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  • DixieDixie Posts: 1,221
    London anecdote alert: Low turn is Labour's key concern. Ken V Boris were like Ali V Frazier, and they got 38% turnout. This election is heading for sub-35% and that hurts Labour more than others. Old and right vote more than young and left.

    And worse still for Labour, ethnic minorities like Hindus and Jews, who may have voted Labour in the past are unlikely to vote Red on 5th May because of the divisive candidate.

    Khan may have polished his crown and shoes but has now gone to ground, because he fears showing his face reminds people how the Labour party have been taken over the one religion, who are not kind to other religions. So, really, the value bet is Zac. I now have 2 people I really, really trust have told me: sub-35% turnout and Zac has a 50/50 chance. A 3rd person I trust a bit says the same. 1 Labour source, 1 Tory, 1 media. DYOR, but I say risk a few pennies on Zac.

    Any other views out there?
  • david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 18,004
    MikeK said:

    This can't be our Roger, surely! Ah. thought not. ;)
    https://twitter.com/rog_ukip/status/725576518638944256

    I suspect that rather underestimates the integration of the EU into domestic law, never mind the international law aspects (Britain would still in fact be a member of the EU if it repealed the 1972 Act; it would just be in breach of its treaty obligations).
  • DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300
    Dixie said:

    London anecdote alert: Low turn is Labour's key concern. Ken V Boris were like Ali V Frazier, and they got 38% turnout. This election is heading for sub-35% and that hurts Labour more than others. Old and right vote more than young and left.

    And worse still for Labour, ethnic minorities like Hindus and Jews, who may have voted Labour in the past are unlikely to vote Red on 5th May because of the divisive candidate.

    Khan may have polished his crown and shoes but has now gone to ground, because he fears showing his face reminds people how the Labour party have been taken over the one religion, who are not kind to other religions. So, really, the value bet is Zac. I now have 2 people I really, really trust have told me: sub-35% turnout and Zac has a 50/50 chance. A 3rd person I trust a bit says the same. 1 Labour source, 1 Tory, 1 media. DYOR, but I say risk a few pennies on Zac.

    Any other views out there?

    Low turn out maybe but Ken had largely alienated the Jewish vote last time so that is priced in.
  • SandraMSandraM Posts: 206
    I have been on Naz Shah's twitter account and I was astonished by how many people calling themselves Labour supporters regard it as a trivial matter.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 55,628

    Sandpit said:

    Press Association has found that no LibDem candidates are standing for nearly 10% of the councils holding elections next week

    Can't find deposits or can't find candidates?
    You don't need a deposit for a local council election; just a candidate and ten people who'll nominate you (which really isn't hard).
    Wow, so a paper candidate costs nothing and they still can't find enough people to stand!
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    edited April 2016

    Press Association has found that no LibDem candidates are standing for nearly 10% of the councils holding elections next week

    Is that right, or is it that there is/are no Lib Dem(s) in 10% of the council *seats*?

    Either way it sounds iffy. There are only six Lib Dems in Wakefield, for example, so I'd be surprised if their coverage is as high as 90% nationally though it might be; Wakefield has always been a weak area so perhaps I have a locally biased view there. On the other hand, to have zero candidates in a tenth of all council areas seems extraordinary.
    No Liberal Democrat candidates will be on the ballot paper for nearly one in 10 of the councils holding elections next week, new figures show.

    In areas as far apart as Salford in north-west England and Thurrock in the south-east, not a single Lib Dem is standing, forcing party members to choose someone else to support - or not vote at all. Analysis by the Press Association has also found that Ukip is fielding more candidates than the Lib Dems in more than a quarter of the contests.

    Responding to the findings, a Lib Dem spokesman said: "Liberal Democrats are immersed in our communities and will stand up for them on the issues that affect their day to day lives. Our membership has grown by over 20,000 since the general election and we will be fighting a strong campaign in May."

    Across England as a whole, the Lib Dems have a total of 1,758 candidates compared with Ukip's 1,388. But in 34 of the 124 areas holding elections one week today, Ukip candidates outnumber those for the Lib Dems.
    Read more http://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/may-council-elections-will-see-lack-of-lib-dem-candidates-11364055791684


    Gosh. That's a quite remarkable atrophying of what was once a national party.
    I know - Lib Dems were huge in local government once, how far they've retrenched. Frankly, I can't see how they can come back within the short or medium term. The *what's the point of the LDs* question was asked and answered in 2010.
  • weejonnieweejonnie Posts: 3,820

    MikeK said:

    This can't be our Roger, surely! Ah. thought not. ;)
    https://twitter.com/rog_ukip/status/725576518638944256

    A convincing argument for why we remain a sovereign nation.
    A convincing argument for how we can become a sovereign nation.

    Fixed it for you.
  • Zac's down to 2% on Betfair, new poll coming out ?
  • runnymederunnymede Posts: 2,536
    Whoever is running the BSE campaign has lost the plot a bit today

    In response to today's Economists for Brexit report, one of their spokespeople has attempted to rubbish it by actually highlighting one of the ridiculous assumptions used in the Treasury report, i.e. that the UK post Brexit would impose large import tariffs on various goods. See the end of this link.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36150191
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    JackW said:

    Indigo said:

    “I’ll tell you what happens with impossible promises. You start with far-fetched resolutions. They are then pickled into a rigid dogma, a code, and you go through the years sticking to that, out-dated, mis-placed, irrelevant to the real needs, and you end in the grotesque chaos of a Tory government – a Tory government - hiring trade unions to scuttle round a country handing out Vote Remain pamphlets to its own voters".

    And then Cameron wins again ....
    Not if he is losing Tories like Plato and I he won't the Tories are toast if they continue in their current direction.
  • JackWJackW Posts: 14,787

    Indigo said:

    “I’ll tell you what happens with impossible promises. You start with far-fetched resolutions. They are then pickled into a rigid dogma, a code, and you go through the years sticking to that, out-dated, mis-placed, irrelevant to the real needs, and you end in the grotesque chaos of a Tory government – a Tory government - hiring trade unions to scuttle round a country handing out Vote Remain pamphlets to its own voters".

    This campaign has certainly resulted in some strange bed-fellows.

    George Galloway & Michael Gove?
    President Putin and Plato
    President Hollande and TSE
    Gerry Adams and Richard Nabavi
    Nigel Farage and Robert Smithson
    Jeremy Corbyn and Scott P
    Ian Botham and Sunil
    Chewbacca and OGH
    Marine Le Pen and MikeK

    Ok not the last one .... she only likes the under 80's .... :smile:
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 55,628
    edited April 2016
    SandraM said:

    I have been on Naz Shah's twitter account and I was astonished by how many people calling themselves Labour supporters regard it as a trivial matter.

    It's clearly becoming a big problem for the Labour Party and they need to stamp it out and quickly if they're to avoid Corbyn getting dragged into it - which is what a number of those raising the issue want of course.

    As was suggested by others yesterday, one gets the feeling that as the Muslim demographic is more numerous than the Jewish demographic, and as they hate each other it's better to appeal to the larger group. Smart electoral politics but not a good look to the general public.

    Guido has clearly been sitting on this for a while, and he probably has a number of follow ups on others to come. The timing is most likely designed to drag Sadiq Khan into the row before the London elections, Guido's being doing the drip-drip on him for months now.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,451

    Zac's down to 2% on Betfair, new poll coming out ?

    People have had it with the Posh Boys.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,663

    Zac's down to 2% on Betfair, new poll coming out ?

    Back to 16.5, I'd have topped up at 50 !
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,942
    weejonnie said:

    MikeK said:

    This can't be our Roger, surely! Ah. thought not. ;)
    https://twitter.com/rog_ukip/status/725576518638944256

    A convincing argument for why we remain a sovereign nation.
    A convincing argument for how we can become a sovereign nation.

    Fixed it for you.
    From a technical point of view, simply repealing the European Communities Act is a dumb way to leave the EU, as it would make a lot of other existing law contradictory, and would leave a lot of businesses (and some individuals) in a legal limbo.

    Invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty is a much, much more sensible idea.
  • JackWJackW Posts: 14,787
    Indigo said:

    JackW said:

    Indigo said:

    “I’ll tell you what happens with impossible promises. You start with far-fetched resolutions. They are then pickled into a rigid dogma, a code, and you go through the years sticking to that, out-dated, mis-placed, irrelevant to the real needs, and you end in the grotesque chaos of a Tory government – a Tory government - hiring trade unions to scuttle round a country handing out Vote Remain pamphlets to its own voters".

    And then Cameron wins again ....
    Not if he is losing Tories like Plato and I he won't the Tories are toast if they continue in their current direction.
    Families squabble. I remember the same being said in the 1975 referendum.

    UK plc will move on. Twas ever thus.
  • TonyETonyE Posts: 938
    Patrick said:

    TonyE said:

    TonyE said:

    TonyE said:

    Government concessions to keep the unions on board:

    https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/social-affairs/news/74016/government-announces-trade-union-bill-climbdown-after-referendum

    Good to see, but so weak. This really is a poor administration.

    Actually, it's worse than that. It's a dishonest administration - and that is truly one of the most unforgivable aspects of this whole EU referendum sage, that our own government is more dishonest than even the appalling Vote Leave/Leave EU mob.

    I'm still WTF that Cameron's desire to win has now descended into pork barrelling with the unions to the tune of £1.7m more money for Remain campaigning. Everyday he plumbs a new low. Who is he? I'm seriously unimpressed.
    I have always taught my kids that its important to be engaged with the political process. But once this referendum is past, I might not continue to be so myself.

    I think I'll simply spoil my paper at every opportunity.
    And it's all so unnecessary too. I'm beginning to empathise with Tories who feel homeless and those who buggered off to UKIP. Things I simply never understood before. I got why Old Labour didn't like New Labour - feeling it personally is another thing all together, it's visceral.
    The problem is the lack of a truly Liberal alternative (not a Lib Dem party). Both main parties are largely Statist and Authoritarian (and largely incompetent)
    I'm searching for a political party that will:

    1. Balance the budget but do so in a way that has a reasonable balance between tax rises and spending cuts (I think we're taxed enough apart from the 0.1%) and allocates spending cuts in a fair way too (sorry rich pensioners you need to be in this together with everyone else).
    2. Defend our country and our culture. (Yes I am thinking of the EU and of Islam, defence spending, overseas aid and all the rest).
    3. Defend free speech. We have proscribed speech right now. Some look for 'safe spaces'. Free speech means free speech - especially the right to offend someone else.
    4. Is socially liberal - I'm fine with gays, soft drugs, etc. But doesn't seek to shove PC crap down my neck.
    5. Enforce the law. (Rotherham, etc)
    6. Put citizens first and the establishment second. Children over teachers, passengers over tube drivers, patients over doctors, customers over unions, etc.

    I have no party to vote for these days. It's depressing.
    I think we should start a party - doesn't sound so far from where I stand!
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,080
    Mr. E/Mr. Patrick, that's more or less where I stand too.

    Although there's a disappointing lack of trebuchet-based justice policy.
  • GIN1138 said:

    Zac's down to 2% on Betfair, new poll coming out ?

    People have had it with the Posh Boys.
    You sound like a lefty class warrior. You're going to be very disappointed if Remain wins aren't you?
  • david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 18,004
    Sandpit said:

    Sandpit said:

    Press Association has found that no LibDem candidates are standing for nearly 10% of the councils holding elections next week

    Can't find deposits or can't find candidates?
    You don't need a deposit for a local council election; just a candidate and ten people who'll nominate you (which really isn't hard).
    Wow, so a paper candidate costs nothing and they still can't find enough people to stand!
    Interestingly, the Lib Dems *are* contesting 30 PCC elections, each of which needs a fairly chunky deposit of £5k. Considering that they're polling only in the upper single figures at the moment, this seems like a curious choice of resource priority, even if little is actually being spent on the elections themselves.
  • Pulpstar said:

    Zac's down to 2% on Betfair, new poll coming out ?

    Back to 16.5, I'd have topped up at 50 !
    Mike made some very good points in the show about how low turnout might favour Zac.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    rcs1000 said:

    weejonnie said:

    MikeK said:

    This can't be our Roger, surely! Ah. thought not. ;)
    https://twitter.com/rog_ukip/status/725576518638944256

    A convincing argument for why we remain a sovereign nation.
    A convincing argument for how we can become a sovereign nation.

    Fixed it for you.
    From a technical point of view, simply repealing the European Communities Act is a dumb way to leave the EU, as it would make a lot of other existing law contradictory, and would leave a lot of businesses (and some individuals) in a legal limbo.

    Invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty is a much, much more sensible idea.
    Hypothetically, if the EU offered a completely unreasonable and unacceptable deal when we invoke Article 50, and were not prepared to negotiate in a way which made it even borderline acceptable, what is the next course of action ?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,262

    Although the public campaign has had its challenges, on the email front I've had more from VoteLeave - yesterday's examples:

    The EU is using YOUR money to keep Africa poor‏

    OECD confirms only way to control migration is to Vote Leave‏



    I wonder if we're starting to see a concerted effort from Vote Leave to target the Labour vote.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 63,567
    Sandpit said:

    Sandpit said:

    Press Association has found that no LibDem candidates are standing for nearly 10% of the councils holding elections next week

    Can't find deposits or can't find candidates?
    You don't need a deposit for a local council election; just a candidate and ten people who'll nominate you (which really isn't hard).
    Wow, so a paper candidate costs nothing and they still can't find enough people to stand!
    Is this part of a wider problem though? The 'bowling alone' phenomenon. Complete disengagement from local politics, joining parties and actually turning up at meetings etc. Indeed disengagement from doing stuff full stop. It looks bad for LibDems but I'm sure there are other parties even including Tories who increasingly rely on a handful of people in each area to do the work.
  • Mr. E/Mr. Patrick, that's more or less where I stand too.

    Although there's a disappointing lack of trebuchet-based justice policy.

    ...but the Space Cannon in the sensibly funded defence policy can be leased to the MoJ when needed...
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    GIN1138 said:

    Zac's down to 2% on Betfair, new poll coming out ?

    People have had it with the Posh Boys.
    You sound like a lefty class warrior. You're going to be very disappointed if Remain wins aren't you?
    If Remain win, I join the kippers, as do a lot of Tories.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,080
    Mr. Indigo, I imagine Cameron would wish to offer us a second referendum so we can vote the 'right' way.

    Although if the Obama intervention is anything to go by, it might backfire massively.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,663

    Pulpstar said:

    Zac's down to 2% on Betfair, new poll coming out ?

    Back to 16.5, I'd have topped up at 50 !
    Mike made some very good points in the show about how low turnout might favour Zac.
    I'm roughly even on both the candidates ^_^
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    edited April 2016
    TonyE said:

    Patrick said:

    TonyE said:

    TonyE said:

    TonyE said:

    Government concessions to keep the unions on board:

    https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/social-affairs/news/74016/government-announces-trade-union-bill-climbdown-after-referendum

    Good to see, but so weak. This really is a poor administration.

    Actually, it's worse than that. It's a dishonest administration - and that is truly one of the most unforgivable aspects of this whole EU referendum sage, that our own government is more dishonest than even the appalling Vote Leave/Leave EU mob.

    I'm still WTF that Cameron's desire to win has now descended into pork barrelling with the unions to the tune of £1.7m more money for Remain campaigning. Everyday he plumbs a new low. Who is he? I'm seriously unimpressed.
    I have always taught my kids that its important to be engaged with the political process. But once this referendum is past, I might not continue to be so myself.

    I think I'll simply spoil my paper at every opportunity.
    And it's all so unnecessary too. I'm beginning to empathise with Tories who feel homeless and those who buggered off to UKIP. Things I simply never understood before. I got why Old Labour didn't like New Labour - feeling it personally is another thing all together, it's visceral.
    The problem is the lack of a truly Liberal alternative (not a Lib Dem party). Both main parties are largely Statist and Authoritarian (and largely incompetent)
    I'm searching for a political party that will:

    1. Balance the budget but do so in a way that has a reasonable balance between tax rises and spending cuts (I think we're taxed enough apart from the 0.1%) and allocates spending cuts in a fair way too (sorry rich pensioners you need to be in this together with everyone else).
    2. Defend our country and our culture. (Yes I am thinking of the EU and of Islam, defence spending, overseas aid and all the rest).
    3. Defend free speech. We have proscribed speech right now. Some look for 'safe spaces'. Free speech means free speech - especially the right to offend someone else.
    4. Is socially liberal - I'm fine with gays, soft drugs, etc. But doesn't seek to shove PC crap down my neck.
    5. Enforce the law. (Rotherham, etc)
    6. Put citizens first and the establishment second. Children over teachers, passengers over tube drivers, patients over doctors, customers over unions, etc.

    I have no party to vote for these days. It's depressing.
    I think we should start a party - doesn't sound so far from where I stand!
    I'd vote for that. I thought I had, it's increasingly looking like I was duped.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,942
    Indigo said:

    rcs1000 said:

    weejonnie said:

    MikeK said:

    This can't be our Roger, surely! Ah. thought not. ;)
    https://twitter.com/rog_ukip/status/725576518638944256

    A convincing argument for why we remain a sovereign nation.
    A convincing argument for how we can become a sovereign nation.

    Fixed it for you.
    From a technical point of view, simply repealing the European Communities Act is a dumb way to leave the EU, as it would make a lot of other existing law contradictory, and would leave a lot of businesses (and some individuals) in a legal limbo.

    Invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty is a much, much more sensible idea.
    Hypothetically, if the EU offered a completely unreasonable and unacceptable deal when we invoke Article 50, and were not prepared to negotiate in a way which made it even borderline acceptable, what is the next course of action ?
    We automatically leave the EU at the two year mark anyway, so we'd negotiate right up to the two year point. We'd also use the gap as a (necessary) period to redraft all existing laws that refer to the EU, and to alter the tax code (in particular as regards VAT) as appropriate.

    At the two year point, unless both us and the EU wished to extend the period, we'd leave.
  • david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 18,004
    Sandpit said:

    SandraM said:

    I have been on Naz Shah's twitter account and I was astonished by how many people calling themselves Labour supporters regard it as a trivial matter.

    It's clearly becoming a big problem for the Labour Party and they need to stamp it out and quickly if they're to avoid Corbyn getting dragged into it - which is what a number of those raising the issue want of course.

    As was suggested by others yesterday, one gets the feeling that as the Muslim demographic is more numerous than the Jewish demographic, and as they hate each other it's better to appeal to the larger group. Smart electoral politics but not a good look to the general public.

    [snip]
    it's not smart politics if it reinforces a group that was already predominantly Labour (albeit a growing one and one that had become more prone to looking elsewhere), at the cost of losing both polite society and WWC Labour supporters who already think that muslims have more than enough interests looking after them.
  • Indigo said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Zac's down to 2% on Betfair, new poll coming out ?

    People have had it with the Posh Boys.
    You sound like a lefty class warrior. You're going to be very disappointed if Remain wins aren't you?
    If Remain win, I join the kippers, as do a lot of Tories.
    Yup - the Tories don't offer a manifesto nearly close enough to the 'Patrick Manifesto' downthread anymore. We was duped.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    Mr. Indigo, I imagine Cameron would wish to offer us a second referendum so we can vote the 'right' way.

    Although if the Obama intervention is anything to go by, it might backfire massively.

    Indeed. After his beer and sandwiches with the trade unions in No 10 over supporting Remain I am not interested in what he is offering, when the conservative have a conservative leader I might consider joining and voting for them again.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 29,267
    TonyE said:

    Patrick said:



    I'm searching for a political party that will:

    1. Balance the budget but do so in a way that has a reasonable balance between tax rises and spending cuts (I think we're taxed enough apart from the 0.1%) and allocates spending cuts in a fair way too (sorry rich pensioners you need to be in this together with everyone else).
    2. Defend our country and our culture. (Yes I am thinking of the EU and of Islam, defence spending, overseas aid and all the rest).
    3. Defend free speech. We have proscribed speech right now. Some look for 'safe spaces'. Free speech means free speech - especially the right to offend someone else.
    4. Is socially liberal - I'm fine with gays, soft drugs, etc. But doesn't seek to shove PC crap down my neck.
    5. Enforce the law. (Rotherham, etc)
    6. Put citizens first and the establishment second. Children over teachers, passengers over tube drivers, patients over doctors, customers over unions, etc.

    I have no party to vote for these days. It's depressing.

    I think we should start a party - doesn't sound so far from where I stand!
    Enough there for me to vote for.

    Have we enough for a saved deposit in any seats yet?
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    Patrick said:

    Indigo said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Zac's down to 2% on Betfair, new poll coming out ?

    People have had it with the Posh Boys.
    You sound like a lefty class warrior. You're going to be very disappointed if Remain wins aren't you?
    If Remain win, I join the kippers, as do a lot of Tories.
    Yup - the Tories don't offer a manifesto nearly close enough to the 'Patrick Manifesto' downthread anymore. We was duped.
    I would sign up for your manifesto.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,080
    Mr. Patrick, now that's a sensible policy for a happier Britain.
  • NEW THREAD NEW THREAD

  • midwintermidwinter Posts: 1,112
    No fan of betting machines in shops and personally believe the limits should be lowered further,however it doesn't address the problem of online gambling.
    To be fair there have been a lot of improvements recently. For example a new scheme means customers can self exclude from all betting shops in one hit rather than on a company by company basis plus a lot more staff involvement looking out for problem gambling.
    Online is a different kettle of fish unfortunately.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822

    Although the public campaign has had its challenges, on the email front I've had more from VoteLeave - yesterday's examples:

    The EU is using YOUR money to keep Africa poor‏

    OECD confirms only way to control migration is to Vote Leave‏



    I wonder if we're starting to see a concerted effort from Vote Leave to target the Labour vote.
    I certainly share more pro-Labour messages. And VoteLeave/GO are getting better at them. GO are much better at punchy stuff, VL have more micro groups.
  • weejonnieweejonnie Posts: 3,820
    rcs1000 said:

    weejonnie said:

    MikeK said:

    This can't be our Roger, surely! Ah. thought not. ;)
    https://twitter.com/rog_ukip/status/725576518638944256

    A convincing argument for why we remain a sovereign nation.
    A convincing argument for how we can become a sovereign nation.

    Fixed it for you.
    From a technical point of view, simply repealing the European Communities Act is a dumb way to leave the EU, as it would make a lot of other existing law contradictory, and would leave a lot of businesses (and some individuals) in a legal limbo.

    Invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty is a much, much more sensible idea.
    Oh I agree - sledgehammer-nut, that sort of thing - or using a broadsword instead of a rapier.

    When LEAVE win it will be far better to have an amicable divorce than squabbling. For several years UK legislation will still be in effect European legislation - it is only when something turns up for the benefit of the UK that it will be changed. Which is why Vote Leave are saying we won't be leaving the EU in effect for some time.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    edited April 2016
    Indigo said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Zac's down to 2% on Betfair, new poll coming out ?

    People have had it with the Posh Boys.
    You sound like a lefty class warrior. You're going to be very disappointed if Remain wins aren't you?
    If Remain win, I join the kippers, as do a lot of Tories.
    Smart politics would be for Kippers to join the Tories not the other way around. Get a Brexiteer as next PM before the next election.
  • MonikerDiCanioMonikerDiCanio Posts: 5,792
    JackW said:

    Indigo said:

    “I’ll tell you what happens with impossible promises. You start with far-fetched resolutions. They are then pickled into a rigid dogma, a code, and you go through the years sticking to that, out-dated, mis-placed, irrelevant to the real needs, and you end in the grotesque chaos of a Tory government – a Tory government - hiring trade unions to scuttle round a country handing out Vote Remain pamphlets to its own voters".

    This campaign has certainly resulted in some strange bed-fellows.

    George Galloway & Michael Gove?
    President Putin and Plato
    President Hollande and TSE
    Gerry Adams and Richard Nabavi
    Nigel Farage and Robert Smithson
    Jeremy Corbyn and Scott P
    Ian Botham and Sunil
    Chewbacca and OGH
    Marine Le Pen and MikeK

    Ok not the last one .... she only likes the under 80's .... :smile:
    The bizarre JackW ( always right ), SO ( always wrong ) and Roger ( always wrong, except Oscars ) ménage à trois will hopefully be one man one vote.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,262
    Patrick said:

    TonyE said:

    TonyE said:

    TonyE said:

    Government concessions to keep the unions on board:

    https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/social-affairs/news/74016/government-announces-trade-union-bill-climbdown-after-referendum

    Good to see, but so weak. This really is a poor administration.

    Actually, it's worse than that. It's a dishonest administration - and that is truly one of the most unforgivable aspects of this whole EU referendum sage, that our own government is more dishonest than even the appalling Vote Leave/Leave EU mob.

    I'm still WTF that Cameron's desire to win has now descended into pork barrelling with the unions to the tune of £1.7m more money for Remain campaigning. Everyday he plumbs a new low. Who is he? I'm seriously unimpressed.
    I have always taught my kids that its important to be engaged with the political process. But once this referendum is past, I might not continue to be so myself.

    I think I'll simply spoil my paper at every opportunity.
    And it's all so unnecessary too. I'm beginning to empathise with Tories who feel homeless and those who buggered off to UKIP. Things I simply never understood before. I got why Old Labour didn't like New Labour - feeling it personally is another thing all together, it's visceral.
    The problem is the lack of a truly Liberal alternative (not a Lib Dem party). Both main parties are largely Statist and Authoritarian (and largely incompetent)
    I'm searching for a political party that will:

    1. Balance the budget but do so in a way that has a reasonable balance between tax rises and spending cuts (I think we're taxed enough apart from the 0.1%) and allocates spending cuts in a fair way too (sorry rich pensioners you need to be in this together with everyone else).
    2. Defend our country and our culture. (Yes I am thinking of the EU and of Islam, defence spending, overseas aid and all the rest).
    3. Defend free speech. We have proscribed speech right now. Some look for 'safe spaces'. Free speech means free speech - especially the right to offend someone else.
    4. Is socially liberal - I'm fine with gays, soft drugs, etc. But doesn't seek to shove PC crap down my neck.
    5. Enforce the law. (Rotherham, etc)
    6. Put citizens first and the establishment second. Children over teachers, passengers over tube drivers, patients over doctors, customers over unions, etc.

    I have no party to vote for these days. It's depressing.
    I'd vote for that.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,387

    Sandpit said:

    Sandpit said:

    Press Association has found that no LibDem candidates are standing for nearly 10% of the councils holding elections next week

    Can't find deposits or can't find candidates?
    You don't need a deposit for a local council election; just a candidate and ten people who'll nominate you (which really isn't hard).
    Wow, so a paper candidate costs nothing and they still can't find enough people to stand!
    Is this part of a wider problem though? The 'bowling alone' phenomenon. Complete disengagement from local politics, joining parties and actually turning up at meetings etc. Indeed disengagement from doing stuff full stop. It looks bad for LibDems but I'm sure there are other parties even including Tories who increasingly rely on a handful of people in each area to do the work.
    But don't the Tories just get their servants to do the leafleting?

    Incidentally, I read 'Bowling Alone' - heavy going, but it does demonstrate the individualisation of US society with many graphs and stats.
  • DixieDixie Posts: 1,221

    Pulpstar said:

    Zac's down to 2% on Betfair, new poll coming out ?

    Back to 16.5, I'd have topped up at 50 !
    Mike made some very good points in the show about how low turnout might favour Zac.
    Interesting. I think this might be a silent voter election
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    If @SimonStClare is about - I'm watching Boston Legal again and just came across a cracking line on Hillary.

    Denny says 'she's really hot, in a dominatrix-preying mantis kind of way.' :lol:
  • TonyETonyE Posts: 938

    TonyE said:

    Patrick said:



    I'm searching for a political party that will:

    1. Balance the budget but do so in a way that has a reasonable balance between tax rises and spending cuts (I think we're taxed enough apart from the 0.1%) and allocates spending cuts in a fair way too (sorry rich pensioners you need to be in this together with everyone else).
    2. Defend our country and our culture. (Yes I am thinking of the EU and of Islam, defence spending, overseas aid and all the rest).
    3. Defend free speech. We have proscribed speech right now. Some look for 'safe spaces'. Free speech means free speech - especially the right to offend someone else.
    4. Is socially liberal - I'm fine with gays, soft drugs, etc. But doesn't seek to shove PC crap down my neck.
    5. Enforce the law. (Rotherham, etc)
    6. Put citizens first and the establishment second. Children over teachers, passengers over tube drivers, patients over doctors, customers over unions, etc.

    I have no party to vote for these days. It's depressing.

    I think we should start a party - doesn't sound so far from where I stand!
    Enough there for me to vote for.

    Have we enough for a saved deposit in any seats yet?
    The problem is that there a great many 'minority interests' that derail that kind of ticket - and the minority interests generally tend to end up trumping the general interest that true liberalism tends to represent.
  • Patrick said:

    TonyE said:

    TonyE said:

    TonyE said:

    Government concessions to keep the unions on board:

    https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/social-affairs/news/74016/government-announces-trade-union-bill-climbdown-after-referendum

    Good to see, but so weak. This really is a poor administration.

    Actually, it's worse than that. It's a dishonest administration - and that is truly one of the most unforgivable aspects of this whole EU referendum sage, that our own government is more dishonest than even the appalling Vote Leave/Leave EU mob.

    I'm still WTF that Cameron's desire to win has now descended into pork barrelling with the unions to the tune of £1.7m more money for Remain campaigning. Everyday he plumbs a new low. Who is he? I'm seriously unimpressed.
    I have always taught my kids that its important to be engaged with the political process. But once this referendum is past, I might not continue to be so myself.

    I think I'll simply spoil my paper at every opportunity.
    And it's all so unnecessary too. I'm beginning to empathise with Tories who feel homeless and those who buggered off to UKIP. Things I simply never understood before. I got why Old Labour didn't like New Labour - feeling it personally is another thing all together, it's visceral.
    The problem is the lack of a truly Liberal alternative (not a Lib Dem party). Both main parties are largely Statist and Authoritarian (and largely incompetent)
    I'm searching for a political party that will:

    1. Balance the budget but do so in a way that has a reasonable balance between tax rises and spending cuts (I think we're taxed enough apart from the 0.1%) and allocates spending cuts in a fair way too (sorry rich pensioners you need to be in this together with everyone else).
    2. Defend our country and our culture. (Yes I am thinking of the EU and of Islam, defence spending, overseas aid and all the rest).
    3. Defend free speech. We have proscribed speech right now. Some look for 'safe spaces'. Free speech means free speech - especially the right to offend someone else.
    4. Is socially liberal - I'm fine with gays, soft drugs, etc. But doesn't seek to shove PC crap down my neck.
    5. Enforce the law. (Rotherham, etc)
    6. Put citizens first and the establishment second. Children over teachers, passengers over tube drivers, patients over doctors, customers over unions, etc.

    I have no party to vote for these days. It's depressing.
    I'd vote for that.
    A Conservative party .... led by either Andrea Leadsom or Dominic Raab.
  • SimonStClareSimonStClare Posts: 7,976

    If @SimonStClare is about - I'm watching Boston Legal again and just came across a cracking line on Hillary.

    Denny says 'she's really hot, in a dominatrix-preying mantis kind of way.' :lol:

    Classic Boston :lol: – We’ll have to dig out the boxed set for a re-run over the summer.
  • midwintermidwinter Posts: 1,112

    Indigo said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Zac's down to 2% on Betfair, new poll coming out ?

    People have had it with the Posh Boys.
    You sound like a lefty class warrior. You're going to be very disappointed if Remain wins aren't you?
    If Remain win, I join the kippers, as do a lot of Tories.
    Smart politics would be for Kippers to join the Tories not the other way around. Get a Brexiteer as next PM before the next election.
    Certainly be the right time to do it if the next election is against Corbyn. Don't fancy the chances of that alliance against a more popular labour leader. I think ukip would haemorrhage votes back to the more moderate left.. I could see centrist swing voters deserting The Tories too in those circumstances. Personally I'd find it hard to support a Tory/ukip coalition. Its not so much the EU thing, although I'm a remainer, anyone can see its in need of reform, it's the perceived bigotry with regard to homosexuality, immigration blah blah blah that's so unattractive. Conjures up visions of Peter Lilley making up songs about single mothers and represents a lot of what destroyed the Tories Electoral hopes till Cameron came along.
    When push comes to shove if Daves still there in 2020 he'll beat Corbyn.
    So would May who's played a blinder so far.
    Wouldn't fancy any if the others against anyone bar Jezza though.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    tlg86 said:


    but I think what Mr Campbell is saying is an inconvenient truth.

    No.

    There are two options for what he is saying. The first is tautologically pointless. No one is blaming invisible pixies for the people being crushed to death. No insight is gained from saying it was crowd members that crushed other crowd members. We know that. It is a vacuous, pseudo-intellectual statement at best.

    The other option is that it is victim blaming because quite surely some of those who were crushed so hard that their rib cages collapsed were also pressing against other who had the same happen to them either before or after they died. And this happened whilst people only feet away had no idea it was occurring. In crush and pre-crush situations people can take locally optimal, even logical, decisions for themselves that are devastating for the crowd as a whole. Not one person in that crowd thought "I know, I'll push this person so hard they won't be able to breather"

    The whole notion of "not pushing" is based on some utopian vision of crowds that involves never, ever making contact with anyone ever. And Campbell's notion that once it starts to get a bit leary that the best response would have been people outside the crush boundary pushing back against the inflow is so obviously fucking stupid that I am not even going to waste my time explaining how fucking stupid that is.

    People are also completely ignoring that the reason why there was such a rush into the pens was because people were escaping the crush that had formed around the turnstiles and took the most direct obvious line of escape - into the already overcrowded pens. An hour before the match basic maths could tell you that it was going to be impossible to get all the fans through the turnstiles before kick off - the abject police failure to steward the supporters outside the ground created a dangerous crush situation that was only relieved by tipping over the pens into total disaster.

    Look, here's the report on the Love Parade crowd disaster to get this clear of football fans.

    http://epjdatascience.springeropen.com/articles/10.1140/epjds7

    Here's the key lines
    "As was pointed out in Sec. 2.3, when the crowd was trapped in a situation of extreme density, it did not have a chance to get an overview of the situation and possible ways to improve it, in particular to get out of the area."

    "However, it took some time until the criticality of the situation was noticed and evacuation measures were taken. When the evacuation finally became effective, the ramp cleared quickly."

    In dense crowd situations it takes external observation and direction for a crowd to safely disperse.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,723
    REcord really on the ball, who would imagine there is a national election in 7 days , when pap like this is their big story. Is it any wonder the Daily Retard has plumetting sales.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,723

    It's been observed before:

    Brexiteers remind me of Scottish nationalists—and not in a good way

    "The parallels between the leave campaign and the SNP are ironic as well as instructive"


    http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/brexiteers-scottish-nationalists-european-union-scotland

    I love the weasel's " not in a good way " caveat. Just to make extra sure.
    That from a rabid Tory is a compliment for Scottish Nationalists, means they are as far from the grotesque odious character they despise so much by a country mile.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36159009
    Expats lose referendum vote legal bid

    Could this be the hinge of fate that lets Leave win the referendum.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,723
    Alistair said:

    tlg86 said:


    but I think what Mr Campbell is saying is an inconvenient truth.

    No.

    There are two options for what he is saying. The first is tautologically pointless. No one is blaming invisible pixies for the people being crushed to death. No insight is gained from saying it was crowd members that crushed other crowd members. We know that. It is a vacuous, pseudo-intellectual statement at best.

    The other option is that it is victim blaming because quite surely some of those who were crushed so hard that their rib cages collapsed were also pressing against other who had the same happen to them either before or after they died. And this happened whilst people only feet away had no idea it was occurring. In crush and pre-crush situations people can take locally optimal, even logical, decisions for themselves that are devastating for the crowd as a whole. Not one person in that crowd thought "I know, I'll push this person so hard they won't be able to breather"

    The whole notion of "not pushing" is based on some utopian vision of crowds

    People are also completely ignoring that the reason why there was such a rush
    Look, here's the report on the Love Parade crowd disaster to get this clear of football fans.

    http://epjdatascience.springeropen.com/articles/10.1140/epjds7

    Here's the key lines
    "As was pointed out in Sec. 2.3, when the crowd was trapped in a situation of extreme density, it did not have a chance to get an overview of the situation and possible ways to improve it, in particular to get out of the area."

    "However, it took some time until the criticality of the situation was noticed and evacuation measures were taken. When the evacuation finally became effective, the ramp cleared quickly."

    In dense crowd situations it takes external observation and direction for a crowd to safely disperse.
    Hmm , still does not get away from the fact that if they were not acting like a herd of wildebeest and just rushing forward then it would not have happened.
    For sure once you are in the melee it is hard to do anything. I was involved in similar crowds, much bigger ones indeed, and it was scary indeed. I went down stairway 13 at Ibrox on day of the disaster , we heard the roar as the last minute goal was scored and people started to try to go back, we were at bottom and just left, only hearing about disaster later. At that time, in Scotland at least, most people were at best half cut as well. Had some scary ones at Hampden with over 100K crowds. Surprising it did not happen more often.
  • AlasdairAlasdair Posts: 72
    edited April 2016
    MikeK said:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36159009
    Expats lose referendum vote legal bid

    Could this be the hinge of fate that lets Leave win the referendum.

    I was 17 last time, and now, I miss out again. One vote down for Leave.
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,454
    MikeK said:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36159009
    Expats lose referendum vote legal bid

    Could this be the hinge of fate that lets Leave win the referendum.

    What makes you think expats vote remain?
This discussion has been closed.