I taught nothing - twas how the students and others used it. BTW - thisis not the USA.
Hah - I'm sure you taught them something.
These tamed down equivalents are tricky though. For a long time I imagined that 'Berk' was a pretty tame insult, much the same as 'Chump' say. It turns out of course that it isn't.
As I've got older though I realise that 'strong' language gets you nowhere. 'Fool' is quite sufficient to condemn someone really. I think I'll have really grown up properly when I feel myself to be safe from that epithet. I suspect that will never happen.
The 'strength' of the language lies in the intent behind it, not the words. "Fool" spat out with contempt is every bit as strong as any swear word, whereas 'f**king' used without emotion as a space filler or emphatic is not a swear word at all, just entirely unnecessary.
Yes, entirely true. "You old Bastard" if delivered by an Aussie is a nice warming sort of phrase. If delivered by a Scotsman you start to go for your stored weaponry, and wonder what's this kilted fellow doing in my house!
Had a mate from the East End who would great his closest friends with "[name}! You old c**t!"
Basically the article translates as: Germany will introduce border controls between itself and Austria as from 5pm this afternoon with the purpose of ascertaining genuine asylum seekers from those that are not.
--------------------------
Merkel was bloody stupid in her initial announcement which will have exacerbated an already serious migration problem across Europe. – With this change of tack, what happens now to migrants that don’t qualify for refugee status? – I guess it’s Austria’s problem now…
Possibly you could stop your dancing now and enlighten us as to which loyalist paramilitary supporters met with a Tory politician, without a bunch of diversionary crap about the security services.
The whole point of Collusion between elements of the State and the Loyalists was that it was all hush-hush, hoosh-hoosh.
Sunil, elements of the state met with PIRA and other terrorist groups too. Crimes were committed by PIRA even though the the State knew that they were planned. It was all a very messy business. Now I appreciate that all this might have come as something as a shock to you in your reading of Wikkipedia but it is not actually news to those of us richer in years and there are several on this site who have very direct and personal knowledge of what went on.
So maybe unless you have some actual point to make then now, after three days of essentially hinting and making inane one liners, might be a good time to move on.
So the inhabitants of NI are not Irish,,thats a new one..
The Protestants are not - they're descended from mostly Scottish settlers transported across and 'planted' in Ulster (at that time, the most Catholic and intractable area of Ireland) in the seventeenth century.
My daughter was born in the US to British parents and has spent most of her life here - you're saying she's not American?
This breaking news just in from our chief political correspondent Christopher Hope:
NEW Former Greek finance minister Yannis Varoufakis says he is appearing with Jeremy Corbyn at a rally in London tomorrow night.
As for Chuka Umuna, the shadow business secretary, he is still expecting to represent Labour tomorrow when Parliament debates anti-strike laws despite not knowing whether Jeremy Corbyn will keep him in the shadow cabinet:
Chuka Umunna hasn't resigned - expects to be on frontbench for anti trade union bill tomorrow unless he hears otherwise. — Conor Pope (@Conorpope) September 13, 2015
This breaking news just in from our chief political correspondent Christopher Hope:
NEW Former Greek finance minister Yannis Varoufakis says he is appearing with Jeremy Corbyn at a rally in London tomorrow night.
As for Chuka Umuna, the shadow business secretary, he is still expecting to represent Labour tomorrow when Parliament debates anti-strike laws despite not knowing whether Jeremy Corbyn will keep him in the shadow cabinet:
Chuka Umunna hasn't resigned - expects to be on frontbench for anti trade union bill tomorrow unless he hears otherwise. — Conor Pope (@Conorpope) September 13, 2015
If Germany can throw out Schengen unilaterally with no change in treaties that commit to it, surely we can do the same with free movement?
Just stop letting in unskilled workers and if anyone complains point to Germany ignoring deficit limits in 2005, ignoring the no bailouts clause in 2010 and ignoring Schengen today.
That's gone against the script. I was in London yesterday and saw some girls on the Tube (they looked about fifteen) who were carrying placards from the 'People's Assembly' saying 'Refugees in. Tories out'. What is 'the People's Assembly' anyway? I take it's some Corbynite agitprop outfit. Whatever, they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves using the plight of those fleeing genocide for petty localized party-political stunts.
Hilarious. I take it this will be the 2020 Labour party slogan...
Its the local 'People's Assembly' that is busy beheading people in Syria/ Iraq.
To those who criticise Merkel: what is a government supposed to do when the population in 2015 = 82.5m and in 2045 is supposed to be 74.5m ?
Because its not remotely credible that is the reason for her actions, otherwise why is she is such a hurry to brow-beat other EU countries into taking loads of migrants as well. How does she know they will stay in German and help her population problem anyway, they might all move on to Sweden.
How many Merkel wants to take is between her and the German electorate, but she has no right what so ever to inflict them on other countries, which given free movement of labour is exactly what she is doing.
This started of as a combination of war-guilt and virtue-signalling, and is in danger of costing her the election... I won't shed a tear for her departure.
If Germany can throw out Schengen unilaterally with no change in treaties that commit to it, surely we can do the same with free movement?
Just stop letting in unskilled workers and if anyone complains point to Germany ignoring deficit limits in 2005, ignoring the no bailouts clause in 2010 and ignoring Schengen today.
One of those irregular verbs again:
"We are good Europeans You are breaking agreements"
Should Merkel just sit there and wring her hands ?
I don't know what Germany should do, but I know one thing they shouldn't have invited anyone who could make the journey and then a week or so later slam the door shut.
The instincts of the German's might be good, but the practicalities are a mess.
This breaking news just in from our chief political correspondent Christopher Hope:
NEW Former Greek finance minister Yannis Varoufakis says he is appearing with Jeremy Corbyn at a rally in London tomorrow night.
As for Chuka Umuna, the shadow business secretary, he is still expecting to represent Labour tomorrow when Parliament debates anti-strike laws despite not knowing whether Jeremy Corbyn will keep him in the shadow cabinet:
Chuka Umunna hasn't resigned - expects to be on frontbench for anti trade union bill tomorrow unless he hears otherwise. — Conor Pope (@Conorpope) September 13, 2015
I'm sure an endorsement from the former Greek finance minister will help to boost Labour's image when it comes to fiscal responsibility...
Possibly you could stop your dancing now and enlighten us as to which loyalist paramilitary supporters met with a Tory politician, without a bunch of diversionary crap about the security services.
The whole point of Collusion between elements of the State and the Loyalists was that it was all hush-hush, hoosh-hoosh.
Sunil, elements of the state met with PIRA and other terrorist groups too. Crimes were committed by PIRA even though the the State knew that they were planned. It was all a very messy business. Now I appreciate that all this might have come as something as a shock to you in your reading of Wikkipedia but it is not actually news to those of us richer in years and there are several on this site who have very direct and personal knowledge of what went on.
So maybe unless you have some actual point to make then now, after three days of essentially hinting and making inane one liners, might be a good time to move on.
I agree - make him eat the food at that labyrinthine Brighton hospital.
Possibly you could stop your dancing now and enlighten us as to which loyalist paramilitary supporters met with a Tory politician, without a bunch of diversionary crap about the security services.
The whole point of Collusion between elements of the State and the Loyalists was that it was all hush-hush, hoosh-hoosh.
Sunil, elements of the state met with PIRA and other terrorist groups too. Crimes were committed by PIRA even though the the State knew that they were planned. It was all a very messy business. Now I appreciate that all this might have come as something as a shock to you in your reading of Wikkipedia but it is not actually news to those of us richer in years and there are several on this site who have very direct and personal knowledge of what went on.
So maybe unless you have some actual point to make then now, after three days of essentially hinting and making inane one liners, might be a good time to move on.
That's gone against the script. I was in London yesterday and saw some girls on the Tube (they looked about fifteen) who were carrying placards from the 'People's Assembly' saying 'Refugees in. Tories out'. What is 'the People's Assembly' anyway? I take it's some Corbynite agitprop outfit. Whatever, they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves using the plight of those fleeing genocide for petty localized party-political stunts.
A long-standing Owen Jones outfit, rather than Corbynite specifically. But anti-cuts groups like that were full of latent support that Corbyn's nomination managed to unleash on the Labour ranks.
Corbyn had discussions with Burnham this afternoon apparently. I still have a suspicion that Burnham will have been saying Shadow Chancellor or I am not playing. If so, it will be an early test of Corbyn's mettle.
If Germany can throw out Schengen unilaterally with no change in treaties that commit to it, surely we can do the same with free movement?
Just stop letting in unskilled workers and if anyone complains point to Germany ignoring deficit limits in 2005, ignoring the no bailouts clause in 2010 and ignoring Schengen today.
The EU has now lost all pretence of being a coherent unit with laws and rules and that.
Possibly you could stop your dancing now and enlighten us as to which loyalist paramilitary supporters met with a Tory politician, without a bunch of diversionary crap about the security services.
The whole point of Collusion between elements of the State and the Loyalists was that it was all hush-hush, hoosh-hoosh.
Sunil, elements of the state met with PIRA and other terrorist groups too. Crimes were committed by PIRA even though the the State knew that they were planned. It was all a very messy business. Now I appreciate that all this might have come as something as a shock to you in your reading of Wikkipedia but it is not actually news to those of us richer in years and there are several on this site who have very direct and personal knowledge of what went on.
So maybe unless you have some actual point to make then now, after three days of essentially hinting and making inane one liners, might be a good time to move on.
I agree - make him eat the food at that labyrinthine Brighton hospital.
I have been to Brighton, almost exactly four years ago. Did the Volks Electric Railway!
Worse, with people living longer, the working age population will fall even more drastically.
Who will pay the taxes ?
UK, on the other hand goes from 2015 = 63.8 to 2045 = 72.1
It is this switch which projects that the UK will have a larger GDP than Germany in 2050 !
Should Merkel just sit there and wring her hands ?
Pursue a policy of selectively offering residency rights to a group of people from less well off countries?
Get a democratic mandate from her voters?
Saying "why don't you all try to swim the Med and I'll take the survivors" is just a little Darwinian for my taste
Merkel is fully aware of the democratic mandate. The German electoral cycle is shorter than ours. She is an astute politician. She has read the tea leaves , I can assure you.
Down the years, virtually all Syrians, Afghans assimilated in Germany will vote CDU. Like the Ugandan Asians vote Tory [ despite most other EM communities vote Labour ]
Most of these refugees didn't come from Libya. You know the country we sorted out two years back.
1. Corbyn's tribute band look nothing like Abba. 2. How is it that all female American country singers are virtually pitch perfect? 3. If Corbyn disappoints his enthusiastic supporters will we get scenes like at the end of "The Man Who Would be King"? 4. Will Yannis bring his wife to meet the common people?
Merkels decision re the Migrants is almost on a par with the Labour Party electing Corbyn.. another fucking disaster..now the guests she invited are camping out on an Austrian motorway..poor feckers..
How is a country policing its borders a disaster? Admittedly it's not good for the "ever closer union" delusion, but in the real world it merely means the government is behaving responsibly.
Its a disaster because only a week ago she was giving it her "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.." then when the wretched refuse of your teeming shore arrived she decided it was all a bit of an embarrassment, thus inciting a lot more people to cross the Med, and hence a lot more people to drown in that attempt, and a lot more people to end up sitting on the German border causing severe inconvenience to their neighbours, not that such has caused Germany any great pause before.
I admit unreservedly that her "if you get here we'll welcome you" comments were unwise and ill thought out, with unfortunate consequences. Schengen's time has come and gone, and it's time it was consigned to the trash can of history. It's ridiculous. Countries need to police their borders and control who they let in. If you don't have borders you don't have countries, but then that's what 'ever closer union' is about.
Should Merkel just sit there and wring her hands ?
I don't know what Germany should do, but I know one thing they shouldn't have invited anyone who could make the journey and then a week or so later slam the door shut.
The instincts of the German's might be good, but the practicalities are a mess.
The instincts of this Govt. were rather good too: don't get their hopes up in the first place.
This breaking news just in from our chief political correspondent Christopher Hope:
NEW Former Greek finance minister Yannis Varoufakis says he is appearing with Jeremy Corbyn at a rally in London tomorrow night.
As for Chuka Umuna, the shadow business secretary, he is still expecting to represent Labour tomorrow when Parliament debates anti-strike laws despite not knowing whether Jeremy Corbyn will keep him in the shadow cabinet:
Chuka Umunna hasn't resigned - expects to be on frontbench for anti trade union bill tomorrow unless he hears otherwise. — Conor Pope (@Conorpope) September 13, 2015
I'm sure an endorsement from the former Greek finance minister will help to boost Labour's image when it comes to fiscal responsibility...
Possibly you could stop your dancing now and enlighten us as to which loyalist paramilitary supporters met with a Tory politician, without a bunch of diversionary crap about the security services.
The whole point of Collusion between elements of the State and the Loyalists was that it was all hush-hush, hoosh-hoosh.
Sunil, elements of the state met with PIRA and other terrorist groups too. Crimes were committed by PIRA even though the the State knew that they were planned. It was all a very messy business. Now I appreciate that all this might have come as something as a shock to you in your reading of Wikkipedia but it is not actually news to those of us richer in years and there are several on this site who have very direct and personal knowledge of what went on.
So maybe unless you have some actual point to make then now, after three days of essentially hinting and making inane one liners, might be a good time to move on.
I agree - make him eat the food at that labyrinthine Brighton hospital.
Now, now, Mr. B. We don't have a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishments (through the 1688 Bill of Rights, if I remember, contains something similar) but there are limits in a civilised society.
I hope your sister-in-law is OK and survived her stay at the RSCH without too much suffering.
SUNIL No need to point it out.. I am probably the only PBer who has been chased through some Dublin council house rear gardens in the early hours by a some pistol wielding boyos.. so I am very aware...I also went on patrol with some of the soldiers... but it seemed to me then and still does that the killings were mainly Irish on Irish The Brits were just in the bloody way...
Just like Iraq. And just like Iraq the killings would have been enormously bigger but for us standing in the way.
Chuka- really quite interesting that he hasn't resigned. Perhaps he really isn't interested in being leader after all- even in the long term.
I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the backroom. Corbyn has such little support within the mainstream party that clearly Tom is calling some of the shots. It may be that Corbyn turns into a figurehead pretty quickly- i.e. he has the position, but very little say over policy and appointments.
This breaking news just in from our chief political correspondent Christopher Hope:
NEW Former Greek finance minister Yannis Varoufakis says he is appearing with Jeremy Corbyn at a rally in London tomorrow night.
As for Chuka Umuna, the shadow business secretary, he is still expecting to represent Labour tomorrow when Parliament debates anti-strike laws despite not knowing whether Jeremy Corbyn will keep him in the shadow cabinet:
Chuka Umunna hasn't resigned - expects to be on frontbench for anti trade union bill tomorrow unless he hears otherwise. — Conor Pope (@Conorpope) September 13, 2015
That's gone against the script. I was in London yesterday and saw some girls on the Tube (they looked about fifteen) who were carrying placards from the 'People's Assembly' saying 'Refugees in. Tories out'. What is 'the People's Assembly' anyway? I take it's some Corbynite agitprop outfit. Whatever, they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves using the plight of those fleeing genocide for petty localized party-political stunts.
A long-standing Owen Jones outfit, rather than Corbynite specifically. But anti-cuts groups like that were full of latent support that Corbyn's nomination managed to unleash on the Labour ranks.
Just finished a tv drama where we used two Irish nurses one from Belfast.. born there..as were her parents..The other one was born in Dublin...both considered themselves to be Irish
Leader of the Opposition is, since 1937 I believe, an official post. Shadow Cabinet isn't an official body.
Since JC is leader of the Labour Party it is assumed that he is the LOTO, but is he the leader of the largest grouping in the Commons not supporting the Government? Well that's up to the parliamentary Labour Party, but if he declines Privy Counsellor status, I could see someone else taking the official role.
Unlikely, of course, but there's not much doubt that a majority of the PLP would favour someone else, even if they might not say so.
Should Merkel just sit there and wring her hands ?
I don't know what Germany should do, but I know one thing they shouldn't have invited anyone who could make the journey and then a week or so later slam the door shut.
The instincts of the German's might be good, but the practicalities are a mess.
The instincts of this Govt. were rather good too: don't get their hopes up in the first place.
What's stopping Germany copying us but doing it on a larger scale if they want to? Surely that would be more effective and safer than the free-for-all.
That's gone against the script. I was in London yesterday and saw some girls on the Tube (they looked about fifteen) who were carrying placards from the 'People's Assembly' saying 'Refugees in. Tories out'. What is 'the People's Assembly' anyway? I take it's some Corbynite agitprop outfit. Whatever, they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves using the plight of those fleeing genocide for petty localized party-political stunts.
A long-standing Owen Jones outfit, rather than Corbynite specifically. But anti-cuts groups like that were full of latent support that Corbyn's nomination managed to unleash on the Labour ranks.
Do you have a direct link?
Owen Jones is only 12 years old, so he can't be the mastermind.
Who do we think will be running the Labour party? Corbyn? Watson? What about McDonnell? Could he be the power behind the throne?
I think Tom Watson without doubt is Labour's new kingmaker. I cannot imagine anyone who has such an influence in a major political party without being leader. His power base is enhanced because he has no aspirations for the main prize.
Leader of the Opposition is, since 1937 I believe, an official post. Shadow Cabinet isn't an official body.
Since JC is leader of the Labour Party it is assumed that he is the LOTO, but is he the leader of the largest grouping in the Commons not supporting the Government? Well that's up to the parliamentary Labour Party, but if he declines Privy Counsellor status, I could see someone else taking the official role.
Unlikely, of course, but there's not much doubt that a majority of the PLP would favour someone else, even if they might not say so.
The Telegraph notes that he will become a privy counsellor:
Jeremy Corbyn has not decided to turn down a place on the Privy Council, a spokeswoman for the Labour leader has told The Times.
It could show that he has softened his stance as a staunch republican who once advocated the abolition of the monarchy.
Just finished a tv drama where we used two Irish nurses one from Belfast.. born there..as were her parents..The other one was born in Dublin...both considered themselves to be Irish
Richard, The one from from Belfast - was she Catholic? It might explain things.
Leader of the Opposition is, since 1937 I believe, an official post. Shadow Cabinet isn't an official body.
Since JC is leader of the Labour Party it is assumed that he is the LOTO, but is he the leader of the largest grouping in the Commons not supporting the Government? Well that's up to the parliamentary Labour Party, but if he declines Privy Counsellor status, I could see someone else taking the official role.
Unlikely, of course, but there's not much doubt that a majority of the PLP would favour someone else, even if they might not say so.
Worse, with people living longer, the working age population will fall even more drastically.
Who will pay the taxes ?
UK, on the other hand goes from 2015 = 63.8 to 2045 = 72.1
It is this switch which projects that the UK will have a larger GDP than Germany in 2050 !
Should Merkel just sit there and wring her hands ?
Pursue a policy of selectively offering residency rights to a group of people from less well off countries?
Get a democratic mandate from her voters?
Saying "why don't you all try to swim the Med and I'll take the survivors" is just a little Darwinian for my taste
Merkel is fully aware of the democratic mandate. The German electoral cycle is shorter than ours. She is an astute politician. She has read the tea leaves , I can assure you.
Down the years, virtually all Syrians, Afghans assimilated in Germany will vote CDU. Like the Ugandan Asians vote Tory [ despite most other EM communities vote Labour ]
Most of these refugees didn't come from Libya. You know the country we sorted out two years back.
None of those points bear any relevance to my comments.
Corbyn had discussions with Burnham this afternoon apparently. I still have a suspicion that Burnham will have been saying Shadow Chancellor or I am not playing. If so, it will be an early test of Corbyn's mettle.
I don't think AB will get the Shadow Chancellor's job. I could be wrong.
John McDonnell or Angela Eagle probably. I will be surprised if it is not JM. What is the point of receiving 60% of the votes, then worrying about making an appointment to "please the City".
JC probably thinks the City [ particularly , the Banks ] is the root of the problems facing this country.
Burnham will probably get Foreign Affairs or Home. Hilary Benn has played his cards well by keeping his mouth shut. Also, supporting the Palestinian cause will not be a big problem for him. It might have been for one or two like Rachel Reeves, for instance.
That's gone against the script. I was in London yesterday and saw some girls on the Tube (they looked about fifteen) who were carrying placards from the 'People's Assembly' saying 'Refugees in. Tories out'. What is 'the People's Assembly' anyway? I take it's some Corbynite agitprop outfit. Whatever, they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves using the plight of those fleeing genocide for petty localized party-political stunts.
A long-standing Owen Jones outfit, rather than Corbynite specifically. But anti-cuts groups like that were full of latent support that Corbyn's nomination managed to unleash on the Labour ranks.
On top of UNITE there's UNISON, NUT, NUJ, PCS, RMT... and the activist list is a roll call of the Labour Left/Left-Green/Trotskyists/Respect/various other socialist groups.
There are organisers like Clare Solomon (eternal student demonstrator, remember her?), John Rees (Stop The War, ex-SWP, Respect), Romayne Phoenix (Left Green).
Leader of the Opposition is, since 1937 I believe, an official post. Shadow Cabinet isn't an official body.
Since JC is leader of the Labour Party it is assumed that he is the LOTO, but is he the leader of the largest grouping in the Commons not supporting the Government? Well that's up to the parliamentary Labour Party, but if he declines Privy Counsellor status, I could see someone else taking the official role.
Unlikely, of course, but there's not much doubt that a majority of the PLP would favour someone else, even if they might not say so.
I can't see Alec Salmond sitting on his hands in such circumstances. 'In the absence of a united Labour party, we are clearly the largest grouping not supporting the Government...'
Leader of the Opposition is, since 1937 I believe, an official post. Shadow Cabinet isn't an official body.
Since JC is leader of the Labour Party it is assumed that he is the LOTO, but is he the leader of the largest grouping in the Commons not supporting the Government? Well that's up to the parliamentary Labour Party, but if he declines Privy Counsellor status, I could see someone else taking the official role.
Unlikely, of course, but there's not much doubt that a majority of the PLP would favour someone else, even if they might not say so.
I taught nothing - twas how the students and others used it. BTW - thisis not the USA.
Hah - I'm sure you taught them something.
These tamed down equivalents are tricky though. For a long time I imagined that 'Berk' was a pretty tame insult, much the same as 'Chump' say. It turns out of course that it isn't.
As I've got older though I realise that 'strong' language gets you nowhere. 'Fool' is quite sufficient to condemn someone really. I think I'll have really grown up properly when I feel myself to be safe from that epithet. I suspect that will never happen.
The 'strength' of the language lies in the intent behind it, not the words. "Fool" spat out with contempt is every bit as strong as any swear word, whereas 'f**king' used without emotion as a space filler or emphatic is not a swear word at all, just entirely unnecessary.
Corbyn had discussions with Burnham this afternoon apparently. I still have a suspicion that Burnham will have been saying Shadow Chancellor or I am not playing. If so, it will be an early test of Corbyn's mettle.
Shadow Home Sec. I know Burnham is stupid, but he's not that stupid.
Both sides of Labour are hoping madly that he'll get the gig. The defectors don't want him, and the Corbynites think he'll help.
Burnham is the deadest of political corpses though.
That's gone against the script. I was in London yesterday and saw some girls on the Tube (they looked about fifteen) who were carrying placards from the 'People's Assembly' saying 'Refugees in. Tories out'. What is 'the People's Assembly' anyway? I take it's some Corbynite agitprop outfit. Whatever, they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves using the plight of those fleeing genocide for petty localized party-political stunts.
A long-standing Owen Jones outfit, rather than Corbynite specifically. But anti-cuts groups like that were full of latent support that Corbyn's nomination managed to unleash on the Labour ranks.
On top of UNITE there's UNISON, NUT, NUJ, PCS, RMT... and the activist list is a roll call of the Labour Left/Left-Green/Trotskyists/Respect/various other socialist groups.
There are organisers like Clare Solomon (eternal student demonstrator, remember her?)
That's gone against the script. I was in London yesterday and saw some girls on the Tube (they looked about fifteen) who were carrying placards from the 'People's Assembly' saying 'Refugees in. Tories out'. What is 'the People's Assembly' anyway? I take it's some Corbynite agitprop outfit. Whatever, they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves using the plight of those fleeing genocide for petty localized party-political stunts.
A long-standing Owen Jones outfit, rather than Corbynite specifically. But anti-cuts groups like that were full of latent support that Corbyn's nomination managed to unleash on the Labour ranks.
On top of UNITE there's UNISON, NUT, NUJ, PCS, RMT... and the activist list is a roll call of the Labour Left/Left-Green/Trotskyists/Respect/various other socialist groups.
There are organisers like Clare Solomon (eternal student demonstrator, remember her?)
If you think about it, Corbyn is in a really weak position. OK he got a mandate, but now he needs to do business with his colleagues who are overwhelmingly oppositional. Corbyn can't just allocate jobs to his cronies, or to opportunistic MP's- well he could, but I think that would go down like a cup of cold sick. He needs a fixer to manage the party that has credibility with the MP's.
Who do we think will be running the Labour party? Corbyn? Watson? What about McDonnell? Could he be the power behind the throne?
I think Tom Watson without doubt is Labour's new kingmaker. I cannot imagine anyone who has such an influence in a major political party without being leader. His power base is enhanced because he has no aspirations for the main prize.
Leader of the Opposition is, since 1937 I believe, an official post. Shadow Cabinet isn't an official body.
Since JC is leader of the Labour Party it is assumed that he is the LOTO, but is he the leader of the largest grouping in the Commons not supporting the Government? Well that's up to the parliamentary Labour Party, but if he declines Privy Counsellor status, I could see someone else taking the official role.
Unlikely, of course, but there's not much doubt that a majority of the PLP would favour someone else, even if they might not say so.
I can't see Alec Salmond sitting on his hands in such circumstances. 'In the absence of a united Labour party, we are clearly the largest grouping not supporting the Government...'
I taught nothing - twas how the students and others used it. BTW - thisis not the USA.
Hah - I'm sure you taught them something.
These tamed down equivalents are tricky though. For a long time I imagined that 'Berk' was a pretty tame insult, much the same as 'Chump' say. It turns out of course that it isn't.
As I've got older though I realise that 'strong' language gets you nowhere. 'Fool' is quite sufficient to condemn someone really. I think I'll have really grown up properly when I feel myself to be safe from that epithet. I suspect that will never happen.
The 'strength' of the language lies in the intent behind it, not the words. "Fool" spat out with contempt is every bit as strong as any swear word, whereas 'f**king' used without emotion as a space filler or emphatic is not a swear word at all, just entirely unnecessary.
cretinous halfwit sounds much better
Nothing cuts to the core though like being called a "Turnip".....
Sunil Neither one professed a religion..the one from Dublin is getting married next month and her local church has refused to marry her.. she did not give the reason.. she is going to a registry office and then another ceremony in Dublin..
Leader of the Opposition is, since 1937 I believe, an official post. Shadow Cabinet isn't an official body.
Since JC is leader of the Labour Party it is assumed that he is the LOTO, but is he the leader of the largest grouping in the Commons not supporting the Government? Well that's up to the parliamentary Labour Party, but if he declines Privy Counsellor status, I could see someone else taking the official role.
Unlikely, of course, but there's not much doubt that a majority of the PLP would favour someone else, even if they might not say so.
Um, isn't a "Privy" a kind of, er, loo?
His supporters will be mortified if he didn't sign his acceptance on a bog roll....
Corbyn had discussions with Burnham this afternoon apparently. I still have a suspicion that Burnham will have been saying Shadow Chancellor or I am not playing. If so, it will be an early test of Corbyn's mettle.
Hmm real world decisions, with consequences. He's spent a lifetime without that politically, having spent a huge amount of time for decades protesting from the sidelines.
Basically the article translates as: Germany will introduce border controls between itself and Austria as from 5pm this afternoon with the purpose of ascertaining genuine asylum seekers from those that are not.
--------------------------
Merkel was bloody stupid in her initial announcement which will have exacerbated an already serious migration problem across Europe. – With this change of tack, what happens now to migrants that don’t qualify for refugee status? – I guess it’s Austria’s problem now…
Must say, I find myself wondering for how long the "asylum seekers" will be content to lodge in sports centres, disused airport terminals and so on.
And clearly Cameron's policy of supporting refugees close to their borders is now revealed as far and away the most humane. Its sad that bigoted socialist crypto communist nutjobs have to use these poor people and theor plight as a political weapon.# In other words Corbyn has chosen to weaponise refugees.
As I pointed out on here a few days ago and was shouted down by the usual suspects as being a heartless tory..Merkel has made a massively bad decision..one of the worst by a senior politician for many decades and it will reverberate around Europe for a very long time, plus there are still a lot more people who will die in the med because of it.
Sunil Neither one professed a religion..the one from Dublin is getting married next month and her local church has refused to marry her.. she did not give the reason.. she is going to a registry office and then another ceremony in Dublin..
Richard D,
Catholics now outnumber Protestants in Belfast (though not an overall majority). There's a map here wot shows preferred "national description" across the Six Counties:
We need some voting intention opinion polls as soon as possible. If Labour are losing slightly more support than they're gaining with Corbyn they could be on about 27%.
SUNIL No need to point it out.. I am probably the only PBer who has been chased through some Dublin council house rear gardens in the early hours by a some pistol wielding boyos.. so I am very aware...I also went on patrol with some of the soldiers... but it seemed to me then and still does that the killings were mainly Irish on Irish The Brits were just in the bloody way...
Just like Iraq. And just like Iraq the killings would have been enormously bigger but for us standing in the way.
Sunil of course.. so the Brits must have done then.. stands to reason..
You really don't like me pointing out the outrages during the Troubles were NOT as one-sided as you think/believe.
No we just don't care. This is politicalbetting.com not irishtroubles.com and yet you continue to divert discussion of Mr Corbyn's "interesting" Irish friends into a load of whataboutery on whose fault the troubles were.
Yes, lots of people did lots of naughty things during the Troubles, the political wing of one side met with a Labour politician, now the leader of his party just after their paramilitary colleagues blew up the Grand Hotel in Brighton. Possibly you could stop your dancing now and enlighten us as to which loyalist paramilitary supporters met with a Tory politician, without a bunch of diversionary crap about the security services.
Well said. The guy is a total pathetic dork. We know the troubles were not one sided.
I taught nothing - twas how the students and others used it. BTW - thisis not the USA.
Hah - I'm sure you taught them something.
These tamed down equivalents are tricky though. For a long time I imagined that 'Berk' was a pretty tame insult, much the same as 'Chump' say. It turns out of course that it isn't.
As I've got older though I realise that 'strong' language gets you nowhere. 'Fool' is quite sufficient to condemn someone really. I think I'll have really grown up properly when I feel myself to be safe from that epithet. I suspect that will never happen.
The 'strength' of the language lies in the intent behind it, not the words. "Fool" spat out with contempt is every bit as strong as any swear word, whereas 'f**king' used without emotion as a space filler or emphatic is not a swear word at all, just entirely unnecessary.
cretinous halfwit sounds much better
Nothing cuts to the core though like being called a "Turnip".....
Surbiton: maybe Merkel should be trying to encourage German families to have more children. In France they have generous tax breaks for large families and the policy seems to be working there.
If you think about it, Corbyn is in a really weak position. OK he got a mandate, but now he needs to do business with his colleagues who are overwhelmingly oppositional. Corbyn can't just allocate jobs to his cronies, or to opportunistic MP's- well he could, but I think that would go down like a cup of cold sick. He needs a fixer to manage the party that has credibility with the MP's.
Who do we think will be running the Labour party? Corbyn? Watson? What about McDonnell? Could he be the power behind the throne?
I think Tom Watson without doubt is Labour's new kingmaker. I cannot imagine anyone who has such an influence in a major political party without being leader. His power base is enhanced because he has no aspirations for the main prize.
Don't be silly.
He easily could. I think you are thinking from a point of view of acceptance. He does not give a toss ! His point of view will be broadly speaking the Labour Opposition will have to project what the membership of the party wishes. Isn't that what democracy is about ?
They jumped the gun; it's a regular problem with German as a language where they put the verb at the end; "You are all into Germany w̶e̶l̶c̶o̶m̶e̶ forbidden"
C4 News on Thursday was reporting from a Corbyn rally and said that Corbyn wanted John McDonnell but Len Mccluskey was heard whispering in his ear that he must offer it to Burnham. that
Corbyn had discussions with Burnham this afternoon apparently. I still have a suspicion that Burnham will have been saying Shadow Chancellor or I am not playing. If so, it will be an early test of Corbyn's mettle.
Corbyn had discussions with Burnham this afternoon apparently. I still have a suspicion that Burnham will have been saying Shadow Chancellor or I am not playing. If so, it will be an early test of Corbyn's mettle.
I don't think AB will get the Shadow Chancellor's job. I could be wrong.
John McDonnell or Angela Eagle probably. I will be surprised if it is not JM. What is the point of receiving 60% of the votes, then worrying about making an appointment to "please the City".
JC probably thinks the City [ particularly , the Banks ] is the root of the problems facing this country.
Burnham will probably get Foreign Affairs or Home. Hilary Benn has played his cards well by keeping his mouth shut. Also, supporting the Palestinian cause will not be a big problem for him. It might have been for one or two like Rachel Reeves, for instance.
Bit of a problem with taking on the City. It's this little thing called Magna Carta
I taught nothing - twas how the students and others used it. BTW - thisis not the USA.
Hah - I'm sure you taught them something.
These tamed down equivalents are tricky though. For a long time I imagined that 'Berk' was a pretty tame insult, much the same as 'Chump' say. It turns out of course that it isn't.
As I've got older though I realise that 'strong' language gets you nowhere. 'Fool' is quite sufficient to condemn someone really. I think I'll have really grown up properly when I feel myself to be safe from that epithet. I suspect that will never happen.
The 'strength' of the language lies in the intent behind it, not the words. "Fool" spat out with contempt is every bit as strong as any swear word, whereas 'f**king' used without emotion as a space filler or emphatic is not a swear word at all, just entirely unnecessary.
cretinous halfwit sounds much better
Nothing cuts to the core though like being called a "Turnip".....
Sunil of course.. so the Brits must have done then.. stands to reason..
You really don't like me pointing out the outrages during the Troubles were NOT as one-sided as you think/believe.
No we just don't care. This is politicalbetting.com not irishtroubles.com and yet you continue to divert discussion of Mr Corbyn's "interesting" Irish friends into a load of whataboutery on whose fault the troubles were.
Yes, lots of people did lots of naughty things during the Troubles, the political wing of one side met with a Labour politician, now the leader of his party just after their paramilitary colleagues blew up the Grand Hotel in Brighton. Possibly you could stop your dancing now and enlighten us as to which loyalist paramilitary supporters met with a Tory politician, without a bunch of diversionary crap about the security services.
Well said. The guy is a total pathetic dork. We know the troubles were not one sided.
They jumped the gun; it's a regular problem with German as a language where they put the verb at the end; "You are all into Germany w̶e̶l̶c̶o̶m̶e̶ forbidden"
Which, of course, only works if you put the 'are' at the end.. apologies!
Chi Onwurah is a British Labour Party politician, who was elected at the 2010 general election as the Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, replacing the previous Labour MP Jim Cousins, who decided to step down and left the seat
Possibly you could stop your dancing now and enlighten us as to which loyalist paramilitary supporters met with a Tory politician, without a bunch of diversionary crap about the security services.
The whole point of Collusion between elements of the State and the Loyalists was that it was all hush-hush, hoosh-hoosh.
Sunil, elements of the state met with PIRA and other terrorist groups too. Crimes were committed by PIRA even though the the State knew that they were planned. It was all a very messy business. Now I appreciate that all this might have come as something as a shock to you in your reading of Wikkipedia but it is not actually news to those of us richer in years and there are several on this site who have very direct and personal knowledge of what went on.
So maybe unless you have some actual point to make then now, after three days of essentially hinting and making inane one liners, might be a good time to move on.
I agree - make him eat the food at that labyrinthine Brighton hospital.
Now, now, Mr. B. We don't have a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishments (through the 1688 Bill of Rights, if I remember, contains something similar) but there are limits in a civilised society.
I hope your sister-in-law is OK and survived her stay at the RSCH without too much suffering.
Thanks for asking - she is fine thanks. She had surgery on the 9th. They insisted she stay a night in hospital, which seems utterly insane and financially irresponsible for elbow surgery, but there it is. She's doing fine.
I taught nothing - twas how the students and others used it. BTW - thisis not the USA.
Hah - I'm sure you taught them something.
These tamed down equivalents are tricky though. For a long time I imagined that 'Berk' was a pretty tame insult, much the same as 'Chump' say. It turns out of course that it isn't.
As I've got older though I realise that 'strong' language gets you nowhere. 'Fool' is quite sufficient to condemn someone really. I think I'll have really grown up properly when I feel myself to be safe from that epithet. I suspect that will never happen.
The 'strength' of the language lies in the intent behind it, not the words. "Fool" spat out with contempt is every bit as strong as any swear word, whereas 'f**king' used without emotion as a space filler or emphatic is not a swear word at all, just entirely unnecessary.
cretinous halfwit sounds much better
Nothing cuts to the core though like being called a "Turnip".....
True it is special
'gammon-faced cockvalve' seems to be popular on Scottish twitter today.
http://www.economicsuk.com/blog/002120.html#more THE GREAT ESCAPE: HOW SCOTLAND DODGED A BULLET ''The Scots were promised a future of high oil prices and rising production. The reality has been plunging prices and a crisis in the North Sea. The Scots were told that Westminster was keeping secret from them the true picture of future North Sea riches. If anything was being kept secret, it was how bad it would be.'' ''In June the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) issued its latest long-term “fiscal sustainability” projections. As far as North Sea tax revenues are concerned, their conclusion was that it would be wise to plan for nothing from 2020 onwards. Total North Sea revenues will be just £2.1bn in the 20 years from 2020, it said, equivalent to a single year’s revenue in a bad year now.''
Possibly you could stop your dancing now and enlighten us as to which loyalist paramilitary supporters met with a Tory politician, without a bunch of diversionary crap about the security services.
The whole point of Collusion between elements of the State and the Loyalists was that it was all hush-hush, hoosh-hoosh.
Sunil, elements of the state met with PIRA and other terrorist groups too. Crimes were committed by PIRA even though the the State knew that they were planned. It was all a very messy business. Now I appreciate that all this might have come as something as a shock to you in your reading of Wikkipedia but it is not actually news to those of us richer in years and there are several on this site who have very direct and personal knowledge of what went on.
So maybe unless you have some actual point to make then now, after three days of essentially hinting and making inane one liners, might be a good time to move on.
I agree - make him eat the food at that labyrinthine Brighton hospital.
Now, now, Mr. B. We don't have a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishments (through the 1688 Bill of Rights, if I remember, contains something similar) but there are limits in a civilised society.
I hope your sister-in-law is OK and survived her stay at the RSCH without too much suffering.
Thanks for asking - she is fine thanks. She had surgery on the 9th. They insisted she stay a night in hospital, which seems utterly insane and financially irresponsible for elbow surgery, but there it is. She's doing fine.
I don't know so much. Supposing the scar had leaked, or there had been a late reaction to the anaesthetic? I would have thought after any surgery involving GA (assuming this did) it's sensible to have a few hours observation, anyway.
C4 News on Thursday was reporting from a Corbyn rally and said that Corbyn wanted John McDonnell but Len Mccluskey was heard whispering in his ear that he must offer it to Burnham. that
Corbyn had discussions with Burnham this afternoon apparently. I still have a suspicion that Burnham will have been saying Shadow Chancellor or I am not playing. If so, it will be an early test of Corbyn's mettle.
Osborne versus twice-humiliated Mascara Man.
I think Westminster just reintroduced bear-baiting through the back door...
Imams, priests, rabbis and other religious figures will have to enrol in a “national register of faith leaders” and be subject to government-specified training and security checks in the Home Office’s latest action on extremism.
The highly controversial proposal appears in a leaked draft of the Government’s new counter-extremism strategy, seen by The Telegraph, which goes substantially further than previous versions of the document.
I taught nothing - twas how the students and others used it. BTW - thisis not the USA.
Hah - I'm sure you taught them something.
These tamed down equivalents are tricky though. For a long time I imagined that 'Berk' was a pretty tame insult, much the same as 'Chump' say. It turns out of course that it isn't.
As I've got older though I realise that 'strong' language gets you nowhere. 'Fool' is quite sufficient to condemn someone really. I think I'll have really grown up properly when I feel myself to be safe from that epithet. I suspect that will never happen.
The 'strength' of the language lies in the intent behind it, not the words. "Fool" spat out with contempt is every bit as strong as any swear word, whereas 'f**king' used without emotion as a space filler or emphatic is not a swear word at all, just entirely unnecessary.
cretinous halfwit sounds much better
Nothing cuts to the core though like being called a "Turnip".....
True it is special
Have you ever called a Swede a "Turnip"?
A swede is small and wrong colour, too insignificant to match the mighty turnip
Sunil Neither one professed a religion..the one from Dublin is getting married next month and her local church has refused to marry her.. she did not give the reason.. she is going to a registry office and then another ceremony in Dublin..
Richard D,
Catholics now outnumber Protestants in Belfast (though not an overall majority). There's a map here wot shows preferred "national description" across the Six Counties:
C4 News on Thursday was reporting from a Corbyn rally and said that Corbyn wanted John McDonnell but Len Mccluskey was heard whispering in his ear that he must offer it to Burnham. that
Corbyn had discussions with Burnham this afternoon apparently. I still have a suspicion that Burnham will have been saying Shadow Chancellor or I am not playing. If so, it will be an early test of Corbyn's mettle.
Osborne versus twice-humiliated Mascara Man.
I think Westminster just reintroduced bear-baiting through the back door...
There is a really unkind joke could be made there about Tom Watson.
http://www.economicsuk.com/blog/002120.html#more THE GREAT ESCAPE: HOW SCOTLAND DODGED A BULLET ''The Scots were promised a future of high oil prices and rising production. The reality has been plunging prices and a crisis in the North Sea. The Scots were told that Westminster was keeping secret from them the true picture of future North Sea riches. If anything was being kept secret, it was how bad it would be.'' ''In June the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) issued its latest long-term “fiscal sustainability” projections. As far as North Sea tax revenues are concerned, their conclusion was that it would be wise to plan for nothing from 2020 onwards. Total North Sea revenues will be just £2.1bn in the 20 years from 2020, it said, equivalent to a single year’s revenue in a bad year now.''
I taught nothing - twas how the students and others used it. BTW - thisis not the USA.
Hah - I'm sure you taught them something.
These tamed down equivalents are tricky though. For a long time I imagined that 'Berk' was a pretty tame insult, much the same as 'Chump' say. It turns out of course that it isn't.
As I've got older though I realise that 'strong' language gets you nowhere. 'Fool' is quite sufficient to condemn someone really. I think I'll have really grown up properly when I feel myself to be safe from that epithet. I suspect that will never happen.
The 'strength' of the language lies in the intent behind it, not the words. "Fool" spat out with contempt is every bit as strong as any swear word, whereas 'f**king' used without emotion as a space filler or emphatic is not a swear word at all, just entirely unnecessary.
cretinous halfwit sounds much better
Nothing cuts to the core though like being called a "Turnip".....
True it is special
'gammon-faced cockvalve' seems to be popular on Scottish twitter today.
Yes poor old Cameron getting it big. Bit too rude for PB.com though, some of the frothers would have the vapours.
They jumped the gun; it's a regular problem with German as a language where they put the verb at the end; "You are all into Germany w̶e̶l̶c̶o̶m̶e̶ forbidden"
Greece, Italy and Hungary should be furious. The numbers of migrants they have to deal with is now far, far bigger because Germany invited them all in and then closed the doors while many were still in transit. The ineptness is making Germany's response to the Eurozone crisis look like a paragon of competence.
Comments
What an omnishambles. She's the worst German leader in recent memory.
Get a democratic mandate from her voters?
Saying "why don't you all try to swim the Med and I'll take the survivors" is just a little Darwinian for my taste
So maybe unless you have some actual point to make then now, after three days of essentially hinting and making inane one liners, might be a good time to move on.
EDIT: Damn, beaten by seconds by ydoethur!
Just stop letting in unskilled workers and if anyone complains point to Germany ignoring deficit limits in 2005, ignoring the no bailouts clause in 2010 and ignoring Schengen today.
Its the local 'People's Assembly' that is busy beheading people in Syria/ Iraq.
How many Merkel wants to take is between her and the German electorate, but she has no right what so ever to inflict them on other countries, which given free movement of labour is exactly what she is doing.
This started of as a combination of war-guilt and virtue-signalling, and is in danger of costing her the election... I won't shed a tear for her departure.
"We are good Europeans
You are breaking agreements"
The instincts of the German's might be good, but the practicalities are a mess.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenanne_gang
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_Research_Unit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Scappaticci
Time to just leave them to it.
Down the years, virtually all Syrians, Afghans assimilated in Germany will vote CDU. Like the Ugandan Asians vote Tory [ despite most other EM communities vote Labour ]
Most of these refugees didn't come from Libya. You know the country we sorted out two years back.
2. How is it that all female American country singers are virtually pitch perfect?
3. If Corbyn disappoints his enthusiastic supporters will we get scenes like at the end of "The Man Who Would be King"?
4. Will Yannis bring his wife to meet the common people?
I hope your sister-in-law is OK and survived her stay at the RSCH without too much suffering.
And just like Iraq the killings would have been enormously bigger but for us standing in the way.
I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the backroom. Corbyn has such little support within the mainstream party that clearly Tom is calling some of the shots. It may be that Corbyn turns into a figurehead pretty quickly- i.e. he has the position, but very little say over policy and appointments.
Since JC is leader of the Labour Party it is assumed that he is the LOTO, but is he the leader of the largest grouping in the Commons not supporting the Government? Well that's up to the parliamentary Labour Party, but if he declines Privy Counsellor status, I could see someone else taking the official role.
Unlikely, of course, but there's not much doubt that a majority of the PLP would favour someone else, even if they might not say so.
Owen Jones is only 12 years old, so he can't be the mastermind.
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2015/09/whos-jeremy-corbyns-shadow-cabinet
John McDonnell or Angela Eagle probably. I will be surprised if it is not JM. What is the point of receiving 60% of the votes, then worrying about making an appointment to "please the City".
JC probably thinks the City [ particularly , the Banks ] is the root of the problems facing this country.
Burnham will probably get Foreign Affairs or Home. Hilary Benn has played his cards well by keeping his mouth shut. Also, supporting the Palestinian cause will not be a big problem for him. It might have been for one or two like Rachel Reeves, for instance.
On top of UNITE there's UNISON, NUT, NUJ, PCS, RMT... and the activist list is a roll call of the Labour Left/Left-Green/Trotskyists/Respect/various other socialist groups.
There are organisers like Clare Solomon (eternal student demonstrator, remember her?), John Rees (Stop The War, ex-SWP, Respect), Romayne Phoenix (Left Green).
Both sides of Labour are hoping madly that he'll get the gig. The defectors don't want him, and the Corbynites think he'll help.
Burnham is the deadest of political corpses though.
http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2011/mar/19/clare-solomon-interview
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8164855/The-student-firebrand-behind-wave-of-protests.html
Its sad that bigoted socialist crypto communist nutjobs have to use these poor people and theor plight as a political weapon.#
In other words Corbyn has chosen to weaponise refugees.
Catholics now outnumber Protestants in Belfast (though not an overall majority). There's a map here wot shows preferred "national description" across the Six Counties:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Most_common_nationality_2011.png
Red = British
Blue = "NI"
Green = Irish
Germany introduces border controls with Austria to stop more refugees arriving, so why the hell did they invite so many ?
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/fluechtlingskrise/bundesregierung-fuehrt-wieder-grenzkontrollen-ein-13800905.html
Maybe he'll end up as Prime Minister after all!
I've never heard of either.
http://chionwurahmp.com/
Pretty website
THE GREAT ESCAPE: HOW SCOTLAND DODGED A BULLET
''The Scots were promised a future of high oil prices and rising production. The reality has been plunging prices and a crisis in the North Sea. The Scots were told that Westminster was keeping secret from them the true picture of future North Sea riches. If anything was being kept secret, it was how bad it would be.''
''In June the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) issued its latest long-term “fiscal sustainability” projections. As far as North Sea tax revenues are concerned, their conclusion was that it would be wise to plan for nothing from 2020 onwards. Total North Sea revenues will be just £2.1bn in the 20 years from 2020, it said, equivalent to a single year’s revenue in a bad year now.''
Ouch.
Apparently a Burnham supporter who nominated Corbyn though...
Hope you are all bearing up.
I think Westminster just reintroduced bear-baiting through the back door...
But check out todays Serie A scores... Four games gone, all 2-2!
Your interpretative understanding of Northern Ireland politics appears to be next to zero.
Reality is religious headcount doesn't for not very much. Barely 60% of Catholics see themselves as Irish.
Somebody tipped her for something a couple of days ago iirc.