This morning I called Andy Burnham a shiny quacking robot in mascara. I should like to retract that statement. He is an empty cowardly shining quacking robot in mascara.
I post this because Burnham is the living epitome of all that is so horribly wrong with our political elites. Why do people so vacuous try to become MPs in the first place? It must be pure vanity. I hope constituency party chairmen in both Labour and Conservatives get their guillotines out and simply remove this wave of human spam from the body politic. At least at the coming GE we might get to vote for people who believe something and will fight to achieve what they believe in if they come near power. I used to believe Dave was such a person. Why can't we be governed by decent, principled men like Daniel Hannan and not sons of Blair? The party mechanisms for selecting and retaining (or not) candidates for parliament needs a revisit.
Interesting aside on how much the UK was (and still is currently) actually contributing to the EU.
"EU commissoner sees 15% fall in EU budget post-Brexit
Britain's exit from the EU will result in a 15% drop in the bloc's annual budget from 2020, Cornia Cretu, the EU Regional Policy Commissioner, said today"
I wont believe that until I see it written on a bus.
Well the 15% is not quite exact. The budget drops by 15% - but the money given back to the UK has to taken into account - so we are looking at a drop of 7.5% as a rule of thumb for the other countries.
Of course if the 15% was the NET figure the UK paid to the EU then the £350 million a week sounds pretty close.
Indeed. That makes our overall contribution to the 2015 budget £16.8 billion AFTER the rebate.
This is more in line with the pink book numbers rather than the headline figures spouted about by each side in the campaign.
I am a London Welshman, but my impression talking to people back home is that Wales is hungry for change. It has spent decades in the doldrums, and wants to shift up a gear.
I know how you feel, that last test defeat by 44-6 against New Zealand was just awful.
You forgot the link. And what about those who are a little younger and will fall into negative equity. Really it's time for you people to stop pretending there are no downsides to what is happening right now. It would certainly give me some much needed hope for the future.
As I said earlier, the economic illiteracy is staggering. None of the Leavers claiming that crashing house prices are a good thing seems to have put fifteen seconds' thought into why they'd be crashing.
[Hint: It's not because it is easier for youngsters to get on the housing ladder...]
I am a London Welshman, but my impression talking to people back home is that Wales is hungry for change. It has spent decades in the doldrums, and wants to shift up a gear.
The closure of the Tata plant will certainly help.
O/T I won't spoil the last episode of A Game of Thrones, but I will say that between them, Lena Headey and Natalie Dormer really knocked it out of the park.
I am a London Welshman, but my impression talking to people back home is that Wales is hungry for change. It has spent decades in the doldrums, and wants to shift up a gear.
As shown by the recent Welsh assembly elections? when do we nationalize Tata steel with some that 350m wedge?
I am a London Welshman, but my impression talking to people back home is that Wales is hungry for change. It has spent decades in the doldrums, and wants to shift up a gear.
The Welsh must be fed up with the whining spoilt brat Scots whose tantrums have been so revoltingly pampered.
Which of Boris and May is more likely negotiate an EEA type deal for Brexit? May was for remain but was obviously no lover of the EU. Boris seems like he's tacking towards EEAish solution.
Interesting aside on how much the UK was (and still is currently) actually contributing to the EU.
"EU commissoner sees 15% fall in EU budget post-Brexit
Britain's exit from the EU will result in a 15% drop in the bloc's annual budget from 2020, Cornia Cretu, the EU Regional Policy Commissioner, said today"
I wont believe that until I see it written on a bus.
Well the 15% is not quite exact. The budget drops by 15% - but the money given back to the UK has to taken into account - so we are looking at a drop of 7.5% as a rule of thumb for the other countries.
Of course if the 15% was the NET figure the UK paid to the EU then the £350 million a week sounds pretty close.
Indeed. That makes our overall contribution to the 2015 budget £16.8 billion AFTER the rebate.
This is more in line with the pink book numbers rather than the headline figures spouted about by each side in the campaign.
Who pays for our rebate and what happens when we leave. Do those countries continue to put the money into the EU for use elsewhere or do they get it repaid?
If Corbyn wins this next leadership election, the entire non-corbynite PLP should simply split off and call themselves Real Labour or something. It would be about 180 MPs at least, and so wouldn't be SDPv2 because that was a small split. This would be the new official opposition. They have no hope with Corbyn - not because he's too left wing, but because he's useless.
If Corbyn's determined not to resign (which seems likely, he has waited to 40 years to mold the party in his image) and the members continue to love him, one can imagine that the sensible wing of the PLP have little choice but to resign the whip and form SDP2. The trick is to have more than half the PMs go, such that SDP2 become the official Opposition. Given the current mood that's entirely possible.
The trick there would be to have some big donors lined up.
My thoughts precisely. Clearly it won't be the unions. But where did all those big private donors go?
Wow. Tight. May vs Boris? No one else will have time?
Why not? You only need a proposer and a seconder to get on the first-round ballot.
However, I think the final two will probably be Theresa and Boris. In this chaos, it's either got to be the safest and most unifying figure you can find, or the one who has taken the political initiative (which is undoubtedly Boris, like it or not). But who knows? Surprises have happened before.
The quick move is clearly designed to block the right. Stops a Corbyn effect from nutjob new members.
At least at the coming GE we might get to vote for people who believe something and will fight to achieve what they believe in if they come near power. I used to believe Dave was such a person.
Err, Dave has just spent months fighting tooth and nail for what he believes in. He got a lot of flak for it. Didn't you notice?
You forgot the link. And what about those who are a little younger and will fall into negative equity. Really it's time for you people to stop pretending there are no downsides to what is happening right now. It would certainly give me some much needed hope for the future.
As I said earlier, the economic illiteracy is staggering. None of the Leavers claiming that crashing house prices are a good thing seems to have put fifteen seconds' thought into why they'd be crashing.
[Hint: It's not because it easier for youngsters to get on the housing ladder...]
London property is an asset bubble, fuelled by capital appreciation which bails out the poor investor and self-perpetuates. There will be a degree of pain for those on the line, but most will be able to ride it out.
You forgot the link. And what about those who are a little younger and will fall into negative equity. Really it's time for you people to stop pretending there are no downsides to what is happening right now. It would certainly give me some much needed hope for the future.
As I said earlier, the economic illiteracy is staggering. None of the Leavers claiming that crashing house prices are a good thing seems to have put fifteen seconds' thought into why they'd be crashing.
[Hint: It's not because it easier for youngsters to get on the housing ladder...]
In another situation, falling house prices are possibly just about OK - it's the falling bank and builders share price that should give the game away.
If Corbyn wins this next leadership election, the entire non-corbynite PLP should simply split off and call themselves Real Labour or something. It would be about 180 MPs at least, and so wouldn't be SDPv2 because that was a small split. This would be the new official opposition. They have no hope with Corbyn - not because he's too left wing, but because he's useless.
If Corbyn's determined not to resign (which seems likely, he has waited to 40 years to mold the party in his image) and the members continue to love him, one can imagine that the sensible wing of the PLP have little choice but to resign the whip and form SDP2. The trick is to have more than half the PMs go, such that SDP2 become the official Opposition. Given the current mood that's entirely possible.
The trick there would be to have some big donors lined up.
Sainsbury.
Nectar points?
The new centre-left party (why not just be honest and call it New SDP?) had better make sure it gets the support of enough Tories for PR system or I predict H. of C. seats of roughly
Which of Boris and May is more likely negotiate an EEA type deal for Brexit? May was for remain but was obviously no lover of the EU. Boris seems like he's tacking towards EEAish solution.
They are both pro-EEA, FOM I think. The snap election is a very clever move from the europhiles still running the party.
Interesting aside on how much the UK was (and still is currently) actually contributing to the EU.
"EU commissoner sees 15% fall in EU budget post-Brexit
Britain's exit from the EU will result in a 15% drop in the bloc's annual budget from 2020, Cornia Cretu, the EU Regional Policy Commissioner, said today"
I wont believe that until I see it written on a bus.
Well the 15% is not quite exact. The budget drops by 15% - but the money given back to the UK has to taken into account - so we are looking at a drop of 7.5% as a rule of thumb for the other countries.
Of course if the 15% was the NET figure the UK paid to the EU then the £350 million a week sounds pretty close.
Indeed. That makes our overall contribution to the 2015 budget £16.8 billion AFTER the rebate.
This is more in line with the pink book numbers rather than the headline figures spouted about by each side in the campaign.
At least at the coming GE we might get to vote for people who believe something and will fight to achieve what they believe in if they come near power. I used to believe Dave was such a person.
Err, Dave has just spent months fighting tooth and nail for what he believes in. He got a lot of flak for it. Didn't you notice?
The clear evidence from this site is that many so-called Tory supporters never grasped what an amazing asset they had in Cameron.
I am a London Welshman, but my impression talking to people back home is that Wales is hungry for change. It has spent decades in the doldrums, and wants to shift up a gear.
Vote out. Demand central government top-ups equal to the amount spent from EU funds. Find it's all gone to the NHS. Or to make good the increased budget deficit following recession.
The good news is that as we bill mostly in US$ and Euros we are making a very tidy sum from the pound's collapse. It's at times like these when it's good not to have many UK customers.
Good news.
You've said that if you were younger you'd emigrate to Singapore or the US. Hopefully now that the UK is independent you'll be a happier citizen.
Not emigrate, not Singapore. A few years away. Hong Kong is where I'd most have liked to go.
I am a very happy citizen. Like you, none of this really affects me.
I think both Singapore and Hong Kong would only be attractive residences if one travelled out of them regularly.
Have to say, if you want city life, London and NYC are the only two for me. For country life, your options are much more extensive. Upcounty Montgomery County, MD is wonderful. But so would be Devon, Cornwall or any number of other wonderful British counties, the Dardogne and on and on.
''Yup - every buyer will be thrilled and the sellers even more ecstatic at taking a big loss. In post-Brexit Britain everybody is just ticketyboo. ''
Many conservatives are home owners of long standing who would be prepared to accept a 15% fall if it meant their sons, daughters and younger work colleagues had a chance to get on the property ladder sometime soon.
Link? Isn't that the same one which says everyone is happy that everyone else pays more tax to fund the NHS? Any true conservative knows something about market forces and understands that a rapidly devalued currency is the smell arising form an economic garbage.
Taffys is correct on house prices.
A great many people are happy to see their house price fall for the benefit of their children trying to get on the ladder.
You forgot the link. And what about those who are a little younger and will fall into negative equity. Really it's time for you people to stop pretending there are no downsides to what is happening right now. It would certainly give me some much needed hope for the future.
If you haven't heard people saying it, it's because you haven't been listening.
If you think people haven't understood that there are some ups and downs involved, it's because you have difficulty comprehending the way others see things.
It's this failure to listen and comprehend that has made you a loser.
If Corbyn wins this next leadership election, the entire non-corbynite PLP should simply split off and call themselves Real Labour or something. It would be about 180 MPs at least, and so wouldn't be SDPv2 because that was a small split. This would be the new official opposition. They have no hope with Corbyn - not because he's too left wing, but because he's useless.
If Corbyn's determined not to resign (which seems likely, he has waited to 40 years to mold the party in his image) and the members continue to love him, one can imagine that the sensible wing of the PLP have little choice but to resign the whip and form SDP2. The trick is to have more than half the PMs go, such that SDP2 become the official Opposition. Given the current mood that's entirely possible.
The trick there would be to have some big donors lined up.
My thoughts precisely. Clearly it won't be the unions. But where did all those big private donors go?
Several said they wouldn't cough up for Corbyn - John Mills gave millions to LabourLeave. The unions want a pretty hard-Left leader - I'm not sure what's in play anymore.
At least at the coming GE we might get to vote for people who believe something and will fight to achieve what they believe in if they come near power. I used to believe Dave was such a person.
Err, Dave has just spent months fighting tooth and nail for what he believes in. He got a lot of flak for it. Didn't you notice?
The clear evidence from this site is that many so-called Tory supporters never grasped what an amazing asset they had in Cameron.
Some of did. I think you'll find the RSI posters dominate posting, if not original thought.
This morning I called Andy Burnham a shiny quacking robot in mascara. I should like to retract that statement. He is an empty cowardly shining quacking robot in mascara.
I post this because Burnham is the living epitome of all that is so horribly wrong with our political elites. Why do people so vacuous try to become MPs in the first place? It must be pure vanity. I hope constituency party chairmen in both Labour and Conservatives get their guillotines out and simply remove this wave of human spam from the body politic. At least at the coming GE we might get to vote for people who believe something and will fight to achieve what they believe in if they come near power. I used to believe Dave was such a person. Why can't we be governed by decent, principled men like Daniel Hannan and not sons of Blair? The party mechanisms for selecting and retaining (or not) candidates for parliament needs a revisit.
Well said Patrick. We need principled people in Parliament, people with life experience and a clear view of their thinking, not the mushy sameness we have had for the last 25 years.
You may not individually agree with someone's principles, but at least he has them and has thought them through, rather than some spotty SpAd who just sees Parliament as the next job for himself on the career ladder.
Dan Hannan is a good example of course, someone who has written books rather than brief policy papers. Hopefully he'll be involved in the EU negotiations as he knows their structure and policy inside out - then let's get him in the Cabinet one way or the other - as someone cheekily suggested the other day, maybe there will be a by-election in Witney next year?
At least at the coming GE we might get to vote for people who believe something and will fight to achieve what they believe in if they come near power. I used to believe Dave was such a person.
Err, Dave has just spent months fighting tooth and nail for what he believes in. He got a lot of flak for it. Didn't you notice?
The clear evidence from this site is that many so-called Tory supporters never grasped what an amazing asset they had in Cameron.
I am a London Welshman, but my impression talking to people back home is that Wales is hungry for change. It has spent decades in the doldrums, and wants to shift up a gear.
Well we've got a 'Cardiff stays' event coming up. Certainly a fair number of people involved in getting EU funding are upset. There's also quite a bit of anger at the luddites in the Valleys who wanted out.
The good news is that as we bill mostly in US$ and Euros we are making a very tidy sum from the pound's collapse. It's at times like these when it's good not to have many UK customers.
Good news.
You've said that if you were younger you'd emigrate to Singapore or the US. Hopefully now that the UK is independent you'll be a happier citizen.
Not emigrate, not Singapore. A few years away. Hong Kong is where I'd most have liked to go.
I am a very happy citizen. Like you, none of this really affects me.
I think both Singapore and Hong Kong would only be attractive residences if one travelled out of them regularly.
Have to say, if you want city life, London and NYC are the only two for me. For country life, your options are much more extensive. Upcounty Montgomery County, MD is wonderful. But so would be Devon, Cornwall or any number of other wonderful British counties, the Dardogne and on and on.
You have to include Paris in that. HK/Sing you would be city-ish but would also have the feeling that it was all bypassing you and the action was happening elsewhere.
London yes, NYC yes. Paris feels funnily enough more French than London feels British.
At least at the coming GE we might get to vote for people who believe something and will fight to achieve what they believe in if they come near power. I used to believe Dave was such a person.
Err, Dave has just spent months fighting tooth and nail for what he believes in. He got a lot of flak for it. Didn't you notice?
He campaigned to become Tory leader on an overtly Eurosceptic ticket and made anti-EU noises from time to time thereafter. When he decided that what he really believed in was the EU and not the British then he should have done the honourable thing and resigned to fight that fight. He deceived his party and the country - and part of the reason we got a Leave result was an angry backlash against this decades long treachery by our political leaders.
You forgot the link. And what about those who are a little younger and will fall into negative equity. Really it's time for you people to stop pretending there are no downsides to what is happening right now. It would certainly give me some much needed hope for the future.
As I said earlier, the economic illiteracy is staggering. None of the Leavers claiming that crashing house prices are a good thing seems to have put fifteen seconds' thought into why they'd be crashing.
[Hint: It's not because it easier for youngsters to get on the housing ladder...]
In another situation, falling house prices are possibly just about OK - it's the falling bank and builders share price that should give the game away.
You forgot the link. And what about those who are a little younger and will fall into negative equity. Really it's time for you people to stop pretending there are no downsides to what is happening right now. It would certainly give me some much needed hope for the future.
As I said earlier, the economic illiteracy is staggering. None of the Leavers claiming that crashing house prices are a good thing seems to have put fifteen seconds' thought into why they'd be crashing.
[Hint: It's not because it is easier for youngsters to get on the housing ladder...]
The economic illiteracy is the Remainian fantasy where there is never another recession and where house prices never fall.
It's Brownian.
No one over a certain age should be dumb enough to believe in it.
15/18 of 1922 Committee are Brexiteers according to Sky. That's why they're compressing the timescale.
May definite to stand Crabb a possible
In a field of May, Crabb and Boris - I can see Crabb winning through the middle potentially - unlike the other 2 hasn't been around long enough to p*ss people off....
The good news is that as we bill mostly in US$ and Euros we are making a very tidy sum from the pound's collapse. It's at times like these when it's good not to have many UK customers.
Good news.
You've said that if you were younger you'd emigrate to Singapore or the US. Hopefully now that the UK is independent you'll be a happier citizen.
Not emigrate, not Singapore. A few years away. Hong Kong is where I'd most have liked to go.
I am a very happy citizen. Like you, none of this really affects me.
Singapore's lovely, my favourite city. Not quite as mad busy as HK, more clean and tidy. Really expensive drinks being the only downside (£10-12 a pint, so everyone chases the happy hours!)
He campaigned to become Tory leader on an overtly Eurosceptic ticket and made anti-EU noises from time to time thereafter. When he decided that what he really believed in was the EU and not the British then he should have done the honourable thing and resigned to fight that fight. He deceived his party and the country - and part of the reason we got a Leave result was an angry backlash against this endless 40 year long treachery by our political leaders.
This is (like many criticisms of Cameron) a rewrite of history. He has never, ever been 'Eurosceptic' in the distorted sense which it now has acquired of being a BOOer. He's actually been very consistent all along: wanting the UK to remain in a reformed, more competitive EU, without signing up to ever-closer union.
Thank God we'll have a new PM by 2nd September. Knocking a month off the time table is the first piece of good news we've had since since Friday morning.
15/18 of 1922 Committee are Brexiteers according to Sky. That's why they're compressing the timescale.
May definite to stand Crabb a possible
In a field of May, Crabb and Boris - I can see Crabb winning through the middle potentially - unlike the other 2 hasn't been around long enough to p*ss people off....
Winning through the middle with MPs? Really?
There can of course be no winning through the middle in a two horse race with members.
Wow. Tight. May vs Boris? No one else will have time?
Why not? You only need a proposer and a seconder to get on the first-round ballot.
However, I think the final two will probably be Theresa and Boris. In this chaos, it's either got to be the safest and most unifying figure you can find, or the one who has taken the political initiative (which is undoubtedly Boris, like it or not). But who knows? Surprises have happened before.
The quick move is clearly designed to block the right. Stops a Corbyn effect from nutjob new members.
Clever move.
I'm not sure that's the thinking behind the quick contest - if it was, they could just pass a simple rule that only those who were members before DC's resignation can vote.
I think the timing is basically down to;
1. Keep Corbyn in place 2. Make sure the Cameroons/remainers aren't able to stage a comeback if the economy goes seriously south before the contest gets going. 3. Genuine concern about the sh*thole they've got themselves into.
The fact it helps boris is probably the lesser evil in the eyes of the 1922
15/18 of 1922 Committee are Brexiteers according to Sky. That's why they're compressing the timescale.
May definite to stand Crabb a possible
In a field of May, Crabb and Boris - I can see Crabb winning through the middle potentially - unlike the other 2 hasn't been around long enough to p*ss people off....
pls let May stand - i have been sitting on a bet on her for 3 years.
The good news is that as we bill mostly in US$ and Euros we are making a very tidy sum from the pound's collapse. It's at times like these when it's good not to have many UK customers.
Good news.
You've said that if you were younger you'd emigrate to Singapore or the US. Hopefully now that the UK is independent you'll be a happier citizen.
Not emigrate, not Singapore. A few years away. Hong Kong is where I'd most have liked to go.
I am a very happy citizen. Like you, none of this really affects me.
I think both Singapore and Hong Kong would only be attractive residences if one travelled out of them regularly.
Have to say, if you want city life, London and NYC are the only two for me. For country life, your options are much more extensive. Upcounty Montgomery County, MD is wonderful. But so would be Devon, Cornwall or any number of other wonderful British counties, the Dardogne and on and on.
You have to include Paris in that. HK/Sing you would be city-ish but would also have the feeling that it was all bypassing you and the action was happening elsewhere.
London yes, NYC yes. Paris feels funnily enough more French than London feels British.
Paris is great for city life. A world class city but as you say still unmistakably french. Cost of living massively lower than London or NY - you can still live in the center of Paris on a normal salary, and eating out/drinks etc can be had relatively cheaply if you avoid certain obvious areas. Quality of food and wine is still very good in the cheap-average price range - no need to go fancy.
The parisians are also undeserving of their reputation in my experience (outside of some tourist waiters who do seem to always be scowling), not met an undeservedly rude one yet.
He campaigned to become Tory leader on an overtly Eurosceptic ticket and made anti-EU noises from time to time thereafter. When he decided that what he really believed in was the EU and not the British then he should have done the honourable thing and resigned to fight that fight. He deceived his party and the country - and part of the reason we got a Leave result was an angry backlash against this endless 40 year long treachery by our political leaders.
This is (like many criticisms of Cameron) a rewrite of history. He has never, ever been 'Eurosceptic' in the distorted sense which it now has acquired of being a BOOer. He's actually been very consistent all along: wanting the UK to remain in a reformed, more competitive EU, without signing up to ever-closer union.
Comments
This is more in line with the pink book numbers rather than the headline figures spouted about by each side in the campaign.
[Hint: It's not because it is easier for youngsters to get on the housing ladder...]
Oh, wait...
Gulp.
England v Wales Euro final, Andy Murray to win Wimbledon and Rory for the Open golf.
800/1
Clever move.
Quite possible, Richard.
https://twitter.com/neiledwardlovat/status/747410856036663296
The new centre-left party (why not just be honest and call it New SDP?) had better make sure it gets the support of enough Tories for PR system or I predict H. of C. seats of roughly
450 Tory
Others 200
Oh, wait...
I imagine a much cheaper pound might help Tata, maybe, and government help will not now be illegal, but I'm not an expert on that.
I think both Singapore and Hong Kong would only be attractive residences if one travelled out of them regularly.
Have to say, if you want city life, London and NYC are the only two for me. For country life, your options are much more extensive. Upcounty Montgomery County, MD is wonderful. But so would be Devon, Cornwall or any number of other wonderful British counties, the Dardogne and on and on.
If you think people haven't understood that there are some ups and downs involved, it's because you have difficulty comprehending the way others see things.
It's this failure to listen and comprehend that has made you a loser.
https://twitter.com/allihayman/status/747396103314735104
You may not individually agree with someone's principles, but at least he has them and has thought them through, rather than some spotty SpAd who just sees Parliament as the next job for himself on the career ladder.
Dan Hannan is a good example of course, someone who has written books rather than brief policy papers. Hopefully he'll be involved in the EU negotiations as he knows their structure and policy inside out - then let's get him in the Cabinet one way or the other - as someone cheekily suggested the other day, maybe there will be a by-election in Witney next year?
Rolls eyes..
London yes, NYC yes. Paris feels funnily enough more French than London feels British.
May definite to stand
Crabb a possible
Before that it was was 1964... And the result was indecisive.
Before that 1959 and it was a Con landslide.
NEW THREAD NEW THREAD
It's Brownian.
No one over a certain age should be dumb enough to believe in it.
Mervyn King: "The Remain campaign treated people like idiots"
No F1 in Hong Kong either!
There can of course be no winning through the middle in a two horse race with members.
I think the timing is basically down to;
1. Keep Corbyn in place
2. Make sure the Cameroons/remainers aren't able to stage a comeback if the economy goes seriously south before the contest gets going.
3. Genuine concern about the sh*thole they've got themselves into.
The fact it helps boris is probably the lesser evil in the eyes of the 1922
The parisians are also undeserving of their reputation in my experience (outside of some tourist waiters who do seem to always be scowling), not met an undeservedly rude one yet.