Irish attitudes to immigration have worsened since the recession, with almost 20 per cent of people saying they are against any immigrants from different ethnic backgrounds coming in, according to a new report.
"The study, carried out on a sample of 2,000 people, shows that Irish views on the effect of immigration on the economy are more negative than those in Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK. Only the UK scores worse than Ireland on attitudes to the impact of immigrants on cultural life."
Thanks NickP, for some serious comments on a serious subject.
Yes, I agree. Boris is a good Mayor, IMO. I voted for him and am not sorry I did. I would probably vote for him again if he stands but not for PM. The business of running the country is a bit too serious for that. I am sure he would take it seriously and might even do a good job but true Party Politics takes precedence in a GE, so I join the ranks of those polled by Ashcroft and return to my default position.
Btw, it's a while since I asked so may I enquire again about the progress of CREEP? [Campaign for the Re-Election of Palmer.] Not still threatened by those silly All Wimmin Short lists?
For those that like 'em, here's what I'm backing at Wimbledon today.
There used to be a time when Spanish players couldn't play on grass. Some even refused to turn up. Not anymore. Rafa Nadal may be out, but Spaniards have good reason to be hopeful that 2 of their compatriots will make it through to the 4th round:
VERDASCO to beat Gulbis @ 11/10 with Bet Fred or Skybet
Why anyone would bet on Gulbis over 5 sets is anyone's guess. The Latvian is inconsistent and while capable of a great set of tennis, can't seem to hold it together for long and will throw in a large number of double faults for the men's tour - and at this stage in his career is just sheer laziness. Verdasco on the other hand has just as powerful game, but with more consistency and a better serve. Serve matters a lot on grass so to give you a snapshot of how these two compare, in his last match Gulbis struck 12 aces but 8 double faults. This compares to 15 aces from Verdasco to just 4 double faults. They all add up. In terms of consistency Verdasco struck 53 winners (unreturned shots where the opponent couldn't even get a racket frame on them) to just 16 unforced errors. Gulbis was 45:24. Verdasco has won 2 of their 3 match ups, but all have been on clay. I think the Spaniard is better suited to grass than Gulbis and I'd make him a 4/9 shot. I was very surprised to see him odds against.
ALMAGRO to beat Janowicz @ 6/5 with Ladbrokes
Almagro is another Spaniard who can play on grass. A better serve than many realise, a compact and rapier backhand. He's won more matches on tour than Janowicz this year (26 wins & 12 losses versus 15 wins & 12 defeats for the Pole) and Almagro beat him earlier this year at the Aussie Open (7/6 7/6 6/1) in their only meeting. Almagro should be 8/13. Almagro's 21 aces and 4 doubles combined with his 55 winners and 17 unforced errors in his last round win shows he's in very good nick. He's got to be favourite for this match.
And then for a bit of long-term interest...
VERDASCO to win Wimbledon each way @ 250/1 with Victor Chandler or Boylesports
Verdasco is the classiest player in Murray's half and if anyone's going to stop the Scot from getting to the Wimbledon final it could be the Spaniard. He is power player and on his day can be incredibly difficult to beat. His form in his last match suggests he's reaching the level he played in 2009 when he made the top ten. He's made a grass court final before (in Nottingham) and at 250/1 he's worth a few quid each way. In what's a strange Wimbledon this year and with Federer and Nadal having early exits, there's more pressure on Murray and if there was to be a 'shock finalist', I wouldn't be entirely surprised if it was Fernando Verdasco.
France is in very very deep doodoo. They've been utter lefties for too long ...
Err some mistake surely - agreed they currently have a left wing president (in office for just over 13 months) but prior to that they had right wing presidents in office for the preceding 17 years.
They may be in deep doodoo but you cannot seriously argue this to be because they are left wing when they've had right wing governments for 17 of the last 18 years.
I am slightly bewildered that the Sun thinks there was even one day's story in this burger nonsense but Mr Pickles has cleverly taken any sting out of it.
Whilst I agree with Tim that the best categorisations do not necessarily have any absolute value in determining votes they do show trends and what come's across in this polling is that the impression of the tories getting a grip is modest but improving and that Labour are all over the place.
But we kinda knew that. Any thread this week demonstrates the point.
On topic I think Boris would make a good leader/PM but I really have trouble in seeing any pathway that could now allow it to happen. That is the choice he made when he became Mayor and he is smart enough to know it.
@NickPalmer - agree, if Boris is the answer we're asking the wrong question - and his support from UKIP supporters, given his known views on such "toxic" items such as immigration, gay marriage and Europe do illustrate UKIP is more a state of mind than a coherent philosophy.
Would that his champions on the back benches, took this on board - but they prefer to deal in "truth" rather than "facts".
I wonder how long before the next Oborne column denouncing Ashcroft for his "disloyalty" to Dave?
And thanks to Lord Ashcroft for continuing to inform the debate.
If Sarko is right wing I'm an alien. He was an anti-business, big spendy, borrowy, cultural exceptionist enarque git.
The whole definition in France of where left meets right is NOT anywhere near the middle. Their 'right' is infact miserablist centre left. Their 'left' is in fact true red in tooth and claw socialism. (That's what they're enjoying right now)
There is absolutely no party and no appetite for a party of business, balanced budgets and common sense. They deserve what's coming to them.
I am slightly bewildered that the Sun thinks there was even one day's story in this burger nonsense but Mr Pickles has cleverly taken any sting out of it.
Reading the comments I suspect this will be the last day they run with this.....
If Sarko is right wing I'm an alien. He was an anti-business, big spendy, borrowy, cultural exceptionist enarque git.
The whole definition in France of where left meets right is NOT anywhere near the middle. Their 'right' is infact miserablist centre left. Their 'left' is in fact true red in tooth and claw socialism. (That's what they're enjoying right now)
There is absolutely no party and no appetite for a party of business, balanced budgets and common sense. They deserve what's coming to them.
Can you point to me when Ireland recovered from it's first recession, and
Explain how GDP differs from GNP/NNI? *
* The Irish economy does appear to be growing. It's the box-it-and-badge-it (County Kerry) part of the economy that is struggling.
The difference between GDP and GNP is remittances from abroad. GNP includes foreign earnings, GDP excludes them. Similarly, GNP is adjusted for sending money abroad, while GDP is not. Think of GDP as measuring wealth created in a country, and GNP as wealth accruing to a country.
Can you point to me when Ireland recovered from it's first recession, and
Explain how GDP differs from GNP/NNI? *
* The Irish economy does appear to be growing. It's the box-it-and-badge-it (County Kerry) part of the economy that is struggling.
The Irish economy has been in recession since the middle of 2012. Essentially, it has horrible 2008-2010, perked up in 2011, before dropping again in 2012.
That said, industrial production is growing in Ireland (ir's been up in four of the last five months), and the unemployment rate, after peaking at 15.1% in Feb/Mar 2012, has improved somewhat. It's now a (still quite miserable) 13.7%. Given the horrendous cuts to government spending in Ireland, it's amazing the economy is not performing worse. See this chart, if you want to see what real austerity looks like: http://www.tradingeconomics.com/ireland/government-spending
Mr. L, the Sun's front page was the most stupid for quite some time. Whether you're for or against the spending decisions they are substantial and worthy of debate.
Can you point to me when Ireland recovered from it's first recession, and
Explain how GDP differs from GNP/NNI? *
* The Irish economy does appear to be growing. It's the box-it-and-badge-it (County Kerry) part of the economy that is struggling.
The difference between GDP and GNP is remittances from abroad. GNP includes foreign earnings, GDP excludes them. Similarly, GNP is adjusted for sending money abroad, while GDP is not. Think of GDP as measuring wealth created in a country, and GNP as wealth accruing to a country.
Oh gosh,
Junior is morphing into Neil (but without the context). It's like "American Dad" to Wee-Timmy's "Family Guy"....
Well this is where I beg to differ. Tell you what - you give me some examples of economically successful socialist countries (really socialist not nominally) and I might be inclined to listen.
What is misleading about telling the truth about Macdonalds not delivering..its not as if he said he lived in a Cheshire Manor house where his children always left the lights on in one of the wings,is it
The survey also asked respondents for their views on whether it would be acceptable or unacceptable for citizens from certain other countries to be given senior roles, like governor of the Bank of England.
While Britons are somewhat tepid to any foreigner being appointed to high office, the poll shows that, at 48%, Canadians have the highest support, followed by Australians (43%) and Americans (40%).
Meanwhile, pluralities of Britons are opposed to someone from France (47%), Germany (43%) and Switzerland (40%) being given a senior role like BoE governor.
The three nationalities that British people are most opposed to giving senior roles to are Iranians (63%), Chinese (60%) and Russians (60%)
Can you point to me when Ireland recovered from it's first recession, and
Explain how GDP differs from GNP/NNI? *
* The Irish economy does appear to be growing. It's the box-it-and-badge-it (County Kerry) part of the economy that is struggling.
The Irish economy has been in recession since the middle of 2012. Essentially, it has horrible 2008-2010, perked up in 2011, before dropping again in 2012.
That said, industrial production is growing in Ireland (ir's been up in four of the last five months), and the unemployment rate, after peaking at 15.1% in Feb/Mar 2012, has improved somewhat. It's now a (still quite miserable) 13.7%. Given the horrendous cuts to government spending in Ireland, it's amazing the economy is not performing worse. See this chart, if you want to see what real austerity looks like: http://www.tradingeconomics.com/ireland/government-spending
Everything was going swimmingly for Eire until Salmond made his notorious " Celtic Lion / Arc of Prosperity " speech in March 2008 at Harvard ;
What is misleading about telling the truth about Macdonalds not delivering..its not as if he said he lived in a Cheshire Manor house where his children always left the lights on in one of the wings,is it
The implication is that the statement is related to the question and that it was a motivating factor in the decision. It may be that, if McDonalds delivered he would have bought a burger from them. But I doubt it.
The implication is that the statement is related to the question and that it was a motivating factor in the decision. It may be that, if McDonalds delivered he would have bought a burger from them. But I doubt it.
Why shouldn't the chancellor go to Byron, and anyway who made the decision? It is possible an intern went our to get it.
And if you're an intern trying to impress, wouldn't you go for the thoroughbred among burgers?
...and I'd point out that what you or I think is immaterial. It's what the market thinks that matters. I know you believe that borrowing to spend and endlessly driving up debt/GDP is a risk free answer to all problems. I don't. BFD. The markets agree with me though and the cost of debt for highly indebted sovereigns is growing fast. Defaults loom.
Markets can often be irrational. But markets can stay irrational for longer than you can stay solvent. And France is effectively borrowing in a foreign currency, unable to print Francs or dictate ECB policy.
France needs a major rebalancing away from the public sector and towards free enterprise, private sector growth and less spending. Until or unless they do it they are going to get slaughtered by those who would lend them money (or not)...
I am slightly bewildered that the Sun thinks there was even one day's story in this burger nonsense but Mr Pickles has cleverly taken any sting out of it.
Reading the comments I suspect this will be the last day they run with this.....
Reading the comments on pretty much any story in the Sun (some sport excepted) frankly makes me wonder about the wisdom of the care in the community program. It is an interesting antidote to the rarified and sophisticated atmosphere of PB (!).
The implication is that the statement is related to the question and that it was a motivating factor in the decision. It may be that, if McDonalds delivered he would have bought a burger from them. But I doubt it.
Why shouldn't the chancellor go to Byron, and anyway who made the decision? It is possible an intern went our to get it.
And if you're an intern trying to impress, wouldn't you go for the thoroughbred among burgers?
Frankly, if someone is working at 10pm, then a £10 burger is entirely reasonable.
Well this is where I beg to differ. Tell you what - you give me some examples of economically successful socialist countries (really socialist not nominally) and I might be inclined to listen.
Patrick
Surely most successful economies around the world are these days mixtures of 'socialism' and 'capitalism'.
That is to say, most, if not all, combine State ownership and control with a generally free but regulated private sector.
If however you want an example of a highly successful economy with massive State control including a centrally controlled economy, you need look no further than the UK - between 1940 and 1945. Churchill's view was that it was not only the best Government the Country ever had, but the best it was ever likely to have. He recognised of course that it could exist only in the extraordnary condition of warfare and a supreme threat to national survival, but you have to grant, as most do, that it was extremely successful.
And as Faisal Islam pointed out last night the actual figures work out as -0.1%, -0.01%, -0.5% and the middle figure only gets described as 0% due to rounding to one decimal place.
The quarterly GDP figures are not accurate to one decimal place, so quoting them to two decimal places is absurd.
You would do better to criticise the government over economic metrics that matter, such as average earnings, trade deficit, government borrowing, unemployment, etc, than to torture the GDP figures in an attempt to get them to fit an arbitrary definition of a recession.
What is misleading about telling the truth about Macdonalds not delivering..its not as if he said he lived in a Cheshire Manor house where his children always left the lights on in one of the wings,is it
The implication is that the statement is related to the question and that it was a motivating factor in the decision. It may be that, if McDonalds delivered he would have bought a burger from them. But I doubt it.
Jeez - we're still discussing burgers?!! Thank heavens Osborne didn't have a pizza with pineapple on it - that's a hanging offence.
The implication is that the statement is related to the question and that it was a motivating factor in the decision. It may be that, if McDonalds delivered he would have bought a burger from them. But I doubt it.
Why shouldn't the chancellor go to Byron, and anyway who made the decision?
Given the comments, I suspect the Sun will let this drop:
"Christ, we've got dole-bludgers spending more than £10 per day on fags and The Sun attacks Osborne for eating a £9 burger. Like him or loathe him, he has a VERY tough job with constant pressure and media attention and he earns his money. At least he bought British and not some McDonalds - yet another American company that doubtless pays less than full tax."
The implication is that the statement is related to the question and that it was a motivating factor in the decision. It may be that, if McDonalds delivered he would have bought a burger from them. But I doubt it.
Why shouldn't the chancellor go to Byron, and anyway who made the decision? It is possible an intern went our to get it.
And if you're an intern trying to impress, wouldn't you go for the thoroughbred among burgers?
I don't think that is really the point - sure Osborne can make his own decisions about what to eat, but he made a decision to release a picture of himself working hard on his spending review while eating a burger to show he is a 'man of the people'. No-one forced him to release this picture, his decision and therefore perfectly reasonable for the press to make the point that he wasn't eating a 'man of the people' macdonalds burger, but an uber-posh one.
He (or his office) could simply have responded that Osborne rather likes the posh burger, but no they had to imply that it was because macdonald's didn't deliver, which cannot have been the real reason, because nor do the posh burger company.
Bottom line - he's a fool for releasing the photo, but on the burgers I'm sure the one he bought was a darned sight better than the one he might have been able to get at macdonalds.
"The headline news is that we need an additional 250,000 primary schools places by September 2013. However, what Hodge's report omitted to say is that the reason for this shortfall is because Labour reduced the total number of primary school places by 207,000 between 2003/04 and 2009/10 and, in the same period, cut the funding for extra school places by £150 million. This, in spite of the fact that he population of England grew at a faster rate under the last government than at any time since 1801 – thanks, in large part, to Labour's open-door immigration policy. The present government has been doing it's best to cope with the resulting crisis, committing over £5 billion to funding new places."
He chose to make a statement after he chose to tweet the bloody photo stunt.
He can say and tweet what he likes, tim. It's the idea that he should come out and clarify something about a burger (or horse or guinness or Morrisson's or whatever your latest thing is) to satisfy your insatiable desire for chum-related trivia that is ridiculous.
Mind you we are living in an age where a member of a parliamentary select committee asked him when he last ate a pasty so I shouldnt blame it all on you.
I posted on PB this morning, then had a leisurely bath, took a walk through the damp woods, popped over to the animal sanctuary to count the new arrivals, dropped in on some neighbours and helped them gather firewood, rounded up some cattle, had coffee on the top floor of the Shard with two shortbread biscuits, designed what I think will be the next generation of smartphone, had a conference call with Obama and Jacob Zuma on "what next in South Africa", put my name down to be an early space tourist and completed the necessary (extended) medical, and then have come back to PB.
Compare the attitudes to India and Australia, that's depressing reading. Kippers off the scale of course.
There are some really distorted and depressingly confused priorities on show there. After all India are really good at cricket. None of the others are.
What is misleading about telling the truth about Macdonalds not delivering..its not as if he said he lived in a Cheshire Manor house where his children always left the lights on in one of the wings,is it
The implication is that the statement is related to the question and that it was a motivating factor in the decision. It may be that, if McDonalds delivered he would have bought a burger from them. But I doubt it.
Jeez - we're still discussing burgers?!! Thank heavens Osborne didn't have a pizza with pineapple on it - that's a hanging offence.
I posted on PB this morning, then had a leisurely bath, took a walk through the damp woods, popped over to the animal sanctuary to count the new arrivals, dropped in on some neighbours and helped them gather firewood, rounded up some cattle, had coffee on the top floor of the Shard with two shortbread biscuits, designed what I think will be the next generation of smartphone, had a conference call with Obama and Jacob Zuma on "what next in South Africa", put my name down to be an early space tourist and completed the necessary (extended) medical, and then have come back to PB.
and we are still talking about effing burgers.
I mean god give me strength.
LOL - Post of the Day. I mark you down one for not touching Pippa's bum.
I posted on PB this morning, then had a leisurely bath, took a walk through the damp woods, popped over to the animal sanctuary to count the new arrivals, dropped in on some neighbours and helped them gather firewood, rounded up some cattle, had coffee on the top floor of the Shard with two shortbread biscuits, designed what I think will be the next generation of smartphone, had a conference call with Obama and Jacob Zuma on "what next in South Africa", put my name down to be an early space tourist and completed the necessary (extended) medical, and then have come back to PB.
and we are still talking about effing burgers.
I mean god give me strength.
LOL - Post of the Day. I mark you down one for not touching Pippa's bum.
Agreed.
Brilliant post, with or without the Royal posterior.
He chose to make a statement after he chose to tweet the bloody photo stunt.
He can say and tweet what he likes, tim. It's the idea that he should come out and clarify something about a burger (or horse or guinness or Morrisson's or whatever your latest thing is) to satisfy your insatiable desire for chum-related trivia that is ridiculous.
Mind you we are living in an age where a member of a parliamentary select committee asked him when he last ate a pasty so I shouldnt blame it all on you.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it was Tim that made all the running on this story - wasn't it the Sun.
The reason why this resonates is because it aligns with a broader narrative - a cliche of posh out of touch chums running the country who really have no idea about the lives of most of us. Osborne released the photo to try to counter that narrative (look I'm just like you, I eat burgers too) - but it backfired badly. But it was his choice to release the photo - he could simply have eat his £10 burger (which is perfectly reasonable for someone working late), enjoyed it (which I'm sure he did more than he would have a macdonalds) and that would be the end of it. But no, he had to release the photo and then provide misinformation when his publicity stunt started to backfire.
@NickPalmer - agree, if Boris is the answer we're asking the wrong question - and his support from UKIP supporters, given his known views on such "toxic" items such as immigration, gay marriage and Europe do illustrate UKIP is more a state of mind than a coherent philosophy.
Would that his champions on the back benches, took this on board - but they prefer to deal in "truth" rather than "facts".
I wonder how long before the next Oborne column denouncing Ashcroft for his "disloyalty" to Dave?
And thanks to Lord Ashcroft for continuing to inform the debate.
People project their own views onto Boris. He's even more left wing than Cameron in actuality.
I seem to remember that the wartime government essentially bankrupted Britain in order to keep that nice Mr.Hitler out. What happened to our public finances, position in the world and empire? Or living standards for those five years? I accept fully that as a wartime coalition it did the biz (thanks to Mr. Churchill) - in that we eventually were on the winning side. But Britain's economy? My challenge was economic wasn't it?
And after 1945 even the lefty Attlee and his crew ran surpluses and maintained rationing in order to work down the horrific debt. It was austerity on steroids.
You might learn from that.
Deficits are great thing for a short time during a downturn to smooth GDP bumps. On the assumption that you start from a reasonable debt position and were saving a bit during the good times. That is true Keynesianism. Endless deficits built on deeply indebted starting positions are not a viable policy.
Where Osborne went wrong is in not using an Instagram filter on his tweet picture. Everyone knows that's the best way to share your food pics with others.
I suspect that policy would lose the party more votes than it wins, and wouldn't help it win any seats.
It's right though. But we are used to so called Thatcherites on here being determined to stop immigrants who will never be deported from paying tax. The same people addicted to state subsidies for low pay high rents and sub prime mortgages.
The other side of the coin is that illegal immigrants, who are generally poorer than the population on average, would become eligible for all sorts of means-tested benefits, if they were given an amnesty.
He chose to make a statement after he chose to tweet the bloody photo stunt.
He can say and tweet what he likes, tim. It's the idea that he should come out and clarify something about a burger (or horse or guinness or Morrisson's or whatever your latest thing is) to satisfy your insatiable desire for chum-related trivia that is ridiculous.
Mind you we are living in an age where a member of a parliamentary select committee asked him when he last ate a pasty so I shouldnt blame it all on you.
The reason why this resonates
You wouldn't think so reading Sun reader's comments....
Where Osborne went wrong is in not using an Instagram filter on his tweet picture. Everyone knows that's the best way to share your food pics with others.
Ha! The *Old Polaroid* look is so 2012. Perhaps he could've balanced his burger on the Number 11 cat's head - that's quite a popular meme.
"Geoffrey Robinson helps Labour money go round Geoffrey Robinson, the former minister, uses taxpayers' money to hire office from union that bankrolls the Labour Party."
Do you think George Osborne is doing a good job or a bad job as Chancellor of the Exchequer? Good: 25(+3) Bad: 52(-2) DK: 23(-5)
Which of these would make the better Chancellor of the Exchequer? GO; 32(+4) EdB: 23(-3) DK: 45 (0)
Who would you most trust to make the right decisions about dealing with the government's deficit? Con/LD Coalition: 33(+1) Labour: 23(-3) Neither: 34(0) DK: 11(+2)
Who would you most trust to make the right decisions about improving the state of the economy? Con/LD Coalition: 33(+1) Labour: 25(-3) Neither: 31(+1) DK: 11(+1)
So people think by over 2:1 that Osborne is doing a bad job yet they still think Balls would be worse.
Time for Balls to take one for the team - how about by picking up a few more speeding tickets?
Just saw a bit of Sky News. Didn't get the intro but i think the lady journalist was interviewing an imam, as many are going to preach against the evils of the Rochdale (and other) gangs, and state they're against Islam. Good to hear, but the imam also indicated that the influence of liberal education and the recent gay marriage was at least partially to blame.
@NickPalmer - agree, if Boris is the answer we're asking the wrong question - and his support from UKIP supporters, given his known views on such "toxic" items such as immigration, gay marriage and Europe do illustrate UKIP is more a state of mind than a coherent philosophy.
Would that his champions on the back benches, took this on board - but they prefer to deal in "truth" rather than "facts".
I wonder how long before the next Oborne column denouncing Ashcroft for his "disloyalty" to Dave?
And thanks to Lord Ashcroft for continuing to inform the debate.
People project their own views onto Boris.
The poll says otherwise - take his biggest fans - UKIP voters:
Me/Boris:
Leave EU: 80/27 Gay marriage should NOT be introduced: 58/17 Tougher on immigration: 90/56
UKIP voters views of Boris are pretty close to OA views (±3%) - its UKIP voters view of what they want that is significantly different from OA.....which makes you wonder at their enthusiasm for a politician who does not share their views....
F1: McNish (who's a rather good commentator) reckons Di Resta could be the top Briton in the race. I think there's a reasonable chance of that. McLaren has some new bits, but we'll have to wait for the dry to see whether they're working well.
He chose to make a statement after he chose to tweet the bloody photo stunt.
He can say and tweet what he likes, tim. It's the idea that he should come out and clarify something about a burger (or horse or guinness or Morrisson's or whatever your latest thing is) to satisfy your insatiable desire for chum-related trivia that is ridiculous.
Mind you we are living in an age where a member of a parliamentary select committee asked him when he last ate a pasty so I shouldnt blame it all on you.
The reason why this resonates
You wouldn't think so reading Sun reader's comments....
Really - go check out those with the most 'likes' - such as:
'Another Tory publicity stunt, who the hell would allow themselves being photographed eating a burger and chips'
'another bungle jeff sorry george'
'If Osborne and Cameron ate nothing but Maccy Ds from now till the election they will NEVER be associated with us common or garden plebs.'
'Ok assuming 'The Sun' is right and this meal has cost £9.70 (which to be honest sounds about right for London prices) and it has fed 1 person, and George wants to appear as a man of the people. Please explain the following to me - the government expects people on welfare to be able to feed a family of 4 on £50 per week. I also take into account that buying in take-outs is a luxury which is not affordable to those on welfare. But talk about rubbing it your face. He's not a man of the people. He and IDS should be made to live on welfare for a month and truly experience what hardship is !!!'
'Why do MP's pretend to be "men of the people" when theyve all had silver spoons shoved down their throats since birth? Theyre kidding no one, another reason politicians arent trusted by the people because they have zero grasp on reality!'
'It appears this clown already has CJD, to pull a stunt like this, after almost forcing the 'man in the street' to pay more for a pie or pasty, if it was still hot at purchase. With clowns like this in charge of billions of pounds, a lot of which is OUR TAXES, it don't surprise me in the least, that our 'deficit' is sky high......continuously. Gormless goons like this are, taking money out of our pockets, hammering and belittling the deserved disabled then, ensuring there's plenty in the 'trough' for the hooray henrys, and corporate banquets. This (laughable, gutless, greedy, cowardly) government, ..............HAS simply GOT TO GO.'
etc, etc
The out of touch posh chums narrative resonates which is why Osborne released the photo in the first place, in an attempt to counter, and of course why the Sun gleefully ran the story when they recognised the source of the burger.
Really? You've been reduced to counting the number of likes for posts on a tabloid story about a man eating a burger? I'm glad you dont have more pressing issues to worry about.
Impressive to see that Labour has been doing it's own economic model of a state-funded political party with these union / MP rental deals. Just another milking system a la expenses it appear or..
Political money-laundering to wash the tax-payers money out of the system through some placement, layering and then bankroll Labour? These lefties really are ingenious with getting their hands on other people's money aren't they?
Whereas some might say those Blues with Trust funds are ingenious in how to keep other people's hands off their own money?
The Yellows ... well lets stop there perhaps given OGH leanings.
Is that the real political divide in the UK parties?
The reason why this resonates is because it aligns with a broader narrative - a cliche of posh out of touch chums running the country who really have no idea about the lives of most of us. Osborne released the photo to try to counter that narrative (look I'm just like you, I eat burgers too) - but it backfired badly. But it was his choice to release the photo - he could simply have eat his £10 burger (which is perfectly reasonable for someone working late), enjoyed it (which I'm sure he did more than he would have a macdonalds) and that would be the end of it. But no, he had to release the photo and then provide misinformation when his publicity stunt started to backfire.
But lets not forget he is a strategic genius.
I'm not sure if the intended story was that GO is not a fop who dines on caviar and roast swan, or that GO works 24x7 to fix the country. I suspect the latter, as a response to criticism of his flying off to Washington when he should have been preparing the budget.
Seemingly ,according to the Sun and its readers, plus some on here,anyone who prefers to eat a burger made by any company other than Macdonalds is a posh Tory..Who'da thunk it..I love trivia at this level
The reason why this resonates is because it aligns with a broader narrative - a cliche of posh out of touch chums running the country who really have no idea about the lives of most of us. Osborne released the photo to try to counter that narrative (look I'm just like you, I eat burgers too) - but it backfired badly. But it was his choice to release the photo - he could simply have eat his £10 burger (which is perfectly reasonable for someone working late), enjoyed it (which I'm sure he did more than he would have a macdonalds) and that would be the end of it. But no, he had to release the photo and then provide misinformation when his publicity stunt started to backfire.
But lets not forget he is a strategic genius.
Either way, it misfired.
Not really, Osborne cut several billion from the welfare budget, cut capital expenditure but spun it as a massive infrastructure boost and all that Labour seem to be talking about is a ₤9 burger meal a opposed to a ₤5 burger meal.
The implication is that the statement is related to the question and that it was a motivating factor in the decision. It may be that, if McDonalds delivered he would have bought a burger from them. But I doubt it.
Why shouldn't the chancellor go to Byron, and anyway who made the decision?
Given the comments, I suspect the Sun will let this drop:
"Christ, we've got dole-bludgers spending more than £10 per day on fags and The Sun attacks Osborne for eating a £9 burger. Like him or loathe him, he has a VERY tough job with constant pressure and media attention and he earns his money. At least he bought British and not some McDonalds - yet another American company that doubtless pays less than full tax."
Hmm, describing Byron as "British" in the sense the comment intends could be tricky... it's basically a private equity asset owned by Cinven's UK restaurant holdings vehicle Gondola, which doesn't realise a UK taxable profit (partly) as a result of large interest deductions due to a chunky shareholder loan (last year's accounts: http://www.gondolaholdings.com/downloads/Gondola AR 2012_Interactive.pdf). That might fall foul of the "doubtless pays less than full tax" test of the commenter (I'm not saying the comment is fair, either in this case or that of McDonalds).
(Edit: if one tried to avoid eating food from any restaurant owned by a firm funded by globally mobile capital, with an efficient tax structure, then it would probably be necessary to cook all of one's own food. After growing it oneself. With cuttings from wild plants. Shows the gap between the popular debate on taxation and the perfectly legal reality, I guess).
Really? You've been reduced to counting the number of likes for posts on a tabloid story about a man eating a burger? I'm glad you dont have more pressing issues to worry about.
Really? You've been reduced to counting the number of likes for posts on a tabloid story about a man eating a burger? I'm glad you dont have more pressing issues to worry about.
Simply refuting CarlottaVance's inference that the story's narrative about posh out of touch chums didn't resonate with Sun readers by using evidence. If you can't back up a claim, don't make it.
"The headline news is that we need an additional 250,000 primary schools places by September 2013. However, what Hodge's report omitted to say is that the reason for this shortfall is because Labour reduced the total number of primary school places by 207,000 between 2003/04 and 2009/10 and, in the same period, cut the funding for extra school places by £150 million. This, in spite of the fact that he population of England grew at a faster rate under the last government than at any time since 1801 – thanks, in large part, to Labour's open-door immigration policy. The present government has been doing it's best to cope with the resulting crisis, committing over £5 billion to funding new places."
Politicians of both parties have always been keen to slash inefficiencies like "too many" school places or "unoccupied" intensive care beds. Spare capacity is for losers.
But if this causes the gilt to come off Michael Gove's gingerbread, well, we have warned about it on pb in the past.
Hmm, describing Byron as "British" in the sense the comment intends could be tricky... it's basically a private equity asset owned by Cinven's UK restaurant holdings vehicle Gondola, which doesn't realise a UK taxable profit
I tried to get JohnO and Richard Nabavi to eat at a Byron burger once. Clearly their antenna for a potential political scandal are much more accurate than mine or Osborne's!
Really? You've been reduced to counting the number of likes for posts on a tabloid story about a man eating a burger? I'm glad you dont have more pressing issues to worry about.
He's just checking out Carlotta's hapless spin, and comprehensively refuting it.
He hasn't though.
All he has shown is that a few thousand (I assume) readers have liked some posts.
I would assume that those who bother to like/not-like posts are a very small percentage of the total unique viewers.
Burger me! George's get himself in a pickle in the Currant Bun for eating with relish. I normally don't have a beef with him, but he is just horsing around. Perhaps he should hold a patty in a McD's and invite the journalists over, but Tim would just accuse him of hamming it up and throw tomatoes.
Instead of concentrating on bringing home the economy's bacon, he'll probably be tweeted listening to Simon Mayo's confessions. If he continues like this, he'll soon be fried. Lettuce hope he learns his lesson before the next piece of sauce gets dished.
Some find Twitter cheesy, but I'm keen to egg them on. The more the Currant Bun and Tim think Osborne's a veggie, the better the economy must be doing.
@NickPalmer - agree, if Boris is the answer we're asking the wrong question - and his support from UKIP supporters, given his known views on such "toxic" items such as immigration, gay marriage and Europe do illustrate UKIP is more a state of mind than a coherent philosophy.
Would that his champions on the back benches, took this on board - but they prefer to deal in "truth" rather than "facts".
I wonder how long before the next Oborne column denouncing Ashcroft for his "disloyalty" to Dave?
And thanks to Lord Ashcroft for continuing to inform the debate.
People project their own views onto Boris.
The poll says otherwise - take his biggest fans - UKIP voters:
Me/Boris:
Leave EU: 80/27 Gay marriage should NOT be introduced: 58/17 Tougher on immigration: 90/56
UKIP voters views of Boris are pretty close to OA views (±3%) - its UKIP voters view of what they want that is significantly different from OA.....which makes you wonder at their enthusiasm for a politician who does not share their views....
Fair enough. I was wrong. I don't know why they should be enthusiastic for him. I don't think that the enthusiasm would last if he did become Conservative leader.
What PBTory-Boy Neil didn't mention was that we ended up eating Latvian (OK, Baltic) where we could entertain our collective predilections concerning homophobia (naturally in deference to our Merseyside paymaster).
But after the fifth cocktail, it all rather became a blur, as did the pub thereafter, and a final snorteroonie at Waterloo station.
My knowledge of the Welsh scene is largely restricted to bits of FM's question time on Yesterday on Parliament (which make the toon council in Edinburgh look illuminating) and the odd comment from Financier and one or two others here.
It does occur to me though, that if the tories want to highlight what a Labour government looks like they might do worse than highlight the level of (non) achievement in the Principality.
Perhaps Ed needs to have a look at some of this. It could get embarrassing, especially at a time when he is trying to argue about cuts (if he is, I haven't caught up with today's position).
@NickPalmer - agree, if Boris is the answer we're asking the wrong question - and his support from UKIP supporters, given his known views on such "toxic" items such as immigration, gay marriage and Europe do illustrate UKIP is more a state of mind than a coherent philosophy.
Would that his champions on the back benches, took this on board - but they prefer to deal in "truth" rather than "facts".
I wonder how long before the next Oborne column denouncing Ashcroft for his "disloyalty" to Dave?
And thanks to Lord Ashcroft for continuing to inform the debate.
People project their own views onto Boris.
The poll says otherwise - take his biggest fans - UKIP voters:
Me/Boris:
Leave EU: 80/27 Gay marriage should NOT be introduced: 58/17 Tougher on immigration: 90/56
UKIP voters views of Boris are pretty close to OA views (±3%) - its UKIP voters view of what they want that is significantly different from OA.....which makes you wonder at their enthusiasm for a politician who does not share their views....
I don't know why they should be enthusiastic for him. I don't think that the enthusiasm would last if he did become Conservative leader.
I think because he's 'not one of the others' - but voters also recognise that IF he were leader he'd have to tone things down - diminishing his attractiveness - and the party he led would be largely unchanged. In any case, what they are most concerned about is policy....
France is in very very deep doodoo. They've been utter lefties for too long and have a deeply entrenched anti-business culture across society. .
France has had conservative governments since 1993.
Bizarre that you think Sarkozy was a conservative. A statist Frenchie like ALL of them.
France has 4 shades of politics - communist postmen types (hardcore left), the Socialists (properly old school left wing), the UMP (centre left wishy washy nothing) and the loony far right Le Pen types.
Really? You've been reduced to counting the number of likes for posts on a tabloid story about a man eating a burger? I'm glad you dont have more pressing issues to worry about.
Simply refuting CarlottaVance's inference that the story's narrative about posh out of touch chums didn't resonate with Sun readers by using evidence. If you can't back up a claim, don't make it.
You omit; i) the level of commenting is VERY low for a Sun story and ii) today's comments are much more hostile to the story than yesterday's.
But by all means - join tim & his merry men proclaiming how this will run & run.....like how all the other Osborne stories ran & ran.....
Recent twitter followerships of some prominent UK politicians ;
Boris Johnson : 731,589 David Cameron: 349,594 Ed Miliband: 223,293 George Galloway: 150,269 Nick Clegg: 116,646 Nigel Farage: 86,382 Alex Salmond: 40,084 Gerry Adams: 28,996
Lots and lots of markets on the Tour de France. Any chance OGH will indulge us with a thread on his favourite annual sporting event? I just cant warm to Froome for some reason. But he's up against the Dark Lord so will be cheering for him by default.
'It does occur to me though, that if the tories want to highlight what a Labour government looks like they might do worse than highlight the level of (non) achievement in the Principality.'
Spot on,Labour's 8% NHS cuts and collapsing educational standards to mention just a couple.
Comments
"The study, carried out on a sample of 2,000 people, shows that Irish views on the effect of immigration on the economy are more negative than those in Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK. Only the UK scores worse than Ireland on attitudes to the impact of immigrants on cultural life."
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/irish-anti-immigrant-attitudes-growing-report-shows-1.1442460?page=1
Thanks NickP, for some serious comments on a serious subject.
Yes, I agree. Boris is a good Mayor, IMO. I voted for him and am not sorry I did. I would probably vote for him again if he stands but not for PM. The business of running the country is a bit too serious for that. I am sure he would take it seriously and might even do a good job but true Party Politics takes precedence in a GE, so I join the ranks of those polled by Ashcroft and return to my default position.
Btw, it's a while since I asked so may I enquire again about the progress of CREEP? [Campaign for the Re-Election of Palmer.] Not still threatened by those silly All Wimmin Short lists?
There used to be a time when Spanish players couldn't play on grass. Some even refused to turn up. Not anymore. Rafa Nadal may be out, but Spaniards have good reason to be hopeful that 2 of their compatriots will make it through to the 4th round:
VERDASCO to beat Gulbis @ 11/10 with Bet Fred or Skybet
Why anyone would bet on Gulbis over 5 sets is anyone's guess. The Latvian is inconsistent and while capable of a great set of tennis, can't seem to hold it together for long and will throw in a large number of double faults for the men's tour - and at this stage in his career is just sheer laziness. Verdasco on the other hand has just as powerful game, but with more consistency and a better serve. Serve matters a lot on grass so to give you a snapshot of how these two compare, in his last match Gulbis struck 12 aces but 8 double faults. This compares to 15 aces from Verdasco to just 4 double faults. They all add up. In terms of consistency Verdasco struck 53 winners (unreturned shots where the opponent couldn't even get a racket frame on them) to just 16 unforced errors. Gulbis was 45:24. Verdasco has won 2 of their 3 match ups, but all have been on clay. I think the Spaniard is better suited to grass than Gulbis and I'd make him a 4/9 shot. I was very surprised to see him odds against.
ALMAGRO to beat Janowicz @ 6/5 with Ladbrokes
Almagro is another Spaniard who can play on grass. A better serve than many realise, a compact and rapier backhand. He's won more matches on tour than Janowicz this year (26 wins & 12 losses versus 15 wins & 12 defeats for the Pole) and Almagro beat him earlier this year at the Aussie Open (7/6 7/6 6/1) in their only meeting. Almagro should be 8/13. Almagro's 21 aces and 4 doubles combined with his 55 winners and 17 unforced errors in his last round win shows he's in very good nick. He's got to be favourite for this match.
And then for a bit of long-term interest...
VERDASCO to win Wimbledon each way @ 250/1 with Victor Chandler or Boylesports
Verdasco is the classiest player in Murray's half and if anyone's going to stop the Scot from getting to the Wimbledon final it could be the Spaniard. He is power player and on his day can be incredibly difficult to beat. His form in his last match suggests he's reaching the level he played in 2009 when he made the top ten. He's made a grass court final before (in Nottingham) and at 250/1 he's worth a few quid each way. In what's a strange Wimbledon this year and with Federer and Nadal having early exits, there's more pressure on Murray and if there was to be a 'shock finalist', I wouldn't be entirely surprised if it was Fernando Verdasco.
They may be in deep doodoo but you cannot seriously argue this to be because they are left wing when they've had right wing governments for 17 of the last 18 years.
Whilst I agree with Tim that the best categorisations do not necessarily have any absolute value in determining votes they do show trends and what come's across in this polling is that the impression of the tories getting a grip is modest but improving and that Labour are all over the place.
But we kinda knew that. Any thread this week demonstrates the point.
On topic I think Boris would make a good leader/PM but I really have trouble in seeing any pathway that could now allow it to happen. That is the choice he made when he became Mayor and he is smart enough to know it.
Ed Balls's only contribution to reducing the deficit Labour left UK taxpayers - a £350 fine for running a red light.. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23093338 …
Balls reduces UK debt by £350, Osborne adds £250billion!
Would that his champions on the back benches, took this on board - but they prefer to deal in "truth" rather than "facts".
I wonder how long before the next Oborne column denouncing Ashcroft for his "disloyalty" to Dave?
And thanks to Lord Ashcroft for continuing to inform the debate.
If Sarko is right wing I'm an alien. He was an anti-business, big spendy, borrowy, cultural exceptionist enarque git.
The whole definition in France of where left meets right is NOT anywhere near the middle. Their 'right' is infact miserablist centre left. Their 'left' is in fact true red in tooth and claw socialism. (That's what they're enjoying right now)
There is absolutely no party and no appetite for a party of business, balanced budgets and common sense. They deserve what's coming to them.
- Can you point to me when Ireland recovered from it's first recession, and
- Explain how GDP differs from GNP/NNI? *
* The Irish economy does appear to be growing. It's the box-it-and-badge-it (County Kerry) part of the economy that is struggling.They are simply economically illiterate.
Samuel Brittan in the FT today:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9c3a9a18-de72-11e2-b990-00144feab7de.html#ixzz2XUldIpJK
"Why did you order a burger from Byrons"
"McDonald's don't deliver". A true statement, which doesn't answer the question, but leaves the listener with a false impression. Not a lie, though.
But I really suspect that no one cares.
That said, industrial production is growing in Ireland (ir's been up in four of the last five months), and the unemployment rate, after peaking at 15.1% in Feb/Mar 2012, has improved somewhat. It's now a (still quite miserable) 13.7%. Given the horrendous cuts to government spending in Ireland, it's amazing the economy is not performing worse. See this chart, if you want to see what real austerity looks like: http://www.tradingeconomics.com/ireland/government-spending
Junior is morphing into Neil (but without the context). It's like "American Dad" to Wee-Timmy's "Family Guy"....
:prepares-to-throw-copy-of-Samuelson-at-web-site:
Sarkozy is right of centre - he might not be as far right as you'd like he he ain't no left winger.
Well this is where I beg to differ. Tell you what - you give me some examples of economically successful socialist countries (really socialist not nominally) and I might be inclined to listen.
And nearly 1 in 2 in favour.....
The survey also asked respondents for their views on whether it would be acceptable or unacceptable for citizens from certain other countries to be given senior roles, like governor of the Bank of England.
While Britons are somewhat tepid to any foreigner being appointed to high office, the poll shows that, at 48%, Canadians have the highest support, followed by Australians (43%) and Americans (40%).
Meanwhile, pluralities of Britons are opposed to someone from France (47%), Germany (43%) and Switzerland (40%) being given a senior role like BoE governor.
The three nationalities that British people are most opposed to giving senior roles to are Iranians (63%), Chinese (60%) and Russians (60%)
http://yougov.co.uk/news/2013/06/28/1-3-brits-against-canadian-boe-governor/
Everything was going swimmingly for Eire until Salmond made his notorious " Celtic Lion / Arc of Prosperity " speech in March 2008 at Harvard ;
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/david-allen-green/2011/06/global-economy-world-scotland
The disastrous consequences were inevitable.
tim reveals that George Osborne is a... politician!
Patrick O'Flynn @oflynnexpress 7m
Polls showing the bombing of Ed Balls and Lab economic credibility are a big story - more likely than ever that Darling will get the job.
And if you're an intern trying to impress, wouldn't you go for the thoroughbred among burgers?
Markets can often be irrational. But markets can stay irrational for longer than you can stay solvent. And France is effectively borrowing in a foreign currency, unable to print Francs or dictate ECB policy.
France needs a major rebalancing away from the public sector and towards free enterprise, private sector growth and less spending. Until or unless they do it they are going to get slaughtered by those who would lend them money (or not)...
Dave has been doing better recently - not great - just better.
Con: Canada: +9
Lab: Canada: +14
LibDem: Australia: +53
UKIP: Canada: -3
http://cdn.yougov.com/cumulus_uploads/document/lsvzi5ewl3/YouGov-results-Canadian-BoE-Governor-130626.pdf
Patrick
Surely most successful economies around the world are these days mixtures of 'socialism' and 'capitalism'.
That is to say, most, if not all, combine State ownership and control with a generally free but regulated private sector.
If however you want an example of a highly successful economy with massive State control including a centrally controlled economy, you need look no further than the UK - between 1940 and 1945. Churchill's view was that it was not only the best Government the Country ever had, but the best it was ever likely to have. He recognised of course that it could exist only in the extraordnary condition of warfare and a supreme threat to national survival, but you have to grant, as most do, that it was extremely successful.
You would do better to criticise the government over economic metrics that matter, such as average earnings, trade deficit, government borrowing, unemployment, etc, than to torture the GDP figures in an attempt to get them to fit an arbitrary definition of a recession.
The tories are at thirty plus on the back of that????
blimey.
"Christ, we've got dole-bludgers spending more than £10 per day on fags and The Sun attacks Osborne for eating a £9 burger. Like him or loathe him, he has a VERY tough job with constant pressure and media attention and he earns his money. At least he bought British and not some McDonalds - yet another American company that doubtless pays less than full tax."
He (or his office) could simply have responded that Osborne rather likes the posh burger, but no they had to imply that it was because macdonald's didn't deliver, which cannot have been the real reason, because nor do the posh burger company.
Bottom line - he's a fool for releasing the photo, but on the burgers I'm sure the one he bought was a darned sight better than the one he might have been able to get at macdonalds.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyyoung/100223840/the-last-government-is-to-blame-for-the-shortage-of-school-places-not-the-present-one/
You really are scraping the barrel today, aren't you?
Mind you we are living in an age where a member of a parliamentary select committee asked him when he last ate a pasty so I shouldnt blame it all on you.
and we are still talking about effing burgers.
I mean god give me strength.
It is because Tim has been posting like mad to divert attention from the polls and all other news.
Brilliant post, with or without the Royal posterior.
The reason why this resonates is because it aligns with a broader narrative - a cliche of posh out of touch chums running the country who really have no idea about the lives of most of us. Osborne released the photo to try to counter that narrative (look I'm just like you, I eat burgers too) - but it backfired badly. But it was his choice to release the photo - he could simply have eat his £10 burger (which is perfectly reasonable for someone working late), enjoyed it (which I'm sure he did more than he would have a macdonalds) and that would be the end of it. But no, he had to release the photo and then provide misinformation when his publicity stunt started to backfire.
But lets not forget he is a strategic genius.
And after 1945 even the lefty Attlee and his crew ran surpluses and maintained rationing in order to work down the horrific debt. It was austerity on steroids.
You might learn from that.
Deficits are great thing for a short time during a downturn to smooth GDP bumps. On the assumption that you start from a reasonable debt position and were saving a bit during the good times. That is true Keynesianism. Endless deficits built on deeply indebted starting positions are not a viable policy.
The Sun was very keen on that as well http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01454/food-on-dog-2_1454701a.jpg
Geoffrey Robinson, the former minister, uses taxpayers' money to hire office from union that bankrolls the Labour Party."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10146547/Geoffrey-Robinson-helps-Labour-money-go-round.html
But we both know that certain people on this site always prefer silliness to logical thought.
*sighs*
Me/Boris:
Leave EU: 80/27
Gay marriage should NOT be introduced: 58/17
Tougher on immigration: 90/56
UKIP voters views of Boris are pretty close to OA views (±3%) - its UKIP voters view of what they want that is significantly different from OA.....which makes you wonder at their enthusiasm for a politician who does not share their views....
'Another Tory publicity stunt, who the hell would allow themselves being photographed eating a burger and chips'
'another bungle jeff sorry george'
'If Osborne and Cameron ate nothing but Maccy Ds from now till the election they will NEVER be associated with us common or garden plebs.'
'Ok assuming 'The Sun' is right and this meal has cost £9.70 (which to be honest sounds about right for London prices) and it has fed 1 person, and George wants to appear as a man of the people. Please explain the following to me - the government expects people on welfare to be able to feed a family of 4 on £50 per week. I also take into account that buying in take-outs is a luxury which is not affordable to those on welfare. But talk about rubbing it your face. He's not a man of the people. He and IDS should be made to live on welfare for a month and truly experience what hardship is !!!'
'Why do MP's pretend to be "men of the people" when theyve all had silver spoons shoved down their throats since birth? Theyre kidding no one, another reason politicians arent trusted by the people because they have zero grasp on reality!'
'It appears this clown already has CJD, to pull a stunt like this, after almost forcing the 'man in the street' to pay more for a pie or pasty, if it was still hot at purchase. With clowns like this in charge of billions of pounds, a lot of which is OUR TAXES, it don't surprise me in the least, that our 'deficit' is sky high......continuously. Gormless goons like this are, taking money out of our pockets, hammering and belittling the deserved disabled then, ensuring there's plenty in the 'trough' for the hooray henrys, and corporate banquets. This (laughable, gutless, greedy, cowardly) government, ..............HAS simply GOT TO GO.'
etc, etc
The out of touch posh chums narrative resonates which is why Osborne released the photo in the first place, in an attempt to counter, and of course why the Sun gleefully ran the story when they recognised the source of the burger.
Political money-laundering to wash the tax-payers money out of the system through some placement, layering and then bankroll Labour? These lefties really are ingenious with getting their hands on other people's money aren't they?
Whereas some might say those Blues with Trust funds are ingenious in how to keep other people's hands off their own money?
The Yellows ... well lets stop there perhaps given OGH leanings.
Is that the real political divide in the UK parties?
Either way, it misfired.
Not really, Osborne cut several billion from the welfare budget, cut capital expenditure but spun it as a massive infrastructure boost and all that Labour seem to be talking about is a ₤9 burger meal a opposed to a ₤5 burger meal.
(Edit: if one tried to avoid eating food from any restaurant owned by a firm funded by globally mobile capital, with an efficient tax structure, then it would probably be necessary to cook all of one's own food. After growing it oneself. With cuttings from wild plants. Shows the gap between the popular debate on taxation and the perfectly legal reality, I guess).
But if this causes the gilt to come off Michael Gove's gingerbread, well, we have warned about it on pb in the past.
Interactive map of E&W showing population movements:
http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/HTMLDocs/dvc25/index.html#00BK,nat,to
All he has shown is that a few thousand (I assume) readers have liked some posts.
I would assume that those who bother to like/not-like posts are a very small percentage of the total unique viewers.
It's not a statistically sound methodology.
Instead of concentrating on bringing home the economy's bacon, he'll probably be tweeted listening to Simon Mayo's confessions. If he continues like this, he'll soon be fried. Lettuce hope he learns his lesson before the next piece of sauce gets dished.
Some find Twitter cheesy, but I'm keen to egg them on. The more the Currant Bun and Tim think Osborne's a veggie, the better the economy must be doing.
Did I miss any?
"it's still a grown man being reduced to counting the likes on posts about a tabloid story about a man eating a burger."
And then taking the time to post it on a blog as *evidence* - satire is not dead.
http://whatscotlandthinks.org/
But after the fifth cocktail, it all rather became a blur, as did the pub thereafter, and a final snorteroonie at Waterloo station.
My knowledge of the Welsh scene is largely restricted to bits of FM's question time on Yesterday on Parliament (which make the toon council in Edinburgh look illuminating) and the odd comment from Financier and one or two others here.
It does occur to me though, that if the tories want to highlight what a Labour government looks like they might do worse than highlight the level of (non) achievement in the Principality.
Perhaps Ed needs to have a look at some of this. It could get embarrassing, especially at a time when he is trying to argue about cuts (if he is, I haven't caught up with today's position).
Mmmm, delicious!
Bizarre that you think Sarkozy was a conservative. A statist Frenchie like ALL of them.
France has 4 shades of politics - communist postmen types (hardcore left), the Socialists (properly old school left wing), the UMP (centre left wishy washy nothing) and the loony far right Le Pen types.
No conservative party at all...
But by all means - join tim & his merry men proclaiming how this will run & run.....like how all the other Osborne stories ran & ran.....
Incidentally, what're your thoughts on what'll happen at Silverstone?
Boris Johnson : 731,589
David Cameron: 349,594
Ed Miliband: 223,293
George Galloway: 150,269
Nick Clegg: 116,646
Nigel Farage: 86,382
Alex Salmond: 40,084
Gerry Adams: 28,996
'It does occur to me though, that if the tories want to highlight what a Labour government looks like they might do worse than highlight the level of (non) achievement in the Principality.'
Spot on,Labour's 8% NHS cuts and collapsing educational standards to mention just a couple.