"Could you update me on the current wars, or recent terrorist incidents perpetrated in the name of Christianity? Or beheadings, burnings alive, kidnappings, mass burials, shootings of cartoonists etc. Thanks in advance."
He believes that if he pops into the Bring and Buy sale at the local Church, he'll end up being horribly tortured to death for his atheist beliefs. Or even worse, they'll send the Jehovah's Witnesses round to see him.
Isam may be fed up with your nitpicking but really this whataboutery is pathetic and morally repulsive.
Yes - Christianity has been associated with awful things in the past etc. And there are some bad Christians around.
But now it is being persecuted - horribly - all over the Middle East by people who are appallingly evil and who will, if they get the chance, do the same things to us here.
Go and view that documentary: the 13 year old girl holed up with her family in St Matthew's monastery in Iraq, 2 miles from the front line, too poor to escape, who knows what happens to Yazidi girls when they are captured, but who - along with the others spoken to - will not give up her faith. The Jesuit priest in Damascus who is running a relief operation to feed thousands every day, Muslim and non-Muslim Syrians alike, who are suffering as a result of the civil war in their country. Walid Jumblatt, Druze leader, who says that if Christianity vanishes there is little hope for the survival of a moderate Islam in the Middle East. The Armenian lady talking about her grandparents and uncles killed by the Turks a century ago who has to live with the shrine to her relatives being destroyed by IS.
There are vile things being done in the name of Islam today, absolutely. There are equally vile things being done in the name of Christianity in some of the more extreme parts of the world too. Being done today and not just in the past, though they get less media attention. This isn't trying to score points or say its a draw, there's probably quantitatively more vile things being done in the name of Islam but its not the only one used in that way in the world today.
The problem is not the religion as it affects every one of the billions of Christians and Muslims across the globe, the problem is the sects that push this violence and the utterly unacceptable culture which need to be tackled whichever religion is associated.
I can think of the recent disturbances in the Central African Republic, but where else in the world are Christians the persecutors?
Iain Martin is a rather sad old ex pat hack who knows precisely zero about the SNP. Salmond would never argue or brief for an unofficial poll. He has always been fiercely against that option. He would argue exactly the same line as Nicola on this ie it is a matter for the people and if the people so decide then it is irresistable. Pity silly old Iain didn't bother to read Salmond's book on this very point.
I am, all joking aside, completely astounded how Coulson has failed to damage Cameron.
You shouldn't be. Why would he be damaged by the fact that someone who used to work for him lied to him? It was always a load of wishful thinking by the Guardian-reading classes that somehow this guilt-by-association would damage Cameron, but for some reason exactly the same people didn't seem to understand that by exactly the same reasoning Labour would be damaged by their closeness to NOTW.
Voters have more sense. The LibDems were not damaged by Chris Huhne. Labour were not damaged by the various scandals under Blair. They weren't even damaged by the string of former MPs going to jail in the last parliament.
Ironically, Labour's persecution of Coulson brought Crosby and Messina to the fore. Side-effects.
@SophyRidgeSky: Understand Chuka Umunna decided to withdraw from race yesterday... just days after he launched leadership bid
This story had better be worth it! Hoping it's @SeanT that's right, some sort of gay bondage hookup site profile would give amusement to everyone!
Oh give it up please. This is the language of hubris. Just leave labour to make their (fingers crossed) usual cock up. Keep the tories level headed and focused on keeping the economy level, rebalancing our nation and lancing the boil of the EU.
Let's talk about the UK. If you went into a London Church and started protesting about Christianity by holding up a naughty picture of Christ during a service, there would be an embarrassed silence. You might even get shouted at.
If you went into a mosque during prayers with a picture of the Prophet (even a nice one), your reception might be different.
Mr. Slackbladder, heretics are hated more than heathens. John Julius Norwich referred to a saying in Byzantium about the time the Latin Church was being dickish towards them: Better the sultan's turban than the cardinal's hat.
Compiling a UKIP target list would be interesting. I wonder how many seats a 10% swing to them would deliver?
Taking 5 off Con & Lab and adding 10 to UKIP gives 10 seats (4 off Con, 5 off Lab). Taking 7 off each and adding 14 to UKIP gives them 27 despite being 2.7% ahead of Labour (212).
@SophyRidgeSky: Understand Chuka Umunna decided to withdraw from race yesterday... just days after he launched leadership bid
This story had better be worth it! Hoping it's @SeanT that's right, some sort of gay bondage hookup site profile would give amusement to everyone!
Oh give it up please. This is the language of hubris. Just leave labour to make their (fingers crossed) usual cock up. Keep the tories level headed and focused on keeping the economy level, rebalancing our nation and lancing the boil of the EU.
Okay, but agree that Cameron couldn't have wished for a better start to the new Parliament than to see two opposition parties seemingly throwing bricks at each other in public, the LDs decimated and the Nats trying to tell him that they're actually in charge?
There are vile things being done in the name of Islam today, absolutely. There are equally vile things being done in the name of Christianity in some of the more extreme parts of the world too. Being done today and not just in the past, though they get less media attention. This isn't trying to score points or say its a draw, there's probably quantitatively more vile things being done in the name of Islam but its not the only one used in that way in the world today.
The problem is not the religion as it affects every one of the billions of Christians and Muslims across the globe, the problem is the sects that push this violence and the utterly unacceptable culture which need to be tackled whichever religion is associated.
There really AREN'T "equally vile things being done in the name of Christianity". Show me the Christian Caliphate raping, looting, beheading and burning its way across a vast swathe of Asia, in the name of Jesus?
Show me the Christian slaving, the Christian fatwas, the global Christian terrorism?
One of the world's great religions has developed a kind of cancer, it is metastasising rapidly, and the major symptom is a march backwards to the "pure" but, to us, barbaric values and attitudes of its early years.
That religion is Islam. It doesn't mean all Muslims think like this: it doesn't mean all Muslims are showing signs of infection. But tens of millions DO think like this, maybe hundreds of millions. And it's not going away. It is quite possibly getting worse.
Quite. IS may not define Islam but they most certainly do have something to do with it. Ignoring that unpalatable fact helps no-one.
And the argument which says that we must deal with bad Christians and bad Buddhists and bad Sikhs as well and at the same time - because, God forbid that we might be accused of discriminating against really bad people - ends up being an excuse for not doing anything about anyone.
There is a moral obtuseness in the face of the obvious evil coming out of part of the Islamic Middle East which is both baffling and dangerous.
Edmund Burke put it best: "Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little"
Never underestimate the nastiniess of in-fighting. The Unions want their man/woman, and it wasn't Chuka
The Unions raise millions through the political levy each year. Only a part of it is eventually given to the national Labour party. They have a pool of money to fund a lot of staff, research and other activity.
Iain Martin is a rather sad old ex pat hack who knows precisely zero about the SNP. Salmond would never argue or brief for an unofficial poll. He has always been fiercely against that option. He would argue exactly the same line as Nicola on this ie it is a matter for the people and if the people so decide then it is irresistable. Pity silly old Iain didn't bother to read Salmond's book on this very point.
You don't think Eck was lubricated in the HoC yesterday and bragging about a second referendum ?
I can't see how it would matter if Umunna was gay anyway. It would probably do the country some good if a black gay man was leader of a mainstream party, as long as him being black and gay didn't mean all he talked about was being black and gay
Finally got my bank card after 2weeks and so have followed up my tip from earlier in the week of backing Alan Johnson. Tiny stake at 270 odd on Betfair to win a couple of grand
"The Scottish National party would be prepared to push ahead with a second independence referendum without David Cameron’s permission if the prime minister refuses any future demand to hold one, a senior party source in Westminster has indicated."
I can't see how it would matter if Umunna was gay anyway. It would probably do the country some good if a black gay man was leader of a mainstream party, as long as him being black and gay didn't mean all he talked about was being black and gay
It'd make the anecdotes about the people he met on Hampstead Heath a bit more entertaining.
Finally got my bank card after 2weeks and so have followed up my tip from earlier in the week of backing Alan Johnson. Tiny stake at 270 odd on Betfair to win a couple of grand
Christ, how did you live without a bank card the last 2 weeks !
That's not quite true, though. The leading scholars in Islam declared a while back that, while they deplored what IS was doing, they would not declare it unIslamic. If Islamic scholars - who may be presumed to know more about Islam than non-Muslims - won't declare it unIslamic then we had better listen to them and think about what that means.
We have to consider the possibility - awful as it may be to contemplate - that while "fighting" may not define all of Islam - or even the best of it - it is a significant part of it.
What IS are doing on the ground now - expulsions, the jizya tax, taking infidel women as booty, beheading of enemies etc - is almost certainly very similar to what the original Muslim armies did when Islam first emerged in the 7th century.
We are not going to deal with IS and those who support them if we deny reality and believe only what we want to believe.
Seventh (to seventeenth) century Christianity was no picnic either. Nor were the Norse faiths or practically any others existing in the same era.
The issue isn't the choice of religion, the issue is a culture that belongs to an era of history that belongs so far in the past.
The culture is the religion. It is impossible - seriously - to understand the culture of the Middle East and the people living in it without understanding the very central role which Islam has played and continues to play in it.
Only someone - and I don't mean to be personal here - from a largely secular West who does not understand that a culture encompasses the religion or religions of the people, that religion and culture are not two separate things - not even here in the West - could say that. Islam is a way of life, covering all aspects of life, for those who follow it. Only a West deracinated from its own past when Christianity was - in the same way - a way of life for all aspects of life consistently fails to understand the appeal of Islam and the challenge that it poses when the Islam that spreads is of the violent hateful kind rather than the moderate peaceful kind we - and no doubt millions of Muslims - would like it to be.
There are vile things being done in the name of Islam today, absolutely. There are equally vile things being done in the name of Christianity in some of the more extreme parts of the world too. Being done today and not just in the past, though they get less media attention. This isn't trying to score points or say its a draw, there's probably quantitatively more vile things being done in the name of Islam but its not the only one used in that way in the world today.
The problem is not the religion as it affects every one of the billions of Christians and Muslims across the globe, the problem is the sects that push this violence and the utterly unacceptable culture which need to be tackled whichever religion is associated.
There really AREN'T "equally vile things being done in the name of Christianity". Show me the Christian Caliphate raping, looting, beheading and burning its way across a vast swathe of Asia, in the name of Jesus?
Show me the Christian slaving, the Christian fatwas, the global Christian terrorism?
One of the world's great religions has developed a kind of cancer, it is metastasising rapidly, and the major symptom is a march backwards to the "pure" but, to us, barbaric values and attitudes of its early years.
That religion is Islam. It doesn't mean all Muslims think like this: it doesn't mean all Muslims are showing signs of infection. But tens of millions DO think like this, maybe hundreds of millions. And it's not going away. It is quite possibly getting worse.
Quite. IS may not define Islam but they most certainly do have something to do with it. Ignoring that unpalatable fact helps no-one.
And the argument which says that we must deal with bad Christians and bad Buddhists and bad Sikhs as well and at the same time - because, God forbid that we might be accused of discriminating against really bad people - ends up being an excuse for not doing anything about anyone.
There is a moral obtuseness in the face of the obvious evil coming out of part of the Islamic Middle East which is both baffling and dangerous.
Edmund Burke put it best: "Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little"
This story had better be worth it! Hoping it's @SeanT that's right, some sort of gay bondage hookup site profile would give amusement to everyone!
Oh give it up please. This is the language of hubris. Just leave labour to make their (fingers crossed) usual cock up. Keep the tories level headed and focused on keeping the economy level, rebalancing our nation and lancing the boil of the EU.
Okay, but agree that Cameron couldn't have wished for a better start to the new Parliament than to see two opposition parties seemingly throwing bricks at each other in public, the LDs decimated and the Nats trying to tell him that they're actually in charge?
Yes you are right in this respect. I have been saying for months that this was an election that would make people's heads explode. And as far as I can see Farage is holed below the water line and sinking by the stern. Furthermore we see northern labour local authority leaders in a daze as they agree with George Osborne. We see the electoral arithmetic favouring tories for the first time in decades with boundary reform to follow. http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/9418
But lets not cast any more runes. Lets let the oppositions worry about themselves and the government needs to just get on with it and face each problem with as much equanimity as it can muster as each one turns up. (''Equanimity (Latin: æquanimitas having an even mind; aequus even animus mind/soul) is a state of psychological stability and composure which is undisturbed by experience of or exposure to emotions, pain, or other phenomena that may cause others to lose the balance of their mind.'')
It's not pleasant to an able politician's career go up in smoke like this, whatever the reason. I just wonder whether his very evident ambition will allow him to remain in the Commons in a rather aimless capacity. Should the right job offer come along at home or elsewhere, I wouldn't be surprised to see him quit politics sooner rather than later.
The good news for the Tories is that the Labour leadership contest now looks like a shoo-in for Burnham.
Finally got my bank card after 2weeks and so have followed up my tip from earlier in the week of backing Alan Johnson. Tiny stake at 270 odd on Betfair to win a couple of grand
Christ, how did you live without a bank card the last 2 weeks !
Probably saved me money! I would've backed Ukip over 2.5 for a lot more had I access to funds, and probably Tory minority too after the exit poll.. Maybe majority too but a net gain the lack of card methinks!
Mary Creagh on Radio 4 evades giving a coherent answer to the 'Did Labour spend too much' question. Fail.
Yes, it's only Liz who has dealt with that question capably, so far. What little I have seen of her does show that she has a different approach to interviews - actually answering rather than avoiding questions. And I think that would have considerable appeal to voters ... I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that Labour would simply be mad not to elect her as leader. But we shall see.
"The Scottish National party would be prepared to push ahead with a second independence referendum without David Cameron’s permission if the prime minister refuses any future demand to hold one, a senior party source in Westminster has indicated."
Who could that have been ?
Eck? Mind you, feed any of them a plate of chips, a sliced white loaf, and a few large shandies and they'll come up with similar nonsense.
No, No, No! Cameron slaps down Sturgeon demands and tells her to forget about another referendum during 'frank' first talks since the election
Prime Minister travelled to Edinburgh for face-to-face talks with SNP chief Cameron ruled out a second referendum or giving Edinburgh an EU veto He also refused to grant Holyrood immediate new powers other than those already agreed in the wake of the referendum last year But Mr Cameron agreed to look at granting further powers in the future Scotland is set to be given responsibility for 60 per cent of its spending But Ms Sturgeon said the offer did not go far enough following the election Comes after she was forced to slap down SNP calls for second referendum But Scotland's First Minister hit back, insisting claims were 'totally wrong'
"The Scottish National party would be prepared to push ahead with a second independence referendum without David Cameron’s permission if the prime minister refuses any future demand to hold one, a senior party source in Westminster has indicated."
Who could that have been ?
Eck? Mind you, feed any of them a plate of chips, a sliced white loaf, and a few large shandies and they'll come up with similar nonsense.
I fear a somewhat rude awakening for the Nats next week, as they belatedly realise that the business of Parliament will not be purely set to their own agenda, rather that of the majority in the House.
On Twitter Damian McBride said he is a good friend of Ed Balls...I thought Ed said he didn't know him and actually called him Mr.McBride...even though they shared an office at the time...strange that..
On Twitter Damian McBride said he is a good friend of Ed Balls...I thought Ed said he didn't know him and actually called him Mr.McBride...even though they shared an office at the time...strange that..
Mary Creagh on Radio 4 evades giving a coherent answer to the 'Did Labour spend too much' question. Fail.
Yes, it's only Liz who has dealt with that question capably, so far. What little I have seen of her does show that she has a different approach to interviews - actually answering rather than avoiding questions. And I think that would have considerable appeal to voters ... I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that Labour would simply be mad not to elect her as leader. But we shall see.
Answering questions in a straightforward manner is probably all that is required to win the public over now
It is not just where the extremist end of the religion resides that is important. It is where the centre is, particularly the most influential centres. And theses influential centres do not reside in moderate Islam. They reside in Mecca and Teheran, where women have few rights, gays and adulterers are stoned to death, other religions are banned from proselytizing, apostasy is a death sentence, and atheism little better. That is what is wrong with Islam, and that is what enables and legitimizes the extremes.
"The Scottish National party would be prepared to push ahead with a second independence referendum without David Cameron’s permission if the prime minister refuses any future demand to hold one, a senior party source in Westminster has indicated."
Who could that have been ?
Given that the SNP party position is that they don't need permission from Westminster to hold a second referendum that's hardly news.
Finally got my bank card after 2weeks and so have followed up my tip from earlier in the week of backing Alan Johnson. Tiny stake at 270 odd on Betfair to win a couple of grand
An interesting punt, but by 2020 the Postie will be 70 (almost to the day) and therefore too old. Shame really as he has considerable appeal across the party divide, but probably lacks that vital spark of ambition.
Both of his autobiographical volumes are excellent reads btw and make great gifts I have found.
Cyclefree Since when has writing some great intellectual paper been a requirement for leadership? She speaks reasonably is bright and offers a good contrast to Cameron and Osborne while also having links to the south and north of England and Scotland, in my view she is Labour's best candidate
It's not pleasant to an able politician's career go up in smoke like this, whatever the reason. I just wonder whether his very evident ambition will allow him to remain in the Commons in a rather aimless capacity. Should the right job offer come along at home or elsewhere, I wouldn't be surprised to see him quit politics sooner rather than later.
The good news for the Tories is that the Labour leadership contest now looks like a shoo-in for Burnham.
Yep. Yvette is just as in denial about overspending but she also has the problem of not looking normal. A normal person hates Ed Balls, yet Yvette actually married him. Tough to explain, like the Latvian homophobes.
Finally got my bank card after 2weeks and so have followed up my tip from earlier in the week of backing Alan Johnson. Tiny stake at 270 odd on Betfair to win a couple of grand
An interesting punt, but by 2020 the Postie be 70 (almost to the day) and therefore too old. Shame really as he has considerable appeal across the party divide, but probably lacks that vital spark of ambition.
Both of his autobiographical volumes are excellent reads btw and make great gifts I have found.
Well obv I don't expect it to win!
But if he was encouraged to stand last year aged one year younger than he is now, maybe he could be leader for a couple of years now while they get things sorted?
Finally got my bank card after 2weeks and so have followed up my tip from earlier in the week of backing Alan Johnson. Tiny stake at 270 odd on Betfair to win a couple of grand
An interesting punt, but by 2020 the Postie will be 70 (almost to the day) and therefore too old. Shame really as he has considerable appeal across the party divide, but probably lacks that vital spark of ambition.
Both of his autobiographical volumes are excellent reads btw and make great gifts I have found.
Jeb was always the brighter brother, but by far the worse politician, as shown when he lost the Florida governorship in 1994 while George W unexpectedly won in Texas
It is not just where the extremist end of the religion resides that is important. It is where the centre is, particularly the most influential centres. And theses influential centres do not reside in moderate Islam. They reside in Mecca and Teheran, where women have few rights, gays and adulterers are stoned to death, other religions are banned from proselytizing, apostasy is a death sentence, and atheism little better. That is what is wrong with Islam, and that is what enables and legitimizes the extremes.
Just seen Cyclefree's posts upthread, particularly on Islamic scholars not being willing to condemn ISIS as un-Islamic and the central and inextricable role of Islam in the region's culture. Very well said.
Finally got my bank card after 2weeks and so have followed up my tip from earlier in the week of backing Alan Johnson. Tiny stake at 270 odd on Betfair to win a couple of grand
An interesting punt, but by 2020 the Postie will be 70 (almost to the day) and therefore too old. Shame really as he has considerable appeal across the party divide, but probably lacks that vital spark of ambition.
Both of his autobiographical volumes are excellent reads btw and make great gifts I have found.
Given that the SNP party position is that they don't need permission from Westminster to hold a second referendum that's hardly news.
Whether the Scottish Parliament has the legislative competence to do something or not is a pure question of the construction of the Scotland Act 1998 for the courts (Imperial Tobacco Ltd v Lord Advocate 2013 SC (UKSC) 153, 159-160 per Lord Hope of Craighead DPSC). The SNP's position is wholly irrelevant.
Ukip win about 9 seats with a swing of 10% from the Tories, 16 seats with a swing of 10% from Labour.
Thanks, interesting site.
I plugged in a 12% swing from UKIP, going 4 to Con, 4 to Lab, 2 to LD and 2 to Green: roughly the source of the kipper vote. The Con and Lab seats changed by zero.
The existence or extinction of UKIP does not seem to matter to the state of play in the Commons.
Finally got my bank card after 2weeks and so have followed up my tip from earlier in the week of backing Alan Johnson. Tiny stake at 270 odd on Betfair to win a couple of grand
An interesting punt, but by 2020 the Postie be 70 (almost to the day) and therefore too old. Shame really as he has considerable appeal across the party divide, but probably lacks that vital spark of ambition.
Both of his autobiographical volumes are excellent reads btw and make great gifts I have found.
Well obv I don't expect it to win!
But if he was encouraged to stand last year aged one year younger than he is now, maybe he could be leader for a couple of years now while they get things sorted?
Who knows but £12 to win £3k seemed worth a pop
Very fair comment and like I said an interesting punt ..... the sort one hopes might come up once during one's betting lifetime!
Jeb was always the brighter brother, but by far the worse politician, as shown when he lost the Florida governorship in 1994 while George W unexpectedly won in Texas
And beat Ann Richards, one of the best retail politicians in US History.
Her 1988 DNC speech is well worth watching for those that haven't seen i.
Finally got my bank card after 2weeks and so have followed up my tip from earlier in the week of backing Alan Johnson. Tiny stake at 270 odd on Betfair to win a couple of grand
An interesting punt, but by 2020 the Postie will be 70 (almost to the day) and therefore too old. Shame really as he has considerable appeal across the party divide, but probably lacks that vital spark of ambition.
Both of his autobiographical volumes are excellent reads btw and make great gifts I have found.
How about Alan Johnson to run as Londn Mayor?
The personal intrusion into his private life would be even greater were he stand for London Mayor, so therefore I doubt it very much. Should you disagree however, he's on offer at best odds of 14/1 with bet365.
@Alistair How many extra votes would Labour have needed to get
a) Most seats b) Majority c) Most seats Scotland d) Majority in Scotland.
For most seats in Scotland, Labour are 258169 votes behind the SNP but this includes Orkney and Shetland (as I've just ranked it by absolute vote numbers) and some other seats where the Libs are the clear second place.
There's only two seats in Scotland where Labour are less than 5000 votes behind - and they are 3718 in East Ren and 4102 in Na h-Eileanan an Iar which is an obvious special case.
Gareth Thomas has launched a campaign to become Labour's nominee for London Mayor, emphasising his Co-op Party credentials. Nothing against him, but I think it's late in the day to get going.
Looks like the Scouser is tied-on. I look forward to Dave's Harry Enfied-style "calm down, calm down" routine at PMQs.
Of course, if it is Kendall (this news must really boost her chances too) then he can re-use his Michael Winner version...
Actually, I think Kendall does present more of a challenge for Dave at PMQs - the Flashman routine definitely won't cut it.
If Butcher does win, then a key Tory challenge must be to make him actually cry in the House.
Um, isn't there an intermittently applied site rule that we don't think up silly names for politicians we don't like (Cameraon, etc.), partly because it makes the site obscure for newcomers and partly because it's just playground stuff?
Lucian Fletcher It was clearly personal reasons and intrusion of some form or other, after 10 years in government all governing parties are vulnerable, even Kinnock would have probably beaten Thatcher in 1992 had she stayed on, he had a big lead over her from 1989
@craigawoodhouse: Heavily suspect the Labour leadership shenanigans aren't over today - Tristram action expected shortly.
Game of Thrones has nothing on labour at the moment.
They really need to get as much of the poison out of their system as possible over the next few days while UKIP is a comedy show.
Oh, as I have not been around for a while, is there a post-election piss up planned at DD's? Or have I missed it? Might have a chance to do some day shifts next month and could plan around, maybe.
Mary Creagh on Radio 4 evades giving a coherent answer to the 'Did Labour spend too much' question. Fail.
Yes, it's only Liz who has dealt with that question capably, so far. What little I have seen of her does show that she has a different approach to interviews - actually answering rather than avoiding questions. And I think that would have considerable appeal to voters ... I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that Labour would simply be mad not to elect her as leader. But we shall see.
Is she another Union stooge, can't make my mind up. I suppose though even if she is as I expect she would be preferable to Burnham.
Can't see Labour winning with Union puppets. I thought the lesson of Eddy would have got through even someone as pig headed as Lenny.
No idea how interested anyone here is in cycling but Alberto Contador has dislocated his shoulder and his chance of winning the Giro d'Italia has plummeted (he may not even finish to gear up for a better shot at the Tour de France ).
Richie Porte could go odds on tomorrow if he performs well on a big mountain finish, if he wins that stage, his odds will definitely drop below evens. At that point he will become a very good value Lay.
He has never performed for an entire three week tour, he will have bad days given his history and he won't win the giro. That's my opinion so DYOR.
"DAVID Cameron has outed Alex Salmond as the source of reports suggesting the SNP would press ahead with a second independence referendum against the UK Government’s will."
Comments
"Could you update me on the current wars, or recent terrorist incidents perpetrated in the name of Christianity? Or beheadings, burnings alive, kidnappings, mass burials, shootings of cartoonists etc. Thanks in advance."
He believes that if he pops into the Bring and Buy sale at the local Church, he'll end up being horribly tortured to death for his atheist beliefs. Or even worse, they'll send the Jehovah's Witnesses round to see him.
Simply delete everything between the first blockquote and the last blockquote.
http://www.electionpolling.co.uk/swingometer/2015/united_kingdom
Ukip win about 9 seats with a swing of 10% from the Tories, 16 seats with a swing of 10% from Labour.
Hoping it's @SeanT that's right, some sort of gay bondage hookup site profile would give amusement to everyone!
Iain Martin is a rather sad old ex pat hack who knows precisely zero about the SNP. Salmond would never argue or brief for an unofficial poll. He has always been fiercely against that option. He would argue exactly the same line as Nicola on this ie it is a matter for the people and if the people so decide then it is irresistable. Pity silly old Iain didn't bother to read Salmond's book on this very point.
http://order-order.com/2015/05/15/disingenuous-left-pushed-chuka-rumours/#_@/M8FSdQnuRixvbQ
That seems quite fair to me.
Oh I think you've squared off Cameron's potential problem.
Let me see. Salmond knows Murdoch and met him in the full public eye.
Cameron employed Coulson who is on trial for the criminal charge of perjury.
Yep these are just the same potential problems!
This is the language of hubris.
Just leave labour to make their (fingers crossed) usual cock up.
Keep the tories level headed and focused on keeping the economy level, rebalancing our nation and lancing the boil of the EU.
The Unions want their man/woman, and it wasn't Chuka
Let's talk about the UK. If you went into a London Church and started protesting about Christianity by holding up a naughty picture of Christ during a service, there would be an embarrassed silence. You might even get shouted at.
If you went into a mosque during prayers with a picture of the Prophet (even a nice one), your reception might be different.
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/steerpike/2015/05/a-very-modern-parliament-causes-problems-for-the-tories/
May have to lay off Burnham - he's getting too short.
Taking 7 off each and adding 14 to UKIP gives them 27 despite being 2.7% ahead of Labour (212).
And the argument which says that we must deal with bad Christians and bad Buddhists and bad Sikhs as well and at the same time - because, God forbid that we might be accused of discriminating against really bad people - ends up being an excuse for not doing anything about anyone.
There is a moral obtuseness in the face of the obvious evil coming out of part of the Islamic Middle East which is both baffling and dangerous.
Edmund Burke put it best: "Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little"
You are prepared to stand by this ?
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/14/snp-prepared-overrule-cameron-second-independence-referendum-scotland
"The Scottish National party would be prepared to push ahead with a second independence referendum without David Cameron’s permission if the prime minister refuses any future demand to hold one, a senior party source in Westminster has indicated."
Who could that have been ?
Only someone - and I don't mean to be personal here - from a largely secular West who does not understand that a culture encompasses the religion or religions of the people, that religion and culture are not two separate things - not even here in the West - could say that. Islam is a way of life, covering all aspects of life, for those who follow it. Only a West deracinated from its own past when Christianity was - in the same way - a way of life for all aspects of life consistently fails to understand the appeal of Islam and the challenge that it poses when the Islam that spreads is of the violent hateful kind rather than the moderate peaceful kind we - and no doubt millions of Muslims - would like it to be.
And as far as I can see Farage is holed below the water line and sinking by the stern. Furthermore we see northern labour local authority leaders in a daze as they agree with George Osborne. We see the electoral arithmetic favouring tories for the first time in decades with boundary reform to follow.
http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/9418
But lets not cast any more runes. Lets let the oppositions worry about themselves and the government needs to just get on with it and face each problem with as much equanimity as it can muster as each one turns up.
(''Equanimity (Latin: æquanimitas having an even mind; aequus even animus mind/soul) is a state of psychological stability and composure which is undisturbed by experience of or exposure to emotions, pain, or other phenomena that may cause others to lose the balance of their mind.'')
I just wonder whether his very evident ambition will allow him to remain in the Commons in a rather aimless capacity. Should the right job offer come along at home or elsewhere, I wouldn't be surprised to see him quit politics sooner rather than later.
The good news for the Tories is that the Labour leadership contest now looks like a shoo-in for Burnham.
But I'm not sure which has shocked me more.
That the SNP want independence or that Iain Martin is ranting about the SNP again.
It is not just where the extremist end of the religion resides that is important. It is where the centre is, particularly the most influential centres. And theses influential centres do not reside in moderate Islam. They reside in Mecca and Teheran, where women have few rights, gays and adulterers are stoned to death, other religions are banned from proselytizing, apostasy is a death sentence, and atheism little better. That is what is wrong with Islam, and that is what enables and legitimizes the extremes.
Paddy Power @paddypower 5m5 minutes ago
JUSTICE REFUND! We're refunding all bets on Chuka Umunna to be next Labour party leader! #PPValue
Shame really as he has considerable appeal across the party divide, but probably lacks that vital spark of ambition.
Both of his autobiographical volumes are excellent reads btw and make great gifts I have found.
But if he was encouraged to stand last year aged one year younger than he is now, maybe he could be leader for a couple of years now while they get things sorted?
Who knows but £12 to win £3k seemed worth a pop
Of course, if it is Kendall (this news must really boost her chances too) then he can re-use his Michael Winner version...
Actually, I think Kendall does present more of a challenge for Dave at PMQs - the Flashman routine definitely won't cut it.
Jeb was always the brighter brother, but by far the worse politician, as shown when he lost the Florida governorship in 1994 while George W unexpectedly won in Texas
I'll back Ukip! Haha
The existence or extinction of UKIP does not seem to matter to the state of play in the Commons.
Her 1988 DNC speech is well worth watching for those that haven't seen i.
Should you disagree however, he's on offer at best odds of 14/1 with bet365.
There's only two seats in Scotland where Labour are less than 5000 votes behind - and they are 3718 in East Ren and 4102 in Na h-Eileanan an Iar which is an obvious special case.
I think c and d are pretty much impossible.
@craigawoodhouse: Heavily suspect the Labour leadership shenanigans aren't over today - Tristram action expected shortly.
The SLAB cats in a sack battle that's about to engulf the party (whether Murphy is there or not) is going to be absolutely spectacular.
1. Scandal
2. Realising the next leader is highly unlikely to become PM.
The fact that he's briefed that he won't run for London Mayor, a high profile post he would probably get, my money is on 1.
Yes given that Salmond was all present and correct in the Scottish Parly yesterday!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtIFhiqS_TY
"No, No, No! Cameron slaps down Sturgeon demands and tells her to forget about another referendum during 'frank' first talks since the election"
If and when the people of Scotland want another Referendum there will be one
If and when the people of Scotland want independence, they will have it.
It really is that simple, no matter what huffing and puffing goes on.
Oh, as I have not been around for a while, is there a post-election piss up planned at DD's? Or have I missed it? Might have a chance to do some day shifts next month and could plan around, maybe.
Can't see Labour winning with Union puppets. I thought the lesson of Eddy would have got through even someone as pig headed as Lenny.
http://www.sunnation.co.uk/is-this-the-real-reason-chuka-umunna-has-quit-the-labour-leadership-race/
"If and when".
You could say the same about Wales. Or Yorkshire. Or the Isle of Wight.
It's a bloody big "if" and a bloody big "when".
@politicshome: .@LucyMPowell backs Jim Murphy (@JimForScotland) to remain as @scottishlabour leader: http://t.co/vTutKGgxM8 http://t.co/AOojLoeUZE
No idea how interested anyone here is in cycling but Alberto Contador has dislocated his shoulder and his chance of winning the Giro d'Italia has plummeted (he may not even finish to gear up for a better shot at the Tour de France ).
Richie Porte could go odds on tomorrow if he performs well on a big mountain finish, if he wins that stage, his odds will definitely drop below evens. At that point he will become a very good value Lay.
He has never performed for an entire three week tour, he will have bad days given his history and he won't win the giro. That's my opinion so DYOR.
@MrHarryCole: The Hon Dr Tristram Hunt, MP has the smallest mandate of any Member of Parliament: http://t.co/Worvf9cFob
@MrHarryCole: Just 19% of Hunt's constituency voted for him. http://t.co/Worvf9cFob He is not a winner.
"DAVID Cameron has outed Alex Salmond as the source of reports suggesting the SNP would press ahead with a second independence referendum against the UK Government’s will."
Yer tea's out scotslass...