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  • Options
    WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838
    murali_s said:

    Twould appear that the Labour Party fully support the E and A pullout by the BMA..

    Hmm, it's purely the Government that are at fault here - their intransigence has led to this. Allied with the fact the public are fully behind the doctors the Government will back down.

    Cameron will get rid of Hunt who is obviously out of his depth and there'll be a subsequent review and backtrack. He'll be gone within 6 months. Is there a market for Hunt's departure/sack date?
    There will be if you make one.
  • Options
    NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,370
    edited March 2016

    runnymede said:

    'Re the idiot asking some woman to explain Brussels, there is no incitement to religious hatred there, IMO and both he and the police are behaving like morons.'

    No no, surely this man's actions are the appalling 'backlash' those on the left are so worked up about....

    It's perfectly reasonable to speak to someone who appears to be of the Muslim faith and ask them for their thoughts on the situation and their suggestion solutions (I have had before an interesting discussion with TSE on this point) but asking them to defend the actions of extremists within their own religion and explain themselves is just plain rude.

    However, I don't think you should be arrested for being rude. It does seem that if you are rude at all to anyone from a religious or ethnic minority you now run the risk of arrest. It does not follow tha everyone being rude to them is inciting religious and racial hatred, nor that they should feel the collar of the law.

    Personally, I think there is a boundary between social censure, reprimand, and satire, as a means of regulating poor behaviour, and the use of the law that is very poorly judged. So poorly in fact, that

    I wouldn't dare have a casual conversation with anyone of Muslim appearance on this subject in public lest it go wrong. My motives simply wouldn't be trusted by the authorities and the presumption would be in favour of any 'victim' that felt subject to a hate crime. It's just too risky.

    All it means is white Britons and Muslims are far less likely to talk to one another.

    In this case, Cyclefree is right: the man at the centre, the police and the twitterati lynch mob are all acting like morons in this.
    FWIW I had a post at the end of the last thread (just missed the change - http://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2016/03/23/this-weeks-pbpolling-matters-tv-show-on-trump-brussels-osborne-and-that-lab-poll-lead/) about this which you may find interesting - I have a fairly wide circle of Muslim acquaintances and friends, mostly through my former work as an MP, and we do talk about the issues from time to time. Like all anecdotal posts one can question how general it is, but it's based on a few dozen people.

    I don't think that rudeness should be illegal either, though it's obviously unreasonable to go and demand answers on anything from a stranger in the street.
  • Options
    murali_smurali_s Posts: 3,045

    murali_s said:

    O/T AGW

    The figures from NOAA are in for February 2016. As with the other global temperature datasets, February 2016 was the warmest February ever recorded.

    It may not have dawned upon some of the right-wing fruitcakes that live on this blog but the world is warming significantly. No such thing as a "AGW trough" I'm afraid....

    https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201602

    Unfortunately you are so ignorant of the basic principles of climatology that you have missed the whole point of an El Nino effect. It is a very stupid position to take because it means that when the temperatures drop over the next 5 years (as they will when we move to a La Nina event) you won't be able to point out that they are coming off the back of an El Nino and so shouldn't be used as an indicator of the direction of climate change. Well not without accepting how stupid your current comments are.

    Put simply this is what happens when feck wits like you try to make points about science using data they don't understand.
    LOL.

    I'm talking about the trend my friend. There will always be natural variations like ENSO but it's about the TREND and the trend is UP.

    2016 will most likely be the warmest year ever recorded as 2015 was and 2014 was. It's quite likely that 2017 will NOT be the warmest year recorded but that doesn't mean that AGW has stopped.

    I fear when we review this in 5/10 years time, it is YOU that will look very stupid.

    However, I am not going to be shouted down by a dick like you - you can insult me till the cows come home but I have science and the facts on my side...
  • Options
    CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,230
    @TSE: Thank you.

    Your joke is brilliant.

    That is the way to deal with morons - of all types. Humour and satire and ridicule.

    I look forward to your thread. There may be parallels to how it felt being Irish in Britain when the IRA was bombing like there was no tomorrow.

  • Options
    Ipsos Mori

    George Osborne’s ratings plunge after Budget and Jeremy Corbyn is more popular than PM

    The Conservative lead over Labour has narrowed to just two points, at 36 per cent — down three points — to 34 points, up one point.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/osborne-s-ratings-plunge-after-budget-and-corbyn-is-more-popular-than-pm-a3210916.html
  • Options
    Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    murali_s said:

    O/T AGW

    The figures from NOAA are in for February 2016. As with the other global temperature datasets, February 2016 was the warmest February ever recorded.

    It may not have dawned upon some of the right-wing fruitcakes that live on this blog but the world is warming significantly. No such thing as a "AGW trough" I'm afraid....

    https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201602

    Unfortunately you are so ignorant of the basic principles of climatology that you have missed the whole point of an El Nino effect. It is a very stupid position to take because it means that when the temperatures drop over the next 5 years (as they will when we move to a La Nina event) you won't be able to point out that they are coming off the back of an El Nino and so shouldn't be used as an indicator of the direction of climate change. Well not without accepting how stupid your current comments are.

    Put simply this is what happens when feck wits like you try to make points about science using data they don't understand.
    You have to compare like for like absolutely so compare this El Nino to previous El Nino's. If we draw a graph from El Nino to El Nino (skipping the years in-between) is there evidence of a trend?
  • Options
    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    I felt the same, yet just a couple of weeks on, I've forgotten Farage and Galloway isn't on the radar.

    This is overplayed tremendously IMHO. The message not the messenger is the key.

    UKIP success is allowed as long as it's their success and they are more successful than anyone else within the party.

    Indeed. The big "known unknown" still to come this campaign is finding out which Leave campaign is designated as the primary one and the commensurate amount of publicity they receive.

    Personally as a swing voter on this I would be deeply put off by the Banks/Farage/Galloway/Bone Leave.EU campaign but am attracted to the Gove/Johnson/Hannan/Carswell/Hoey Vote Leave campaign. Others may be in an opposite position.

    I think opinion polls before this is finalised in April should be taken with an extra large pinch of salt.
  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 76,002
  • Options
    runnymederunnymede Posts: 2,536
    'I don't think that rudeness should be illegal either, though it's obviously unreasonable to go and demand answers on anything from a stranger in the street.'

    Out of interest Nick, did you vote against the legislation passed by your party that allowed these sorts of things to happen (i.e. people being arrested for being rude or unreasonable)?
  • Options
    Why has the "quote" function stopped working?
  • Options
    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,631

    runnymede said:

    'Re the idiot asking some woman to explain Brussels, there is no incitement to religious hatred there, IMO and both he and the police are behaving like morons.'

    No no, surely this man's actions are the appalling 'backlash' those on the left are so worked up about....

    It's perfectly reasonable to speak to someone who appears to be of the Muslim faith and ask them for their thoughts on the situation and their suggestion solutions (I have had before an interesting discussion with TSE on this point) but asking them to defend the actions of extremists within their own religion and explain themselves is just plain rude.

    However, I don't think you should be arrested for being rude. It does seem that if you are rude at all to anyone from a religious or ethnic minority you now run the risk of arrest. It does not follow tha everyone being rude to them is inciting religious and racial hatred, nor that they should feel the collar of the law.

    Personally, I think there is a boundary between social censure, reprimand, and satire, as a means of regulating poor behaviour, and the use of the law that is very poorly judged. So poorly in fact, that

    I wouldn't dare have a casual conversation with anyone of Muslim appearance on this subject in public lest it go wrong. My motives simply wouldn't be trusted by the authorities and the presumption would be in favour of any 'victim' that felt subject to a hate crime. It's just too risky.

    All it means is white Britons and Muslims are far less likely to talk to one another.

    In this case, Cyclefree is right: the man at the centre, the police and the twitterati lynch mob are all acting like morons in this.
    Well, the Muslim friends that I have despise the terrorists and militants more than anyone I know, but then I don't think the hardliners would consider them to be "true" Muslims since they drink alcohol.
  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,997

    Ipsos Mori

    George Osborne’s ratings plunge after Budget and Jeremy Corbyn is more popular than PM

    The Conservative lead over Labour has narrowed to just two points, at 36 per cent — down three points — to 34 points, up one point.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/osborne-s-ratings-plunge-after-budget-and-corbyn-is-more-popular-than-pm-a3210916.html

    A 2% lead probably isn't too bad, after a very bad week.
  • Options
    SimonStClareSimonStClare Posts: 7,976

    Why has the "quote" function stopped working?

    Works fine here.
  • Options
    Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 31,022
    murali_s said:

    murali_s said:

    O/T AGW

    The figures from NOAA are in for February 2016. As with the other global temperature datasets, February 2016 was the warmest February ever recorded.

    It may not have dawned upon some of the right-wing fruitcakes that live on this blog but the world is warming significantly. No such thing as a "AGW trough" I'm afraid....

    https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201602

    Unfortunately you are so ignorant of the basic principles of climatology that you have missed the whole point of an El Nino effect. It is a very stupid position to take because it means that when the temperatures drop over the next 5 years (as they will when we move to a La Nina event) you won't be able to point out that they are coming off the back of an El Nino and so shouldn't be used as an indicator of the direction of climate change. Well not without accepting how stupid your current comments are.

    Put simply this is what happens when feck wits like you try to make points about science using data they don't understand.
    LOL.

    I'm talking about the trend my friend. There will always be natural variations like ENSO but it's about the TREND and the trend is UP.

    2016 will most likely be the warmest year ever recorded as 2015 was and 2014 was. It's quite likely that 2017 will NOT be the warmest year recorded but that doesn't mean that AGW has stopped.

    I fear when we review this in 5/10 years time, it is YOU that will look very stupid.

    However, I am not going to be shouted down by a dick like you - you can insult me till the cows come home but I have science and the facts on my side...
    Neither 2014 nor 2015 were warmest ever recorded according to the satellite record. Of course as someone who scorns real science you ignore that because it doesn't match your political view.
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,061

    Ipsos Mori

    George Osborne’s ratings plunge after Budget and Jeremy Corbyn is more popular than PM

    The Conservative lead over Labour has narrowed to just two points, at 36 per cent — down three points — to 34 points, up one point.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/osborne-s-ratings-plunge-after-budget-and-corbyn-is-more-popular-than-pm-a3210916.html

    Corbyn is, personally, the much nicer man it appears, but even if a lot of people dislike the Tories I am surprised he is more popular, as his more far out policy positions are just too offputting for me. Just guessing there's been a sudden drop in Tories saying they like Cameron, but still surprised there would be a surge for Corbyn - he's been a bit quieter, but if someone didn't like him before I don't see what has changed that means more would like him now.


    A good day to all.
  • Options
    WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838

    murali_s said:

    murali_s said:

    O/T AGW

    The figures from NOAA are in for February 2016. As with the other global temperature datasets, February 2016 was the warmest February ever recorded.

    It may not have dawned upon some of the right-wing fruitcakes that live on this blog but the world is warming significantly. No such thing as a "AGW trough" I'm afraid....

    https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201602

    Unfortunately you are so ignorant of the basic principles of climatology that you have missed the whole point of an El Nino effect. It is a very stupid position to take because it means that when the temperatures drop over the next 5 years (as they will when we move to a La Nina event) you won't be able to point out that they are coming off the back of an El Nino and so shouldn't be used as an indicator of the direction of climate change. Well not without accepting how stupid your current comments are.

    Put simply this is what happens when feck wits like you try to make points about science using data they don't understand.
    LOL.

    I'm talking about the trend my friend. There will always be natural variations like ENSO but it's about the TREND and the trend is UP.

    2016 will most likely be the warmest year ever recorded as 2015 was and 2014 was. It's quite likely that 2017 will NOT be the warmest year recorded but that doesn't mean that AGW has stopped.

    I fear when we review this in 5/10 years time, it is YOU that will look very stupid.

    However, I am not going to be shouted down by a dick like you - you can insult me till the cows come home but I have science and the facts on my side...
    Neither 2014 nor 2015 were warmest ever recorded according to the satellite record. Of course as someone who scorns real science you ignore that because it doesn't match your political view.
    As a matter of interest how far back does satellite data go? There seems to be a whole bunch of climatological satellites now but presumably they are of quite recent vintage?
  • Options
    Cyclefree said:

    @TSE: Thank you.

    Your joke is brilliant.

    That is the way to deal with morons - of all types. Humour and satire and ridicule.

    I look forward to your thread. There may be parallels to how it felt being Irish in Britain when the IRA was bombing like there was no tomorrow.

    My other joke would shock your innocent mind.

    I could never be a suicide bomber, why would anyone want 72 virgins, give me one experienced lady any day of the week.

    Plus, no one has ever confirmed that these 72 virgins are female.

    Some suicide bombers might be in for a shock.
  • Options
    FregglesFreggles Posts: 3,486

    kle4 said:

    @GeoffM - prob don't have the same issue in Gib, but what happened to the local referendums to approve increases in council tax before they could be imposed?

    No one asked me about the 4% increase in my bill last week, which has now made me £100 a year worse off.

    2% max but the same allowed for social care. Clearly councils need more than 2 but the government doesn't want to be seen to be opening the floodgates so wont get rid of the referendum commitment and just gets round it. Bloody stupid.
    What it shows to me is that unless constrained by legislation almost all councils would rather impose council tax rises than make difficult decisions on spending cuts to freeze it.

    You may have a view one way or the other on what's best but local democracy is a sham.
    Councils have seen their central income stream reduced drastically while having their responsibilities (E.g. the Care Act 2015) increased. There are only so many efficiencies that can be found within a particular legal framework. Councils can't just say "Sorry, we can't afford social care for the elderly any more".
  • Options
    logical_songlogical_song Posts: 9,728

    murali_s said:

    murali_s said:

    O/T AGW

    The figures from NOAA are in for February 2016. As with the other global temperature datasets, February 2016 was the warmest February ever recorded.

    It may not have dawned upon some of the right-wing fruitcakes that live on this blog but the world is warming significantly. No such thing as a "AGW trough" I'm afraid....

    https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201602

    Unfortunately you are so ignorant of the basic principles of climatology that you have missed the whole point of an El Nino effect. It is a very stupid position to take because it means that when the temperatures drop over the next 5 years (as they will when we move to a La Nina event) you won't be able to point out that they are coming off the back of an El Nino and so shouldn't be used as an indicator of the direction of climate change. Well not without accepting how stupid your current comments are.

    Put simply this is what happens when feck wits like you try to make points about science using data they don't understand.
    LOL.

    I'm talking about the trend my friend. There will always be natural variations like ENSO but it's about the TREND and the trend is UP.

    2016 will most likely be the warmest year ever recorded as 2015 was and 2014 was. It's quite likely that 2017 will NOT be the warmest year recorded but that doesn't mean that AGW has stopped.

    I fear when we review this in 5/10 years time, it is YOU that will look very stupid.

    However, I am not going to be shouted down by a dick like you - you can insult me till the cows come home but I have science and the facts on my side...
    Neither 2014 nor 2015 were warmest ever recorded according to the satellite record. Of course as someone who scorns real science you ignore that because it doesn't match your political view.
    Pot vs Kettle
    Mr Tyndall knows better than the majority of scientists and if you disagree he will swear at you.
  • Options
    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,631

    Ipsos Mori

    George Osborne’s ratings plunge after Budget and Jeremy Corbyn is more popular than PM

    The Conservative lead over Labour has narrowed to just two points, at 36 per cent — down three points — to 34 points, up one point.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/osborne-s-ratings-plunge-after-budget-and-corbyn-is-more-popular-than-pm-a3210916.html

    I think this is why the PM is thinking things over in Lanzarote. His backing of Osborne's Remain stance is costing him his legacy as one of the best post-war PMs and the man who led the Tories to the promised lands after 13 years in the wilderness and 23 years without an outright election victory. Osborne is a dead man walking.
  • Options
    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,078
    edited March 2016

    Why has the "quote" function stopped working?

    Are you still signed in? My “signed in” position sometimes stops indepdently of any action I take/I have refresh or renew my password.
  • Options
    Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    I felt the same, yet just a couple of weeks on, I've forgotten Farage and Galloway isn't on the radar.

    This is overplayed tremendously IMHO. The message not the messenger is the key.

    UKIP success is allowed as long as it's their success and they are more successful than anyone else within the party.

    Indeed. The big "known unknown" still to come this campaign is finding out which Leave campaign is designated as the primary one and the commensurate amount of publicity they receive.

    Personally as a swing voter on this I would be deeply put off by the Banks/Farage/Galloway/Bone Leave.EU campaign but am attracted to the Gove/Johnson/Hannan/Carswell/Hoey Vote Leave campaign. Others may be in an opposite position.

    I think opinion polls before this is finalised in April should be taken with an extra large pinch of salt.
    Farage and Galloway will be on the radar if Leave.EU are selected, they will be dominating the radar.
  • Options
    MattWMattW Posts: 18,750
    Hmmm.

    H'Angus the Monkey for President of the EU Commission.
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,013
    F1: stories that there's going to be a vote on qualifying held today, I think (either today or next Thursday).

    Also, Sky exclusivity from 2016-18 was, reportedly, blocked by teams. It wasn't from 2019 onwards because, apparently, they had no idea a deal was coming.

    I do wonder if Ferrari, Mercedes, Williams, McLaren, Red Bull et al. should simply break away.
  • Options
    WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838

    Cyclefree said:

    @TSE: Thank you.

    Your joke is brilliant.

    That is the way to deal with morons - of all types. Humour and satire and ridicule.

    I look forward to your thread. There may be parallels to how it felt being Irish in Britain when the IRA was bombing like there was no tomorrow.

    My other joke would shock your innocent mind.

    I could never be a suicide bomber, why would anyone want 72 virgins, give me one experienced lady any day of the week.

    Plus, no one has ever confirmed that these 72 virgins are female.

    Some suicide bombers might be in for a shock.
    Or adult or human? Or perhaps that is implicit in the Arabic?
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,013
    Mr. Song, science isn't democratic. The idea that disagreeing with the majority makes one wrong, or one's ideas wrong, is to fundamentally misunderstand the scientific method. Competing theories are positive, and being right is down to how many agree with you, but how sound your views are and how closely they tally with the evidence available.
  • Options
    TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 40,299

    Cyclefree said:

    @TSE: Thank you.

    Your joke is brilliant.

    That is the way to deal with morons - of all types. Humour and satire and ridicule.

    I look forward to your thread. There may be parallels to how it felt being Irish in Britain when the IRA was bombing like there was no tomorrow.

    My other joke would shock your innocent mind.

    I could never be a suicide bomber, why would anyone want 72 virgins, give me one experienced lady any day of the week.

    Plus, no one has ever confirmed that these 72 virgins are female.

    Some suicide bombers might be in for a shock.
    I think the shock of no afterlife would outstrip any other potential surprises.
  • Options
    Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 31,022
    Wanderer said:

    murali_s said:

    murali_s said:

    O/T AGW

    The figures from NOAA are in for February 2016. As with the other global temperature datasets, February 2016 was the warmest February ever recorded.

    It may not have dawned upon some of the right-wing fruitcakes that live on this blog but the world is warming significantly. No such thing as a "AGW trough" I'm afraid....

    https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201602

    Unfortunately you are so ignorant of the basic principles of climatology that you have missed the whole point of an El Nino effect. It is a very stupid position to take because it means that when the temperatures drop over the next 5 years (as they will when we move to a La Nina event) you won't be able to point out that they are coming off the back of an El Nino and so shouldn't be used as an indicator of the direction of climate change. Well not without accepting how stupid your current comments are.

    Put simply this is what happens when feck wits like you try to make points about science using data they don't understand.
    LOL.

    I'm talking about the trend my friend. There will always be natural variations like ENSO but it's about the TREND and the trend is UP.

    2016 will most likely be the warmest year ever recorded as 2015 was and 2014 was. It's quite likely that 2017 will NOT be the warmest year recorded but that doesn't mean that AGW has stopped.

    I fear when we review this in 5/10 years time, it is YOU that will look very stupid.

    However, I am not going to be shouted down by a dick like you - you can insult me till the cows come home but I have science and the facts on my side...
    Neither 2014 nor 2015 were warmest ever recorded according to the satellite record. Of course as someone who scorns real science you ignore that because it doesn't match your political view.
    As a matter of interest how far back does satellite data go? There seems to be a whole bunch of climatological satellites now but presumably they are of quite recent vintage?
    Late 1970s. Only two are considered standards. UAH and RSS.
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,680

    I felt the same, yet just a couple of weeks on, I've forgotten Farage and Galloway isn't on the radar.

    This is overplayed tremendously IMHO. The message not the messenger is the key.

    UKIP success is allowed as long as it's their success and they are more successful than anyone else within the party.

    Indeed. The big "known unknown" still to come this campaign is finding out which Leave campaign is designated as the primary one and the commensurate amount of publicity they receive.

    Personally as a swing voter on this I would be deeply put off by the Banks/Farage/Galloway/Bone Leave.EU campaign but am attracted to the Gove/Johnson/Hannan/Carswell/Hoey Vote Leave campaign. Others may be in an opposite position.

    I think opinion polls before this is finalised in April should be taken with an extra large pinch of salt.
    You've forgotten Farage?

    That is precisely what absolutely infuriates this petulant child of a man.
  • Options
    eekeek Posts: 25,029
    edited March 2016
    MattW said:

    Hmmm.

    H'Angus the Monkey for President of the EU Commission.

    Rather goes against my Monkey Hangers for Brexit campaign...

    slogan - You can't trust cheese loving surrenders monkeys.
  • Options
    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,078
    Freggles said:

    kle4 said:

    @GeoffM - prob don't have the same issue in Gib, but what happened to the local referendums to approve increases in council tax before they could be imposed?

    No one asked me about the 4% increase in my bill last week, which has now made me £100 a year worse off.

    2% max but the same allowed for social care. Clearly councils need more than 2 but the government doesn't want to be seen to be opening the floodgates so wont get rid of the referendum commitment and just gets round it. Bloody stupid.
    What it shows to me is that unless constrained by legislation almost all councils would rather impose council tax rises than make difficult decisions on spending cuts to freeze it.

    You may have a view one way or the other on what's best but local democracy is a sham.
    Councils have seen their central income stream reduced drastically while having their responsibilities (E.g. the Care Act 2015) increased. There are only so many efficiencies that can be found within a particular legal framework. Councils can't just say "Sorry, we can't afford social care for the elderly any more".
    And if the local MP is Conservative they’ll get a letter asking why they haven’t made back-office economies, rather than savings on services. Espeially if said MP is a Caninet Minister.
  • Options

    Cyclefree said:

    @TSE: Thank you.

    Your joke is brilliant.

    That is the way to deal with morons - of all types. Humour and satire and ridicule.

    I look forward to your thread. There may be parallels to how it felt being Irish in Britain when the IRA was bombing like there was no tomorrow.

    My other joke would shock your innocent mind.

    I could never be a suicide bomber, why would anyone want 72 virgins, give me one experienced lady any day of the week.

    Plus, no one has ever confirmed that these 72 virgins are female.

    Some suicide bombers might be in for a shock.
    I think the shock of no afterlife would outstrip any other potential surprises.
    Very true.
  • Options
    WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838

    I felt the same, yet just a couple of weeks on, I've forgotten Farage and Galloway isn't on the radar.

    This is overplayed tremendously IMHO. The message not the messenger is the key.

    UKIP success is allowed as long as it's their success and they are more successful than anyone else within the party.

    Indeed. The big "known unknown" still to come this campaign is finding out which Leave campaign is designated as the primary one and the commensurate amount of publicity they receive.

    Personally as a swing voter on this I would be deeply put off by the Banks/Farage/Galloway/Bone Leave.EU campaign but am attracted to the Gove/Johnson/Hannan/Carswell/Hoey Vote Leave campaign. Others may be in an opposite position.

    I think opinion polls before this is finalised in April should be taken with an extra large pinch of salt.
    Farage and Galloway will be on the radar if Leave.EU are selected, they will be dominating the radar.
    It does seem certain that Leave.EU won't be selected though. Given the published criteria I can't see any case for them. (I say this in sadness, as it would be good for Remain and public mirth if they were chosen.)
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,680

    Cyclefree said:

    @TSE: Thank you.

    Your joke is brilliant.

    That is the way to deal with morons - of all types. Humour and satire and ridicule.

    I look forward to your thread. There may be parallels to how it felt being Irish in Britain when the IRA was bombing like there was no tomorrow.

    My other joke would shock your innocent mind.

    I could never be a suicide bomber, why would anyone want 72 virgins, give me one experienced lady any day of the week.

    Plus, no one has ever confirmed that these 72 virgins are female.

    Some suicide bombers might be in for a shock.
    Virgins are crap and deeply disappointing.

    Remember your first time?

    You want someone who knows what they're doing.
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,013
    Breaking: Syrian government forces have entered Palmyra.
  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,997
    Wanderer said:

    Cyclefree said:

    @TSE: Thank you.

    Your joke is brilliant.

    That is the way to deal with morons - of all types. Humour and satire and ridicule.

    I look forward to your thread. There may be parallels to how it felt being Irish in Britain when the IRA was bombing like there was no tomorrow.

    My other joke would shock your innocent mind.

    I could never be a suicide bomber, why would anyone want 72 virgins, give me one experienced lady any day of the week.

    Plus, no one has ever confirmed that these 72 virgins are female.

    Some suicide bombers might be in for a shock.
    Or adult or human? Or perhaps that is implicit in the Arabic?
    I'd like to think that the 72 virgins awaiting suicide bombers would be sex-starved male baboons.
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,680
    Freggles said:

    kle4 said:

    @GeoffM - prob don't have the same issue in Gib, but what happened to the local referendums to approve increases in council tax before they could be imposed?

    No one asked me about the 4% increase in my bill last week, which has now made me £100 a year worse off.

    2% max but the same allowed for social care. Clearly councils need more than 2 but the government doesn't want to be seen to be opening the floodgates so wont get rid of the referendum commitment and just gets round it. Bloody stupid.
    What it shows to me is that unless constrained by legislation almost all councils would rather impose council tax rises than make difficult decisions on spending cuts to freeze it.

    You may have a view one way or the other on what's best but local democracy is a sham.
    Councils have seen their central income stream reduced drastically while having their responsibilities (E.g. the Care Act 2015) increased. There are only so many efficiencies that can be found within a particular legal framework. Councils can't just say "Sorry, we can't afford social care for the elderly any more".
    I don't care about the excuses. I just want to know who I vote out and who I vote in to stop my council tax increasing

    Right now I think the answer is 'no one' but can you vote for us anyway please?

    Local democracy is broken. I will be spoiling my ballot (for the first time ever)
  • Options
    WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838

    Cyclefree said:

    @TSE: Thank you.

    Your joke is brilliant.

    That is the way to deal with morons - of all types. Humour and satire and ridicule.

    I look forward to your thread. There may be parallels to how it felt being Irish in Britain when the IRA was bombing like there was no tomorrow.

    My other joke would shock your innocent mind.

    I could never be a suicide bomber, why would anyone want 72 virgins, give me one experienced lady any day of the week.

    Plus, no one has ever confirmed that these 72 virgins are female.

    Some suicide bombers might be in for a shock.
    I think the shock of no afterlife would outstrip any other potential surprises.
    It's a minor but real irritation that these people will never know about that.
  • Options
    CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,230
    @NickPalmer: I quite agree with you that rudeness should not be illegal.

    But too often it does look as if we are using the law to enforce good manners. And this cannot and should not be done. There is law and there is freedom. And in the middle are good manners which consist of taboos and precedents and conventions, generally understood by all. Substituting the law for these conventions leads to unfeasible state control and tyranny. Having no such conventions leads to chaos.

    I have many reasons for disliking much of the legislation such as the Religious Hatred legislation but one of them is that it is seeking to enforce that which would be better done collectively by us through social behaviour. Using the police to tell someone that they are behaving like a prat is evidence of a society which no longer has confidence in its ability to govern itself, a society which has lost - or is in danger of losing - its own internal self-regulating conscience.

    Over-use of the law to regulate behaviour infantilises society - and leads to a lack of respect for the law, indeed, ultimately for the very idea of the rule of law. If you only not do something because you might be arrested rather than because you understand that it is not the right thing to do, you are behaving like a child and not like an adult with a moral compass.
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    MattWMattW Posts: 18,750
    MaxPB said:

    runnymede said:

    'Re the idiot asking some woman to explain Brussels, there is no incitement to religious hatred there, IMO and both he and the police are behaving like morons.'

    No no, surely this man's actions are the appalling 'backlash' those on the left are so worked up about....

    It's perfectly reasonable to speak to someone who appears to be of the Muslim faith and ask them for their thoughts on the situation and their suggestion solutions (I have had before an interesting discussion with TSE on this point) but asking them to defend the actions of extremists within their own religion and explain themselves is just plain rude.

    However, I don't think you should be arrested for being rude. It does seem that if you are rude at all to anyone from a religious or ethnic minority you now run the risk of arrest. It does not follow tha everyone being rude to them is inciting religious and racial hatred, nor that they should feel the collar of the law.

    Personally, I think there is a boundary between social censure, reprimand, and satire, as a means of regulating poor behaviour, and the use of the law that is very poorly judged. So poorly in fact, that

    I wouldn't dare have a casual conversation with anyone of Muslim appearance on this subject in public lest it go wrong. My motives simply wouldn't be trusted by the authorities and the presumption would be in favour of any 'victim' that felt subject to a hate crime. It's just too risky.

    All it means is white Britons and Muslims are far less likely to talk to one another.

    In this case, Cyclefree is right: the man at the centre, the police and the twitterati lynch mob are all acting like morons in this.
    Well, the Muslim friends that I have despise the terrorists and militants more than anyone I know, but then I don't think the hardliners would consider them to be "true" Muslims since they drink alcohol.
    I think any problems with that will be if the questioner is simply hunting for people to attack rather than seeking understanding.

    In my experience Muslims have no problem with criticism, but will if there is an overlay of trolling or contempt. They are right to have a problem with the latter.

    An example would be anyone who thinks that Sharia is a frozen system of values and punishments, rather than a varied and evolving tradition. There are, for example, several countries with Sharia-based legal systems where the death penalty has been withdrawn or is not used.

    Anyone dismissing Sharia on the basis that it does, or in some places did, permit X Y or Z punishment which they think acceptable must also reject English Law on the basis that we used to hang, draw and quarter people.
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    Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 31,022

    murali_s said:

    O/T AGW

    The figures from NOAA are in for February 2016. As with the other global temperature datasets, February 2016 was the warmest February ever recorded.

    It may not have dawned upon some of the right-wing fruitcakes that live on this blog but the world is warming significantly. No such thing as a "AGW trough" I'm afraid....

    https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201602

    Unfortunately you are so ignorant of the basic principles of climatology that you have missed the whole point of an El Nino effect. It is a very stupid position to take because it means that when the temperatures drop over the next 5 years (as they will when we move to a La Nina event) you won't be able to point out that they are coming off the back of an El Nino and so shouldn't be used as an indicator of the direction of climate change. Well not without accepting how stupid your current comments are.

    Put simply this is what happens when feck wits like you try to make points about science using data they don't understand.
    You have to compare like for like absolutely so compare this El Nino to previous El Nino's. If we draw a graph from El Nino to El Nino (skipping the years in-between) is there evidence of a trend?
    It is a very good question but unfortunately isn't that straightforward. One thing that all the climate experts agree on is you can't compare El Nino events on a like for like basis. No one is clear on all the factors that contribute to an El Nino event and the variation is both strength and effect is huge. So although 97-98 was strong, the following four El Nino events were either weak or moderate.
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    TCPoliticalBettingTCPoliticalBetting Posts: 10,819
    edited March 2016
    Sean_F said:

    Wanderer said:

    Cyclefree said:

    @TSE: Thank you.

    Your joke is brilliant.

    That is the way to deal with morons - of all types. Humour and satire and ridicule.

    I look forward to your thread. There may be parallels to how it felt being Irish in Britain when the IRA was bombing like there was no tomorrow.

    My other joke would shock your innocent mind.

    I could never be a suicide bomber, why would anyone want 72 virgins, give me one experienced lady any day of the week.

    Plus, no one has ever confirmed that these 72 virgins are female.

    Some suicide bombers might be in for a shock.
    Or adult or human? Or perhaps that is implicit in the Arabic?
    I'd like to think that the 72 virgins awaiting suicide bombers would be sex-starved male baboons.
    would they prefer goats?
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,680

    I felt the same, yet just a couple of weeks on, I've forgotten Farage and Galloway isn't on the radar.

    This is overplayed tremendously IMHO. The message not the messenger is the key.

    UKIP success is allowed as long as it's their success and they are more successful than anyone else within the party.

    Indeed. The big "known unknown" still to come this campaign is finding out which Leave campaign is designated as the primary one and the commensurate amount of publicity they receive.

    Personally as a swing voter on this I would be deeply put off by the Banks/Farage/Galloway/Bone Leave.EU campaign but am attracted to the Gove/Johnson/Hannan/Carswell/Hoey Vote Leave campaign. Others may be in an opposite position.

    I think opinion polls before this is finalised in April should be taken with an extra large pinch of salt.
    Farage and Galloway will be on the radar if Leave.EU are selected, they will be dominating the radar.
    It's game over if Leave.EU are made the official campaign.

    Which is precisely why I expect there's a huge amount of pressure on the Electoral Commission behind the scenes by the powers that be to make it so.
  • Options
    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    Wanderer said:

    That rings true. The Remainders argument that it's a calamity that there's more than a single campaign group isn't carrying water either.

    I've seen a dozen or more X For Brexit niche groups on Twitter all appealing to their own demographic. They're copying the micro targeting of GE 2015.

    Alistair said:

    One is a Leave campaign, the other is a Farage personality cult.

    True.

    It is noticeable that none of the regular kippers on here seem able to utter a word in defence of Farage's behaviour in recent months.
    According to what I've read the 2015 micro-targeting involved email and face-to-face discussion with swing voters focused on subjects they were known to be bothered about - jobs, schools, etc.

    I don't think you can replicate that with Twitter for all kinds of reasons but mostly because undecided people don't look to Twitter feeds as a source of inspiration. The followers of a Twitter feed are mostly people who already agree with it. And most people aren't on Twitter at all.
    There are lots of individual campaigns as well - I'm a member of Business for Britain as well as their financial services sub-campaign. They certainly have regional organisations as well.
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    murali_smurali_s Posts: 3,045
    edited March 2016

    murali_s said:

    murali_s said:

    O/T AGW

    The figures from NOAA are in for February 2016. As with the other global temperature datasets, February 2016 was the warmest February ever recorded.

    It may not have dawned upon some of the right-wing fruitcakes that live on this blog but the world is warming significantly. No such thing as a "AGW trough" I'm afraid....

    https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201602

    Unfortunately you are so ignorant of the basic principles of climatology that you have missed the whole point of an El Nino effect. It is a very stupid position to take because it means that when the temperatures drop over the next 5 years (as they will when we move to a La Nina event) you won't be able to point out that they are coming off the back of an El Nino and so shouldn't be used as an indicator of the direction of climate change. Well not without accepting how stupid your current comments are.

    Put simply this is what happens when feck wits like you try to make points about science using data they don't understand.
    LOL.

    I'm talking about the trend my friend. There will always be natural variations like ENSO but it's about the TREND and the trend is UP.

    2016 will most likely be the warmest year ever recorded as 2015 was and 2014 was. It's quite likely that 2017 will NOT be the warmest year recorded but that doesn't mean that AGW has stopped.

    I fear when we review this in 5/10 years time, it is YOU that will look very stupid.

    However, I am not going to be shouted down by a dick like you - you can insult me till the cows come home but I have science and the facts on my side...
    Neither 2014 nor 2015 were warmest ever recorded according to the satellite record. Of course as someone who scorns real science you ignore that because it doesn't match your political view.
    Ah the satellite data! It is by far the dataset that needs the largest pinch of salt. It is the dataset that has had the most number of adjustments over time (all up of course). One of the datasets from RSS has been adjusted again recently (adjusted up of course!). I'm sure others will follow...

    http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2016/mar/03/ted-cruzs-favorite-temperature-data-just-got-a-lot-hotter

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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,013
    Mr. Royale, they're certainly taking their time. The campaign will be half done before we have an official Leave group.
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    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    I shared virginal embarrassment. The perfect unperfect experience.

    And his parents came home early from Pirates of Penzance am dram performance. I hid in the loo.

    Cyclefree said:

    @TSE: Thank you.

    Your joke is brilliant.

    That is the way to deal with morons - of all types. Humour and satire and ridicule.

    I look forward to your thread. There may be parallels to how it felt being Irish in Britain when the IRA was bombing like there was no tomorrow.

    My other joke would shock your innocent mind.

    I could never be a suicide bomber, why would anyone want 72 virgins, give me one experienced lady any day of the week.

    Plus, no one has ever confirmed that these 72 virgins are female.

    Some suicide bombers might be in for a shock.
    Virgins are crap and deeply disappointing.

    Remember your first time?

    You want someone who knows what they're doing.
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    Freggles said:
    Yeah posted it below, just waiting for the tables to be published to see the net figures
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,680
    Wanderer said:

    I felt the same, yet just a couple of weeks on, I've forgotten Farage and Galloway isn't on the radar.

    This is overplayed tremendously IMHO. The message not the messenger is the key.

    UKIP success is allowed as long as it's their success and they are more successful than anyone else within the party.

    Indeed. The big "known unknown" still to come this campaign is finding out which Leave campaign is designated as the primary one and the commensurate amount of publicity they receive.

    Personally as a swing voter on this I would be deeply put off by the Banks/Farage/Galloway/Bone Leave.EU campaign but am attracted to the Gove/Johnson/Hannan/Carswell/Hoey Vote Leave campaign. Others may be in an opposite position.

    I think opinion polls before this is finalised in April should be taken with an extra large pinch of salt.
    Farage and Galloway will be on the radar if Leave.EU are selected, they will be dominating the radar.
    It does seem certain that Leave.EU won't be selected though. Given the published criteria I can't see any case for them. (I say this in sadness, as it would be good for Remain and public mirth if they were chosen.)
    If they lost they will do everything possible to undermine Vote Leave all the way to the voting day on 23rd June, and then blame them if they lose.

    Banks and Farage need to be kidnapped and bound in a dark room for the next 3 months.
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,078
    MattW said:



    I think any problems with that will be if the questioner is simply hunting for people to attack rather than seeking understanding.

    In my experience Muslims have no problem with criticism, but will if there is an overlay of trolling or contempt. They are right to have a problem with the latter.

    An example would be anyone who thinks that Sharia is a frozen system of values and punishments, rather than a varied and evolving tradition. There are, for example, several countries with Sharia-based legal systems where the death penalty has been withdrawn or is not used.

    Anyone dismissing Sharia on the basis that it does, or in some places did, permit X Y or Z punishment which they think acceptable must also reject English Law on the basis that we used to hang, draw and quarter people.

    There’s a WEA lecturer in Essex and Suffolk, a Muslim, who emphasises the variation in “muslin culture” in different countries and regions.
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    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Well quite. It's much more convincing to hear peer group messages here.
    Charles said:

    Wanderer said:

    That rings true. The Remainders argument that it's a calamity that there's more than a single campaign group isn't carrying water either.

    I've seen a dozen or more X For Brexit niche groups on Twitter all appealing to their own demographic. They're copying the micro targeting of GE 2015.

    Alistair said:

    One is a Leave campaign, the other is a Farage personality cult.

    True.

    It is noticeable that none of the regular kippers on here seem able to utter a word in defence of Farage's behaviour in recent months.
    According to what I've read the 2015 micro-targeting involved email and face-to-face discussion with swing voters focused on subjects they were known to be bothered about - jobs, schools, etc.

    I don't think you can replicate that with Twitter for all kinds of reasons but mostly because undecided people don't look to Twitter feeds as a source of inspiration. The followers of a Twitter feed are mostly people who already agree with it. And most people aren't on Twitter at all.
    There are lots of individual campaigns as well - I'm a member of Business for Britain as well as their financial services sub-campaign. They certainly have regional organisations as well.
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Why has the "quote" function stopped working?

    Sometimes happens with me but a page refresh usually clears it up
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    richardDoddrichardDodd Posts: 5,472
    edited March 2016
    Why does any PBer take any notice of any poll on anything..they have proved to be totally unreliable..
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    WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838

    I felt the same, yet just a couple of weeks on, I've forgotten Farage and Galloway isn't on the radar.

    This is overplayed tremendously IMHO. The message not the messenger is the key.

    UKIP success is allowed as long as it's their success and they are more successful than anyone else within the party.

    Indeed. The big "known unknown" still to come this campaign is finding out which Leave campaign is designated as the primary one and the commensurate amount of publicity they receive.

    Personally as a swing voter on this I would be deeply put off by the Banks/Farage/Galloway/Bone Leave.EU campaign but am attracted to the Gove/Johnson/Hannan/Carswell/Hoey Vote Leave campaign. Others may be in an opposite position.

    I think opinion polls before this is finalised in April should be taken with an extra large pinch of salt.
    Farage and Galloway will be on the radar if Leave.EU are selected, they will be dominating the radar.
    It's game over if Leave.EU are made the official campaign.

    Which is precisely why I expect there's a huge amount of pressure on the Electoral Commission behind the scenes by the powers that be to make it so.
    I have wondered about that but, as I say, I can't see how it could be justified when Vote Leave is far more credibly cross-party and mainstream. All I can think of is that the leader of the signature Out party is in Leave.EU but the lots of his members and his MP are with Vote Leave.

    Can anybody posting here make a case for Leave.EU?
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    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Don't forget

    hold on to your hats: @BBCParliament is screening the 1966 election programme on Monday https://t.co/kHsz6ZCnBU

    Mr Memory
    Excellent news - the 1966 election night coverage has only been repeated in full on BBC Parliament once before https://t.co/oQ8XaB4qRH
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    TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 41,405

    There seems to be a majority for leave on this forum but I cannot come to a conclusion at this stage even though I am generally remain. David Cameron told the 1922 Committee he wanted 'time to think' on his Easter holiday in the Canaries. I do wonder if he may consider being less committed and more neutral on his return. In those circumstances it would be a boost to leave but even then I just think it is too soon to be confident of either outcome and would only expect matters to solidify in late May and during June

    Look around close to you. If you work, decide how it affects the industry that you work in; speak to friends in different industries, ask them. They of course won't have gone through entire cost-benefit analyses but will give you a feel.

    Then read the negotiated text. Then look at the EU paper on banking union, as an interesting point, read the fiscal compact and the story of Dave rejecting it.

    Then, make yourself a cup of tea, empty out the tea, look in the bottom of the cup and....decide!!!
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Cyclefree said:

    @TSE: Thank you.

    Your joke is brilliant.

    That is the way to deal with morons - of all types. Humour and satire and ridicule.

    I look forward to your thread. There may be parallels to how it felt being Irish in Britain when the IRA was bombing like there was no tomorrow.

    My other joke would shock your innocent mind.

    I could never be a suicide bomber, why would anyone want 72 virgins, give me one experienced lady any day of the week.

    Plus, no one has ever confirmed that these 72 virgins are female.

    Some suicide bombers might be in for a shock.
    I think the shock of no afterlife would outstrip any other potential surprises.
    Very true.
    Although if there is no afterlife then presumably they won't be shocked.
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    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Sam Coates
    There is unconfirmed talk of Jeremy Hunt to Commons Leader post referendum to help with Tory reunification - Tory source
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    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,297
    The Brussels terrorist gang were preparing an attack on a nuclear power plant and had recorded 12 hours of reconnaissance footage, it has been reported.

    The ISIS cell were spying on the Belgian’s nuclear power chief, possibly as part of a kidnap plan to force him to let them into an atomic facility, according to newspaper Derniere Heure.

    Hours of film of the home of the Research and Development Director of the Belgian Nuclear Programme were discovered in an apartment in Brussels raided by anti-terrorist police following the attack in Paris.
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    FregglesFreggles Posts: 3,486
    It's OK, ScottP will be along soon with some supportive tweets and to reassure us its all just a bad dream
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    George Osborne at the Treasury Select Committee is fabulous entertainment

    Shouty labour MP "The IFS says your tax changes are unfair!!"

    Chancellor "Why did you vote for them then?"
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    Freggles said:

    It's OK, ScottP will be along soon

    Spooky...
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    RobCRobC Posts: 398

    There seems to be a majority for leave on this forum but I cannot come to a conclusion at this stage even though I am generally remain. David Cameron told the 1922 Committee he wanted 'time to think' on his Easter holiday in the Canaries. I do wonder if he may consider being less committed and more neutral on his return. In those circumstances it would be a boost to leave but even then I just think it is too soon to be confident of either outcome and would only expect matters to solidify in late May and during June

    I am not so sure when it finally comes to applying the X on the ballot paper that the majority even in this forum will vote for Out. The Remain campaign though hasn't quite got it right imo - - I'd like to see more love bombing rather than fear mongering (though that does have its place). The Europeans actually don't want us to go - many see the UK as a positive influence on the EU and perhaps we should hear more about that for example.

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    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,631
    Still pretty decent though given that he is on the opposite side to most Tory voters on the main issue of the day.
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    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,631

    Sam Coates
    There is unconfirmed talk of Jeremy Hunt to Commons Leader post referendum to help with Tory reunification - Tory source

    Would be better to put Osborne there tbh.
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    chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341
    edited March 2016
    Nearly one in three 2015 Tories satisfied with the way Corbyn is doing his job :smiley:
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    CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,230
    edited March 2016
    @MattW - My objection to sharia law is to the fact that it is religiously based, its content (though I take your point that it may not be monolithic), that it is incompatible with the ECHR which expresses and underpins much of Western legal thinking and, above all, that in England English law should prevail. You cannot have different groups choosing to live under different and incompatible legal systems. That is, in effect, the state losing sovereignty over its territory and the people in it.

    I also think you make a good point about the difference between criticism/argument and simply wanting to attack someone for what group they belong to. By the same token, it does sometimes appear that some in the Muslim community react to any criticism on a personal level and go into "victim" mode rather than deal with the criticism. Indeed, it can appear that this is sometimes done precisely in order to deflect the criticism and make those making it feel bad for even raising an issue. The conflation between the personal and the general - as exemplified by that weasel word "Islamophobia" to cover criticism of a belief system and an attack on an individual is not conducive to intelligent argument, alas.
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    FregglesFreggles Posts: 3,486
    Scott_P said:

    Freggles said:

    It's OK, ScottP will be along soon

    Spooky...
    Like clockwork! I hope for your sake you are on the CCHQ payroll!

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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,680

    Sam Coates
    There is unconfirmed talk of Jeremy Hunt to Commons Leader post referendum to help with Tory reunification - Tory source

    Hmm. Hunt seems to have caused all the problems with Health that Gove did with Education without any of the success.

    Also he's an EU welcher.
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    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    edited March 2016
    Golly, what a Cassandra.

    Chin up, Farage is a tiny blip compared to the wider Leave campaign. I'd prefer him locked in the attic, but whichever campaign wins - he wouldn't shut up

    Too much knowledge is hamstringing you. Most voters don't care or notice.

    I felt the same, yet just a couple of weeks on, I've forgotten Farage and Galloway isn't on the radar.

    This is overplayed tremendously IMHO. The message not the messenger is the key.

    UKIP success is allowed as long as it's their success and they are more successful than anyone else within the party.

    Indeed. The big "known unknown" still to come this campaign is finding out which Leave campaign is designated as the primary one and the commensurate amount of publicity they receive.

    Personally as a swing voter on this I would be deeply put off by the Banks/Farage/Galloway/Bone Leave.EU campaign but am attracted to the Gove/Johnson/Hannan/Carswell/Hoey Vote Leave campaign. Others may be in an opposite position.

    I think opinion polls before this is finalised in April should be taken with an extra large pinch of salt.
    Farage and Galloway will be on the radar if Leave.EU are selected, they will be dominating the radar.
    It's game over if Leave.EU are made the official campaign.

    Which is precisely why I expect there's a huge amount of pressure on the Electoral Commission behind the scenes by the powers that be to make it so.
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 76,002
    MaxPB said:

    Sam Coates
    There is unconfirmed talk of Jeremy Hunt to Commons Leader post referendum to help with Tory reunification - Tory source

    Would be better to put Osborne there tbh.
    What ?

    To help with Tory reunification xD ?!
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,013
    Mr. Royale, even more importantly, he registered highly on the Morris Dancer patented Lightweight-o-meter (previous big hitters being Burnham, back when some thought him credible, and Sajid Javid).
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    WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838

    Golly, what a Cassandra.

    Chin up, Farage is a tiny blip compared to the wider Leave campaign. I'd prefer him locked in the attic, but whichever campaign wins - he wouldn't shut up

    Too much knowledge is hamstringy you. Most voters don't care or notice.

    I felt the same, yet just a couple of weeks on, I've forgotten Farage and Galloway isn't on the radar.

    This is overplayed tremendously IMHO. The message not the messenger is the key.

    UKIP success is allowed as long as it's their success and they are more successful than anyone else within the party.

    Indeed. The big "known unknown" still to come this campaign is finding out which Leave campaign is designated as the primary one and the commensurate amount of publicity they receive.

    Personally as a swing voter on this I would be deeply put off by the Banks/Farage/Galloway/Bone Leave.EU campaign but am attracted to the Gove/Johnson/Hannan/Carswell/Hoey Vote Leave campaign. Others may be in an opposite position.

    I think opinion polls before this is finalised in April should be taken with an extra large pinch of salt.
    Farage and Galloway will be on the radar if Leave.EU are selected, they will be dominating the radar.
    It's game over if Leave.EU are made the official campaign.

    Which is precisely why I expect there's a huge amount of pressure on the Electoral Commission behind the scenes by the powers that be to make it so.
    If he's a Cassandra then he's right :)
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 76,002

    Sam Coates
    There is unconfirmed talk of Jeremy Hunt to Commons Leader post referendum to help with Tory reunification - Tory source

    Hmm. Hunt seems to have caused all the problems with Health that Gove did with Education without any of the success.

    Also he's an EU welcher.
    Hunt's got the contract through. It wasn't pretty how he did it, but he hasn't buckled like a Bojo certainly would in that position.
  • Options
    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,631
    Pulpstar said:

    MaxPB said:

    Sam Coates
    There is unconfirmed talk of Jeremy Hunt to Commons Leader post referendum to help with Tory reunification - Tory source

    Would be better to put Osborne there tbh.
    What ?

    To help with Tory reunification xD ?!
    Just move him out of the Treasury for some ceremonial position.
  • Options
    Lib Dem surge

    CON 36 (-3)
    LAB 34 (+1)
    LIB 10 (+4)
    UKIP 11 (-1)
    GRN 3 (=)
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    MaxPB said:

    Pulpstar said:

    MaxPB said:

    Sam Coates
    There is unconfirmed talk of Jeremy Hunt to Commons Leader post referendum to help with Tory reunification - Tory source

    Would be better to put Osborne there tbh.
    What ?

    To help with Tory reunification xD ?!
    Just move him out of the Treasury for some ceremonial position.
    Lord Privy Seal?

    Then Cameron can use Churchill's joke.
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,680
    Pulpstar said:

    Sam Coates
    There is unconfirmed talk of Jeremy Hunt to Commons Leader post referendum to help with Tory reunification - Tory source

    Hmm. Hunt seems to have caused all the problems with Health that Gove did with Education without any of the success.

    Also he's an EU welcher.
    Hunt's got the contract through. It wasn't pretty how he did it, but he hasn't buckled like a Bojo certainly would in that position.
    Has he though? I thought he was going to impose it but it was still yet to be imposed?

    I'm not voting for Boris.
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    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    edited March 2016
    Robert Shrimley
    This is literally the best story ever: Microsoft's AI twitter bot turned racist after 15 hours on twitter https://t.co/5RKIchXmUW
    The tech company introduced "Tay" this week — a bot that responds to users' queries and emulates the casual, jokey speech patterns of a stereotypical millennial.

    The aim was to "experiment with and conduct research on conversational understanding," with Tay able to learn from "her" conversations and get progressively "smarter."

    But Tay proved a smash hit with racists, trolls, and online troublemakers — who persuaded Tay to blithely use racial slurs, defend white supremacist propaganda, and even outright call for genocide.
    The best bit
    In one highly publicised tweet, which has since been deleted, Tay said: "bush did 9/11 and Hitler would have done a better job than the monkey we have now. donald trump is the only hope we've got." In another, responding to a question, she said "ricky gervais learned totalitarianism from adolf hitler, the inventor of atheism."
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,078
    Pulpstar said:

    Sam Coates
    There is unconfirmed talk of Jeremy Hunt to Commons Leader post referendum to help with Tory reunification - Tory source

    Hmm. Hunt seems to have caused all the problems with Health that Gove did with Education without any of the success.

    Also he's an EU welcher.
    Hunt's got the contract through. It wasn't pretty how he did it, but he hasn't buckled like a Bojo certainly would in that position.
    We haven’t seen how many are going to sign up in June/July though. Empty junior posts in August because those who “should” have filled them have gone elsewhere will bring problems.
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,680

    Lib Dem surge

    CON 36 (-3)
    LAB 34 (+1)
    LIB 10 (+4)
    UKIP 11 (-1)
    GRN 3 (=)

    LD overtake UKIP break point imminent?

    Would certainty be a morale booster for the yellow peril.
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    StereotomyStereotomy Posts: 4,092
    MaxPB said:

    Ipsos Mori

    George Osborne’s ratings plunge after Budget and Jeremy Corbyn is more popular than PM

    The Conservative lead over Labour has narrowed to just two points, at 36 per cent — down three points — to 34 points, up one point.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/osborne-s-ratings-plunge-after-budget-and-corbyn-is-more-popular-than-pm-a3210916.html

    I think this is why the PM is thinking things over in Lanzarote. His backing of Osborne's Remain stance is costing him his legacy as one of the best post-war PMs and the man who led the Tories to the promised lands after 13 years in the wilderness and 23 years without an outright election victory. Osborne is a dead man walking.
    To be fair the reason he's had such smooth sailing until now is because of his policy of deferring problems rather than solving them. Last week's problems were the combination of two of those deferred problems catching up at once: unrealistic promises on the budget, and fobbing off eurosceptic MPs with a referendum.
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,745

    Lib Dem surge

    CON 36 (-3)
    LAB 34 (+1)
    LIB 10 (+4)
    UKIP 11 (-1)
    GRN 3 (=)

    Tory meltdown!!!
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    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,631

    Lib Dem surge

    CON 36 (-3)
    LAB 34 (+1)
    LIB 10 (+4)
    UKIP 11 (-1)
    GRN 3 (=)

    How awful are Labour when in the week that the Tories have their worst ever split since 1990's and the most poorly received budget since the omnishambles they are still two points behind.
  • Options

    Lib Dem surge

    CON 36 (-3)
    LAB 34 (+1)
    LIB 10 (+4)
    UKIP 11 (-1)
    GRN 3 (=)

    LD overtake UKIP break point imminent?

    Would certainty be a morale booster for the yellow peril.
    Would back up what we're seeing in the local council elections.

    The Yellow Peril doing very well, UKIP shelling votes.
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 76,002
    The strikes including emergency cover will get the public into a "they're both as bad as each other" mood, which is good enough for the Gov't. Hunt's not backing down on this, as much as quite alot of people would like him to.
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    MarkSeniorMarkSenior Posts: 4,699

    Lib Dem surge

    CON 36 (-3)
    LAB 34 (+1)
    LIB 10 (+4)
    UKIP 11 (-1)
    GRN 3 (=)

    LD overtake UKIP break point imminent?

    Would certainty be a morale booster for the yellow peril.
    LDs were ahead of UKIP prior to weighting 87 voters to UKIP 86
    after weighting LD 73 UKIP 100
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    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,631

    Pulpstar said:

    Sam Coates
    There is unconfirmed talk of Jeremy Hunt to Commons Leader post referendum to help with Tory reunification - Tory source

    Hmm. Hunt seems to have caused all the problems with Health that Gove did with Education without any of the success.

    Also he's an EU welcher.
    Hunt's got the contract through. It wasn't pretty how he did it, but he hasn't buckled like a Bojo certainly would in that position.
    Has he though? I thought he was going to impose it but it was still yet to be imposed?

    I'm not voting for Boris.
    I would only vote for Boris if it was a choice between him and Osborne. Though I find it unlikely Osborne will make the final two, or even stand at this point.
  • Options
    Pulpstar said:

    The strikes including emergency cover will get the public into a "they're both as bad as each other" mood, which is good enough for the Gov't. Hunt's not backing down on this, as much as quite alot of people would like him to.

    It will also feed into the narrative that the Tories are the best/unafraid of making touch decisions
  • Options
    JonathanDJonathanD Posts: 2,400

    Lib Dem surge

    CON 36 (-3)
    LAB 34 (+1)
    LIB 10 (+4)
    UKIP 11 (-1)
    GRN 3 (=)

    LD overtake UKIP break point imminent?

    Would certainty be a morale booster for the yellow peril.

    Looks like an unwinding of the LD to Tory switchers who helped win the election for the Tories at GE.

    Tories need to be careful and stay in the centre ground.

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    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Yowser

    Clegg pockets £36,660 for giving speech on European referendum to Barclays Bank | Mirror https://t.co/HSUtaiY05v
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    RobCRobC Posts: 398

    Wanderer said:

    I felt the same, yet just a couple of weeks on, I've forgotten Farage and Galloway isn't on the radar.

    This is overplayed tremendously IMHO. The message not the messenger is the key.

    UKIP success is allowed as long as it's their success and they are more successful than anyone else within the party.

    Indeed. The big "known unknown" still to come this campaign is finding out which Leave campaign is designated as the primary one and the commensurate amount of publicity they receive.

    Personally as a swing voter on this I would be deeply put off by the Banks/Farage/Galloway/Bone Leave.EU campaign but am attracted to the Gove/Johnson/Hannan/Carswell/Hoey Vote Leave campaign. Others may be in an opposite position.

    I think opinion polls before this is finalised in April should be taken with an extra large pinch of salt.
    Farage and Galloway will be on the radar if Leave.EU are selected, they will be dominating the radar.
    It does seem certain that Leave.EU won't be selected though. Given the published criteria I can't see any case for them. (I say this in sadness, as it would be good for Remain and public mirth if they were chosen.)
    If they lost they will do everything possible to undermine Vote Leave all the way to the voting day on 23rd June, and then blame them if they lose.

    Banks and Farage need to be kidnapped and bound in a dark room for the next 3 months.
    As a Remainer I am encouraged by how Farage is proving to be such an asset for our side. He is an arse and most of his party is a rolling shambles (see S Evans) and a continuing useful reminder of why we don't want the loons to take over the kitchen after Jun 23rd.
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    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,297

    Robert Shrimley
    This is literally the best story ever: Microsoft's AI twitter bot turned racist after 15 hours on twitter https://t.co/5RKIchXmUW

    The tech company introduced "Tay" this week — a bot that responds to users' queries and emulates the casual, jokey speech patterns of a stereotypical millennial.

    The aim was to "experiment with and conduct research on conversational understanding," with Tay able to learn from "her" conversations and get progressively "smarter."

    But Tay proved a smash hit with racists, trolls, and online troublemakers — who persuaded Tay to blithely use racial slurs, defend white supremacist propaganda, and even outright call for genocide.
    The best bit
    In one highly publicised tweet, which has since been deleted, Tay said: "bush did 9/11 and Hitler would have done a better job than the monkey we have now. donald trump is the only hope we've got." In another, responding to a question, she said "ricky gervais learned totalitarianism from adolf hitler, the inventor of atheism."
    Its like the episode out of the Good Wife all over again (which was based upon a real incident at Google, where their image matching algorithms displayed African American's as a result to the search Monkey)
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,609
    edited March 2016
    Next time someone asks me to explain the difference between the Tories ruthlessness and Labour when it comes to leader/potential leaders, this past week is the perfect example.

    An unpopular chancellor on course to be party leader/PM that we all know that will go down badly with the voters,

    Labour elected him as leader via a coronation

    The Tories knobbled him before he could even stand.
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    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,148
    RobC said:

    As a Remainer I am encouraged by how Farage is proving to be such an asset for our side. He is an arse and most of his party is a rolling shambles (see S Evans) and a continuing useful reminder of why we don't want the loons to take over the kitchen after Jun 23rd.

    A good title for a 'wholostit' analysis of the Leave campaign would be 'Why didn't they ask Evans?'. Assuming Remain wins of course which is looking a bit shaky.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,013
    Mr. Eagles, I made the same comparison a little while ago. The Conservatives look for reasons to commit regicide (even before the coronation, if need be). Labour looks for reasons not to.

    That said, the sheep don't benefit from their rulebook. The wolves, however, enjoy theirs rather more.
This discussion has been closed.