BIG DEAL Tasmina was excellent on The Week in Politics giving no ground to that big bully Andrew Neil. Indeed both of the women on the programme were first class and got right under his skin as he let his Unionist Tory slip show. Well done to them both.
An IDS rehash plus wanting to restrict abortion on top - the perfect cocktail to destroy any chance of winning an election.
In a nation which has voted 52% to leave the EU with the strongest votes to leave in socially conservative working class areas I would not dismiss Fox quite so easily, although I agree if Labour are led by anyone other than Corbyn/McDonnell he would probably lose
Alan Johnson 'The candidate Labour would most fear is Theresa May, the candidate they would least fear is Michael Gove'
Fox, May, Gove, Leadsom, Crabb is my guess, although that order is of course a bit fuzzy.
In order of electability, May, Crabb, Leadsom, Fox, Gove for me. In order of ideology from centre to right May, Crabb, Gove, Leadsom, Fox
Crabb, too young, unpolished and inexperienced; dumb surname Leadsom, too inexperienced, six years MP to PM does not compute Gove, too clever by half and the warmth of a Mafia hitman May, elderly, controlled and humourless, a second rater, but possible. Fox, reminds me of Baldwin, optimistic, a smiler, balanced, witty.
Starkey 'Labour now is in total denial of its plight and Blair could be the last Labour leader to win an election, like a scene of medieval torture with MPs and members pulling it in diffferent directions'
Delighted that Boris is not going to even be in the running, the contest just got far more interesting as a result! Said it before, Boris is a maverick. A great trait in a politician who wants to be London Mayor, but maverick's do not make good team players, and therefore that is a serious weakness in a wannabe party Leader and PM. He was totally unsuitable to a Prime Minister, and I went from being strongly in the anyone but Boris camp last night which depressed me as it narrowed the field and my choices. Now I am a far more happy Tory bunny, and looking forward to the upcoming contest.
Anyone else with a long memory in Tory politics listening to Portillo on This Week slagging off an Conservative Leadership and GE winning David Cameron and his decision to hold a Referendum on EU & thinking 'oh the irony'....??
Alan Johnson 'The candidate Labour would most fear is Theresa May, the candidate they would least fear is Michael Gove'
Fox, May, Gove, Leadsom, Crabb is my guess, although that order is of course a bit fuzzy.
In order of electability, May, Crabb, Leadsom, Fox, Gove for me. In order of ideology from centre to right May, Crabb, Gove, Leadsom, Fox
Crabb, too young, unpolished and inexperienced; dumb surname Leadsom, too inexperienced, six years MP to PM does not compute Gove, too clever by half and the warmth of a Mafia hitman May, elderly and humourless, a second rater, but possible. Fox, reminds me of Baldwin, optimistic, a smiler, balanced, witty.
Baldwin was a One Nation Tory though, Fox most certainly is not. Goodnight
BIG DEAL Tasmina was excellent on The Week in Politics giving no ground to that big bully Andrew Neil. Indeed both of the women on the programme were first class and got right under his skin as he let his Unionist Tory slip show. Well done to them both.
Utterly amazed you thought Tasmina was excellent. Utterly amazed
Good Luton result for Labour in the circs of the resignation (not to mention the big Leave majority there - UKIP must be disappointed with 5%).
Several interesting points about the Labour poll not menitoned so far:
* Opinion is split between pre-2015 members (who are now marginally anti-Corbyn 51-46) and post-2015 members (who are heavily pro, 72-29) * McDonnell does quite well against the potential challengers, but loses narrowly to everyone except Jarvis. Corbyn has a roughly 10-point loyalty/personal bonus that McDonnell doesn't at present have. That could change, of course, but... * That makes a deal involving McDonnell or Lewis standing as the left candidate less likely IMO. Corbyn won't give up if he thinks it would damage the left cause. * There is massive disapproval of the Shadow Cabinet resignations from all parts of the party, 60-36 overall * Members are pessimistic about the next election with Corbyn (57-35) but also if Corbyn went (50-38 - as it's by unknown X, there are more undecideds).
Summary, trying not be influenced by my own views: Corbyn will stand and fight. It's not that he's enjoying it, but he thinks it's his duty. The ABCs have overplayed their hands with the mass resignations. However, they are not that far behind, and would have a chance if and only if one of them actually looked like a potential election-winner. Members won't vote to dump Corbyn in favour of someone who they think would lose anyway.
Good Luton result for Labour in the circs of the resignation (not to mention the big Leave majority there - UKIP must be disappointed with 5%).
Several interesting points about the Labour poll not menitoned so far:
* Opinion is split between pre-2015 members (who are now marginally anti-Corbyn 51-46) and post-2015 members (who are heavily pro, 72-29) * McDonnell does quite well against the potential challengers, but loses narrowly to everyone except Jarvis. Corbyn has a roughly 10-point loyalty/personal bonus that McDonnell doesn't at present have. That could change, of course, but... * That makes a deal involving McDonnell or Lewis standing as the left candidate less likely IMO. Corbyn won't give up if he thinks it would damage the left cause. * There is massive disapproval of the Shadow Cabinet resignations from all parts of the party, 60-36 overall * Members are pessimistic about the next election with Corbyn (57-35) but also if Corbyn went (50-38 - as it's by unknown X, there are more undecideds).
Summary, trying not be influenced by my own views: Corbyn will stand and fight. It's not that he's enjoying it, but he thinks it's his duty. The ABCs have overplayed their hands with the mass resignations. However, they are not that far behind, and would have a chance if and only if one of them actually looked like a potential election-winner. Members won't vote to dump Corbyn in favour of someone who they think would lose anyway.
Shouldn't Labour MPs be getting on with their day job serving their constituents rather than worrying whether they might be in a job in 5 years time. The destruction of the Labour party will become a self fulfilling prophecy if they carry on as they are.
Certainly they need to stick up a candidate, put it to the members and if said candidate loses suck it up and get on supporting Corbyn. It's a business relationship, he isn't their long lost brother.
Good Luton result for Labour in the circs of the resignation (not to mention the big Leave majority there - UKIP must be disappointed with 5%).
Several interesting points about the Labour poll not menitoned so far:
* Opinion is split between pre-2015 members (who are now marginally anti-Corbyn 51-46) and post-2015 members (who are heavily pro, 72-29) * McDonnell does quite well against the potential challengers, but loses narrowly to everyone except Jarvis. Corbyn has a roughly 10-point loyalty/personal bonus that McDonnell doesn't at present have. That could change, of course, but... * That makes a deal involving McDonnell or Lewis standing as the left candidate less likely IMO. Corbyn won't give up if he thinks it would damage the left cause. * There is massive disapproval of the Shadow Cabinet resignations from all parts of the party, 60-36 overall * Members are pessimistic about the next election with Corbyn (57-35) but also if Corbyn went (50-38 - as it's by unknown X, there are more undecideds).
Summary, trying not be influenced by my own views: Corbyn will stand and fight. It's not that he's enjoying it, but he thinks it's his duty. The ABCs have overplayed their hands with the mass resignations. However, they are not that far behind, and would have a chance if and only if one of them actually looked like a potential election-winner. Members won't vote to dump Corbyn in favour of someone who they think would lose anyway.
Is Corbyn blind to the fact that he is damaging the lefts cause by staying.
Good Luton result for Labour in the circs of the resignation (not to mention the big Leave majority there - UKIP must be disappointed with 5%).
Several interesting points about the Labour poll not menitoned so far:
* Opinion is split between pre-2015 members (who are now marginally anti-Corbyn 51-46) and post-2015 members (who are heavily pro, 72-29) * McDonnell does quite well against the potential challengers, but loses narrowly to everyone except Jarvis. Corbyn has a roughly 10-point loyalty/personal bonus that McDonnell doesn't at present have. That could change, of course, but... * That makes a deal involving McDonnell or Lewis standing as the left candidate less likely IMO. Corbyn won't give up if he thinks it would damage the left cause. * There is massive disapproval of the Shadow Cabinet resignations from all parts of the party, 60-36 overall * Members are pessimistic about the next election with Corbyn (57-35) but also if Corbyn went (50-38 - as it's by unknown X, there are more undecideds).
Summary, trying not be influenced by my own views: Corbyn will stand and fight. It's not that he's enjoying it, but he thinks it's his duty. The ABCs have overplayed their hands with the mass resignations. However, they are not that far behind, and would have a chance if and only if one of them actually looked like a potential election-winner. Members won't vote to dump Corbyn in favour of someone who they think would lose anyway.
Is Corbyn blind to the fact that he is damaging the lefts cause by staying.
You can be amazed as you like. Neil is a Tory and so he gave the Labour lady a hard time in contrast to his indulgence of his olod mukas Johnston and Portillo. Neil is a Scottish unionist and so he gave Tasmina a hard time in contrast to his indulgence of the odious Starkey.
Both women stood their ground and showed up his petulance when he couldn't even take a joke at the end of their interview. They were both excellent and showed him up for what he is - misogynist, prejudiced and unable to countenace ideas out of his framework. Well done to the women.
Good Luton result for Labour in the circs of the resignation (not to mention the big Leave majority there - UKIP must be disappointed with 5%).
Several interesting points about the Labour poll not menitoned so far:
* Opinion is split between pre-2015 members (who are now marginally anti-Corbyn 51-46) and post-2015 members (who are heavily pro, 72-29) * McDonnell does quite well against the potential challengers, but loses narrowly to everyone except Jarvis. Corbyn has a roughly 10-point loyalty/personal bonus that McDonnell doesn't at present have. That could change, of course, but... * That makes a deal involving McDonnell or Lewis standing as the left candidate less likely IMO. Corbyn won't give up if he thinks it would damage the left cause. * There is massive disapproval of the Shadow Cabinet resignations from all parts of the party, 60-36 overall * Members are pessimistic about the next election with Corbyn (57-35) but also if Corbyn went (50-38 - as it's by unknown X, there are more undecideds).
Summary, trying not be influenced by my own views: Corbyn will stand and fight. It's not that he's enjoying it, but he thinks it's his duty. The ABCs have overplayed their hands with the mass resignations. However, they are not that far behind, and would have a chance if and only if one of them actually looked like a potential election-winner. Members won't vote to dump Corbyn in favour of someone who they think would lose anyway.
Is Corbyn blind to the fact that he is damaging the lefts cause by staying.
Nope: he's damaging the Right's cause by staying...
You can be amazed as you like. Neil is a Tory and so he gave the Labour lady a hard time in contrast to his indulgence of his olod mukas Johnston and Portillo. Neil is a Scottish unionist and so he gave Tasmina a hard time in contrast to his indulgence of the odious Starkey.
Both women stood their ground and showed up his petulance when he couldn't even take a joke at the end of their interview. They were both excellent and showed him up for what he is - misogynist, prejudiced and unable to countenace ideas out of his framework. Well done to the women.
Hi scotslass, going to give the SNP rebuttal machine a rest for a moment and actually contribute to the debate?
I don't remember ever hearing Andrew Neil come out as either a Tory or Scottish Unionist, care to back up those claims with facts?
But what I do know, and that is Andrew Neil is just about the most robust and forensic political interviewer in UK politics, and one who doesn't suffer fools gladly what ever their political persuasion! He is always on top of his brief on a range of issues, whether it be the economy or politics, and he sees it as his job to scrutinise and challenge all politicians what ever their politics. Now if you judged that Andrew Neil gave either the Labour lady or Tasmina a tough time on their political position, then you can bet that both of them tried to spin their own political agenda over the hard facts of both their parties positions, and he caught them out. If you bothered to watch the Daily Politics, which I am sure you do. You will know that he can be absolutely brutal when it comes to any politician of any party who then turns up and is not on top of their brief.
And I have to point out that possible the most unhealthy aspect of politics right now is the fact that not one SNP MSP or MP can speak for themselves or outside the SNP crib sheet. Its positively creepy, and it will end up creating the biggest political talent vacuum when Sturgeon is on her way out the door. When I look at the SNP MSPs or MPs, I am reminded of a field of sheep all branded in the same colour, and all happily being herded into the same pen.
Delighted that Boris is not going to even be in the running, the contest just got far more interesting as a result! Said it before, Boris is a maverick. A great trait in a politician who wants to be London Mayor, but maverick's do not make good team players, and therefore that is a serious weakness in a wannabe party Leader and PM. He was totally unsuitable to a Prime Minister, and I went from being strongly in the anyone but Boris camp last night which depressed me as it narrowed the field and my choices. Now I am a far more happy Tory bunny, and looking forward to the upcoming contest.
Anyone else with a long memory in Tory politics listening to Portillo on This Week slagging off an Conservative Leadership and GE winning David Cameron and his decision to hold a Referendum on EU & thinking 'oh the irony'....??
Please vote for Gove, he is the only one who has a record of reforming a department that badly needed reform unlike May who has failed to bring down E.U migration.
Delighted that Boris is not going to even be in the running, the contest just got far more interesting as a result! Said it before, Boris is a maverick. A great trait in a politician who wants to be London Mayor, but maverick's do not make good team players, and therefore that is a serious weakness in a wannabe party Leader and PM. He was totally unsuitable to a Prime Minister, and I went from being strongly in the anyone but Boris camp last night which depressed me as it narrowed the field and my choices. Now I am a far more happy Tory bunny, and looking forward to the upcoming contest.
Anyone else with a long memory in Tory politics listening to Portillo on This Week slagging off an Conservative Leadership and GE winning David Cameron and his decision to hold a Referendum on EU & thinking 'oh the irony'....??
Please vote for Gove, he is the only one who has a record of reforming a department that badly needed reform unlike May who has failed to bring down E.U migration.
Only the Chancellor had any feasible levers to bring down EU migration by reforming the benefits system.
You can be amazed as you like. Neil is a Tory and so he gave the Labour lady a hard time in contrast to his indulgence of his olod mukas Johnston and Portillo. Neil is a Scottish unionist and so he gave Tasmina a hard time in contrast to his indulgence of the odious Starkey.
Both women stood their ground and showed up his petulance when he couldn't even take a joke at the end of their interview. They were both excellent and showed him up for what he is - misogynist, prejudiced and unable to countenace ideas out of his framework. Well done to the women.
Andrew Neil gives everyone a hard time. He has been hard with Portillo and Johnson before now. Remember how tough he has been with Dianne Abbott on occasion despite their friendship.
You pedal the most shameless pro Tory line on this site and have done so for years. I can hardly remember a single contribution from you which has been other than a tirade against the SNP/independence. You are poorly placed to accuse others of following a party line.
I am a convert to independence and (unlike Tasmina) from a left wing perspective. However I hope I can maintain some objectivity. In both interviews with the women Neil spoke over them a few words into their answers. In contrast he indulges mail guests even when they talk total rot like Starkey.
In both interviews Neil's bias against left wing politics and SNP politics was clear. Both were making entirely reasonable points which he did not like and so he truned petulant at the end when they ganged up on him to suggest that Nicola Sturgeon should take over England. He couldn't even take the joke.
As for your wider comments on the SNP then I would worry more about the total chaos of your party at Westminster and the rapid fall from grace of Ruth Davidson who was badly exposed in the Parliament today.
Delighted that Boris is not going to even be in the running, the contest just got far more interesting as a result! Said it before, Boris is a maverick. A great trait in a politician who wants to be London Mayor, but maverick's do not make good team players, and therefore that is a serious weakness in a wannabe party Leader and PM. He was totally unsuitable to a Prime Minister, and I went from being strongly in the anyone but Boris camp last night which depressed me as it narrowed the field and my choices. Now I am a far more happy Tory bunny, and looking forward to the upcoming contest.
Anyone else with a long memory in Tory politics listening to Portillo on This Week slagging off an Conservative Leadership and GE winning David Cameron and his decision to hold a Referendum on EU & thinking 'oh the irony'....??
Please vote for Gove, he is the only one who has a record of reforming a department that badly needed reform unlike May who has failed to bring down E.U migration.
Plus he's Scottish!
He's also the only one to distribute signed copies of the bible.
Delighted that Boris is not going to even be in the running, the contest just got far more interesting as a result! Said it before, Boris is a maverick. A great trait in a politician who wants to be London Mayor, but maverick's do not make good team players, and therefore that is a serious weakness in a wannabe party Leader and PM. He was totally unsuitable to a Prime Minister, and I went from being strongly in the anyone but Boris camp last night which depressed me as it narrowed the field and my choices. Now I am a far more happy Tory bunny, and looking forward to the upcoming contest.
Anyone else with a long memory in Tory politics listening to Portillo on This Week slagging off an Conservative Leadership and GE winning David Cameron and his decision to hold a Referendum on EU & thinking 'oh the irony'....??
Please vote for Gove, he is the only one who has a record of reforming a department that badly needed reform unlike May who has failed to bring down E.U migration.
Only the Chancellor had any feasible levers to bring down EU migration by reforming the benefits system.
I think that might belong in the (very wide) category of "economically feasible, politically infeasible".
Though I do wonder if "it'll put off EEA migrants" might be a good enough tagline to tempt some future Tory chancellor into rolling out a more contributory-based system. (Or possibly even a Labour chancellor, given how some senior Labour folk sound like they are starting to process the fact that immigration is an issue that is coming between them and their natural pool of voters.)
You pedal the most shameless pro Tory line on this site and have done so for years. I can hardly remember a single contribution from you which has been other than a tirade against the SNP/independence. You are poorly placed to accuse others of following a party line.
I am a convert to independence and (unlike Tasmina) from a left wing perspective. However I hope I can maintain some objectivity. In both interviews with the women Neil spoke over them a few words into their answers. In contrast he indulges mail guests even when they talk total rot like Starkey.
In both interviews Neil's bias against left wing politics and SNP politics was clear. Both were making entirely reasonable points which he did not like and so he truned petulant at the end when they ganged up on him to suggest that Nicola Sturgeon should take over England. He couldn't even take the joke.
As for your wider comments on the SNP then I would worry more about the total chaos of your party at Westminster and the rapid fall from grace of Ruth Davidson who was badly exposed in the Parliament today.
Having just outed yourself in that first paragraph, I find it fascinating just how long the SNP team have been keeping tabs on Scottish political rebels like myself on PB.com. But hey, I just had by far my best ever betting success on the back of the Holyrood elections, and that is despite putting a few quid on a Tory GE majority in the last weeks of that campaign thanks to the SNP's contributions to the debate.
By the way, how is the Named Person Law, Police Scotland, Scottish NHS and Education issues simmering along as Sturgeon tries to divert the public's attention with yet more grudge and grievance politics? Personally I am quite concerned about the NHS, especially as a patient who requires an urgent procedure and has now been told that I have had to be placed on a waiting list.... Two months later, I am still waiting for a date.
meanwhile your party (I think you are a conservative?) doesn't give the impression of being even remotely interested, busy as they are knifing each other and wondering what to do about the mess they have made in Europe. (while abandoning all pretense of "austerity")
noteworthy fact: the last time a British PM was chosen in an open leadership election (1976), the winner was the candidate who had come third in his party's previous leadership election (1963)...
meanwhile your party (I think you are a conservative?) doesn't give the impression of being even remotely interested, busy as they are knifing each other and wondering what to do about the mess they have made in Europe. (while abandoning all pretense of "austerity")
The party is the only one increasing spending on the NHS, the only one at the last election to pledge the NHS all the spending it needed and the only party of government to have never cut NHS spending.
meanwhile your party (I think you are a conservative?) doesn't give the impression of being even remotely interested, busy as they are knifing each other and wondering what to do about the mess they have made in Europe. (while abandoning all pretense of "austerity")
I live in Scotland, and I think you will find that the NHS is a devolved issue under the control of the SNP Government at Holyrood. So forgive me for daring to challenge the party who has presided over the funding and running of health care in my area over the last decade instead of trying to blame it on Westminster!
And just for the record, I voted to Remain in the EU just as I voted to remain in the UK in the Indy Referendum! I am on record on here just a few days ago saying how gutted I was at the result, but that is democracy, and the voters have spoken! What I don't like is the fact that some in the Remain camp now seem to think that now that the result is our exit from the EU, we must somehow blame the Government who delivered democracy!! We have not voted on the EU in forty years, and despite being in the remain camp, I thought this referendum was long overdue!
There was an election in Scotland which gave the SNP a mandate to hold their Indy Referendum, there was equally a mandate given to the Conservatives who won last year's GE on holding a Referendum on our membership of the EU. But I don't remember anyone complaining when the Libdems got their AV Referendum on our voting system on the back of a Coalition Government deal rather than winning a mandate via the ballot box!
For the record, the Conservative Government at Westminster ring fenced NHS spending, then increased it. They passed this extra funding onto Holyrood, but the SNP Government chose not to invest in our NHS up here. So yes, I think I have a very justified case for criticising the SNP up here for their poor stewardship of the NHS.
meanwhile your party (I think you are a conservative?) doesn't give the impression of being even remotely interested, busy as they are knifing each other and wondering what to do about the mess they have made in Europe. (while abandoning all pretense of "austerity")
The party is the only one increasing spending on the NHS, the only one at the last election to pledge the NHS all the spending it needed and the only party of government to have never cut NHS spending.
meanwhile your party (I think you are a conservative?) doesn't give the impression of being even remotely interested, busy as they are knifing each other and wondering what to do about the mess they have made in Europe. (while abandoning all pretense of "austerity")
I live in Scotland, and I think you will find that the NHS is a devolved issue under the control of the SNP Government at Holyrood. So forgive me for daring to challenge the party who has presided over the funding and running of health care in my area over the last decade instead of trying to blame it on Westminster!
And just for the record, I voted to Remain in the EU just as I voted to remain in the UK in the Indy Referendum! I am on record on here just a few days ago saying how gutted I was at the result, but that is democracy, and the voters have spoken! What I don't like is the fact that some in the Remain camp now seem to think that now that the result is our exit from the EU, we must somehow blame the Government who delivered democracy!! We have not voted on the EU in forty years, and despite being in the remain camp, I thought this referendum was long overdue!
There was an election in Scotland which gave the SNP a mandate to hold their Indy Referendum, there was equally a mandate given to the Conservatives who won last year's GE on holding a Referendum on our membership of the EU. But I don't remember anyone complaining when the Libdems got their AV Referendum on our voting system on the back of a Coalition Government deal rather than winning a mandate via the ballot box!
For the record, the Conservative Government at Westminster ring fenced NHS spending, then increased it. They passed this extra funding onto Holyrood, but the SNP Government chose not to invest in our NHS up here. So yes, I think I have a very justified case for criticising the SNP up here for their poor stewardship of the NHS.
No, please do keep holding the Scottish govt. to account. From afar it appears you're doing a more effective job of it than the elected members of yr party are doing.
A pity this referendum seemed to be fought on a variety of issues tangential at best to the actual issue of being in the EU.
I guess the real failure could be attributed to the last labour govt. it would have made a lot more sense to have a referendum on an actual treaty. At least then it would have been clear what the terms of reference were.
As it is, the party system appears to be in meltdown at the moment. I suppose the conservatives will likely resume normal service sooner or later, but at the moment the SNP looks like more or less the only coherent political party in the UK.
meanwhile your party (I think you are a conservative?) doesn't give the impression of being even remotely interested, busy as they are knifing each other and wondering what to do about the mess they have made in Europe. (while abandoning all pretense of "austerity")
The party is the only one increasing spending on the NHS, the only one at the last election to pledge the NHS all the spending it needed and the only party of government to have never cut NHS spending.
Well said.
There was the day when Cons. would argue that simply throwing money at the NHS was not necessarily a good idea...
I suppose in these feverish times criticising the NHS is the last taboo, now that open racism is more or less acceptable in mainstream debate...
noteworthy fact: the last time a British PM was chosen in an open leadership election (1976), the winner was the candidate who had come third in his party's previous leadership election (1963)...
Delighted that Boris is not going to even be in the running, the contest just got far more interesting as a result! Said it before, Boris is a maverick. A great trait in a politician who wants to be London Mayor, but maverick's do not make good team players, and therefore that is a serious weakness in a wannabe party Leader and PM. He was totally unsuitable to a Prime Minister, and I went from being strongly in the anyone but Boris camp last night which depressed me as it narrowed the field and my choices. Now I am a far more happy Tory bunny, and looking forward to the upcoming contest.
Anyone else with a long memory in Tory politics listening to Portillo on This Week slagging off an Conservative Leadership and GE winning David Cameron and his decision to hold a Referendum on EU & thinking 'oh the irony'....??
Please vote for Gove, he is the only one who has a record of reforming a department that badly needed reform unlike May who has failed to bring down E.U migration.
Plus he's Scottish!
He's also the only one to distribute signed copies of the bible.
Delighted that Boris is not going to even be in the running, the contest just got far more interesting as a result! Said it before, Boris is a maverick. A great trait in a politician who wants to be London Mayor, but maverick's do not make good team players, and therefore that is a serious weakness in a wannabe party Leader and PM. He was totally unsuitable to a Prime Minister, and I went from being strongly in the anyone but Boris camp last night which depressed me as it narrowed the field and my choices. Now I am a far more happy Tory bunny, and looking forward to the upcoming contest.
Anyone else with a long memory in Tory politics listening to Portillo on This Week slagging off an Conservative Leadership and GE winning David Cameron and his decision to hold a Referendum on EU & thinking 'oh the irony'....??
Please vote for Gove, he is the only one who has a record of reforming a department that badly needed reform unlike May who has failed to bring down E.U migration.
Plus he's Scottish!
He's also the only one to distribute signed copies of the bible.
so?
so his judgement and/or egomania and/or tendency to inappropriate micromanagement might be called into question.
(The King James Bible is very fine, by the way. But it is really not difficult to access its words for free. Promoting it — all good. Buying print copies and sending them to schools — wasteful, probably. Inscribing them with his personal mark? just odd)
Just saw a commercial about arkencounter.com which apparently has special extended opening hours right now. Yes you guessed it - for 40 days and 40 nights.
no, she can't be trusted to trigger article 50, Gove will.
She literally said "brexit means brexit"!
The Stig apparently thinks Brexit is a laxative.
and on that bombshell.....
BBC canceled US Top Gear today. The three hosts want to work together again. Sounds familiar.
In the UK the series is limping to a close with poor viewing figures and needs a lot of work. Apparently Matt has told producers to choose either him or Chris Evans. Apparently Evans is arrogant and rude to everyone.
no, she can't be trusted to trigger article 50, Gove will.
She literally said "brexit means brexit"!
The Stig apparently thinks Brexit is a laxative.
and on that bombshell.....
BBC canceled US Top Gear today. The three hosts want to work together again. Sounds familiar.
In the UK the series is limping to a close with poor viewing figures and needs a lot of work. Apparently Matt has told producers to choose either him or Chris Evans. Apparently Evans is arrogant and rude to everyone.
I still haven't watched the UK series. Does it have any redeeming features?
no, she can't be trusted to trigger article 50, Gove will.
She literally said "brexit means brexit"!
The Stig apparently thinks Brexit is a laxative.
and on that bombshell.....
BBC canceled US Top Gear today. The three hosts want to work together again. Sounds familiar.
In the UK the series is limping to a close with poor viewing figures and needs a lot of work. Apparently Matt has told producers to choose either him or Chris Evans. Apparently Evans is arrogant and rude to everyone.
I still haven't watched the UK series. Does it have any redeeming features?
Nope. Evans is awful. Matt is good, Sabine is good. The scripts are lame and all the fun is gone. There is no chemistry between the constantly changing team of presenters per episode. What made Top Gear work was that it was 3 friends cocking about and being ambitious but rubbish. Just read the reviews in the press.
No, please do keep holding the Scottish govt. to account. From afar it appears you're doing a more effective job of it than the elected members of yr party are doing.
A pity this referendum seemed to be fought on a variety of issues tangential at best to the actual issue of being in the EU.
I guess the real failure could be attributed to the last labour govt. it would have made a lot more sense to have a referendum on an actual treaty. At least then it would have been clear what the terms of reference were.
As it is, the party system appears to be in meltdown at the moment. I suppose the conservatives will likely resume normal service sooner or later, but at the moment the SNP looks like more or less the only coherent political party in the UK.
Truly we live in "interesting times"
Totally agree with the points you have raised in this post, especially on Labour's disgraceful behaviour and their failure to hold a referendum on an actual treaty after promising one. That remains the key political moment that shaped the inevitability of a future referendum on our EU membership, and further exacerbated by their key decisions on EU policy at that time.
And lets not forget the reason behind Labour's strategic policy to devolve more power to their Labour heartlands in Scotland, Wales and the North of England back in the late 90's. They were successful in Scotland and Wales with the creation of the Holyrood Parliament and Welsh Assembly. Not so successful with Prescott's regional adventures in devolved power in the North England. But it was all about shoring up the Labour heartlands that would not turn Tory, even if another Tory Government was elected at Westminster, and all to weaken their opponents mandate to govern the whole UK. Well look at how that has finally turned out, both Holyrood and Westminster Labour seats are now dominated by the SNP. And while the Welsh Assembly remained in Labour hands, we have seen the rise of Ukip there and a majority voting to leave the EU. And as for the North of England, Labour are now facing a real threat from Ukip.
Rather than trying to fix the underlying economic problems that have existed for so long in those Labour dominated areas. The Labour party instead sought to make their voters in these areas more beholden to them via the welfare state, and without addressing key issues that caused growing discontent, and a disillusionment with mainstream politics.
There is no need for SNP central command to keep an eye on you. PB do that by recording your posts the latest of the 3,316 of which are just the further examples of the latest anti SNP/ Indy tirades.
My point to you is simple. You accuse others of being apologists but your own posts are consistent propaganda. At least I changed my mind about politics. Your contributions show little sign of having ever thought about anything except reciting anti SNP dirges.
One thought however. In the time you have been on PB the SNP have soared to become not just the dominant but the only coherent major party in UK politics. They seem to have withstood your slings and arrows with remarkable success.
Comments
BIG DEAL Tasmina was excellent on The Week in Politics giving no ground to that big bully Andrew Neil. Indeed both of the women on the programme were first class and got right under his skin as he let his Unionist Tory slip show. Well done to them both.
Leadsom, too inexperienced, six years MP to PM does not compute
Gove, too clever by half and the warmth of a Mafia hitman
May, elderly, controlled and humourless, a second rater, but possible.
Fox, reminds me of Baldwin, optimistic, a smiler, balanced, witty.
Anyone else with a long memory in Tory politics listening to Portillo on This Week slagging off an Conservative Leadership and GE winning David Cameron and his decision to hold a Referendum on EU & thinking 'oh the irony'....??
Several interesting points about the Labour poll not menitoned so far:
* Opinion is split between pre-2015 members (who are now marginally anti-Corbyn 51-46) and post-2015 members (who are heavily pro, 72-29)
* McDonnell does quite well against the potential challengers, but loses narrowly to everyone except Jarvis. Corbyn has a roughly 10-point loyalty/personal bonus that McDonnell doesn't at present have. That could change, of course, but...
* That makes a deal involving McDonnell or Lewis standing as the left candidate less likely IMO. Corbyn won't give up if he thinks it would damage the left cause.
* There is massive disapproval of the Shadow Cabinet resignations from all parts of the party, 60-36 overall
* Members are pessimistic about the next election with Corbyn (57-35) but also if Corbyn went (50-38 - as it's by unknown X, there are more undecideds).
Summary, trying not be influenced by my own views: Corbyn will stand and fight. It's not that he's enjoying it, but he thinks it's his duty. The ABCs have overplayed their hands with the mass resignations. However, they are not that far behind, and would have a chance if and only if one of them actually looked like a potential election-winner. Members won't vote to dump Corbyn in favour of someone who they think would lose anyway.
Certainly they need to stick up a candidate, put it to the members and if said candidate loses suck it up and get on supporting Corbyn. It's a business relationship, he isn't their long lost brother.
You can be amazed as you like. Neil is a Tory and so he gave the Labour lady a hard time in contrast to his indulgence of his olod mukas Johnston and Portillo. Neil is a Scottish unionist and so he gave Tasmina a hard time in contrast to his indulgence of the odious Starkey.
Both women stood their ground and showed up his petulance when he couldn't even take a joke at the end of their interview. They were both excellent and showed him up for what he is - misogynist, prejudiced and unable to countenace ideas out of his framework. Well done to the women.
Allende?
I don't remember ever hearing Andrew Neil come out as either a Tory or Scottish Unionist, care to back up those claims with facts?
But what I do know, and that is Andrew Neil is just about the most robust and forensic political interviewer in UK politics, and one who doesn't suffer fools gladly what ever their political persuasion! He is always on top of his brief on a range of issues, whether it be the economy or politics, and he sees it as his job to scrutinise and challenge all politicians what ever their politics. Now if you judged that Andrew Neil gave either the Labour lady or Tasmina a tough time on their political position, then you can bet that both of them tried to spin their own political agenda over the hard facts of both their parties positions, and he caught them out. If you bothered to watch the Daily Politics, which I am sure you do. You will know that he can be absolutely brutal when it comes to any politician of any party who then turns up and is not on top of their brief.
And I have to point out that possible the most unhealthy aspect of politics right now is the fact that not one SNP MSP or MP can speak for themselves or outside the SNP crib sheet. Its positively creepy, and it will end up creating the biggest political talent vacuum when Sturgeon is on her way out the door. When I look at the SNP MSPs or MPs, I am reminded of a field of sheep all branded in the same colour, and all happily being herded into the same pen.
Plus he's Scottish!
You pedal the most shameless pro Tory line on this site and have done so for years. I can hardly remember a single contribution from you which has been other than a tirade against the SNP/independence. You are poorly placed to accuse others of following a party line.
I am a convert to independence and (unlike Tasmina) from a left wing perspective. However I hope I can maintain some objectivity. In both interviews with the women Neil spoke over them a few words into their answers. In contrast he indulges mail guests even when they talk total rot like Starkey.
In both interviews Neil's bias against left wing politics and SNP politics was clear. Both were making entirely reasonable points which he did not like and so he truned petulant at the end when they ganged up on him to suggest that Nicola Sturgeon should take over England. He couldn't even take the joke.
As for your wider comments on the SNP then I would worry more about the total chaos of your party at Westminster and the rapid fall from grace of Ruth Davidson who was badly exposed in the Parliament today.
Though I do wonder if "it'll put off EEA migrants" might be a good enough tagline to tempt some future Tory chancellor into rolling out a more contributory-based system. (Or possibly even a Labour chancellor, given how some senior Labour folk sound like they are starting to process the fact that immigration is an issue that is coming between them and their natural pool of voters.)
By the way, how is the Named Person Law, Police Scotland, Scottish NHS and Education issues simmering along as Sturgeon tries to divert the public's attention with yet more grudge and grievance politics? Personally I am quite concerned about the NHS, especially as a patient who requires an urgent procedure and has now been told that I have had to be placed on a waiting list.... Two months later, I am still waiting for a date.
And just for the record, I voted to Remain in the EU just as I voted to remain in the UK in the Indy Referendum! I am on record on here just a few days ago saying how gutted I was at the result, but that is democracy, and the voters have spoken! What I don't like is the fact that some in the Remain camp now seem to think that now that the result is our exit from the EU, we must somehow blame the Government who delivered democracy!! We have not voted on the EU in forty years, and despite being in the remain camp, I thought this referendum was long overdue!
There was an election in Scotland which gave the SNP a mandate to hold their Indy Referendum, there was equally a mandate given to the Conservatives who won last year's GE on holding a Referendum on our membership of the EU. But I don't remember anyone complaining when the Libdems got their AV Referendum on our voting system on the back of a Coalition Government deal rather than winning a mandate via the ballot box!
For the record, the Conservative Government at Westminster ring fenced NHS spending, then increased it. They passed this extra funding onto Holyrood, but the SNP Government chose not to invest in our NHS up here. So yes, I think I have a very justified case for criticising the SNP up here for their poor stewardship of the NHS.
A pity this referendum seemed to be fought on a variety of issues tangential at best to the actual issue of being in the EU.
I guess the real failure could be attributed to the last labour govt. it would have made a lot more sense to have a referendum on an actual treaty. At least then it would have been clear what the terms of reference were.
As it is, the party system appears to be in meltdown at the moment. I suppose the conservatives will likely resume normal service sooner or later, but at the moment the SNP looks like more or less the only coherent political party in the UK.
Truly we live in "interesting times"
I suppose in these feverish times criticising the NHS is the last taboo, now that open racism is more or less acceptable in mainstream debate...
(The King James Bible is very fine, by the way. But it is really not difficult to access its words for free. Promoting it — all good. Buying print copies and sending them to schools — wasteful, probably. Inscribing them with his personal mark? just odd)
In the UK the series is limping to a close with poor viewing figures and needs a lot of work. Apparently Matt has told producers to choose either him or Chris Evans. Apparently Evans is arrogant and rude to everyone.
And lets not forget the reason behind Labour's strategic policy to devolve more power to their Labour heartlands in Scotland, Wales and the North of England back in the late 90's. They were successful in Scotland and Wales with the creation of the Holyrood Parliament and Welsh Assembly. Not so successful with Prescott's regional adventures in devolved power in the North England. But it was all about shoring up the Labour heartlands that would not turn Tory, even if another Tory Government was elected at Westminster, and all to weaken their opponents mandate to govern the whole UK. Well look at how that has finally turned out, both Holyrood and Westminster Labour seats are now dominated by the SNP. And while the Welsh Assembly remained in Labour hands, we have seen the rise of Ukip there and a majority voting to leave the EU. And as for the North of England, Labour are now facing a real threat from Ukip.
Rather than trying to fix the underlying economic problems that have existed for so long in those Labour dominated areas. The Labour party instead sought to make their voters in these areas more beholden to them via the welfare state, and without addressing key issues that caused growing discontent, and a disillusionment with mainstream politics.
There is no need for SNP central command to keep an eye on you. PB do that by recording your posts the latest of the 3,316 of which are just the further examples of the latest anti SNP/ Indy tirades.
My point to you is simple. You accuse others of being apologists but your own posts are consistent propaganda. At least I changed my mind about politics. Your contributions show little sign of having ever thought about anything except reciting anti SNP dirges.
One thought however. In the time you have been on PB the SNP have soared to become not just the dominant but the only coherent major party in UK politics. They seem to have withstood your slings and arrows with remarkable success.