You'll be all delighted to know that my next stint as Guest Editor covers the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, so you know what that means on the 18th of June?
1) Lots of ABBA references
2) Lots of goading of les grenouilles
3) Comparisons of Dave to Arthur Wellesley
Wellesley was a rather cr@p PM, twice. So there are absolutely no comparisons to Dave. :-)
His second stint must have been one of the shortest of anybody as PM - only three weeks. Again, no comparison with Dave...
I rather liked his objection to the railways: "They let poor people travel more easily". A kipper before his time...
MikeL Unless Dave wins a landslide in EUref for In I expect he will be happy to move into an Oxfordshire Mansion with SamCam, with a few more holidays in Mauritius rather than Cornwall and leave the follow out fall out following a narrow In or Out to his successor
It will be a landslide for In.
It'll be very similar to AV - 2:1 for the status quo.
MikeL Unless Dave wins a landslide in EUref for In I expect he will be happy to move into an Oxfordshire Mansion with SamCam, with a few more holidays in Mauritius rather than Cornwall and leave the follow out fall out following a narrow In or Out to his successor
It will be a landslide for In.
It'll be very similar to AV - 2:1 for the status quo.
I'm been surprised at just how many Tory friends of mine have said they're definitely Out.
You'll be all delighted to know that my next stint as Guest Editor covers the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, so you know what that means on the 18th of June?
1) Lots of ABBA references
2) Lots of goading of les grenouilles
3) Comparisons of Dave to Arthur Wellesley
Wellesley was a rather cr@p PM, twice. So there are absolutely no comparisons to Dave. :-)
His second stint must have been one of the shortest of anybody as PM - only three weeks. Again, no comparison with Dave...
He united Europe to give the French the hiding of a lifetime, I reckon Dave could do that as part of his EU deal
MikeL Unless Dave wins a landslide in EUref for In I expect he will be happy to move into an Oxfordshire Mansion with SamCam, with a few more holidays in Mauritius rather than Cornwall and leave the follow out fall out following a narrow In or Out to his successor
It will be a landslide for In.
It'll be very similar to AV - 2:1 for the status quo.
I'm been surprised at just how many Tory friends of mine have said they're definitely Out.
Yeah me too, especially considering the Tory Party is the country's only true Pro European Party, a Tory PM took us in, another Tory PM signed the Single European Act, and another is trying to keep us in for another four decades.
Thought the Grand Canyon was very erm, even took a helicopter ride over it and more hmm - Canyonlands and the Islands in the Sky are simply jaw dropping.
The interests of the US and UK are closely aligned. Would the EU-philes be in favour of letting the US be able to make our laws, as they are for the EU?
Don't really agree with your premise, but if I did, I'd consider the 51st state idea.
air conditioning? Are there sights people would specially recommend on the way?
I have done a number of road trips across the USA, as I lived there for 5 years.
The Amish country of Pennsylvania is interesting (albeit often a bit touristy).
Gettysburg is nearby, and the battlefield fascinating to see for anyone who has played Terrible Swift Sword etc. It is also quite an interesting Pennsylvanian Deutsch town in its own right. The Shenandoah valley ov Virginia is pretty, and also has some well preserved historic sites. I do not know Kentucky or Ohio very well, but Tennessee has some real redneck hillbilly country, not always pretty but an interesting insight into Southern USA.
very early - gets damned hot later. teresting anyway. The old lodge at the Grand Canyon is very atmospheric. Worth eating there even if not staying, the Tex Mex breakfast/brunch in particular.
America is best by road, though the interstate highways are often pretty ugly. It is more interesting (but slower) to dawdle along the more minor roads and stop in small town america. Expect to be made a fuss of, they don't get many foeigners through.
The mid west is extraordinarily friendly when they hear an English accent. I lived there for a short while, a young girl from Ohio there stole my heart, but alas, it wasnt to be..
Most of America is so ridiculously friendly. They would go to the end of the County to help you out.
By the way, Nick - go via Arizona. Bit of Route 66. Painted Desert is excellent. So is Meteor Crater (but if you are going to walk round it, set off early - it gets damned hot later. And if you have never done it, the Grand Canyon is one of those rare places that does not disappoint..
The Grand Canyon DISAPPOINTS. Bill Bryson described the feeling well. It's just... BIG... and that's it.
But that whole part of the USA is full of genuine marvels, from Canyonlands to Monument Valley to Red Rock Arizona to the great Land Art of the region, like Lightning Field.
The Grand Canyon DISAPPOINTS. Bill Bryson described the feeling well. It's just... BIG... and that's it.
But that whole part of the USA is full of genuine marvels, from Canyonlands to Monument Valley to Red Rock Arizona to the great Land Art of the region, like Lightning Field.
When I was doing the Pennine Way, I met an American from Utah (*) who was doing the trail. He was wowed by the scenery. Whilst the scenery in America could be much grander, you had to drive for days to get between the best bits. On the Pennine Way, he was seeing two or three glorious types of scenery a day. The variety in such a small distance amazed him.
The interests of the US and UK are closely aligned. Would the EU-philes be in favour of letting the US be able to make our laws, as they are for the EU?
Don't really agree with your premise, but if I did, I'd consider the 51st state idea.
air conditioning? Are there sights people would specially recommend on the way?
I have done a number of road trips across the USA, as I lived there for 5 years.
The Amish country of Pennsylvania is interesting (albeit often a bit touristy).
Gettysburg is nearby, and the battlefield fascinating to see for anyone who has played Terrible Swift Sword etc. It is also quite an interesting Pennsylvanian Deutsch town in its own right. The Shenandoah valley ov Virginia is pretty, and also has some well preserved historic sites. I do not know Kentucky or Ohio very well, but Tennessee has some real redneck hillbilly country, not always pretty but an interesting insight into Southern USA.
very early - gets damned hot later. teresting anyway. The old lodge at the Grand Canyon is very atmospheric. Worth eating there even if not staying, the Tex Mex breakfast/brunch in particular.
America is best by road, though the interstate highways are often pretty ugly. It is more interesting (but slower) to dawdle along the more minor roads and stop in small town america. Expect to be made a fuss of, they don't get many foeigners through.
The mid west is extraordinarily friendly when they hear an English accent. I lived there for a short while, a young girl from Ohio there stole my heart, but alas, it wasnt to be..
Most of America is so ridiculously friendly. They would go to the end of the County to help you out.
By the way, Nick - go via Arizona. Bit of Route 66. Painted Desert is excellent. So is Meteor Crater (but if you are going to walk round it, set off early - it gets damned hot later. And if you have never done it, the Grand Canyon is one of those rare places that does not disappoint..
The Grand Canyon DISAPPOINTS. Bill Bryson described the feeling well. It's just... BIG... and that's it.
But that whole part of the USA is full of genuine marvels, from Canyonlands to Monument Valley to Red Rock Arizona to the great Land Art of the region, like Lightning Field.
I got up at 4 am at the Grand Canyon. Just me and howling coyotes under a billion stars and the tiniest sliver of a moon. Picked my spot - and sat and waited for the sunrise.
When I was stuck in the Mojave for about a day - the only radio station I could get was PBS playing Indian tribal chanting - it wears very thin, very quickly
Oh Lord. I'm trying to work out in my mind if that'd be bloody awful, or passable.
India would be in it, have you seen Bollywood dance numbers?
Would be bloody fantastic.
I'm not a big fan of Bollywood, but I liked the one they did on a train (no special effects!) that was also used as the theme tune to Spike Lee's "Inside Man"
MikeL Considering In only starts with a 10 point lead, same as the indyref No, Dave would need quite the renegotiation to ensure a 2-1 landslide
RobD Yes a little teasing for the EICISPM fans is allowed bearing in mind the eventual result
A major difference is that Yes Scotland was led by a highly competent single voice with a united plan.
Leave the EU can't organise a piss up in a brewery currently. We have UKIP saying we wouldn't be in the EFTA, we have quite clever people like Richard Tyndall on here saying of course we should be in the EFTA. We have Farage as the supreme leader for life for Kippers who for the rest of the country is less popular than either Nick Clegg or Ed Miliband according to many (admittedly unreliable) pre-election polls.
If the Leave team can get their act together it might become closer, but that doesn't seem likely. Who is going to be able to unite the disparate groups of people who grumble about Europe?
THE Labour leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham is charging the taxpayer more than £17,000 a year in rent for a “second home” in London — while letting a nearby flat that he already owns.
We are perhaps (one of) the most successful country in the world when it comes to exporting music, so why can't we actually choose something decent for Eurovision?
We are perhaps (one of) the most successful country in the world when it comes to exporting music, so why can't we actually choose something decent for Eurovision?
I made that point a few years ago
Hopefully next year the BBC will allow the viewers to choose the artist/band who represents the UK in Eurovision 2014, and maybe some of the UK’s best artists and bands decide to be shortlisted for the honour, musical giants, such as The Rolling Stones, New Order, Emeli Sandé, The Stone Roses, Depeche Mode, Steps or Radiohead, and we can go back to the halcyon days when the likes of Bucks Fizz won.
MikeL Considering In only starts with a 10 point lead, same as the indyref No, Dave would need quite the renegotiation to ensure a 2-1 landslide
RobD Yes a little teasing for the EICISPM fans is allowed bearing in mind the eventual result
A major difference is that Yes Scotland was led by a highly competent single voice with a united plan.
Leave the EU can't organise a piss up in a brewery currently. We have UKIP saying we wouldn't be in the EFTA, we have quite clever people like Richard Tyndall on here saying of course we should be in the EFTA. We have Farage as the supreme leader for life for Kippers who for the rest of the country is less popular than either Nick Clegg or Ed Miliband according to many (admittedly unreliable) pre-election polls.
If the Leave team can get their act together it might become closer, but that doesn't seem likely. Who is going to be able to unite the disparate groups of people who grumble about Europe?
However I note that Surbiton is predicting a 2/1 win for IN. I recall he predicted the same for NO in indyref. Derrr.
This referendum, like the Scottish referendum (though perhaps on a lesser scale) is going to kick up unexpected emotions and hitherto hidden passions. Lots of people are VERY ANGRY about mass immigration and have not, until this moment, had a way to directly express this.
If the referendum becomes a debate about control of our borders then I can see IN losing, easily. And that's just one imponderable.
Inners are far too confident. And I speak as someone who could, genuinely, be persuaded either way. The public are in a mood (cf Scotland) to tell the great and the good to F Off; this is dangerous timing for europhiles.
Right now I'd predict 58/42 IN but only because the economy is improving, but where we will be in a year or two?
I agree that immigration is by far the best card that Leave can play. But that Catch 22 with that is that to get control of the borderws we can't be in EFTA either (which is why UKIP don't want us to be in that) - but many who currently say Leave want us to be in the EFTA and would oppose a 100% exit.
This is why I think that Leave would be more likely to win by ruling out EFTA, but that will irritate lots of potential supporters. Plus who is going to make that call, who is going to take charge and make that decision?
Best chance Leave would have is if there was an AV style vote with three options: Stay In, Leave but stay in EFTA, Leave completely. I think the middle option would win, but that's not going to be the ballot. Whatever choice the Leave campaign makes will disenchant a chunk of their potential supporters and if they make no decision then its not going to demonstrate cohesion or competence.
We are perhaps (one of) the most successful country in the world when it comes to exporting music, so why can't we actually choose something decent for Eurovision?
You over estimate the popularity of British music in Europe. But Eurovision is a world apart anyway.
We are perhaps (one of) the most successful country in the world when it comes to exporting music, so why can't we actually choose something decent for Eurovision?
I made that point a few years ago
Hopefully next year the BBC will allow the viewers to choose the artist/band who represents the UK in Eurovision 2014, and maybe some of the UK’s best artists and bands decide to be shortlisted for the honour, musical giants, such as The Rolling Stones, New Order, Emeli Sandé, The Stone Roses, Depeche Mode, Steps or Radiohead, and we can go back to the halcyon days when the likes of Bucks Fizz won.
We should accept that we will not win again, however good our song actually is, and take the piss with Vic and Bob doing something like I've Got a New Hoover.
We are perhaps (one of) the most successful country in the world when it comes to exporting music, so why can't we actually choose something decent for Eurovision?
I made that point a few years ago
Hopefully next year the BBC will allow the viewers to choose the artist/band who represents the UK in Eurovision 2014, and maybe some of the UK’s best artists and bands decide to be shortlisted for the honour, musical giants, such as The Rolling Stones, New Order, Emeli Sandé, The Stone Roses, Depeche Mode, Steps or Radiohead, and we can go back to the halcyon days when the likes of Bucks Fizz won.
We should accept that we will not win again, however good our song actually is, and take the piss with Vic and Bob doing something like I've Got a New Hoover.
Ant & Dec doing Our Radio Rocks would be my choice.
We are perhaps (one of) the most successful country in the world when it comes to exporting music, so why can't we actually choose something decent for Eurovision?
I made that point a few years ago
Hopefully next year the BBC will allow the viewers to choose the artist/band who represents the UK in Eurovision 2014, and maybe some of the UK’s best artists and bands decide to be shortlisted for the honour, musical giants, such as The Rolling Stones, New Order, Emeli Sandé, The Stone Roses, Depeche Mode, Steps or Radiohead, and we can go back to the halcyon days when the likes of Bucks Fizz won.
We should accept that we will not win again, however good our song actually is, and take the piss with Vic and Bob doing something like I've Got a New Hoover.
We are perhaps (one of) the most successful country in the world when it comes to exporting music, so why can't we actually choose something decent for Eurovision?
I made that point a few years ago
Hopefully next year the BBC will allow the viewers to choose the artist/band who represents the UK in Eurovision 2014, and maybe some of the UK’s best artists and bands decide to be shortlisted for the honour, musical giants, such as The Rolling Stones, New Order, Emeli Sandé, The Stone Roses, Depeche Mode, Steps or Radiohead, and we can go back to the halcyon days when the likes of Bucks Fizz won.
We should accept that we will not win again, however good our song actually is, and take the piss with Vic and Bob doing something like I've Got a New Hoover.
Ant & Dec doing Our Radio Rocks would be my choice.
We are perhaps (one of) the most successful country in the world when it comes to exporting music, so why can't we actually choose something decent for Eurovision?
I made that point a few years ago
Hopefully next year the BBC will allow the viewers to choose the artist/band who represents the UK in Eurovision 2014, and maybe some of the UK’s best artists and bands decide to be shortlisted for the honour, musical giants, such as The Rolling Stones, New Order, Emeli Sandé, The Stone Roses, Depeche Mode, Steps or Radiohead, and we can go back to the halcyon days when the likes of Bucks Fizz won.
We should accept that we will not win again, however good our song actually is, and take the piss with Vic and Bob doing something like I've Got a New Hoover.
Ant & Dec doing Our Radio Rocks would be my choice.
Let's get ready to rumble would be a strong choice.
Is this Spanish one really a favourite? It's crap.
Gotta be honest - I think the quality is very good all in all. There's nothing that's made me groan or wince or laugh, assume they were weeded out at the semis.
We are perhaps (one of) the most successful country in the world when it comes to exporting music, so why can't we actually choose something decent for Eurovision?
I made that point a few years ago
Hopefully next year the BBC will allow the viewers to choose the artist/band who represents the UK in Eurovision 2014, and maybe some of the UK’s best artists and bands decide to be shortlisted for the honour, musical giants, such as The Rolling Stones, New Order, Emeli Sandé, The Stone Roses, Depeche Mode, Steps or Radiohead, and we can go back to the halcyon days when the likes of Bucks Fizz won.
We should accept that we will not win again, however good our song actually is, and take the piss with Vic and Bob doing something like I've Got a New Hoover.
Ant & Dec doing Our Radio Rocks would be my choice.
Let's get ready to rumble would be a strong choice.
Is this Spanish one really a favourite? It's crap.
MikeL Considering In only starts with a 10 point lead, same as the indyref No, Dave would need quite the renegotiation to ensure a 2-1 landslide
RobD Yes a little teasing for the EICISPM fans is allowed bearing in mind the eventual result
A major difference is that Yes Scotland was led by a highly competent single voice with a united plan.
Leave the EU can't organise a piss up in a brewery currently. We have UKIP saying we wouldn't be in the EFTA, we have quite clever people like Richard Tyndall on here saying of course we should be in the EFTA. We have Farage as the supreme leader for life for Kippers who for the rest of the country is less popular than either Nick Clegg or Ed Miliband according to many (admittedly unreliable) pre-election polls.
If the Leave team can get their act together it might become closer, but that doesn't seem likely. Who is going to be able to unite the disparate groups of people who grumble about Europe?
However I note that Surbiton is predicting a 2/1 win for IN. I recall he predicted the same for NO in indyref. Derrr.
This referendum, like the Scottish referendum (though perhaps on a lesser scale) is going to kick up unexpected emotions and hitherto hidden passions. Lots of people are VERY ANGRY about mass immigration and have not, until this moment, had a way to directly express this.
If the referendum becomes a debate about control of our borders then I can see IN losing, easily. And that's just one imponderable.
Inners are far too confident. And I speak as someone who could, genuinely, be persuaded either way. The public are in a mood (cf Scotland) to tell the great and the good to F Off; this is dangerous timing for europhiles.
Right now I'd predict 58/42 IN but only because the economy is improving, but where we will be in a year or two?
65:35 IN:OUT is on.
The mother and father of Project Fear will be unleashed. In fact, it has already started. Everyday, you will find some business leader coming out and say how disastrous it will be if we pulled out of the EU.
For once, the Trade Unions will be on the same side. Labour and the Tories will back staying in . Yes, the Tories !
The Lib Dems don't matter anyway. UKIP resolutely will be against with BNP, NF etc. Regarding Scotland: The organisational capabilities of the SNP and UKIP are slightly different.
I understand the majority of the new Tory MPs are for IN. Look at the PBTories. Many will finally raise their heads.
Do you think Nabavi, Fitalass, Charles et al wants OUT ? I don't think so.
Why not start a game which PB Tory is for IN and which ones are for OUT ?
We are perhaps (one of) the most successful country in the world when it comes to exporting music, so why can't we actually choose something decent for Eurovision?
I made that point a few years ago
Hopefully next year the BBC will allow the viewers to choose the artist/band who represents the UK in Eurovision 2014, and maybe some of the UK’s best artists and bands decide to be shortlisted for the honour, musical giants, such as The Rolling Stones, New Order, Emeli Sandé, The Stone Roses, Depeche Mode, Steps or Radiohead, and we can go back to the halcyon days when the likes of Bucks Fizz won.
We should accept that we will not win again, however good our song actually is, and take the piss with Vic and Bob doing something like I've Got a New Hoover.
The Liberal Democrats were thrown into fresh crisis on Saturday as their only MP in Scotland, Alistair Carmichael, faced the prospect of a full parliamentary inquiry and a byelection fight against the SNP over his role in a Whitehall leak intended to damage Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
All true, of course. Just as all the sensible arguments in indyref were on the side of NO. Yet the YESsers came within a few points of winning (something considered unthinkable six months before).
Referenda are horribly unpredictable. If the OUT side can make this a passionate, emotional argument about reclaiming the UK's sovereignty, kicking out Bulgarian-Roma pickpocketing murderers, regaining control of our borders, being proud and free and able to tell everyone else to sod off, then they might just win.
Glib predictions of 2/1 IN are absurdly complacent from europhiles, and highly reminiscent of indyref.
2/1 IN is what I'm predicting and its not complacent, its just a projection currently. Close referenda aren't that common. I think Yes Scotland did a great job, to give them credit they did better than I expected but even then they lost by 10%. I think Leave will do worse than Yes Scotland for reasons explained above so that means less than 45%. Global tradition is for the status quo to win referenda unless all major parties are pushing for a Yes.
The only two previous all-UK referenda that I can recall - the 1975 EC and 2011 AV referenda were both won by 67% for the Status Quo.
That doesn't mean its guaranteed. But its what I expect today and I'd be tempted to bet if the line was below that when markets open on this.
We are perhaps (one of) the most successful country in the world when it comes to exporting music, so why can't we actually choose something decent for Eurovision?
You over estimate the popularity of British music in Europe. But Eurovision is a world apart anyway.
Depeche Mode were and are far more popular in Germany than over here.
The Liberal Democrats were thrown into fresh crisis on Saturday as their only MP in Scotland, Alistair Carmichael, faced the prospect of a full parliamentary inquiry and a byelection fight against the SNP over his role in a Whitehall leak intended to damage Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
Comments
It'll be very similar to AV - 2:1 for the status quo.
I adore Death Valley.
The Commonwealth Song Contest.
All about micro targeting the right voters.
Would be bloody fantastic.
We are lucky to live in the UK.
(*) Who kept on calling it the PEE-nine Way.
You, Sir, have no soul left.....
RobD Yes a little teasing for the EICISPM fans is allowed bearing in mind the eventual result
Not all straight men hate Eurovision!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw-FQrRY9s0
The Spanish entry is this lady, she's also David De Gea's girlfriend, which I won't hold against her
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/01/14/24B0227A00000578-2909690-image-m-36_1421236901327.jpg
Google image search Edurne Garcia
"Oh look. The Falklands entry. And they've come dressed as penguins.
For the ninth year in a row..."
*Innocent Pimp Face*
Leave the EU can't organise a piss up in a brewery currently. We have UKIP saying we wouldn't be in the EFTA, we have quite clever people like Richard Tyndall on here saying of course we should be in the EFTA. We have Farage as the supreme leader for life for Kippers who for the rest of the country is less popular than either Nick Clegg or Ed Miliband according to many (admittedly unreliable) pre-election polls.
If the Leave team can get their act together it might become closer, but that doesn't seem likely. Who is going to be able to unite the disparate groups of people who grumble about Europe?
THE Labour leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham is charging the taxpayer more than £17,000 a year in rent for a “second home” in London — while letting a nearby flat that he already owns.
Creagh & Cooper don't
Hopefully next year the BBC will allow the viewers to choose the artist/band who represents the UK in Eurovision 2014, and maybe some of the UK’s best artists and bands decide to be shortlisted for the honour, musical giants, such as The Rolling Stones, New Order, Emeli Sandé, The Stone Roses, Depeche Mode, Steps or Radiohead, and we can go back to the halcyon days when the likes of Bucks Fizz won.
http://bit.ly/1BiOAaX
This is why I think that Leave would be more likely to win by ruling out EFTA, but that will irritate lots of potential supporters. Plus who is going to make that call, who is going to take charge and make that decision?
Best chance Leave would have is if there was an AV style vote with three options: Stay In, Leave but stay in EFTA, Leave completely. I think the middle option would win, but that's not going to be the ballot. Whatever choice the Leave campaign makes will disenchant a chunk of their potential supporters and if they make no decision then its not going to demonstrate cohesion or competence.
I like this Latvian number!
'However I note that Surbiton is predicting a 2/1 win for IN. I recall he predicted the same for NO in indyref. Derrr.'
Just take a look at Surbiton's GE predictions not to mention he was IOS's co-cheerleader reminding us daily how superior Labour's ground war was.
Only the Frogs and Romanians have sung in foreign
Saint and greavsie
Hoddle and waddle
UK win nailed on
Is this Spanish one really a favourite? It's crap.
I'll have to check them out on iPlayer!
The mother and father of Project Fear will be unleashed. In fact, it has already started. Everyday, you will find some business leader coming out and say how disastrous it will be if we pulled out of the EU.
For once, the Trade Unions will be on the same side. Labour and the Tories will back staying in . Yes, the Tories !
The Lib Dems don't matter anyway. UKIP resolutely will be against with BNP, NF etc.
Regarding Scotland: The organisational capabilities of the SNP and UKIP are slightly different.
I understand the majority of the new Tory MPs are for IN. Look at the PBTories. Many will finally raise their heads.
Do you think Nabavi, Fitalass, Charles et al wants OUT ? I don't think so.
Why not start a game which PB Tory is for IN and which ones are for OUT ?
https://twitter.com/MichaelLCrick/status/600659435242057728
Will he be remembered alongside them?
18:4 for English to present.
The Liberal Democrats were thrown into fresh crisis on Saturday as their only MP in Scotland, Alistair Carmichael, faced the prospect of a full parliamentary inquiry and a byelection fight against the SNP over his role in a Whitehall leak intended to damage Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
http://bit.ly/1GvX3xD
I'm onto my second bottle of fizzy plonk
https://twitter.com/suttonnick/status/602214567465345025
The only two previous all-UK referenda that I can recall - the 1975 EC and 2011 AV referenda were both won by 67% for the Status Quo.
That doesn't mean its guaranteed. But its what I expect today and I'd be tempted to bet if the line was below that when markets open on this.