'Good grief, is this what passes for a political rallying cry these days? What an utter pill'
Burnham is a prime example of what Benn referred to as a political weathercock,no beliefs or convictions just driven by opinion polls and focus groups,
'Good grief, is this what passes for a political rallying cry these days? What an utter pill'
Burnham is a prime example of what Benn referred to as a political weathercock,no beliefs or convictions just driven by opinion polls and focus groups,
Tony Benn proclaimed after the 1983 election 'The general election of 1983 has produced one important result that has passed virtually without comment in the media. It is that, for the first time since 1945, a political party with an openly socialist policy has RECEIVED the support of over eight and a half million people. This is a remarkable development by any standards and it deserves some analysis … the 1983 Labour manifesto commanded the loyalty of millions of voters and a democratic socialist bridge-head in public understanding and support can be made.' The Guardian (20 June 1983).
That was true of course but neglected to mention the Tory landslide
There is a case for more public ownership and control of our railways. There is also a case for more private ownership and control of our railways, and likewise for a totally different system (e.g. concessions instead of franchises).
The problem almost everyone has who screams about renationalisation is that they start with the position they want and try to build a case for it, rather than looking at the problems faced by the railway and working out how they can be fixed, and even if it is worth fixing them.
They basically get it arse about face, which is why renationalisation would be a disaster (before anyone says, privatisation was similarly chaotic, although it has eventually worked reasonably well, and at least there was a reason for the change).
The biggest problem Burnham would have with his argument is that the part of the system that is failing is the nationalised Network Rail. It is a basketcase, as we saw with the announcements just last week.
But he will be saved that the people who want to see the railways renationalised are doing it on an emotional basis, and not reality.
There is a case for more public ownership and control of our railways. There is also a case for more private ownership and control of our railways, and likewise for a totally different system (e.g. concessions instead of franchises).
The problem almost everyone has who screams about renationalisation is that they start with the position they want and try to build a case for it, rather than looking at the problems faced by the railway and working out how they can be fixed, and even if it is worth fixing them.
They basically get it arse about face, which is why renationalisation would be a disaster (before anyone says, privatisation was similarly chaotic, although it has eventually worked reasonably well, and at least there was a reason for the change).
The biggest problem Burnham would have with his argument is that the part of the system that is failing is the nationalised Network Rail. It is a basketcase, as we saw with the announcements just last week.
But he will be saved that the people who want to see the railways renationalised are doing it on an emotional basis, and not reality.
Don't disagree but it would be good for the arguments to be aired
If you were a Greek in Athens with, say, a small restaurant for which you can no longer get supplies would you wait until Sunday or would you leave now taking what you can with you?
There are apparently about 500K Greeks who have left already. I fear this is not going to help the yes camp.
Some of my Greek colleagues fly back to vote. The wonders of Ryanair!
If you were a Greek in Athens with, say, a small restaurant for which you can no longer get supplies would you wait until Sunday or would you leave now taking what you can with you?
There are apparently about 500K Greeks who have left already. I fear this is not going to help the yes camp.
Some of my Greek colleagues fly back to vote. The wonders of Ryanair!
They seem to think Yes will win, but who knows?
Greece must be awash with Euro notes. Many billions have been withdrawn in recent days plus E60/day/person. Plus the tourists carrying Euro notes. Very little of this will be going back into the banks. It must be a cash economy which will keep things going, the only problem being that very little tax will be being paid.
It will be difficult to import so local producers of food etc will get a boost. Exporters, if they have any sense and are able will be holding their payments offshore and using them for any necessary imports. Food imports are being given a priority and they have ample supplies of oil and pharmaceuticals. This could be quite sustainable.
And they have a printing press that prints 20 Euro notes - useful if you are issuing in 60 Euro dollops.
Paddy Power has been accused of a crass stunt mocking the Calais immigration crisis as it emerged the acting Labour leader’s son was part of the team that created the poster. Harry Dromey, the son of Harriet Harman, works for the advertising team which took a lorry to Calais carrying a poster urging foreigners to "jump in the back" if they were good at sport. The bookmakers confirmed Mr Dromey was part of the four-man “mischief team” which comes up with headline-grabbing stunts but later played down his involvement.
No one but the most committed right wing zealot would argue for private track. It was lethal.
A rather sick comment.
I guess the 35 people who died at Clapham (infrastructure failure), Newton (4 deaths, unsafe track layout design), and so many others were somehow okay because they died on a nationalised railway?
There is a case for more public ownership and control of our railways. There is also a case for more private ownership and control of our railways, and likewise for a totally different system (e.g. concessions instead of franchises).
The problem almost everyone has who screams about renationalisation is that they start with the position they want and try to build a case for it, rather than looking at the problems faced by the railway and working out how they can be fixed, and even if it is worth fixing them.
They basically get it arse about face, which is why renationalisation would be a disaster (before anyone says, privatisation was similarly chaotic, although it has eventually worked reasonably well, and at least there was a reason for the change).
The biggest problem Burnham would have with his argument is that the part of the system that is failing is the nationalised Network Rail. It is a basketcase, as we saw with the announcements just last week.
But he will be saved that the people who want to see the railways renationalised are doing it on an emotional basis, and not reality.
Don't disagree but it would be good for the arguments to be aired
Yep, I agree.
The problem is that most of the pro-renationalisation documents are utterly hopeless, and are grounded in an ideologically skewed version of the facts.
There's a good test: see how many times they mention rail freight, which is a massively important business for the railways and the country. One document only mentioned it three times, in passing, and had no sections dedicated to freight ...
Utterly hopeless.
Edit: Burnham could do worse than to consult Christian Wolmar on this, when the latter sadly loses his bid to be Labour's candidate for London Mayor. I don't agree with Wolmar on many things, but at least he generally approaches the problems in the correct manner.
If you were a Greek in Athens with, say, a small restaurant for which you can no longer get supplies would you wait until Sunday or would you leave now taking what you can with you?
There are apparently about 500K Greeks who have left already. I fear this is not going to help the yes camp.
Some of my Greek colleagues fly back to vote. The wonders of Ryanair!
They seem to think Yes will win, but who knows?
Greece must be awash with Euro notes. Many billions have been withdrawn in recent days plus E60/day/person. Plus the tourists carrying Euro notes. Very little of this will be going back into the banks. It must be a cash economy which will keep things going, the only problem being that very little tax will be being paid.
It will be difficult to import so local producers of food etc will get a boost. Exporters, if they have any sense and are able will be holding their payments offshore and using them for any necessary imports. Food imports are being given a priority and they have ample supplies of oil and pharmaceuticals. This could be quite sustainable.
And they have a printing press that prints 20 Euro notes - useful if you are issuing in 60 Euro dollops.
Not sure it is as easy as that. My Greek colleagues say that hospitals there can only get their supplies on a Cash on delivery basis, and Greece imports 50% of its food. Those Euros will run out quickly.
There is a case for more public ownership and control of our railways. There is also a case for more private ownership and control of our railways, and likewise for a totally different system (e.g. concessions instead of franchises).
The problem almost everyone has who screams about renationalisation is that they start with the position they want and try to build a case for it, rather than looking at the problems faced by the railway and working out how they can be fixed, and even if it is worth fixing them.
They basically get it arse about face, which is why renationalisation would be a disaster (before anyone says, privatisation was similarly chaotic, although it has eventually worked reasonably well, and at least there was a reason for the change).
The biggest problem Burnham would have with his argument is that the part of the system that is failing is the nationalised Network Rail. It is a basketcase, as we saw with the announcements just last week.
But he will be saved that the people who want to see the railways renationalised are doing it on an emotional basis, and not reality.
Don't disagree but it would be good for the arguments to be aired
Yep, I agree.
The problem is that most of the pro-renationalisation documents done so far are utterly hopeless, and are grounded in an ideologically skewed version of the facts.
There's a good test: see how many times they mention rail freight, which is a massively important business for the railways and the country. One document only mentioned it three times, in passing, and had no sections dedicated to freight ...
Utterly hopeless.
Religion is rarely comfortable with having to logically support its position. Rail freight Is the hidden (or at least not discussed) reason for HS2. The tension between passenger and freight (and not just on WCML) is enormous.
Paddy Power has been accused of a crass stunt mocking the Calais immigration crisis as it emerged the acting Labour leader’s son was part of the team that created the poster. Harry Dromey, the son of Harriet Harman, works for the advertising team which took a lorry to Calais carrying a poster urging foreigners to "jump in the back" if they were good at sport. The bookmakers confirmed Mr Dromey was part of the four-man “mischief team” which comes up with headline-grabbing stunts but later played down his involvement.
There is a case for more public ownership and control of our railways. There is also a case for more private ownership and control of our railways, and likewise for a totally different system (e.g. concessions instead of franchises).
The problem almost everyone has who screams about renationalisation is that they start with the position they want and try to build a case for it, rather than looking at the problems faced by the railway and working out how they can be fixed, and even if it is worth fixing them.
They basically get it arse about face, which is why renationalisation would be a disaster (before anyone says, privatisation was similarly chaotic, although it has eventually worked reasonably well, and at least there was a reason for the change).
The biggest problem Burnham would have with his argument is that the part of the system that is failing is the nationalised Network Rail. It is a basketcase, as we saw with the announcements just last week.
But he will be saved that the people who want to see the railways renationalised are doing it on an emotional basis, and not reality.
Don't disagree but it would be good for the arguments to be aired
Yep, I agree.
The problem is that most of the pro-renationalisation documents are utterly hopeless, and are grounded in an ideologically skewed version of the facts.
There's a good test: see how many times they mention rail freight, which is a massively important business for the railways and the country. One document only mentioned it three times, in passing, and had no sections dedicated to freight ...
Utterly hopeless.
Edit: Burnham could do worse than to consult Christian Wolmar on this, when the latter sadly loses his bid to be Labour's candidate for London Mayor. I don't agree with Wolmar on many things, but at least he generally approaches the problems in the correct manner.
Indeed, not just freight, more passengers, better food etc however at least Labour should have the debate as you say
No one but the most committed right wing zealot would argue for private track. It was lethal.
A rather sick comment.
I guess the 35 people who died at Clapham (infrastructure failure), Newton (4 deaths, unsafe track layout design), and so many others were somehow okay because they died on a nationalised railway?
beginning to wonder if it really is Jonathan.. If it is , He really hasn't come to terms with labour getting stuffed. All those years on here with the Tories having to suck it up. Now its Labour's and Jonathan needs to get used to it..
There is a case for more public ownership and control of our railways. There is also a case for more private ownership and control of our railways, and likewise for a totally different system (e.g. concessions instead of franchises).
The problem almost everyone has who screams about renationalisation is that they start with the position they want and try to build a case for it, rather than looking at the problems faced by the railway and working out how they can be fixed, and even if it is worth fixing them.
They basically get it arse about face, which is why renationalisation would be a disaster (before anyone says, privatisation was similarly chaotic, although it has eventually worked reasonably well, and at least there was a reason for the change).
The biggest problem Burnham would have with his argument is that the part of the system that is failing is the nationalised Network Rail. It is a basketcase, as we saw with the announcements just last week.
But he will be saved that the people who want to see the railways renationalised are doing it on an emotional basis, and not reality.
Don't disagree but it would be good for the arguments to be aired
Yep, I agree.
The problem is that most of the pro-renationalisation documents done so far are utterly hopeless, and are grounded in an ideologically skewed version of the facts.
There's a good test: see how many times they mention rail freight, which is a massively important business for the railways and the country. One document only mentioned it three times, in passing, and had no sections dedicated to freight ...
Utterly hopeless.
Religion is rarely comfortable with having to logically support its position. Rail freight Is the hidden (or at least not discussed) reason for HS2. The tension between passenger and freight (and not just on WCML) is enormous.
Many in Network Rail do not particularly like freight trains. They are far heavier than passenger trains, cause so much more damage to the track, and remove paths that could be used by passenger trains. Even with the higher charges freight operators have to pay, it'd be easier to do without them.
Although local passenger trains are probably worse than freight trains for gobbling up paths. A class 4 freight train can go at 75 MPH, whilst a passenger DMU might go a little faster, but also might stop every few miles whilst the freight train trundles on at speed. Freights can also be scheduled to pause in loops (dynamic or static) for long periods, which passengers get uppity about.
Morley and Outwood CLP nominated Cooper Paisley nominated Burnham Lewisham East nominated Kendall Sunderland Central nominated Corbyn Derby South nominated Burnham Warrington South nominated Cooper SE Cornwall nominated Corbyn
Brentwood and Ongar CLP nominated Burnham Barking nominated Kendall South Ribble nominated Corbyn Hornsey nominated Cooper St Helens South nominated Cooper Chippenham nominated Cooper Northern Ireland CLP nominated Burnham Wirral West nominated Cooper
Food imports are being given a priority and they have ample supplies of oil and pharmaceuticals. This could be quite sustainable.
Pharma supplies aren't that ample: hospitals have been shipping them out the back door into the grey market so they could have the cash to pay their staff.
Paddy Power has been accused of a crass stunt mocking the Calais immigration crisis as it emerged the acting Labour leader’s son was part of the team that created the poster. Harry Dromey, the son of Harriet Harman, works for the advertising team which took a lorry to Calais carrying a poster urging foreigners to "jump in the back" if they were good at sport. The bookmakers confirmed Mr Dromey was part of the four-man “mischief team” which comes up with headline-grabbing stunts but later played down his involvement.
George Osborne will unveil plans in the Budget to end inheritance tax on properties worth up to £1m, at last fulfilling a Conservative pledge first made seven years ago.
Seems like I did Heather Watson more than a bit of a disservice earlier. Magnificent effort by her against the best female player of all time.
She really should take a lot of confidence from this even in defeat. She played at a level today I bet she didn't even believe she was capable of.
Absolutely. It'll be really exciting hopefully to see where her career goes after todays performance. The best performance by a British woman at Wimbledon since Virginia Wade's win in 1977.
Very much hoping for a Greek 'Oxi' on Sunday, whilst being realistic that there will probably be a narrow yes vote. The Greek people are being openly dictated to from the Troika. Who elected Mr Juncker? Who elected Mme Lagarde? Who elected Mr Schultz as president of the EU parliament? And then the rank hypocrisy and double standards - everyone is asking Greece to pay back capital it simply doesn't have, and yet they are profligatly continuing to borrow themselves - what right does Mr Osborne have to lecture the Greeks on their finances when our government is borrowing 5% of GDP after 6 years of economic recovery. Our government doesn't have any intention of ever paying back the huge debts that it is continuing to amass. We are simply in no moral position to lecture the Greeks. The sooner they can exit the Euro and the EU, default on their debt and start off afresh the better.
Peppa Pig is so middle class. Just look at her family and friends.
williamglen said:
The definition of middle class is that none of your friends will back you up in a fight
I said:
I prefer my daughter's
A person is middle class if they can keep the same alcohol in the house for more than a week.
* Lower-working class: you will never buy a house, because somebody else will let you use theirs indefinitely (council flat) * Upper-working class: you saved up the deposit and bought your own house * Lower-middle class: your parents gave you the money for the deposit on your house * Upper-middle class: your parents gave you the money for your house * Upper-class: you will never buy a house, because somebody else will let you use theirs indefinitely (you inherited a property from a relative)
Paddy Power has been accused of a crass stunt mocking the Calais immigration crisis as it emerged the acting Labour leader’s son was part of the team that created the poster. Harry Dromey, the son of Harriet Harman, works for the advertising team which took a lorry to Calais carrying a poster urging foreigners to "jump in the back" if they were good at sport. The bookmakers confirmed Mr Dromey was part of the four-man “mischief team” which comes up with headline-grabbing stunts but later played down his involvement.
Very much hoping for a Greek 'Oxi' on Sunday, whilst being realistic that there will probably be a narrow yes vote. The Greek people are being openly dictated to from the Troika. Who elected Mr Juncker? Who elected Mme Lagarde? Who elected Mr Schultz as president of the EU parliament? And then the rank hypocrisy and double standards - everyone is asking Greece to pay back capital it simply doesn't have, and yet they are profligatly continuing to borrow themselves - what right does Mr Osborne have to lecture the Greeks on their finances when our government is borrowing 5% of GDP after 6 years of economic recovery. Our government doesn't have any intention of ever paying back the huge debts that it is continuing to amass. We are simply in no moral position to lecture the Greeks. The sooner they can exit the Euro and the EU, default on their debt and start off afresh the better.
I think it will be very close, when all the last polls range from a YES lead of 0.6% to a NO lead of 1% you can only come at that conclusion. However differential turnout will favour YES, so I'm sticking my finger and say YES by 5 points.
Totally unreported by the MSM, but enough Austrians have signed a petition for a debate in parliament on leaving the EU. The Eurocracy in Brussels is simply concerned about preseving their own jobs and the Euro. No matter how the people in EU nations vote, that matters not one jot. Didn't we learn from history that the commissars in Moscow couldn't hope to run Russia against the interests of the Russian people?! Why do we have to repeat that same mistake - do we ever learn? It would seem not!
Seems like I did Heather Watson more than a bit of a disservice earlier. Magnificent effort by her against the best female player of all time.
She really should take a lot of confidence from this even in defeat. She played at a level today I bet she didn't even believe she was capable of.
Absolutely. It'll be really exciting hopefully to see where her career goes after todays performance. The best performance by a British woman at Wimbledon since Virginia Wade's win in 1977.
I don't know what I found more pleasurable- the deft volley (last kick of the game) over the goalie taking the Japanese to the final, or the girl from Guernsey losing to Serena after throwing a 4-0 lead in the final set.
I find the stomach, churning, jingoism over that part of English sport that no one cares about really quite nauseating.
Very much hoping for a Greek 'Oxi' on Sunday, whilst being realistic that there will probably be a narrow yes vote. The Greek people are being openly dictated to from the Troika. Who elected Mr Juncker? Who elected Mme Lagarde? Who elected Mr Schultz as president of the EU parliament? And then the rank hypocrisy and double standards - everyone is asking Greece to pay back capital it simply doesn't have, and yet they are profligatly continuing to borrow themselves - what right does Mr Osborne have to lecture the Greeks on their finances when our government is borrowing 5% of GDP after 6 years of economic recovery. Our government doesn't have any intention of ever paying back the huge debts that it is continuing to amass. We are simply in no moral position to lecture the Greeks. The sooner they can exit the Euro and the EU, default on their debt and start off afresh the better.
I think it will be very close, when all the last polls range from a YES lead of 0.6% to a NO lead of 1% you can only come at that conclusion. However differential turnout will favour YES, so I'm sticking my finger and say YES by 5 points.
A narrow yes, fresh elections a month down the track, and probably an outcome which satisfies no one - a poor revised deal of sorts with the creditors, will probably only serve to divide the Greek people even further between left and right. I think they'll probably just about stagger on another 3 months or so inside the Euro, but then the final denouement as far as Greece is concerned will arrive in October, once the global economy starts turning down.
I fear there is a very real risk that we'll see a repeat of the immediate aftermath of WW2 in Greece, and a descent into civil war. So much for the claptrap about the EU having brought peace and prosperity since WW2!
Seems like I did Heather Watson more than a bit of a disservice earlier. Magnificent effort by her against the best female player of all time.
She really should take a lot of confidence from this even in defeat. She played at a level today I bet she didn't even believe she was capable of.
Absolutely. It'll be really exciting hopefully to see where her career goes after todays performance. The best performance by a British woman at Wimbledon since Virginia Wade's win in 1977.
I don't know what I found more pleasurable- the deft volley (last kick of the game) over the goalie taking the Japanese to the final, or the girl from Guernsey losing to Serena after throwing a 4-0 lead in the final set.
I find the stomach, churning, jingoism over that part of English sport that no one cares about really quite nauseating.
It was a 3-0 lead in the 3rd and final set actually Tyson. On women's football, England had quite a bit of good fortune to make the semi-final, which deserted them in that game, but at least both events were honourable defeats, which is a good deal more that you can say about some English sporting performances over past years!
Interesting generational split in the Greek vote - according to the polls, the split amongst the young is 60:40 in favour of Oxi, and the reverse split amongst the older half of the population. This is becoming a key theme everywhere with a generational split on so many issues. At a local surgery with my MP, she took most unkindly to me accusing the Tories of offering a bribe to the electorate through the pensioner savings bonds offering 4% when the rest of the non-pensioner population can get a smidgen of that. My MP merely suggested that I'll have that to look forward to when I'm a pensioner 30 years down the track - PB regulars can imagine my response to that given what lies in store over the next 5 years with the sovereign debt crisis, let alone 30 years down the track!
Seems like I did Heather Watson more than a bit of a disservice earlier. Magnificent effort by her against the best female player of all time.
She really should take a lot of confidence from this even in defeat. She played at a level today I bet she didn't even believe she was capable of.
Absolutely. It'll be really exciting hopefully to see where her career goes after todays performance. The best performance by a British woman at Wimbledon since Virginia Wade's win in 1977.
I don't know what I found more pleasurable- the deft volley (last kick of the game) over the goalie taking the Japanese to the final, or the girl from Guernsey losing to Serena after throwing a 4-0 lead in the final set.
I find the stomach, churning, jingoism over that part of English sport that no one cares about really quite nauseating.
It was a 3-0 lead in the 3rd and final set actually Tyson. On women's football, England had quite a bit of good fortune to make the semi-final, which deserted them in that game, but at least both events were honourable defeats, which is a good deal more that you can say about some English sporting performances over past years!
They were also a good deal better than the mean minded stomach churning comments from tyson.
About time !! twitter.com/ajplus/status/617043978547011584
And they are flying to a country that will be happy to accept the dollar and become a tourist rival to backwards moving Greece. The Greek commie lefties are taking lessons from the wrong leftie commies.
Interesting generational split in the Greek vote - according to the polls, the split amongst the young is 60:40 in favour of Oxi, and the reverse split amongst the older half of the population. This is becoming a key theme everywhere with a generational split on so many issues. At a local surgery with my MP, she took most unkindly to me accusing the Tories of offering a bribe to the electorate through the pensioner savings bonds offering 4% when the rest of the non-pensioner population can get a smidgen of that. My MP merely suggested that I'll have that to look forward to when I'm a pensioner 30 years down the track - PB regulars can imagine my response to that given what lies in store over the next 5 years with the sovereign debt crisis, let alone 30 years down the track!
The problem is that once you rob the rest of the population to give the money to pensioners you end up like Greece, were every party tries to cater and protect pensioners at the expense of the economy.
Pensioners won't mind crippling taxes as long as they get their share of the loot, a bit like the old Trade Unions.
Seems like I did Heather Watson more than a bit of a disservice earlier. Magnificent effort by her against the best female player of all time.
She really should take a lot of confidence from this even in defeat. She played at a level today I bet she didn't even believe she was capable of.
Absolutely. It'll be really exciting hopefully to see where her career goes after todays performance. The best performance by a British woman at Wimbledon since Virginia Wade's win in 1977.
I don't know what I found more pleasurable- the deft volley (last kick of the game) over the goalie taking the Japanese to the final, or the girl from Guernsey losing to Serena after throwing a 4-0 lead in the final set.
I find the stomach, churning, jingoism over that part of English sport that no one cares about really quite nauseating.
It was a 3-0 lead in the 3rd and final set actually Tyson. On women's football, England had quite a bit of good fortune to make the semi-final, which deserted them in that game, but at least both events were honourable defeats, which is a good deal more that you can say about some English sporting performances over past years!
They were also a good deal better than the mean minded stomach churning comments from tyson.
I think you slightly missed the point of my comments. There are some sports supporters that turn out through good or bad, fair or foul weather- and there are many who don't
About time !! twitter.com/ajplus/status/617043978547011584
And they are flying to a country that will be happy to accept the dollar and become a tourist rival to backwards moving Greece. The Greek commie lefties are taking lessons from the wrong leftie commies.
Unfortunately the Greeks wan't euros not dollars, so they'll have neither. Goodnight, oh and I hope I'll get the exit poll results of the referendum before the polls close, just like last time, it might help to reduce the suspense.
I fear there is a very real risk that we'll see a repeat of the immediate aftermath of WW2 in Greece, and a descent into civil war. So much for the claptrap about the EU having brought peace and prosperity since WW2!
It's hard to confuse you for a ray of sunshine, hunchman!
Actually I think people generally are underrating Greeks. *We've* had huge riots over the poll tax, over student fees, and over, um, access to shops for free stuff. They've had (a) a military dictatorship (b) a series of incredibly incompetent governments (c) an economic meltdown and (d) glaring hostility from much of Europe. One could understand a little rioting.
Instead, they have huge rival rallies in Athens within half a mile of each other, they cheer, and then they go home and prepare to vote. I think it's pretty damned impressive.
Comments
"What do we want?
A commission to establish the merits of the argument on both sides!
When do we want it?
By 2025!"
'Good grief, is this what passes for a political rallying cry these days? What an utter pill'
Burnham is a prime example of what Benn referred to as a political weathercock,no beliefs or convictions just driven by opinion polls and focus groups,
The Miliband continuity candidate.
There have only been 2 real conviction PMs since WW2, Thatcher and Attlee, the rest have been weathervanes to some degree
'The general election of 1983 has produced one important result that has passed virtually without comment in the media. It is that, for the first time since 1945, a political party with an openly socialist policy has RECEIVED the support of over eight and a half million people. This is a remarkable development by any standards and it deserves some analysis … the 1983 Labour manifesto commanded the loyalty of millions of voters and a democratic socialist bridge-head in public understanding and support can be made.'
The Guardian (20 June 1983).
That was true of course but neglected to mention the Tory landslide
The problem almost everyone has who screams about renationalisation is that they start with the position they want and try to build a case for it, rather than looking at the problems faced by the railway and working out how they can be fixed, and even if it is worth fixing them.
They basically get it arse about face, which is why renationalisation would be a disaster (before anyone says, privatisation was similarly chaotic, although it has eventually worked reasonably well, and at least there was a reason for the change).
The biggest problem Burnham would have with his argument is that the part of the system that is failing is the nationalised Network Rail. It is a basketcase, as we saw with the announcements just last week.
But he will be saved that the people who want to see the railways renationalised are doing it on an emotional basis, and not reality.
They seem to think Yes will win, but who knows?
https://twitter.com/ajplus/status/617043978547011584
It will be difficult to import so local producers of food etc will get a boost. Exporters, if they have any sense and are able will be holding their payments offshore and using them for any necessary imports. Food imports are being given a priority and they have ample supplies of oil and pharmaceuticals. This could be quite sustainable.
And they have a printing press that prints 20 Euro notes - useful if you are issuing in 60 Euro dollops.
Paddy Power has been accused of a crass stunt mocking the Calais immigration crisis as it emerged the acting Labour leader’s son was part of the team that created the poster.
Harry Dromey, the son of Harriet Harman, works for the advertising team which took a lorry to Calais carrying a poster urging foreigners to "jump in the back" if they were good at sport.
The bookmakers confirmed Mr Dromey was part of the four-man “mischief team” which comes up with headline-grabbing stunts but later played down his involvement.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11714333/Harriet-Harmans-son-part-of-team-behind-controversial-poster-mocking-Calais-immigration-crisis.html
I guess the 35 people who died at Clapham (infrastructure failure), Newton (4 deaths, unsafe track layout design), and so many others were somehow okay because they died on a nationalised railway?
The problem is that most of the pro-renationalisation documents are utterly hopeless, and are grounded in an ideologically skewed version of the facts.
There's a good test: see how many times they mention rail freight, which is a massively important business for the railways and the country. One document only mentioned it three times, in passing, and had no sections dedicated to freight ...
Utterly hopeless.
Edit: Burnham could do worse than to consult Christian Wolmar on this, when the latter sadly loses his bid to be Labour's candidate for London Mayor. I don't agree with Wolmar on many things, but at least he generally approaches the problems in the correct manner.
She really should take a lot of confidence from this even in defeat. She played at a level today I bet she didn't even believe she was capable of.
Although local passenger trains are probably worse than freight trains for gobbling up paths. A class 4 freight train can go at 75 MPH, whilst a passenger DMU might go a little faster, but also might stop every few miles whilst the freight train trundles on at speed. Freights can also be scheduled to pause in loops (dynamic or static) for long periods, which passengers get uppity about.
Morley and Outwood CLP nominated Cooper
Paisley nominated Burnham
Lewisham East nominated Kendall
Sunderland Central nominated Corbyn
Derby South nominated Burnham
Warrington South nominated Cooper
SE Cornwall nominated Corbyn
Brentwood and Ongar CLP nominated Burnham
Barking nominated Kendall
South Ribble nominated Corbyn
Hornsey nominated Cooper
St Helens South nominated Cooper
Chippenham nominated Cooper
Northern Ireland CLP nominated Burnham
Wirral West nominated Cooper
Cooper
Sion Simon
Richard Howitt
Derek Vaughan
Burnham
Theresa Griffin
Kendall
Mary Honeyball
Corbyn
Lucy Anderson
http://www.armstrongeconomics.com/archives/34373
* Upper-working class: you saved up the deposit and bought your own house
* Lower-middle class: your parents gave you the money for the deposit on your house
* Upper-middle class: your parents gave you the money for your house
* Upper-class: you will never buy a house, because somebody else will let you use theirs indefinitely (you inherited a property from a relative)
. Actually given it was "a hilariously non PC ad" I was just wondering why they felt it was then necessary to "distance" Dromey Jnr from it?
How bizarre?
However differential turnout will favour YES, so I'm sticking my finger and say YES by 5 points.
http://www.armstrongeconomics.com/archives/34342
I find the stomach, churning, jingoism over that part of English sport that no one cares about really quite nauseating.
I fear there is a very real risk that we'll see a repeat of the immediate aftermath of WW2 in Greece, and a descent into civil war. So much for the claptrap about the EU having brought peace and prosperity since WW2!
The Greek commie lefties are taking lessons from the wrong leftie commies.
Pensioners won't mind crippling taxes as long as they get their share of the loot, a bit like the old Trade Unions.
Goodnight, oh and I hope I'll get the exit poll results of the referendum before the polls close, just like last time, it might help to reduce the suspense.
Actually I think people generally are underrating Greeks. *We've* had huge riots over the poll tax, over student fees, and over, um, access to shops for free stuff. They've had (a) a military dictatorship (b) a series of incredibly incompetent governments (c) an economic meltdown and (d) glaring hostility from much of Europe. One could understand a little rioting.
Instead, they have huge rival rallies in Athens within half a mile of each other, they cheer, and then they go home and prepare to vote. I think it's pretty damned impressive.