Stuart Rose on Today this am for BSE producing irritable blustering of Lord Coe-like proportions. I really don't see what he brings to the table for Remain.
He was chairman/CEO of M&S once I guess? Maybe BSE are trying to appeal to the middle classes with him, I don't know.
I suppose, though he could probably do that as a figurehead emanating the occasional manicured soundbite. Absolutely no talent for persuading the punter (& their proxy, the interviewer) to his way of thinking.
Agree with that. He seems like a poor choice of spokesperson for BSE. I'm surprised they didn't try and get Justin King. If I were either BSE or one of the leave campaigns I would be calling him everyday to try and get his services. A truly successful business person who does have an ability to persuade the masses.
On what basis do you say that? Business leaders may be good at inspiring their staff but very very few are able to reach out beyond and certainly not on a political issue like this.
During a time of anti-politics I am not sure, even if you did have a good communicator within the business world, that they would be a great help. The reasons why businesses like the EU are often the reasons why individuals may not like it. Businesses will outsource and move jobs at the drop of a hat if it is more profitable for them. The issue of Britain's role in Europe is about the nation, what it is, what it should be etc - it's not just a P&L issue. It's about who we are as a people and that is not necessarily something that businessmen are very good at explaining. Sometimes, business gives the impression that it does not care two hoots about the country it operates in - look at the tax issue for instance - and it is precisely this which has fuelled some of the anti-establishment feeling around.
I don't mind - indeed am interested in - hearing what business and others have to say but they have an agenda and that agenda may not be mine. Politicians really need to take the lead here. The only reason they're not doing so is because they are simply not trusted.
At last! A week today we get some actual votes in Iowa!
A Fox News poll out today gives Trump an 11 point lead there over Cruz, up from a 4 point deficit 2 weeks ago.
Reports persist that former NYC Mayor Doomberg is considering a third party run if Trump gets the nomination, thereby handing the election to Hillary.
Surely Doomberg eats into Hilary more than Trump support ?
Folks who are going to vote for Hillary are going to vote for her regardless. They don't care about Whitewater, Benghazi, the Foundation etc - it's baked in. She also does well among AAs and hispanics.
The battle is among the independents. Hillary is currently doing better among them.
On Roger's recommendation I went to see the Big Short yesterday with my daughter. There are aspects of it that are nearer documentary than drama and they struggled occasionally in describing the sheer madness of what had been going on.
But there were some great scenes. I particularly liked the one when what would loosely be called the hero was wanting to ask a lap dancer about her mortgages and asked her to stop moving about as it was too distracting.
My daughter, who knew less about it, left a bit shocked and frightened. I remembered my anger that the people responsible for the largest frauds in history not only got off scot free but even got astonishing piles of taxpayers money to keep them in the standard to which they had become accustomed.
I can't really see it getting best picture but it is well worth a watch.
My original thought was that it wouldn't get 'best picture' because of the misogyny. All the women in it were either topless or poll dancers. Otherwise I thought it a very entertaining film which as you say tackled a potentially dry subject in an original way.
Nonetheless It's 12/1 odds were way too long. Yesterday it won the Producers Prize which has correctly predicted the Best Picture Oscar for the last 8 years. So on the basis that the misogyny wasn't an issue I'd make it second favourite. Unfortunately yesterday morning the bookmakers had the same idea and the odds dropped dramatically.
'Most business leaders are really bad at political interviews - they are just not used to having their views robustly challenged, come across as saying that we should remain in the EU because they say so'
I think that is spot on - they are used to being dictators, not persuaders.
You may recall how poor Archie Norman proved to be as an MP.
Yes. The thing is, in politics your views are not just robustly challenged. They are treated with thinly veiled contempt. Your motives are questioned, you are accused of acting in bad faith. And you have to meet all that calmly, rebutt the attacks without seeming arrogant and make your own case. Not so easy.
I could not believe R5 report this morning that the BBC are considering appointing ‘luvvies’ including Helen Mirren, Terry Wogan et al to appeal to pensioners to volunteer to pay the licence fee where they are exempt on reaching the age of 75. They are so out of touch and are not fit to run a public body. It appears they can only scheme to close their deficit by pleading poverty to old age pensioners, while paying obscene salaries to useless management and over hyped stars. It is time for the licence fee (poll tax) to be scraped and let the BBC compete with other broadcasters for revenue streams. I would declare an interest as my wife is over 75 and we could pay but would not on the principle of this non starter of an idea
I heard it and assumed it was extracting urine time.
CNN now quoting Bloomberg as saying that he may well enter the race if Clinton doesn't get the nomination.
That's an interesting way of putting it. Is he trying to appeal to the Dem primary voters to get behind Clinton, rather than seriously considering himself for the run?
Having said that, if it's Trump v Sanders then surely someone will come forward as a centrist alternative, and it may as well be Bloomberg.
CNN now quoting Bloomberg as saying that he may well enter the race if Clinton doesn't get the nomination.
That's an interesting way of putting it. Is he trying to appeal to the Dem primary voters to get behind Clinton, rather than seriously considering himself for the run?
Having said that, if it's Trump v Sanders then surely someone will come forward as a centrist alternative, and it may as well be Bloomberg.
He's also said that he might run if Trump gets the nomination, so you pays your money and takes your choice.
Sanders is way left, but I'm not sure how far right Trump is - he's held most opinions on most topics over the last few years.
He said that Labour had fallen for five "truisms" offered by commentators who told them the Conservatives couldn't win. He didn't name the authors, but as he quoted four of them it was easy to look them up. Here are Crosby's five truisms and the commentators guilty of perpetrating them:
CNN now quoting Bloomberg as saying that he may well enter the race if Clinton doesn't get the nomination.
Bloomberg would win in a Trump/Sanders race. The question is who he would caucus with after the victory.
Really??
You have some numbers to suggest this?
There are enough moderates in each party and independents put off by the extreme tendencies of both Trump and Sanders to put Bloomberg in the White House. I don't have any hard numbers to back this up, just a gut feeling. In a race of extremes a moderate would do very well.
The damage done by Mr Corbyn's friends in the IRA went well beyond the dead. For many years the largest element in the economy in NI was the security industry and it was inevitable that the economy would suffer greatly as that was wound down. Even now, as Alastair says, the level of public sector employment is uncomfortably high.
While the pIRA may well be a despicable bunch of child murderers, they are not the cause of any of the problems in Ireland. The idiotic, moronic and fundamentally broken decision to partition the nation is the root of every problem that exists in NI today.
And why do you think partition happened?
BTW before I get accused of being some sort of Unionist shill, my family are Irish Republicans to their core and I have no love for Northern Irish Unionism, to put it mildly.
But the issue of how you manage a polity when there are two communities living side by side with fundamentally different conceptions of what that polity should be does not lend itself to easy answers.
Another thing to add to the list for conversation.
[but basically it's all that scumbag James Craig's fault]
Probably out of England's reach now barring a mistimed declaration, and do we really have the nerve to bat through a long last day and a quarter for a draw when the series is already won?
'Most business leaders are really bad at political interviews - they are just not used to having their views robustly challenged, come across as saying that we should remain in the EU because they say so'
I think that is spot on - they are used to being dictators, not persuaders.
You may recall how poor Archie Norman proved to be as an MP.
Most but not all.
And we may like to remember how well (or not) ex Admirals and so on performed when in government. Thatcher did say of Lord Young "Other ministers bring me problems, David brings me solutions." Adonis and Sainsbury seemed to soldier on OK.
We cannot moan at politicians all the time and have our cake and eat it too when it comes to non politicians.
Probably out of England's reach now barring a mistimed declaration, and do we really have the nerve to bat through a long last day and a quarter for a draw when the series is already won?
You know that one of South Africa's bowlers is injured?
I could not believe R5 report this morning that the BBC are considering appointing ‘luvvies’ including Helen Mirren, Terry Wogan et al to appeal to pensioners to volunteer to pay the licence fee where they are exempt on reaching the age of 75. They are so out of touch and are not fit to run a public body. It appears they can only scheme to close their deficit by pleading poverty to old age pensioners, while paying obscene salaries to useless management and over hyped stars. It is time for the licence fee (poll tax) to be scraped and let the BBC compete with other broadcasters for revenue streams. I would declare an interest as my wife is over 75 and we could pay but would not on the principle of this non starter of an idea
I heard it and assumed it was extracting urine time.
If I want toi contribute to a voluntary tax I’ll play the Lottery.
'Most business leaders are really bad at political interviews - they are just not used to having their views robustly challenged, come across as saying that we should remain in the EU because they say so'
I think that is spot on - they are used to being dictators, not persuaders.
You may recall how poor Archie Norman proved to be as an MP.
Most but not all.
Thatcher did say of Lord Young "Other ministers bring me problems, David brings me solutions."
Hitler said exactly the reverse about Rudolf Hess - he just brought him problems.
He said that Labour had fallen for five "truisms" offered by commentators who told them the Conservatives couldn't win. He didn't name the authors, but as he quoted four of them it was easy to look them up. Here are Crosby's five truisms and the commentators guilty of perpetrating them:
He said that Labour had fallen for five "truisms" offered by commentators who told them the Conservatives couldn't win. He didn't name the authors, but as he quoted four of them it was easy to look them up. Here are Crosby's five truisms and the commentators guilty of perpetrating them:
An oft repeated one on here was the 'anti-Tory majority'........the best bit from the Mattison report was not only were SLAB seen as 'Red Tories' they are Incompetent Red Tories......that's a long road back.
Oh the days when Bobachangehisname kept telling us that there was nothing to see in Falkirk, it was a sideshow, an irrelevance.....
'Most business leaders are really bad at political interviews - they are just not used to having their views robustly challenged, come across as saying that we should remain in the EU because they say so'
I think that is spot on - they are used to being dictators, not persuaders.
You may recall how poor Archie Norman proved to be as an MP.
No one put it better than the Duke after his first cabinet meeting:
"An extraordinary affair. I gave them their orders and they wanted to stay and discuss them."
He said that Labour had fallen for five "truisms" offered by commentators who told them the Conservatives couldn't win. He didn't name the authors, but as he quoted four of them it was easy to look them up. Here are Crosby's five truisms and the commentators guilty of perpetrating them:
Slightly surprised to see he only had one......perhaps Rentoul is being kind?
We cannot moan at politicians all the time and have our cake and eat it too when it comes to non politicians.
I agree with that. I would advocate not moaning at politicians. Or, rather, moan at them but do acknowledge that they have some professional skill that is sometimes very useful.
'because Labour had gained a large number of 2010 Lib Dem voters who didn't like the Tory coalition. “Ed Miliband is finding it very hard to persuade voters to switch from Mr Cameron’s party to his. But he doesn’t need to do so in order to nudge Labour’s poll share, come 2015, into the mid-30s or higher: all he must do is to hold on to those Lib Dem defectors.”'
Now then, where else did we hear that bit of wishful thinking repeated ad nauseam?
I like the Robbie Savage question: “So, what made you leave Parliament?”
I think that's bad news for Labour. Whatever one thinks of Balls, there is no doubt that he was a big beast for them and his exit from politics will make the party worse off. I imagine he sees what is happening to his party right now and counts his blessings that he is not in the same position as Andy Burnham having to go against his every instinct in order to stay loyal to the party.
It's bad news for everyone really. I didn't agree with him very often but he's an intelligent, serious politician. There aren't so many of his calibre on either side.
It's amazing how good politicians are - once they are there no longer.
I like the Robbie Savage question: “So, what made you leave Parliament?”
I think that's bad news for Labour. Whatever one thinks of Balls, there is no doubt that he was a big beast for them and his exit from politics will make the party worse off. I imagine he sees what is happening to his party right now and counts his blessings that he is not in the same position as Andy Burnham having to go against his every instinct in order to stay loyal to the party.
It's bad news for everyone really. I didn't agree with him very often but he's an intelligent, serious politician. There aren't so many of his calibre on either side.
It's amazing how good politicians are - once they are there no longer.
lol, very true
Octavian in A&C:
It hath been taught us from the primal state That he which is was wished until he were, And the ebbed man, ne’er loved till ne’er worth love, Comes deared by being lacked.
Carson was not an idiot. He trusted Craig. That was a rookie error - the old rule is 'never turn your back on an Ulster Unionist'
I remember when Peter Mandelson was N Ireland secretary and a major breakthrough in the peace process was imminent. It was coming up for May with local elections across Britain, and I asked him why the Government wasn't making more of the progress in public, as an example of our competence in getting tangible results. He said sombrely, "In Northern Irish politics, you can never be sure you've got a deal until you've actually got it. We can't risk spoiling the chance by premature celebrations."
Mandelson is famous as a cunning fixer and not the most likeable of men (one of those people who looks round as he talks to you to see if there's someone else who is higher priority, and walks off in mid-sentence if there is), but I always thought his streak of idealism deserved a bit of credit that it never got. When we were arguing about part-privatisation of Royal Mail, if remember him saying "Yes, it's not popular, but it'll make the service more efficient while keep in public control, so it's the right thing to do - that should still count for something, don't you think?" To some extent he was playing his audience - it's the sort of argument that works for me - but he clearly meant it as well.
We cannot moan at politicians all the time and have our cake and eat it too when it comes to non politicians.
I agree with that. I would advocate not moaning at politicians. Or, rather, moan at them but do acknowledge that they have some professional skill that is sometimes very useful.
Indeed. Love or loath her, Hazel Blears, for example, was superb at it.
O/T Britain's adopted new tennis star Johanna Konta has just secured her place in the quarter finals of the Oz Womens Singles and my recent suggestion of backing her to win SPOTY 2016 at 200/1 (now 100/1) with SkyBet looks ever more achievable, but DYOR.
It's an Olympic Year and that makes it very hard for Konta. She could win a major but without an Olympic Gold to go with it, she won't win SPOTY.
I actually think Laura Trott might be good value this year. If she has four Golds at the age of 24, that would be completely unprecedented. It still might not be enough as she doesn't have a winnable, known event outside the Olympics. Murray Olympic/Wimbledon double would be a shoe in but Trott's better value (and much more likely - to be honest I don't think its possible for Trott not to get two more Golds).
Out of interest, will Rory McIlroy be eligible if he competes for the Republic at the Olympics? He'll still, technically, be British, so I'd imagine he will.
Obviously, I'm not actually expecting Johanna to win SPOTY 2016, it's simply not in the nature of things for someone priced as she was at 200/1. At that price she was cracking value, but sadly far less so with her best price having shortened very considerably to 50/1, following her success this morning. Were I so minded, which I am not, I feel sure I would be able to cash in my bet for a tidy profit by laying her on Betfair. I personally very much doubt Laura Trott will win SPOTY this year - after all, she won two Golds at the London Olympics and three first places at the 2015 European Track Championships last year, along with a number of other major awards, but frankly never got close to winning SPOTY last month.
Carson was not an idiot. He trusted Craig. That was a rookie error - the old rule is 'never turn your back on an Ulster Unionist'
I remember when Peter Mandelson was N Ireland secretary and a major breakthrough in the peace process was imminent. It was coming up for May with local elections across Britain, and I asked him why the Government wasn't making more of the progress in public, as an example of our competence in getting tangible results. He said sombrely, "In Northern Irish politics, you can never be sure you've got a deal until you've actually got it. We can't risk spoiling the chance by premature celebrations."
Mandelson is famous as a cunning fixer and not the most likeable of men (one of those people who looks round as he talks to you to see if there's someone else who is higher priority, and walks off in mid-sentence if there is), but I always thought his streak of idealism deserved a bit of credit that it never got. When we were arguing about part-privatisation of Royal Mail, if remember him saying "Yes, it's not popular, but it'll make the service more efficient while keep in public control, so it's the right thing to do - that should still count for something, don't you think?" To some extent he was playing his audience - it's the sort of argument that works for me - but he clearly meant it as well.
As I have said here before the only vaguely sensible thing Brown did as PM was bring back Mandelson to run his government for him. As my film watching at the weekend reminded me those were very, very tricky times and I seriously doubt we would have got through them without his input.
Labour so need someone of his ability and the comments from Balls about not coming back are hardly encouraging either.
O/T Britain's adopted new tennis star Johanna Konta has just secured her place in the quarter finals of the Oz Womens Singles and my recent suggestion of backing her to win SPOTY 2016 at 200/1 (now 100/1) with SkyBet looks ever more achievable, but DYOR.
It's an Olympic Year and that makes it very hard for Konta. She could win a major but without an Olympic Gold to go with it, she won't win SPOTY.
I actually think Laura Trott might be good value this year. If she has four Golds at the age of 24, that would be completely unprecedented. It still might not be enough as she doesn't have a winnable, known event outside the Olympics. Murray Olympic/Wimbledon double would be a shoe in but Trott's better value (and much more likely - to be honest I don't think its possible for Trott not to get two more Golds).
Out of interest, will Rory McIlroy be eligible if he competes for the Republic at the Olympics? He'll still, technically, be British, so I'd imagine he will.
Obviously, I'm not actually expecting Johanna to win SPOTY 2016, it's simply not in the nature of things for someone priced as she was at 200/1. At that price she was cracking value, but sadly far less so with her best price having shortened very considerably to 50/1, following her success this morning. Were I so minded, which I am not, I feel sure I would be able to cash in my bet for a tidy profit by laying her on Betfair. I personally very much doubt Laura Trott will win SPOTY this year - after all, she won two Golds at the London Olympics and three first places at the 2015 European Track Championships last year, along with a number of other major awards, but frankly never got close to winning SPOTY last month.
Cyclists do seem to punch above their weight in SPOTY though.
CNN now quoting Bloomberg as saying that he may well enter the race if Clinton doesn't get the nomination.
Bloomberg would win in a Trump/Sanders race. The question is who he would caucus with after the victory.
Really??
You have some numbers to suggest this?
There are enough moderates in each party and independents put off by the extreme tendencies of both Trump and Sanders to put Bloomberg in the White House. I don't have any hard numbers to back this up, just a gut feeling. In a race of extremes a moderate would do very well.
Also - Bloomberg is the one guy who Trump reacts to. When Bloomberg talks, trump can't simply dismiss or ridicule him like he does with all the other nobodies he comes up against.
Trumps tactics will work against Sanders, Clinton and the rest of the GOP field. Their words mean nothing to him.
They won't work against Bloomberg. He can't help but listen to the guy.
Carson was not an idiot. He trusted Craig. That was a rookie error - the old rule is 'never turn your back on an Ulster Unionist'
I remember when Peter Mandelson was N Ireland secretary and a major breakthrough in the peace process was imminent. It was coming up for May with local elections across Britain, and I asked him why the Government wasn't making more of the progress in public, as an example of our competence in getting tangible results. He said sombrely, "In Northern Irish politics, you can never be sure you've got a deal until you've actually got it. We can't risk spoiling the chance by premature celebrations."
Mandelson is famous as a cunning fixer and not the most likeable of men (one of those people who looks round as he talks to you to see if there's someone else who is higher priority, and walks off in mid-sentence if there is), but I always thought his streak of idealism deserved a bit of credit that it never got. When we were arguing about part-privatisation of Royal Mail, if remember him saying "Yes, it's not popular, but it'll make the service more efficient while keep in public control, so it's the right thing to do - that should still count for something, don't you think?" To some extent he was playing his audience - it's the sort of argument that works for me - but he clearly meant it as well.
Labour so need someone of his ability and the comments from Balls about not coming back are hardly encouraging either.
Ah ..... but will Ed Balls change his mind, or indeed will fellow Labourites Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones the club's owners change their minds about him when Norwich City go crashing out of the Premier League at the end of this season which looks distinctly possible, likely even?
Carson was not an idiot. He trusted Craig. That was a rookie error - the old rule is 'never turn your back on an Ulster Unionist'
I remember when Peter Mandelson was N Ireland secretary and a major breakthrough in the peace process was imminent. It was coming up for May with local elections across Britain, and I asked him why the Government wasn't making more of the progress in public, as an example of our competence in getting tangible results. He said sombrely, "In Northern Irish politics, you can never be sure you've got a deal until you've actually got it. We can't risk spoiling the chance by premature celebrations."
Mandelson is famous as a cunning fixer and not the most likeable of men (one of those people who looks round as he talks to you to see if there's someone else who is higher priority, and walks off in mid-sentence if there is), but I always thought his streak of idealism deserved a bit of credit that it never got. When we were arguing about part-privatisation of Royal Mail, if remember him saying "Yes, it's not popular, but it'll make the service more efficient while keep in public control, so it's the right thing to do - that should still count for something, don't you think?" To some extent he was playing his audience - it's the sort of argument that works for me - but he clearly meant it as well.
Labour so need someone of his ability and the comments from Balls about not coming back are hardly encouraging either.
Ah ..... but will Ed Balls change his mind, or indeed will fellow Labourites Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones the club's owners change their minds about him when Norwich City go crashing out of the Premier League at the end of this season which looks distinctly possible, likely even?
Comments
During a time of anti-politics I am not sure, even if you did have a good communicator within the business world, that they would be a great help. The reasons why businesses like the EU are often the reasons why individuals may not like it. Businesses will outsource and move jobs at the drop of a hat if it is more profitable for them. The issue of Britain's role in Europe is about the nation, what it is, what it should be etc - it's not just a P&L issue. It's about who we are as a people and that is not necessarily something that businessmen are very good at explaining. Sometimes, business gives the impression that it does not care two hoots about the country it operates in - look at the tax issue for instance - and it is precisely this which has fuelled some of the anti-establishment feeling around.
I don't mind - indeed am interested in - hearing what business and others have to say but they have an agenda and that agenda may not be mine. Politicians really need to take the lead here. The only reason they're not doing so is because they are simply not trusted.
The battle is among the independents. Hillary is currently doing better among them.
Having said that, if it's Trump v Sanders then surely someone will come forward as a centrist alternative, and it may as well be Bloomberg.
You have some numbers to suggest this?
Sanders is way left, but I'm not sure how far right Trump is - he's held most opinions on most topics over the last few years.
Probably out of England's reach now barring a mistimed declaration, and do we really have the nerve to bat through a long last day and a quarter for a draw when the series is already won?
And we may like to remember how well (or not) ex Admirals and so on performed when in government.
Thatcher did say of Lord Young "Other ministers bring me problems, David brings me solutions."
Adonis and Sainsbury seemed to soldier on OK.
We cannot moan at politicians all the time and have our cake and eat it too when it comes to non politicians.
The ultimate culinary No No - transparent To Go boxes!
That article could be paraphrased 'why you shouldn;t listen to idiot policital pundits'.
Oh the days when Bobachangehisname kept telling us that there was nothing to see in Falkirk, it was a sideshow, an irrelevance.....
"An extraordinary affair. I gave them their orders and they wanted to stay and discuss them."
Slightly surprised to see he only had one......perhaps Rentoul is being kind?
Fun Snow Fact according to NOAA -
On average 3 days with highs of 50F melts 2-4" of snow. In the suburbs this might take a while.
"Every young person gets a house". An ambitious, if numerically challenging plan from Jeremy Corbyn there. #thsimorning
John Ashmore
"Everybody's getting along just fine" says Jeremy Corbyn about the Labour party. Just let that sink in.
Now then, where else did we hear that bit of wishful thinking repeated ad nauseam?
Octavian in A&C:
It hath been taught us from the primal state
That he which is was wished until he were,
And the ebbed man, ne’er loved till ne’er worth love,
Comes deared by being lacked.
Mandelson is famous as a cunning fixer and not the most likeable of men (one of those people who looks round as he talks to you to see if there's someone else who is higher priority, and walks off in mid-sentence if there is), but I always thought his streak of idealism deserved a bit of credit that it never got. When we were arguing about part-privatisation of Royal Mail, if remember him saying "Yes, it's not popular, but it'll make the service more efficient while keep in public control, so it's the right thing to do - that should still count for something, don't you think?" To some extent he was playing his audience - it's the sort of argument that works for me - but he clearly meant it as well.
I personally very much doubt Laura Trott will win SPOTY this year - after all, she won two Golds at the London Olympics and three first places at the 2015 European Track Championships last year, along with a number of other major awards, but frankly never got close to winning SPOTY last month.
Labour so need someone of his ability and the comments from Balls about not coming back are hardly encouraging either.
The people who don't like him and really in the Labour party. They just think they are.
Trumps tactics will work against Sanders, Clinton and the rest of the GOP field. Their words mean nothing to him.
They won't work against Bloomberg. He can't help but listen to the guy.
It would make for a fascinating campaign.