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  • SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 39,842

    Tories not pulling their punches here. By Lt Col Tom Tugendhat, Tory MP

    Jeremy Corbyn is no pacifist – he wants to see Britain defeated

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/12105376/Jeremy-Corbyn-is-no-pacifist-he-wants-to-see-Britain-defeated.html

    He is, of course, 100% correct.

  • DairDair Posts: 6,108
    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    taffys said:

    Osborne's raid on middle England's pensions gets top billing in the Mail today.

    He is in serious trouble.

    @Theuniondivvie listen to the programme. You will be surprised. It was a study, whichever or whenever it was, and no "oh things are much better now" really could or should negate, you know, a study.

    More or Less is a great programme and usually doesn't shirk from probing and often dismantling prevailing myths. I think it probably tried to do that with the 20%/stroke stat (it has certainly done it about weekend mortality in general) but sadly found that it was accurate.

    Is the fact that you are 20% more likely to die if you are admitted to hospital at the weekend with a stroke sufficient to determine the outcome of the junior doctors' dispute? Probably not, but it is all part of the 7-day NHS story so Cam can be forgiven for using it.
    I did listen to it. I guess we all hear what we want to hear, but their conclusion seemed a lot more..well..inconclusive than you suggest.

    The study data was more than 5 years old and which was confirmed by Charlotte McDonald, one of the presenters not a 'whining doctor', therefore you are statistically 20% more likely to die from a stroke if you are admitted to hospital at the weekend only if you can invent a time machine.
    Did she quote the study that refuted and updated that one?
    Refuted the 5 year old William Palmer study that said you're 20% more likely to die from a stroke if you are admitted to hospital at the weekend? Well, she did mention another researcher that said it was the case mix that really mattered relating to weekend admissions, and that lack of specialist nurses may also be a major factor for these stroke outcomes.
    Case mix!!!?? A stroke is a stroke. Duh...
    Perhaps people do some things at weekends which are linked to higher incidence of strokes.

    I can think of at least one pretty big causal factor.
  • watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474
    matt said:

    Pulpstar said:



    When you draw your pension, it is subject to income tax. So taxing the contributions AND the pension when you draw it is taxing us twice surely?

    That would clearly be unfair, and the proposal is in a nutshell to make the pension tax-free. In my case (And everyone else on a DC scheme whether basic, higher or nil tax) it would require starting a second pension.

    The tricky part is how the lucky buggers on a defined benefit scheme would manage. I assume they'd start a new DB pension pot on the same terms as the old but with the tax parts swapped (As they would be for DC).

    The old pensions would of course accrue and be paid on retirement.
    The issue with this, I'd have thought is one of trust and a lack of trust in politicians, who appear to see private sector pensions as a glorified sweetie jar, to not decide to tax cash out as well as cash in. The death of the tax free lump sum, while appealing to the Treasury, would be unhelpful to those relying on it as part of their retirement planning.
    Many people will simply ask themselves why they bother saving into a private pension, and look elsewhere. And let's face it, most of them are a complete ripoff, a racket operated for the benefit of those running and selling them, rather than the customer.
  • watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474
    MaxPB said:

    @benrileysmith: Industry source says GMB believe Corbyn non-nuclear subs idea is incoherent. "Are we going to start dishing out cricket bats for the army?”

    Easy solution for Corbynites, don't have an army!
    That's the plan.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,624
    edited 2016 18
    Another two cricketers found guilty for spot fixing in IPL and banned. With T20 in India this year, what could possibly go wrong.

    R5 were reporting that one of the bookmakers claim excluding that horse racing, Tennis is the second most bet on sport in the world after football. I find that hard to believe given cricket, American sports etc (and by bet on, do we include things like DFS), but even so, what we can take away is huge amounts are being wagered on matches in a ratio that is disproportionate to the level of interest in it.
  • BannedInParisBannedInParis Posts: 2,191
    HMS Potemkin.

    Claps
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,624
    edited 2016 18
    http://order-order.com/2016/01/18/momentum-man-takes-over-brighton-labour/

    Another highly qualified individual...NOT...never had a job, but he does have a degree in Conflict Resolution from Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford. (I am not making this s##t up).

    Maybe JJ can use him when he negotiates with ISIS?
  • Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 5,420
    If I understood Alastair Meeks' original article correctly, the proposal seemed to be a fairly simple blanket removal of the tax relief on pension contributions. Would I be right in thinking that on the typical PAYE wage slip of someone in a company (or workplace) scheme, that your x% of wage put in as employees pension contribution would remain unchanged, but your income tax number would go up?

    If that is the case, any opposition could purely and simply paint it as an income tax rise of somewhere in the 1-2% region, with about as much stealth as a 2-year old hiding under a blanket. And it is not necessarily always the case that higher earners would take the highest proportional hit, someone on £15k basic who happened to be contributing to a pension would see a far bigger increase in the proportion of their pay that fell taxable than someone on £45k would.
  • JonathanDJonathanD Posts: 2,400

    Tories not pulling their punches here. By Lt Col Tom Tugendhat, Tory MP

    Jeremy Corbyn is no pacifist – he wants to see Britain defeated

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/12105376/Jeremy-Corbyn-is-no-pacifist-he-wants-to-see-Britain-defeated.html

    He is, of course, 100% correct.


    There was also an article in the Telegraph at the weekend regarding Russian influence in Europe. Hopefully no links between Jeremy and any of his aides are ever found....

    "American intelligence agencies are to conduct a major investigation into how the Kremlin is infiltrating political parties in Europe, it can be revealed.

    The US move came as senior British government officials told The Telegraph of growing fears that “a new cold war” was now unfolding in Europe, with Russian meddling taking on a breadth, range and depth far greater than previously thought. "

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/12103602/America-to-investigate-Russian-meddling-in-EU.html
  • Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 5,420
    So, would Corbyn's non-weaponised nuclear submarines still be nuclear powered?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,161
    JonathanD said:

    Tories not pulling their punches here. By Lt Col Tom Tugendhat, Tory MP

    Jeremy Corbyn is no pacifist – he wants to see Britain defeated

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/12105376/Jeremy-Corbyn-is-no-pacifist-he-wants-to-see-Britain-defeated.html

    He is, of course, 100% correct.


    There was also an article in the Telegraph at the weekend regarding Russian influence in Europe. Hopefully no links between Jeremy and any of his aides are ever found....

    "American intelligence agencies are to conduct a major investigation into how the Kremlin is infiltrating political parties in Europe, it can be revealed.

    The US move came as senior British government officials told The Telegraph of growing fears that “a new cold war” was now unfolding in Europe, with Russian meddling taking on a breadth, range and depth far greater than previously thought. "

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/12103602/America-to-investigate-Russian-meddling-in-EU.html
    Apparently, the Russians are very keen on funding people/groups who are anti-EU and anti independent nuclear deterrent.

    Can anyone think of anyone on this site who fits that profile?
  • oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,844

    http://order-order.com/2016/01/18/momentum-man-takes-over-brighton-labour/

    Another highly qualified individual...NOT...never had a job, but he does have a degree in Conflict Resolution from Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford. (I am not making this s##t up).

    Maybe JJ can use him when he negotiates with ISIS?

    It really is time to carry out an audit of our Universities - to make sure that they are actually offering courses with some academic worth and some social value.

    There will be a number of departments quaking in their boots - and quite rightly too.
  • flightpath01flightpath01 Posts: 4,903
    JonathanD said:

    Tories not pulling their punches here. By Lt Col Tom Tugendhat, Tory MP

    Jeremy Corbyn is no pacifist – he wants to see Britain defeated

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/12105376/Jeremy-Corbyn-is-no-pacifist-he-wants-to-see-Britain-defeated.html

    He is, of course, 100% correct.


    There was also an article in the Telegraph at the weekend regarding Russian influence in Europe. Hopefully no links between Jeremy and any of his aides are ever found....

    "American intelligence agencies are to conduct a major investigation into how the Kremlin is infiltrating political parties in Europe, it can be revealed.

    The US move came as senior British government officials told The Telegraph of growing fears that “a new cold war” was now unfolding in Europe, with Russian meddling taking on a breadth, range and depth far greater than previously thought. "

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/12103602/America-to-investigate-Russian-meddling-in-EU.html
    Russia needs a cold war because its government system and economy is falling apart and its clearly massivly corrupt.
    It has to have an excuse to keep its population in check.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,755
    Pro_Rata said:

    If I understood Alastair Meeks' original article correctly, the proposal seemed to be a fairly simple blanket removal of the tax relief on pension contributions. Would I be right in thinking that on the typical PAYE wage slip of someone in a company (or workplace) scheme, that your x% of wage put in as employees pension contribution would remain unchanged, but your income tax number would go up?

    If that is the case, any opposition could purely and simply paint it as an income tax rise of somewhere in the 1-2% region, with about as much stealth as a 2-year old hiding under a blanket. And it is not necessarily always the case that higher earners would take the highest proportional hit, someone on £15k basic who happened to be contributing to a pension would see a far bigger increase in the proportion of their pay that fell taxable than someone on £45k would.

    If this is the case then everyone on salary swap needs to start a new pension pot. But I am confused as to whether it is or not.
  • flightpath01flightpath01 Posts: 4,903

    http://order-order.com/2016/01/18/momentum-man-takes-over-brighton-labour/

    Another highly qualified individual...NOT...never had a job, but he does have a degree in Conflict Resolution from Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford. (I am not making this s##t up).

    Maybe JJ can use him when he negotiates with ISIS?

    I suppose nutjob ridden Brighton would be the obvious place for this.
  • flightpath01flightpath01 Posts: 4,903
    MaxPB said:

    @benrileysmith: Industry source says GMB believe Corbyn non-nuclear subs idea is incoherent. "Are we going to start dishing out cricket bats for the army?”

    Easy solution for Corbynites, don't have an army!
    Corbyn would probably ban cricket as being too English and offensive to foreigners, so no bats anyway.
  • flightpath01flightpath01 Posts: 4,903

    Another two cricketers found guilty for spot fixing in IPL and banned. With T20 in India this year, what could possibly go wrong.

    R5 were reporting that one of the bookmakers claim excluding that horse racing, Tennis is the second most bet on sport in the world after football. I find that hard to believe given cricket, American sports etc (and by bet on, do we include things like DFS), but even so, what we can take away is huge amounts are being wagered on matches in a ratio that is disproportionate to the level of interest in it.

    Was the IPS created for the express benefit of Indian bookies?
  • DairDair Posts: 6,108
    edited 2016 18

    Another two cricketers found guilty for spot fixing in IPL and banned. With T20 in India this year, what could possibly go wrong.

    R5 were reporting that one of the bookmakers claim excluding that horse racing, Tennis is the second most bet on sport in the world after football. I find that hard to believe given cricket, American sports etc (and by bet on, do we include things like DFS), but even so, what we can take away is huge amounts are being wagered on matches in a ratio that is disproportionate to the level of interest in it.

    American Sports Entertainment does not travel that well outside the United States and in most of the United States gambling is illegal, I doubt they have one of their "sports" in the top ten.*

    *DFS may change this but it's still early.
  • flightpath01flightpath01 Posts: 4,903
    Scott_P said:

    @MrHarryCole: Andy Burnham press release opens with: "In his desire to grab easy headlines".

    Ha ha. It's pathetic knee jerk opposition when what's needed is a united from against the oppression of women.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 53,362
    kjohnw said:

    anyone been watching the french political drama on more4 "Spin", the "bad guy" acting president reminds me of Gordon Brown. good drama if you can put up with subtitles

    If you can't put up with subtitles, you are missing some of the best drama there is....
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,739
    Just got the piece of pro EU bullshit through the door this morning from BSE. Filled with all the usual lies that one expects from the Europhiles plus a few more ludicrous claims such as being in the EU meaning we have lower shoppping bills. They even use the 3 million jobs claim.

    The best is the utter garbage that leaving the EU would increase the cost of our imports by £11 billion a year. It really is the worst scaremongering we have seen since the Pro Single Currency campaign and has as much basis in fact or truth as that did.
  • Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 5,420
    Pro_Rata said:

    So, would Corbyn's non-weaponised nuclear submarines still be nuclear powered?

    Or perhaps he is taking things too literally and is proposing for the boilermakers simply to make some great big undersea boilers.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,624
    edited 2016 18
    Dair said:

    Another two cricketers found guilty for spot fixing in IPL and banned. With T20 in India this year, what could possibly go wrong.

    R5 were reporting that one of the bookmakers claim excluding that horse racing, Tennis is the second most bet on sport in the world after football. I find that hard to believe given cricket, American sports etc (and by bet on, do we include things like DFS), but even so, what we can take away is huge amounts are being wagered on matches in a ratio that is disproportionate to the level of interest in it.

    American Sports Entertainment does not travel that well outside the United States and in most of the United States gambling is illegal, I doubt they have one of their "sports" in the top ten.*

    *DFS may change this but it's still early.
    Erhhhh.....depends if you are talking legal betting, grey marker or straight up under the table stuff. Pinnacle was the worlds largest online betting site in recent past and it catering overwhelmingly to the American market. Paul Phau runs IBCBet, which is now thought to be the largest bookmarker in the world and caters overwhelmingly to Chinese / Far East market, where outside of soccer, NBA is enormous. Just because we think in terms of the straight up operators like Ladbrokes etc, it is easy to forget the really massive players often operate in the shadows and are happy to take money from the likes of the US.

    DFS is always mega sized industry in the US.
  • richardDoddrichardDodd Posts: 5,472
    JD..Corbyn would probably have them fitted with oars..just like the Galleys..
  • DairDair Posts: 6,108
    edited 2016 18

    Dair said:

    Another two cricketers found guilty for spot fixing in IPL and banned. With T20 in India this year, what could possibly go wrong.

    R5 were reporting that one of the bookmakers claim excluding that horse racing, Tennis is the second most bet on sport in the world after football. I find that hard to believe given cricket, American sports etc (and by bet on, do we include things like DFS), but even so, what we can take away is huge amounts are being wagered on matches in a ratio that is disproportionate to the level of interest in it.

    American Sports Entertainment does not travel that well outside the United States and in most of the United States gambling is illegal, I doubt they have one of their "sports" in the top ten.*

    *DFS may change this but it's still early.
    Erhhhh.....depends if you are talking legal betting, grey marker or straight up under the table stuff. Pinnacle was the worlds largest online betting site in recent past and it catering overwhelmingly to the American market. Paul Phau runs IBCBet, which is now thought to be the largest bookmarker in the world and caters overwhelmingly to Chinese / Far East market, where outside of soccer, NBA is enormous. Just because we think in terms of the straight up operators like Ladbrokes etc, it is easy to forget the really massive players often operate in the shadows and are happy to take money from the likes of the US.

    DFS is always mega sized industry in the US.
    Pinnacle pulled out of the US market along with every other bookmaker when the US Govt twisted the arms of Visa and Mastercard and cracked down pretty heavily in the mid 2000s. I understand it to be very hard for any bookmaker to accept US money.

    Is basketball really that big in China? I would doubt it comes close to the level of football, although I do know it has some following.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053

    Just got the piece of pro EU bullshit through the door this morning from BSE. Filled with all the usual lies that one expects from the Europhiles plus a few more ludicrous claims such as being in the EU meaning we have lower shoppping bills. They even use the 3 million jobs claim.

    The best is the utter garbage that leaving the EU would increase the cost of our imports by £11 billion a year. It really is the worst scaremongering we have seen since the Pro Single Currency campaign and has as much basis in fact or truth as that did.

    Trouble is many people will believe these lies, not through naivety but through ignorance.
  • SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,788

    Another two cricketers found guilty for spot fixing in IPL and banned. With T20 in India this year, what could possibly go wrong.

    R5 were reporting that one of the bookmakers claim excluding that horse racing, Tennis is the second most bet on sport in the world after football. I find that hard to believe given cricket, American sports etc (and by bet on, do we include things like DFS), but even so, what we can take away is huge amounts are being wagered on matches in a ratio that is disproportionate to the level of interest in it.

    I can believe it. It's a one on one sport which means it's more open to 'fixing', see also Snooker....
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,624
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/12105082/David-Cameron-pledges-to-confront-BBC-executives-about-use-of-Islamic-State-name-during-on-air-clash.html

    This so misses the point in regards to BBC problem on these kind of issues. It isn't that they insist on calling them ISIS or so called Islamic State etc, it is a) the reasoning behind how they come to this decision and b) there continued insistence in relation to calling terrorists anything but exactly. The mindset of those higher up is so warped it is unbelievable, it is just out of JJ playbook.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,287
    .
    Alistair said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    taffys said:

    Osborne's raid on middle England's pensions gets top billing in the Mail today.

    He is in serious trouble.

    @Theuniondivvie listen to the programme. You will be surprised. It was a study, whichever or whenever it was, and no "oh things are much better now" really could or should negate, you know, a study.

    More or Less is a great programme and usually doesn't shirk from probing and often dismantling prevailing myths. I think it probably tried to do that with the 20%/stroke stat (it has certainly done it about weekend mortality in general) but sadly found that it was accurate.

    Is the fact that you are 20% more likely to die if you are admitted to hospital at the weekend with a stroke sufficient to determine the outcome of the junior doctors' dispute? Probably not, but it is all part of the 7-day NHS story so Cam can be forgiven for using it.
    I did listen to it. I guess we all hear what we want to hear, but their conclusion seemed a lot more..well..inconclusive than you suggest.

    The study data was more than 5 years old and which was confirmed by Charlotte McDonald, one of the presenters not a 'whining doctor', therefore you are statistically 20% more likely to die from a stroke if you are admitted to hospital at the weekend only if you can invent a time machine.
    Did she quote the study that refuted and updated that one?
    Refuted the 5 year old William Palmer study that said you're 20% more likely to die from a stroke if you are admitted to hospital at the weekend? Well, she did mention another researcher that said it was the case mix that really mattered relating to weekend admissions, and that lack of specialist nurses may also be a major factor for these stroke outcomes.
    Case mix!!!?? A stroke is a stroke. Duh...
    Yeah, definitely no difference in types of strokes people have at all.
    casemix:

    stubbed toe = no hospital
    stroke = hospital

    or do you think that if you have a stroke this coming Saturday your wife/partner/friend or the ambulance crew for that matter is going to make the assessment as you're lying there...

    really?
  • SimonStClareSimonStClare Posts: 7,976
    edited 2016 18

    Just got the piece of pro EU bullshit through the door this morning from BSE. Filled with all the usual lies that one expects from the Europhiles plus a few more ludicrous claims such as being in the EU meaning we have lower shoppping bills. They even use the 3 million jobs claim.
    [snip]

    Ditto – mine was targeting the South West and focused on farming as well as the stuff you mentioned above – Back page ‘Mythbusters’ the truth behind UKIP’s propaganda.

    Overall impression rather sub-par, Remain appear to be targeting the Daily Mirror readership.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,624
    edited 2016 18
    Dair said:

    Dair said:

    Another two cricketers found guilty for spot fixing in IPL and banned. With T20 in India this year, what could possibly go wrong.

    R5 were reporting that one of the bookmakers claim excluding that horse racing, Tennis is the second most bet on sport in the world after football. I find that hard to believe given cricket, American sports etc (and by bet on, do we include things like DFS), but even so, what we can take away is huge amounts are being wagered on matches in a ratio that is disproportionate to the level of interest in it.

    American Sports Entertainment does not travel that well outside the United States and in most of the United States gambling is illegal, I doubt they have one of their "sports" in the top ten.*

    *DFS may change this but it's still early.
    Erhhhh.....depends if you are talking legal betting, grey marker or straight up under the table stuff. Pinnacle was the worlds largest online betting site in recent past and it catering overwhelmingly to the American market. Paul Phau runs IBCBet, which is now thought to be the largest bookmarker in the world and caters overwhelmingly to Chinese / Far East market, where outside of soccer, NBA is enormous. Just because we think in terms of the straight up operators like Ladbrokes etc, it is easy to forget the really massive players often operate in the shadows and are happy to take money from the likes of the US.

    DFS is always mega sized industry in the US.
    Pinnacle pulled out of the US market along with every other bookmaker when the US Govt twisted the arms of Visa and Mastercard and cracked down pretty heavily in the mid 2000s. I understand it to be very hard for any bookmaker to accept US money.

    Is basketball really that big in China? I would doubt it comes close to the level of football, although I do know it has some following.
    Pinnacle's history is a little more complex and although yes a lot of action still placed through illegal gambling sites from the US e.g. there is a million dollar guaranteed poker tournament run on US facing sites every sunday.

    And as I say IBCBet is now the biggest thing going. I said after football, but yes NBA is massive in China. I am not saying that betting on NBA or NFL will come close to soccer, but it isn't a minority thing.

    Put it this way, somebody had the resources, money and most importantly the liquidity in the market, to bribe NBA referees and for their massive action to remain undetected. It was only because of another sports bettor's analysis flagged up the ref as dodgy, did it get exposed.
  • watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474
    edited 2016 18
    TOPPING said:

    .

    Alistair said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    taffys said:

    Osborne's raid on middle England's pensions gets top billing in the Mail today.

    He is in serious trouble.

    @Theuniondivvie listen to the programme. You will be surprised. It was a study, whichever or whenever it was, and no "oh things are much better now" really could or should negate, you know, a study.

    More or Less is a great programme and usually doesn't shirk from probing and often dismantling prevailing myths. I think it probably tried to do that with the 20%/stroke stat (it has certainly done it about weekend mortality in general) but sadly found that it was accurate.

    Is the fact that you are 20% more likely to die if you are admitted to hospital at the weekend with a stroke sufficient to determine the outcome of the junior doctors' dispute? Probably not, but it is all part of the 7-day NHS story so Cam can be forgiven for using it.
    I did listen to it. I guess we all hear what we want to hear, but their conclusion seemed a lot more..well..inconclusive than you suggest.

    The study data was more than 5 years old and which was confirmed by Charlotte McDonald, one of the presenters not a 'whining doctor', therefore you are statistically 20% more likely to die from a stroke if you are admitted to hospital at the weekend only if you can invent a time machine.
    Did she quote the study that refuted and updated that one?
    Refuted the 5 year old William Palmer study that said you're 20% more likely to die from a stroke if you are admitted to hospital at the weekend? Well, she did mention another researcher that said it was the case mix that really mattered relating to weekend admissions, and that lack of specialist nurses may also be a major factor for these stroke outcomes.
    Case mix!!!?? A stroke is a stroke. Duh...
    Yeah, definitely no difference in types of strokes people have at all.
    casemix:

    stubbed toe = no hospital
    stroke = hospital

    or do you think that if you have a stroke this coming Saturday your wife/partner/friend or the ambulance crew for that matter is going to make the assessment as you're lying there...

    really?
    Last night one poster suggested that people were avoiding hospitals at the weekend on the basis that Hunt said their chances of dying were greater. All those heart attack victims holding on until Monday before struggling into A&E.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Yup. In spades. The BBC are our state broadcaster, and forgotten the our bit. More favorable to our enemies.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/12105082/David-Cameron-pledges-to-confront-BBC-executives-about-use-of-Islamic-State-name-during-on-air-clash.html

    This so misses the point in regards to BBC problem on these kind of issues. It isn't that they insist on calling them ISIS or so called Islamic State etc, it is a) the reasoning behind how they come to this decision and b) there continued insistence in relation to calling terrorists anything but exactly. The mindset of those higher up is so warped it is unbelievable, it is just out of JJ playbook.

  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,354
    We got our first leaflet for the Scottish Parliamentary elections at the weekend and it was from...the Liberal Democrats. Remarkable. I thought they had wound up.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,451
    felix said:

    Sean_F said:

    felix said:

    Sean_F said:

    taffys said:

    Osborne's raid on middle England's pensions gets top billing in the Mail today.

    He is in serious trouble.

    There is no raid. Osborne has made life better for middle England pensioners by changing the rules on pension pots and giving more flexibility. What is being suggested is taxing contributions but not taxing the pension itself.
    That's fantastic spin. I would be heavily affected by these changes and stand to lose tens of thousands of pounds over the remainder of my working life. Nothing will offset that.

    It's called a stealth tax for a reason.
    You must be getting too much tax relief then, thatys why George has changed it. Frankly, rich people getting 40% tax relief was always something that had to go.. Now I am not affected any more I am happy to support the measure!
    So you think anyone earning over £43k a year is rich?
    well richer than I am.. and in any case its more than that, add 15% to that for the tax relief
    That's where the 40p tax band kicks in. This would hit many middle earners between 40-70k doing jobs like teaching, middle management, hospital work, and in the service sector. There will be plenty more who aspire to that who won't be happy.

    Consider someone on £60k. At the moment pensions contributions at 5% salary and matched by 5% from the employer would net £6k of contributions a year, well below the £40k annual cap.

    On the new proposals for 25% relief, they would be a clear loser.
    It's an eye-opener to see Conservative supporters filled with resentment towards people in that income bracket.
    It's an eye opener to see kippers blatantly supporting extras for the better off.
    It's a socialist mentality to view tax reductions as "extras".
    The lowest paid merit the greatest encouragement to save for pension. If that is socialism I'll keep the red flag flying high and vote Conservative as always :)
    That's just it: your last sentence is very telling.

    By your own admission you'd support the Conservatives regardless of what policy proposals they advanced and find a reason to agree with it on a case-by-case basis.
  • runnymederunnymede Posts: 2,536
    'It really is the worst scaremongering we have seen since the Pro Single Currency campaign and has as much basis in fact or truth as that did'

    It will be interesting to see Nick Herbert, who did so much to help discredit the pro-euro scaremongering years ago, mouthing all these lies now - some of which are very similar to those he once rubbished.

    It really does seem to be a 'Paris is worth a mass' moment for him
  • justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527
    Wanderer said:

    Sandpit said:

    AndyJS said:

    "We’ve started seeing some interesting explanations including one which suggests that CON voters are much less likely to take part in polling surveys than non-Tories."

    Isn't this simply another round about way of stating that shy Tories really do exist?

    As Carlotta says, it could be a different type of "shyness": not ashamed to admit being Tories as such, but living a more old-fashioned type of lifestyle where you keep your opinions to yourself most of the time, in contrast to the Twitter and Facebook generation. I haven't checked but it wouldn't surprise me if there are millions of older people who use the internet regularly but who've never actually posted a comment expressing an opinion on any website. Those are the types of people who may have been underpolled by the firms.
    One of these are the older demographic, who are also more likely to vote. There will be Labour and Lib Dem voters in this demographic, but there appear to be a larger number of Conservative voters.
    '1970s Labour & Union Power' are not something they read about in history books and may view with rose-tinted nostalgia - its something they lived through - which may help explain their much greater hostility to Corbyn than younger voters.....
    Very true. I guess people born after about 1960 (aged 55 now) will have memories of the Winter of Discontent, the unburied dead, the rubbish mountains in the streets and constant power cuts.

    The rest of us don't want to see that either, but for those who did witness it first hand that feeling will be much stronger - as will the connection between the policies Corbyn proposes and the aforementioned '70s outcomes.
    I was born a little later, in 1965, and have quite clear memories of the WoD etc.

    I think it may be significant but, equally, people may just become more right wing as they get older.
    And also more likely to suffer from dementia.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 23,108
    Scott_P said:

    @wallaceme: Just wondering, is today's Andy Burnham a different person from May's Andy Burnham? https://t.co/6m82yG9dL7

    Well, he's been partially skinned, has had fingers, toes and other body parts amputated, goes by another name and now offers absolute puppyish loyalty to a man he previously execrated.

    So basically yes.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,755
    Arron Banks has written a letter to Matthew Elliott of Vote Leave and says the only thing stopping a formal merger between the two is Dominic Cummings, Michael Gove's former SPAD


    http://bit.ly/1Qi1TDF
  • DairDair Posts: 6,108
    I'm still watching through this coverage of the 2011 Scottish election.

    What's remarkable is the level of denial from the Liberals and Labour as to what was happening. It actually makes the way both parties continued as before despite the clear sign in 2011 even more unbelievable.

    At 13'10" of this section, the audible gasp from Margaret Curren is an utter delight when she finds out Labour are about to lose Shettleston.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2rYdTtFhWE
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,450
    rcs1000 said:

    JonathanD said:

    Tories not pulling their punches here. By Lt Col Tom Tugendhat, Tory MP

    Jeremy Corbyn is no pacifist – he wants to see Britain defeated

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/12105376/Jeremy-Corbyn-is-no-pacifist-he-wants-to-see-Britain-defeated.html

    He is, of course, 100% correct.


    There was also an article in the Telegraph at the weekend regarding Russian influence in Europe. Hopefully no links between Jeremy and any of his aides are ever found....

    "American intelligence agencies are to conduct a major investigation into how the Kremlin is infiltrating political parties in Europe, it can be revealed.

    The US move came as senior British government officials told The Telegraph of growing fears that “a new cold war” was now unfolding in Europe, with Russian meddling taking on a breadth, range and depth far greater than previously thought. "

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/12103602/America-to-investigate-Russian-meddling-in-EU.html
    Apparently, the Russians are very keen on funding people/groups who are anti-EU and anti independent nuclear deterrent.

    Can anyone think of anyone on this site who fits that profile?
    TSE!
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    It's embarrassing ego tripping. Not interested in winning the argument, just the personality politics.

    I'd choose Cummings myself.

    Arron Banks has written a letter to Matthew Elliott of Vote Leave and says the only thing stopping a formal merger between the two is Dominic Cummings, Michael Gove's former SPAD


    http://bit.ly/1Qi1TDF

  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822

    Arron Banks has written a letter to Matthew Elliott of Vote Leave and says the only thing stopping a formal merger between the two is Dominic Cummings, Michael Gove's former SPAD

    What a strange letter. In one paragraph he says it's all Dominic Cummings' fault, but in the previous paragraph he says:

    The actions of your colleagues and previous historic statements suggest you are committed to staying in a reformed EU rather than campaigning for a Leave vote. It is inconceivable that the Electoral Commission could award Vote Leave the official designation while you remain committed to reform through a second referendum.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,755

    Arron Banks has written a letter to Matthew Elliott of Vote Leave and says the only thing stopping a formal merger between the two is Dominic Cummings, Michael Gove's former SPAD

    What a strange letter. In one paragraph he says it's all Dominic Cummings' fault, but in the previous paragraph he says:

    The actions of your colleagues and previous historic statements suggest you are committed to staying in a reformed EU rather than campaigning for a Leave vote. It is inconceivable that the Electoral Commission could award Vote Leave the official designation while you remain committed to reform through a second referendum.
    Arron Banks wants the Ref to be about Farage and immigration whilst Vote Leave want to talk about the economy and sovereignty, I can't see how they can reconcile that.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,755
    MaxPB said:

    rcs1000 said:

    JonathanD said:

    Tories not pulling their punches here. By Lt Col Tom Tugendhat, Tory MP

    Jeremy Corbyn is no pacifist – he wants to see Britain defeated

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/12105376/Jeremy-Corbyn-is-no-pacifist-he-wants-to-see-Britain-defeated.html

    He is, of course, 100% correct.


    There was also an article in the Telegraph at the weekend regarding Russian influence in Europe. Hopefully no links between Jeremy and any of his aides are ever found....

    "American intelligence agencies are to conduct a major investigation into how the Kremlin is infiltrating political parties in Europe, it can be revealed.

    The US move came as senior British government officials told The Telegraph of growing fears that “a new cold war” was now unfolding in Europe, with Russian meddling taking on a breadth, range and depth far greater than previously thought. "

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/12103602/America-to-investigate-Russian-meddling-in-EU.html
    Apparently, the Russians are very keen on funding people/groups who are anti-EU and anti independent nuclear deterrent.

    Can anyone think of anyone on this site who fits that profile?
    TSE!
    I love Putin, he's such a gay icon.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,755
    Guido

    Vote Leave spokesman: "There will be no merger."
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822

    Arron Banks wants the Ref to be about Farage and immigration whilst Vote Leave want to talk about the economy and sovereignty, I can't see how they can reconcile that.

    Yes, I think that is the real divide. Of course, that should all have been sorted out three years ago.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822
    Countdown to the usual suspects bitching that Vote Leave is a Europhile front comprised of Quislings trying to sabotage the Leave vote...
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,451
    Off topic, I think the cabinet minister this weekend who might come out as the leader of Leave could well be Javid.

    (1) He provides a great antidote to Farage, and moves Leave away from being purely anti-immigration by virtue of his background
    (2) If Leave loses, him becoming Osborne's Chancellor effectively reunites the Party
    (3) If Leave wins, Osborne would probably prefer no-one other than he (his protege) to lead the Party
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    I'm struggling to read any EU threads, I'm voting Leave but want the will to live for my cause. No chance so far.

    Attacking Remain is beyond stupid. Make your own case.

    Countdown to the usual suspects bitching that Vote Leave is a Europhile front comprised of Quislings trying to sabotage the Leave vote...

  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,755

    Arron Banks wants the Ref to be about Farage and immigration whilst Vote Leave want to talk about the economy and sovereignty, I can't see how they can reconcile that.

    Yes, I think that is the real divide. Of course, that should all have been sorted out three years ago.
    Should learn the lesson from the general election.

    One party banged on about immigration and ended up with one MP

    One party talked about the economy, hardly mentioned immigration and ended up with 331 MPs
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,450

    Arron Banks has written a letter to Matthew Elliott of Vote Leave and says the only thing stopping a formal merger between the two is Dominic Cummings, Michael Gove's former SPAD

    What a strange letter. In one paragraph he says it's all Dominic Cummings' fault, but in the previous paragraph he says:

    The actions of your colleagues and previous historic statements suggest you are committed to staying in a reformed EU rather than campaigning for a Leave vote. It is inconceivable that the Electoral Commission could award Vote Leave the official designation while you remain committed to reform through a second referendum.
    Arron Banks wants the Ref to be about Farage and immigration whilst Vote Leave want to talk about the economy and sovereignty, I can't see how they can reconcile that.
    Vote Leave are actually trying to win and Leave EU are trying to "make whites angry".
  • JohnOJohnO Posts: 4,296

    Off topic, I think the cabinet minister this weekend who might come out as the leader of Leave could well be Javid.

    (1) He provides a great antidote to Farage, and moves Leave away from being purely anti-immigration by virtue of his background
    (2) If Leave loses, him becoming Osborne's Chancellor effectively reunites the Party
    (3) If Leave wins, Osborne would probably prefer no-one other than he (his protege) to lead the Party

    That would be my prediction too.

    But just how 'loyal' will be to Osborne subsequently? Hmmm, worth pondering (as doubtless the Chancellor is already).
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,249
    Off-topic:

    For Dair: a great example of his much-praised Scottish water management:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-35342612

    SpaceX have failed to land:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35340734
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 53,244

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/12105082/David-Cameron-pledges-to-confront-BBC-executives-about-use-of-Islamic-State-name-during-on-air-clash.html

    This so misses the point in regards to BBC problem on these kind of issues. It isn't that they insist on calling them ISIS or so called Islamic State etc, it is a) the reasoning behind how they come to this decision and b) there continued insistence in relation to calling terrorists anything but exactly. The mindset of those higher up is so warped it is unbelievable, it is just out of JJ playbook.

    The BBC's reasoning would be defensible if they applied the same detachment to reporting on events closer to home.

    I find Cameron's position more problematic here. His primary concern seems to be to prevent Muslims in this country from being confronted with the uncomfortable truth that vile acts are being committed in the name of their religion.

    Would he have sought to ban the use of the name 'German Democratic Republic' to avoid causing offence to democrats?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,755

    Off topic, I think the cabinet minister this weekend who might come out as the leader of Leave could well be Javid.

    (1) He provides a great antidote to Farage, and moves Leave away from being purely anti-immigration by virtue of his background
    (2) If Leave loses, him becoming Osborne's Chancellor effectively reunites the Party
    (3) If Leave wins, Osborne would probably prefer no-one other than he (his protege) to lead the Party

    That's my thinking too.

    Also having the son of a Muslim immigrant leading Leave will also neutralises the allegations that leave is a bunch of angry white men obsessed about immigration and Muslims.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,451

    Off topic, I think the cabinet minister this weekend who might come out as the leader of Leave could well be Javid.

    (1) He provides a great antidote to Farage, and moves Leave away from being purely anti-immigration by virtue of his background
    (2) If Leave loses, him becoming Osborne's Chancellor effectively reunites the Party
    (3) If Leave wins, Osborne would probably prefer no-one other than he (his protege) to lead the Party

    That's my thinking too.

    Also having the son of a Muslim immigrant leading Leave will also neutralises the allegations that leave is a bunch of angry white men obsessed about immigration and Muslims.
    That's it, which instantly is a problem for May's future leadership chance and should shorten his odds quickly.
  • DairDair Posts: 6,108

    Off-topic:

    For Dair: a great example of his much-praised Scottish water management:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-35342612

    SpaceX have failed to land:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35340734

    I fear my point on flooding went over your head.

    Flooding will always happen and can never be prevented completely. Regular flooding (as happens in parts of England, particularly Carlisle sems to flood every second year), is preventable but NOT by way of Flood Defences. It is avoided by water management starting when the rain first falls.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,883

    Off topic, I think the cabinet minister this weekend who might come out as the leader of Leave could well be Javid.

    (1) He provides a great antidote to Farage, and moves Leave away from being purely anti-immigration by virtue of his background
    (2) If Leave loses, him becoming Osborne's Chancellor effectively reunites the Party
    (3) If Leave wins, Osborne would probably prefer no-one other than he (his protege) to lead the Party

    He would be good choice.

    Like you, I've been disappointed so far at the unwillingness of Conservative eurosceptics to support Brexit, after having been trenchant critics of the EU for years.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 53,244


    (2) If Leave loses, him becoming Osborne's Chancellor effectively reunites the Party

    The logic breaks down there. If leave lost, Javid would not be a popular man amongst the anti-EU wing.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822
    edited 2016 18
    Here we go:

    twitter.com/LeaveEUOfficial/status/689058442175234048/photo/1
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,249
    Dair said:

    Off-topic:

    For Dair: a great example of his much-praised Scottish water management:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-35342612

    SpaceX have failed to land:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35340734

    I fear my point on flooding went over your head.

    Flooding will always happen and can never be prevented completely. Regular flooding (as happens in parts of England, particularly Carlisle sems to flood every second year), is preventable but NOT by way of Flood Defences. It is avoided by water management starting when the rain first falls.
    I understood your 'point' very well. Scotland=good, England=bad.

    In fact, it was pretty much like your other posts. :)
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,138
    Mr. F, would he? The few times I've seen him in an interview, he's come across as not very impressive.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    What's Labour have to say here?

    The @Conservatives are ensuring more young people are getting the skills they need: https://t.co/GnaHBJqruN https://t.co/iugUHOuEOo
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,180
    edited 2016 18
    Deleted
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,180

    @Casino royale
    Yay - you got me! Seriously there are many kinds of Conservative and the party's History is one of adapting to the real world - you call it unprincipled I call it realpolitik - go Dizzy! You sound like you regret the repeal of the Corn Laws and the 1867 Reform Act.
  • DairDair Posts: 6,108
    edited 2016 18

    Dair said:

    Off-topic:

    For Dair: a great example of his much-praised Scottish water management:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-35342612

    SpaceX have failed to land:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35340734

    I fear my point on flooding went over your head.

    Flooding will always happen and can never be prevented completely. Regular flooding (as happens in parts of England, particularly Carlisle sems to flood every second year), is preventable but NOT by way of Flood Defences. It is avoided by water management starting when the rain first falls.
    I understood your 'point' very well. Scotland=good, England=bad.

    In fact, it was pretty much like your other posts. :)
    No, it wasn't.

    My point was that a publicly owned water system can dedicate resources to water management which appears to have a reasonably good record of preventing flooding in a country which, without water management, would be an uninhabitable bog.

    The option does not appear to be open in England as there is no mechanism to force private companies to manage non-potable water, therefore all that can be focused on is inferior, substandard and failure doomed "defences".

    Privatisation of water appears to offer absolutely no benefits to a people anywhere in the world. In terms of cost, public health or environmental water management.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,249
    Dair said:

    Dair said:

    Off-topic:

    For Dair: a great example of his much-praised Scottish water management:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-35342612

    SpaceX have failed to land:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35340734

    I fear my point on flooding went over your head.

    Flooding will always happen and can never be prevented completely. Regular flooding (as happens in parts of England, particularly Carlisle sems to flood every second year), is preventable but NOT by way of Flood Defences. It is avoided by water management starting when the rain first falls.
    I understood your 'point' very well. Scotland=good, England=bad.

    In fact, it was pretty much like your other posts. :)
    No, it wasn't.

    My point was that a publicly owned water system can dedicate resources to water management which appears to have a reasonably good record of preventing flooding in a country which, without water management, would be an uninhabitable bog.

    The option does not appear to be open in England as there is no mechanism to force private companies to manage non-potable water, therefore all that can be focused on is inferior, substandard and failure doomed "defences".

    Privatisation of water appears to offer absolutely no benefits to a people anywhere in the world. In terms of cost, public health or environmental water management.
    I refer the honourable gentleman to my previous answer.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,451
    JohnO said:

    Off topic, I think the cabinet minister this weekend who might come out as the leader of Leave could well be Javid.

    (1) He provides a great antidote to Farage, and moves Leave away from being purely anti-immigration by virtue of his background
    (2) If Leave loses, him becoming Osborne's Chancellor effectively reunites the Party
    (3) If Leave wins, Osborne would probably prefer no-one other than he (his protege) to lead the Party

    That would be my prediction too.

    But just how 'loyal' will be to Osborne subsequently? Hmmm, worth pondering (as doubtless the Chancellor is already).
    As loyal as it gets in politics, I think.

    But, as you rightly say, Osborne can't control the future.
  • perdixperdix Posts: 1,806

    JonathanD said:

    Tories not pulling their punches here. By Lt Col Tom Tugendhat, Tory MP

    Jeremy Corbyn is no pacifist – he wants to see Britain defeated

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/12105376/Jeremy-Corbyn-is-no-pacifist-he-wants-to-see-Britain-defeated.html

    He is, of course, 100% correct.


    There was also an article in the Telegraph at the weekend regarding Russian influence in Europe. Hopefully no links between Jeremy and any of his aides are ever found....

    "American intelligence agencies are to conduct a major investigation into how the Kremlin is infiltrating political parties in Europe, it can be revealed.

    The US move came as senior British government officials told The Telegraph of growing fears that “a new cold war” was now unfolding in Europe, with Russian meddling taking on a breadth, range and depth far greater than previously thought. "

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/12103602/America-to-investigate-Russian-meddling-in-EU.html
    Russia needs a cold war because its government system and economy is falling apart and its clearly massivly corrupt.
    It has to have an excuse to keep its population in check.
    They keep support of the population by making them paranoid about the intentions of the West.

  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,756

    Dair said:

    Scott_P said:

    Any policy that gets "lol wat" as a standard reply is probably worth ditching.

    I think there's a really good argument for a year zero approach to our armed forces. What do we want to be able to do, how much will it cost, get it done. But the new Trident proposal.

    lol

    wat

    twitter.com/liontornado/status/688994045436280832
    The link also shows Salmond. The SNP are also being disingenuous about defence, especially when you compare them to a similar sized Norway. Their proposed defence budget was about 50% too low. Their proposed air force about 500% too small.
    Pedant hat on: 500% too small would imply that they were proposing a negative number of planes...

    500 was vaguely alliterative with 50.
    So you admit that the points you make are for effect and not accuracy.

    Good to know, but it really was obvious without you highlighting it.
    What a dope you are. I was being generous about the size of the Scottish airforce.
    But get real. Scotland has voted on independence and wisely rejected it and the saddo notions of a few people with chips on their shoulders. All the purported benefits have disappeared in puffs of smoke since then. Nothing is going to change so stop crying about it.
    You really do know the square root of nothing about Scotland.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,755
    edited 2016 18
    @JosiasJessop Unfortunate for SpaceX, but I'm sure they'll fix the landing legs for future missions. So far as failures go, that is the sort you want !
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,756

    Dair said:

    Dair said:

    Scott_P said:

    Any policy that gets "lol wat" as a standard reply is probably worth ditching.

    I think there's a really good argument for a year zero approach to our armed forces. What do we want to be able to do, how much will it cost, get it done. But the new Trident proposal.

    lol

    wat

    twitter.com/liontornado/status/688994045436280832
    The link also shows Salmond. The SNP are also being disingenuous about defence, especially when you compare them to a similar sized Norway. Their proposed defence budget was about 50% too low. Their proposed air force about 500% too small.
    Ah the usual disingenuous rubbish.

    Norway have by far the highest military budget of similar sized nations. Norway have the luxury of spending whatever they want as being Independent and allowed to keep their own wealth, they became the richest country in the world (excluding micro-states).

    Compared to Ireland, the SNP was proposing a spend of over 150% of the Irish level, on par, IIRC, with Denmark. Of course there is a great deal to be said for the Icelandic model of spending Zero on defence.
    What a cry baby you are.
    Your last sentence shows you to be disingenuous. Your previous verbage shows you to be in denial. Scotland is part of the UK and has been for longer than Norway has been in existence and as such it has, unlike Norway been protected from invasion by the rest of the uk.
    You didn't accidentally pick Norway,
    Of course! What similarity has Scotland (15,500km coastline) to a Northern European country with a very long coastline (25,000km) and oil fields to defend?

    The comparison is ludicrous!

    Much better to compare with Denmark (7,300km).......
    No sho without Scotland hating Punch , is there
  • notmenotme Posts: 3,293
    Dair said:

    Off-topic:

    For Dair: a great example of his much-praised Scottish water management:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-35342612

    SpaceX have failed to land:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35340734

    I fear my point on flooding went over your head.

    Flooding will always happen and can never be prevented completely. Regular flooding (as happens in parts of England, particularly Carlisle sems to flood every second year), is preventable but NOT by way of Flood Defences. It is avoided by water management starting when the rain first falls.
    Really? Every other year? In my lifetime I know of only two floods of significance in the urban area of Carlisle. One a few weeks ago, and the other in 2005. But then Carlisle covers more than the actual settlement, im sure somewhere in the 400 square miles of the city does flood every other year.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,249
    Pulpstar said:

    @JosiasJessop Unfortunate for SpaceX, but I'm sure they'll fix the landing legs for future missions. So far as failures go, that is the sort you want !

    Indeed. I wonder if any rocking of the barge might have accentuated the problem, although it did not appear so from the video.

    As an aside, I've learnt (gasp!) something more since SpaceX was last discussed. I asked why they were using a barge for earlier attempts, and land for the one that succeeded. The answer is that return-to-land is to be used when there is enough 'spare fuel' (i.e. when it has hoisted up lighter payloads), and the rocket has enough fuel to maneouver back. For when it has not got enough fuel, the barge is to be used.
  • WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838
    @Casino_Royale, @TheScreamingEagles and others. Interesting talk of Javid. I was planning not to cover him but now I have. You make a good case.

    Something that makes me doubt his chances, quite seriously, is his lack of hair. The public really don't warm to bald politicians easily.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,883
    Wanderer said:

    @Casino_Royale, @TheScreamingEagles and others. Interesting talk of Javid. I was planning not to cover him but now I have. You make a good case.

    Something that makes me doubt his chances, quite seriously, is his lack of hair. The public really don't warm to bald politicians easily.

    He can wear a curly wig.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,451


    (2) If Leave loses, him becoming Osborne's Chancellor effectively reunites the Party

    The logic breaks down there. If leave lost, Javid would not be a popular man amongst the anti-EU wing.


    (2) If Leave loses, him becoming Osborne's Chancellor effectively reunites the Party

    The logic breaks down there. If leave lost, Javid would not be a popular man amongst the anti-EU wing.
    It depends upon what sort of campaign he runs and how close it is, surely?

    If he runs an obvious "go slow" for Osborne there could be a problem, but that remains to be seen.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,755
    Wanderer said:

    @Casino_Royale, @TheScreamingEagles and others. Interesting talk of Javid. I was planning not to cover him but now I have. You make a good case.

    Something that makes me doubt his chances, quite seriously, is his lack of hair. The public really don't warm to bald politicians easily.

    Some wise fellow, back in 2014, tipped Javid as next PM at 50/1

    http://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2014/09/09/why-ive-backed-philip-hammond-as-next-prime-minister-at-331-and-sajid-javid-at-501/
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,755
    edited 2016 18

    Pulpstar said:

    @JosiasJessop Unfortunate for SpaceX, but I'm sure they'll fix the landing legs for future missions. So far as failures go, that is the sort you want !

    Indeed. I wonder if any rocking of the barge might have accentuated the problem, although it did not appear so from the video.

    As an aside, I've learnt (gasp!) something more since SpaceX was last discussed. I asked why they were using a barge for earlier attempts, and land for the one that succeeded. The answer is that return-to-land is to be used when there is enough 'spare fuel' (i.e. when it has hoisted up lighter payloads), and the rocket has enough fuel to maneouver back. For when it has not got enough fuel, the barge is to be used.
    This attempt was made with an older version of their craft too, the 1.1 vs the FT. (The FT has upgraded legs !) Heave, sway and surge of the sea makes landing trickier than land methinks.

    Obviously not a complete success, but Spacex won't be too disheartened. Good idea too to use up their older rockets before heading onto the newer ones.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,756

    felix said:

    Sean_F said:

    taffys said:

    Osborne's raid on middle England's pensions gets top billing in the Mail today.

    He is in serious trouble.

    There is no raid. Osborne has made life better for middle England pensioners by changing the rules on pension pots and giving more flexibility. What is being suggested is taxing contributions but not taxing the pension itself.
    That's fantastic spin. I would be heavily affected by these changes and stand to lose tens of thousands of pounds over the remainder of my working life. Nothing will offset that.

    It's called a stealth tax for a reason.
    You must be getting too much tax relief then, thatys why George has changed it. Frankly, rich people getting 40% tax relief was always something that had to go.. Now I am not affected any more I am happy to support the measure!
    So you think anyone earning over £43k a year is rich?
    well richer than I am.. and in any case its more than that, add 15% to that for the tax relief
    That's where the 40p tax band kicks in. This would hit many middle earners between 40-70k doing jobs like teaching, middle management, hospital work, and in the service sector. There will be plenty more who aspire to that who won't be happy.

    Consider someone on £60k. At the moment pensions contributions at 5% salary and matched by 5% from the employer would net £6k of contributions a year, well below the £40k annual cap.

    On the new proposals for 25% relief, they would be a clear loser.
    It's an eye-opener to see Conservative supporters filled with resentment towards people in that income bracket.
    It's an eye opener to see kippers blatantly supporting extras for the better off.
    Just like the SNP then....
    whinging from your tax haven
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    edited 2016 18
    Ha! http://health.spectator.co.uk/dont-cut-doctors-pay-just-tax-their-lunch-the-hospital-sugar-levy-is-a-stroke-of-evil-genius/
    Cutting costs in the NHS is a challenge that has defeated every government. Getting its staff to accept pay cuts is very difficult. Being a genius, Stevens has worked out that if you can’t cut the pay of doctors and nurses, you can always claw it back in the workplace. Taxing their lunch is a cunning step in that direction.

    The wonderful thing about stealth taxes of this sort is that you can pretend they are for the good of people’s health. Never mind that soft drinks only provide three per cent of the nation’s calories. Never mind that their biggest consumers are those aged 11 to 18 who are less likely than adults to be obese. And never mind that the impact of soft drink taxes on soft drink consumption, let alone on obesity, has been pitifully small in every country that has experimented with them. They sound like the kind of thing that might work and that is enough.

  • LondonBobLondonBob Posts: 467
    JonathanD said:

    Tories not pulling their punches here. By Lt Col Tom Tugendhat, Tory MP

    Jeremy Corbyn is no pacifist – he wants to see Britain defeated

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/12105376/Jeremy-Corbyn-is-no-pacifist-he-wants-to-see-Britain-defeated.html

    He is, of course, 100% correct.


    There was also an article in the Telegraph at the weekend regarding Russian influence in Europe. Hopefully no links between Jeremy and any of his aides are ever found....

    "American intelligence agencies are to conduct a major investigation into how the Kremlin is infiltrating political parties in Europe, it can be revealed.

    The US move came as senior British government officials told The Telegraph of growing fears that “a new cold war” was now unfolding in Europe, with Russian meddling taking on a breadth, range and depth far greater than previously thought. "

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/12103602/America-to-investigate-Russian-meddling-in-EU.html
    I wish the our government and security services would look into foreign funding of our political parties, as well as possible foreign agents of influence in our media.

    How else does one explain why our political/media class have so seriously jeopadised the national security of our country by say illegally invading Iraq, overthrowing Gaddafi, sponsoring jihadi salafist terrorists in Syria or destabilising the Ukraine precipitating a civil war in that country except for being in return for campaign contributions and comfortable retirements.

    I doubt the loons on here would like that though! As it it the Americans seem to be upset about the Russians doing a small portion of what they do themselves.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,161
    I do know a couple of UKIP voters from 2015 who are (admittedly quite reluctant) "Inners". They voted UKIP because there was no socially conservative option on the ballot paper. Their view is that Con + Lab + LibDems all serve up the same socially liberal mush on marriage, and the like.
  • logical_songlogical_song Posts: 9,961
    DavidL said:

    We got our first leaflet for the Scottish Parliamentary elections at the weekend and it was from...the Liberal Democrats. Remarkable. I thought they had wound up.

    Did you think that the Labour Party and Conservative Party had wound up too?
  • blackburn63blackburn63 Posts: 4,492
    edited 2016 18

    felix said:

    Sean_F said:

    felix said:

    Sean_F said:

    taffys said:

    Osborne's raid on middle England's pensions gets top billing in the Mail today.

    He is in serious trouble.

    There is no raid. Osborne has made life better for middle England pensioners by changing the rules on pension pots and giving more flexibility. What is being suggested is taxing contributions but not taxing the pension itself.
    That's fantastic spin. I would be heavily affected by these changes and stand to lose tens of thousands of pounds over the remainder of my working life. Nothing will offset that.

    It's called a stealth tax for a reason.
    You must be getting too much tax relief then, thatys why George has changed it. Frankly, rich people getting 40% tax relief was always something that had to go.. Now I am not affected any more I am happy to support the measure!
    So you think anyone earning over £43k a year is rich?
    well richer than I am.. and in any case its more than that, add 15% to that for the tax relief
    That's where the 40p tax band kicks in. This would hit many middle earners between 40-70k doing jobs like teaching, middle management, hospital work, and in the service sector. There will be plenty more who aspire to that who won't be happy.

    Consider someone on £60k. At the moment pensions contributions at 5% salary and matched by 5% from the employer would net £6k of contributions a year, well below the £40k annual cap.

    On the new proposals for 25% relief, they would be a clear loser.
    It's an eye-opener to see Conservative supporters filled with resentment towards people in that income bracket.
    It's an eye opener to see kippers blatantly supporting extras for the better off.
    It's a socialist mentality to view tax reductions as "extras".
    The lowest paid merit the greatest encouragement to save for pension. If that is socialism I'll keep the red flag flying high and vote Conservative as always :)
    That's just it: your last sentence is very telling.

    By your own admission you'd support the Conservatives regardless of what policy proposals they advanced and find a reason to agree with it on a case-by-case basis.
    In his defence he's not the only one on here
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,354

    DavidL said:

    We got our first leaflet for the Scottish Parliamentary elections at the weekend and it was from...the Liberal Democrats. Remarkable. I thought they had wound up.

    Did you think that the Labour Party and Conservative Party had wound up too?
    No, because you see them on the telly occasionally and I went to the Dundee Conservative party's Christmas lunch not very long ago. But the Lib Dems have been pretty much invisible until now.

    Not a bad leaflet actually. About A3 size. Bit of time and effort gone into it.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,281
    malcolmg said:

    Dair said:

    Dair said:

    Scott_P said:

    Any policy that gets "lol wat" as a standard reply is probably worth ditching.

    I think there's a really good argument for a year zero approach to our armed forces. What do we want to be able to do, how much will it cost, get it done. But the new Trident proposal.

    lol

    wat

    twitter.com/liontornado/status/688994045436280832
    The link also shows Salmond. The SNP are also being disingenuous about defence, especially when you compare them to a similar sized Norway. Their proposed defence budget was about 50% too low. Their proposed air force about 500% too small.
    Ah the usual disingenuous rubbish.

    Norway have by far the highest military budget of similar sized nations. Norway have the luxury of spending whatever they want as being Independent and allowed to keep their own wealth, they became the richest country in the world (excluding micro-states).

    Compared to Ireland, the SNP was proposing a spend of over 150% of the Irish level, on par, IIRC, with Denmark. Of course there is a great deal to be said for the Icelandic model of spending Zero on defence.
    What a cry baby you are.
    Your last sentence shows you to be disingenuous. Your previous verbage shows you to be in denial. Scotland is part of the UK and has been for longer than Norway has been in existence and as such it has, unlike Norway been protected from invasion by the rest of the uk.
    You didn't accidentally pick Norway,
    Of course! What similarity has Scotland (15,500km coastline) to a Northern European country with a very long coastline (25,000km) and oil fields to defend?

    The comparison is ludicrous!

    Much better to compare with Denmark (7,300km).......
    No sho without Scotland hating Punch , is there
    A stunning engagement with the argument that tiny Denmark is a better comparotor for Defence spending than Norway!

    Well done sir!

    Long may the Nats continue to display this level of intellectual brilliance.

    PS

    $28........
  • DairDair Posts: 6,108

    DavidL said:

    We got our first leaflet for the Scottish Parliamentary elections at the weekend and it was from...the Liberal Democrats. Remarkable. I thought they had wound up.

    Did you think that the Labour Party and Conservative Party had wound up too?
    SLAB may as well shut up shop. They serve absolutely no purpose any more other than to do down Scotland.
  • WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838

    Wanderer said:

    @Casino_Royale, @TheScreamingEagles and others. Interesting talk of Javid. I was planning not to cover him but now I have. You make a good case.

    Something that makes me doubt his chances, quite seriously, is his lack of hair. The public really don't warm to bald politicians easily.

    Some wise fellow, back in 2014, tipped Javid as next PM at 50/1

    http://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2014/09/09/why-ive-backed-philip-hammond-as-next-prime-minister-at-331-and-sajid-javid-at-501/
    Interesting that Hammond is at longer odds today.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,755

    New Thread New Thread

  • DairDair Posts: 6,108
    edited 2016 18
    nt
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Martin Boon
    Once again, raw sample remembers voting in a Labour government. In my view, 35% for Labour a continuing overstatement of their share.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,161
    LondonBob said:

    JonathanD said:

    Tories not pulling their punches here. By Lt Col Tom Tugendhat, Tory MP

    Jeremy Corbyn is no pacifist – he wants to see Britain defeated

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/12105376/Jeremy-Corbyn-is-no-pacifist-he-wants-to-see-Britain-defeated.html

    He is, of course, 100% correct.


    There was also an article in the Telegraph at the weekend regarding Russian influence in Europe. Hopefully no links between Jeremy and any of his aides are ever found....

    "American intelligence agencies are to conduct a major investigation into how the Kremlin is infiltrating political parties in Europe, it can be revealed.

    The US move came as senior British government officials told The Telegraph of growing fears that “a new cold war” was now unfolding in Europe, with Russian meddling taking on a breadth, range and depth far greater than previously thought. "

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/12103602/America-to-investigate-Russian-meddling-in-EU.html
    I wish the our government and security services would look into foreign funding of our political parties, as well as possible foreign agents of influence in our media.

    How else does one explain why our political/media class have so seriously jeopadised the national security of our country by say illegally invading Iraq, overthrowing Gaddafi, sponsoring jihadi salafist terrorists in Syria or destabilising the Ukraine precipitating a civil war in that country except for being in return for campaign contributions and comfortable retirements.

    I doubt the loons on here would like that though! As it it the Americans seem to be upset about the Russians doing a small portion of what they do themselves.
    If only the US government contributed to groups opposed European fraccing. And if only they had a team of people dedicated to spreading pro-US propaganda on sites like this.

    Oh wait! It's not the US government that does these things. It's the Russian government.
  • richardDoddrichardDodd Posts: 5,472
    Labour is quite rightly getting its collective butt well and truly whupped in the HOC Defence debate
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 120,755
    ICM poll for the Guardian

    @ICMResearch @guardian_clark Jan poll: @Conservatives 40% @UKLabour 35% @LibDems 6% @UKIP 10% @theSNP 4% @TheGreenParty 3% PC 1% Oth 1%.

    Once again, raw sample remembers voting in a Labour government. In my view, 35% for Labour a continuing overstatement of their share.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Kevan Jones' face as Tory defence minister heaps praise on him. https://t.co/KlMVjtEIpi
This discussion has been closed.