all it normally takes for the BBC run a story.
The question is whether the people "segregated" themselves or whether they were compelled to do so. In the first instance, I'd pretty much say this is a non-story in the second instance, it would be shocking.
Ed tweeted this earlier, he seems to be saying should he break any of his key election promises he will not stand for PM next time around. He's set a very high bar here not quite sure he thought this one through:
If Ed scrapes home propped up by the SNP Labour will have bigger problems come the next election than student fees and I rather think he knows it.
Ed's only hope is that he can somehow get 300 seats and LD+DUP are over 25. I don't think there is much chance of either.
DUP will be 9. Not seen many predictions of LD below 16.
Perhaps.
But the underlying point is that Lab+LD+DUP is the only viable "get out of the trap" for Milimandias and it's one of the less likely options. It is also, completely overlooked by the Bubble Media (again for the reasons I gave before - ignorance of where the DUP really stand).
The DUP will only work with the Tories. Reason is because they'll not work with the SNP and Labour won't get to a position where the DUP hold the balance of power without the SNP.
Has anyone asked the SNP on their position on Irish unity? They say they want to govern the UK after all.
SNP policy is that it is a matter for the Irish people (both of them) to decide Northern Ireland's future. It is 100% GFA compliant.
Ed tweeted this earlier, he seems to be saying should he break any of his key election promises he will not stand for PM next time around. He's set a very high bar here not quite sure he thought this one through:
If Ed scrapes home propped up by the SNP Labour will have bigger problems come the next election than student fees and I rather think he knows it.
Ed's only hope is that he can somehow get 300 seats and LD+DUP are over 25. I don't think there is much chance of either.
DUP will be 9. Not seen many predictions of LD below 16.
Perhaps.
But the underlying point is that Lab+LD+DUP is the only viable "get out of the trap" for Milimandias and it's one of the less likely options. It is also, completely overlooked by the Bubble Media (again for the reasons I gave before - ignorance of where the DUP really stand).
The DUP will only work with the Tories. Reason is because they'll not work with the SNP and Labour won't get to a position where the DUP hold the balance of power without the SNP.
Has anyone asked the SNP on their position on Irish unity? They say they want to govern the UK after all.
The SNP want to dismantle the UK. Not great for a party whose entire reason for existence is to stay in the UK. If Scotland goes it seems almost inevitable that Northern Ireland will too. So the DUP won't work with the SNP.
Yarm is an Integral Part of the Borough of Stockton on Tees. That didn't stop them having a referendum to leave and join North Yorkshire.
Not sure what you mean by 'integral'. Yarm is part of Yorkshire which Stockton isn't. That's a divide far more profound that what some recent council boundary reform might have thrown up.
On that basis Ingleby Barwick should be treated in the same way as Yarm, but the Yarmites want to be rid of them too.
They might well but it was your assertion that Yarm was an Integral Part the borough of Stockton on Tees (capital letters, no less), that I was disputing. In fact, nothing is integral if the people concerned don't believe it to be so.
So is Berwick an integral part of England?
Do the good folk there believe it to be? History matters; the current settlement matters; but neither is definitive.
I went through school in Berwick before moving to Edinburgh to start work (early 60's) and I always felt English, though there was a mixture of views, but mainly we felt proud of being from Berwick and Northumberland
Maybe Scotland shouldn't stop are repatriating just Berwick and allow the whole of Northumbria and Cumbria to join.
Maybe Northumberland and Cumbria could repatriate the Scottish borders!!!!!!!!
Interestingly it sounds like the SNP/Nicola's message for the final days of the campaign is giong to be "An opportunity for Scotland to Unite" - both behind the SNP and for a strong voice.
That could be a very effective message.
How much more effective can you be when its is predicted you could win all the seats in Scotland?
60% instead of 55%.
SLAB need to be utterly destroyed AND demoralised. They can be given no way back, no route to power. After 2016 the SNP can finally remove all the publicly funded SLAB placemen in the Scottish public service sector.
A cleansing of the country.
Right, that sounds very healthy and not at all menacing.
You have no understanding of how Scotland has been run under Labour.
This is a system where different coloured Job Application forms were issued so that the employment committee knew exactly who they were to hire and even after this was (generally) gotten rid of, the top jobs were very much reserved for the Labour Party.
How were things in Eastbourne? And bearing in mind how well you did on the indyref any tips for Thursday? .
Eastbourne is absolutely zinging with activity from both the LibDems and the Conservatives. Huge numbers of posters, for both parties. Stephen Lloyd for the LibDems is rightly favourite - he's pushing the personal vote very strongly indeed. The current odds look about right to me, but the Tories are certainly going all out to displace him. George Osborne was there yesterday.
The Conservatives are also going all out to try to displace Norman Baker next door in Lewes. There has been a marked change of attitude towards Lewes - a couple of years ago it was seen as beyond reach and Central Office were not putting much resource in - the (excellent) candidate Maria Caulfield was working very hard but almost alone. That has completely changed, and she's now getting a lot of support. If anything, I think she might have a better chance that Caroline Ansell in Eastbourne, but both are tough gigs, given the personal votes of the LibDem incumbents.
As for tips: not really. I concur with the general view that a messy hung parliament, Con most seats, is the most likely outcome. My current strategy is to look for mismatches between the constituency odds and the seat total markets, of which there still seem to be lots.
Edhenge. Did nobody stop to say that they would become the objects of ridicule. Well that and the fact he told the Scots and the Welsh to go get stuffed. It is Cameron's to lose now.
Lets wait and see what the polls say again. I know you desperately want it to be true but politics isn't about what people on twitter say.
No, let's wait and see how people vote on Thursday and in the mean time let's relax and accept that que sera, sera. All this desperately wanting outcomes, and having tantrums at any sign of contradictory evidence, is a specifically rattled lefty phenomenon.
Interestingly it sounds like the SNP/Nicola's message for the final days of the campaign is giong to be "An opportunity for Scotland to Unite" - both behind the SNP and for a strong voice.
That could be a very effective message.
How much more effective can you be when its is predicted you could win all the seats in Scotland?
60% instead of 55%.
SLAB need to be utterly destroyed AND demoralised. They can be given no way back, no route to power. After 2016 the SNP can finally remove all the publicly funded SLAB placemen in the Scottish public service sector.
A cleansing of the country.
Hopefully Con 2nd in Stirling !
I think SLAB will sneak 2nd place - particularly if Chris Deerin and his mates vote tactically for SLAB - see link:
Interestingly it sounds like the SNP/Nicola's message for the final days of the campaign is giong to be "An opportunity for Scotland to Unite" - both behind the SNP and for a strong voice.
That could be a very effective message.
... for the Tory party.
One people one county one leader? Eh? Why should poor wee CND/socialist Nicola want to see an end to democracy in Scotland? oh yes...
Just looking at the article at the top if the thread. If Labour get most seats, then the chances are that Cameron would resign on Friday (It is very hard to see a plausible Conservative government from 2nd place). Therefore isn't the 5/1 for May the 8th for somebody being invited to form a Government better odds than Labour having most seats??
None of the main media outlets, bar the the Express, has mentioned Dromey, Watson et al speaking at the sex-segregated meeting in Birmingham yesterday. To my mind, that's the bigger story, especially since Miliband has vowed to make 'Islamophobia' illegal. It's totally biased to not report it because the public would be genuinely interested to know that very senior Labour politicians are doing this. It is for instance of far greater public interest than reporting some some UKIP nobody liked a mildly dodgy joke on Facebook which is all it normally takes for the BBC run a story.
The question is whether the people "segregated" themselves or whether they were compelled to do so. In the first instance, I'd pretty much say this is a non-story in the second instance, it would be shocking.
Even if they segregated themselves, one could argue that it is letting brainwashing in from religious cults have an effect in this country.
I hope they put the EdStone in Labour HQ, so that all future staff have to look at it every day, and recite the mantra "If we ever, ever, ever do something this stupid again..."
It does have one big selling point though; it is more articulate than most of Labour's front bench.
How were things in Eastbourne? And bearing in mind how well you did on the indyref any tips for Thursday? .
Eastbourne is absolutely zinging with activity from both the LibDems and the Conservatives. Huge numbers of posters, for both parties. Stephen Lloyd for the LibDems is rightly favourite - he's pushing the personal vote very strongly indeed. The current odds look about right to me, but the Tories are certainly going all out to displace him. George Osborne was there yesterday.
The Conservatives are also going all out to try to displace Norman Baker next door in Lewes. There has been a marked change of attitude towards Lewes - a couple of years ago it was seen as beyond reach and Central Office were not putting much resource in - the (excellent) candidate Maria Caulfield was working very hard but almost alone. That has completely changed, and she's now getting a lot of support. If anything, I think she might have a better chance that Caroline Ansell in Eastbourne, but both are tough gigs, given the personal votes of the LibDem incumbents.
As for tips: not really. I concur with the general view that a messy hung parliament, Con most seats, is the most likely outcome. My current strategy is to look for mismatches between the constituency odds and the seat total markets, of which there still seem to be lots.
Hmm the last odds I saw in Eastbourne were 8-15 Lib Dem. It was suspended at Corals mind you, as I went to put a bet on them there. If Eastbourne is in trouble the Lib Dems are sub 20, surely.
Lets wait and see what the polls say again. I know you desperately want it to be true but politics isn't about what people on twitter say.
No, let's wait and see how people vote on Thursday and in the mean time let's relax and accept that que sera, sera. All this desperately wanting outcomes, and having tantrums at any sign of contradictory evidence, is a specifically rattled lefty phenomenon.
Given the outcomes from the evidence, reliable or not, points to a lefty victory, I'm not sure it can only be a rattled lefty phenomenon to react poorly to said evidence.
None of the main media outlets, bar the the Express, has mentioned Dromey, Watson et al speaking at the sex-segregated meeting in Birmingham yesterday. To my mind, that's the bigger story, especially since Miliband has vowed to make 'Islamophobia' illegal. It's totally biased to not report it because the public would be genuinely interested to know that very senior Labour politicians are doing this. It is for instance of far greater public interest than reporting some some UKIP nobody liked a mildly dodgy joke on Facebook which is all it normally takes for the BBC run a story.
The question is whether the people "segregated" themselves or whether they were compelled to do so. In the first instance, I'd pretty much say this is a non-story in the second instance, it would be shocking.
Even if they segregated themselves, one could argue that it is letting brainwashing in from religious cults have an effect in this country.
If voluntary segregation is brainwashing, what would we think about a prime minister who was a member of a female-exclusionary members' club for fifteen years? That would be a real Manchurian Candidate situation.
None of the main media outlets, bar the the Express, has mentioned Dromey, Watson et al speaking at the sex-segregated meeting in Birmingham yesterday. To my mind, that's the bigger story, especially since Miliband has vowed to make 'Islamophobia' illegal. It's totally biased to not report it because the public would be genuinely interested to know that very senior Labour politicians are doing this. It is for instance of far greater public interest than reporting some some UKIP nobody liked a mildly dodgy joke on Facebook which is all it normally takes for the BBC run a story.
The question is whether the people "segregated" themselves or whether they were compelled to do so. In the first instance, I'd pretty much say this is a non-story in the second instance, it would be shocking.
Men and women don't naturally segregate themselves though do they? Think of a tube train, or a cafe, or a classroom. You never see segregation occur naturally. Somebody's obviously said women on the left, men on the right. And they've all obeyed. And the Labour politicians (who aren't answering the Express' request for comment) have gone along with it like it's perfectly normal.
When this happened at UCL about a year ago, it made the news and the university banned it from happening again. Quite right too.
Just looking at the article at the top if the thread. If Labour get most seats, then the chances are that Cameron would resign on Friday (It is very hard to see a plausible Conservative government from 2nd place). Therefore isn't the 5/1 for May the 8th for somebody being invited to form a Government better odds than Labour having most seats??
The precedent from Brown is that the PM will hang around a bit if the opposition don't have a clear majority.
None of the main media outlets, bar the the Express, has mentioned Dromey, Watson et al speaking at the sex-segregated meeting in Birmingham yesterday. To my mind, that's the bigger story, especially since Miliband has vowed to make 'Islamophobia' illegal. It's totally biased to not report it because the public would be genuinely interested to know that very senior Labour politicians are doing this. It is for instance of far greater public interest than reporting some some UKIP nobody liked a mildly dodgy joke on Facebook which is all it normally takes for the BBC run a story.
The question is whether the people "segregated" themselves or whether they were compelled to do so. In the first instance, I'd pretty much say this is a non-story in the second instance, it would be shocking.
I'd be very surprised if there weren't similar photos of Tory and LD politicians addressing folk in mosques as the sexes are segregated. It does look awful, though.
Interestingly it sounds like the SNP/Nicola's message for the final days of the campaign is giong to be "An opportunity for Scotland to Unite" - both behind the SNP and for a strong voice.
That could be a very effective message.
I think her other message to E&W will be seeking to reassure Labour supporters that the SNP will make sure they get a proper Labour Government, as promised in the secret leaked documents published by the DT yesterday.
The fact that the Scottish Sun are now fully behind the SNP and the Daily Record are starting to come off the fence should push the SNP over the 55% mark, which should mitigate any tactical voting.
The Eddystone isn't a vote changer, it will be a one or two day wonder, but it can reinforce attitudes.
Cam's football nonsense reinforces the meme that he's a bit fake. But it pales into insignificance alongside this. Not only is Ed away with the fairies but his coterie must also be demented.
For a potential world leader, that's not good - unless you're Kim Jong Un.
Interestingly it sounds like the SNP/Nicola's message for the final days of the campaign is giong to be "An opportunity for Scotland to Unite" - both behind the SNP and for a strong voice.
That could be a very effective message.
I think her other message to E&W will be seeking to reassure Labour supporters that the SNP will make sure they get a proper Labour Government, as promised in the secret leaked documents published by the DT yesterday.
The fact that the Scottish Sun are now fully behind the SNP and the Daily Record are starting to come off the fence should push the SNP over the 55% mark, which should mitigate any tactical voting.
The Record is coming off the fence o_O - Next I'll be hearing BBC Scotland is putting out unbias stuff !
Scotland goes it seems almost inevitable that Northern Ireland will too. So the DUP won't work with the SNP.
Why? Northern Ireland's UK-ness is not based on medieval history or oil prices, but primarily on the near-universal desire among the Protestant community to be in a country which has a state religion which happens to be Protestant.
Just finished a day canvassing a hyper marginal north west con held seat with labour chasing. Canvassing those who either undecided or have not had contact with. I have to say the undecided are falling to the Cons more than Lab.
It is now becoming very clear that the Con support in this constituency is now a few percent above that which was won in 2010.
According to national and regional sub samples this seat should be long lost to Labour. There is *no* swing against Con in constituency (though of course the configuration of those who arent voting Con coalescing around the lab candidate could be enough ).
A note of caution. I have been a party agent a number of times and I can tell you that impressions of how it is going based on the anecdotes of canvassers are hardly worth the breath of repeating them. People on the ground, particularly in marginals, tend to fluctuate between wild optimism and even wilder optimism. I have also known canvassers that put anyone that doesn't actually physically remove them from the doorstep as "undecided".
Yes, most certainly true. But this is like for like. I've canvassed for eighteen years, i know when someone is telling me what i want to know. My understanding of the situation is constituency wide, not just on a few boards on the odd evening.
I am not disputing what you say - people in marginals are very much like the man about to be hanged who suddenly starts to think clearly - but if what you say is true then really YouGov should be picking this up since as I understand it they are specifically re-polling people to pick up any such trend. To be fair I think they have given a tory lead 2 days running.
Interestingly it sounds like the SNP/Nicola's message for the final days of the campaign is giong to be "An opportunity for Scotland to Unite" - both behind the SNP and for a strong voice.
That could be a very effective message.
I think her other message to E&W will be seeking to reassure Labour supporters that the SNP will make sure they get a proper Labour Government, as promised in the secret leaked documents published by the DT yesterday.
The fact that the Scottish Sun are now fully behind the SNP and the Daily Record are starting to come off the fence should push the SNP over the 55% mark, which should mitigate any tactical voting.
The Record is coming off the fence o_O - Next I'll be hearing BBC Scotland is putting out unbias stuff !
Truly this is the election of the unexpected.
You may have missed it but it was earlier posted that the Sunday Mail has already declared for Nicola. That's the DayLate on Sunday.
The odd thing about EdStone is that its so obviously prime meat for a send up. One wonders whether it was deliberate. A means to get attention and deny oxygen to other things. Eds keeping us entertained. We have to give him that.
How much do you reckon it'll have cost? Five grand maybe? Plus a few hundred quid every time they want to take it somewhere. That's going to get thrown at him. If I were a Labour donor I'd be serious pissed off if they'd spend my £25 on that.
Bet it's made of polystyrene, like Stonehenge in Spinal Tap...
I guess we'll find out when they publish their election expenses. In the meantime I'm sure there'll be estimates from quarrymen and funeral directors in tomorrow's papers.
I liked Ladbrokes' book on it.
Ladbrokes Politics @LadPolitics · 4h 4 hours ago Where will the Labour stone plinth be after the election? 10/1 Labour Hq 5/4 Downing Street Rose Gardens 4/5 Anywhere else! #EdStone
Scotland goes it seems almost inevitable that Northern Ireland will too. So the DUP won't work with the SNP.
Why? Northern Ireland's UK-ness is not based on medieval history or oil prices, but primarily on the near-universal desire among the Protestant community to be in a country which has a state religion which happens to be Protestant.
The UK does not have a state religion.
England and Wales have an Established Anglican church. Scotland and NI have no Established church.
Worse for Labour, it's back up to trending number one on Twitter while the Chelsea championship trends down.
Think about that. An electoral gaffe which started trending at around 11am is now trending much more strongly than the winning of the Premiership at 4pm.
I think about it and think 'political activists are typing on twitter while Chelsea fans are out on the lash'
But people tweet while they are shagging these days. Tweeting is certainly not incompatible with being out on the lash.
I'm guessing that this is why it makes such an invaluable electioneering tool.
Lets wait and see what the polls say again. I know you desperately want it to be true but politics isn't about what people on twitter say.
No, let's wait and see how people vote on Thursday and in the mean time let's relax and accept that que sera, sera. All this desperately wanting outcomes, and having tantrums at any sign of contradictory evidence, is a specifically rattled lefty phenomenon.
Given the outcomes from the evidence, reliable or not, points to a lefty victory, I'm not sure it can only be a rattled lefty phenomenon to react poorly to said evidence.
"Reacting poorly" is one thing, having tantrums is another. If the evidence truly points to a lefty victory, why can the left not adopt a position of massive and benevolent calm?
Hmm the last odds I saw in Eastbourne were 8-15 Lib Dem. It was suspended at Corals mind you, as I went to put a bet on them there. If Eastbourne is in trouble the Lib Dems are sub 20, surely.
The LibDem majority was only 3,435 last time, and Nigel Waterson for the Tories had some personal issues which probably didn't help. So, given the fall-off in LibDem support since then, it doesn't on paper look all that safe for the LibDems. Against that, Stephen Lloyd has been doing the classic LibDem incumbent stuff. I think it's probably a LibDem hold, but I wouldn't be gobsmacked if its not.
Scotland goes it seems almost inevitable that Northern Ireland will too. So the DUP won't work with the SNP.
Why? Northern Ireland's UK-ness is not based on medieval history or oil prices, but primarily on the near-universal desire among the Protestant community to be in a country which has a state religion which happens to be Protestant.
The UK does not have a state religion.
England and Wales have an Established Anglican church. Scotland and NI have no Established church.
Yes, you are almost correct and more so than I (Scotland still does have the Church of Scotland as its official religion; Wales has no established church). To be precise, they are loyal to a monarchy which is legally exclusionary of Catholics.
Scotland goes it seems almost inevitable that Northern Ireland will too. So the DUP won't work with the SNP.
Why? Northern Ireland's UK-ness is not based on medieval history or oil prices, but primarily on the near-universal desire among the Protestant community to be in a country which has a state religion which happens to be Protestant.
The UK does not have a state religion.
England and Wales have an Established Anglican church. Scotland and NI have no Established church.
Yes, you are almost correct and more so than I (Scotland still does have the Church of Scotland as its official religion; Wales has no established church). To be precise, they are loyal to a monarchy which is legally exclusionary of Catholics.
I thought the Catholic exclusion was removed when the succession was changed to Cognatic Primogeniture?
Also "England and Wales" is the country. Debatably.
Scotland goes it seems almost inevitable that Northern Ireland will too. So the DUP won't work with the SNP.
Why? Northern Ireland's UK-ness is not based on medieval history or oil prices, but primarily on the near-universal desire among the Protestant community to be in a country which has a state religion which happens to be Protestant.
The UK does not have a state religion.
England and Wales have an Established Anglican church. Scotland and NI have no Established church.
Yes, you are almost correct and more so than I (Scotland still does have the Church of Scotland as its official religion; Wales has no established church). To be precise, they are loyal to a monarchy which is legally exclusionary of Catholics.
The Kirk of Scotland was disestablished many years ago, in 1929. Though IIRC the Queen sends an observer or rep to the annual General Assembly.
Scotland goes it seems almost inevitable that Northern Ireland will too. So the DUP won't work with the SNP.
Why? Northern Ireland's UK-ness is not based on medieval history or oil prices, but primarily on the near-universal desire among the Protestant community to be in a country which has a state religion which happens to be Protestant.
It's hard to be apart of a UK that doesn't exist. Once Scotland goes it opens a Pandora's box of do Wales and NI to essentially be dominated by just England. Does England still want to be with the others or not starts to get asked to.
Just looking at the article at the top if the thread. If Labour get most seats, then the chances are that Cameron would resign on Friday (It is very hard to see a plausible Conservative government from 2nd place). Therefore isn't the 5/1 for May the 8th for somebody being invited to form a Government better odds than Labour having most seats??
A good spot, Sir. We were discussing earlier how this might work if Dave stays on, but Dave will resign well before he gets down to being in 2nd place, unless the LDs have a good shocker and the SNP a (comparatively) poor shocker. The 5/1 is a good proxy for Lab most seats which is currently between 3/1 and 4/1 with the bookies.
I'd be very surprised if there weren't similar photos of Tory and LD politicians addressing folk in mosques as the sexes are segregated. It does look awful, though.
Not all Mosques are segregated but 99%+ are - people join them voluntarily, it is their choice much as you might disagree. And if Muslims disagree with this, they can always join a Quranist group but few do. So unless you've got someone in the background forcing people to sit segregated you can't force them to sit together.
Scotland goes it seems almost inevitable that Northern Ireland will too. So the DUP won't work with the SNP.
Why? Northern Ireland's UK-ness is not based on medieval history or oil prices, but primarily on the near-universal desire among the Protestant community to be in a country which has a state religion which happens to be Protestant.
The UK does not have a state religion.
England and Wales have an Established Anglican church. Scotland and NI have no Established church.
Yes, you are almost correct and more so than I (Scotland still does have the Church of Scotland as its official religion; Wales has no established church). To be precise, they are loyal to a monarchy which is legally exclusionary of Catholics.
The Kirk of Scotland was disestablished many years ago, in 1929. Though IIRC the Queen sends an observer or rep to the annual General Assembly.
It was disestablished, which does not mean it is no longer in law the national church of Scotland, though it is certainly independent of the government of the day.
I'd be very surprised if there weren't similar photos of Tory and LD politicians addressing folk in mosques as the sexes are segregated. It does look awful, though.
Not all Mosques are segregated but 99%+ are - people join them voluntarily, it is their choice much as you might disagree. And if Muslims disagree with this, they can always join a Quranist group but few do. So unless you've got someone in the background forcing people to sit segregated you can't force them to sit together.
They pray in separate rooms, and if that's how their religion asks them to pray them who am I to disagree.
But they are not praying in the mosque though, are they?
They're at a Labour party rally, with posters on the walls and excited candidates tweeting photos of the segregated crowd, obviously thinking it's perfectly normal. I would suggest that to your average working man Labour voter, that is not normal at all.
Scotland goes it seems almost inevitable that Northern Ireland will too. So the DUP won't work with the SNP.
Why? Northern Ireland's UK-ness is not based on medieval history or oil prices, but primarily on the near-universal desire among the Protestant community to be in a country which has a state religion which happens to be Protestant.
It's hard to be apart of a UK that doesn't exist. Once Scotland goes it opens a Pandora's box of do Wales and NI to essentially be dominated by just England. Does England still want to be with the others or not starts to get asked to.
Why take the risk as the DUP?
The UK would still exist after Scottish secession. The prospect would cajole NI Protestants into stronger support of the unionist parties. Wales and NI are already essentially dominated by England, as is Scotland.
Scotland goes it seems almost inevitable that Northern Ireland will too. So the DUP won't work with the SNP.
Why? Northern Ireland's UK-ness is not based on medieval history or oil prices, but primarily on the near-universal desire among the Protestant community to be in a country which has a state religion which happens to be Protestant.
The UK does not have a state religion.
England and Wales have an Established Anglican church. Scotland and NI have no Established church.
Yes, you are almost correct and more so than I (Scotland still does have the Church of Scotland as its official religion; Wales has no established church). To be precise, they are loyal to a monarchy which is legally exclusionary of Catholics.
The Kirk of Scotland was disestablished many years ago, in 1929. Though IIRC the Queen sends an observer or rep to the annual General Assembly.
It was disestablished, which does not mean it is no longer in law the national church of Scotland, though it is certainly independent of the government of the day.
In what practical respect is it a national church, please? Genuine question ... I don't mean just because HMtQ attends Crathie Kirk when she's up in her wee holiday but an ben at Balmoral.
Scotland goes it seems almost inevitable that Northern Ireland will too. So the DUP won't work with the SNP.
Why? Northern Ireland's UK-ness is not based on medieval history or oil prices, but primarily on the near-universal desire among the Protestant community to be in a country which has a state religion which happens to be Protestant.
It's hard to be apart of a UK that doesn't exist. Once Scotland goes it opens a Pandora's box of do Wales and NI to essentially be dominated by just England. Does England still want to be with the others or not starts to get asked to.
Why take the risk as the DUP?
The UK would still exist after Scottish secession. The prospect would cajole NI Protestants into stronger support of the unionist parties. Wales and NI are already essentially dominated by England, as is Scotland.
Wales is tied to Scotland in many ways. That provides some balance.
Cut one foot of a stool and suddenly the imbalances are much greater. It wouldn't surprise me too see Plaid Cymru surge in support following Scottish independence.
James Chapman (Mail)@jameschappers·4 mins4 minutes ago Tory source complains BBC TV news makes no mention of #EdStone derision, though last weekend whole story dedicated to PM's "West Ham" moment
The odd thing about EdStone is that its so obviously prime meat for a send up. One wonders whether it was deliberate. A means to get attention and deny oxygen to other things. Eds keeping us entertained. We have to give him that.
How much do you reckon it'll have cost? Five grand maybe? Plus a few hundred quid every time they want to take it somewhere. That's going to get thrown at him. If I were a Labour donor I'd be serious pissed off if they'd spend my £25 on that.
Bet it's made of polystyrene, like Stonehenge in Spinal Tap...
I guess we'll find out when they publish their election expenses. In the meantime I'm sure there'll be estimates from quarrymen and funeral directors in tomorrow's papers.
I liked Ladbrokes' book on it.
Ladbrokes Politics @LadPolitics · 4h 4 hours ago Where will the Labour stone plinth be after the election? 10/1 Labour Hq 5/4 Downing Street Rose Gardens 4/5 Anywhere else! #EdStone
The odd thing about EdStone is that its so obviously prime meat for a send up. One wonders whether it was deliberate. A means to get attention and deny oxygen to other things. Eds keeping us entertained. We have to give him that.
How much do you reckon it'll have cost? Five grand maybe? Plus a few hundred quid every time they want to take it somewhere. That's going to get thrown at him. If I were a Labour donor I'd be serious pissed off if they'd spend my £25 on that.
Bet it's made of polystyrene, like Stonehenge in Spinal Tap...
If it's made of something lighter than rock, why it is in that fugly blue rusty cradle? It certainly has the look of something that weighs a couple of tons rather than a couple of stone.
As others have said, this must have cost a load in both donations and lead times, yet no-one seems to have realised what the reaction would be to it! Worrying that these same people want to run the country this time next week.
James Chapman (Mail)@jameschappers·4 mins4 minutes ago Tory source complains BBC TV news makes no mention of #EdStone derision, though last weekend whole story dedicated to PM's "West Ham" moment
Is that a formal complaint to the BBC at all? That seems taking it a little too far, even if they feel aggrieved. Makes them appear desperate for every scrap of coverage.
Just finished a day canvassing a hyper marginal north west con held seat with labour chasing. Canvassing those who either undecided or have not had contact with. I have to say the undecided are falling to the Cons more than Lab.
It is now becoming very clear that the Con support in this constituency is now a few percent above that which was won in 2010.
According to national and regional sub samples this seat should be long lost to Labour. There is *no* swing against Con in constituency (though of course the configuration of those who arent voting Con coalescing around the lab candidate could be enough ).
A note of caution. I have been a party agent a number of times and I can tell you that impressions of how it is going based on the anecdotes of canvassers are hardly worth the breath of repeating them. People on the ground, particularly in marginals, tend to fluctuate between wild optimism and even wilder optimism. I have also known canvassers that put anyone that doesn't actually physically remove them from the doorstep as "undecided".
Yes, most certainly true. But this is like for like. I've canvassed for eighteen years, i know when someone is telling me what i want to know. My understanding of the situation is constituency wide, not just on a few boards on the odd evening.
Pity you can't tell us the constituency so I can look out for it on Friday (and that is meant sarcastically by the way)
Rattled lefty syndrome on the increase. Slipping away, innit?
I am genuinely interested, if you believe that demonstrates "rattled lefty syndrome" then I suggest you might be getting a little paranoid.
James Chapman (Mail)@jameschappers·4 mins4 minutes ago Tory source complains BBC TV news makes no mention of #EdStone derision, though last weekend whole story dedicated to PM's "West Ham" moment
Is that a formal complaint to the BBC at all? That seems taking it a little too far, even if they feel aggrieved. Makes them appear desperate for every scrap of coverage.
All parties surely should be trying to get a balance and the BBC should be able to decide what to listen to and what to ignore.
Tough it's nothing like the amazingly crass decision of UKIP referring HIGNFY to the Police for a joke ... Only to be told that no law was broken and the Police weren't going to take any further action. Going that far looks pathetic.
I thought the Catholic exclusion was removed when the succession was changed to Cognatic Primogeniture?
Also "England and Wales" is the country. Debatably.
England and Wales is not a country, but a jurisdiction. Section 2 of the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 provides that a person is not disqualified from succeeding to the Crown or from possessing it as a result of marrying a person of the Roman Catholic faith. However, sections II-III of the Act of Settlement 1700 remain in force, providing that adherents to the popish profession are excluded from inheriting or possessing the Crown and Government of the United Kingdom.
Comments
SLAB need to be utterly destroyed AND demoralised. They can be given no way back, no route to power. After 2016 the SNP can finally remove all the publicly funded SLAB placemen in the Scottish public service sector.
A cleansing of the country.
The third response is: Does it ring more shallow than endless repetition of the term: "long-term economic plan."
It certainly won't swing any votes, and I assume it was approved on the basis that it would get attention and some people will like it even if his opponents won't, but Ed's been shown to be pretty canny up to now, I'm surprised he would make a misstep like this.
But your second point is what I was saying. It's what Ed needs to "Get Out of Jail" but it's really unlikely to happen given the numbers.
Any evidence for that, or just making up any old nonsense?
"It makes Neil Kinnock’s 1992 “We’re all right” Sheffield rally moment look almost clever."
If Tories ministers or UKIP senior individuals had a campaign rally with whites on one side of the room and non-whites on the other, it would be the biggest story bar none. Just look at all the time devoted to the post about being beach body ready last week.
But every day real world sexism in its truest form, nothing.
Right, that sounds very healthy and not at all menacing.
I liked Ladbrokes' book on it.
Ladbrokes Politics @LadPolitics · 4h 4 hours ago
Where will the Labour stone plinth be after the election?
10/1 Labour Hq
5/4 Downing Street Rose Gardens
4/5 Anywhere else!
#EdStone
I looked up Labour HQ and wondered about the ceiling height, but then remembered I had something better to do.
Lets wait and see what the polls say again. I know you desperately want it to be true but politics isn't about what people on twitter say.
This is a system where different coloured Job Application forms were issued so that the employment committee knew exactly who they were to hire and even after this was (generally) gotten rid of, the top jobs were very much reserved for the Labour Party.
Google "Bridget McConnell".
The Conservatives are also going all out to try to displace Norman Baker next door in Lewes. There has been a marked change of attitude towards Lewes - a couple of years ago it was seen as beyond reach and Central Office were not putting much resource in - the (excellent) candidate Maria Caulfield was working very hard but almost alone. That has completely changed, and she's now getting a lot of support. If anything, I think she might have a better chance that Caroline Ansell in Eastbourne, but both are tough gigs, given the personal votes of the LibDem incumbents.
As for tips: not really. I concur with the general view that a messy hung parliament, Con most seats, is the most likely outcome. My current strategy is to look for mismatches between the constituency odds and the seat total markets, of which there still seem to be lots.
https://medium.com/@chrisdeerin/why-i-will-vote-labour-b058b17e042f
One people one county one leader? Eh?
Why should poor wee CND/socialist Nicola want to see an end to democracy in Scotland? oh yes...
Therefore isn't the 5/1 for May the 8th for somebody being invited to form a Government better odds than Labour having most seats??
Its all about the numbers and they are fundamentally better for Labour than the conservatives.
Even if they segregated themselves, one could argue that it is letting brainwashing in from religious cults have an effect in this country.
"Labour...meet Labour...they're the modern stone age family,
From a place that's bankrupt......
It does have one big selling point though; it is more articulate than most of Labour's front bench.
If voluntary segregation is brainwashing, what would we think about a prime minister who was a member of a female-exclusionary members' club for fifteen years? That would be a real Manchurian Candidate situation.
Men and women don't naturally segregate themselves though do they? Think of a tube train, or a cafe, or a classroom. You never see segregation occur naturally. Somebody's obviously said women on the left, men on the right. And they've all obeyed. And the Labour politicians (who aren't answering the Express' request for comment) have gone along with it like it's perfectly normal.
When this happened at UCL about a year ago, it made the news and the university banned it from happening again. Quite right too.
The precedent from Brown is that the PM will hang around a bit if the opposition don't have a clear majority.
I'd be very surprised if there weren't similar photos of Tory and LD politicians addressing folk in mosques as the sexes are segregated. It does look awful, though.
The fact that the Scottish Sun are now fully behind the SNP and the Daily Record are starting to come off the fence should push the SNP over the 55% mark, which should mitigate any tactical voting.
Cam's football nonsense reinforces the meme that he's a bit fake. But it pales into insignificance alongside this. Not only is Ed away with the fairies but his coterie must also be demented.
For a potential world leader, that's not good - unless you're Kim Jong Un.
Truly this is the election of the unexpected.
England and Wales have an Established Anglican church.
Scotland and NI have no Established church.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/594925566257664000
Also "England and Wales" is the country. Debatably.
Why take the risk as the DUP?
"If you seek his monument, look around you... (at the chaos)"
They pray in separate rooms, and if that's how their religion asks them to pray them who am I to disagree.
But they are not praying in the mosque though, are they?
They're at a Labour party rally, with posters on the walls and excited candidates tweeting photos of the segregated crowd, obviously thinking it's perfectly normal. I would suggest that to your average working man Labour voter, that is not normal at all.
Cut one foot of a stool and suddenly the imbalances are much greater. It wouldn't surprise me too see Plaid Cymru surge in support following Scottish independence.
James Chapman (Mail)@jameschappers·4 mins4 minutes ago
Tory source complains BBC TV news makes no mention of #EdStone derision, though last weekend whole story dedicated to PM's "West Ham" moment
As others have said, this must have cost a load in both donations and lead times, yet no-one seems to have realised what the reaction would be to it! Worrying that these same people want to run the country this time next week.
Down thread, someone mentioned the Flintstones theme tune ...
"Let's ride with the party down the street
Through the help of Ed's two left feet
When you're with the Millstones
you'll have a yabba dabba doo time
a dabba doo time
You'll have a gay* old time."
Endless fun for all the family. This has really brightened up the election campaign.
*In the old fashioned sense
Tough it's nothing like the amazingly crass decision of UKIP referring HIGNFY to the Police for a joke ... Only to be told that no law was broken and the Police weren't going to take any further action. Going that far looks pathetic.
8pm ko massive prices