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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Game over. What should the Labour right do now that it has

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  • Options
    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    chestnut said:
    I know we're sceptical of ORB given their tiny % Undecided share, yet this caught my eye.
    Meanwhile the proportion of soft voters – those either undecided or likely to change their minds come polling day – remains relatively low. Fifteen per cent are now considered soft voters, a drop of six points from last month.

    Moreover 11 per cent of Remain voters and 9 per cent of Leave voters are soft, a decrease of 4 and 8 points respectively since the last poll in April.
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 56,247
    @Charles - I'm afraid I can't accept the status quo

    Having the ECJ ruling on our judicial rights through the charter of fundamental rights, losing our veto in 45 policy areas, giving the EU legal personality, and creating an external diplomatic service and foreign affairs branch that covets our UN Security Council seat were all steps too far for me.

    I'm also unhappy with the fact we can't negotiate our own trade deals nor implement a balanced points based immigration system. Neither do I like the concept of EU citizenship introduced in Maastrict.

    Do I really care that much about fish?

    I struggle to.
  • Options
    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758



    I am afraid that privatisation is not a left wing policy. It is a right wing one.

    Frankly, though, I think it is rather silly to try to place the Nazis and Mussolini on the traditional right/left spectrum.

    The left, however, has to take Stalin. On a smaller, less brutal - but still profoundly unpleasant and murderous - scale, Franco and the other southern European dictators of the mid-twentieth century were clearly on the right, as was the Apartheid regime in South Africa.





    Indeed it is silly - I was reacting to @ydoethur's casual placing of Hitler and Mussolini on the right. As a history teacher he should know that things are more complicated than that ;)

    On privatisation - it's right wing if it's driven by a belief that the organisations are better run in private hands. If it's just a means to enrich your allies I don't think it is a right/left thing - it's just a mechanism at that point.
  • Options
    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,973

    malcolmg said:

    Scott_P said:

    @euanmccolm: there are exactly as many snp mps having affairs with that journalist as there are pandas in Scotland.

    Double the amount of Tory MP's as there are in Scotland as well
    When did macaroni cheese and chips become the national dish ? :-)
    Would you like some buttered bread with that?

    (I kid you not - offered in a pub in Forfar...)
  • Options
    Moses_Moses_ Posts: 4,865
    edited May 2016
    Scott_P said:

    A leaked letter suggests the Prime Minister was plotting with a multinational firm on how to hammer home the Remain case while still claiming he was prepared to campaign to leave.

    The interesting point about this story is that Brexiteers are prepared to leak this

    Bringing down Cameron is much more important to them than whether we are in the EU or not.
    how on earth did you get from the story reported to bringing down Cameron other than of course an attempt to debunk or minimise the importance of the information.

    Since piffle2 may be a while in supporting his video's claims - here's one for starters:

    The claim: We will not join the euro

    Reality Check verdict:
    This is true - the UK secured an opt-out, which is written into EU law. The UK cannot be forced to adopt the single currency.


    http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35990076

    No you speak piffle but I admire your trust in the EU however after 40 years of this I tend to take a more cautious approach. For example Isn't free movement "enshrined" in EU law but look at the number of countries who have abandoned it and even erected fences. In the meantime the EU by which we mean Germany of course force other nations to take illegal migrants against their will to save it from its own " sovereign decision" that's fecked up the entire continent.

    Quoting the rules from Brussels is pointless. They can be and are overturned with impunity and regularly are to suit their project or an individual nation ( normally France)

    You will see this when Remain wins, as they will. The list of demands from Brussels will be massive . It will be nicely put to us though along the lines of.....

    Dear Mr John Bull,

    Please first bend over and touch your toes this shouldn't take long and won't hurt a bit....

    * plucking sound of rubber gloves being tightened over fingers"

    Don't say you were not warned of the consequences.
  • Options
    DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300
    Patrick said:

    What do the 'Labour right' want? What do they stand for? What is their thing? Whose interests do they represent? I have no idea. Nor do they themselves. We had Burnham, Mrs Balls and the other one contesting Corbyn for the leadership and they managed in the course of several weeks' campaigning to say precisely nothing about anything. Chuka maybe? An empty suit. Jarvis? A handsome haircut. The postman? In fact who gives a shit about the 'Labour right'?

    One assumes they want to win elections. But that is their other problem as they failed at that in 2010 and 2015.
  • Options
    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,973
    malcolmg said:

    Scott_P said:

    A leaked letter suggests the Prime Minister was plotting with a multinational firm on how to hammer home the Remain case while still claiming he was prepared to campaign to leave.

    The interesting point about this story is that Brexiteers are prepared to leak this

    Bringing down Cameron is much more important to them than whether we are in the EU or not.
    The lying toad deserves to be exposed for the low life he is.
    Glad you think so:

    http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/7155077/Two-MPs-marriages-destroyed-after-they-both-have-affairs-with-the-SAME-blonde-journalist-in-messy-love-triangle.html

    Oh, and its SNP toads
  • Options
    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,977
    edited May 2016
    Jonathan said:

    Interesting to see Charles express emerging right wing political correctness and revisionist history.

    Whist his desire to repaint the right as motherhood and apple pie is understandable, I fear that his argument that the far right aren't right wing is a bridge too far.

    It is a really tricky one. Fascism is, philosophically and using the pretty much outmoded Left Right political spectrum, a pretty left wing ideology; but practical applications of it have almost always come about through the support of capitalists fed up with closed shop socialism threatening their existence.
  • Options
    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    Jonathan said:

    Interesting to see Charles express emerging right wing political correctness and revisionist history.

    Whist his desire to repaint the right as motherhood and apple pie is understandable, I fear that his argument that the far right aren't right wing is a bridge too far.

    Why are the "far right" far right? On what spectrum?

    They were left wing economically. They wrapped themselves in the symbols of nationalism (arguably without being truly patriotic). They were anti-establishment and iconoclastic.

    As SO said, right/left isn't really an appropriate measure for something like this. But it's a convenient smear, so the mass media doesn't actually think too hard about the academic verities.
  • Options
    runnymederunnymede Posts: 2,536
    Moses_ said:

    Scott_P said:

    A leaked letter suggests the Prime Minister was plotting with a multinational firm on how to hammer home the Remain case while still claiming he was prepared to campaign to leave.

    The interesting point about this story is that Brexiteers are prepared to leak this

    Bringing down Cameron is much more important to them than whether we are in the EU or not.
    how on earth did you get from the story reported to bringing down Cameron other than of course an attempt to debunk or minimise the importance of the information.

    Since piffle2 may be a while in supporting his video's claims - here's one for starters:

    The claim: We will not join the euro

    Reality Check verdict:
    This is true - the UK secured an opt-out, which is written into EU law. The UK cannot be forced to adopt the single currency.


    http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35990076

    No you speak piffle but I admire your trust in the EU however after 40 years of this I tend to take a more cautious approach. For example Isn't free movement "enshrined" in EU law but look at the number of countries who have abandoned it and even erected fences. In the meantime the EU by which we mean Germany of course force other nations to take illegal migrants against their will to save it from its own " sovereign decision" that's fecked up the entire continent.

    Quoting the rules from Brussels is pointless. They can be and are overturned with impunity and regularly are to suit their project or an individual nation ( normally France)

    You will see this when Remain wins, as they will. The list of demands from Brussels will be massive . It will be nicely put to us though along the lines of.....

    Dear Mr John Bull,

    Please first bend over and touch your toes this shouldn't take long and won't hurt a bit....

    * plucking sound of rubber gloves being tightened over fingers"

    Don't say you were not warned of the consequences.
    Why are you warning them? They want all these things to happen.
  • Options
    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    runnymede said:

    malcolmg said:

    Scott_P said:

    A leaked letter suggests the Prime Minister was plotting with a multinational firm on how to hammer home the Remain case while still claiming he was prepared to campaign to leave.

    The interesting point about this story is that Brexiteers are prepared to leak this

    Bringing down Cameron is much more important to them than whether we are in the EU or not.
    The lying toad deserves to be exposed for the low life he is.
    Quite right Malcolm.

    If only we could get some of the memos that must have passed between Treasury officials and Osborne in the run-up to the publication of the Treasury's 'Brexit' study.

    Some juicy stuff there I'm sure -

    Osborne 'Why can't we make the numbers bigger?'

    Official 'Well, we could tweak some of the assumptions...'

    Osborne 'Whatever numbers you have now, double them, or treble them...'

    etc.
    They won't be memos.

    Post-it notes, maybe.
  • Options
    JackWJackW Posts: 14,787
    Wanderer said:

    JackW said:

    BREAKING WIND NEWS **** BREAKING WIND NEWS **** BREAKING WIND NEWS ****

    The breaking news is that WIND is reporting to JNN the contents of the latest ARSE4EU Referendum Projection :

    Should The United Kingdom Remain A Member Of The European Union Or Leave The European Union?

    Remain 54% (-1) .. Leave 46% (+1)

    Turnout Projection 64% (NC)

    Changes from 13th May.

    ......................................................................

    WIND - Whimsical Independent News Division
    JNN - Jacobite News Network
    ARSE4EU - Anonymous Random Selection of Electors For European Union

    Thanks.

    Interesting that you have a nudge towards Leave at the same time as Betfair has marched towards Remain. I suspect you are right.
    We're talking small margins here that nudge the dial a point or so in either direction. The turnout filter has moved 3 points but at this stage hasn't had a significant effect.

    A stable ARSE is a happy ARSE
  • Options
    Moses_Moses_ Posts: 4,865
    Scott_P said:
    Mmmmm....a tad difficult to post the English version this morning I guess?
  • Options
    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,409
    Moses_ said:

    For example Isn't free movement "enshrined" in EU law but look at the number of countries who have abandoned it and even erected fences. In the meantime the EU by which we mean Germany of course force other nations to take illegal migrants against their will to save it from its own " sovereign decision" that's fecked up the entire continent.

    The Schengen treaties allow countries to reimpose border controls under certain circumstances.

    Not only that, but aren't you suggesting that countries don't need to be bound by the EU, rather than that the EU is forcing them to do something?
  • Options
    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    runnymede said:

    malcolmg said:

    Scott_P said:

    A leaked letter suggests the Prime Minister was plotting with a multinational firm on how to hammer home the Remain case while still claiming he was prepared to campaign to leave.

    The interesting point about this story is that Brexiteers are prepared to leak this

    Bringing down Cameron is much more important to them than whether we are in the EU or not.
    The lying toad deserves to be exposed for the low life he is.
    Quite right Malcolm.

    If only we could get some of the memos that must have passed between Treasury officials and Osborne in the run-up to the publication of the Treasury's 'Brexit' study.

    Some juicy stuff there I'm sure -

    Osborne 'Why can't we make the numbers bigger?'

    Official 'Well, we could tweak some of the assumptions...'

    Osborne 'Whatever numbers you have now, double them, or treble them...'

    etc.
    There were stories of Remain using WhatsApp distribution lists to keep conversations off the public record.
  • Options
    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,973

    MikeK said:

    Good morning all.

    The woman appointed to lead an independent inquiry into Labour antisemitism joined the party hours before it began, raising questions over the impartiality of the review.

    Shami Chakrabarti, the human rights campaigner, defended her decision and insisted that she would conduct the investigation “without fear or favour”.

    Ms Chakrabarti was also forced to defend a decision to include allegations of Islamophobia in the remit after claims that it risked diluting the inquiry.

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/independent-head-of-antisemitism-review-joins-the-labour-party-t3wpr72t7

    So really, Labour have ducked the issue on an Independent inquiry and also softened it's approach to anti-semitism with the addition of linking it to Islamophobia.

    It's got BBC complaint response written all over it "We listened to your concerns, and decided on balance we were right"
    She's already started - broadening it from 'anti-semitism' to include 'islamophobia' and 'racism in general' - that should see it nicely buried diluted......
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,943
    Charles said:

    Jonathan said:

    Interesting to see Charles express emerging right wing political correctness and revisionist history.

    Whist his desire to repaint the right as motherhood and apple pie is understandable, I fear that his argument that the far right aren't right wing is a bridge too far.

    Why are the "far right" far right? On what spectrum?

    They were left wing economically. They wrapped themselves in the symbols of nationalism (arguably without being truly patriotic). They were anti-establishment and iconoclastic.

    As SO said, right/left isn't really an appropriate measure for something like this. But it's a convenient smear, so the mass media doesn't actually think too hard about the academic verities.
    Don't confuse your personal opinions with "academic verities". The interesting question is why you feel the need to mount such arguments.
  • Options
    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822

    malcolmg said:

    Scott_P said:

    @euanmccolm: there are exactly as many snp mps having affairs with that journalist as there are pandas in Scotland.

    Double the amount of Tory MP's as there are in Scotland as well
    When did macaroni cheese and chips become the national dish ? :-)
    Would you like some buttered bread with that?

    (I kid you not - offered in a pub in Forfar...)
    The 6th Most Read article in the Guardian yesterday was How To Eat Macaroni Cheese. I thought a fork was popular myself. I resisted the urge to read it.
  • Options
    OllyTOllyT Posts: 4,935
    shiney2 said:

    shiney2 said:

    shiney2 said:

    shiney2 said:

    shiney2 said:

    shiney2 said:

    shiney2 said:

    Yippee, its a new day! Hello Britain..
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0pwXLtvt2w&feature=youtu.be

    Its PIFFLE! again!

    PIFFLE piffle PIFFLE piffle PIFFLE PIFFLE

    Seriously, you want yesterday's embarrassment repeated today?
    You were so sure your little quote proved what you thought. It seemed a shame to disturb your entire day..
    Joking apart - posting video's costs OGH money - so I would submit, out of politeness, once is enough (and this one you posted more than once yesterday, let alone in previous days.)

    Oh, and piffle
    So, no argument left. Not even yesterdays comprehension failure?
    Out of kindness I'm not going to repost the articles from the Lisbon Treaty which you claimed supported your little video, but in fact directly contradicted it

    Now run along, Piffle......
    You wrongly said I quoted from the Lisbon Treaty.

    1) I didn't quote from anything.
    2) that link isnt 'the Lisbon Treaty'.

    So what's today's defence?

    Same video, new defence?

    It was piffle yesterday, it's piffle today.....
    No defence is required against a false statement. Read the link..
    I did - and I quoted details back to you which directly contradict the claims in the video

    But for our entertainment, can you provide links that support we will have to:

    - replace the pound with the Euro
    - replace common law & jury trial with bench trials
    - join Schengen.

    In your own time.
    Still trying to muddy the waters..

    If it directly contradicts, you'll have no difficulty quoting it again, will you?
    You're the one (re) posting the video - if you can't support the claims in it, we may draw our own conclusions about the veracity of the rest of it....
    Ah, so you can't even reproduce something from yesterday that you claim 'directly contradicts' one small part of the vid.

    Its not going well for you is it?
    After last night's ORB phone poll gave REMAIN a 15% lead many of the comments from Leavers were unhinged and you are not doing much to repair that image this morning.
  • Options
    MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    edited May 2016
    Are the BBC going to reduce expenditure by.......

    1. Cutting those over-large salaries that the top people get? NO!
    2. Cutting those over-large salaries that middle management get? NO!
    3. Cutting those great expensive studios that are seldom used? NO!

    4. Cutting 15,000 recipes from a website to save £15M? YES! YES! YES!

    5. Getting the supine Cameroon government to increase the the price of
    it's License fee for 11 years? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36308976
  • Options
    OllyTOllyT Posts: 4,935
    Roger said:

    shiney2 said:

    shiney2 said:

    Yippee, its a new day! Hello Britain..
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0pwXLtvt2w&feature=youtu.be

    Its PIFFLE! again!

    PIFFLE piffle PIFFLE piffle PIFFLE PIFFLE

    Seriously, you want yesterday's embarrassment repeated today?
    You were so sure your little quote proved what you thought. It seemed a shame to disturb your entire day..
    Joking apart - posting videos costs OGH money - so I would submit, out of politeness, once is enough (and this one you posted more than once yesterday, let alone in previous days.)

    Oh, and piffle
    I haven't seen it before. It's spoilt by being so childish. The graphics are OK but the dialogue sounds like it was written for twelve year olds

    That's why Shiney2 loves it
  • Options
    JackWJackW Posts: 14,787

    malcolmg said:

    Scott_P said:

    @euanmccolm: there are exactly as many snp mps having affairs with that journalist as there are pandas in Scotland.

    Double the amount of Tory MP's as there are in Scotland as well
    When did macaroni cheese and chips become the national dish ? :-)
    Would you like some buttered bread with that?

    (I kid you not - offered in a pub in Forfar...)
    Some consider a fried mars bar sarnie as something of a local delicacy in Angus, although the buttered version is more prevalent in Kerriemuir as it was a staple at the breakfast table of their favourite son - J M Barrie and served by the butler - The Admirable Crichton.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 59,110
    edited May 2016
    MikeK said:

    Are the BBC going to reduce expenditure by.......

    1. Cutting those over-large salaries that the top people get? NO!
    2. Cutting those over-large salaries that middle management get? NO!
    3. Cutting those great expensive studios that are seldom used? NO!

    4. Cutting 15,000 recipes from a website to save £15M? YES! YES! YES!

    5. Getting the supine Cameroon government to increase the the price of
    it's License fee for 11 years? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36308976

    Is the BBC on the hook to reduce expenditure? I thought the license fee was going up with inflation? And really, why has the BBC got a database of 11k recipes in the first place.
  • Options
    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,964
    MikeK said:

    Are the BBC going to reduce expenditure by.......

    1. Cutting those over-large salaries that the top people get? NO!
    2. Cutting those over-large salaries that middle management get? NO!
    3. Cutting those great expensive studios that are seldom used? NO!

    4. Cutting 15,000 recipes from a website to save £15M? YES! YES! YES!

    5. Getting the supine Cameroon government to increase the the price of
    it's License fee for 11 years? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36308976

    one of the few things I actually like and they close it.

    It has all the ring of de;iberately cutting the service to create an outcry and screams of cuts ! cuts !
  • Options
    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,977

    malcolmg said:

    Scott_P said:

    @euanmccolm: there are exactly as many snp mps having affairs with that journalist as there are pandas in Scotland.

    Double the amount of Tory MP's as there are in Scotland as well
    When did macaroni cheese and chips become the national dish ? :-)
    Would you like some buttered bread with that?

    (I kid you not - offered in a pub in Forfar...)
    The 6th Most Read article in the Guardian yesterday was How To Eat Macaroni Cheese. I thought a fork was popular myself. I resisted the urge to read it.
    The more I read the Guardian, the more I am convinced that Hipsters feel the need to re-examine every life lesson they've learned; and generally go for the one that history and progress have deemed less efficient/socially acceptable/flattering.

    Hence, for men, facefluff, NHS style glasses and skinny jeans seems to be the new uniform.
  • Options
    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822

    MikeK said:

    Good morning all.

    The woman appointed to lead an independent inquiry into Labour antisemitism joined the party hours before it began, raising questions over the impartiality of the review.

    Shami Chakrabarti, the human rights campaigner, defended her decision and insisted that she would conduct the investigation “without fear or favour”.

    Ms Chakrabarti was also forced to defend a decision to include allegations of Islamophobia in the remit after claims that it risked diluting the inquiry.

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/independent-head-of-antisemitism-review-joins-the-labour-party-t3wpr72t7

    So really, Labour have ducked the issue on an Independent inquiry and also softened it's approach to anti-semitism with the addition of linking it to Islamophobia.

    It's got BBC complaint response written all over it "We listened to your concerns, and decided on balance we were right"
    She's already started - broadening it from 'anti-semitism' to include 'islamophobia' and 'racism in general' - that should see it nicely buried diluted......
    And she'll be handed a safe seat. Probably after John Mann is deselected.
  • Options
    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,702
    A Labour coalition with the LibDems represents moderate Labour's best bet, because the LibDems would most likely veto much that they find objectionable in their own party's platform (as Cammo found most useful); because some at least of them may have the prospect of office in such circumstances (depending partly on the eagerness of leading left-wingers to serve given the compromises such an arrangement would require) and because, if it could deliver meaningful electoral reform, this would clear away the principle obstacle to the future success of Alastair's options 3 & 4.

    Whether the leader would be Corbyn or someone else in such circumstances is an interesting question. Whilst coalition partners are normally unable to influence the leadership of their partners, it was clear from the Lib/Lab discussions that started in 2010 that Brown could not lead, had it been possible to make a government in that way. Plus there must be questions over Corbyn's willingness and suitability for the hard slog of coalition government given his age and general disposition, particularly if the LibDems had had a good election and Labour not so much. So ironically they might even get rid of Corbyn as well in this scenario!

    The challenge for them is how to make such an outcome more likely. Keeping their heads down, hoping the Tories themselves run into a mess, and doing just enough rowing to keep the boat moving forward, appears to be what most of them have chosen.

  • Options
    Innocent_AbroadInnocent_Abroad Posts: 3,294
    Mortimer said:

    Jonathan said:

    Interesting to see Charles express emerging right wing political correctness and revisionist history.

    Whist his desire to repaint the right as motherhood and apple pie is understandable, I fear that his argument that the far right aren't right wing is a bridge too far.

    It is a really tricky one. Fascism is, philosophically and using the pretty much outmoded Left Right political spectrum, a pretty left wing ideology; but practical applications of it have almost always come about through the support of capitalists fed up with closed shop socialism threatening their existence.
    Who taught you that?

  • Options
    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @JeremyCliffe: Brexiteers are (still) peddling a fantasy of absolute sovereignty. That's not how the world works: https://t.co/rYRf27zjls
  • Options
    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    MikeK said:

    Are the BBC going to reduce expenditure by.......

    1. Cutting those over-large salaries that the top people get? NO!
    2. Cutting those over-large salaries that middle management get? NO!
    3. Cutting those great expensive studios that are seldom used? NO!

    4. Cutting 15,000 recipes from a website to save £15M? YES! YES! YES!

    5. Getting the supine Cameroon government to increase the the price of
    it's License fee for 11 years? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36308976

    The non-BBC media seem very sceptical about this gesture politics. How can hosting pre-written/loaded recipes cost £15m?
  • Options
    agingjbagingjb Posts: 76
    "a substantial strand of British political thought would go unrepresented for the medium term."

    There must be at least three strands of British political thought that are unrepresented now, or at any time. So what's new?
  • Options
    MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    Didn't Churchill once say to to his wife, "the children could be doing better; but the grandchildren? Ugh!!!".
    https://twitter.com/ukipwebmaster/status/732477493479759872
  • Options
    JackWJackW Posts: 14,787
    RobD said:

    MikeK said:

    Are the BBC going to reduce expenditure by.......

    1. Cutting those over-large salaries that the top people get? NO!
    2. Cutting those over-large salaries that middle management get? NO!
    3. Cutting those great expensive studios that are seldom used? NO!

    4. Cutting 15,000 recipes from a website to save £15M? YES! YES! YES!

    5. Getting the supine Cameroon government to increase the the price of
    it's License fee for 11 years? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36308976

    And really, why has the BBC got a database of 11k recipes in the first place.
    Be fair only 10k of those recipes were for Eric Pickles and now he's left government the Beeb feel under no obligation to provide him with weekly menu options.

  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,065
    Given the recipes are just text, why does it cost so much to host them?
  • Options
    TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 40,516
    edited May 2016
    Charles said:

    Jonathan said:

    Interesting to see Charles express emerging right wing political correctness and revisionist history.

    Whist his desire to repaint the right as motherhood and apple pie is understandable, I fear that his argument that the far right aren't right wing is a bridge too far.

    Why are the "far right" far right? On what spectrum?

    They were left wing economically. They wrapped themselves in the symbols of nationalism (arguably without being truly patriotic). They were anti-establishment and iconoclastic.
    Oh aye.
    Is there a special kind of anti-establishment iconoclasm that depends on the support of the aristocracy, bourgeoisie, farmers, industrialists and the churches?
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 59,110

    MikeK said:

    Are the BBC going to reduce expenditure by.......

    1. Cutting those over-large salaries that the top people get? NO!
    2. Cutting those over-large salaries that middle management get? NO!
    3. Cutting those great expensive studios that are seldom used? NO!

    4. Cutting 15,000 recipes from a website to save £15M? YES! YES! YES!

    5. Getting the supine Cameroon government to increase the the price of
    it's License fee for 11 years? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36308976

    The non-BBC media seem very sceptical about this gesture politics. How can hosting pre-written/loaded recipes cost £15m?
    To be fair, it does say "as part of".
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 59,110
    JackW said:

    RobD said:

    MikeK said:

    Are the BBC going to reduce expenditure by.......

    1. Cutting those over-large salaries that the top people get? NO!
    2. Cutting those over-large salaries that middle management get? NO!
    3. Cutting those great expensive studios that are seldom used? NO!

    4. Cutting 15,000 recipes from a website to save £15M? YES! YES! YES!

    5. Getting the supine Cameroon government to increase the the price of
    it's License fee for 11 years? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36308976

    And really, why has the BBC got a database of 11k recipes in the first place.
    Be fair only 10k of those recipes were for Eric Pickles and now he's left government the Beeb feel under no obligation to provide him with weekly menu options.

    That was surely a selection of snacks before the main meal started?
  • Options
    WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838
    JackW said:

    Wanderer said:

    JackW said:

    BREAKING WIND NEWS **** BREAKING WIND NEWS **** BREAKING WIND NEWS ****

    The breaking news is that WIND is reporting to JNN the contents of the latest ARSE4EU Referendum Projection :

    Should The United Kingdom Remain A Member Of The European Union Or Leave The European Union?

    Remain 54% (-1) .. Leave 46% (+1)

    Turnout Projection 64% (NC)

    Changes from 13th May.

    ......................................................................

    WIND - Whimsical Independent News Division
    JNN - Jacobite News Network
    ARSE4EU - Anonymous Random Selection of Electors For European Union

    Thanks.

    Interesting that you have a nudge towards Leave at the same time as Betfair has marched towards Remain. I suspect you are right.
    We're talking small margins here that nudge the dial a point or so in either direction. The turnout filter has moved 3 points but at this stage hasn't had a significant effect.

    A stable ARSE is a happy ARSE
    Certainly not much evidence of movement in yesterday's polls.

    Leave may be happy with the stable position at present - they don't seem to be losing ground - but at some point they will run out of road. This assumes that the underlying position is more or less as you have it, of course.

    On turnout, I'm starting to think 60-65 will lose at the top end of the band.
  • Options
    chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341

    chestnut said:
    I know we're sceptical of ORB given their tiny % Undecided share, yet this caught my eye.
    Meanwhile the proportion of soft voters – those either undecided or likely to change their minds come polling day – remains relatively low. Fifteen per cent are now considered soft voters, a drop of six points from last month.

    Moreover 11 per cent of Remain voters and 9 per cent of Leave voters are soft, a decrease of 4 and 8 points respectively since the last poll in April.
    There's an interesting divergence in the Populus/Matt Singh polls that TSE keeps referencing from March.

    Remain 24 points ahead on Mobiles, 4 behind on landlines.
  • Options
    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,684

    MikeK said:

    Are the BBC going to reduce expenditure by.......

    1. Cutting those over-large salaries that the top people get? NO!
    2. Cutting those over-large salaries that middle management get? NO!
    3. Cutting those great expensive studios that are seldom used? NO!

    4. Cutting 15,000 recipes from a website to save £15M? YES! YES! YES!

    5. Getting the supine Cameroon government to increase the the price of
    it's License fee for 11 years? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36308976

    one of the few things I actually like and they close it.

    It has all the ring of de;iberately cutting the service to create an outcry and screams of cuts ! cuts !
    Yes, very much like Labour councils cutting frontline services rather than the middle management and then screaming about cuts while Tory and Lib Dem councils made savings in the back office to protect most front line services.
  • Options
    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,684
    chestnut said:

    chestnut said:
    I know we're sceptical of ORB given their tiny % Undecided share, yet this caught my eye.
    Meanwhile the proportion of soft voters – those either undecided or likely to change their minds come polling day – remains relatively low. Fifteen per cent are now considered soft voters, a drop of six points from last month.

    Moreover 11 per cent of Remain voters and 9 per cent of Leave voters are soft, a decrease of 4 and 8 points respectively since the last poll in April.
    There's an interesting divergence in the Populus/Matt Singh polls that TSE keeps referencing from March.

    Remain 24 points ahead on Mobiles, 4 behind on landlines.

    That's surely just a young/old split.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 59,110
    MaxPB said:

    MikeK said:

    Are the BBC going to reduce expenditure by.......

    1. Cutting those over-large salaries that the top people get? NO!
    2. Cutting those over-large salaries that middle management get? NO!
    3. Cutting those great expensive studios that are seldom used? NO!

    4. Cutting 15,000 recipes from a website to save £15M? YES! YES! YES!

    5. Getting the supine Cameroon government to increase the the price of
    it's License fee for 11 years? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36308976

    one of the few things I actually like and they close it.

    It has all the ring of de;iberately cutting the service to create an outcry and screams of cuts ! cuts !
    Yes, very much like Labour councils cutting frontline services rather than the middle management and then screaming about cuts while Tory and Lib Dem councils made savings in the back office to protect most front line services.
    Or spending money on adverts complaining about the cuts...
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 59,110
    edited May 2016
    i think the quotes are buggered up again. Can we all agree on a moratorium on the use of blockquote when quoting bits of text, instead use italics. Otherwise the quotes get all buggered like in MaxPB's recent post.
  • Options
    Andrea Leadsom putting in her usual solid professional performance on Sky News. Full of examples of how being in EU adds to our cost of energy. VOTE Leave need to use her more.

    Meanwhile Lab John McDonnell explaining why being in EU fits in with his socialist paradise...
  • Options
    Moses_Moses_ Posts: 4,865

    MikeK said:

    Good morning all.

    The woman appointed to lead an independent inquiry into Labour antisemitism joined the party hours before it began, raising questions over the impartiality of the review.

    Shami Chakrabarti, the human rights campaigner, defended her decision and insisted that she would conduct the investigation “without fear or favour”.

    Ms Chakrabarti was also forced to defend a decision to include allegations of Islamophobia in the remit after claims that it risked diluting the inquiry.

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/independent-head-of-antisemitism-review-joins-the-labour-party-t3wpr72t7

    So really, Labour have ducked the issue on an Independent inquiry and also softened it's approach to anti-semitism with the addition of linking it to Islamophobia.

    It's got BBC complaint response written all over it "We listened to your concerns, and decided on balance we were right"
    She's already started - broadening it from 'anti-semitism' to include 'islamophobia' and 'racism in general' - that should see it nicely buried diluted......
    And she'll be handed a safe seat. Probably after John Mann is deselected.
    It's a direct conflict of interest. Had this been on the right wing as opposed to the left wing the squeals from the lefties of a fixed report would be utterly deafening. Either way they will find no case to answer , exonerate themselves and find it more rife in the nasty Tories.

    They will also publish the findings on July 6th.
  • Options
    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    edited May 2016
    chestnut said:

    chestnut said:
    I know we're sceptical of ORB given their tiny % Undecided share, yet this caught my eye.
    Meanwhile the proportion of soft voters – those either undecided or likely to change their minds come polling day – remains relatively low. Fifteen per cent are now considered soft voters, a drop of six points from last month.

    Moreover 11 per cent of Remain voters and 9 per cent of Leave voters are soft, a decrease of 4 and 8 points respectively since the last poll in April.


    There's an interesting divergence in the Populus/Matt Singh polls that TSE keeps referencing from March.

    Remain 24 points ahead on Mobiles, 4 behind on landlines.
    That's noteworthy. The entrails are much more interesting than the headlines.

    OT Kyle is hilarious this morning - 6 people arguing about a £10 dog. How the other half lives. The lie detector tests are costing £1500. Not sure many will be voting in the EUref...
  • Options
    Lab John McDonnell using the opportunity to slag off Osborne's economics and management of the economy, lots of tory this and tory that. Quite funny when the top 2 most used people to front REMAIN are tories....

    Similar to Ratner's approach to enhancing the brand? Yes look at all these reasons why the tory chaps running REMAIN are cr*p, but you should all still go out and vote for it......
  • Options
    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,684

    Given the recipes are just text, why does it cost so much to host them?

    Pictures, videos, probably some amount of royalties that need to paid. I would also look at why the BBC owns the Good Food network and UKTV, neither need to be in public hands and the BBC should be forced to sell their stake in UKTV.
  • Options
    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,964
    edited May 2016
    MikeK said:

    Didn't Churchill once say to to his wife, "the children could be doing better; but the grandchildren? Ugh!!!".
    https://twitter.com/ukipwebmaster/status/732477493479759872

    I just couldnt be a Remainer
    Their tactics cant be any plainer
    it;s toffs trying to scare us
    and spivs to outBlair us
    with threats that get ever insaner.
  • Options
    Moses_Moses_ Posts: 4,865
    edited May 2016
    RobD said:

    i think the quotes are buggered up again. Can we all agree on a moratorium on the use of blockquote when quoting bits of text, instead use italics. Otherwise the quotes get all buggered like in MaxPB's recent post.

    The sites entirely buggered anyway with open nesting making threads very long and really causing optical illusions on the eyes to the point you can't read the comments. Swopped to Firefox and can't log in? Came direct through vanilla and to enter a post on a 300 post thread I hit quote and then have to scroll right to the latest post to find edit box then scroll all the way back. Don't even think about Chrome I can log in but that's about it and it used to be fine.

    It started the Sunday before last and I was apparently not the only one that has these issues from around the same date / time.

    Tried everything but cannot get back to how it was?
  • Options
    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @paul_mcmc: No BBC recipes? Just use an American internet one instead. "a sixth of flour, 3 groats of sugar, 1/7 bucket of milk, 2 cubits of salt..."
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 59,110
    Moses_ said:

    RobD said:

    i think the quotes are buggered up again. Can we all agree on a moratorium on the use of blockquote when quoting bits of text, instead use italics. Otherwise the quotes get all buggered like in MaxPB's recent post.

    The sites entirely buggered anyway with open nesting . Swopped to Firefox and can't log in? Came direct through vanilla and to enter a post on a 300 post thread I hit quote and then have to scroll right to the latest post to find edit box then scroll all the way back. Don't even think about Chrome I can log in but that's about it.

    It started the Sunday before last and I was apparently not the only one that has these issues from around the same date / time.

    Tried everything but cannot get back to how it was
    For Chrome, have you tried logging in on politicalbetting.vanillaforums.com/discussions? That seems to keep me logged in, and works okay.
  • Options
    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,964
    Have Remain tried 45 mins to save the NHS from WMD yet ?
  • Options
    chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341
    edited May 2016
    MaxPB said:

    That's surely just a young/old split.

    Probably.

    Old people don't often use mobiles. A lot don't have the internet either. They vote though.
  • Options
    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822

    MikeK said:

    Didn't Churchill once say to to his wife, "the children could be doing better; but the grandchildren? Ugh!!!".
    https://twitter.com/ukipwebmaster/status/732477493479759872

    I just couldnt be a Remainer
    Their tactics cant be any plainer
    it;s toffs trying to scare us
    and spivs to outBlair us
    with threats that get ever insaner.
    Very good - and no paternity test needed for those two.
  • Options
    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,964

    MikeK said:

    Didn't Churchill once say to to his wife, "the children could be doing better; but the grandchildren? Ugh!!!".
    https://twitter.com/ukipwebmaster/status/732477493479759872

    I just couldnt be a Remainer
    Their tactics cant be any plainer
    it;s toffs trying to scare us
    and spivs to outBlair us
    with threats that get ever insaner.
    Very good - and no paternity test needed for those two.
    quite clearly Jabba the Hut :-)
  • Options
    anothernickanothernick Posts: 3,578
    I am a long-time Labour activist - veteran of the struggle to get rid of the Trots in the late 80s and early 90s - so I'm a paid-up member of what Alistair calls the "Labour right" but we in the Party prefer to present ourselves as "moderates" as it sound more cuddly.

    From the outside the situation within the party appears to be one of a complete Corbynite takeover - the overwhelming majority of the membership apparently backs him, the recent elections were not bad enough to justify a revolt, the Labour right lack ideas, potential leadership candidates are not credible, the PLP has no backbone and moderate members are leaving the party in droves. Such is the narrative.

    But this is not a complete picture. A majority of members may support Corbyn but most of these members are completely inactive and have never done anything in the Party apart from vote for Corbyn. The Party structure, branches and organisation remains firmly in the hands of moderates. Amateurish attempts by Momentum and others to make inroads have been beaten off very easily - in my own CLP their candidates were defeated by more than 4-1 at the AGM. As a result of this they have now ceased to be active in most branches. This is important as it means MPs need not worry about deselection if they mount a coup - you cannot deselect an MP if you do not control the local Party.

    At the moment Party membership is static - there is no sign of an exodus of moderates. We are waiting to see how many of the new members who joined last Summer renew their membership when it falls due over the next few months.

    The left slate for the NEC was struggling even before the implosion of Ken and it now seems unlikely that it will succeed in giving Corbyn a majority on that body.

    There are, of course, many criticisms of Corbyn from a policy viewpoint but there are also criticism on a more basic level. The fact is that he does not have the personal qualities required of a leader in modern politics - his media appearances are stilted, he is a poor public speaker and, although he is a "nice person" he lacks management skills and is unable to guide meetings toward a decision or impose his authority when there is a disagreement within the team. This means that even those who support his policies do not necessarily support his leadership.

    MPs talk openly of a coup - I have repeatedly been told it is not whether but when. This position has not changed since the elections on May 5. Therefore I continue to believe that he will not lead the Party into the next general election.
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,065
    Mr. Nick, interesting post, but does a coup have any prospect of succeeding given the Labour rulebook?
  • Options
    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    @anothernick Very informative insider post, always good to read *real world* vs outsider opinion.
  • Options
    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    @anothernick - I had past complaints from Corbynites that to use "moderates" was to prejudge who was right and who was wrong (and to start with a tendentious view of what was moderate). On reflection, I took their point. So I now try to use "Labour right" as a descriptive term that no one could object to.

    Finding neutral terms for political groupings that don't cause offence is one of the harder challenges. And everyone knows I don't seek to cause gratuitous offence.
  • Options
    SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,713


    MPs talk openly of a coup - I have repeatedly been told it is not whether but when. This position has not changed since the elections on May 5. Therefore I continue to believe that he will not lead the Party into the next general election.

    Meh...how many talks of coups against Brown which never happened. It's not in the labour DNA to weild the dagger, and there's no one left to do it.

    The labour right are now outside the tent, so very little grand gestures over then resigning the whip or defection are avaialable to them,a nd the moment they do that they lose all influence.
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,775



    MPs talk openly of a coup - I have repeatedly been told it is not whether but when. This position has not changed since the elections on May 5. Therefore I continue to believe that he will not lead the Party into the next general election.

    We heard this when Brown & Ed were in charge....
  • Options
    WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838



    At the moment Party membership is static - there is no sign of an exodus of moderates. We are waiting to see how many of the new members who joined last Summer renew their membership when it falls due over the next few months.

    The left slate for the NEC was struggling even before the implosion of Ken and it now seems unlikely that it will succeed in giving Corbyn a majority on that body.

    There are, of course, many criticisms of Corbyn from a policy viewpoint but there are also criticism on a more basic level. The fact is that he does not have the personal qualities required of a leader in modern politics - his media appearances are stilted, he is a poor public speaker and, although he is a "nice person" he lacks management skills and is unable to guide meetings toward a decision or impose his authority when there is a disagreement within the team. This means that even those who support his policies do not necessarily support his leadership.

    MPs talk openly of a coup - I have repeatedly been told it is not whether but when. This position has not changed since the elections on May 5. Therefore I continue to believe that he will not lead the Party into the next general election.

    Very good point about membership renewals.

    If the moderates keep control of the NEC they can presumably block changes to the leadership selection process?
  • Options
    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,943

    I am a long-time Labour activist - veteran of the struggle to get rid of the Trots in the late 80s and early 90s - so I'm a paid-up member of what Alistair calls the "Labour right" but we in the Party prefer to present ourselves as "moderates" as it sound more cuddly.

    From the outside the situation within the party appears to be one of a complete Corbynite takeover - the overwhelming majority of the membership apparently backs him, the recent elections were not bad enough to justify a revolt, the Labour right lack ideas, potential leadership candidates are not credible, the PLP has no backbone and moderate members are leaving the party in droves. Such is the narrative.

    But this is not a complete picture. A majority of members may support Corbyn but most of these members are completely inactive and have never done anything in the Party apart from vote for Corbyn. The Party structure, branches and organisation remains firmly in the hands of moderates. Amateurish attempts by Momentum and others to make inroads have been beaten off very easily - in my own CLP their candidates were defeated by more than 4-1 at the AGM. As a result of this they have now ceased to be active in most branches. This is important as it means MPs need not worry about deselection if they mount a coup - you cannot deselect an MP if you do not control the local Party.

    At the moment Party membership is static - there is no sign of an exodus of moderates. We are waiting to see how many of the new members who joined last Summer renew their membership when it falls due over the next few months.

    The left slate for the NEC was struggling even before the implosion of Ken and it now seems unlikely that it will succeed in giving Corbyn a majority on that body.

    There are, of course, many criticisms of Corbyn from a policy viewpoint but there are also criticism on a more basic level. The fact is that he does not have the personal qualities required of a leader in modern politics - his media appearances are stilted, he is a poor public speaker and, although he is a "nice person" he lacks management skills and is unable to guide meetings toward a decision or impose his authority when there is a disagreement within the team. This means that even those who support his policies do not necessarily support his leadership.

    MPs talk openly of a coup - I have repeatedly been told it is not whether but when. This position has not changed since the elections on May 5. Therefore I continue to believe that he will not lead the Party into the next general election.

    V. interesting post. The issue of who renews this summer will be very important. Is this an automatic, opt-out process?
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,775
    edited May 2016
    MikeK said:

    Are the BBC going to reduce expenditure by.......

    1. Cutting those over-large salaries that the top people get? NO!
    2. Cutting those over-large salaries that middle management get? NO!
    3. Cutting those great expensive studios that are seldom used? NO!

    4. Cutting 15,000 recipes from a website to save £15M? YES! YES! YES!

    5. Getting the supine Cameroon government to increase the the price of
    it's License fee for 11 years? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36308976

    Just classic BBC...look look look over over there we are cutting something, because of nasty government, booo booo...

    You only have to look at all the nonsense over BBC3.

    Reminds me of all the Labour councils who in reaction to government spending cuts wouldn't cut diversity coordinators and other non-jobs, no it was close all public bogs...
  • Options
    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,943
    ... also, perhaps Ed M can be persuaded to comment on the wisdom of allowing people join for £3 who "are completely inactive and have never done anything in the Party apart from vote for Corbyn."

    This is a vey wide but dangerously shallow form of democracy.
  • Options
    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,943

    MikeK said:

    Are the BBC going to reduce expenditure by.......

    1. Cutting those over-large salaries that the top people get? NO!
    2. Cutting those over-large salaries that middle management get? NO!
    3. Cutting those great expensive studios that are seldom used? NO!

    4. Cutting 15,000 recipes from a website to save £15M? YES! YES! YES!

    5. Getting the supine Cameroon government to increase the the price of
    it's License fee for 11 years? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36308976

    Just classic BBC...look look look over over there we are cutting something, because of nasty government, booo booo...

    You only have to look at all the nonsense over BBC3.

    Reminds me of all the Labour councils who in reaction to government spending cuts wouldn't cut diversity coordinators and other non-jobs, no it was close all public bogs...
    Er, why does it cost anything to keep 11,000 EXISTING recipes online? A few quid for the server.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 59,110

    MikeK said:

    Are the BBC going to reduce expenditure by.......

    1. Cutting those over-large salaries that the top people get? NO!
    2. Cutting those over-large salaries that middle management get? NO!
    3. Cutting those great expensive studios that are seldom used? NO!

    4. Cutting 15,000 recipes from a website to save £15M? YES! YES! YES!

    5. Getting the supine Cameroon government to increase the the price of
    it's License fee for 11 years? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36308976

    Just classic BBC...look look look over over there we are cutting something, because of nasty government, booo booo...

    You only have to look at all the nonsense over BBC3.

    Reminds me of all the Labour councils who in reaction to government spending cuts wouldn't cut diversity coordinators and other non-jobs, no it was close all public bogs...
    Er, why does it cost anything to keep 11,000 EXISTING recipes online? A few quid for the server.
    Sounds more and more like the BBC did this to elicit exactly this kind of response. I've not seen any evidence that they government forced them to cut the recipe website specifically (and they'd have been fools to have done so).
  • Options
    chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341
    edited May 2016
    What's to stop the potentially lapsing Labour members from rejoining for £3 if there is an attempt to depose Comrade Corbyn?
  • Options
    richardDoddrichardDodd Posts: 5,472
    edited May 2016
    Chestnut.. My BIL..works as a senior sales manager in a very large Northern computer outlet..he tells me that the vast majority of their customers are over 65..
  • Options
    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Umm, Hillary's giving Bill a big job “I’m going to put [him] in charge of revitalising the economy”

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/world/it-s-the-economy-stupid-bill-clinton-returns-to-the-fray-2p26vrkpj
  • Options
    anothernickanothernick Posts: 3,578

    I am a long-time Labour activist - veteran of the struggle to get rid of the Trots in the late 80s and early 90s - so I'm a paid-up member of what Alistair calls the "Labour right" but we in the Party prefer to present ourselves as "moderates" as it sound more cuddly.

    From the outside the situation within the party appears to be one of a complete Corbynite takeover - the overwhelming majority of the membership apparently backs him, the recent elections were not bad enough to justify a revolt, the Labour right lack ideas, potential leadership candidates are not credible, the PLP has no backbone and moderate members are leaving the party in droves. Such is the narrative.

    But this is not a complete picture. A majority of members may support Corbyn but most of these members are completely inactive and have never done anything in the Party apart from vote for Corbyn. The Party structure, branches and organisation remains firmly in the hands of moderates. Amateurish attempts by Momentum and others to make inroads have been beaten off very easily - in my own CLP their candidates were defeated by more than 4-1 at the AGM. As a result of this they have now ceased to be active in most branches. This is important as it means MPs need not worry about deselection if they mount a coup - you cannot deselect an MP if you do not control the local Party.

    At the moment Party membership is static - there is no sign of an exodus of moderates. We are waiting to see how many of the new members who joined last Summer renew their membership when it falls due over the next few months.

    The left slate for the NEC was struggling even before the implosion of Ken and it now seems unlikely that it will succeed in giving Corbyn a majority on that body.

    There are, of course, many criticisms of Corbyn from a policy viewpoint but there are also criticism on a more basic level. The fact is that he does not have the personal qualities required of a leader in modern politics - his media appearances are stilted, he is a poor public speaker and, although he is a "nice person" he lacks management skills and is unable to guide meetings toward a decision or impose his authority when there is a disagreement within the team. This means that even those who support his policies do not necessarily support his leadership.

    MPs talk openly of a coup - I have repeatedly been told it is not whether but when. This position has not changed since the elections on May 5. Therefore I continue to believe that he will not lead the Party into the next general election.

    V. interesting post. The issue of who renews this summer will be very important. Is this an automatic, opt-out process?
    Depends if they are on direct debit - if so they will automatically renew unless they cancel. If not they will have to take positive step to renew.
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,775
    edited May 2016

    MikeK said:

    Are the BBC going to reduce expenditure by.......

    1. Cutting those over-large salaries that the top people get? NO!
    2. Cutting those over-large salaries that middle management get? NO!
    3. Cutting those great expensive studios that are seldom used? NO!

    4. Cutting 15,000 recipes from a website to save £15M? YES! YES! YES!

    5. Getting the supine Cameroon government to increase the the price of
    it's License fee for 11 years? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36308976

    Just classic BBC...look look look over over there we are cutting something, because of nasty government, booo booo...

    You only have to look at all the nonsense over BBC3.

    Reminds me of all the Labour councils who in reaction to government spending cuts wouldn't cut diversity coordinators and other non-jobs, no it was close all public bogs...
    Er, why does it cost anything to keep 11,000 EXISTING recipes online? A few quid for the server.
    It shouldn't...but then this is the BBC who piss money up the wall on IT like no tomorrow. Even iPlayer is technologically a steaming pile of poo.

    It is just signally bollocks and shock horror it is the top story on Guardian website.
  • Options
    TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 40,516
    Another episode in an occasional but eternal series of 'What the F*ck is the World Coming To?'

    'People are having ‘sex roulette’ parties where one person secretly has HIV'

    http://tinyurl.com/z6cmsdx

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    anothernickanothernick Posts: 3,578

    ... also, perhaps Ed M can be persuaded to comment on the wisdom of allowing people join for £3 who "are completely inactive and have never done anything in the Party apart from vote for Corbyn."

    This is a vey wide but dangerously shallow form of democracy.

    They are a political flashmob, which could disappear (we hope!) as suddenly as they appeared.
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    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,943
    chestnut said:

    What's to stop the potentially lapsing Labour members from rejoining for £3 if there is an attempt to depose Comrade Corbyn?

    I suspect a large % wont bother. The flush of last summer's heady romance has passed potentially.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,065
    Mr. Divvie, some people's behaviour is inexplicable. There are some cases of gay men deliberately sleeping with HIV-infected chaps to try and get it (there was a programme by Stephen Fry a few years ago which included that baffling snippet).
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    chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341

    Chestnut.. My BIL..works as a senior sales manager in a very large Northern computer outlet..he tells me that the vast majority of their customers are over 65..

    It's a growing market certainly, but ONS put 2015 daily usage at 45% among those over 65.

    http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/householdcharacteristics/homeinternetandsocialmediausage/bulletins/internetaccesshouseholdsandindividuals/2015-08-06#computer-and-internet-use
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    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,684

    Umm, Hillary's giving Bill a big job “I’m going to put [him] in charge of revitalising the economy”

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/world/it-s-the-economy-stupid-bill-clinton-returns-to-the-fray-2p26vrkpj

    Next thing you know she'll be talking about consulting with him on big foreign policy decisions and defence spending. Before you know it he is in charge of the economy, defence and foreign policy from the First, err, Husband's office and the Oval office is ceremonial.
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    SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,713

    Mr. Divvie, some people's behaviour is inexplicable. There are some cases of gay men deliberately sleeping with HIV-infected chaps to try and get it (there was a programme by Stephen Fry a few years ago which included that baffling snippet).

    A consquence of the very good news that HIV is now far from a death scentence.
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    RogerRoger Posts: 19,042
    Jonathan said:

    Interesting to see Charles express emerging right wing political correctness and revisionist history.

    Whist his desire to repaint the right as motherhood and apple pie is understandable, I fear that his argument that the far right aren't right wing is a bridge too far.

    I think Cameron disguised the reality of Tory Party. I think most thought this government was a continuation of the last coalition because the leadership hadn't changed. This referendum has shown how misguided that thought was.

    I wonder whether Cameron himself understood the bedrock of his own party? When he thinks back to calling UKIP 'fruitcakes loonies and closet racists' it must make him blush
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    TomsToms Posts: 2,478
    edited May 2016

    ... also, perhaps Ed M can be persuaded to comment on the wisdom of allowing people join for £3 who "are completely inactive and have never done anything in the Party apart from vote for Corbyn."

    This is a vey wide but dangerously shallow form of democracy.

    They are a political flashmob, which could disappear (we hope!) as suddenly as they appeared.
    Good term "flashmob". I'm afraid the three quid bunch also included some rather, umm, bitter Tory types too.
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    Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    MaxPB said:

    Umm, Hillary's giving Bill a big job “I’m going to put [him] in charge of revitalising the economy”

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/world/it-s-the-economy-stupid-bill-clinton-returns-to-the-fray-2p26vrkpj

    Next thing you know she'll be talking about consulting with him on big foreign policy decisions and defence spending. Before you know it he is in charge of the economy, defence and foreign policy from the First, err, Husband's office and the Oval office is ceremonial.
    I should hope she would consult him. It would make no sense not to. Though the buck would stop with her, in my business I often consult my wife to run ideas and decisions past her, she has sound judgement. He's not only her closest confidant by has done the job before.
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    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,775
    John McAfee Apparently Tried to Trick Reporters Into Thinking He Hacked WhatsApp

    http://gizmodo.com/john-mcafee-apparently-tried-to-trick-reporters-into-th-1776765480

    Bonkers....
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    RobDRobD Posts: 59,110
    MaxPB said:

    Umm, Hillary's giving Bill a big job “I’m going to put [him] in charge of revitalising the economy”

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/world/it-s-the-economy-stupid-bill-clinton-returns-to-the-fray-2p26vrkpj

    Next thing you know she'll be talking about consulting with him on big foreign policy decisions and defence spending. Before you know it he is in charge of the economy, defence and foreign policy from the First, err, Husband's office and the Oval office is ceremonial.
    Wouldn't he still be President Clinton? Or Maybe First Husband President Clinton?
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    TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,388

    Farage says he will push for second referendum if Remain wins narrowly

    In an interview with the Daily Mirror Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, has said that if Remain win the EU referendum narrowly, he will push for a second referendum. He told the paper:

    In a 52-48 referendum this would be unfinished business by a long way. If the remain campaign win two-thirds to one-third that ends it.
    His over emphasis on this outcome suggests that it is his central expectation.
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    MonikerDiCanioMonikerDiCanio Posts: 5,792

    Umm, Hillary's giving Bill a big job “I’m going to put [him] in charge of revitalising the economy”

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/world/it-s-the-economy-stupid-bill-clinton-returns-to-the-fray-2p26vrkpj

    Blatant nepotism from the Enabler. Will Chelsea be her Secretary of Defence ?
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    david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,493

    ... also, perhaps Ed M can be persuaded to comment on the wisdom of allowing people join for £3 who "are completely inactive and have never done anything in the Party apart from vote for Corbyn."

    This is a vey wide but dangerously shallow form of democracy.

    They are a political flashmob, which could disappear (we hope!) as suddenly as they appeared.
    They're still there but whether they could be enthused a second time is open to question. In 2016, probably. In 2018/19, possibly not.

    But we're assuming that the electoral system will remain more or less as now, with perhaps only the nomination process changing. Even if the voluntary three-pounders fall off, there's scope to tweak the union member involvement so as to ensure that the left retains a strong structural advantage (at least, as long as the unions are supportive of Labour's left).
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    RobDRobD Posts: 59,110


    Farage says he will push for second referendum if Remain wins narrowly

    In an interview with the Daily Mirror Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, has said that if Remain win the EU referendum narrowly, he will push for a second referendum. He told the paper:

    In a 52-48 referendum this would be unfinished business by a long way. If the remain campaign win two-thirds to one-third that ends it.

    His over emphasis on this outcome suggests that it is his central expectation.

    Seems a bit unfair that the bar for remain is 66%, yet the bar for leave is only 50%. Makes me wonder if there shouldn't have been some absolute majority rule to prevent this sort of nonsense.
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    DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300
    RobD said:

    MikeK said:

    Are the BBC going to reduce expenditure by.......

    1. Cutting those over-large salaries that the top people get? NO!
    2. Cutting those over-large salaries that middle management get? NO!
    3. Cutting those great expensive studios that are seldom used? NO!

    4. Cutting 15,000 recipes from a website to save £15M? YES! YES! YES!

    5. Getting the supine Cameroon government to increase the the price of
    it's License fee for 11 years? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36308976

    Just classic BBC...look look look over over there we are cutting something, because of nasty government, booo booo...

    You only have to look at all the nonsense over BBC3.

    Reminds me of all the Labour councils who in reaction to government spending cuts wouldn't cut diversity coordinators and other non-jobs, no it was close all public bogs...
    Er, why does it cost anything to keep 11,000 EXISTING recipes online? A few quid for the server.
    Sounds more and more like the BBC did this to elicit exactly this kind of response. I've not seen any evidence that they government forced them to cut the recipe website specifically (and they'd have been fools to have done so).
    Surely this is exactly what government policy is aimed at. Stopping the BBC crowding out putative private sector food websites.

    John Whittingdale is straying into Osborne's omnishambles territory. He wants the BBC hamstrung but has not considered its impact on the public or his own supporters.
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    Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 25,806


    Farage says he will push for second referendum if Remain wins narrowly

    In an interview with the Daily Mirror Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, has said that if Remain win the EU referendum narrowly, he will push for a second referendum. He told the paper:

    In a 52-48 referendum this would be unfinished business by a long way. If the remain campaign win two-thirds to one-third that ends it.
    His over emphasis on this outcome suggests that it is his central expectation.

    Eugh. Bad statement on all fronts. Even if he will push hard for another EU ref in the event of a narrow Remain win, I don't think it needs to be explicitly stated. And saying 'that ends it' if Remain wins handsomely is a hostage to fortune. Why would you stop wanting, campaigning and hoping to leave a pernicious undemocratic organisation because of a result?
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,065
    Mr. D, Cable has wibbled that a narrow Leave victory should be ignored.
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    Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    edited May 2016


    Farage says he will push for second referendum if Remain wins narrowly

    In an interview with the Daily Mirror Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, has said that if Remain win the EU referendum narrowly, he will push for a second referendum. He told the paper:

    In a 52-48 referendum this would be unfinished business by a long way. If the remain campaign win two-thirds to one-third that ends it.


    His over emphasis on this outcome suggests that it is his central expectation.
    It's all every SIndy in tactics.
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    RobDRobD Posts: 59,110

    RobD said:

    MikeK said:

    Are the BBC going to reduce expenditure by.......

    1. Cutting those over-large salaries that the top people get? NO!
    2. Cutting those over-large salaries that middle management get? NO!
    3. Cutting those great expensive studios that are seldom used? NO!

    4. Cutting 15,000 recipes from a website to save £15M? YES! YES! YES!

    5. Getting the supine Cameroon government to increase the the price of
    it's License fee for 11 years? YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36308976

    Just classic BBC...look look look over over there we are cutting something, because of nasty government, booo booo...

    You only have to look at all the nonsense over BBC3.

    Reminds me of all the Labour councils who in reaction to government spending cuts wouldn't cut diversity coordinators and other non-jobs, no it was close all public bogs...
    Er, why does it cost anything to keep 11,000 EXISTING recipes online? A few quid for the server.
    Sounds more and more like the BBC did this to elicit exactly this kind of response. I've not seen any evidence that they government forced them to cut the recipe website specifically (and they'd have been fools to have done so).
    Surely this is exactly what government policy is aimed at. Stopping the BBC crowding out putative private sector food websites.

    John Whittingdale is straying into Osborne's omnishambles territory. He wants the BBC hamstrung but has not considered its impact on the public or his own supporters.
    Yes, but I suspect it was chosen by the BBC as a cut that would garner the most protest.
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    RobDRobD Posts: 59,110
    Ugh.. blockquotes. Not even once. :(
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    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,242

    Umm, Hillary's giving Bill a big job “I’m going to put [him] in charge of revitalising the economy”

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/world/it-s-the-economy-stupid-bill-clinton-returns-to-the-fray-2p26vrkpj

    Not sure Bill's health is up to taking a big job. After his heart surgery he has looked a shadow of his former self.
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    RobDRobD Posts: 59,110

    Mr. D, Cable has wibbled that a narrow Leave victory should be ignored.

    By Farage's logic we should keep having referenda until one side reaches 66%.
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    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,943


    Farage says he will push for second referendum if Remain wins narrowly

    In an interview with the Daily Mirror Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, has said that if Remain win the EU referendum narrowly, he will push for a second referendum. He told the paper:

    In a 52-48 referendum this would be unfinished business by a long way. If the remain campaign win two-thirds to one-third that ends it.


    His over emphasis on this outcome suggests that it is his central expectation.
    It's all every SIndy in tactics.
    So he won't be complaining when Leave win 52-48 and Cameron renegotiates with EU and calls a 2nd referendum next year?

    Thought not.
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    RobDRobD Posts: 59,110


    Farage says he will push for second referendum if Remain wins narrowly

    In an interview with the Daily Mirror Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, has said that if Remain win the EU referendum narrowly, he will push for a second referendum. He told the paper:

    In a 52-48 referendum this would be unfinished business by a long way. If the remain campaign win two-thirds to one-third that ends it.


    His over emphasis on this outcome suggests that it is his central expectation.
    It's all every SIndy in tactics.
    So he won't be complaining when Leave win 52-48 and Cameron renegotiates with EU and calls a 2nd referendum next year?

    Thought not.
    Don't you mean "innocent face"? :D
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    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,684

    MaxPB said:

    Umm, Hillary's giving Bill a big job “I’m going to put [him] in charge of revitalising the economy”

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/world/it-s-the-economy-stupid-bill-clinton-returns-to-the-fray-2p26vrkpj

    Next thing you know she'll be talking about consulting with him on big foreign policy decisions and defence spending. Before you know it he is in charge of the economy, defence and foreign policy from the First, err, Husband's office and the Oval office is ceremonial.
    I should hope she would consult him. It would make no sense not to. Though the buck would stop with her, in my business I often consult my wife to run ideas and decisions past her, she has sound judgement. He's not only her closest confidant by has done the job before.
    The people aren't voting for Bill.
This discussion has been closed.