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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » PB/Polling Matters podcast featuring Mike Smithson

On this week’s podcast Keiran discusses the initial BPC Polling Inquiry findings with Mike Smithson. Keiran explains some of the findings and why voting intention polls are not the same as public opinion polls. Mike argues that the polls being wrong shaped the General Election result and we discuss where polling goes from here and whether polling could face another crisis over the E.U.

Read the full story here

Danny565

Rather intriguing -- I don't believe I have ever heard Mr Smithson's voice before.

FrancisUrquhart

German government admits it cannot account for 600,000 of its 1.1million asylum seekers – and many could be using multiple identities to travel across Europe

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3410787/German-government-admits-account-600-000-1-1million-asylum-seekers-using-multiple-identities-travel-Europe.html

Danny565

foxinsoxuk said:

Danny565 said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Danny565 said:

foxinsoxuk said:

If Liz had been her normal relaxed and charming self, then she would have fared much better. She never really developed in the campaign after the opening weekend.

She would have perhaps divided the party in a different way, but would have put Labour in a far more effective place in 2020.

Mind you that wouldn't be tough. Having the Chuckle Brothers as party leader would be more effective than Corbyn!

My main problem with her wasn't/isn't even that she's a "Blairite" - it's that she seems so mind-numbingly dim. Everything she says seems to be a platitude.

She was rather stiff in the campaign. She is much better in a format like This Week.

She went from a comp to Cambridge. She is not dim.

Well, being academically good is not necessarily the same thing as being an insightful thinker.

That discussion on the economy was a case in point. She said "the problem was Labour wasn't trusted on the economy and leadership", as if this is some revelation that only she has thought of. Well, everyone (even the most diehard Corbynista) agrees Labour weren't trusted on the economy or on leadership; simply making that statement of the bleeding obvious doesn't get us anywhere, unless she's also going to advance a theory about WHY it was the case they weren't trusted, and HOW it could be remedied.

She expounded some things in the campaign that the vast majority of Labour selectorate did not want to hear. Deficit reduction, need to balance the budget, that it would be dangerous to promise reversal of all welfare reforms etc. Liz was pretty open with what she meant. Her audience didn't like it, but the truth often hurts.

Yes, well simply parrotting what the opposite party says hardly counts as insightful, EVEN IF one agrees with it.

There was a particular car-crash interview with Kendall at some point during the leadership campaign where she was being quizzed about the economy, and floundered horribly when she was asked follow-up questions. She gave the distinct Sarah Palin-esque impression of just having memorised a few buzz phrases without actually understanding what she was saying.

EDIT: Found the interview; the cringeworthiness starts from 3:30:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogeOqw4dTAA

AndyJS

Danny565 said:

Rather intriguing -- I don't believe I have ever heard Mr Smithson's voice before.

OGH has been interviewed on Radio 4's Westminster Hour a few times.

FrancisUrquhart

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3411146/Sudanese-migrant-sparked-fury-granted-asylum-judge-walking-Channel-Tunnel-face-trial-following-U-turn.html

What is bonkers, is two Iranians, same situation, not granted claim to asylum, this guy has. Doesn't seem like there is any consistency.

peter_from_putney

Danny565 said:

Rather intriguing -- I don't believe I have ever heard Mr Smithson's voice before.

3,666 posts and you'd never heard the distinctive voice of our world famous founder ..... that must be something of a record!

CarlottaVance

Danny565 said:

Rather intriguing -- I don't believe I have ever heard Mr Smithson's voice before.

Its fascinating the assumptions we make about people from only hearing their voices.

When the BBC overdubbed Gerry Adams with a 'middle class' Irish accent to get round the daft ban on 'hearing terrorists' he came across as reasonable. My opinion of him did not improve when finally we heard his real voice (which of course says more about me than him!)

peter_from_putney

The GOP nomination appears almost certain to be Trump's. Discarding Ted Cruz, on account of his nationality issues, the only other credible established candidate appears to be Marco Rubio, but he looks way too far behind and crucially he is lacking forward momentum.
At this stage it really would need a relatively "new face" to emerge from the pack to give Trump a run for his money.
The only conceivable candidate fitting this bill appears to be John Kasich, the Governor of Ohio, who is putting all his efforts into achieving a decent showing in New Hampshire, where some polls are showing him as being in second place.
Over recent days, his odds against winning the nomination have approximately halved from an average of around 75/1 to a present average of around 38.75/1 (SkyBet and Betfair go 40/1, Laddies 50/1 and Hills 25/1).
As ever, timing is all important here - were he indeed to finish second in NH, he'd then be likely to benefit from very considerable financial backing and his odds would probably reduce close to single figures. Finish 3rd or worse there and he's almost certainly out of the race altogether.
He's certainly a long shot, but then again he's still available at a long price.
It's probably worth waiting a while before investing any serious money on him, but a couple of quid at 50/1 might provide a bit of fun but DYOR.

SimonStClare

Morning all.

An interesting podcast – hadn’t quite appreciated the wider ramification of the flawed polling which ultimately proved to be useless, it set the entire narrative in the lead up to the election for both media and academia pundits alike and made utter fools of them all. – Unless there are some spectacularly accurate polling before 2020, I don’t think pollster will ever be taken as seriously again.

FrancisUrquhart

Is 'King Jeremy the Accidental' on the up?

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-35350417

Hilarious article from Mark Mardell...apparently JJ interview with Marr wasn't bad at all, just one tiny slip up resulting in headline "mocking his naivety".

Sandpit

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Casino_Royale

peter_from_putney said:

The GOP nomination appears almost certain to be Trump's. Discarding Ted Cruz, on account of his nationality issues, the only other credible established candidate appears to be Marco Rubio, but he looks way too far behind and crucially he is lacking forward momentum.
At this stage it really would need a relatively "new face" to emerge from the pack to give Trump a run for his money.
The only conceivable candidate fitting this bill appears to be John Kasich, the Governor of Ohio, who is putting all his efforts into achieving a decent showing in New Hampshire, where some polls are showing him as being in second place.
Over recent days, his odds against winning the nomination have approximately halved from an average of around 75/1 to a present average of around 38.75/1 (SkyBet and Betfair go 40/1, Laddies 50/1 and Hills 25/1).
As ever, timing is all important here - were he indeed to finish second in NH, he'd then be likely to benefit from very considerable financial backing and his odds would probably reduce close to single figures. Finish 3rd or worse there and he's almost certainly out of the race altogether.
He's certainly a long shot, but then again he's still available at a long price.
It's probably worth waiting a while before investing any serious money on him, but a couple of quid at 50/1 might provide a bit of fun but DYOR.

Yup, I'm already on Kasich at 50/1. Main position is on Trump. I did have an ok position on Rubio but I'm not maintaining it anymore.

I'm not bothering with Cruz.

logical_song

Overnight UKIP slide continues, losing a Thanet seat (-14.2%), elsewhere losing vote share (-12.5%).

foxinsoxuk

Danny565 said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Danny565 said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Danny565 said:

foxinsoxuk said:

If Liz had been her normal relaxed and charming self, then she would have fared much better. She never really developed in the campaign after the opening weekend.

She would have perhaps divided the party in a different way, but would have put Labour in a far more effective place in 2020.

Mind you that wouldn't be tough. Having the Chuckle Brothers as party leader would be more effective than Corbyn!

My main problem with her wasn't/isn't even that she's a "Blairite" - it's that she seems so mind-numbingly dim. Everything she says seems to be a platitude.

She was rather stiff in the campaign. She is much better in a format like This Week.

She went from a comp to Cambridge. She is not dim.

Well, being academically good is not necessarily the same thing as being an insightful thinker.

That discussion on the economy was a case in point. She said "the problem was Labour wasn't trusted on the economy and leadership", as if this is some revelation that only she has thought of. Well, everyone (even the most diehard Corbynista) agrees Labour weren't trusted on the economy or on leadership; simply making that statement of the bleeding obvious doesn't get us anywhere, unless she's also going to advance a theory about WHY it was the case they weren't trusted, and HOW it could be remedied.

She expounded some things in the campaign that the vast majority of Labour selectorate did not want to hear. Deficit reduction, need to balance the budget, that it would be dangerous to promise reversal of all welfare reforms etc. Liz was pretty open with what she meant. Her audience didn't like it, but the truth often hurts.

Yes, well simply parrotting what the opposite party says hardly counts as insightful, EVEN IF one agrees with it.

There was a particular car-crash interview with Kendall at some point during the leadership campaign where she was being quizzed about the economy, and floundered horribly when she was asked follow-up questions. She gave the distinct Sarah Palin-esque impression of just having memorised a few buzz phrases without actually understanding what she was saying.

EDIT: Found the interview; the cringeworthiness starts from 3:30:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogeOqw4dTAA

Still significantly better than Jezza!, but I agree that she showed a bit of naiviity on the harder economic matters. She was much better versed on social policy.

Mind you, credible Labour figures on the economy are rare.

foxinsoxuk

FrancisUrquhart said:

German government admits it cannot account for 600,000 of its 1.1million asylum seekers – and many could be using multiple identities to travel across Europe

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3410787/German-government-admits-account-600-000-1-1million-asylum-seekers-using-multiple-identities-travel-Europe.html

Many registered more than once according to the article, so there may be 600 000 rather than 1.1 million. Detected during police raids after Cologne.

blackburn63

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

MikeSmithson

peter_from_putney said:

The GOP nomination appears almost certain to be Trump's. Discarding Ted Cruz, on account of his nationality issues, the only other credible established candidate appears to be Marco Rubio, but he looks way too far behind and crucially he is lacking forward momentum.
At this stage it really would need a relatively "new face" to emerge from the pack to give Trump a run for his money.
The only conceivable candidate fitting this bill appears to be John Kasich, the Governor of Ohio, who is putting all his efforts into achieving a decent showing in New Hampshire, where some polls are showing him as being in second place.
Over recent days, his odds against winning the nomination have approximately halved from an average of around 75/1 to a present average of around 38.75/1 (SkyBet and Betfair go 40/1, Laddies 50/1 and Hills 25/1).
As ever, timing is all important here - were he indeed to finish second in NH, he'd then be likely to benefit from very considerable financial backing and his odds would probably reduce close to single figures. Finish 3rd or worse there and he's almost certainly out of the race altogether.
He's certainly a long shot, but then again he's still available at a long price.
It's probably worth waiting a while before investing any serious money on him, but a couple of quid at 50/1 might provide a bit of fun but DYOR.

I agree with Peter on Kaish. Hr has been moving up in the polls in New Hampshire and could well become the main anti-Donald choice of independent and Democrats who decide to vote in the GOP election.

DavidL

logical_song said:

Overnight UKIP slide continues, losing a Thanet seat (-14.2%), elsewhere losing vote share (-12.5%).

Very poor and not a little surprising as the EU referendum hoves into view. If ever there was a time when UKIP could at least get on the main stage it should be now but they seem bogged down in internal rows and the deficiencies of Farage.

You get the impression that Leave are standing fairly idly by until some unidentified cabinet member is gracious enough to come along to lead them. The problem is that the longer this state of affairs persist the worse a career choice that looks. If Grayling or IDS is the best they end up doing winning the referendum will be almost impossible.

It's a really disappointing state of affairs.

DavidL

MikeSmithson said:

peter_from_putney said:

The GOP nomination appears almost certain to be Trump's. Discarding Ted Cruz, on account of his nationality issues, the only other credible established candidate appears to be Marco Rubio, but he looks way too far behind and crucially he is lacking forward momentum.
At this stage it really would need a relatively "new face" to emerge from the pack to give Trump a run for his money.
The only conceivable candidate fitting this bill appears to be John Kasich, the Governor of Ohio, who is putting all his efforts into achieving a decent showing in New Hampshire, where some polls are showing him as being in second place.
Over recent days, his odds against winning the nomination have approximately halved from an average of around 75/1 to a present average of around 38.75/1 (SkyBet and Betfair go 40/1, Laddies 50/1 and Hills 25/1).
As ever, timing is all important here - were he indeed to finish second in NH, he'd then be likely to benefit from very considerable financial backing and his odds would probably reduce close to single figures. Finish 3rd or worse there and he's almost certainly out of the race altogether.
He's certainly a long shot, but then again he's still available at a long price.
It's probably worth waiting a while before investing any serious money on him, but a couple of quid at 50/1 might provide a bit of fun but DYOR.

I agree with Peter on Kaish. Hr has been moving up in the polls in New Hampshire and could well become the main anti-Donald choice of independent and Democrats who decide to vote in the GOP election.

The understandable desperation (desire is too feeble a word) to find an alternative to Trump still seems to have the Republicans casting in all directions.

What is urgently needed is a winnowing of this large, unwieldy and fairly talentless field so the more rational part of the party can focus on a single candidate. As long as they jump from one to another with ever decreasing intervals Trump will continue to dominate and may well become unassailable.

The Republican leadership should focus on getting as many as possible of the no hopers out of the way as fast as possible.

Malmesbury

From the last thread :

HYUFD said:

watford30 said:

HYUFD said:

Wanderer said:

HYUFD said:

Scott_P said:

@SimonNRicketts: Why does Corbyn hate Scalextric so much? https://t.co/DhOG80NLsA

I hope there are psychological tests for whichever officer has his finger on the button, I am sure there are some fail safe mechanisms, but the commander of a nuclear submarine can arguably claim to be one of the most powerful people on the planet

I think you need more than one person to act simultaneously. At least, that's how Hollywood does it so it must be that way.

Who is the other person needed then?

The rest of the crew, with the second in command. I suspect if a commander were to go loco and attempt to order an authorised release, he'd be visiting the sick bay for 'a rest'.

Peter Hennessy is probably one of the most authoritative writers on this subject. It's worth reading what he's published, and broadcast.

One would hope so, unless the commander and second in command are both insane

In fact you need the entire crew to actually launch missiles. The two man rule is about arming the warhead. But that has a series of safeties in addition - must have been launched, gone faster than x thousand miles an hour etc...

To launch a missile, the submarine need to be at shallow depth, stable and at very slow speed (essentially none) - this is described as "hovering". To do that requires that engine room crew control the reactor at very low power settings (hard), the crew on the planes keep the boat exactly level, the diving officer (and crew) hold the submarine at the right depth with the hovering system ( special adjunct to the ballast tanks).

Then you need to power up the missiles. You don't just turn them on like a light. There is a specific warm up process. Another set of crew members do that. Then loading the guidance program, setting up the launch computers on the sub.. After that you have setting up the compressed air system to blow the missiles out of their tubes - lining up all the valves in that system is not trivial. etc etc.

MikeSmithson

Coming up later on PB: Henry G Manson with his next LAB leader tips

blackburn63

DavidL said:

logical_song said:

Overnight UKIP slide continues, losing a Thanet seat (-14.2%), elsewhere losing vote share (-12.5%).

Very poor and not a little surprising as the EU referendum hoves into view. If ever there was a time when UKIP could at least get on the main stage it should be now but they seem bogged down in internal rows and the deficiencies of Farage.

You get the impression that Leave are standing fairly idly by until some unidentified cabinet member is gracious enough to come along to lead them. The problem is that the longer this state of affairs persist the worse a career choice that looks. If Grayling or IDS is the best they end up doing winning the referendum will be almost impossible.

It's a really disappointing state of affairs.

You are making the mistake of confusing Leave with UKIP, ok they share the same end but are entirely separate entities. Most kippers have lost interest in local campaigning and are full steam ahead for the referendum.

A point about ukip, some of the candidates are of dreadfully low quality hence the poor re-election rate, I'm not sure if the party has the resources or wherewithal to improve the standard.

The situation in Thanet is beyond ridiculous, some of the people around Nigel during the campaign were a total embarrassment.

Innocent_Abroad

blackburn63 said:

DavidL said:

logical_song said:

Overnight UKIP slide continues, losing a Thanet seat (-14.2%), elsewhere losing vote share (-12.5%).

Very poor and not a little surprising as the EU referendum hoves into view. If ever there was a time when UKIP could at least get on the main stage it should be now but they seem bogged down in internal rows and the deficiencies of Farage.

You get the impression that Leave are standing fairly idly by until some unidentified cabinet member is gracious enough to come along to lead them. The problem is that the longer this state of affairs persist the worse a career choice that looks. If Grayling or IDS is the best they end up doing winning the referendum will be almost impossible.

It's a really disappointing state of affairs.

You are making the mistake of confusing Leave with UKIP, ok they share the same end but are entirely separate entities. Most kippers have lost interest in local campaigning and are full steam ahead for the referendum.

A point about ukip, some of the candidates are of dreadfully low quality hence the poor re-election rate, I'm not sure if the party has the resources or wherewithal to improve the standard.

The situation in Thanet is beyond ridiculous, some of the people around Nigel during the campaign were a total embarrassment.

I take it you mean they were actually proud of their racism.

Plato_Says

YEAH!!!

MikeSmithson said:

Coming up later on PB: Henry G Manson with his next LAB leader tips

DavidL

blackburn63 said:

DavidL said:

logical_song said:

Overnight UKIP slide continues, losing a Thanet seat (-14.2%), elsewhere losing vote share (-12.5%).

Very poor and not a little surprising as the EU referendum hoves into view. If ever there was a time when UKIP could at least get on the main stage it should be now but they seem bogged down in internal rows and the deficiencies of Farage.

You get the impression that Leave are standing fairly idly by until some unidentified cabinet member is gracious enough to come along to lead them. The problem is that the longer this state of affairs persist the worse a career choice that looks. If Grayling or IDS is the best they end up doing winning the referendum will be almost impossible.

It's a really disappointing state of affairs.

You are making the mistake of confusing Leave with UKIP, ok they share the same end but are entirely separate entities. Most kippers have lost interest in local campaigning and are full steam ahead for the referendum.

A point about ukip, some of the candidates are of dreadfully low quality hence the poor re-election rate, I'm not sure if the party has the resources or wherewithal to improve the standard.

The situation in Thanet is beyond ridiculous, some of the people around Nigel during the campaign were a total embarrassment.

I frankly and increasingly fear that we are not even going to have a proper debate about our relationship with the EU which is complex and not developing in a way that seems in our long term interests. I fear that Remain are going to win by default. I wish it were not so.

peter_from_putney

MikeSmithson said:

Coming up later on PB: Henry G Manson with his next LAB leader tips

That's great Mike - might he also perhaps kindly include a couple of his excellent tennis tips, as regards the Australian Open?

watford30

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

DavidL

MikeSmithson said:

Coming up later on PB: Henry G Manson with his next LAB leader tips

Really looking forward to that. His tip on Sadiq Khan was spot on.

blackburn63

DavidL said:

blackburn63 said:

DavidL said:

logical_song said:

Overnight UKIP slide continues, losing a Thanet seat (-14.2%), elsewhere losing vote share (-12.5%).

Very poor and not a little surprising as the EU referendum hoves into view. If ever there was a time when UKIP could at least get on the main stage it should be now but they seem bogged down in internal rows and the deficiencies of Farage.

You get the impression that Leave are standing fairly idly by until some unidentified cabinet member is gracious enough to come along to lead them. The problem is that the longer this state of affairs persist the worse a career choice that looks. If Grayling or IDS is the best they end up doing winning the referendum will be almost impossible.

It's a really disappointing state of affairs.

You are making the mistake of confusing Leave with UKIP, ok they share the same end but are entirely separate entities. Most kippers have lost interest in local campaigning and are full steam ahead for the referendum.

A point about ukip, some of the candidates are of dreadfully low quality hence the poor re-election rate, I'm not sure if the party has the resources or wherewithal to improve the standard.

The situation in Thanet is beyond ridiculous, some of the people around Nigel during the campaign were a total embarrassment.

I frankly and increasingly fear that we are not even going to have a proper debate about our relationship with the EU which is complex and not developing in a way that seems in our long term interests. I fear that Remain are going to win by default. I wish it were not so.

Well I have to say if you're correct the people to blame are the Conservative party, if you look at the pathetic performance of Villiers on QT last night, who refused to answer whether she would be voting in or out. What chance does the public have if cabinet ministers refuse to explain a situation with coherence,

DavidL

A headline to have Allenbrooke gnashing his teeth:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/12114028/Davos-World-leaders-need-to-stop-talking-about-reform-and-start-doing-it-says-George-Osborne.html

blackburn63

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Oh well.

DecrepitJohnL

foxinsoxuk said:

Danny565 said:

Yes, well simply parrotting what the opposite party says hardly counts as insightful, EVEN IF one agrees with it.

There was a particular car-crash interview with Kendall at some point during the leadership campaign where she was being quizzed about the economy, and floundered horribly when she was asked follow-up questions. She gave the distinct Sarah Palin-esque impression of just having memorised a few buzz phrases without actually understanding what she was saying.

EDIT: Found the interview; the cringeworthiness starts from 3:30:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogeOqw4dTAA

Still significantly better than Jezza!, but I agree that she showed a bit of naiviity on the harder economic matters. She was much better versed on social policy.

Mind you, credible Labour figures on the economy are rare.

Is Liz Kendall's hair too long to be leader? It has just occurred to me that most female leaders have shorter hair, perhaps to avoid a windswept look when giving speeches outdoors. Angela Merkel, Margaret Thatcher, Hillary Clinton. We shall see later if Henry G Manson has taken this crucial factor into account. There again, before Jezza you could bet against beards with some confidence.

Innocent_Abroad

DecrepitJohnL said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Danny565 said:

Yes, well simply parrotting what the opposite party says hardly counts as insightful, EVEN IF one agrees with it.

There was a particular car-crash interview with Kendall at some point during the leadership campaign where she was being quizzed about the economy, and floundered horribly when she was asked follow-up questions. She gave the distinct Sarah Palin-esque impression of just having memorised a few buzz phrases without actually understanding what she was saying.

EDIT: Found the interview; the cringeworthiness starts from 3:30:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogeOqw4dTAA

Still significantly better than Jezza!, but I agree that she showed a bit of naiviity on the harder economic matters. She was much better versed on social policy.

Mind you, credible Labour figures on the economy are rare.

Is Liz Kendall's hair too long to be leader? It has just occurred to me that most female leaders have shorter hair, perhaps to avoid a windswept look when giving speeches outdoors. Angela Merkel, Margaret Thatcher, Hillary Clinton. We shall see later if Henry G Manson has taken this crucial factor into account. There again, before Jezza you could bet against beards with some confidence.

I think you still can.

DavidL

DecrepitJohnL said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Danny565 said:

Yes, well simply parrotting what the opposite party says hardly counts as insightful, EVEN IF one agrees with it.

There was a particular car-crash interview with Kendall at some point during the leadership campaign where she was being quizzed about the economy, and floundered horribly when she was asked follow-up questions. She gave the distinct Sarah Palin-esque impression of just having memorised a few buzz phrases without actually understanding what she was saying.

EDIT: Found the interview; the cringeworthiness starts from 3:30:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogeOqw4dTAA

Still significantly better than Jezza!, but I agree that she showed a bit of naiviity on the harder economic matters. She was much better versed on social policy.

Mind you, credible Labour figures on the economy are rare.

Is Liz Kendall's hair too long to be leader? It has just occurred to me that most female leaders have shorter hair, perhaps to avoid a windswept look when giving speeches outdoors. Angela Merkel, Margaret Thatcher, Hillary Clinton. We shall see later if Henry G Manson has taken this crucial factor into account. There again, before Jezza you could bet against beards with some confidence.

Before Jezza you could also bet against imbecility. All the old rules are being swept away.

Sandpit

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Quite. Mrs Sandpit thinks that the failure of the UK to actually do anything about it is a sign of British weakness in Russian eyes. Sending the Ambassador back to Moscow would be a starting point, they still like to think the way we did 30 years ago!

CD13

"Scotland is considering whether to add folic acid to flour as concern mounts that there could be an increase in birth defects while the Westminster government delays a decision."

At least one Government has two brain cells to rub together. It really is unbelievable that we've sat on our hands for so long. I came across a few minutes on the BBC Parliament programme when it was still being discussed. I thought they'd done it years ago when all the other grown-up Governments had gone ahead.

It's not a nasty chemical - it's an essential part of any diet and the link with NTDs has been known for decades.

TOPPING

Interesting to see the row-back and expansion by the police on the "terrorist house" incident.

Because, in shock news to some here on PB (good morning @Charles, @Plato_Says), police interviewing a family because of a seeming spelling mistake in isolation, whatever it was,

...WOULD BE RIDICULOUS.

watford30

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Oh well.

No doubt you'd be calling for immediate retaliation if a Middle Eastern nation had conducted such an operation here.

It must be a Kipper thing, since Putin is the world leader Farage most admires. Presumably that makes him an 'untouchable'.

DecrepitJohnL

DavidL said:

A headline to have Allenbrooke gnashing his teeth:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/12114028/Davos-World-leaders-need-to-stop-talking-about-reform-and-start-doing-it-says-George-Osborne.html

Misspelling Osborne will not please the subs but the whole thing seems to have been dashed off in rather a hurry.

The Chancellor will tell business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that the worst financial carnage to hit markets in more than four decades should be a catalyst for action to cushion countries from further shocks.
“2016 has been the worst start to a year for the financial markets in my lifetime,” he will say. “And I’m not so young anymore.”

Either our esteemed Chancellor has amnesia or the Telegraph missed his qualification about the start of the year.

blackburn63

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/davos/12113163/Davos-leaders-fear-Brexit-may-be-deathknell-for-EU.html

Self serving bureaucrats can see the end to the gravy train if we vote to Leave. Apparently it will mean the end of European civilisation.

I thought it was Leave that were full of hyperbole and misinformation.

Malmesbury

From the last thread:

another_richard said:

Pulpstar said:

another_richard said:

Pulpstar said:

Blimey, eye opening stuff from Yasmin ALibhai Brown.

???

Said that alot of mosques are infested with wahabi literature from Saudi Arabia.

Thanks.

Its hardly a secret - all that Saudi money for 'cultural' and 'educational' purposes is for a reason.

Also interesting is the way that much of official Britain has adopted the position of Wahabi Sunni Islam as it's definition of Islam. Not all Muslims find the depiction of the prophet offensive - you can buy various paintings/icons etc at the official Mosque tourist shops in Terhan. The "veil" issue - in many parts of the world Muslim women just cover their hair (a bit). etc etc

blackburn63

Sandpit said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Quite. Mrs Sandpit thinks that the failure of the UK to actually do anything about it is a sign of British weakness in Russian eyes. Sending the Ambassador back to Moscow would be a starting point, they still like to think the way we did 30 years ago!

You clearly have an excellent wife Mr Sandpit, Russia executed a traitor, we welcome ours back from Syria with open arms.

Let's be frank, Putin is no angel, but he has Russia's best interests at heart, we pussyfoot foot around so many issues.

foxinsoxuk

DecrepitJohnL said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Danny565 said:

Yes, well simply parrotting what the opposite party says hardly counts as insightful, EVEN IF one agrees with it.

There was a particular car-crash interview with Kendall at some point during the leadership campaign where she was being quizzed about the economy, and floundered horribly when she was asked follow-up questions. She gave the distinct Sarah Palin-esque impression of just having memorised a few buzz phrases without actually understanding what she was saying.

EDIT: Found the interview; the cringeworthiness starts from 3:30:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogeOqw4dTAA

Still significantly better than Jezza!, but I agree that she showed a bit of naiviity on the harder economic matters. She was much better versed on social policy.

Mind you, credible Labour figures on the economy are rare.

Is Liz Kendall's hair too long to be leader? It has just occurred to me that most female leaders have shorter hair, perhaps to avoid a windswept look when giving speeches outdoors. Angela Merkel, Margaret Thatcher, Hillary Clinton. We shall see later if Henry G Manson has taken this crucial factor into account. There again, before Jezza you could bet against beards with some confidence.

She is the worst dressed prominent Labour figure too. Dresses about 2 decades above her age!

Not likely to feature on the front bench for a while though. She was good last night on the TW couch.

DecrepitJohnL

Malmesbury said:

From the last thread:

another_richard said:

Pulpstar said:

another_richard said:

Pulpstar said:

Blimey, eye opening stuff from Yasmin ALibhai Brown.

???

Said that alot of mosques are infested with wahabi literature from Saudi Arabia.

Thanks.

Its hardly a secret - all that Saudi money for 'cultural' and 'educational' purposes is for a reason.

Also interesting is the way that much of official Britain has adopted the position of Wahabi Sunni Islam as it's definition of Islam. Not all Muslims find the depiction of the prophet offensive - you can buy various paintings/icons etc at the official Mosque tourist shops in Terhan. The "veil" issue - in many parts of the world Muslim women just cover their hair (a bit). etc etc

After the IMF forced Pakistan to cut public spending, Saudi money filled the gap in schools and particularly madrassas teaching Wahhabism. No blowback there then.

blackburn63

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Oh well.

No doubt you'd be calling for immediate retaliation if a Middle Eastern nation had conducted such an operation here.

It must be a Kipper thing, since Putin is the world leader Farage most admires. Presumably that makes him an 'untouchable'.

I've no idea what you're talking about, so dry your eyes and I'll make myself clear.

Russia considered one of their spies to be a traitor, they killed him, I've no idea why this is even news.

runnymede

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b6b296aa-c05d-11e5-9fdb-87b8d15baec2.html#axzz3xxRGT5Ma


'senior lawyers form pro-EU group'

This should really help the EU cause

blackburn63

runnymede said:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b6b296aa-c05d-11e5-9fdb-87b8d15baec2.html#axzz3xxRGT5Ma


'senior lawyers form pro-EU group'

This should really help the EU cause

Quick, the last gravy train is pulling out of the station..........

logical_song

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Quite. Mrs Sandpit thinks that the failure of the UK to actually do anything about it is a sign of British weakness in Russian eyes. Sending the Ambassador back to Moscow would be a starting point, they still like to think the way we did 30 years ago!

You clearly have an excellent wife Mr Sandpit, Russia executed a traitor, we welcome ours back from Syria with open arms.

Let's be frank, Putin is no angel, but he has Russia's best interests at heart, we pussyfoot foot around so many issues.

Putin seems to be liked by Kippers and Corbynites. Why?

runnymede

I'm reminded of all those Bishops, abbots and other hangers-on, stuffed with money extorted from the public, desperately trying to stop England breaking with Rome.

I notice the Vatican weighed in on this topic recently as well...

CarlottaVance

CD13 said:

"Scotland is considering whether to add folic acid to flour as concern mounts that there could be an increase in birth defects while the Westminster government delays a decision."

At least one Government has two brain cells to rub together. It really is unbelievable that we've sat on our hands for so long. I came across a few minutes on the BBC Parliament programme when it was still being discussed. I thought they'd done it years ago when all the other grown-up Governments had gone ahead.

It's not a nasty chemical - it's an essential part of any diet and the link with NTDs has been known for decades.

As Ben Goldacre would say 'I think you'll find its a bit more complicated than that'

The Institute of Food Research says no adverse effects have been reported with consumption of high amounts of food folates but there are concerns regarding the safety of prolonged high intakes (> 5 mg per day) of folic acid.

It says evidence emerging from the US and Canada, where folic acid fortification has been carried out for the last 10 years, suggests too much folic acid can lead to changes in the immune system, blockage of coronary stents, and an increased rate of cognitive decline in the elderly, particularly in those who have low B12 levels.

Other potential problems include an increased risk of reproductive and developmental abnormalities, promotion of DNA replication which may increase the risk of existing cancers progressing, and reduced intestinal zinc absorption. However, it acknowledges that many of these risks are theoretical or have yet to be demonstrated conclusively.

The Department of Health says it will reach a decision on whether or not to add folic acid to white flour/bread in the light of new data from the ongoing National Diet and Nutrition Survey

http://www.webmd.boots.com/pregnancy/news/20140217/should-folic-acid-be-added-to-bread?page=2

Plato_Says

I'm perplexed. What's your point?

TOPPING said:

Interesting to see the row-back and expansion by the police on the "terrorist house" incident.

Because, in shock news to some here on PB (good morning @Charles, @Plato_Says), police interviewing a family because of a seeming spelling mistake in isolation, whatever it was,

...WOULD BE RIDICULOUS.

CarlottaVance

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Oh well.

No doubt you'd be calling for immediate retaliation if a Middle Eastern nation had conducted such an operation here.

It must be a Kipper thing, since Putin is the world leader Farage most admires. Presumably that makes him an 'untouchable'.

Russia considered one of their spies to be a traitor, they killed him, I've no idea why this is even news.

Really?

When was the trial?

Morris_Dancer

Good morning, everyone.

Who is this 'Mike Smithson' fellow?

blackburn63

logical_song said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Quite. Mrs Sandpit thinks that the failure of the UK to actually do anything about it is a sign of British weakness in Russian eyes. Sending the Ambassador back to Moscow would be a starting point, they still like to think the way we did 30 years ago!

You clearly have an excellent wife Mr Sandpit, Russia executed a traitor, we welcome ours back from Syria with open arms.

Let's be frank, Putin is no angel, but he has Russia's best interests at heart, we pussyfoot foot around so many issues.

Putin seems to be liked by Kippers and Corbynites. Why?

More crocodile tears.

I'm ambivalent towards Putin as I am most world leaders, however I absolutely respect countries that deal with traitors.

I'm sure you'll be able to explain that Litivinenko was a decent, caring family man just doing his job and that Putin ordered his execution after a bad day killing bears.

watford30

logical_song said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Quite. Mrs Sandpit thinks that the failure of the UK to actually do anything about it is a sign of British weakness in Russian eyes. Sending the Ambassador back to Moscow would be a starting point, they still like to think the way we did 30 years ago!

You clearly have an excellent wife Mr Sandpit, Russia executed a traitor, we welcome ours back from Syria with open arms.

Let's be frank, Putin is no angel, but he has Russia's best interests at heart, we pussyfoot foot around so many issues.

Putin seems to be liked by Kippers and Corbynites. Why?

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Oh well.

No doubt you'd be calling for immediate retaliation if a Middle Eastern nation had conducted such an operation here.

It must be a Kipper thing, since Putin is the world leader Farage most admires. Presumably that makes him an 'untouchable'.

I've no idea what you're talking about, so dry your eyes and I'll make myself clear.

Russia considered one of their spies to be a traitor, they killed him, I've no idea why this is even news.

Because they used a Radiological weapon on foreign soil to do so.

Innocent_Abroad

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Oh well.

No doubt you'd be calling for immediate retaliation if a Middle Eastern nation had conducted such an operation here.

It must be a Kipper thing, since Putin is the world leader Farage most admires. Presumably that makes him an 'untouchable'.

I've no idea what you're talking about, so dry your eyes and I'll make myself clear.

Russia considered one of their spies to be a traitor, they killed him, I've no idea why this is even news.

Because of where they did it, maybe? I thought the form was to drug the poor sod up to the eyeballs and ship him home before slaughtering him?

blackburn63

watford30 said:

logical_song said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Quite. Mrs Sandpit thinks that the failure of the UK to actually do anything about it is a sign of British weakness in Russian eyes. Sending the Ambassador back to Moscow would be a starting point, they still like to think the way we did 30 years ago!

You clearly have an excellent wife Mr Sandpit, Russia executed a traitor, we welcome ours back from Syria with open arms.

Let's be frank, Putin is no angel, but he has Russia's best interests at heart, we pussyfoot foot around so many issues.

Putin seems to be liked by Kippers and Corbynites. Why?

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Oh well.

No doubt you'd be calling for immediate retaliation if a Middle Eastern nation had conducted such an operation here.

It must be a Kipper thing, since Putin is the world leader Farage most admires. Presumably that makes him an 'untouchable'.

I've no idea what you're talking about, so dry your eyes and I'll make myself clear.

Russia considered one of their spies to be a traitor, they killed him, I've no idea why this is even news.

Because they used a Radiological weapon on foreign soil to do so.

Oh I see, you're happy for him to be killed, we're simply debating techniques, my apologies.

blackburn63

CarlottaVance said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Oh well.

No doubt you'd be calling for immediate retaliation if a Middle Eastern nation had conducted such an operation here.

It must be a Kipper thing, since Putin is the world leader Farage most admires. Presumably that makes him an 'untouchable'.

Russia considered one of their spies to be a traitor, they killed him, I've no idea why this is even news.

Really?

When was the trial?

Priceless.

Chakrabarti is standing down from Liberty, get your CV in and make a placard to wave in Red Square.

rcs1000

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

It is worth noting that neither the UK nor the US governments have ever killed our ex-spies after defection to another country.

And I presumably if a senior ISIS person defected to the UK, we wouldn't defend the right of ISIS to have him poisoned on Brick Lane.

blackburn63

rcs1000 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

It is worth noting that neither the UK nor the US governments have ever killed our ex-spies after defection to another country.

And I presumably if a senior ISIS person defected to the UK, we wouldn't defend the right of ISIS to have him poisoned on Brick Lane.

I would suggest that Isis poisoning each other is good news.

DecrepitJohnL

blackburn63 said:

rcs1000 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

It is worth noting that neither the UK nor the US governments have ever killed our ex-spies after defection to another country.

And I presumably if a senior ISIS person defected to the UK, we wouldn't defend the right of ISIS to have him poisoned on Brick Lane.

I would suggest that Isis poisoning each other is good news.

ISIS getting its hands on polonium -- less good news.

watford30

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

logical_song said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

You clearly have an excellent wife Mr Sandpit, Russia executed a traitor, we welcome ours back from Syria with open arms.

Let's be frank, Putin is no angel, but he has Russia's best interests at heart, we pussyfoot foot around so many issues.

Putin seems to be liked by Kippers and Corbynites. Why?

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Oh well.

No doubt you'd be calling for immediate retaliation if a Middle Eastern nation had conducted such an operation here.

It must be a Kipper thing, since Putin is the world leader Farage most admires. Presumably that makes him an 'untouchable'.

I've no idea what you're talking about, so dry your eyes and I'll make myself clear.

Russia considered one of their spies to be a traitor, they killed him, I've no idea why this is even news.

Because they used a Radiological weapon on foreign soil to do so.

Oh I see, you're happy for him to be killed, we're simply debating techniques, my apologies.

Except, I've said nothing of the sort.

Still, you're the one indifferent to the death of the spy Litvinenko, presumably murdered on the orders of Putin, the world leader Nigel Farage most admires for the way in which he operates.

I wonder if Gunvor donate to the party?

Blue_rog

O/T

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/davos/12113163/Davos-leaders-fear-Brexit-may-be-deathknell-for-EU.html

Does anyone else think this is just ramping up the pressure prior to a vote? If we vote to remain, it'll be business as usual with the UK stuck on the sidelines, bending over to be shafted again and again, with no hope for a change. Anyone see the similarity with 1984? 'A boot stamping on a face for all eternity'!

TOPPING

.

Plato_Says said:

I'm perplexed. What's your point?

TOPPING said:

Interesting to see the row-back and expansion by the police on the "terrorist house" incident.

Because, in shock news to some here on PB (good morning @Charles, @Plato_Says), police interviewing a family because of a seeming spelling mistake in isolation, whatever it was,

...WOULD BE RIDICULOUS.

There was talk on here yesterday that it was entirely reasonable for the school to call the police and for the police then to investigate the family of a 10-yr old boy solely because of something he wrote which could have been a spelling mistake.

Here's what you wrote:

"I don't understand the outrage here. The child wrote something worrying and it needed to be checked out."

The point being that if it had just been that isolated incident, that was reported straight to the police, it would indeed have been outrageous.

blackburn63

Innocent_Abroad said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Oh well.

No doubt you'd be calling for immediate retaliation if a Middle Eastern nation had conducted such an operation here.

It must be a Kipper thing, since Putin is the world leader Farage most admires. Presumably that makes him an 'untouchable'.

I've no idea what you're talking about, so dry your eyes and I'll make myself clear.

Russia considered one of their spies to be a traitor, they killed him, I've no idea why this is even news.

Because of where they did it, maybe? I thought the form was to drug the poor sod up to the eyeballs and ship him home before slaughtering him?

Sorry, I still don't care what Russia does with its traitors and frankly I'm amazed that you're surprised by this.

Of course you're not really, it's this ridiculous faux outrage that has seeped into society. Go and do something worthwhile with your time instead of pretending to give a toss about a Russian double agent. Perhaps you could attend a training course on virtue signalling.

NorfolkTilIDie

Oh I see, you're happy for him to be killed, we're simply debating techniques, my apologies.

That matters when it put hundreds of British civilians at risk.

kle4

blackburn63 said:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/davos/12113163/Davos-leaders-fear-Brexit-may-be-deathknell-for-EU.html

Self serving bureaucrats can see the end to the gravy train if we vote to Leave. Apparently it will mean the end of European civilisation.

I thought it was Leave that were full of hyperbole and misinformation.

It is, however on this issue remain are no saints, with an added layer of contempt for the public, whereas leave are more frustrated with the same.

blackburn63

DecrepitJohnL said:

blackburn63 said:

rcs1000 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

It is worth noting that neither the UK nor the US governments have ever killed our ex-spies after defection to another country.

And I presumably if a senior ISIS person defected to the UK, we wouldn't defend the right of ISIS to have him poisoned on Brick Lane.

I would suggest that Isis poisoning each other is good news.

ISIS getting its hands on polonium -- less good news.

Wow, from Putin killing a traitor to Isis with polonium on Brick Lane in three posts, welcome to the world of point scoring pb.com.

kle4

Innocent_Abroad said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Oh well.

No doubt you'd be calling for immediate retaliation if a Middle Eastern nation had conducted such an operation here.

It must be a Kipper thing, since Putin is the world leader Farage most admires. Presumably that makes him an 'untouchable'.

I've no idea what you're talking about, so dry your eyes and I'll make myself clear.

Russia considered one of their spies to be a traitor, they killed him, I've no idea why this is even news.

Because of where they did it, maybe? I thought the form was to drug the poor sod up to the eyeballs and ship him home before slaughtering him?

As with most unpleasant things governments do, such as spying on allies and torture, you may well do them, but you are supposed to be discreet about it so no one has to publicly admit you probably did it and start taking action to show how offended they are.

CarlottaVance

blackburn63 said:

CarlottaVance said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Oh well.

No doubt you'd be calling for immediate retaliation if a Middle Eastern nation had conducted such an operation here.

It must be a Kipper thing, since Putin is the world leader Farage most admires. Presumably that makes him an 'untouchable'.

Russia considered one of their spies to be a traitor, they killed him, I've no idea why this is even news.

Really?

When was the trial?

Priceless.

Chakrabarti is standing down from Liberty, get your CV in and make a placard to wave in Red Square.

It appears only one of us believes in the due process of law.

So its not just on radiological poisoning (and spreading a trail across London & Hamburg) that you and Mr Putin are as one.

Do you enjoy kissing little boy's tummies too?

Wanderer

MikeSmithson said:

Coming up later on PB: Henry G Manson with his next LAB leader tips

Aha!

Sandpit

Blue_rog said:

O/T

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/davos/12113163/Davos-leaders-fear-Brexit-may-be-deathknell-for-EU.html

Does anyone else think this is just ramping up the pressure prior to a vote? If we vote to remain, it'll be business as usual with the UK stuck on the sidelines, bending over to be shafted again and again, with no hope for a change. Anyone see the similarity with 1984? 'A boot stamping on a face for all eternity'!

The Remain side will suffer from all these pronouncements by 'outsiders' in the run up to the referendum. Everyone knows that it's good for France, Germany and large multinational banks for Britain to be in the EU. The question is about whether it is good for Britain.

AlastairMeeks

It's lunatic to be complacent about extra-judicial killings being carried out by foreign powers on the streets of London. Bizarrely, the people who see despotism in every innocuous move by the EU are apparently entirely comfortable with the real thing.

NorfolkTilIDie

blackburn63 said:

logical_song said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Quite. Mrs Sandpit thinks that the failure of the UK to actually do anything about it is a sign of British weakness in Russian eyes. Sending the Ambassador back to Moscow would be a starting point, they still like to think the way we did 30 years ago!

You clearly have an excellent wife Mr Sandpit, Russia executed a traitor, we welcome ours back from Syria with open arms.

Let's be frank, Putin is no angel, but he has Russia's best interests at heart, we pussyfoot foot around so many issues.

Putin seems to be liked by Kippers and Corbynites. Why?

More crocodile tears.

I'm ambivalent towards Putin as I am most world leaders, however I absolutely respect countries that deal with traitors.

I'm sure you'll be able to explain that Litivinenko was a decent, caring family man just doing his job and that Putin ordered his execution after a bad day killing bears.

That would be a huge shame if Russian dissidents learnt that countries they have acquired citizenship of no longer protect them. I guess those criticising Putin should just stay at home to be murdered there?

Innocent_Abroad

kle4 said:

Innocent_Abroad said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Oh well.

No doubt you'd be calling for immediate retaliation if a Middle Eastern nation had conducted such an operation here.

It must be a Kipper thing, since Putin is the world leader Farage most admires. Presumably that makes him an 'untouchable'.

I've no idea what you're talking about, so dry your eyes and I'll make myself clear.

Russia considered one of their spies to be a traitor, they killed him, I've no idea why this is even news.

Because of where they did it, maybe? I thought the form was to drug the poor sod up to the eyeballs and ship him home before slaughtering him?

As with most unpleasant things governments do, such as spying on allies and torture, you may well do them, but you are supposed to be discreet about it so no one has to publicly admit you probably did it and start taking action to show how offended they are.

You sum up just why I won't vote for a candidate who will sit on the Government benches.

NorfolkTilIDie

AlastairMeeks said:

It's lunatic to be complacent about extra-judicial killings being carried out by foreign powers on the streets of London. Bizarrely, the people who see despotism in every innocuous move by the EU are apparently entirely comfortable with the real thing.

Every now and again, just when you think the anti-establishment right or left have a fair case, they come out with summat completely bonkers.

blackburn63

CarlottaVance said:

blackburn63 said:

CarlottaVance said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Oh well.

No doubt you'd be calling for immediate retaliation if a Middle Eastern nation had conducted such an operation here.

It must be a Kipper thing, since Putin is the world leader Farage most admires. Presumably that makes him an 'untouchable'.

Russia considered one of their spies to be a traitor, they killed him, I've no idea why this is even news.

Really?

When was the trial?

Priceless.

Chakrabarti is standing down from Liberty, get your CV in and make a placard to wave in Red Square.

It appears only one of us believes in the due process of law.

So its not just on radiological poisoning (and spreading a trail across London & Hamburg) that you and Mr Putin are as one.

Do you enjoy kissing little boy's tummies too?

Due process?

This Putin and Russia for heavens sake, you're acting as if a Boy Scout was caught pinching a Wagon Wheel.

I'm genuinely chuckling at some of the handwringing tosh I'm reading on here this morning. Look, Putin is a nut job but he's not our nut job, surely you have more self satisfying topics to wring your hands about?

Get yourself down to the local soup kitchen and do some good instead of pretending to give a toss that a spy was killed. Alternatively imagine that James Bond is a real person.

CD13

Ms Vance,

"However, it acknowledges that many of these risks are theoretical or have yet to be demonstrated conclusively."

Paracelus nailed it centuries ago - the dose makes the poison. Everything is toxic, including water and oxygen in too high a concentration. The plan is to fortify bread in a very low dose.

Some child has died from scurvy in Wales. If seen by a GP, the cure is rapid, even if ascorbic acid,(like everything else), is toxic in very high doses.

But a child whose mother had low folate levels is already dead, or in a wheelchair, and can't be supplemented with folic acid. It's too late then. And there are such children.

Plato_Says

Golly it's grumpy here this morning.

Re folic acid, I always thought it was added to bread years ago, and breakfast cereals too. Have things changed or was I mistaken?

Mortimer

TOPPING said:

.

Plato_Says said:

I'm perplexed. What's your point?

TOPPING said:

Interesting to see the row-back and expansion by the police on the "terrorist house" incident.

Because, in shock news to some here on PB (good morning @Charles, @Plato_Says), police interviewing a family because of a seeming spelling mistake in isolation, whatever it was,

...WOULD BE RIDICULOUS.

There was talk on here yesterday that it was entirely reasonable for the school to call the police and for the police then to investigate the family of a 10-yr old boy solely because of something he wrote which could have been a spelling mistake.

Here's what you wrote:

"I don't understand the outrage here. The child wrote something worrying and it needed to be checked out."

The point being that if it had just been that isolated incident, that was reported straight to the police, it would indeed have been outrageous.

Nah - it would have been following protocols.

I'm really not sure what the story is here. Teachers had a duty of care. They acted on it. Sensible.

TheScreamingEagles

Mike loves this polling series

https://twitter.com/TSEofPB/status/690449938061344769

blackburn63

NorfolkTilIDie said:

blackburn63 said:

logical_song said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Quite. Mrs Sandpit thinks that the failure of the UK to actually do anything about it is a sign of British weakness in Russian eyes. Sending the Ambassador back to Moscow would be a starting point, they still like to think the way we did 30 years ago!

You clearly have an excellent wife Mr Sandpit, Russia executed a traitor, we welcome ours back from Syria with open arms.

Let's be frank, Putin is no angel, but he has Russia's best interests at heart, we pussyfoot foot around so many issues.

Putin seems to be liked by Kippers and Corbynites. Why?

More crocodile tears.

I'm ambivalent towards Putin as I am most world leaders, however I absolutely respect countries that deal with traitors.

I'm sure you'll be able to explain that Litivinenko was a decent, caring family man just doing his job and that Putin ordered his execution after a bad day killing bears.

That would be a huge shame if Russian dissidents learnt that countries they have acquired citizenship of no longer protect them. I guess those criticising Putin should just stay at home to be murdered there?

This gets better.

So where were you when poor Litivinenko was bumped off? Probably complaining about police cuts because all the Met had been diverted to protect Russian spies.

This place is like Fantasy Island.

AlastairMeeks

Plato_Says said:

Golly it's grumpy here this morning.

Re folic acid, I always thought it was added to bread years ago, and breakfast cereals too. Have things changed or was I mistaken?

I wouldn't blame the lack of folic acid for the grumpy mood this morning. It's the over-fluoridation of the water.

Mortimer

TheScreamingEagles said:

Mike loves this polling series

https://twitter.com/TSEofPB/status/690449938061344769

I've always thought this is a bit of a blunt tool for everything else than comparing politicians to other groups.

It is more nuanced. For example, Doctors will be more trusted about an individual's health than on alcohol limits, or politics...

Sandpit

NorfolkTilIDie said:

Oh I see, you're happy for him to be killed, we're simply debating techniques, my apologies.

That matters when it put hundreds of British civilians at risk.
The only thing that wil have annoyed Russia about the whole thing was that the British worked out the source so quickly as their guys were more than a little careless.

They would have quite liked the idea of the radioactive BA plane flying around for a while though, tying up a lot of effort in finding several hundred people a day that might have come into contact with it.

Innocent_Abroad

blackburn63 said:

NorfolkTilIDie said:

blackburn63 said:

logical_song said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Quite. Mrs Sandpit thinks that the failure of the UK to actually do anything about it is a sign of British weakness in Russian eyes. Sending the Ambassador back to Moscow would be a starting point, they still like to think the way we did 30 years ago!

You clearly have an excellent wife Mr Sandpit, Russia executed a traitor, we welcome ours back from Syria with open arms.

Let's be frank, Putin is no angel, but he has Russia's best interests at heart, we pussyfoot foot around so many issues.

Putin seems to be liked by Kippers and Corbynites. Why?

More crocodile tears.

I'm ambivalent towards Putin as I am most world leaders, however I absolutely respect countries that deal with traitors.

I'm sure you'll be able to explain that Litivinenko was a decent, caring family man just doing his job and that Putin ordered his execution after a bad day killing bears.

That would be a huge shame if Russian dissidents learnt that countries they have acquired citizenship of no longer protect them. I guess those criticising Putin should just stay at home to be murdered there?

This gets better.

So where were you when poor Litivinenko was bumped off? Probably complaining about police cuts because all the Met had been diverted to protect Russian spies.

This place is like Fantasy Island.

Have you only just noticed?

Plato_Says

Plain speaking here from Paul Nuttal

Free speech in University now seems to be, you can say what you like, as long as we agree. https://t.co/AOgsJANxb3 https://t.co/zh0nqrtqCi

Mortimer

Scottish Labour canvasser on Today is dreadful; defensive and combative sounding with the opening - no wonder the party is dying up there!

TOPPING

Mortimer said:

TOPPING said:

.

Plato_Says said:

I'm perplexed. What's your point?

TOPPING said:

Interesting to see the row-back and expansion by the police on the "terrorist house" incident.

Because, in shock news to some here on PB (good morning @Charles, @Plato_Says), police interviewing a family because of a seeming spelling mistake in isolation, whatever it was,

...WOULD BE RIDICULOUS.

There was talk on here yesterday that it was entirely reasonable for the school to call the police and for the police then to investigate the family of a 10-yr old boy solely because of something he wrote which could have been a spelling mistake.

Here's what you wrote:

"I don't understand the outrage here. The child wrote something worrying and it needed to be checked out."

The point being that if it had just been that isolated incident, that was reported straight to the police, it would indeed have been outrageous.

Nah - it would have been following protocols.

I'm really not sure what the story is here. Teachers had a duty of care. They acted on it. Sensible.

We're gonna need a bigger police force...

HYUFD

Expel all Russian agents? 'That will clear out Corbyn's backroom staff' says a Labour source in the Times

Plato_Says

Hairdressers get a great rating

This @timesredbox survey shows the in-built doctors advantage doctors have when it comes to rows with politicians. https://t.co/e0kt6PfOjE

Charles

TOPPING said:

Interesting to see the row-back and expansion by the police on the "terrorist house" incident.

Because, in shock news to some here on PB (good morning @Charles, @Plato_Says), police interviewing a family because of a seeming spelling mistake in isolation, whatever it was,

...WOULD BE RIDICULOUS.

But not an infringement of civil liberties which was my point

blackburn63

Innocent_Abroad said:

blackburn63 said:

NorfolkTilIDie said:

blackburn63 said:

logical_song said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well said Mrs Sandpit, I posted on here similar yesterday, the bloke was a spy not a charity worker.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Quite. Mrs Sandpit thinks that the failure of the UK to actually do anything about it is a sign of British weakness in Russian eyes. Sending the Ambassador back to Moscow would be a starting point, they still like to think the way we did 30 years ago!

You clearly have an excellent wife Mr Sandpit, Russia executed a traitor, we welcome ours back from Syria with open arms.

Let's be frank, Putin is no angel, but he has Russia's best interests at heart, we pussyfoot foot around so many issues.

Putin seems to be liked by Kippers and Corbynites. Why?

More crocodile tears.

I'm ambivalent towards Putin as I am most world leaders, however I absolutely respect countries that deal with traitors.

I'm sure you'll be able to explain that Litivinenko was a decent, caring family man just doing his job and that Putin ordered his execution after a bad day killing bears.

That would be a huge shame if Russian dissidents learnt that countries they have acquired citizenship of no longer protect them. I guess those criticising Putin should just stay at home to be murdered there?

This gets better.

So where were you when poor Litivinenko was bumped off? Probably complaining about police cuts because all the Met had been diverted to protect Russian spies.

This place is like Fantasy Island.

Have you only just noticed?

I'm genuinely surprised that others are surprised and outraged that Putin ordered a spy to be killed.

In a minute the same people will be complaining that Albanian gangs operating in London aren't always nice to each other.

CD13

Mr Meeks and Ms Plato,

Apologies for the grumpiness.

I spent many years in drug development (toxicology). We used massive doses not to show a drug was safe but to identify where the toxicity was likely to be. Everything is toxic, and the more 'natural' ones are the most toxic.

We will eventually follow most of the more sensible nations in supplementing but we need a few more casualties first. Sad but true.

kle4

blackburn63 said:

CarlottaVance said:

blackburn63 said:

CarlottaVance said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

watford30 said:

blackburn63 said:

Sandpit said:

Morning, well done to Kieran for the podcasts, must take a lot of time and effort.

On the subject of Mr. Litvinenko, the Russian-born Mrs Sandpit says that of course Putin did it - the guy was a traitor to Russia for working with MI6, and the mother country wanted to dispatch him in a way that would attract headlines and ensure that the next traitor thought twice about it!!

Well saider.

That's not the point though is it?

No one has denied what Litvinenko did for a living, the issue is the use of a radiological weapon by a foreign power on British soil.

Oh well.

No
It must be a Kipper thing, since Putin is the world leader Farage most admires. Presumably that makes him an 'untouchable'.

Russia considered one of their spies tohis is even news.

Really?

When was the trial?

wave in Red Square.

It appears only one of
So its not just on radiological poisoning (and spreading a trail across London & Hamburg) that you and Mr Putin are as one.

Do you enjoy kissing little boy's tummies too?

Due process?

This Putin and Russia for heavens sake, you're acting as if a Boy Scout was caught pinching a Wagon Wheel.

I'm genuinely chuckling at some of the handwringing tosh I'm reading on here this morning. Look, Putin is a nut job but he's not our nut job, surely you have more self satisfying topics to wring your hands about?

Get yourself down to the local soup kitchen and do some good instead of pretending to give a toss that a spy was killed. Alternatively imagine that James Bond is a real person.

Ah yes, the old 'if you care get off the internet and do something' dismissal tactic. Never fails to amuse.

Things other countries do affect our country. Doubly so in this case as it happened in our country. By all means don't care that it happened or even that it is ok that it happened, but if someone is concerned that is perfectly legitimate. That you dismiss people taking an interest ina purported murder by a foreign power in our streets on the grounds Putin is not our problem as tosh speaks volumes.

I give you 5 minutes or 2 posts before you demonstrate you are interested In something that could just as easily be described AC not our problem.

People witter on about things I don't care about all the time, and obviously I do too. Do you think you alone are unique and only mention items of import to all?

AlastairMeeks

Plato_Says said:

Hairdressers get a great rating

This @timesredbox survey shows the in-built doctors advantage doctors have when it comes to rows with politicians. https://t.co/e0kt6PfOjE

The Times is only two months behind:

http://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2015/11/16/why-jeremy-hunt-might-be-onto-a-loser-in-his-fight-with-the-doctors/

Plato_Says

Interesting read http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/22/communist-family-politics-religion

Marxism gave my parents faith to last a lifetime and helped them deny reality. The left today looks as if it’s also developing into a church

blackburn63

TheScreamingEagles said:

Mike loves this polling series

https://twitter.com/TSEofPB/status/690449938061344769

That figure about politicians is misleading, if the question put to Tory voters was:

Do you believe what conservative politicians say?

The answer would be a resounding 100%

It just goes to show you can't trust pollsters (winky emoticon)

Morris_Dancer

Mr. 63, you seem quite relaxed a British citizen was assassinated on British soil.

Was he threatening to behead Russians or bomb Russia?

[Deleted User]

Plato_Says said:

Golly it's grumpy here this morning.

Re folic acid, I always thought it was added to bread years ago, and breakfast cereals too. Have things changed or was I mistaken?

Folic acid is naturally present in green vegetables and fruits. I suspect the general level of salad-dodging in the land of deepfried Mars Bars, bridies, haggis and chips with salt 'n' sauce is such that state correction of eating habits is probably sensible. Me, I'm a libertarian and wouldn't do it. But maybe babies do need to be fed their greens - via pizza, donuts, biscuits and shortbread in tartan tins.