NP Then why does he read out letters from Joe Public at PMQs..what is that but bandwaggon jumping..and Miliband would jump on any waggon that passed his front door..
Rofl. I invite you to find any of the people here who really, really dislike Corbyn and what he's doing (Southam Observer? Cyclefree?) to agree with you that he shamelessly changes his mind to pander to public opinion.
The letters are people who agree with him, rather than the other way round. You could I suppose criticise him for not reading out letters from people who disagree with him - the ultimate masochism strategy.
Nick: I'm happy to oblige. The only public Corbyn pays attention to are those who turn up at Stop the War, pro-IRA and Hamas rallies. He certainly panders to their opinions. The rest of us - not so much. False consciousness or something...
"There’s an interesting article by John Fund just out in National Review"
This thread belongs to the garbage bin, shame on you OGH for using such sources for this thread about Trump.
If you took into account what I was saying for days you would have known that it's the vitriolic civil war that has broken out in the GOP that's behind it, the favourables of every Republican has fallen by around 10 points since this civil war began:
The risks in any primary is that it may become too long, too divisive and too vitriolic especially in the debates, so much that the party descents into a civil war and disintegrates.
The GOP primary will last from start to finish 13 months since most people declared their candidacy back in June, they had 12 debates, 17 candidates, 58 contests and a convention to go.
Contrast that with the Democrats, their primary only became competitive after November and it's already practically finished, they had very few debates and only 5 candidates and their convention will be a simple coronation.
Or with the Labour party, lasted only 3 months had only 4 candidates, few debates, and one single large election in the end.
And the GOP already had a unity problem going back to 2009 with the Tea Party, so a party that has a long term unity problem going through a long and destructive primary what could possibly go wrong ?
There and this comment is more accurate and objective that this Thread, and without using the crap that is the National Review as a source about Trump.
There have been suggestions he didn't want the nomination this whole time. Personally I thought it was like Corbyn - he didn't think he would get as far as he did, but when it became a real possibility he committed to it and now really wants it.
I rather fancy Corby sees what the public's views are perceived to be and then adopts them...much like his predecessor..in both cases they were usually quite wrong
Do not be ridiculous. Seriously. I don't know a politician anywhere who is less prone to adapt his expressed views to fit with public opinion. Even some of [Corbyn's] keenest supporters would like him to do it a little bit more.
Well, quite. Honestly, his touted inflexibility (or consistency if one likes it) is one of the things I dislike about Corbyn, but while I also don't think he is as revolutionary as some of his supporters think in style, he is different, and not adjusting his views is part of that.
Totally off topic, this story made me smile
Skimmed milk can be described as an "imitation milk product", a Florida judge has ruled - unless vitamins are added - in a long-running dispute
I would side with the good judge here, though with the significant caveat that 'replacing' the vitamins with synthetic ones in no way restores the milk into a nutritious and digestible food. I see the dairy has just decided to stop selling skimmed milk, so it's a happy ending for all concerned imo. Skimming is simply the last degradation in a long line that turns milk from nature's perfect food into an unhealthy mess.
Just received an email from Osborne asking for me for a donation for him to continue his brilliant stewardship of the economy.
Do you think that if it's just you and I who have received that very personal message (and I'm sure it is), then, well, could it just be, dare we hope, that our peerages may soon be next?
I've got it, but it's not falling on the most sympathetic ears.
I won't give any cash until I see how the leadership treat the Party (both voluntary and parliamentary) up to, during and after the referendum campaign.
There have been suggestions he didn't want the nomination this whole time. Personally I thought it was like Corbyn - he didn't think he would get as far as he did, but when it became a real possibility he committed to it and now really wants it.
I rather fancy Corby sees what the public's views are perceived to be and then adopts them...much like his predecessor..in both cases they were usually quite wrong
Do not be ridiculous. Seriously. I don't know a politician anywhere who is less prone to adapt his expressed views to fit with public opinion. Even some of [Corbyn's] keenest supporters would like him to do it a little bit more.
Well, quite. Honestly, his touted inflexibility (or consistency if one likes it) is one of the things I dislike about Corbyn, but while I also don't think he is as revolutionary as some of his supporters think in style, he is different, and not adjusting his views is part of that.
Totally off topic, this story made me smile
Skimmed milk can be described as an "imitation milk product", a Florida judge has ruled - unless vitamins are added - in a long-running dispute
NP Then why does he read out letters from Joe Public at PMQs..what is that but bandwaggon jumping..and Miliband would jump on any waggon that passed his front door..
Rofl. I invite you to find any of the people here who really, really dislike Corbyn and what he's doing (Southam Observer? Cyclefree?) to agree with you that he shamelessly changes his mind to pander to public opinion.
The letters are people who agree with him, rather than the other way round. You could I suppose criticise him for not reading out letters from people who disagree with him - the ultimate masochism strategy.
Nick: I'm happy to oblige. The only public Corbyn pays attention to are those who turn up at Stop the War, pro-IRA and Hamas rallies. He certainly panders to their opinions. The rest of us - not so much. False consciousness or something...
There. Will that do?
Agreed. Corbyn has not changed his mind about anything since 1983.
Just received an email from Osborne asking for me for a donation for him to continue his brilliant stewardship of the economy.
Do you think that if it's just you and I who have received that very personal message (and I'm sure it is), then, well, could it just be, dare we hope, that our peerages may soon be next?
I've got it, but it's not falling on the most sympathetic ears.
I won't give any cash until I see how the leadership treat the Party (both voluntary and parliamentary) up to, during and after the referendum campaign.
If truth be told (and sod the peerage!), I never respond to these ghastly appeals. I give a fair sum in both annual subscription and our councillors' contribution, in addition to attending most constituency and branch social functions, plus drinks, raffle tickets, whatever etc etc.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
Oh shit, that will be huge if verified. Massive. Before it's even through. God we're governed by dross. To think a significant percentage of the PB commentariat knock on doors for these creatures.
...The Left used to be materialist: concerned with the economic elevation of the working-classes. Since the 1960s, however, it has adopted non-materialist agendas like environmentalism and multicultural internationalism – reflecting the growing institutional power of middle-class, white-collar elites within the Labour Party. A good example of this is Stephen Kinnock, MP for the Port Talbot area. While his father was a genuine local boy done good, working-class to his finger tips, Stephen is a Cambridge-educated policy theorist married to the former prime minster of Denmark. That he was ever elected to Aberavon reflects the odd way in which Labour manages to be socialist, hereditary, globalist and uselessly romantic all at once.
NP Then why does he read out letters from Joe Public at PMQs..what is that but bandwaggon jumping..and Miliband would jump on any waggon that passed his front door..
Rofl. I invite you to find any of the people here who really, really dislike Corbyn and what he's doing (Southam Observer? Cyclefree?) to agree with you that he shamelessly changes his mind to pander to public opinion.
The letters are people who agree with him, rather than the other way round. You could I suppose criticise him for not reading out letters from people who disagree with him - the ultimate masochism strategy.
Nick: I'm happy to oblige. The only public Corbyn pays attention to are those who turn up at Stop the War, pro-IRA and Hamas rallies. He certainly panders to their opinions. The rest of us - not so much. False consciousness or something...
Apparently China has made more steel in the last 2 years than we have ever.
What a basket case we are.
China has 21 times our population. It's overproduced too much for it's own good, let alone ours.
You see this is where it gets confusing, you say there's too much steel around yet people are saying we don't make enough. Tata, losing £1m a day, are the bad guys.
Basket case.
I bet you their 'loss' includes depreciation and amortization.
NP Then why does he read out letters from Joe Public at PMQs..what is that but bandwaggon jumping..and Miliband would jump on any waggon that passed his front door..
Rofl. I invite you to find any of the people here who really, really dislike Corbyn and what he's doing (Southam Observer? Cyclefree?) to agree with you that he shamelessly changes his mind to pander to public opinion.
The letters are people who agree with him, rather than the other way round. You could I suppose criticise him for not reading out letters from people who disagree with him - the ultimate masochism strategy.
Nick: I'm happy to oblige. The only public Corbyn pays attention to are those who turn up at Stop the War, pro-IRA and Hamas rallies. He certainly panders to their opinions. The rest of us - not so much. False consciousness or something...
There. Will that do?
Agreed. Corbyn has not changed his mind about anything since 1983.
Thank you both Richard Dodd?
On another subject, did we know that the US electorate has shifted markedly to self-describing themselves as liberal? Interesting piece looking ahead (to Elizabeth Warren, perhaps):
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
And why not? The long suffering taxpayer deserves value for money.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
And why not? The long suffering taxpayer deserves value for money.
I think LG83 makes a good point that if we're going to have industries such as steel then it makes sense for big infrastructure projects to use stuff made in this country where possible. We used to make railway track at Workington and exported it all around the world. We still make some rails at Scunthorpe but it has to be transported to France for treatment before being returned to the England. I understand that we shouldn't get bleary eyed about our past but it seems a shame that we can't maintain even a small amount of industry. So much for rebalancing the economy; better hope banks don't flop again.
Just received an email from Osborne asking for me for a donation for him to continue his brilliant stewardship of the economy.
Do you think that if it's just you and I who have received that very personal message (and I'm sure it is), then, well, could it just be, dare we hope, that our peerages may soon be next?
I've got it, but it's not falling on the most sympathetic ears.
I won't give any cash until I see how the leadership treat the Party (both voluntary and parliamentary) up to, during and after the referendum campaign.
If truth be told (and sod the peerage!), I never respond to these ghastly appeals. I give a fair sum in both annual subscription and our councillors' contribution, in addition to attending most constituency and branch social functions, plus drinks, raffle tickets, whatever etc etc.
Trump's problem is that he can only stop making extreme comments once he's secured the nomination and the longer it drags out the more he annoys the voters he would need to win the election itself.
Just received an email from Osborne asking for me for a donation for him to continue his brilliant stewardship of the economy.
Do you think that if it's just you and I who have received that very personal message (and I'm sure it is), then, well, could it just be, dare we hope, that our peerages may soon be next?
I've got it, but it's not falling on the most sympathetic ears.
I won't give any cash until I see how the leadership treat the Party (both voluntary and parliamentary) up to, during and after the referendum campaign.
If truth be told (and sod the peerage!), I never respond to these ghastly appeals. I give a fair sum in both annual subscription and our councillors' contribution, in addition to attending most constituency and branch social functions, plus drinks, raffle tickets, whatever etc etc.
Good man!
You more than do your bit.
Thanks but I may have more time on my hands after May 5th. Thanks to boundary changes (which we requested!), my own revised ward, formely very safe, has become rather marginal. Eek.
Just received an email from Osborne asking for me for a donation for him to continue his brilliant stewardship of the economy.
Do you think that if it's just you and I who have received that very personal message (and I'm sure it is), then, well, could it just be, dare we hope, that our peerages may soon be next?
I've got it, but it's not falling on the most sympathetic ears.
I won't give any cash until I see how the leadership treat the Party (both voluntary and parliamentary) up to, during and after the referendum campaign.
If truth be told (and sod the peerage!), I never respond to these ghastly appeals. I give a fair sum in both annual subscription and our councillors' contribution, in addition to attending most constituency and branch social functions, plus drinks, raffle tickets, whatever etc etc.
Good man!
You more than do your bit.
Thanks but I may have more time on my hands after May 5th. Thanks to boundary changes (which we requested!), my own revised ward, formely very safe, has become rather marginal. Eek.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
And why not? The long suffering taxpayer deserves value for money.
I think LG83 makes a good point that if we're going to have industries such as steel then it makes sense for big infrastructure projects to use stuff made in this country where possible. We used to make railway track at Workington and exported it all around the world. We still make some rails at Scunthorpe but it has to be transported to France for treatment before being returned to the England. I understand that we shouldn't get bleary eyed about our past but it seems a shame that we can't maintain even a small amount of industry. So much for rebalancing the economy; better hope banks don't flop again.
It irritates me that in a country which basically invented the railway there is no British company which makes trains. It's not enough to reduce taxation on UK companies, the government should be nurturing industries in many ways including promoting expansion of the supply chain.
Just received an email from Osborne asking for me for a donation for him to continue his brilliant stewardship of the economy.
Do you think that if it's just you and I who have received that very personal message (and I'm sure it is), then, well, could it just be, dare we hope, that our peerages may soon be next?
I've got it, but it's not falling on the most sympathetic ears.
I won't give any cash until I see how the leadership treat the Party (both voluntary and parliamentary) up to, during and after the referendum campaign.
If truth be told (and sod the peerage!), I never respond to these ghastly appeals. I give a fair sum in both annual subscription and our councillors' contribution, in addition to attending most constituency and branch social functions, plus drinks, raffle tickets, whatever etc etc.
You really shouldn't rail against the peerage ....
Labour admitted a previously barred activist who refers to his critics as "Zio idiots" and "Zionist scum", and claimed that Jews supported the Nuremberg laws, it has emerged.
Tony Greenstein, a prominent campaigner from Brighton, was barred from entry to the Party last summer when vetting of new applicant was stepped up during the leadership contest to prevent a surge of "entryism" from groups who did not share the "aims and values" of Labour.
However, following Jeremy Corbyn's election as leader, Mr Greenstein slipped back into the party unnoticed.
Just received an email from Osborne asking for me for a donation for him to continue his brilliant stewardship of the economy.
Do you think that if it's just you and I who have received that very personal message (and I'm sure it is), then, well, could it just be, dare we hope, that our peerages may soon be next?
I've got it, but it's not falling on the most sympathetic ears.
I won't give any cash until I see how the leadership treat the Party (both voluntary and parliamentary) up to, during and after the referendum campaign.
If truth be told (and sod the peerage!), I never respond to these ghastly appeals. I give a fair sum in both annual subscription and our councillors' contribution, in addition to attending most constituency and branch social functions, plus drinks, raffle tickets, whatever etc etc.
Good man!
You more than do your bit.
Thanks but I may have more time on my hands after May 5th. Thanks to boundary changes (which we requested!), my own revised ward, formely very safe, has become rather marginal. Eek.
Just received an email from Osborne asking for me for a donation for him to continue his brilliant stewardship of the economy.
Do you think that if it's just you and I who have received that very personal message (and I'm sure it is), then, well, could it just be, dare we hope, that our peerages may soon be next?
I've got it, but it's not falling on the most sympathetic ears.
I won't give any cash until I see how the leadership treat the Party (both voluntary and parliamentary) up to, during and after the referendum campaign.
If truth be told (and sod the peerage!), I never respond to these ghastly appeals. I give a fair sum in both annual subscription and our councillors' contribution, in addition to attending most constituency and branch social functions, plus drinks, raffle tickets, whatever etc etc.
Good man!
You more than do your bit.
Thanks but I may have more time on my hands after May 5th. Thanks to boundary changes (which we requested!), my own revised ward, formely very safe, has become rather marginal. Eek.
Sounds like the JackW/Andrea axis requires a further outing to repel boarders.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
And why not? The long suffering taxpayer deserves value for money.
I think LG83 makes a good point that if we're going to have industries such as steel then it makes sense for big infrastructure projects to use stuff made in this country where possible. We used to make railway track at Workington and exported it all around the world. We still make some rails at Scunthorpe but it has to be transported to France for treatment before being returned to the England. I understand that we shouldn't get bleary eyed about our past but it seems a shame that we can't maintain even a small amount of industry. So much for rebalancing the economy; better hope banks don't flop again.
It irritates me that in a country which basically invented the railway there is no British company which makes trains. It's not enough to reduce taxation on UK companies, the government should be nurturing industries in many ways including promoting expansion of the supply chain.
Bombardier isn't British owned but is making the new Crossrail trains at Derby. I've seen them and they employ many British workers.
Truth is we aren't very good at senior and corporate level management of large industrial nationals/multinationals.
Mr Nabavi - the OBR in its forecasts had very little noticeable gains AFAIK from this BTL change but for example if just an extra 50k London houses are sold at circa £200k gain then we are looking at almost £3bn pa in extra CGT.
How do Trump's favourability figures compare against Hillary's?
Or Osborne's for that matter?
Last tracker I saw was Trump -31. Hilary -13.
Chasm.
-15, and moving in the wrong direction, just like her other polling too. Terrible numbers with men and historically horribly lopsided gender numbers in the primaries, rare when she breaches 40%.
Of course if favourables were the be all and end all then Carson and Sanders would be winning.
People not appreciating the importance of the Paul Manafort hire. If Trump comes up a little short he will do a deal, whether with Kasich or someone else.
It's not as if Trump's favourable are moving in the right direction either, he's dropped a point to -32 since I last checked.
This faith that Hilary's unfavorables are actually larger than reported and that Trump's will magically turn around at some unspecified point in the future or arent actually real is a very expensive supposition if you are betting on it.
And if you aren't betting on it you are bullshitting.
Just received an email from Osborne asking for me for a donation for him to continue his brilliant stewardship of the economy.
The Treasury is probably short of funds.
I'm told they got a huge amount yesterday in stamp duty
WIth more to come from property CGT over the next few years.
Why do you say that?
The squeeze coming on existing BTL for those with small or zero profits and on Higher rate income tax. It gets worse with each year.
Funnily enough about 1/3 of the Conservative MPs will suffer in their wallet.
You'd have to have a heart of stone .......
Yes the Con MPs with BTL mortgages will all feel a warm glow towards Osborne over this... When they queue up to nominate him as Leader. Shurely schome mishtake? Ed
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
Really? It seems a little early to be purchasing it, considering they're not even planning to break ground until next year.
I would have thought that rails for high-speed routes are something you can more or less buy off the peg, e.g. from Tata at Hayange in France. Certainly I doubt you'd need many years' advance warning.
Turnouts may be a different matter ...
Last I heard, they hadn't even decided if they were going for ballasted or concreted trackbed.
Trump's problem is that he can only stop making extreme comments once he's secured the nomination and the longer it drags out the more he annoys the voters he would need to win the election itself.
That's the basic problem with any primary, the longer it lasts the greater the contestants (and their voters) will focus on fighting each other than their real opponent in the GE.
The Democrats learned the lessons from the GOP primary of 2012:
1. Never have too many candidates. 2. As few debates as possible. 3. Keep passions low. 4. The fights should be about policy only. 5. Never attack someone personally. 6. Never dig up dirt that can be used by the enemy party. 7. Make sure that the possibility of a contested convention remains zero at all times.
Britain Elects On nationalising Tata Steel's steel plant in Port Talbot, South Wales: Support: 62% Oppose: 17% (via YouGov / 31 Mar)
Now, strategically, Leave should try and link that to 'we can't because of the EU'.
Whether you agree or not it would be v.smart campaigning.
I heard Javid on radio R4 PM state that they were working very hard in previous months to get the EU to move more quickly in approving things for the steel industry. Hardly helps REMAIN.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
Really? It seems a little early to be purchasing it, considering they're not even planning to break ground until next year.
I would have thought that rails for high-speed routes are something you can more or less buy off the peg, e.g. from Tata at Hayange in France. Certainly I doubt you'd need many years' advance warning.
Turnouts may be a different matter ...
Last I heard, they hadn't even decided if they were going for ballasted or concreted trackbed.
I hope it's not true, not least because I still have a suspicion that it might not go ahead. The only logic behind buying now is that they might get a better price, but I don't know much about it.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
And why not? The long suffering taxpayer deserves value for money.
I think LG83 makes a good point that if we're going to have industries such as steel then it makes sense for big infrastructure projects to use stuff made in this country where possible. We used to make railway track at Workington and exported it all around the world. We still make some rails at Scunthorpe but it has to be transported to France for treatment before being returned to the England. I understand that we shouldn't get bleary eyed about our past but it seems a shame that we can't maintain even a small amount of industry. So much for rebalancing the economy; better hope banks don't flop again.
It irritates me that in a country which basically invented the railway there is no British company which makes trains. It's not enough to reduce taxation on UK companies, the government should be nurturing industries in many ways including promoting expansion of the supply chain.
Unfortunately BR were not competitive in building trains in the global market. We could discuss the reasons for this, but BREL was a bit of a basketcase. The HST was a brilliant product, and the APT a flawed could-have-been. But other products like the Sprinters and the soon-to-be-gone Pacer units were responses to a shrinking network suffering from lack of capital investment. There were half-hearted attempts to sell these abroad (e.g. the LEV1), but they didn't get far.
And even in the 1970s, BR was ordering some class 56's from Romania rather than building them in their own works. With rather poor results ...
Of course, the best traditions of BR's train development is still going at Litchurch Lane in Derby, under Bombardier's firm control.
Having been "inspired" to see who ia standing for Essex police commissioner, I discover that Bob Spink is a candidate.
Ewwwch!
I can't find a list of candidates for next door in Herts. The existing guy is standing again. I only know that he is as someone ex of this parish Tweeted that they were delivering leaflets for him.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
Really? It seems a little early to be purchasing it, considering they're not even planning to break ground until next year.
I would have thought that rails for high-speed routes are something you can more or less buy off the peg, e.g. from Tata at Hayange in France. Certainly I doubt you'd need many years' advance warning.
Turnouts may be a different matter ...
Last I heard, they hadn't even decided if they were going for ballasted or concreted trackbed.
I hope it's not true, not least because I still have a suspicion that it might not go ahead. The only logic behind buying now is that they might get a better price, but I don't know much about it.
I have rarely read such wishful thinking. Trump will be the Republican nominee and he may very well win.
I seriously doubt that any Republican will win, whoever the GOP nominee is a significant portion will break off.
Think of it:
Case A. Trump is the nominee.
NeverTrumps split off and field their own independent candidate. Result: Winner Democrats by 10 points, GOP may retain the House but not the Senate.
Case B. Cruz is the nominee.
Trump splits off and runs as an independent in some states, plus he actively campaigns against GOP officials in the House and the Senate. Result: Winner Democrats by 15 points, GOP may lose as much as half its House seats, and 10 Senate seats, Democrats will have absolute power for at least 2 years.
Case C. Kasich is the nominee.
Both Trump and Cruz split off and run independent campaigns, GOP splits in 3 pieces temporary. Result: Winner Democrats, GOP nominee comes in 3rd or 4th, permanent damage to the GOP as people won't trust it with their votes even on basic things such as a primary, also coming in 3rd in a FPTP election is really damaging for a major party.
Case D. X is the nominee.
Everyone splits off and a new party is founded, GOP disintegrates. Result: Winner Democrats, until the new party is able to stand on it's feet.
Trump's problem is that he can only stop making extreme comments once he's secured the nomination and the longer it drags out the more he annoys the voters he would need to win the election itself.
That's the basic problem with any primary, the longer it lasts the greater the contestants (and their voters) will focus on fighting each other than their real opponent in the GE.
The Democrats learned the lessons from the GOP primary of 2012:
1. Never have too many candidates. 2. As few debates as possible. 3. Keep passions low. 4. The fights should be about policy only. 5. Never attack someone personally. 6. Never dig up dirt that can be used by the enemy party. 7. Make sure that the possibility of a contested convention remains zero at all times.
True but Trump is relying far more than usual on extreme comments to keep himself in the race with disenchanted voters.
Having been "inspired" to see who ia standing for Essex police commissioner, I discover that Bob Spink is a candidate.
Ewwwch!
I can't find a list of candidates for next door in Herts. The existing guy is standing again. I only know that he is as someone ex of this parish Tweeted that they were delivering leaflets for him.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
And why not? The long suffering taxpayer deserves value for money.
I think LG83 makes a good point that if we're going to have industries such as steel then it makes sense for big infrastructure projects to use stuff made in this country where possible. We used to make railway track at Workington and exported it all around the world. We still make some rails at Scunthorpe but it has to be transported to France for treatment before being returned to the England. I understand that we shouldn't get bleary eyed about our past but it seems a shame that we can't maintain even a small amount of industry. So much for rebalancing the economy; better hope banks don't flop again.
It irritates me that in a country which basically invented the railway there is no British company which makes trains. It's not enough to reduce taxation on UK companies, the government should be nurturing industries in many ways including promoting expansion of the supply chain.
This government doesn;t give a shit about manufacturing. neither did its predecessor. 20 years of neglect and this is the result.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
Really? It seems a little early to be purchasing it, considering they're not even planning to break ground until next year.
I would have thought that rails for high-speed routes are something you can more or less buy off the peg, e.g. from Tata at Hayange in France. Certainly I doubt you'd need many years' advance warning.
Turnouts may be a different matter ...
Last I heard, they hadn't even decided if they were going for ballasted or concreted trackbed.
I hope it's not true, not least because I still have a suspicion that it might not go ahead. The only logic behind buying now is that they might get a better price, but I don't know much about it.
Why would* it not go ahead?
*Not should
The government decide it's too expensive/too much trouble? But then I guess they're talking about Crossrail 2 so I doubt they'd ditch HS2 on financial grounds. It's more that until they actually start building the thing I always think there's a chance they might pull the plug.
Just received an email from Osborne asking for me for a donation for him to continue his brilliant stewardship of the economy.
The Treasury is probably short of funds.
I'm told they got a huge amount yesterday in stamp duty
WIth more to come from property CGT over the next few years.
Why do you say that?
The squeeze coming on existing BTL for those with small or zero profits and on Higher rate income tax. It gets worse with each year.
Funnily enough about 1/3 of the Conservative MPs will suffer in their wallet.
Sure, but that's nothing to do with CGT
REPOST Mr Nabavi - the OBR in its forecasts had very little noticeable gains AFAIK from this BTL change but for example if just an extra 50k London houses are sold at circa £200k gain then we are looking at almost £3bn pa in extra CGT.
Just received an email from Osborne asking for me for a donation for him to continue his brilliant stewardship of the economy.
The Treasury is probably short of funds.
I'm told they got a huge amount yesterday in stamp duty
WIth more to come from property CGT over the next few years.
Why do you say that?
The squeeze coming on existing BTL for those with small or zero profits and on Higher rate income tax. It gets worse with each year.
Funnily enough about 1/3 of the Conservative MPs will suffer in their wallet.
Sure, but that's nothing to do with CGT
REPOST Mr Nabavi - the OBR in its forecasts had very little noticeable gains AFAIK from this BTL change but for example if just an extra 50k London houses are sold at circa £200k gain then we are looking at almost £3bn pa in extra CGT.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
Really? It seems a little early to be purchasing it, considering they're not even planning to break ground until next year.
I would have thought that rails for high-speed routes are something you can more or less buy off the peg, e.g. from Tata at Hayange in France. Certainly I doubt you'd need many years' advance warning.
Turnouts may be a different matter ...
Last I heard, they hadn't even decided if they were going for ballasted or concreted trackbed.
I hope it's not true, not least because I still have a suspicion that it might not go ahead. The only logic behind buying now is that they might get a better price, but I don't know much about it.
Why would* it not go ahead?
*Not should
The government decide it's too expensive/too much trouble? But then I guess they're talking about Crossrail 2 so I doubt they'd ditch HS2 on financial grounds. It's more that until they actually start building the thing I always think there's a chance they might pull the plug.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
And why not? The long suffering taxpayer deserves value for money.
I think LG83 makes a good point that if we're going to have industries such as steel then it makes sense for big infrastructure projects to use stuff made in this country where possible. We used to make railway track at Workington and exported it all around the world. We still make some rails at Scunthorpe but it has to be transported to France for treatment before being returned to the England. I understand that we shouldn't get bleary eyed about our past but it seems a shame that we can't maintain even a small amount of industry. So much for rebalancing the economy; better hope banks don't flop again.
It irritates me that in a country which basically invented the railway there is no British company which makes trains. It's not enough to reduce taxation on UK companies, the government should be nurturing industries in many ways including promoting expansion of the supply chain.
Unfortunately BR were not competitive in building trains in the global market. We could discuss the reasons for this, but BREL was a bit of a basketcase. The HST was a brilliant product, and the APT a flawed could-have-been. But other products like the Sprinters and the soon-to-be-gone Pacer units were responses to a shrinking network suffering from lack of capital investment. There were half-hearted attempts to sell these abroad (e.g. the LEV1), but they didn't get far.
And even in the 1970s, BR was ordering some class 56's from Romania rather than building them in their own works. With rather poor results ...
Of course, the best traditions of BR's train development is still going at Litchurch Lane in Derby, under Bombardier's firm control.
I visited the RTC last week and it was very interesting. I have to say ownership doesn't bother we too much. What's important is that we are able to develop skills and keep some industry going.
I have rarely read such wishful thinking. Trump will be the Republican nominee and he may very well win.
I seriously doubt that any Republican will win, whoever the GOP nominee is a significant portion will break off.
Think of it:
Case A. Trump is the nominee.
NeverTrumps split off and field their own independent candidate. Result: Winner Democrats by 10 points, GOP may retain the House but not the Senate.
Case B. Cruz is the nominee.
Trump splits off and runs as an independent in some states, plus he actively campaigns against GOP officials in the House and the Senate. Result: Winner Democrats by 15 points, GOP may lose as much as half its House seats, and 10 Senate seats, Democrats will have absolute power for at least 2 years.
Case C. Kasich is the nominee.
Both Trump and Cruz split off and run independent campaigns, GOP splits in 3 pieces temporary. Result: Winner Democrats, GOP nominee comes in 3rd or 4th, permanent damage to the GOP as people won't trust it with their votes even on basic things such as a primary, also coming in 3rd in a FPTP election is really damaging for a major party.
Case D. X is the nominee.
Everyone splits off and a new party is founded, GOP disintegrates. Result: Winner Democrats, until the new party is able to stand on it's feet.
The scenarios you posit happened in 1860 and 1948 (Democrats) and 1912 (Republicans). The Democrats still won in 1948, but the Republicans were third in 1912 and the Democrats an astonishing fourth in 1860 (depending on who you consider the Democratic candidate).
However, both parties survived and eventually returned to power. There is a huge weight of inertia in the US system which makes it difficult for new parties to surge into power.
What seems more likely is that we are entering a Democratic hegemony similar to the Republicatonws after the Civil War (2 Democratic presidents in 72 years) or Vietnam (2 in 40 years). It will end when the Dems do something awe-inspiringly cretinous, as the Republicans did over the WSC and Iraq. Such as, for example, making Hilary Clinton President.
Trump's problem is that he can only stop making extreme comments once he's secured the nomination and the longer it drags out the more he annoys the voters he would need to win the election itself.
That's the basic problem with any primary, the longer it lasts the greater the contestants (and their voters) will focus on fighting each other than their real opponent in the GE.
The Democrats learned the lessons from the GOP primary of 2012:
1. Never have too many candidates. 2. As few debates as possible. 3. Keep passions low. 4. The fights should be about policy only. 5. Never attack someone personally. 6. Never dig up dirt that can be used by the enemy party. 7. Make sure that the possibility of a contested convention remains zero at all times.
True but Trump is relying far more than usual on extreme comments to keep himself in the race with disenchanted voters.
Every Republican has done that since 2008:
"Obama is Stalin" "Obamacare will kill us all" "Women who have abortion should be hanged" ect ect.
Republicans have used extreme rhetoric to galvanize conservative voters against everyone else (populists included). Trump has used it to galvanize populist voters against everyone else (conservatives included).
The result is a political planetary collision, where all factions inside the GOP believe they are in a life or death struggle with everyone else.
Unfortunately BR were not competitive in building trains in the global market. We could discuss the reasons for this, but BREL was a bit of a basketcase. The HST was a brilliant product, and the APT a flawed could-have-been. But other products like the Sprinters and the soon-to-be-gone Pacer units were responses to a shrinking network suffering from lack of capital investment. There were half-hearted attempts to sell these abroad (e.g. the LEV1), but they didn't get far.
And even in the 1970s, BR was ordering some class 56's from Romania rather than building them in their own works. With rather poor results ...
Of course, the best traditions of BR's train development is still going at Litchurch Lane in Derby, under Bombardier's firm control.
I visited the RTC last week and it was very interesting. I have to say ownership doesn't bother we too much. What's important is that we are able to develop skills and keep some industry going.
I spent a fair few hours as a kid at the RTC - mainly playing around trains as holes were dug.
I don't know if they're still doing ground-breaking research post-privatisation, but i fear that it's been a great loss.
Having been "inspired" to see who ia standing for Essex police commissioner, I discover that Bob Spink is a candidate.
Ewwwch!
I can't find a list of candidates for next door in Herts. The existing guy is standing again. I only know that he is as someone ex of this parish Tweeted that they were delivering leaflets for him.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
Really? It seems a little early to be purchasing it, considering they're not even planning to break ground until next year.
I would have thought that rails for high-speed routes are something you can more or less buy off the peg, e.g. from Tata at Hayange in France. Certainly I doubt you'd need many years' advance warning.
Turnouts may be a different matter ...
Last I heard, they hadn't even decided if they were going for ballasted or concreted trackbed.
I hope it's not true, not least because I still have a suspicion that it might not go ahead. The only logic behind buying now is that they might get a better price, but I don't know much about it.
Why would* it not go ahead?
*Not should
The government decide it's too expensive/too much trouble? But then I guess they're talking about Crossrail 2 so I doubt they'd ditch HS2 on financial grounds. It's more that until they actually start building the thing I always think there's a chance they might pull the plug.
Crossrail 2's in London.
I know, but it's another big project - and it wouldn't look good to ditch HS2 which is supposed to be the flagship project for helping the North.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
Really? It seems a little early to be purchasing it, considering they're not even planning to break ground until next year.
I would have thought that rails for high-speed routes are something you can more or less buy off the peg, e.g. from Tata at Hayange in France. Certainly I doubt you'd need many years' advance warning.
Turnouts may be a different matter ...
Last I heard, they hadn't even decided if they were going for ballasted or concreted trackbed.
I hope it's not true, not least because I still have a suspicion that it might not go ahead. The only logic behind buying now is that they might get a better price, but I don't know much about it.
Why would* it not go ahead?
*Not should
The government decide it's too expensive/too much trouble? But then I guess they're talking about Crossrail 2 so I doubt they'd ditch HS2 on financial grounds. It's more that until they actually start building the thing I always think there's a chance they might pull the plug.
Crossrail 2's in London.
I know, but it's another big project - and it wouldn't look good to ditch HS2 which is supposed to be the flagship project for helping the North.
On sourcing the rails, are we allowed to prefer British companies under EU law?
I have rarely read such wishful thinking. Trump will be the Republican nominee and he may very well win.
I seriously doubt that any Republican will win, whoever the GOP nominee is a significant portion will break off.
Think of it:
Case A. Trump is the nominee.
NeverTrumps split off and field their own independent candidate. Result: Winner Democrats by 10 points, GOP may retain the House but not the Senate.
Case B. Cruz is the nominee.
Trump splits off and runs as an independent in some states, plus he actively campaigns against GOP officials in the House and the Senate. Result: Winner Democrats by 15 points, GOP may lose as much as half its House seats, and 10 Senate seats, Democrats will have absolute power for at least 2 years.
Case C. Kasich is the nominee.
Both Trump and Cruz split off and run independent campaigns, GOP splits in 3 pieces temporary. Result: Winner Democrats, GOP nominee comes in 3rd or 4th, permanent damage to the GOP as people won't trust it with their votes even on basic things such as a primary, also coming in 3rd in a FPTP election is really damaging for a major party.
Case D. X is the nominee.
Everyone splits off and a new party is founded, GOP disintegrates. Result: Winner Democrats, until the new party is able to stand on it's feet.
The scenarios you posit happened in 1860 and 1948 (Democrats) and 1912 (Republicans). The Democrats still won in 1948, but the Republicans were third in 1912 and the Democrats an astonishing fourth in 1860 (depending on who you consider the Democratic candidate).
However, both parties survived and eventually returned to power. There is a huge weight of inertia in the US system which makes it difficult for new parties to surge into power.
What seems more likely is that we are entering a Democratic hegemony similar to the Republicatonws after the Civil War (2 Democratic presidents in 72 years) or Vietnam (2 in 40 years). It will end when the Dems do something awe-inspiringly cretinous, as the Republicans did over the WSC and Iraq. Such as, for example, making Hilary Clinton President.
This looks different, all factions in the GOP think this primary is a life or death struggle for them, and all factions have very little in common with each other in terms of policies.
The only thing that binds the factions together is their collective distaste for the Democrats, however if they start hating each other more than they hate the Democrats that glue dissolves.
Already many in the Cruz campaign have said that if the convention nominates Kasich or Person X, they will bolt out and form a new party (the only thing they agree with Trump).
Lessons on UK, steel and the EU: 1. The UK uses the EU to ensure cheap industrial imports are available to businesses in growth sectors across Europe, even if it is bad for legacy sectors, avoiding beggar-my-neighbour effects from intra-European regulatory advantage for nationally-protected industries 2. EU opponents think it is a good idea to leave the EU so to nationalise legacy industries and to increase tariffs; or, at the very least, they are willing to put that costly option on the table
Mr. 86, indeed. I suspect there's some scepticism about it up here, given how often the Leeds tram system has been proposed, had millions spent on planning it, and then been dropped.
Meanwhile, electrification of some rail lines (transpennine, I think) have been delayed due to lack of funding.
This looks different, all factions in the GOP think this primary is a life or death struggle for them, and all factions have very little in common with each other in terms of policies.
The only thing that binds the factions together is their collective distaste for the Democrats, however if they start hating each other more than they hate the Democrats that glue dissolves.
Already many in the Cruz campaign have said that if the convention nominates Kasich or Person X, they will bolt out and form a new party (the only thing they agree with Trump).
So actually it looks pretty similar to 1860, or even 1964 (R) and 1968 (D).
I wouldn't panic for them yet (not that I suppose you are)! Only if a new party were to effectively usurp the presidential vote and the congressional vote, plus s significant number of state legislatures, would they seriously threaten to supplant the Republicans. All other considerations (e.g. the fact that they won't be able to run in several key states) aside, they simply won't have the financial resources to do that.
Edit - I have to admit, I would laugh until I wet myself if Trump were the official nominee and came fourth behind Cruz and Kasich, even if the price were a Clinton presidency.
Sure, but the rate of CGT on BTL property hasn't been changed. @TCPoliticalBetting seems to be thinking that there will be a lot of extra sales as a result of the mortgage changes, but I don't think that is expected to be a big effect. In any case, Osborne has reduced CGT on other assets.
Having been "inspired" to see who ia standing for Essex police commissioner, I discover that Bob Spink is a candidate.
Ewwwch!
I can't find a list of candidates for next door in Herts. The existing guy is standing again. I only know that he is as someone ex of this parish Tweeted that they were delivering leaflets for him.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
Really? It seems a little early to be purchasing it, considering they're not even planning to break ground until next year.
I would have thought that rails for high-speed routes are something you can more or less buy off the peg, e.g. from Tata at Hayange in France. Certainly I doubt you'd need many years' advance warning.
Turnouts may be a different matter ...
Last I heard, they hadn't even decided if they were going for ballasted or concreted trackbed.
I hope it's not true, not least because I still have a suspicion that it might not go ahead. The only logic behind buying now is that they might get a better price, but I don't know much about it.
Why would* it not go ahead?
*Not should
The government decide it's too expensive/too much trouble? But then I guess they're talking about Crossrail 2 so I doubt they'd ditch HS2 on financial grounds. It's more that until they actually start building the thing I always think there's a chance they might pull the plug.
Crossrail 2's in London.
I know, but it's another big project - and it wouldn't look good to ditch HS2 which is supposed to be the flagship project for helping the North.
On sourcing the rails, are we allowed to prefer British companies under EU law?
I believe not if its considered a form of State Aid. Others may know better.
On sourcing the rails, are we allowed to prefer British companies under EU law?
The question is whether any British company can make the rails. IANAE, but AIUI high-speed rails are best made in long lengths of many hundreds of metres (and transported on long trains), rather than the traditional sixty-foot lengths thermited together on or near site.
I can't be sure, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were a special alloy as well: e.g. manganese-steel.
Basically: we'd have to set up a plant to make them in competition to the countries that invested in high-speed rail earlier - e.g. France, Germany and Spain. Setting up our own plant will never be the cheapest way, especially as the new routes are planned to be maintenance-low for quite a few years (i.e. once you build it, you should not need spare rails for a long time).
Gone are the days of turning cast iron rails weekly to even out wear. Until a certain naughty person called Mushet sneaked a steel rail in at Derby in 1857. Ity lasted 17 years instead of the lifetime of a cast-iron rail of a few months.
Companies have always been afraid of new technology.
Sure, but the rate of CGT on BTL property hasn't been changed. @TCPoliticalBetting seems to be thinking that there will be a lot of extra sales as a result of the mortgage changes, but I don't think that is expected to be a big effect. In any case, Osborne has reduced CGT on other assets.
It depends on why they have the houses. If they are to provide an income, any loss-makers will have to be offloaded. If it is to build up capital as an extra on a full time job, then a small loss may be bearable.
It also depends on how many are encumbered by mortgages. I'm rather fortunate in owning outright, so the changes have no impact on me.
Mr. 86, indeed. I suspect there's some scepticism about it up here, given how often the Leeds tram system has been proposed, had millions spent on planning it, and then been dropped.
Meanwhile, electrification of some rail lines (transpennine, I think) have been delayed due to lack of funding.
I'm not sure it's (only) a lack of funding. After the ECML was done in the late 1980s we basically stopped doing it so we lost the skills. And now we've ramped up GWML electrification and the MML supposed to be next. There simply isn't enough expertise to go around to do it all at once.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
And why not? The long suffering taxpayer deserves value for money.
I think LG83 makes a good point that if we're going to have industries such as steel then it makes sense for big infrastructure projects to use stuff made in this country where possible. We used to make railway track at Workington and exported it all around the world. We still make some rails at Scunthorpe but it has to be transported to France for treatment before being returned to the England. I understand that we shouldn't get bleary eyed about our past but it seems a shame that we can't maintain even a small amount of industry. So much for rebalancing the economy; better hope banks don't flop again.
It irritates me that in a country which basically invented the railway there is no British company which makes trains. It's not enough to reduce taxation on UK companies, the government should be nurturing industries in many ways including promoting expansion of the supply chain.
Bombardier isn't British owned but is making the new Crossrail trains at Derby. I've seen them and they employ many British workers.
Truth is we aren't very good at senior and corporate level management of large industrial nationals/multinationals.
I could tell you some stories about the Derby site going back to the 1960s. It wasn't all management, by a long shot.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
Really? It seems a little early to be purchasing it, considering they're not even planning to break ground until next year.
I would have thought that rails for high-speed routes are something you can more or less buy off the peg, e.g. from Tata at Hayange in France. Certainly I doubt you'd need many years' advance warning.
Turnouts may be a different matter ...
Last I heard, they hadn't even decided if they were going for ballasted or concreted trackbed.
I hope it's not true, not least because I still have a suspicion that it might not go ahead. The only logic behind buying now is that they might get a better price, but I don't know much about it.
Why would* it not go ahead?
*Not should
The government decide it's too expensive/too much trouble? But then I guess they're talking about Crossrail 2 so I doubt they'd ditch HS2 on financial grounds. It's more that until they actually start building the thing I always think there's a chance they might pull the plug.
Crossrail 2's in London.
I know, but it's another big project - and it wouldn't look good to ditch HS2 which is supposed to be the flagship project for helping the North.
On sourcing the rails, are we allowed to prefer British companies under EU law?
I really don't know, but as has been suggested elsewhere on this topic, the French and Germans seem capable of doing it.
On sourcing the rails, are we allowed to prefer British companies under EU law?
The question is whether any British company can make the rails. IANAE, but AIUI high-speed rails are best made in long lengths of many hundreds of metres (and transported on long trains), rather than the traditional sixty-foot lengths thermited together on or near site.
I can't be sure, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were a special alloy as well: e.g. manganese-steel.
Basically: we'd have to set up a plant to make them in competition to the countries that invested in high-speed rail earlier - e.g. France, Germany and Spain. Setting up our own plant will never be the cheapest way, especially as the new routes are planned to be maintenance-low for quite a few years (i.e. once you build it, you should not need spare rails for a long time).
Gone are the days of turning cast iron rails weekly to even out wear. Until a certain naughty person called Mushet sneaked a steel rail in at Derby in 1857. Ity lasted 17 years instead of the lifetime of a cast-iron rail of a few months.
Companies have always been afraid of new technology.
Thanks for the reply. Great little story about Mushet. Bet he pissed off a lot of people who's jobs relied on constantly turning rails!
Sure, but the rate of CGT on BTL property hasn't been changed. @TCPoliticalBetting seems to be thinking that there will be a lot of extra sales as a result of the mortgage changes, but I don't think that is expected to be a big effect. In any case, Osborne has reduced CGT on other assets.
I thought the argument was that the BTL landlords would have to sell up as it becomes less profitable.
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
Really? It seems a little early to be purchasing it, considering they're not even planning to break ground until next year.
I would have thought that rails for high-speed routes are something you can more or less buy off the peg, e.g. from Tata at Hayange in France. Certainly I doubt you'd need many years' advance warning.
Turnouts may be a different matter ...
Last I heard, they hadn't even decided if they were going for ballasted or concreted trackbed.
I hope it's not true, not least because I still have a suspicion that it might not go ahead. The only logic behind buying now is that they might get a better price, but I don't know much about it.
Why would* it not go ahead?
*Not should
Euston.
The station alterations will be a major moneypit, and I'm concerned they're trying to cost-reduce it to non-existence. But I haven't had my ear close to the ground for a few months.
This looks different, all factions in the GOP think this primary is a life or death struggle for them, and all factions have very little in common with each other in terms of policies.
The only thing that binds the factions together is their collective distaste for the Democrats, however if they start hating each other more than they hate the Democrats that glue dissolves.
Already many in the Cruz campaign have said that if the convention nominates Kasich or Person X, they will bolt out and form a new party (the only thing they agree with Trump).
So actually it looks pretty similar to 1860, or even 1964 (R) and 1968 (D).
I wouldn't panic for them yet (not that I suppose you are)! Only if a new party were to effectively usurp the presidential vote and the congressional vote, plus s significant number of state legislatures, would they seriously threaten to supplant the Republicans. All other considerations (e.g. the fact that they won't be able to run in several key states) aside, they simply won't have the financial resources to do that.
Edit - I have to admit, I would laugh until I wet myself if Trump were the official nominee and came fourth behind Cruz and Kasich, even if the price were a Clinton presidency.
In 1860 the problem was one issue: Slavery Once that was dealt with the Democrats reunited and recovered, though for the Whigs it was too late.
In 1964 the problem was one issue: Civil Rights Once that was dealt with the Republicans reunited and recovered, though with a different mix.
In 1968 the problem was one issue: Vietnam War Once that was dealt with the Democrats reunited and recovered.
In 2016 the problem is everything: Healthcare, foreign policy, trade, government spending, taxes, corruption, environment, immigration. You don't have one singular issue that can be resolved, the basic 3 factions in the GOP (establishment, conservatives, populists) disagree almost completely on all of them.
The situation is ripe for a major split, the leading figures and the voters of each faction hate each other already.
Mr. 86, indeed. I suspect there's some scepticism about it up here, given how often the Leeds tram system has been proposed, had millions spent on planning it, and then been dropped.
Meanwhile, electrification of some rail lines (transpennine, I think) have been delayed due to lack of funding.
Thus spake the Tory Manifesto 2015
"Electrification of the railways is a key part of our investment programme.
"With work already underway across the North, the Midlands, and South Wales, there are plans to go further in the rest of the country, including East Anglia and the South West."
On sourcing the rails, are we allowed to prefer British companies under EU law?
The question is whether any British company can make the rails. IANAE, but AIUI high-speed rails are best made in long lengths of many hundreds of metres (and transported on long trains), rather than the traditional sixty-foot lengths thermited together on or near site.
I can't be sure, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were a special alloy as well: e.g. manganese-steel.
Basically: we'd have to set up a plant to make them in competition to the countries that invested in high-speed rail earlier - e.g. France, Germany and Spain. Setting up our own plant will never be the cheapest way, especially as the new routes are planned to be maintenance-low for quite a few years (i.e. once you build it, you should not need spare rails for a long time).
Gone are the days of turning cast iron rails weekly to even out wear. Until a certain naughty person called Mushet sneaked a steel rail in at Derby in 1857. Ity lasted 17 years instead of the lifetime of a cast-iron rail of a few months.
Companies have always been afraid of new technology.
Thanks for the reply. Great little story about Mushet. Bet he pissed off a lot of people who's jobs relied on constantly turning rails!
If I recall correctly, the rail had been installed without the Midland Railway's knowledge, or their permission. It perplexed them for a while until Mushet owned up.
The Midland were a pioneer in so many things. For instance, they abolished second-class travel. What we call second-class today is actually third-class. It was renamed in the 1960s.
Having been "inspired" to see who ia standing for Essex police commissioner, I discover that Bob Spink is a candidate.
Ewwwch!
I can't find a list of candidates for next door in Herts. The existing guy is standing again. I only know that he is as someone ex of this parish Tweeted that they were delivering leaflets for him.
Many thanks for this. The one thing I was looking for was the Lab candidate for Herts and that aint listed. Thanks anyway,
I got the impression that it's an "as far as we know at the moment" list. I believe that the final list will be published on April 13th, which suggest that the deadline is the previous Thursday. What did strike me was the number of English Democrats. In my area, fortunately, we appear to have an experienced and sensible Independent.
Mr. 86, indeed. I suspect there's some scepticism about it up here, given how often the Leeds tram system has been proposed, had millions spent on planning it, and then been dropped.
Meanwhile, electrification of some rail lines (transpennine, I think) have been delayed due to lack of funding.
Thus spake the Tory Manifesto 2015
"Electrification of the railways is a key part of our investment programme.
"With work already underway across the North, the Midlands, and South Wales, there are plans to go further in the rest of the country, including East Anglia and the South West."
Having been "inspired" to see who ia standing for Essex police commissioner, I discover that Bob Spink is a candidate.
Ewwwch!
I can't find a list of candidates for next door in Herts. The existing guy is standing again. I only know that he is as someone ex of this parish Tweeted that they were delivering leaflets for him.
Note that it didn't actually commit themselves to doing anything.
No, the projects are still going ahead, albeit delayed. This is because Network Rail proved somewhat woeful in estimating time and costs of the Great Western electrification that is currently ongoing.
I have a sneaking suspicion that another reason is that there is little point in doing anything more than preparatory works before they know what HS3 might be ...
By the way, surely the only way to get a buyer for a priced out of the market steel company is to place an order for the overpriced steel in question. It's very socialistic, but there it is. My suggestion would be to build that bridge to Northern Ireland and tell the contracter to design for that steel specifically. At least there's an added economic benefit. Obviously someone more knowledgeable than I on engineering may tell me that won't work.
I probably shouldn't do this but what the hell. I have heard a whisper that the rail for HS2 has already been purchased. From China.
Really? It seems a little early to be purchasing it, considering they're not even planning to break ground until next year.
I would have thought that rails for high-speed routes are something you can more or less buy off the peg, e.g. from Tata at Hayange in France. Certainly I doubt you'd need many years' advance warning.
Turnouts may be a different matter ...
Last I heard, they hadn't even decided if they were going for ballasted or concreted trackbed.
I hope it's not true, not least because I still have a suspicion that it might not go ahead. The only logic behind buying now is that they might get a better price, but I don't know much about it.
Why would* it not go ahead?
*Not should
Euston.
The station alterations will be a major moneypit, and I'm concerned they're trying to cost-reduce it to non-existence. But I haven't had my ear close to the ground for a few months.
Very good point. It's already bad enough that they won't be joining it to HS1. Apparently they didn't build the HS1 tunnel with a box ready for a link line from HS2 to join it - to save money. But I really hope don't they terminate HS1 at Old Oak Common as has been suggested.
Comments
There. Will that do?
This thread belongs to the garbage bin, shame on you OGH for using such sources for this thread about Trump.
If you took into account what I was saying for days you would have known that it's the vitriolic civil war that has broken out in the GOP that's behind it, the favourables of every Republican has fallen by around 10 points since this civil war began:
http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/republican-party-favorable-rating#!smoothing=less&estimate=custom
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/03/24/the-only-political-entity-less-popular-than-congress-and-the-gop-donald-j-trump/?tid=a_inl
The risks in any primary is that it may become too long, too divisive and too vitriolic especially in the debates, so much that the party descents into a civil war and disintegrates.
The GOP primary will last from start to finish 13 months since most people declared their candidacy back in June, they had 12 debates, 17 candidates, 58 contests and a convention to go.
Contrast that with the Democrats, their primary only became competitive after November and it's already practically finished, they had very few debates and only 5 candidates and their convention will be a simple coronation.
Or with the Labour party, lasted only 3 months had only 4 candidates, few debates, and one single large election in the end.
And the GOP already had a unity problem going back to 2009 with the Tea Party, so a party that has a long term unity problem going through a long and destructive primary what could possibly go wrong ?
There and this comment is more accurate and objective that this Thread, and without using the crap that is the National Review as a source about Trump.
I would side with the good judge here, though with the significant caveat that 'replacing' the vitamins with synthetic ones in no way restores the milk into a nutritious and digestible food. I see the dairy has just decided to stop selling skimmed milk, so it's a happy ending for all concerned imo. Skimming is simply the last degradation in a long line that turns milk from nature's perfect food into an unhealthy mess.
I won't give any cash until I see how the leadership treat the Party (both voluntary and parliamentary) up to, during and after the referendum campaign.
On another subject, did we know that the US electorate has shifted markedly to self-describing themselves as liberal? Interesting piece looking ahead (to Elizabeth Warren, perhaps):
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/04/01/sanders_hopes_look_dashed_but_sanders-ism_isnt_130156.html
You more than do your bit.
On nationalising Tata Steel's steel plant in Port Talbot, South Wales:
Support: 62%
Oppose: 17%
(via YouGov / 31 Mar)
How much of their lives have Americans spent at war or at peace? By age.
Fascinating @washingtonpost chart https://t.co/jS1IgtzHZU
Funnily enough about 1/3 of the Conservative MPs will suffer in their wallet.
Whether you agree or not it would be v.smart campaigning.
Truth is we aren't very good at senior and corporate level management of large industrial nationals/multinationals.
There is an answer to that I know but once you're explaining you're losing.
This faith that Hilary's unfavorables are actually larger than reported and that Trump's will magically turn around at some unspecified point in the future or arent actually real is a very expensive supposition if you are betting on it.
And if you aren't betting on it you are bullshitting.
Shurely schome mishtake? Ed
I would have thought that rails for high-speed routes are something you can more or less buy off the peg, e.g. from Tata at Hayange in France. Certainly I doubt you'd need many years' advance warning.
Turnouts may be a different matter ...
Last I heard, they hadn't even decided if they were going for ballasted or concreted trackbed.
The Democrats learned the lessons from the GOP primary of 2012:
1. Never have too many candidates.
2. As few debates as possible.
3. Keep passions low.
4. The fights should be about policy only.
5. Never attack someone personally.
6. Never dig up dirt that can be used by the enemy party.
7. Make sure that the possibility of a contested convention remains zero at all times.
Hardly helps REMAIN.
I have rarely read such wishful thinking. Trump will be the Republican nominee and he may very well win.
Ewwwch!
And even in the 1970s, BR was ordering some class 56's from Romania rather than building them in their own works. With rather poor results ...
Of course, the best traditions of BR's train development is still going at Litchurch Lane in Derby, under Bombardier's firm control.
The existing guy is standing again. I only know that he is as someone ex of this parish Tweeted that they were delivering leaflets for him.
*Not should
Think of it:
Case A. Trump is the nominee.
NeverTrumps split off and field their own independent candidate.
Result: Winner Democrats by 10 points, GOP may retain the House but not the Senate.
Case B. Cruz is the nominee.
Trump splits off and runs as an independent in some states, plus he actively campaigns against GOP officials in the House and the Senate.
Result: Winner Democrats by 15 points, GOP may lose as much as half its House seats, and 10 Senate seats, Democrats will have absolute power for at least 2 years.
Case C. Kasich is the nominee.
Both Trump and Cruz split off and run independent campaigns, GOP splits in 3 pieces temporary.
Result: Winner Democrats, GOP nominee comes in 3rd or 4th, permanent damage to the GOP as people won't trust it with their votes even on basic things such as a primary, also coming in 3rd in a FPTP election is really damaging for a major party.
Case D. X is the nominee.
Everyone splits off and a new party is founded, GOP disintegrates.
Result: Winner Democrats, until the new party is able to stand on it's feet.
https://twitter.com/davidfrum/status/715591415766474752
https://twitter.com/davidfrum/status/715594166265192448
https://twitter.com/davidfrum/status/715594538086051840
No way out for the GOP.
However, both parties survived and eventually returned to power. There is a huge weight of inertia in the US system which makes it difficult for new parties to surge into power.
What seems more likely is that we are entering a Democratic hegemony similar to the Republicatonws after the Civil War (2 Democratic presidents in 72 years) or Vietnam (2 in 40 years). It will end when the Dems do something awe-inspiringly cretinous, as the Republicans did over the WSC and Iraq. Such as, for example, making Hilary Clinton President.
"Obama is Stalin"
"Obamacare will kill us all"
"Women who have abortion should be hanged"
ect ect.
Republicans have used extreme rhetoric to galvanize conservative voters against everyone else (populists included).
Trump has used it to galvanize populist voters against everyone else (conservatives included).
The result is a political planetary collision, where all factions inside the GOP believe they are in a life or death struggle with everyone else.
I don't know if they're still doing ground-breaking research post-privatisation, but i fear that it's been a great loss.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/bbcfour
The one thing I was looking for was the Lab candidate for Herts and that aint listed.
Thanks anyway,
The only thing that binds the factions together is their collective distaste for the Democrats, however if they start hating each other more than they hate the Democrats that glue dissolves.
Already many in the Cruz campaign have said that if the convention nominates Kasich or Person X, they will bolt out and form a new party (the only thing they agree with Trump).
1. The UK uses the EU to ensure cheap industrial imports are available to businesses in growth sectors across Europe, even if it is bad for legacy sectors, avoiding beggar-my-neighbour effects from intra-European regulatory advantage for nationally-protected industries
2. EU opponents think it is a good idea to leave the EU so to nationalise legacy industries and to increase tariffs; or, at the very least, they are willing to put that costly option on the table
Meanwhile, electrification of some rail lines (transpennine, I think) have been delayed due to lack of funding.
I wouldn't panic for them yet (not that I suppose you are)! Only if a new party were to effectively usurp the presidential vote and the congressional vote, plus s significant number of state legislatures, would they seriously threaten to supplant the Republicans. All other considerations (e.g. the fact that they won't be able to run in several key states) aside, they simply won't have the financial resources to do that.
Edit - I have to admit, I would laugh until I wet myself if Trump were the official nominee and came fourth behind Cruz and Kasich, even if the price were a Clinton presidency.
Splitters...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35941945
I can't be sure, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were a special alloy as well: e.g. manganese-steel.
Basically: we'd have to set up a plant to make them in competition to the countries that invested in high-speed rail earlier - e.g. France, Germany and Spain. Setting up our own plant will never be the cheapest way, especially as the new routes are planned to be maintenance-low for quite a few years (i.e. once you build it, you should not need spare rails for a long time).
Gone are the days of turning cast iron rails weekly to even out wear. Until a certain naughty person called Mushet sneaked a steel rail in at Derby in 1857. Ity lasted 17 years instead of the lifetime of a cast-iron rail of a few months.
Companies have always been afraid of new technology.
It also depends on how many are encumbered by mortgages. I'm rather fortunate in owning outright, so the changes have no impact on me.
The station alterations will be a major moneypit, and I'm concerned they're trying to cost-reduce it to non-existence. But I haven't had my ear close to the ground for a few months.
Once that was dealt with the Democrats reunited and recovered, though for the Whigs it was too late.
In 1964 the problem was one issue: Civil Rights
Once that was dealt with the Republicans reunited and recovered, though with a different mix.
In 1968 the problem was one issue: Vietnam War
Once that was dealt with the Democrats reunited and recovered.
In 2016 the problem is everything: Healthcare, foreign policy, trade, government spending, taxes, corruption, environment, immigration.
You don't have one singular issue that can be resolved, the basic 3 factions in the GOP (establishment, conservatives, populists) disagree almost completely on all of them.
The situation is ripe for a major split, the leading figures and the voters of each faction hate each other already.
The Midland were a pioneer in so many things. For instance, they abolished second-class travel. What we call second-class today is actually third-class. It was renamed in the 1960s.
What did strike me was the number of English Democrats.
In my area, fortunately, we appear to have an experienced and sensible Independent.
Note that it didn't actually commit themselves to doing anything.
I have a sneaking suspicion that another reason is that there is little point in doing anything more than preparatory works before they know what HS3 might be ...