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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » At 10.30 am we’ll find out if the 2nd by-election of the 20

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  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    And some boxing federation have stripped him of a fairly won title. It's insane.

    Sandpit said:

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Surely there would have to a reason to ban him from the UK, such as a serious criminal conviction or that his behaviour would not be conducive to the public good?

    I'm not defending what he said, but suggesting that the high threshold for freedom of speech needed to ban someone from the UK is not met in this case. He is not inciting violence or sedition, and he's not a rapist or murderer.
    Neither is the boxing fellow (I presume) but he's being investigated by the police...

  • This popped up on a feed I subscribe to.
    Those of you who believe in a Deity may like the book reviews.
    http://bigthink.com/21st-century-spirituality/which-holy-book-is-more-violent
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,552
    Iain said:

    Sadly some of the comments are misinformed. It is not the SNP who raised the action but four local constituents who are not members of the SNP.

    Iain, You will find the truth means nothing to the Tories on here, they only understand SNP BAD
  • And some boxing federation have stripped him of a fairly won title. It's insane.

    Sandpit said:

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Surely there would have to a reason to ban him from the UK, such as a serious criminal conviction or that his behaviour would not be conducive to the public good?

    I'm not defending what he said, but suggesting that the high threshold for freedom of speech needed to ban someone from the UK is not met in this case. He is not inciting violence or sedition, and he's not a rapist or murderer.
    Neither is the boxing fellow (I presume) but he's being investigated by the police...

    Nothing to do with what he said. It's the usual boxing politics. All about who he will or will not defend the title against.

  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 55,098

    Sandpit said:

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Surely there would have to a reason to ban him from the UK, such as a serious criminal conviction or that his behaviour would not be conducive to the public good?

    I'm not defending what he said, but suggesting that the high threshold for freedom of speech needed to ban someone from the UK is not met in this case. He is not inciting violence or sedition, and he's not a rapist or murderer.
    Neither is the boxing fellow (I presume) but he's being investigated by the police...
    The BBC are getting really worried that he might actually win their prize, or at least end up on the podium. He's a boxer, not a profession known for their politically correct views! Oh, and he's a British world champion, I might vote for him just to spite the protesters!
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,773

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Trump is an absolute bell-end. He'd love being banned from the UK. But we either believe in free speech or we don't. What will end up really hurting Trump are the business relationships and customers he loses as a result of his inflammatory posturing. That will be a long-lasting legacy of his campaign. He has already lost billions of dollars by not being very good at business. He is probably going to lose a few more now.

    With how many Muslim run companies does (did?) Trump do business? Must have be (have been) some!
  • Just seen Bush in Staggers - http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2015/12/jeremy-corbyn-quotes-enver-hoxha-labour-party-christmas-party

    Dubbing Hoxha a "tough ruler", Corbyn quoted Hoxha's phrase that "this year will be tougher than last year". Hoxha is believed to have imprisoned, tortured or executed at least 100,000 Albanians during his reign.
    MikeK said:


    This is defo a split in the shadow cabinet

    "Albanian-Chinese relations had stagnated by 1970, and when the Asian giant began to reemerge from isolation and the Cultural Revolution in the early 1970s, Mao and the other Communist Chinese leaders reassessed their commitment to tiny Albania."
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,552
    Some real opinion on politics in Scotland, frothers read and weep

    https://weegingerdug.wordpress.com/2015/12/08/the-mass-extinction-of-unionist-monkeys/
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 55,098
    edited December 2015

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Trump is an absolute bell-end. He'd love being banned from the UK. But we either believe in free speech or we don't. What will end up really hurting Trump are the business relationships and customers he loses as a result of his inflammatory posturing. That will be a long-lasting legacy of his campaign. He has already lost billions of dollars by not being very good at business. He is probably going to lose a few more now.

    With how many Muslim run companies does (did?) Trump do business? Must have be (have been) some!
    He was planning a large tower in Dubai a few years back, with a local builder Nakheel as a partner, but it got cancelled in 2009 when all the money ran out.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_International_Hotel_and_Tower_(Dubai)
  • The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Trump is an absolute bell-end. He'd love being banned from the UK. But we either believe in free speech or we don't. What will end up really hurting Trump are the business relationships and customers he loses as a result of his inflammatory posturing. That will be a long-lasting legacy of his campaign. He has already lost billions of dollars by not being very good at business. He is probably going to lose a few more now.

    With how many Muslim run companies does (did?) Trump do business? Must have be (have been) some!

    It's not just Muslims he has insulted. He has gone after pretty much everyone: Hispanics, African Americans, women etc. You can't do that in the US without suffering significant blowback.


  • Miss Vance, Trump's an arse [fitting, given his name can mean an episode of flatulence], and his latest utterance ridiculous. But banning people with whom we disagree and putting him on a par with someone who literally advocates murdering apostates and the like is protesting a shade too much, I think.

    While Trump is not a member of Congress if he were he'd belong in Mencken's 'three thirds':

    Congress consists of one third, more or less, scoundrels; two thirds, more or less, idiots; and three thirds, more or less, poltroons.

    Interesting to see the geographical spread of the Trump petition signatories - the particularly keen in

    North London
    Brighton
    Aberdeen......and he used to be such a bestie with one of the local MPs too....

    http://petitionmap.unboxedconsulting.com/?petition=114003
  • Sandpit said:

    Sandpit said:

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Surely there would have to a reason to ban him from the UK, such as a serious criminal conviction or that his behaviour would not be conducive to the public good?

    I'm not defending what he said, but suggesting that the high threshold for freedom of speech needed to ban someone from the UK is not met in this case. He is not inciting violence or sedition, and he's not a rapist or murderer.
    Neither is the boxing fellow (I presume) but he's being investigated by the police...
    The BBC are getting really worried that he might actually win their prize, or at least end up on the podium. He's a boxer, not a profession known for their politically correct views! Oh, and he's a British world champion, I might vote for him just to spite the protesters!

    Surely it's not just the politically correct who would have a problem with Fury linking homosexuality to paedophilia. I am totally against dropping him from the SPOTY list, but the personality bit in the award does imply at least an element of being some kind of role model, doesn't it?

  • Sandpit said:

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Surely there would have to a reason to ban him from the UK, such as a serious criminal conviction or that his behaviour would not be conducive to the public good?
    Or there's his religion.....shifty fellows those Presbyterians.......I wonder how many mass shootings in the US have been done by them?
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670

    On topic, if Alistair Carmichael loses it will be precedent-setting. An appeal if he loses must be quite likely.

    I will be beyond astonished if he loses. It will completely change the face of British political campaigning if he does.


  • Congress consists of one third, more or less, scoundrels; two thirds, more or less, idiots; and three thirds, more or less, poltroons.

    trump mightnjust appear in the part of the venn diagram where all three intersect
  • OchEyeOchEye Posts: 1,469

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Trump is an absolute bell-end. He'd love being banned from the UK. But we either believe in free speech or we don't. What will end up really hurting Trump are the business relationships and customers he loses as a result of his inflammatory posturing. That will be a long-lasting legacy of his campaign. He has already lost billions of dollars by not being very good at business. He is probably going to lose a few more now.

    And who will want to admit to playing golf at Trumpton Course at Menie or even Trumpberry?

    Even our ex-FM must be thanking his God (must hope the mirror doesn't crack) that The Donald is very much an ex-friend.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670

    Sandpit said:

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Surely there would have to a reason to ban him from the UK, such as a serious criminal conviction or that his behaviour would not be conducive to the public good?
    Or there's his religion.....shifty fellows those Presbyterians.......I wonder how many mass shootings in the US have been done by them?
    I know you are doing a comedy bit but I believe that American mass shooting demographic breakdown is pretty much evenly distributed in proporiotn to the make up of the US amongst ethnicity. Don't know of the breakdown by religion.
  • malcolmg said:

    Some real opinion on politics in Scotland, frothers read and weep

    https://weegingerdug.wordpress.com/2015/12/08/the-mass-extinction-of-unionist-monkeys/

    Normal politics will not be restored until independence, that’s the only way we’ll get a healthy political ecosystem

    So a referendum will be in the 2016 SNP Manifesto then?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,060
    The parties in this case will be told the decision in about an hour at just after 9.00. In my experience with my much less interesting cases the 10.30 release can be somewhat flexible, tending to be somewhat later. I would imagine that there will be a lot of anxious refreshing on the Scottish Court Website this morning.

    Lady Paton, who chaired the Court, is a senior and experienced Judge who is generally cautious in her approach. A safe pair of hands I would say. In my opinion to allow this petition to succeed would be an uncharacteristically radical step which would open the door to repeated challenges of any elected politician who had "lied" about anything. Would David Cameron have to restand for election on the back of various "cast iron pledges" for example?

    The one thing that makes me pause is that the same Judges allowed this case to proceed to proof at all. In Scots law the debate is essentially a test of relevancy: if all that the petitioner has said is true can they succeed? Given that all the key facts were basically admitted the fact that they even said "maybe" to that question is interesting. I thought at the time that the correct answer was "no" because the lies told were not directly connected to the election of Carmichael as an MP.

    The evidence was in short compass and on my understanding added very little. The question on which the Court said "maybe" now needs to be answered.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,545
    edited December 2015
    As far as I am aware Trump has made a lot of money out of using his brand to put on things like new developments. Hence why there has been many that have gone busto and he doesn't actually have any money of his own invested, only percentages from the naming rights.

    Given his all out daily rant-athons, I wonder when it is all over how the Trump "Brand" value will have altered?

    So Mr Bin Mohammad, can we interest you in a condo in the new luxury Trump Tower. Isn't that the man who wanted to ban all Muslims from America...Erhhh well...errrh yes, but but he isn't actually building this.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,956
    OchEye said:

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Trump is an absolute bell-end. He'd love being banned from the UK. But we either believe in free speech or we don't. What will end up really hurting Trump are the business relationships and customers he loses as a result of his inflammatory posturing. That will be a long-lasting legacy of his campaign. He has already lost billions of dollars by not being very good at business. He is probably going to lose a few more now.

    And who will want to admit to playing golf at Trumpton Course at Menie or even Trumpberry?

    Even our ex-FM must be thanking his God (must hope the mirror doesn't crack) that The Donald is very much an ex-friend.

    I'd be shocked if anyone who plays there gives a crap.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 55,098
    edited December 2015

    Sandpit said:

    Sandpit said:

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Surely there would have to a reason to ban him from the UK, such as a serious criminal conviction or that his behaviour would not be conducive to the public good?

    I'm not defending what he said, but suggesting that the high threshold for freedom of speech needed to ban someone from the UK is not met in this case. He is not inciting violence or sedition, and he's not a rapist or murderer.
    Neither is the boxing fellow (I presume) but he's being investigated by the police...
    The BBC are getting really worried that he might actually win their prize, or at least end up on the podium. He's a boxer, not a profession known for their politically correct views! Oh, and he's a British world champion, I might vote for him just to spite the protesters!

    Surely it's not just the politically correct who would have a problem with Fury linking homosexuality to paedophilia. I am totally against dropping him from the SPOTY list, but the personality bit in the award does imply at least an element of being some kind of role model, doesn't it?
    The actual quote:
    “There are only three things that need to be accomplished before the devil comes home: one of them is homosexuality being legal in countries, one of them is abortion and the other one’s paedophilia.”
    He is saying that he sees three problems, he isn't saying that they were equally important or comparing them to each other. I would suggest that 95% agree with him on paedophilia and 95% disagree with him on homosexuality, with abortion being 50-50.

    Remember that he came from a traveller family and left school at 11. Yes maybe he should think before opening his mouth, but trying to hold him to the standards of political correctness expected by the educated liberal left (who would probably want boxing banned given half a chance) is possibly unrealistic. A boxer lives from his purse rather than his sponsors as in a lot of other sports, so he's not used to the media in the same way as eg. Lewis Hamilton or Jess Ennis-Hill (who, let's be honest, does look nice in a dress!).
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,773
    Alistair said:

    On topic, if Alistair Carmichael loses it will be precedent-setting. An appeal if he loses must be quite likely.

    I will be beyond astonished if he loses. It will completely change the face of British political campaigning if he does.
    One has to agree, though, with malcomg's friend's implied suggestion, that the LD's ought to tell him to he ought to clear off into the far distance as soon as the dust settles and they can select a decent replacement, preferably with sort of serious local connection.
  • Bataclan third attacker 'identified'

    The AFP news agency and Le Parisien newspaper identified him as Fouad Mohamed-Aggad, 23, from Strasbourg, citing police sources.

    They reported he had travelled to Syria as part of a group of radicalised youth in late 2013.
    Several of the group, but not the Bataclan bomber, were later arrested upon returning to France, Le Parisien said.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35048701
  • OchEyeOchEye Posts: 1,469

    As far as I am aware Trump has made a lot of money out of using his brand to put on things like new developments. Hence why there has been many that have gone busto and he doesn't actually have any money of his own invested, only percentages from the naming rights.

    Given his all out daily rant-athons, I wonder when it is all over how the Trump "Brand" value will have altered?

    So Mr Bin Mohammad, can we interest you in a condo in the new luxury Trump Tower. Isn't that the man who wanted to ban all Muslims from America...Erhhh well...errrh yes, but but he isn't actually building this.

    Agreed, saw the TV programme as well. Wondering how much money from the Mid East is tied up under the Trump Franchise that may start going walkabout?
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,956

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Have you sworn a solemn oath along with the rest of the Tories to harm the UK economy in any way you can? I really don't think I've seen such a cretinous recommendation in my entire time here.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    Not context: utterly false and tendentious.

    Jews were fleeing specific, targetted persecution which - ultimately, albeit not know at the time - led to genocide. Many of the Syrian refugees are fleeing a war in which they are innocent bystanders. Some are economic migrants from Syria and elsewhere using the chaos to achieve their private objectives. A small number have a more malicious intention.

    Children are not the same as the profile of refugees being taken from Syria - if we were taking only children I suspect people woud have more sympathy.

    This kind of tweet may make the Economist journalists think they are being really really clever. But it doesn't help anyone - not the politicians trying to find a solution, not the refugees who are suffering and not people who are trying to make up their minds in a rational manner on the topic
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    Sandpit said:

    Sandpit said:

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Surely there would have to a reason to ban him from the UK, such as a serious criminal conviction or that his behaviour would not be conducive to the public good?

    I'm not defending what he said, but suggesting that the high threshold for freedom of speech needed to ban someone from the UK is not met in this case. He is not inciting violence or sedition, and he's not a rapist or murderer.
    Neither is the boxing fellow (I presume) but he's being investigated by the police...
    The BBC are getting really worried that he might actually win their prize, or at least end up on the podium. He's a boxer, not a profession known for their politically correct views! Oh, and he's a British world champion, I might vote for him just to spite the protesters!

    Surely it's not just the politically correct who would have a problem with Fury linking homosexuality to paedophilia. I am totally against dropping him from the SPOTY list, but the personality bit in the award does imply at least an element of being some kind of role model, doesn't it?

    Would a Muslim be so pilloried for his beliefs about homosexuality, abortion or paedophilia? Fury is certainly a personality, got my vote and not just because I am on good odds :-)
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,575

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Have you sworn a solemn oath along with the rest of the Tories to harm the UK economy in any way you can? I really don't think I've seen such a cretinous recommendation in my entire time here.
    I don't know: your 'recommendation' that Syria go back to an Assad-led government is far more cretinous and insane.
  • OchEyeOchEye Posts: 1,469

    OchEye said:

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Trump is an absolute bell-end. He'd love being banned from the UK. But we either believe in free speech or we don't. What will end up really hurting Trump are the business relationships and customers he loses as a result of his inflammatory posturing. That will be a long-lasting legacy of his campaign. He has already lost billions of dollars by not being very good at business. He is probably going to lose a few more now.

    And who will want to admit to playing golf at Trumpton Course at Menie or even Trumpberry?

    Even our ex-FM must be thanking his God (must hope the mirror doesn't crack) that The Donald is very much an ex-friend.
    I'd be shocked if anyone who plays there gives a crap.


    Look forward to seeing our beloved ex-FM playing at either course then.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,579

    Labour's lost it:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35047872

    They're not only back to calling for inquiries into things they really dislike, but are now putting inquiries as a basis for their support for government legislation.

    I haven't said this for a few months, but: Andy Burnham Is Scum.

    Finger on the pulse eh. No doubt it's important to investigate all the misdeeds of the 1970s so that all the current paedophiles etc. will be dead by the time they're got round to?
    There are several things about this that annoy me:

    1) Burnham's sick attitude to inquiries can be seen over his behaviour over Stafford. He wants inquiries into all sort of imagined or real iniquities, except when it will hurt the reputation of an NHS trust. He is scum.

    2) If the government caves into this, Labour will just do it again and again.

    3) Labour were in power for 13 years, and they had lots of bills to increase surveillance over people. Yet they did not have an inquiry then.

    His courage, fortitude and valour are an inspiration to us all.
    He's Reek.
  • CD13CD13 Posts: 6,366
    Mr Observer,

    A role model implies it's approved by the "establishment" which smacks of political correctness. I'd suggest it means a talent, a willingness to work, and no criminality. Even with the latter, it's allowable if the miscreant has pout it behind him.

    It shouldn't mean PC views on diversity or sexual relations - those are merely opinions. He's not being invited to a dinner party in Islington or at the Guardian. If he were, it would imply a bland or no personality.

    I may have to vote for the first time ever; he's certainly a personality.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 55,098
    Charles said:

    Not context: utterly false and tendentious.

    Jews were fleeing specific, targetted persecution which - ultimately, albeit not know at the time - led to genocide. Many of the Syrian refugees are fleeing a war in which they are innocent bystanders. Some are economic migrants from Syria and elsewhere using the chaos to achieve their private objectives. A small number have a more malicious intention.

    Children are not the same as the profile of refugees being taken from Syria - if we were taking only children I suspect people woud have more sympathy.

    This kind of tweet may make the Economist journalists think they are being really really clever. But it doesn't help anyone - not the politicians trying to find a solution, not the refugees who are suffering and not people who are trying to make up their minds in a rational manner on the topic
    Where is the Like button?

    Did someone not make the comment here a few weeks ago, that the Economist is staffed by a load of twenty-somethings who follow the house style very closely in the hope that no one notices?
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Me too.
    CD13 said:

    Mr Observer,

    A role model implies it's approved by the "establishment" which smacks of political correctness. I'd suggest it means a talent, a willingness to work, and no criminality. Even with the latter, it's allowable if the miscreant has pout it behind him.

    It shouldn't mean PC views on diversity or sexual relations - those are merely opinions. He's not being invited to a dinner party in Islington or at the Guardian. If he were, it would imply a bland or no personality.

    I may have to vote for the first time ever; he's certainly a personality.

  • CD13CD13 Posts: 6,366
    Dare I suggest that those who don't vote for Fury are Gypophobes?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,603
    Pulpstar said:

    Scott_P said:

    @stephenpollard: Very experienced Lab MP just told me sees no alternative to a breakaway. Corbyn not going away, party is doomed. 'There's got to be a split'

    There won't be a split, it's just endless briefings from Corbyn's enemies to friendly press about what they might like to happen.
    It's even getting tedious now. If they think he's going nowhere and the party to oblivion as a result, they should do something about it, or say it openly. Otherwise, either try to make it work of satisfy themselves with being a rebel without threatening to split all the time. Clearly most are reluctant because internally Corbyn is popular, but if they think a breakaway is inevitable why would that keep them anonymous? So it's just game playing because thought of a split is exciting.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    edited December 2015
    The part I don't understand about all this Trump business is what in the seven hells Cameron is doing putting in his ten penneth ? Trump is currently on course to be the Republican nominee, should he get lucky and Hillary is run over by an email server, he will be POTUS. What is Cameron planning to say to President Trump in their first meeting, or is the UK aiming to have the same level of rapport with the next president as the current one ? Traditionally in moments like this the premier keeps his big mouth shut, and observes a dignified silence, while his outriders make rude comments on his behalf.
  • OchEye said:

    Second! Been dealing with tin-foil shortage among Nats (something to do with sub-$40 oil, or the Forth Bridge closure)

    Funny how the biggest infrastructure imbroglio in a generation is getting little coverage in the National.....

    I expect the Nats will react in the calm, measured reflective style we have come to know and love if the case goes against them......

    Too many SNP supporters in Fife who commute to work in Edinburgh are not happy and are taking a great interest in finding out what happened.

    Which ever way you look at it, Nicola has problems. The maintenance contracts were cancelled 2010, the recommendations to repair supports and trusses 2009 shelved. And let's say that the FM does admit incompetence, however grudgingly, the Scottish Government would be liable for all and any costs and losses for businesses and individuals for the closure. Will run into billions.

    Our junior level legal eagle, Sturgeon has declared that the lack of maintenance did not cause the cracks. It's been pointed out to her that routine maintenance would have found them, rather than the off chance that an engineer on another project would see them, too late.

    The latest joke doing the rounds: The Naked Rambler had clothes before Nicola Sturgeon became his divorce lawyer.
    Can you give a forecast of how much this tsunami of SNPbadness is going to affect the SNP in the May elections, just for the record like?
    I guess in the unlikely event of you having the testicular fortitude to do that, it would be too much to expect that you might take a bet on it.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 55,098
    Can the Donald actually win it?

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/donald-trump/12040653/Can-Donald-Trump-actually-win-the-US-presidency.html

    12.5 on Betfair this morning, long odds for the third favourite.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    kle4 said:

    satisfy themselves

    I think a large part of Labour has been "satisfying themselves" rather too much recently, and in public as well! A brief re-acquaintance with electoral viability, or at least not being a laughing stock, is long overdue.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,773
    edited December 2015
    CD13 said:

    Dare I suggest that those who don't vote for Fury are Gypophobes?

    There are, I think, two p's in Gyppos. Just saying mind, don't use the word myself.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,603

    Sandpit said:

    Sandpit said:

    The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    Surely there would have to a reason to ban him from the UK, such as a serious criminal conviction or that his behaviour would not be conducive to the public good?

    I'm not defending what he said, but suggesting that the high threshold for freedom of speech needed to ban someone from the UK is not met in this case. He is not inciting violence or sedition, and he's not a rapist or murderer.
    Neither is the boxing fellow (I presume) but he's being investigated by the police...
    The BBC are getting really worried that he might actually win their prize, or at least end up on the podium. He's a boxer, not a profession known for their politically correct views! Oh, and he's a British world champion, I might vote for him just to spite the protesters!

    Surely it's not just the politically correct who would have a problem with Fury linking homosexuality to paedophilia. I am totally against dropping him from the SPOTY list, but the personality bit in the award does imply at least an element of being some kind of role model, doesn't it?

    Perhaps it should, but I don't think it does. What is the actual description of the award, because unlike Some past winners he does have personality. But if he wins the people to be upset with will be the public voting for a bell end, and I suspect that's why people want him off the list. They don't want to blame the public for voting for him.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,579
    Sandpit said:

    Charles said:

    Not context: utterly false and tendentious.

    Jews were fleeing specific, targetted persecution which - ultimately, albeit not know at the time - led to genocide. Many of the Syrian refugees are fleeing a war in which they are innocent bystanders. Some are economic migrants from Syria and elsewhere using the chaos to achieve their private objectives. A small number have a more malicious intention.

    Children are not the same as the profile of refugees being taken from Syria - if we were taking only children I suspect people woud have more sympathy.

    This kind of tweet may make the Economist journalists think they are being really really clever. But it doesn't help anyone - not the politicians trying to find a solution, not the refugees who are suffering and not people who are trying to make up their minds in a rational manner on the topic
    Where is the Like button?

    Did someone not make the comment here a few weeks ago, that the Economist is staffed by a load of twenty-somethings who follow the house style very closely in the hope that no one notices?
    The Economist is the house journal for wealthy international travellers who have no strong attachment to their native land. It approves of free markets, the EU, mass immigration, and supranational governance. It disapproves of patriotism, national self-government and tough policies on crime.
  • The 'Ban Trump from the UK' Petition has sailed past its first benchmark - 10,000 signatures for a government response - and is steaming towards its second - 100,000 to be considered for a debate in parliament:

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/114003

    I really don't think I've seen such a cretinous recommendation in my entire time here.
    I didn't think you read what you wrote.

    Since I first posted the link its put on nearly 10,000 signatures....in under an hour.....
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,060
    I was at a Sportsman's dinner recently and one of the main speakers was Steve Ryder. He was a lot more entertaining than the "comedian" and his descriptions of the fixing that went on when the public voted the "wrong" way for SPOTY was hilarious. I vaguely (it was a long evening) remember that there was one year the Doncaster goalie was in first place for some heroic match and a lot of fiddling in relation to the Foreign Sports Personality. There was a strong suggestion that Steve Redgrave got a fair bit of "help".

    I am not saying that this still happens but I am also not saying that it doesn't. Betting on someone so beyond the pale for BBC types as Fury strikes me as brave. They would be terrified of having him live on air and free to speak his mind.
  • blackburn63blackburn63 Posts: 4,492
    Major story on R4 8.00 news was bullying in the Conservative Party, events are distracting from something which suggests a big problem at the heart of the party.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,603

    Alistair said:

    On topic, if Alistair Carmichael loses it will be precedent-setting. An appeal if he loses must be quite likely.

    I will be beyond astonished if he loses. It will completely change the face of British political campaigning if he does.
    One has to agree, though, with malcomg's friend's implied suggestion, that the LD's ought to tell him to he ought to clear off into the far distance as soon as the dust settles and they can select a decent replacement, preferably with sort of serious local connection.
    I'm sure he'd have gone already if it weren't for the fact the LDs would likely lose the seat, so I'm sure they are making such plans if they can put the legal case to bed.
  • Mr. L, I recall being rather surprised when Ryan Giggs won ahead of Button in 2008 (the year Button won his title).
  • Mr. L, I recall being rather surprised when Ryan Giggs won ahead of Button in 2008 (the year Button won his title).

    With the benefit of hindsight we can see that he won by getting all his exes to call up.
  • blackburn63blackburn63 Posts: 4,492
    DavidL said:

    I was at a Sportsman's dinner recently and one of the main speakers was Steve Ryder. He was a lot more entertaining than the "comedian" and his descriptions of the fixing that went on when the public voted the "wrong" way for SPOTY was hilarious. I vaguely (it was a long evening) remember that there was one year the Doncaster goalie was in first place for some heroic match and a lot of fiddling in relation to the Foreign Sports Personality. There was a strong suggestion that Steve Redgrave got a fair bit of "help".

    I am not saying that this still happens but I am also not saying that it doesn't. Betting on someone so beyond the pale for BBC types as Fury strikes me as brave. They would be terrified of having him live on air and free to speak his mind.

    Wasn't it the Carlisle keeper Jimmy Glass?

  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Paul Brand ITV
    Also interesting that Leeds Uni finds only 10% of voters rated social media as influential, compared to 30% who said newspapers, 51% TV news
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,575

    Mr. L, I recall being rather surprised when Ryan Giggs won ahead of Button in 2008 (the year Button won his title).

    Wasn't Button was champion in 2009?
  • Mr. Meeks, I was heartily amused by the bitching of some golfers when Hamilton won it last year. Some say Caroline Wozniacki[sp] had a substantial phone bill :p
  • CD13CD13 Posts: 6,366
    Mr Cole,

    I bow to your erudition.

    I move in slightly different circles, but each to their own.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 55,098
    edited December 2015

    Mr. L, I recall being rather surprised when Ryan Giggs won ahead of Button in 2008 (the year Button won his title).

    Mr Dancer, Lewis won the title in 2008. Jenson won for Brawn in 2009, and came second to Giggs in SPOTY that year.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,060

    DavidL said:

    I was at a Sportsman's dinner recently and one of the main speakers was Steve Ryder. He was a lot more entertaining than the "comedian" and his descriptions of the fixing that went on when the public voted the "wrong" way for SPOTY was hilarious. I vaguely (it was a long evening) remember that there was one year the Doncaster goalie was in first place for some heroic match and a lot of fiddling in relation to the Foreign Sports Personality. There was a strong suggestion that Steve Redgrave got a fair bit of "help".

    I am not saying that this still happens but I am also not saying that it doesn't. Betting on someone so beyond the pale for BBC types as Fury strikes me as brave. They would be terrified of having him live on air and free to speak his mind.

    Wasn't it the Carlisle keeper Jimmy Glass?

    May well have been. As I say it was a long evening.

    There was also a story about the year Ryan Giggs won but details are hazy.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @Stevie_Leary: Ok let's give it a day. Are there any Snp #snat #yesser types who would like to refute ANY of this? #Forthroadbridge https://t.co/jbdtlV5bXt
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,603
    DavidL said:

    I was at a Sportsman's dinner recently and one of the main speakers was Steve Ryder. He was a lot more entertaining than the "comedian" and his descriptions of the fixing that went on when the public voted the "wrong" way for SPOTY was hilarious. I vaguely (it was a long evening) remember that there was one year the Doncaster goalie was in first place for some heroic match and a lot of fiddling in relation to the Foreign Sports Personality. There was a strong suggestion that Steve Redgrave got a fair bit of "help".

    I am not saying that this still happens but I am also not saying that it doesn't. Betting on someone so beyond the pale for BBC types as Fury strikes me as brave. They would be terrified of having him live on air and free to speak his mind.

    Next you'll be telling me the Eurovision votes are 'fixed' as well, for shame.


  • Putting that aside, had he said that parts of London were a no-go area for members of the public or the police - unless heavily protected and in groups - he might have a point on some of the worst estates.

    Are you speaking from experience? I live in London and have been all over the place, often on my own, without ever feeling nervous, including canvassing supposedly rough estates. Obviously there is a faint risk of random violence anywhere on the planet, but my experience over 50 years of canvassing is that if you don't bother people (other than asking how they'll vote!) they don't bother you. I think people talk themselves into being scared.
    Yes. I have lived in London and have worked here for over 10 years (and still do) During that time my wife has been mugged, as have two of my friends. My wife's best friend - who lives in Walthamstow was set upon by a gang of Asian men near Brick Lane, subsequently spending a week in hospital. The areas concerned can be highly localised, and depend upon when you go and with whom, but there are certainly parts of Tottenham, Edmonton, Hackney, Bethnal Green and Walthamstow I wouldn't wander into alone. Nor do the police either - my sister is a copper too. They plan, organise and wear lots of protection.

    Then you have the postcode gangwars, stabbings, harassment of the two white men who were verbally assaulted (near physically assaulted) for being gay in a 'Muslim' area. Yes, you might get away with it but the idea that it's as safe as Oxford Street is for the birds.

    So, no: you are wrong. Thankfully it's not as bad as the French banlieues yet. But your condescending 'experience' and the idea it's the same as anywhere in the planet is as much of a fantasy as your ridiculous idea you propagated yesterday that we all live stranded on a desert island.
  • blackburn63blackburn63 Posts: 4,492
    I don't get this bit about sportsmen being role models, the most popular ones in my time have been the likes of George Best, Jimmy White and Ian Botham, hardly paragons of virtue.
  • blackburn63blackburn63 Posts: 4,492



    Putting that aside, had he said that parts of London were a no-go area for members of the public or the police - unless heavily protected and in groups - he might have a point on some of the worst estates.

    Are you speaking from experience? I live in London and have been all over the place, often on my own, without ever feeling nervous, including canvassing supposedly rough estates. Obviously there is a faint risk of random violence anywhere on the planet, but my experience over 50 years of canvassing is that if you don't bother people (other than asking how they'll vote!) they don't bother you. I think people talk themselves into being scared.
    Yes. I have lived in London and have worked here for over 10 years (and still do) During that time my wife has been mugged, as have two of my friends. My wife's best friend - who lives in Walthamstow was set upon by a gang of Asian men near Brick Lane, subsequently spending a week in hospital. The areas concerned can be highly localised, and depend upon when you go and with whom, but there are certainly parts of Tottenham, Edmonton, Hackney, Bethnal Green and Walthamstow I wouldn't wander into alone. Nor do the police either - my sister is a copper too. They plan, organise and wear lots of protection.

    Then you have the postcode gangwars, stabbings, harassment of the two white men who were verbally assaulted (near physically assaulted) for being gay in a 'Muslim' area. Yes, you might get away with it but the idea that it's as safe as Oxford Street is for the birds.

    So, no: you are wrong. Thankfully it's not as bad as the French banlieues yet. But your condescending 'experience' and the idea it's the same as anywhere in the planet is as much of a fantasy as your ridiculous idea you propagated yesterday that we all live stranded on a desert island.
    I was called a racist on here for saying I'd rather spend time in Highgate than Tottenham, even though Highgate is every bit as diverse.

  • CD13CD13 Posts: 6,366
    "Next you'll be telling me the Eurovision votes are 'fixed' as well, for shame."

    Were the Polish milkmaids cheated by the Austrian sausage? I suspected as much.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,060
    kle4 said:

    DavidL said:

    I was at a Sportsman's dinner recently and one of the main speakers was Steve Ryder. He was a lot more entertaining than the "comedian" and his descriptions of the fixing that went on when the public voted the "wrong" way for SPOTY was hilarious. I vaguely (it was a long evening) remember that there was one year the Doncaster goalie was in first place for some heroic match and a lot of fiddling in relation to the Foreign Sports Personality. There was a strong suggestion that Steve Redgrave got a fair bit of "help".

    I am not saying that this still happens but I am also not saying that it doesn't. Betting on someone so beyond the pale for BBC types as Fury strikes me as brave. They would be terrified of having him live on air and free to speak his mind.

    Next you'll be telling me the Eurovision votes are 'fixed' as well, for shame.
    I know, I know. The world is a devious place. But given these propensities I will not be putting any of my hard earned on Fury picking up the prize.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @matt_dathan: Classic Boris: "The only reason I wouldn't go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump" https://t.co/DGzkQL9SJC

    What could be worse than meeting Donald Trump?

    @jreedmp: Caption comp.
    Come on Twitter... https://t.co/jaQT9LUG7z
  • @blairmcdougal:
    BREAKING: Derek MacKay admits on GMS that the work cancelled in 2010 *would* have replaced the section of #Forthroadbridge that failed.


    Derek MacKay is the SNP Minister for Transport (& Islands, well, it makes a change from 'Veterans, 'Climate Change' or 'Housing' in the portfolio)
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @kevverage: FWIW re #FRB

    My initial reaction - my instinct - was it would probably be unfair to pin this on the SNP.

    Then I did some research.
  • Mr. Sandpit, ah, my mistake. I blame the decimal system for this error.
  • Scott_P said:

    @Stevie_Leary: Ok let's give it a day. Are there any Snp #snat #yesser types who would like to refute ANY of this? #Forthroadbridge https://t.co/jbdtlV5bXt

    Surely he isn't suggesting that a populist policy of abolishing tolls significantly drove up traffic, shortening the bridges life, while simultaneously starving it of maintenance funds to keep it going......no one is that short sighted, surely?
  • JohnLoonyJohnLoony Posts: 1,790
    MikeK said:
    If one is Andrew Neil (or any other similar nincompoops) one pronounces it "Hoksa". If one is normal or sensible, one pronounces it "Hoxha" (as in bodger, dodger, roger etc.)

    When the spelling and alphabet of modern Albanmian language was standardised about 100 years ago, it was decided to have:

    S for s , and SH for sh
    Z for z , and ZH for zh / j / soft-g (as in Zhivago, garage, French j)
    X for dz , and XH for dj / dge

    but idiotically and inconsistently they decided to have

    C for ts , and Ç for ch (instead of CH for ch)

    because the letter Ç was already available to printers and on typewriters.

  • blackburn63blackburn63 Posts: 4,492

    Scott_P said:

    @Stevie_Leary: Ok let's give it a day. Are there any Snp #snat #yesser types who would like to refute ANY of this? #Forthroadbridge https://t.co/jbdtlV5bXt

    Surely he isn't suggesting that a populist policy of abolishing tolls significantly drove up traffic, shortening the bridges life, while simultaneously starving it of maintenance funds to keep it going......no one is that short sighted, surely?
    Put your tin hat on in readiness for malcolmg

  • chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341
    edited December 2015



    Putting that aside, had he said that parts of London were a no-go area for members of the public or the police - unless heavily protected and in groups - he might have a point on some of the worst estates.

    Are you speaking from experience? I live in London and have been all over the place, often on my own, without ever feeling nervous, including canvassing supposedly rough estates. Obviously there is a faint risk of random violence anywhere on the planet, but my experience over 50 years of canvassing is that if you don't bother people (other than asking how they'll vote!) they don't bother you. I think people talk themselves into being scared.
    Yes. I have lived in London and have worked here for over 10 years (and still do) During that time my wife has been mugged, as have two of my friends. My wife's best friend - who lives in Walthamstow was set upon by a gang of Asian men near Brick Lane, subsequently spending a week in hospital. The areas concerned can be highly localised, and depend upon when you go and with whom, but there are certainly parts of Tottenham, Edmonton, Hackney, Bethnal Green and Walthamstow I wouldn't wander into alone. Nor do the police either - my sister is a copper too. They plan, organise and wear lots of protection.

    Then you have the postcode gangwars, stabbings, harassment of the two white men who were verbally assaulted (near physically assaulted) for being gay in a 'Muslim' area. Yes, you might get away with it but the idea that it's as safe as Oxford Street is for the birds.

    So, no: you are wrong. Thankfully it's not as bad as the French banlieues yet. But your condescending 'experience' and the idea it's the same as anywhere in the planet is as much of a fantasy as your ridiculous idea you propagated yesterday that we all live stranded on a desert island.
    I was called a racist on here for saying I'd rather spend time in Highgate than Tottenham, even though Highgate is every bit as diverse.

    Highgate is nothing like Tottenham.

    I often have to go in alone onto estates in Tottenham, Edmonton, Hackney etc etc - I was on Broadwater Farm in April, for example.

    The roughness of some of these places has nothing much to do with religion or radicalisation.

    Usually, it's hopeless youth and the gormless, soulless design of dreadful council housing. 1960s and 1970s council housing often needs a nuclear device to be aimed at it. Awful, awful buildings, and those who advocate more of it need to be taken away.

    I am sure there will be 'white' equivalents all over Britain.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118

    I have a question for Londoners on here please as I don't live there and visit only about once a month.

    Trump says in parts of London the police are intimidated because of radicalisation, is this true and if so whereabouts?


    London’s Metropolitan police have said Donald Trump “could not be more wrong” when he claimed parts of London were so radicalised that officers feared for their lives.

    Politicians also weighed in, with a Downing Street source saying the US presidential hopeful’s comments were “totally inaccurate” and London’s mayor, Boris Johnson, describing them as “utter nonsense”.

    In a withering statement, the Met, responsible for policing the British capital, said: “We would not normally dignify such comments with a response, however, on this occasion we think it’s important to state to Londoners that Mr Trump could not be more wrong.”


    http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/08/the-met-blasts-donald-trump-for-london-police-in-fear-muslims-claim
    Thanks, I thought it seemed a strange thing to say. I remember reading about areas of East London that were "policed" under some sort of Sharia Law, no go areas for non Muslims or something, I'll have a look.

    There was a Muslim patrol group a couple of years ago in East London

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharia_patrols

    But the only thing I have heard about police possibly being afraid to go into an area because of Islamic extremism is a friend of mine who is In a cycling club w a few policeman and they have been told not to use the group app that shows where each other are/which routes they have ridden, as it has can be intercepted by extremists who want to behead a policeman as a trophy
  • Mr. Loony, in Pinyin, C is also pronounced 'ts'. So, Cao Cao is pronounced Tsao Tsao.

    Just an odd coincidence, given Albania's friendliness with Mao's China.
  • Sean_F said:

    Sandpit said:

    Charles said:

    Not context: utterly false and tendentious.

    Jews were fleeing specific, targetted persecution which - ultimately, albeit not know at the time - led to genocide. Many of the Syrian refugees are fleeing a war in which they are innocent bystanders. Some are economic migrants from Syria and elsewhere using the chaos to achieve their private objectives. A small number have a more malicious intention.

    Children are not the same as the profile of refugees being taken from Syria - if we were taking only children I suspect people woud have more sympathy.

    This kind of tweet may make the Economist journalists think they are being really really clever. But it doesn't help anyone - not the politicians trying to find a solution, not the refugees who are suffering and not people who are trying to make up their minds in a rational manner on the topic
    Where is the Like button?

    Did someone not make the comment here a few weeks ago, that the Economist is staffed by a load of twenty-somethings who follow the house style very closely in the hope that no one notices?
    The Economist is the house journal for wealthy international travellers who have no strong attachment to their native land. It approves of free markets, the EU, mass immigration, and supranational governance. It disapproves of patriotism, national self-government and tough policies on crime.
    Absolutely. It also explains why The Economist, at the same time, can write articles that are fairly relaxed about private healthcare, education and low regulation.

    I stopped buying it not only because I came to the same conclusion as you but I found the journalism increasingly emotive and shrill (although wrapped in largely professional language) and a bit shoddy, not standing up to scrutiny when one checked the facts.
  • OchEyeOchEye Posts: 1,469

    OchEye said:

    Second! Been dealing with tin-foil shortage among Nats (something to do with sub-$40 oil, or the Forth Bridge closure)

    Funny how the biggest infrastructure imbroglio in a generation is getting little coverage in the National.....

    I expect the Nats will react in the calm, measured reflective style we have come to know and love if the case goes against them......

    Too many SNP supporters in Fife who commute to work in Edinburgh are not happy and are taking a great interest in finding out what happened.

    Which ever way you look at it, Nicola has problems. The maintenance contracts were cancelled 2010, the recommendations to repair supports and trusses 2009 shelved. And let's say that the FM does admit incompetence, however grudgingly, the Scottish Government would be liable for all and any costs and losses for businesses and individuals for the closure. Will run into billions.

    Our junior level legal eagle, Sturgeon has declared that the lack of maintenance did not cause the cracks. It's been pointed out to her that routine maintenance would have found them, rather than the off chance that an engineer on another project would see them, too late.

    The latest joke doing the rounds: The Naked Rambler had clothes before Nicola Sturgeon became his divorce lawyer.
    Can you give a forecast of how much this tsunami of SNPbadness is going to affect the SNP in the May elections, just for the record like?
    I guess in the unlikely event of you having the testicular fortitude to do that, it would be too much to expect that you might take a bet on it.
    I am listening to your transport minister Mackay waffling on Radio Scotland waffling and managing to contradict himself. Consider this, how many people moved to Fife to commute to Edinburgh by the removal of the Tolls, and how many of them voted SNP at the GE and how many of them will vote for them next year? If Fife goes, what about the voters in the Lothians who are covering for the workers, the shop workers, the bar staff etc. whose jobs are at risk due to lack of customers from over the Forth at the supposed busiest month of the year.

    As for the SNPbadness, as I have said before here, you ain't seen nothing yet! The media are going with a new story every month to pick off the SNP MP's, MSP's and Councillors. Sturgeon is a prime target and Salmond, previously considered to be Teflon coated is beginning to find things sticking to his coat (funnily enough, thrown underhand by his colleagues in the party).

    As for winning the election, I pretty much suspect that there will be a SNP majority based on Glasgow and the South West seats. So no bet. But as a week is a long time in politics, 5 months is even more
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    BREAKING: Derek MacKay admits on GMS that the work cancelled in 2010 *would* have replaced the section of #Forthroadbridge that failed.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @DrScottThinks: SNP's @DerekMackayMSP forced to admit on BBC that work cancelled in 2010 would have replaced the failed #FRB part: https://t.co/jDsJqreSPf
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,575
    TGOHF said:

    BREAKING: Derek MacKay admits on GMS that the work cancelled in 2010 *would* have replaced the section of #Forthroadbridge that failed.

    From the description of the contract, that was my guess.
  • JohnLoonyJohnLoony Posts: 1,790
    P.S. Those of us who occasionally want to make subtle jokes or cultural references sometimes refer to Margaret Hodge as "Nexhmije" (because Nexhmije Hoxha was wife of Enver Hoxha).
  • JohnLoonyJohnLoony Posts: 1,790
    P.P.S. Nexhmije Hoxha is still alive at the age of 94.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    TGOHF said:

    BREAKING: Derek MacKay admits on GMS that the work cancelled in 2010 *would* have replaced the section of #Forthroadbridge that failed.

    So when was he going to tell Nicola? Lucky she didn't have a front page story in the papers saying the exact opposite. Oh...

    @TheScotsman: Nicola Sturgeon insists maintenance cuts did not cause crack in Forth Road Bridge https://t.co/v1OHp5v0Cn https://t.co/Z4QmFO39Mw
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    JohnLoony said:

    If one is normal or sensible, one pronounces it "Hoxha" (as in bodger, dodger, roger etc.)

    There is no R in Hoxha...
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 55,098
    edited December 2015
    TGOHF said:

    BREAKING: Derek MacKay admits on GMS that the work cancelled in 2010 *would* have replaced the section of #Forthroadbridge that failed.

    Whoops! Why did they cancel the work? Were they hoping to get the new bridge open before it was needed, or was it that with the removal of the tolls there wasn't the money?
  • Mr. P, if this damages the SNP, cui bono?

    If Labour rise again (whether in a small or large way) that could help create more positive mood music for Corbyn.

    If Carmichael's seat is up for grabs, that might provide an early indicator.
  • JohnLoonyJohnLoony Posts: 1,790
    Scott_P said:

    JohnLoony said:

    If one is normal or sensible, one pronounces it "Hoxha" (as in bodger, dodger, roger etc.)

    There is no R in Hoxha...
    That's why I never said there was.
  • Morning all,

    Does Trump actually know his own country? If he thinks there are no-go area for people in London he needs to take a stroll around LA, to take just one example.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    edited December 2015
    JohnLoony said:

    That's why I never said there was.

    Then normal or sensible people from Scotland can't pronounce it as in bodger, dodger, roger etc.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @kevverage: Replacing "significantly overstressed" trusses would have cost £15m (2009)

    Toll scrapped in 2008 generated £12m pa

    Free stuff has a cost.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118



    Putting that aside, had he said that parts of London were a no-go area for members of the public or the police - unless heavily protected and in groups - he might have a point on some of the worst estates.

    Are you speaking from experience? I live in London and have been all over the place, often on my own, without ever feeling nervous, including canvassing supposedly rough estates. Obviously there is a faint risk of random violence anywhere on the planet, but my experience over 50 years of canvassing is that if you don't bother people (other than asking how they'll vote!) they don't bother you. I think people talk themselves into being scared.
    Yes. I have lived in London and have worked here for over 10 years (and still do) During that time my wife has been mugged, as have two of my friends. My wife's best friend - who lives in Walthamstow was set upon by a gang of Asian men near Brick Lane, subsequently spending a week in hospital. The areas concerned can be highly localised, and depend upon when you go and with whom, but there are certainly parts of Tottenham, Edmonton, Hackney, Bethnal Green and Walthamstow I wouldn't wander into alone. Nor do the police either - my sister is a copper too. They plan, organise and wear lots of protection.

    Then you have the postcode gangwars, stabbings, harassment of the two white men who were verbally assaulted (near physically assaulted) for being gay in a 'Muslim' area. Yes, you might get away with it but the idea that it's as safe as Oxford Street is for the birds.

    So, no: you are wrong. Thankfully it's not as bad as the French banlieues yet. But your condescending 'experience' and the idea it's the same as anywhere in the planet is as much of a fantasy as your ridiculous idea you propagated yesterday that we all live stranded on a desert island.
    He would be saying the same if he were a French politician re the banlieus
  • blackburn63blackburn63 Posts: 4,492
    Mt chestnut,

    Of course Highgate is nothing like Tottenham but the religious diversity in Highgate is vast. The point I made at the time is I have close family in Highgate and as a Spurs fan walking to the car after evening fixtures can be interesting. For making that observation I was called a racist.
  • Pulpstar said:
    Sounds like they're looking for a Dyson sphere:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyson_sphere
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Conor Pope
    Remarkable that in 100 years Labour existed to 1997, they spent 20 in power, in total. From 1997, it was 13 years in a row.
  • Not that it means much, but #TrumpFacts is generating some mirth on Twitter -

    -Britain is so radicalised that its most popular TV show is Koran Nation Street

    -Britain is so radicalised that the Queen has to wear the Hijab (pic of HMQEII in headscarf....)

    Meanwhile the Trump petition is on 57,000 signatures - over +10,000 per hour.....
  • Mr. Meeks, I thought Dyson spheres had been discounted on the basis the consumption of resources necessary to make one would exceed the benefits of doing so?
  • OchEye said:


    I am listening to your transport minister Mackay waffling on Radio Scotland waffling and managing to contradict himself. Consider this, how many people moved to Fife to commute to Edinburgh by the removal of the Tolls, and how many of them voted SNP at the GE and how many of them will vote for them next year? If Fife goes, what about the voters in the Lothians who are covering for the workers, the shop workers, the bar staff etc. whose jobs are at risk due to lack of customers from over the Forth at the supposed busiest month of the year.

    As for the SNPbadness, as I have said before here, you ain't seen nothing yet! The media are going with a new story every month to pick off the SNP MP's, MSP's and Councillors. Sturgeon is a prime target and Salmond, previously considered to be Teflon coated is beginning to find things sticking to his coat (funnily enough, thrown underhand by his colleagues in the party).

    As for winning the election, I pretty much suspect that there will be a SNP majority based on Glasgow and the South West seats. So no bet. But as a week is a long time in politics, 5 months is even more

    Ball-less, quelle surprise.

    Only one SBPbad story a month? Are you sure you live in Scotland?
    It must be dispiriting for Yoons after years of glorying in every negative story for the SNP, that the highest aspiration that their own piss poor parties can manage is to come a poor second* to the incompetent, corrupt, divisive, extremist, Zoomer party.


    *LDs need not apply obvs.
  • Conor Pope
    Remarkable that in 100 years Labour existed to 1997, they spent 20 in power, in total. From 1997, it was 13 years in a row.

    to be fair, they did quite a lot with those 20 years
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    Meanwhile the Trump petition is on 57,000 signatures - over +10,000 per hour.....

    Do you feel proud to live in such a bastion of free speech...

  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Indigo said:

    Meanwhile the Trump petition is on 57,000 signatures - over +10,000 per hour.....

    Do you feel proud to live in such a bastion of free speech...

    As someone said yesterday, Francis Urqhart I think, rather ironic for people to howl for someone to be banned for entering our country for saying certain people should be banned from entering his country

    The same left think that demands we be racist to tackle racism

    Embarrassing fools
  • Selling Guns on a 24-Hour TV Network

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/09/business/media/guntv-plans-24-hour-sales.html?_r=0

    QVC for guns coming to screens in the US...
This discussion has been closed.