Most interesting part for me - Merkel knows she's made a huge mistake:
"Merkel, however, is increasingly lonely and embattled. Policymakers say privately that she is looking for a way to back down without losing face."
On the other hand, there's an adulatory cover story in the Economist this week, arguing that she has judged both European and German interests correctly and will roll over the opposition to her policies. The critics are mostly quite weak - the CSU leader is always grumbling but never follows through.
Personally I think she'll tweak the policies a bit but she's not under serious challenge. There is currently a centre-left majority which could be used against her, but the Germans aren't yet ready to include the Communists in national power like Portugal. If the AfD doubled their vote at CDU expense, it would not alter the arithmetic. And she remains hugely popular with CDU voters - over 70% IIRC.
Frank Field, who has been giving interviews to mark the report of the DWP Select Committee that he chairs, said it was “rich” of Gordon Brown to deliver lectures on U-turns as his own one on the 10p rate abolition was very slow, ungracious and involved spraying money around in an unfocused way.
When I put that to Gordon Brown he dismissed Frank Field as a man who had nominated Jeremy Corbyn and then criticised him.
OT. What a pity that when Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister all we saw were his weaknesses. When he addresses himself to issues that he really cares about like child poverty and Scottish independence you see what a talented and passionate leader he could have been.
Frank Field, who has been giving interviews to mark the report of the DWP Select Committee that he chairs, said it was “rich” of Gordon Brown to deliver lectures on U-turns as his own one on the 10p rate abolition was very slow, ungracious and involved spraying money around in an unfocused way.
When I put that to Gordon Brown he dismissed Frank Field as a man who had nominated Jeremy Corbyn and then criticised him.
What a tw@t...Why doesn't Brown just sod off. Oh wait I know why, because nobody will actually give him a proper job.
It was Brown that fecked Labour, what's happened after is a direct result of his incompetence, Labour have chosen three leaders in a row that are unelectable, and if you don't believe me talk to the man in the street so to speak, the guy filling up a vending machine today was heard to laugh at the mention of Corbyn's name )and said he was completely unelectable..
OT. What a pity that when Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister all we saw were his weaknesses. When he addresses himself to issues that he really cares about like child poverty and Scottish independence you see what a talented and passionate leader he could have been.
Bullshit...he was totally and utterly incapable of leading. Ask anybody who worked in the machine of government during his time as leader and they will all tell you that decisions weren't been made, paperwork was piling up all waiting for things to be sanctioned etc etc etc.
The reason he didn't get found out at the treasury was he only had to two dates in the year when decisions had to be made by (and even then he was a disaster).
OT. What a pity that when Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister all we saw were his weaknesses. When he addresses himself to issues that he really cares about like child poverty and Scottish independence you see what a talented and passionate leader he could have been.
It's a myth that Brown's intervention altered the Scottish referendum result, in fact, he's a chief architect of SLab's destruction and the SNP's current prominence.
I am no fan of Corbyn, but this is just getting ridiculous. Criticize the man for bonkers policies, there is plenty to go at, e.g his sexist train carriage idea.
Everyone will claim credit when actually only half a dozen people will give a toss
My first guess:
35% turnout
43% Labour 24% UKIP 19% Con 11% LD 3% Green and OMRLP
I doubt that Labour's vote will hold up now that it's in the hands of the militant loony left. UKIP to pull off a sensational win.
Allowing for the ethnic profile, good local councillor candidate and sympathy vote following an unexpected death rather than scandal related byelection: Safe Labour hold.
UKIP have a pretty low ceiling and I can think of few elections of any sort where kippers go above 30% and often much less than that.
Conservative voters in such safe Labour seats seem quite resistant to tactical voting.
I predict a modest bounceback for the LDs.
Overall a slightly depressing result for everyone.
Not sure if anyone spotted this but Con gained another Peer yesterday.
Not sure how this happened - I'm not talking about Greg Barker (who was introduced yesterday along with Lorely Burt).
No, all 26 of the new Con Peers recently announced by Cameron were already in the official Parliament website total before yesterday (even though some haven't yet been formally introduced). Someone else got added yesterday.
The only thing I can think of is that someone previously on a "Leave of Absence" has suddenly terminated that and "returned". I think that's quite rare - would be interesting to know who this is and the background - following those extraordinary turnouts of Con Peers a couple of weeks ago is this another indication they are pulling out all the stops to maximise their vote.
I am no fan of Corbyn, but this is just getting ridiculous. Criticize the man for bonkers policies, there is plenty to go at, e.g his sexist train carriage idea.
He dissents from the British state religion and as a religious dissenter is getting stick accordingly. Tim Farron if he were in Corbyn's place would get it too (as a man who has an actual religion).
OT. What a pity that when Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister all we saw were his weaknesses. When he addresses himself to issues that he really cares about like child poverty and Scottish independence you see what a talented and passionate leader he could have been.
It's a myth that Brown's intervention altered the Scottish referendum result, in fact, he's a chief architect of SLab's destruction and the SNP's current prominence.
Most interesting part for me - Merkel knows she's made a huge mistake:
"Merkel, however, is increasingly lonely and embattled. Policymakers say privately that she is looking for a way to back down without losing face."
On the other hand, there's an adulatory cover story in the Economist this week, arguing that she has judged both European and German interests correctly and will roll over the opposition to her policies. The critics are mostly quite weak - the CSU leader is always grumbling but never follows through.
Personally I think she'll tweak the policies a bit but she's not under serious challenge. There is currently a centre-left majority which could be used against her, but the Germans aren't yet ready to include the Communists in national power like Portugal. If the AfD doubled their vote at CDU expense, it would not alter the arithmetic. And she remains hugely popular with CDU voters - over 70% IIRC.
The Economist makes the Guardian look like the Daily Mail when it comes to immigration.
Everyone will claim credit when actually only half a dozen people will give a toss
My first guess:
35% turnout
43% Labour 24% UKIP 19% Con 11% LD 3% Green and OMRLP
I doubt that Labour's vote will hold up now that it's in the hands of the militant loony left. UKIP to pull off a sensational win.
Allowing for the ethnic profile, good local councillor candidate and sympathy vote following an unexpected death rather than scandal related byelection: Safe Labour hold.
UKIP have a pretty low ceiling and I can think of few elections of any sort where kippers go above 30% and often much less than that.
Conservative voters in such safe Labour seats seem quite resistant to tactical voting.
I predict a modest bounceback for the LDs.
Overall a slightly depressing result for everyone.
There have been literally two instances of effective Conservative tactical voting in history. Leeds North West and Sheffield, Hallam.
David Goodhart is one of the most intelligent and sensible men on the British Left. He was (rightfully) quoted in the Government's balance of competency review of the EU.
Sadly, his suggestions to curb migration were not taken up.
So now we know the hideous truth. Jeremy Corbyn didn't genuflect in front of her Majesty the Queen.
The wretch should be sent to North Korea. They'd soon teach him how to show respect to a hereditary ruler
Yes , disrespectful little shit isn't he.. its a question of being respectful, something Corbyn doesn't understand.
The reshaping of Corbyn is interesting to watch. He has bought a new suit, worn a poppy on every conceivable occasion, chatted with British military veterans and worn white tie to a State Banquet.
The animals looked from pig to man, from man to pig, but could no longer see any difference.
So now we know the hideous truth. Jeremy Corbyn didn't genuflect in front of her Majesty the Queen.
The wretch should be sent to North Korea. They'd soon teach him how to show respect to a hereditary ruler
Yes , disrespectful little shit isn't he.. its a question of being respectful, something Corbyn doesn't understand.
IMHO you're both right and wrong.
Respect can be shown in different modes and is none the less respect.
The bowing doesn't matter one iota in itself, and only someone puffed up in their own esteem would take umbrage at it not happening.
It seems to me that Mr Corbyn's value system is so much out of synch with the rest of us that it's hard for us to recognise what he does respect, or what means he uses to show that respect.
So now we know the hideous truth. Jeremy Corbyn didn't genuflect in front of her Majesty the Queen.
The wretch should be sent to North Korea. They'd soon teach him how to show respect to a hereditary ruler
Yes , disrespectful little shit isn't he.. its a question of being respectful, something Corbyn doesn't understand.
IMHO you're both right and wrong.
Respect can be shown in different modes and is none the less respect.
The bowing doesn't matter one iota in itself, and only someone puffed up in their own esteem would take umbrage at it not happening.
It seems to me that Mr Corbyn's value system is so much out of synch with the rest of us that it's hard for us to recognise what he does respect, or what means he uses to show that respect.
I don't know what you mean by the 'rest of us', but speaking personally I find Corbyn's value system is closer to mine than those of the newspaper editors who continually denigrate him. Remember the Sun hacked the phones of the families of dead servicemen. I regard Rupert Murdoch as an enemy of my country and a total shit of a human being. I'll forgive Corbyn a few foibles. I am less inclined to overlook Cameron's appointment of Andy Coulson.
So now we know the hideous truth. Jeremy Corbyn didn't genuflect in front of her Majesty the Queen.
The wretch should be sent to North Korea. They'd soon teach him how to show respect to a hereditary ruler
Yes , disrespectful little shit isn't he.. its a question of being respectful, something Corbyn doesn't understand.
IMHO you're both right and wrong.
Respect can be shown in different modes and is none the less respect.
The bowing doesn't matter one iota in itself, and only someone puffed up in their own esteem would take umbrage at it not happening.
It seems to me that Mr Corbyn's value system is so much out of synch with the rest of us that it's hard for us to recognise what he does respect, or what means he uses to show that respect.
I don't know what you mean by the 'rest of us', but speaking personally I find Corbyn's value system is closer to mine than those of the newspaper editors who continually denigrate him. Remember the Sun hacked the phones of the families of dead servicemen. I regard Rupert Murdoch as an enemy of my country and a total shit of a human being. I'll forgive Corbyn a few foibles. I am less inclined to overlook Cameron's appointment of Andy Coulson.
Yes, I realised after I'd posted it that 'the rest of us' wasn't a good phrase. Manifestly there are lots of people who share his views.
So now we know the hideous truth. Jeremy Corbyn didn't genuflect in front of her Majesty the Queen.
The wretch should be sent to North Korea. They'd soon teach him how to show respect to a hereditary ruler
Yes , disrespectful little shit isn't he.. its a question of being respectful, something Corbyn doesn't understand.
IMHO you're both right and wrong.
Respect can be shown in different modes and is none the less respect.
The bowing doesn't matter one iota in itself, and only someone puffed up in their own esteem would take umbrage at it not happening.
It seems to me that Mr Corbyn's value system is so much out of synch with the rest of us that it's hard for us to recognise what he does respect, or what means he uses to show that respect.
I regard Rupert Murdoch as an enemy of my country and a total shit of a human being. I'll forgive Corbyn a few foibles.
Rupert is a Aussie turned American and never very pro-the-country that made his fortune. He has never shown any respect to the Queen or any member of the Royal family and sought to undermine them at every opportunity. He is more like Corbyn than either may want to admit!
Comments
http://www.standpointmag.co.uk/node/6272
Cameron has TINO, there is no opposition.
35% turnout
43% Labour
24% UKIP
19% Con
11% LD
3% Green and OMRLP
Personally I think she'll tweak the policies a bit but she's not under serious challenge. There is currently a centre-left majority which could be used against her, but the Germans aren't yet ready to include the Communists in national power like Portugal. If the AfD doubled their vote at CDU expense, it would not alter the arithmetic. And she remains hugely popular with CDU voters - over 70% IIRC.
When I put that to Gordon Brown he dismissed Frank Field as a man who had nominated Jeremy Corbyn and then criticised him.
- See more at: http://blogs.channel4.com/gary-gibbon-on-politics/brown-osborne-rip-tax-credit-cuts/31816#sthash.usB4O22c.dpuf
What a tw@t...Why doesn't Brown just sod off. Oh wait I know why, because nobody will actually give him a proper job.
Charlie Gilmour mob causing more trouble. Thats when he isn't writing for the Evening Standard.
NPXMP
You supported Brown, Miliband and Corbyn????
https://twitter.com/paulwaugh/status/664525035168792576?lang=en
The reason he didn't get found out at the treasury was he only had to two dates in the year when decisions had to be made by (and even then he was a disaster).
UKIP have a pretty low ceiling and I can think of few elections of any sort where kippers go above 30% and often much less than that.
Conservative voters in such safe Labour seats seem quite resistant to tactical voting.
I predict a modest bounceback for the LDs.
Overall a slightly depressing result for everyone.
Not sure how this happened - I'm not talking about Greg Barker (who was introduced yesterday along with Lorely Burt).
No, all 26 of the new Con Peers recently announced by Cameron were already in the official Parliament website total before yesterday (even though some haven't yet been formally introduced). Someone else got added yesterday.
The only thing I can think of is that someone previously on a "Leave of Absence" has suddenly terminated that and "returned". I think that's quite rare - would be interesting to know who this is and the background - following those extraordinary turnouts of Con Peers a couple of weeks ago is this another indication they are pulling out all the stops to maximise their vote.
David Goodhart is one of the most intelligent and sensible men on the British Left. He was (rightfully) quoted in the Government's balance of competency review of the EU.
Sadly, his suggestions to curb migration were not taken up.
Or is it suggesting we should help refugees leaving sinking boats?
The wretch should be sent to North Korea. They'd soon teach him how to show respect to a hereditary ruler
The animals looked from pig to man, from man to pig, but could no longer see any difference.
Respect can be shown in different modes and is none the less respect.
The bowing doesn't matter one iota in itself, and only someone puffed up in their own esteem would take umbrage at it not happening.
It seems to me that Mr Corbyn's value system is so much out of synch with the rest of us that it's hard for us to recognise what he does respect, or what means he uses to show that respect.
The very same media going after Corbyn for his supposed disrespect to QE will be tearing Charles to pieces within months of his coronation.