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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » What a great idea for Labour’s leadership contest – test each of them out at PMQs

Given that the weekly slot at PMQs is such an important platform for the leader of the opposition then the idea being promoted by Dr Will Jennings seems a very good plan. How will each of them perform one week at a time against Cameron?

Read the full story here

richardDodd

Good idea..

Sandpit

First?Second!

DecrepitJohnL

It seems a bit pointless, tbh, as it is a learned skill. It is desirable that candidates can think on their feet, but Cameron can't and Hague can, and only one of those got to be Prime Minister. The rest of it can be learned on the job: dealing with the noise, and so on.

Sandpit

Given that the long campaign allows for the unions to recruit more vote fodder affiliate members, is the result not going to be whomever Len wants, and even more so than last time?

On topic, no. Dave will eat them all alive - PMQs is something that takes a lot of practice to get right, and even then is not indicative of leadership. Witness Hague's brilliance against Blair, did him no good at all in the 2001 election.

Life_ina_market_town

Would this really be possible? It is normally the job of the Leader of HM Loyal Opposition to ask the questions. Normally if the Leader of the Opposition doesn't show up, neither does the Prime Minister and vica versa. Something could be worked out though...
FPT

Roger said:

I switched on the TV to see Peter Bone saying it was essential to get out of the human rights act then right on cue Theresa May says we have to send the drowning boat people back......

Before the end of the summer we'll have beggars on every street corner and cardboard boxes in every doorway filled with the homeless. Thatcher is back and big time.

Those of us who wished the Lib Dems ill owe them a big apology. They were the only thing standing between the last government and barbarism.

There is nothing barbarous about repealing the Human Rights Act 1998. In fact, there was a great deal more civil and political liberty in many areas before the Act was passed. This country did not become "civilised" on 2 October 2000 when the said Act came into force.

richardDodd

DJL..If you think Cameron cannot think on his feet then you cant have watched any PMQ,s

Plato

I like that idea - a bit Christians vs Lions but let's see who can perform in the white hot kitchen.

Plato

From R5 coverage Election Night - Paddy is still claiming they may keep 31 MPs...

Roger

FPT Tyson.

There's a gloom hanging over the UK. It's not that Labour lost it's that Thatcher won. While you were watching the homeless and the rent boys in the 80's I suspect Cameron was at Eton brooding over whether his fag was overcooking his toast.

Why I was expecting this to be the coalition Mark 2 is a mystery. You were absolutely right. I'd stay in Florence if I were you.

MonikerDiCanio

Gives Cameron the opportunity to make his preferred opponent look good.

richardDodd

Roger..how bloody pathetic can you get..did you have fags at your 30k a year school or did you have to do your own toast..poor thing.

isam

Not sure about Murali S being unable to take the celebrations of Tories... You have to be able to accept defeat in this game (or any other come to that) and allow others their celebrations

Mind you, watching reruns of entire election night coverage... If he'd said he was embarrassed to be seen amongst such nerds then id have understood!

Sandpit

FPT:
Reading through the many comments and articles on the UKIP/Farage/Carswell row over the Short money.

I think Carswell's point is that is he is the de facto leader of the party in the Commons, therefore he is the only person that can be held accountable to Parliament for the money, therefore he should be the one signing off on how it is spent.

If I were accountable as he thinks he is, I would have the same attitude. Maybe others, used to other expenses regimes elsewhere, may have a different attitude to these sorts of things?

I say fair play to him. I disagreed with his defection, but he has always been and still is an upstanding Parliamentarian - despite his new party.

Hertsmere_Pubgoer

Good idea. I hope Cameron soft peddles on who CON want to win.

Tissue_Price

Dan Hodges* piece here is gripping.

http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b7034b6517cfdcc8d4d4e60e9&id=780a0402bb&e=34b267752a

*I remain a proud PB Hodge - he has been vindicated!

peterbuss

Tissue_Price said:

Dan Hodges* piece here is gripping.

http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b7034b6517cfdcc8d4d4e60e9&id=780a0402bb&e=34b267752a

*I remain a proud PB Hodge - he has been vindicated!

Hr most certainly has. From the beginning he scoffed at the 35% strategy and how right he was to do it.

SandyRentool

Great, let's have PMQs presented by Ant and Dec. Party members could vote out one candidate each week.

tyson

Roger said:

FPT Tyson.

There's a gloom hanging over the UK. It's not that Labour lost it's that Thatcher won. While you were watching the homeless and the rent boys in the 80's I suspect Cameron was at Eton brooding over whether his fag was overcooking his toast.

Why I was expecting the coalition Mark 2 is a mystery. You were absolutely right. I'd stay in Florence if I was you.

I'd stay in Florence, but my wife wants to come back.

This will become a fag end administration in no time- distracted by internal disputes, Europe, and leadership machinations. Cameron will jump in 2 years leaving a discontented and acrimonious, ungovernable lot, self obsessed, and becoming ever more removed from the pulse.

Pulpstar

Tissue_Price said:

Dan Hodges* piece here is gripping.

http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b7034b6517cfdcc8d4d4e60e9&id=780a0402bb&e=34b267752a

*I remain a proud PB Hodge - he has been vindicated!

I dismissed Dan Hodges, it was Rod Crosby that stopped me losing alot of money tbh ^^;

But yes, he was right. About Ed

JosiasJessop

Roger said:

FPT Tyson.

There's a gloom hanging over the UK. It's not that Labour lost it's that Thatcher won. While you were watching the homeless and the rent boys in the 80's I suspect Cameron was at Eton brooding over whether his fag was overcooking his toast.

Why I was expecting this to be the coalition Mark 2 is a mystery. You were absolutely right. I'd stay in Florence if I were you.

No gloom where I am. I see little else aside from smiling faces and hear little else aside from belly-laughs.

Mind, that might be because I'm spending lots of time around babies. ;-)

I mean, seriously. Get a grip of yourself.

Tissue_Price

Pulpstar said:

Tissue_Price said:

Dan Hodges* piece here is gripping.

http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b7034b6517cfdcc8d4d4e60e9&id=780a0402bb&e=34b267752a

*I remain a proud PB Hodge - he has been vindicated!

I dismissed Dan Hodges, it was Rod Crosby that stopped me losing alot of money tbh ^^;

But yes, he was right. About Ed

Yes, he was overconfident on UKIP and made it too personal with Matthew Goodwin.

Plato

Several Labourites seemed to think this was in play - most Tories here thought this was highly unlikely...

‘Yep. I’ve just had a call from Brewer’s Green [Labour HQ]. They’re certain they’re going to win Finchley and Golders Green.’ Taking Finchley — Margaret Thatcher’s old seat — would indeed have been a triumph. But the Tories won it with a crushing majority of nearly 5,700.

Tissue_Price said:

Dan Hodges* piece here is gripping.

http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b7034b6517cfdcc8d4d4e60e9&id=780a0402bb&e=34b267752a

*I remain a proud PB Hodge - he has been vindicated!

Moses_

Test them at PMQs

Wait? WHAT?? .....Seriously

Hahahahahahahahahahah

Beyond the Thick of it ........ Into tundra regions as mock the weak** would put it

** misspelling intentional.

Chameleon

Ok, there's probably more apt places for this but I'll ask here. I'm looking to 're-invest' some of my modest winnings from the GE into other (short-term) betting markets. Does anyone have any tips that they'd be willing to share? Obviously I'll DMOR as well.

DecrepitJohnL

richardDodd said:

DJL..If you think Cameron cannot think on his feet then you cant have watched any PMQ,s

I have, he can't; Hague can. Brown couldn't, Blair couldn't, Hattie can. Hope that helps clear up any confusion or allegations of political bias. You may have noticed how often Cameron is rattled or resorts to not answering the question. Mostly, a PM should "win" at PMQs -- most of the answers are in the book, and the PM has the last word.

Pulpstar

Chameleon said:

Ok, there's probably more apt places for this but I'll ask here. I'm looking to 're-invest' some of my modest winnings from the GE into other (short-term) betting markets. Does anyone have any tips that they'd be willing to share? Obviously I'll DMOR as well.

Lay Chuka

Sandpit

PoliticsHome ‏@politicshome
@ZacGoldsmith confirms: "If my party gives a green light for [Heathrow] expansion then I have to trigger a by-election." #bbcdp

Worth a bet for Mayor?
Could hold the moral high ground in resigning as an MP, also about the most green Tory there is with a good personal vote in SW London.

Chameleon

Moses_ said:

Test them at PMQs

Wait? WHAT?? .....Seriously

Hahahahahahahahahahah

Beyond the Thick of it ........ Into tundra regions as mock the weak** would put it

** misspelling intentional.

Come on, think of the entertainment! It'll also hopefully kill of Chuka.

Plato

Jeez - this may be nonsense, but it feels like it could be entirely true.

This failure to compile or share accurate data proved catastrophic. In Yorkshire, hundreds of activists were deployed to Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to ‘decapitate’ Nick Clegg. But half an hour down the road was Morley and Outwood, the seat of Ed Balls. In the final days of the 2010 campaign, Balls telephoned an MP friend. ‘I’ve just had Alicia Kennedy [Labour’s deputy general secretary] on,’ said Balls. ‘She says I might be in trouble in my seat and I should get back there. What do you think?’

‘Get back there now,’ his friend said. Balls did and clung on by 1,101 votes.

This time, no call arrived. There are some in the Balls camp who think that was no accident. ‘The leader’s office had the polling data, and they sat on it,’ a Balls ally told me. ‘They knew what was happening nationally two weeks out, they knew what that meant for Ed’s seat. And they sat on it.’ The implication is that Miliband thought he would run a minority government after an election that might depose his shadow chancellor. And that he considered this no bad thing.

DecrepitJohnL

Pulpstar said:

Chameleon said:

Ok, there's probably more apt places for this but I'll ask here. I'm looking to 're-invest' some of my modest winnings from the GE into other (short-term) betting markets. Does anyone have any tips that they'd be willing to share? Obviously I'll DMOR as well.

Lay Chuka

I'd be inclined to wait and see who gets the requisite nominations rather than waste money on non-runners as some already have done on Dan Jarvis.

richardDodd

DJL..Hattie reads from a script...Ed never listened to an answer and the PM of the day can do what he bloody wants to do..You really must brush up on debating techniques.

Sandpit

That would be amusing, if Labour were playing internal wargames on election night yet failed to realise they were losing the election!

Edit: DT have the story http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11603888/ed-miliband-knew-ed-balls-would-lose-his-seat-in-election.html

Plato said:

Jeez - this may be nonsense, but it feels like it could be entirely true.

This failure to compile or share accurate data proved catastrophic. In Yorkshire, hundreds of activists were deployed to Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to ‘decapitate’ Nick Clegg. But half an hour down the road was Morley and Outwood, the seat of Ed Balls. In the final days of the 2010 campaign, Balls telephoned an MP friend. ‘I’ve just had Alicia Kennedy [Labour’s deputy general secretary] on,’ said Balls. ‘She says I might be in trouble in my seat and I should get back there. What do you think?’

‘Get back there now,’ his friend said. Balls did and clung on by 1,101 votes.

This time, no call arrived. There are some in the Balls camp who think that was no accident. ‘The leader’s office had the polling data, and they sat on it,’ a Balls ally told me. ‘They knew what was happening nationally two weeks out, they knew what that meant for Ed’s seat. And they sat on it.’ The implication is that Miliband thought he would run a minority government after an election that might depose his shadow chancellor. And that he considered this no bad thing.

DecrepitJohnL

richardDodd said:

DJL..Hattie reads from a script...Ed never listened to an answer and the PM of the day can do what he bloody wants to do..You really must brush up on debating techniques.

Read what I said. The PM does not have to think on his feet, which is just as well because the last three couldn't.

Steven_Whaley

It's a supremely daft idea.

1) Events dictate PMQ topics. Depending on what is happening a sombre/stateman-like tone might be required on a particular week and something more attack dog another week. It'd not be a level playing field.

2) None of them are going to look particularly good against a freshly elected PM. If we were in mid term it might be different.

3) If Cameron slaughters them all... what then?

4) If Cameron goes easy on them all... what then?

SandyRentool

Chameleon said:

Ok, there's probably more apt places for this but I'll ask here. I'm looking to 're-invest' some of my modest winnings from the GE into other (short-term) betting markets. Does anyone have any tips that they'd be willing to share? Obviously I'll DMOR as well.

Next Newcastle manager - lay anyone who would command a high salary!

Pulpstar

DecrepitJohnL said:

Pulpstar said:

Chameleon said:

Ok, there's probably more apt places for this but I'll ask here. I'm looking to 're-invest' some of my modest winnings from the GE into other (short-term) betting markets. Does anyone have any tips that they'd be willing to share? Obviously I'll DMOR as well.

Lay Chuka

I'd be inclined to wait and see who gets the requisite nominations rather than waste money on non-runners as some already have done on Dan Jarvis.

DecrepitJohnL said:

Pulpstar said:

Chameleon said:

Ok, there's probably more apt places for this but I'll ask here. I'm looking to 're-invest' some of my modest winnings from the GE into other (short-term) betting markets. Does anyone have any tips that they'd be willing to share? Obviously I'll DMOR as well.

Lay Chuka

I'd be inclined to wait and see who gets the requisite nominations rather than waste money on non-runners as some already have done on Dan Jarvis.

Dan Jarvis wasn't wasted money if you played it correctly.

Plato

That EdM's office were keeping the polling to themselves on any level is just so stupid, especially since it was creating false confidence in the wrong places.

It's all Emperor's New Clothes that just gets exposed a few days later. Very silly.

Sure, you don't blab it all over the place - but you make sure the people running the ground troops know where to send people.

Sandpit said:

That would be amusing, if Labour were playing internal wargames on election night yet failed to realise they were losing the election!

Plato said:

Jeez - this may be nonsense, but it feels like it could be entirely true.

This failure to compile or share accurate data proved catastrophic. In Yorkshire, hundreds of activists were deployed to Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to ‘decapitate’ Nick Clegg. But half an hour down the road was Morley and Outwood, the seat of Ed Balls. In the final days of the 2010 campaign, Balls telephoned an MP friend. ‘I’ve just had Alicia Kennedy [Labour’s deputy general secretary] on,’ said Balls. ‘She says I might be in trouble in my seat and I should get back there. What do you think?’

‘Get back there now,’ his friend said. Balls did and clung on by 1,101 votes.

This time, no call arrived. There are some in the Balls camp who think that was no accident. ‘The leader’s office had the polling data, and they sat on it,’ a Balls ally told me. ‘They knew what was happening nationally two weeks out, they knew what that meant for Ed’s seat. And they sat on it.’ The implication is that Miliband thought he would run a minority government after an election that might depose his shadow chancellor. And that he considered this no bad thing.

MTimT

Essential reading from Nate Silver on the US 2016 Presidential elections and anyone thinking of betting on the presumption that Hillary is a lock for it.

For me, the first graphic was a powerful reminder that there is no such thing as permanence in political allegiance - either geographically or demographically. Just look at the Republican's presidential firewall in 1988 - nothing in the South but California, the Mountain West and even Illinois!

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/there-is-no-blue-wall/

DecrepitJohnL

Plato said:

Jeez - this may be nonsense, but it feels like it could be entirely true.

This failure to compile or share accurate data proved catastrophic. In Yorkshire, hundreds of activists were deployed to Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to ‘decapitate’ Nick Clegg. But half an hour down the road was Morley and Outwood, the seat of Ed Balls. In the final days of the 2010 campaign, Balls telephoned an MP friend. ‘I’ve just had Alicia Kennedy [Labour’s deputy general secretary] on,’ said Balls. ‘She says I might be in trouble in my seat and I should get back there. What do you think?’

‘Get back there now,’ his friend said. Balls did and clung on by 1,101 votes.

This time, no call arrived. There are some in the Balls camp who think that was no accident. ‘The leader’s office had the polling data, and they sat on it,’ a Balls ally told me. ‘They knew what was happening nationally two weeks out, they knew what that meant for Ed’s seat. And they sat on it.’ The implication is that Miliband thought he would run a minority government after an election that might depose his shadow chancellor. And that he considered this no bad thing.

Surely the conspiracy theory needs us to believe that Ed Miliband (or possibly whoever is currently the Deputy General Secretary) had accurate data about Balls's seat but not about the rest of the country. It seems a bit far-fetched.

Roger

When this government gets pariah status as they inevitably will (look what they've managed in four days) and they do to their party what Thatcher did to her's the Lib Dems are certain to get tarred with the same brush.

Farron's their only hope of redemption but it's going to involve a hell of a lot of blood letting. The denunciations of Clegg and Alexander will make the Soviet show trials look like a fireside chat

Chameleon

Plato said:

Jeez - this may be nonsense, but it feels like it could be entirely true.

This failure to compile or share accurate data proved catastrophic. In Yorkshire, hundreds of activists were deployed to Sheffield Hallam in an attempt to ‘decapitate’ Nick Clegg. But half an hour down the road was Morley and Outwood, the seat of Ed Balls. In the final days of the 2010 campaign, Balls telephoned an MP friend. ‘I’ve just had Alicia Kennedy [Labour’s deputy general secretary] on,’ said Balls. ‘She says I might be in trouble in my seat and I should get back there. What do you think?’

‘Get back there now,’ his friend said. Balls did and clung on by 1,101 votes.

This time, no call arrived. There are some in the Balls camp who think that was no accident. ‘The leader’s office had the polling data, and they sat on it,’ a Balls ally told me. ‘They knew what was happening nationally two weeks out, they knew what that meant for Ed’s seat. And they sat on it.’ The implication is that Miliband thought he would run a minority government after an election that might depose his shadow chancellor. And that he considered this no bad thing.

I would not be at all surprised. Miliband had a bit of friction with Balls, and Miliband could have planning to dispatch him wit the same ruthlessness he did his brother.

Plato

Oh Roger, you are totally off the reservation now.

Have a small lie down with a damp flannel on your forehead.

Roger said:

When this government gets pariah status as they inevitably will (look what they've managed in four days) and they do to their party what Thatcher did to her's the Lib Dems are certain to get tarred with the same brush.

Farron's their only hope of redemption but it's going to involve a hell of a lot of blood letting. The denunciations of Clegg and Alexander will make the Soviet show trials look like a fireside chat

Moses_

Roger said:

When this government gets pariah status as they inevitably will (look what they've managed in four days) and they do to their party what Thatcher did to her's the Lib Dems are certain to get tarred with the same brush.

Farron's their only hope of redemption but it's going to involve a hell of a lot of blood letting. The denunciations of Clegg and Alexander will make the Soviet show trials look like a fireside chat

Oh for goodness sake ....You lost FFS ....get over it.

Or?? Perhaps don't ? because if you continue to spout such dribble then the lunatics of the left will never ever get elected again.

I just pity you to be honest.

notme

tyson said:

Roger said:

FPT Tyson.

There's a gloom hanging over the UK. It's not that Labour lost it's that Thatcher won. While you were watching the homeless and the rent boys in the 80's I suspect Cameron was at Eton brooding over whether his fag was overcooking his toast.

Why I was expecting the coalition Mark 2 is a mystery. You were absolutely right. I'd stay in Florence if I was you.

I'd stay in Florence, but my wife wants to come back.

This will become a fag end administration in no time- distracted by internal disputes, Europe, and leadership machinations. Cameron will jump in 2 years leaving a discontented and acrimonious, ungovernable lot, self obsessed, and becoming ever more removed from the pulse.

Aye I remember in 1997, we all kidded ourselves that Blair would be out within a couple of years, all those seats will naturally fall back when his fraud on the british public is seen by all.

Plato

@Charles IIRC you're quite keen on historic houses - I saw this obit and thought of you, Clifford Newborn the restorer of Wentworth Woodhouse.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/obituaries/article4439515.ece

isam

Chameleon said:

Ok, there's probably more apt places for this but I'll ask here. I'm looking to 're-invest' some of my modest winnings from the GE into other (short-term) betting markets. Does anyone have any tips that they'd be willing to share? Obviously I'll DMOR as well.

Follow @raceclear on twitter or at raceclear.co.uk

notme

Roger said:

When this government gets pariah status as they inevitably will (look what they've managed in four days) and they do to their party what Thatcher did to her's the Lib Dems are certain to get tarred with the same brush.

Farron's their only hope of redemption but it's going to involve a hell of a lot of blood letting. The denunciations of Clegg and Alexander will make the Soviet show trials look like a fireside chat

Im not sure what great event has given them pariah status. Surely you dont mean lots of people who would never ever vote tory tweeting, retweeting, facebook posting and sharing, that they still havent voted Tory and are jolly upset that some people did?

MarqueeMark

Just thinking about the Elgin Marbles.... Perhaps rather than give them back, we could have a cultural exchange, with Greece receiving something of equally massive heritage value to the people of Britain.

It has to be...The Ed Stone.

Stark_Dawning

A completely idiotic idea. Cameron would have a field day and feel like Simon Cowell as each week another hapless contender trudges to the Despatch Box. I remember the final PMQs before the Lib Dem leadership election in 1999. Kennedy got up; Blair slaughtered him. Hughes got up; Blair slaughtered him. By the end Blair was yelling 'Where's the other one? Where's the other one?' But Bruce (I think) remained in his seat.

SquareRoot

I haven't read any of the comments b4 posting this so if its been said before sorry...

Its an utterly RIDICULOUS idea.. You don't think Dave will give an easy time to the weakest link..

acf2310

Roger said:

When this government gets pariah status as they inevitably will (look what they've managed in four days) and they do to their party what Thatcher did to her's the Lib Dems are certain to get tarred with the same brush.

Farron's their only hope of redemption but it's going to involve a hell of a lot of blood letting. The denunciations of Clegg and Alexander will make the Soviet show trials look like a fireside chat

Yeah, because a bunch of war-memorial defacing cretins reeeeeaaaaalllly speak for the nation.

AndyJS

Plato said:

From R5 coverage Election Night - Paddy is still claiming they may keep 31 MPs...

There's also the Radio 4 coverage with Jim Naughtie. I also wouldn't mind listening to Iain Dale's radio show if it's available.

Greenwich_Floater

Roger said:

When this government gets pariah status as they inevitably will (look what they've managed in four days) and they do to their party what Thatcher did to her's the Lib Dems are certain to get tarred with the same brush.

Farron's their only hope of redemption but it's going to involve a hell of a lot of blood letting. The denunciations of Clegg and Alexander will make the Soviet show trials look like a fireside chat

There's delusional, and there's Roger.

Saltire

Steven_Whaley said:

It's a supremely daft idea.

Sorry Mike but have to agree with this sentiment. The idea that fate of you leadership bid comes down to how you ask 6 questions that may or may not be chosen for you depending on events that week seems bizarre. What would Labour hope to gain? Indeed if all 3 or 4 do poorly then what? Invite more people to have a go until somebody does well? (Week 38 and it is now the turn of Dennis Skinner.... (actually that might be a reason for trying this.))

Flightpathl

SquareRoot said:

I haven't read any of the comments b4 posting this so if its been said before sorry...
Its an utterly RIDICULOUS idea.. You don't think Dave will give an easy time to the weakest link..

Ditto... and for more reasons than simply that.
Politics is not the X-Factor.
(Quite frankly light entertainment in not the X-Factor. Programs like that are warping and ruinous to the running of the entertainment industry)

AndyJS

FPT:

IMO it's a bit unfair for murali_s to blame PB for the fact that many Labour posters are taking an understandable break from the site. I don't think there are any more right-wingers on here than before.

tyson

Stark_Dawning said:

A completely idiotic idea. Cameron would have a field day and feel like Simon Cowell as each week another hapless contender trudges to the Despatch Box. I remember the final PMQs before the Lib Dem leadership election in 1999. Kennedy got up; Blair slaughtered him. Hughes got up; Blair slaughtered him. By the end Blair was yelling 'Where's the other one? Where's the other one?' But Bruce (I think) remained in his seat.

Good memory Stark. I think your'e right though about this idea.

Maybe if the BEEB (if they are still able to act independently because of the bullying spectre of the Govt) can arrange that audience again for the one to ones, that'll be fun.

Scrapheap_as_was

isam said:

Not sure about Murali S being unable to take the celebrations of Tories... You have to be able to accept defeat in this game (or any other come to that) and allow others their celebrations

Mind you, watching reruns of entire election night coverage... If he'd said he was embarrassed to be seen amongst such nerds then id have understood!

Did I also mention how many times I listened back to the Spurs 5-3 win vs the PL Champs?

The_Apocalypse

notme said:

tyson said:

Roger said:

FPT Tyson.

There's a gloom hanging over the UK. It's not that Labour lost it's that Thatcher won. While you were watching the homeless and the rent boys in the 80's I suspect Cameron was at Eton brooding over whether his fag was overcooking his toast.

Why I was expecting the coalition Mark 2 is a mystery. You were absolutely right. I'd stay in Florence if I was you.

I'd stay in Florence, but my wife wants to come back.

This will become a fag end administration in no time- distracted by internal disputes, Europe, and leadership machinations. Cameron will jump in 2 years leaving a discontented and acrimonious, ungovernable lot, self obsessed, and becoming ever more removed from the pulse.

Aye I remember in 1997, we all kidded ourselves that Blair would be out within a couple of years, all those seats will naturally fall back when his fraud on the british public is seen by all.

Trouble is, this isn't really comparable to 1997. The government could potentially be unpopular over a number of issues because of the difficult economic times we are in. Whereas in 1997, there weren't so many banana skins at all for New Labour.

Scrapheap_as_was

AndyJS said:

Plato said:

From R5 coverage Election Night - Paddy is still claiming they may keep 31 MPs...

There's also the Radio 4 coverage with Jim Naughtie. I also wouldn't mind listening to Iain Dale's radio show if it's available.

the LBC coverage... doh.... another one for the list! It'll be 2020 at this rate.

Charles

Hmmh.

So you are proposing the abuse of parliamentary privilege and setting aside the important business of holding the government to account for party political advantage.

Ok.

Just wanted to understand.

Hertsmere_Pubgoer

Saltire said:

Steven_Whaley said:

It's a supremely daft idea.

Sorry Mike but have to agree with this sentiment. The idea that fate of you leadership bid comes down to how you ask 6 questions that may or may not be chosen for you depending on events that week seems bizarre. What would Labour hope to gain? Indeed if all 3 or 4 do poorly then what? Invite more people to have a go until somebody does well? (Week 38 and it is now the turn of Dennis Skinner.... (actually that might be a reason for trying this.))

Can the chap who does the Big Brother announcing be used for this?

numbertwelve

Saltire said:

Steven_Whaley said:

It's a supremely daft idea.

Sorry Mike but have to agree with this sentiment. The idea that fate of you leadership bid comes down to how you ask 6 questions that may or may not be chosen for you depending on events that week seems bizarre. What would Labour hope to gain? Indeed if all 3 or 4 do poorly then what? Invite more people to have a go until somebody does well? (Week 38 and it is now the turn of Dennis Skinner.... (actually that might be a reason for trying this.))

On that front, where will Skinner sit in the Commons? The Ted Heath awkward seat will have to be vacated for, presumably, the SNP leadership.

Plato

Skinner is still an MP? I thought he was standing down - yet again...

numbertwelve said:

Saltire said:

Steven_Whaley said:

It's a supremely daft idea.

Sorry Mike but have to agree with this sentiment. The idea that fate of you leadership bid comes down to how you ask 6 questions that may or may not be chosen for you depending on events that week seems bizarre. What would Labour hope to gain? Indeed if all 3 or 4 do poorly then what? Invite more people to have a go until somebody does well? (Week 38 and it is now the turn of Dennis Skinner.... (actually that might be a reason for trying this.))

On that front, where will Skinner sit in the Commons? The Ted Heath awkward seat will have to be vacated for, presumably, the SNP leadership.

Plato

For anyone interested here's Part Two of R5/R4 coverage from midnight http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05sxphb#auto

Ed Balls is forecasting the Tories being done for...

AndyJS said:

There's also the Radio 4 coverage with Jim Naughtie. I also wouldn't mind listening to Iain Dale's radio show if it's available.

tyson

Come on Juve. Hang on for ten minutes

dodrade

Pulpstar said:

Tissue_Price said:

Dan Hodges* piece here is gripping.

http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b7034b6517cfdcc8d4d4e60e9&id=780a0402bb&e=34b267752a

*I remain a proud PB Hodge - he has been vindicated!

I dismissed Dan Hodges, it was Rod Crosby that stopped me losing alot of money tbh ^^;

Rod Crosby is the Cassandra of PB, always right but never believed.

Flightpathl

Sandpit says ---
That would be amusing, if Labour were playing internal wargames on election night yet failed to realise they were losing the election!
Edit: DT have the story http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11603888/ed-miliband-knew-ed-balls-would-lose-his-seat-in-election.html

Amazing. Ed Miliband was willing to see his Chancellor lose his seat! He did not tell him the true state?
And people still want to vote Labour? Just what kind of government was Miliband going to run?

Charles

Plato said:

@Charles IIRC you're quite keen on historic houses - I saw this obit and thought of you, Clifford Newborn the restorer of Wentworth Woodhouse.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/obituaries/article4439515.ece

Thanks - the whole Wentworth story makes me so angry that I can hardly bear to read about it. It's unnecessary, spiteful actions like this that should mean Labour is banished to the ninth circle of hell.

Plato

Lord Crosby of Swingback is a bit of soothsayer for those of us who've been around for a few GEs.

dodrade said:

Rod Crosby is the Cassandra of PB, always right but never believed.

MikeSmithson

Yvette enters the race.

https://twitter.com/BBCBreaking/status/598585459615367168

JohnLilburne

Charles said:

Hmmh.

So you are proposing the abuse of parliamentary privilege and setting aside the important business of holding the government to account for party political advantage.

Ok.

Just wanted to understand.

I don't understand. Why can't the Labour party pick whomsoever it chooses to take the LOTO's role at PMQs? It is quite common for either the PM or the LOTO to nominate a stand in if they consider themselves unavailable. Harriet is after all only an interim Labour leader (although presumably a "proper" LOTO).

DavidL

dodrade said:

Pulpstar said:

Tissue_Price said:

Dan Hodges* piece here is gripping.

http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b7034b6517cfdcc8d4d4e60e9&id=780a0402bb&e=34b267752a

*I remain a proud PB Hodge - he has been vindicated!

I dismissed Dan Hodges, it was Rod Crosby that stopped me losing alot of money tbh ^^;

Rod Crosby is the Cassandra of PB, always right but never believed.

Reading Dan Hodges, did this country dodge a bullet or what?

First criteria for next Labour leader:sanity. Nothing more and nothing less.

Alistair

ELECTION TRIVIA

Labour just need to flip 237,338 votes from Conservative to Labour to get a majority.

They can do it with less people than that if they flip some SNP seats but I can't be arsed to work out the absolute minimum number of votes they would need.

However,, they only need 71,538 votes to flip to get most seats in a hung parliament.

For a £100,000 retainer I'll be happy to tell them which constituencies.

Sandpit

On topic, what happens if one or more of the candidates has to deal with a big crisis or national emergency at short notice, one of those occasions when they are expected to basically echo the PM on behalf of the House?

Flightpathl

Life_ina_market_town said:

Would this really be possible? It is normally the job of the Leader of HM Loyal Opposition to ask the questions. Normally if the Leader of the Opposition doesn't show up, neither does the Prime Minister and vica versa. Something could be worked out though...
FPT

Roger said:

I switched on the TV to see Peter Bone saying it was essential to get out of the human rights act then right on cue Theresa May says we have to send the drowning boat people back......

Before the end of the summer we'll have beggars on every street corner and cardboard boxes in every doorway filled with the homeless. Thatcher is back and big time.

Those of us who wished the Lib Dems ill owe them a big apology. They were the only thing standing between the last government and barbarism.

There is nothing barbarous about repealing the Human Rights Act 1998. In fact, there was a great deal more civil and political liberty in many areas before the Act was passed. This country did not become "civilised" on 2 October 2000 when the said Act came into force.

Roger is a thickhead. But lets hope his attitude is the one which pervades Labour. They will remain in opposition.

Plato

As the only representative for UKIP - does that give Mr Carswell a specific place to sit?

Charles

JohnLilburne said:

Charles said:

Hmmh.

So you are proposing the abuse of parliamentary privilege and setting aside the important business of holding the government to account for party political advantage.

Ok.

Just wanted to understand.

I don't understand. Why can't the Labour party pick whomsoever it chooses to take the LOTO's role at PMQs? It is quite common for either the PM or the LOTO to nominate a stand in if they consider themselves unavailable. Harriet is after all only an interim Labour leader (although presumably a "proper" LOTO).

Because the LOTO gets special treatment, not some random individual. I think the only time there's a stand in is when the PM can't make it (not the LOTO) - when the Deputy PM/FSoS squares off against the DLOTO

Only a Dave-hating self-important incompetent Speaker with no understanding of the reasons behind Parliamentary processes would possibly agree to this "innovation"...

Sandpit

Woo! Mrs Balls is in the race too, another happy result - for the Tories.

MikeSmithson said:

Yvette enters the race.

twitter.com/BBCBreaking/status/598585459615367168

Sandpit

Probably odds on to happen, then!

Charles said:

Only a Dave-hating self-important incompetent Speaker with no understanding of the reasons behind Parliamentary processes would possibly agree to this "innovation"...

numbertwelve

Plato said:

As the only representative for UKIP - does that give Mr Carswell a specific place to sit?

I think the back couple of benches at the far end on the Speakers left. Where the NI MPs (and presumably now the LDs) sit.

RepublicanTory

MikeSmithson said:

Yvette enters the race.

https://twitter.com/BBCBreaking/status/598585459615367168

Is it me, or does she not look a lot like Tim Farron?

TGOHF

Andy Burnham is in from 4.4 to 3.6 seems to be a 4 horse race..

tyson

Juve through to the final. Proof that everything I support doesn't quite fall in the shyte.

Via La Viola domani

Pulpstar

TGOHF said:

Andy Burnham is in from 4.4 to 3.6 seems to be a 4 horse race..

There's a 3 legged donkey wondering about running for 5th spot.

rottenborough

Not sure why Yvette is out at 5/1 or 6/1. Seems to be heading to a value bet to me.

foxinsoxuk

MikeSmithson said:

Yvette enters the race.

https://twitter.com/BBCBreaking/status/598585459615367168

Interesting, though I suppose she does have a househusband now!

Scott_P

@paulwaugh: Nifty logo. Already some Labour MPs wondering how long it took to design...and they say *journalists* are cynical.:) http://t.co/IxCoatYSPv

Flightpathl

I do not wish to be ungallant but I suppose I am, but Yvette Cooper looks like the left overs after Nicola Sturgeon has eaten her for breakfast.
All the best to her otherwise because its her politics I detest.

ThomasNashe

Just found out Liz Kendall's partner is Greg Davies - has this been mentioned before? Just wonder how he'll perform in the Justine role?

Slackbladder

No fan of Ed Bslls, but that is stone cold nasty from Milibands team...

The true nasty party

Plato

I still think of Yvette as the Ice Pixie from the last leadership election.

She's very poor at showing warmth and IMO that's a requirement for a successful leader.

I think Burnham has that quality as he can emote rather well - that I think he's going to be union puppet is another matter. If he could lose that - he's in with a very solid chance. Being Mr Stafford just doesn't seem to matter to Labourites.

Flightpathl said:

I do not wish to be ungallant but I suppose I am, but Yvette Cooper looks like the left overs after Nicola Sturgeon has eaten her for breakfast.
All the best to her otherwise because its her politics I detest.

Slackbladder

Snowflake for leader!!!

foxinsoxuk

rottenborough said:

Not sure why Yvette is out at 5/1 or 6/1. Seems to be heading to a value bet to me.

I think so too. My main stake is on Liz Kendall, but I think Yvette is a possibility. I think the party will want a female leader, particularly with the calibre of the male candidates.

SquareRoot

ITV coverage was poor.. going back 30 yrs the info especially re seat results was much better and more interesting.

Scott_P

@DouglasCarswell: The Plan page 49. Short money to be phased out. Interesting idea, that. #ItsAllInThePlan

RepublicanTory

Slackbladder said:

No fan of Ed Bslls, but that is stone cold nasty from Milibands team...

The true nasty party

IF true, and it certainly sounds plausible, I would just like to say a VERY big thank you to Ed and his team for their contribution to providing the single best moment in politics in the last 10 years

Scott_P

Slackbladder said:

Snowflake for leader!!!

Any other PB alumni on the ticket?

oxfordsimon

ThomasNashe said:

Just found out Liz Kendall's partner is Greg Davies - has this been mentioned before? Just wonder how he'll perform in the Justine role?

Blimey, so she is. Not sure if that helps or hinders her. I do find him funny and her utterly bland.

foxinsoxuk

Plato said:

I still think of Yvette as the Ice Pixie from the last leadership election.

She's very poor at showing warmth and IMO that's a requirement for a successful leader.

I think Burnham has that quality as he can emote rather well - that I think he's going to be union puppet is another matter. If he could lose that - he's in with a very solid chance. Being Mr Stafford just doesn't seem to matter to Labourites.

Flightpathl said:

I do not wish to be ungallant but I suppose I am, but Yvette Cooper looks like the left overs after Nicola Sturgeon has eaten her for breakfast.
All the best to her otherwise because its her politics I detest.

Andy Burnham connects well with an audience, particularly a Labour one, but I think Liz Kendall does better still. Time for a new generation.