It is absolutely bizarre that there seem to be no standing orders relating to the conduct of a leadership election or who can vote in them, and even more so that the NEC is effectively putting retrospective rules in place after the election has started. I know "rule of law" is not a concept generally associated with socialists, but you really don't want your country ruled by people who not only behave like this but think it's normal.
And these are the "moderates" on the Labour side. Really, it can't die quickly enough.
The rule book is very clear about membership rules and leadership contests. Everything that has been done is entirely in keeping with the rule book. That some people want to ignore this and shriek about conspiracies is up to them
''They hate the fact that we cause so many problems. ''
Very true, but that's the current lot at the top. Many European electorates may be coming round to the point of view that those uppity brits have a pretty good point, actually, mon ami.
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
Gordon and Ed provided us with five handy tests IIRC.
"Three decisions taken that night speak volumes about the party’s grim predicament. Whatever the whys and wherefores of that botched “coup”, there is something undeniably odd about a party leader who would apparently struggle to get the support of 51 MPs and MEPs, and the need for a vote to let him on the ballot paper regardless.
Stranger still are the new rules on who exactly can vote (which rule out people who have joined in the last six months, while apparently leaving open the possibility than they can resign their memberships, re-register as “supporters”, and then pay £25 to participate).
Finally, perhaps the most striking decision of all: the imposition of a kind of internal martial law, whereby “all normal party meetings at CLP and branch level shall be suspended until the completion of the leadership election”.
It is absolutely bizarre that there seem to be no standing orders relating to the conduct of a leadership election or who can vote in them, and even more so that the NEC is effectively putting retrospective rules in place after the election has started. I know "rule of law" is not a concept generally associated with socialists, but you really don't want your country ruled by people who not only behave like this but think it's normal.
Don't the various left groups always try and impose their will through the use of the rule book though? To those observing it seems bizzare to say the least, as no matter what the result of the election someone will find a lawyer willing to challange on some procedural basis. Compare and contrast with what just happened in the Conservative Party, having their election done and dusted in three weeks - although I would have liked to have had a vote it would have been for the new leader anyway!
Finally, perhaps the most striking decision of all: the imposition of a kind of internal martial law, whereby “all normal party meetings at CLP and branch level shall be suspended until the completion of the leadership election”.
Reports today that Corbyn is actively participating in deselection activities, in defiance of this
The death spiral of Labour as a serious political force gathers pace
Unite are his biggest cheerleader and openly called for deselections. The notion that suspending *official* meetings prevents plotting is absurd. Much better to expose the whole thing for what it is and let it be challenged.
Forcing it underground just hands the advantage to the most committed - and that isn't the moderates.
ICYMI - Brighton & Hove CLP have been suspended for their Momentum wholesale takeover. IIRC it's the biggest CLP with over 6000 members.
No10 are flying the Tricolor. - A trivial, little thing but says so much imho.
I'm going to get flamed for this, but frankly I've had a gut full of symbolic trivia that achieves Eff All.
There's a predictable cycle:
1. Terrorist attack 2. Twitter grief/ghoulish interest 3. #JeSuisWhatever and #PrayForWhatever 4. Changing your avatar to a rainbow flag or Tricolour 5. Light up Eiffel Tower, HoP and candle light vigils 6. Media apologists 7. Claims of increased hate crimes 8. Lessons must be learned 9. Rinse and repeat
No10 are flying the Tricolor. - A trivial, little thing but says so much imho.
I'm going to get flamed for this, but frankly I've had a gut full of symbolic trivia that achieves Eff All.
There's a predictable cycle:
1. Terrorist attack 2. Twitter grief/ghoulish interest 3. #JeSuisWhatever and #PrayForWhatever 4. Changing your avatar to a rainbow flag or Tricolour 5. Light up Eiffel Tower, HoP and candle light vigils 6. Media apologists 7. Claims of increased hate crimes 8. Lessons must be learned 9. Rinse and repeat
/rantover
Slightly unsure if we're still allowed to say "This".
But if the current number is the new normal, how much gas is burnt to charge an EV?
A standard EV battery is 60KWh which is 60,000 x 60 x 60 = 216MJ. Natural gas produces 50MJ per kilo so it's 4.2kg of natural gas to recharge the whole battery, but since gas provides about 40% of UK energy that means 1.7kg of gas is required to recharge a battery, or ~2m².
You also have to account for the fact that:
- natural gas power station is only 50-60% efficient - there are transmission losses - there are charging losses
But even so, it's amazingly little isn't it?
So looking at around 5kg of gas, plus all the other sources used?
How far can it go on one charge?
I can go around a hundred miles on three kilos of diesel
Well, my Tesla Model S has a theoretical range of 240 miles, but I find it really does more like 200. (That being said, if I were on the motorway the entire time it would probably be closer to 300.)
The point about natural gas, though, is that it is:
(a) inexpensive (b) incredibly abundant (c) much more efficient (in therms of joules of energy converted to motion) than the internal combustion engine (d) cleaner burning (very little particulate matter) and (e) available from a wide variety of countries, many of whom don't hate us (Canada, Australia, the US, Norway, Ireland)
It also produces less carbon dioxide emissions than petrol or diesel ans negligible amount of nitrogen dioxide emissions at CCGT plants. Additionally with EVs 25% of the energy used to recharge batteries come from nuclear power which is a zero emissions source.
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
That loophole has been closed. Only Sweden use it, Denmark are in ERMII and Finland are in the Eurozone. It's one of the reasons the Scots had a problem. The Euro is non-negotiable.
Two wickets in an over for Woakes 310-7 and then 8
Is there a test match on? Honestly, I hadn't noticed, and I am someone who a decade ago used to visit Edgbaston occasionally to watch Warks and England when it was still affordable. Nowadays I'm not bothered.
If cricket were still on terrestrial TV it would still be a national sport and played by a new generation of young people other than those attending public schools. Wind back 11 years to the 2005 Ashes and compare and contrast with the present. Never has a sport scored such an own goal.
Oh crap, hadn't noticed there was a match on!
*checks weather forecast*
Lay the draw!
I am due to be going to Lords on Sunday so if it rains all day today no complaints here
A fair point! Fingers crossed for a good day's play on Sunday!
Some bad (for me, anyway) cricket news, Pakistan have unveiled extra security for visiting cricket teams, including armoured buses, in an attempt to persuade other countries to tour there. For the last few years they've played "home" matches in the UAE and I've managed to attend a couple of Tests every winter!
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
That loophole has been closed. Only Sweden use it, Denmark are in ERMII and Finland are in the Eurozone. It's one of the reasons the Scots had a problem. The Euro is non-negotiable.
Rubbish, there are all sorts of criteria you have to meet before you are allowed into Euro. It was not an issue for Scotland then or now.
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
Given that rejoining would be subject to veto by every other country, we'd be forced fo fully commit to the Project for the first time.
Mr. M, lots of primary schools have very few, or even no, male teachers. Coupled with the decline in the nuclear family, it does raise a serious question about the male role models children have, or lack.
I think I was 9 before I had a male teacher. This was in the sixties.
For many years married women were not allowed to teach primary classes -my mother was one who had to give up. This is why until fairly recently kids would put up their hand and say 'Please Miss!'
Well noted. Almost all my primary teachers were Miss. My personal favourite was Miss Mary McMurray. She had every deep dimple possible, long blond plaits and taught maths using her cigarette habit. Her most memorable lesson was that by giving up - she'd be able to buy a Mini.
Mr. Mark, I was fortunate to go to a school with a 50/50 split, but that's pretty unusual.
Mr. Herdson, jein. The Fourth Crusade occurred during the disastrous Angeli dynasty. Had the Comneni or a Basil II been in charge it would have failed.
But they weren't. A state's enemies might only need it to be unlucky (or useless) once. A well-built political structure can be remarkably resilient to incompetence but I'm not sure that by the 13th century, the Eastern Empire's was all that well-built.
That's the drawback with a monarchy in which the monarch has real power. One or two incompetents can do real damage.
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
That loophole has been closed. Only Sweden use it, Denmark are in ERMII and Finland are in the Eurozone. It's one of the reasons the Scots had a problem. The Euro is non-negotiable.
Rubbish, there are all sorts of criteria you have to meet before you are allowed into Euro. It was not an issue for Scotland then or now.
Neither Scotland nor the UK would be allowed in the Euro. We don't meet the criteria, and Scotland sure as hell wouldn't. Of course, the EU possibly wouldn't follow the rules, just like they ignore the financial stability pact. However, Scotland would not receive an opt out. Sorry.
If Hillary wins Utah, then something truly astonishing would have happened in US politics.... I think that single state on its own is 1/100 Republican.
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
Gordon and Ed provided us with five handy tests IIRC.
A convenient smokescreen for Blair, who in reality applied only one test: could he win a referendum?
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
That loophole has been closed. Only Sweden use it, Denmark are in ERMII and Finland are in the Eurozone. It's one of the reasons the Scots had a problem. The Euro is non-negotiable.
Rubbish, there are all sorts of criteria you have to meet before you are allowed into Euro. It was not an issue for Scotland then or now.
All new entrants have to abide by Maastricht rules and then join ERM II before joining the Eurozone. It really is non-negotiable. If the UK tried to rejoin the EU we'd be subject to those rules. Its one of the reason why once we're out we'll never go back in.
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
That loophole has been closed. Only Sweden use it, Denmark are in ERMII and Finland are in the Eurozone. It's one of the reasons the Scots had a problem. The Euro is non-negotiable.
Yes and no.
In reality, although Poland, the Czechs and so on are obliged by treaty to join the Euro, it's still dependent in reality on their joining ERMII, for which there's no automatic mechanism, so it's still a voluntary act.
Re Britain, in theory, it could rejoin with opt-outs; every accession is a one-off. In practice, I think that's highly unlikely. Leaving aside current EU policy, it's not going to be keen to relive all the British battle of the last 40 years so it's likely to protect itself by ensuring that either Britain is genuinely signed up to the same project as everyone else or that it has a formalised relationship that's different to everyone else.
Will election night mean easy pickings? It does here, but I've always assumed that is because 99% of the activists and experts are watching the counts and not Betfair. That may not apply in November.
But if the current number is the new normal, how much gas is burnt to charge an EV?
A standard EV battery is 60KWh which is 60,000 x 60 x 60 = 216MJ. Natural gas produces 50MJ per kilo so it's 4.2kg of natural gas to recharge the whole battery, but since gas provides about 40% of UK energy that means 1.7kg of gas is required to recharge a battery, or ~2m².
You also have to account for the fact that:
- natural gas power station is only 50-60% efficient - there are transmission losses - there are charging losses
But even so, it's amazingly little isn't it?
So looking at around 5kg of gas, plus all the other sources used?
How far can it go on one charge?
I can go around a hundred miles on three kilos of diesel
Well, my Tesla Model S has a theoretical range of 240 miles, but I find it really does more like 200. (That being said, if I were on the motorway the entire time it would probably be closer to 300.)
What's the Tesla like to live with in London, in terms of charging infrastructure? Or is the city range good enough to get you home every time?
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
That loophole has been closed. Only Sweden use it, Denmark are in ERMII and Finland are in the Eurozone. It's one of the reasons the Scots had a problem. The Euro is non-negotiable.
Rubbish, there are all sorts of criteria you have to meet before you are allowed into Euro. It was not an issue for Scotland then or now.
Neither Scotland nor the UK would be allowed in the Euro. We don't meet the criteria, and Scotland sure as hell wouldn't. Of course, the EU possibly wouldn't follow the rules, just like they ignore the financial stability pact. However, Scotland would not receive an opt out. Sorry.
Eventually we would have to. Even if it meant 10 years of commission forced austerity to meet Maastricht deficit limits to get under 60% debt/GDP. They would force us in, there is no way we could join the EU without submitting to the project in full.
If Hillary wins Utah, then something truly astonishing would have happened in US politics.... I think that single state on its own is 1/100 Republican.
Even more astonishing would be Hillary winning Wyoming and Mississippi
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
That loophole has been closed. Only Sweden use it, Denmark are in ERMII and Finland are in the Eurozone. It's one of the reasons the Scots had a problem. The Euro is non-negotiable.
If the loophole has been closed then how come Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Croatia are neither members of ERM II or the Euro. In fact none of the EU nations without an opt-out that are not part of the Euro are currently part of ERM II, only Denmark is in ERM II at the moment and they of course have an opt-out. All other non-Euro nations have gone down the Swedish route.
Lib Dems winning in LEAVE Cornwall despite being most pro REMAIN party. Must be just local candidate and circumstances not a systemic swing.
I think it would be a mistake to see the whole of UK politics through the Leave-Remain spectrum. There are loads of other important issues.
The four Lib Dem gains all came in or just next to areas where they previously had a Lib Dem MP. A lot of people are bitterly regretting the advent of a 100% Tory Government, and looking back with nostalgia to when there was a good Lib Dem MP.
Trowbridge is in SW Wiltshire and is safe as house for the Tories, but the town has been ld for ages i believe. Your premise may be true, the coalition is looking pretty nice in many ways, but I doubt results like this one are reflective of it. Had the incumbent not died the seat would have remained independent next year. Locals in Chippenham next year will be an interesting marker for ld chances in the parliamentary. The LDs retained most of their seats there 2013 but had majorities slashed, and since then lost 1 to defection to ind and 1 to con in a by election, held on GE day.
No10 are flying the Tricolor. - A trivial, little thing but says so much imho.
I'm going to get flamed for this, but frankly I've had a gut full of symbolic trivia that achieves Eff All.
There's a predictable cycle:
1. Terrorist attack 2. Twitter grief/ghoulish interest 3. #JeSuisWhatever and #PrayForWhatever 4. Changing your avatar to a rainbow flag or Tricolour 5. Light up Eiffel Tower, HoP and candle light vigils 6. Media apologists 7. Claims of increased hate crimes 8. Lessons must be learned 9. Rinse and repeat
/rantover
Slightly unsure if we're still allowed to say "This".
Labour have basically admitted that there are so many thugs and bullies operating in CLPs that they have had to suspend meetings for the leadership campaign.
This is no longer a functioning democratic political party.
Holding no local meetings before September seems quite a strange way to plan for a possible general election in October.
Lib Dems winning in LEAVE Cornwall despite being most pro REMAIN party.
Must be just local candidate and circumstances not a systemic swing.
Several assumptions on here that people will vote in a GE on a Leave/Remain basis in large numbers. I'm honestly not convinced - I suspect the state of the economy and tribal voting will, as ever, be much more important as current polling suggests.
I agree with that . In particular , it is fanciful to assume that many Labour Leave voters are likely to switch to UKIP in a General Election.Despite the Referendum result the polling evidence strongly suggests that Europe is not a very salient issue at national elections. Those Labour voters attracted by UKIP are likely to have already switched. More likely is that because UKIP has effectively lost its raison d'etre that such voters will gradually drift back to Labour.
I partly agree. It was the A8 accession in 2004 that really threw the doors open though. In six EU countries the average wage is a third of the UKs. In another eight its half. That's not taking into account the more generous UK H&W systems. Up until 2004, EU countries were similarly wealthy. That's not true now, and given accession plans, will not be true in the future.
We can certainly reinstate the primary purpose rule (the main reason for the increase in the late 90s), but it was pretty harsh in practice, and I'm not sure reinstatement would attract public support now. Mixed race couples are pretty common today (e.g. two of my five nephews have foreign fiances).
We're likely to find it quite hard to clamp down. Many of us dislike mass immigration, but like immigrants in the round. The usual paradox of public policy.
Interestingly, one of the former Eastern states (Slovenia) has now overtaken Portugal and Greece in GDP per capita. I wouldn't be surprised if the Baltics all manage it within the next five years.
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
That loophole has been closed. Only Sweden use it, Denmark are in ERMII and Finland are in the Eurozone. It's one of the reasons the Scots had a problem. The Euro is non-negotiable.
If the loophole has been closed then how come Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Croatia are neither members of ERM II or the Euro. In fact none of the EU nations without an opt-out that are not part of the Euro are currently part of ERM II, only Denmark is in ERM II at the moment and they of course have an opt-out. All other non-Euro nations have gone down the Swedish route.
The commission were about to launch action to force Poland and others into ERM II before Brexit. Now that's obviously on the back burner. There is now a mechanism to force them into it, Sweden can't be but the rest can.
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
That loophole has been closed. Only Sweden use it, Denmark are in ERMII and Finland are in the Eurozone. It's one of the reasons the Scots had a problem. The Euro is non-negotiable.
If Sweden and Denmark are ever forced into the euro I could then see them leaving the EU too, both nations rejected the euro in referendums and both used to be in EFTA with the UK, Norway and Switzerland
If Hillary wins Utah, then something truly astonishing would have happened in US politics.... I think that single state on its own is 1/100 Republican.
Even more astonishing would be Hillary winning Wyoming and Mississippi
Safe to say, I shan't be following him in on that bet. There must be 10-15 states that the Clinton campaign have already written off as not worth spending a cent on.
I bought some very nice cases of wine* last time on the back of predicting which states would go for Obama.
I partly agree. It was the A8 accession in 2004 that really threw the doors open though. In six EU countries the average wage is a third of the UKs. In another eight its half. That's not taking into account the more generous UK H&W systems. Up until 2004, EU countries were similarly wealthy. That's not true now, and given accession plans, will not be true in the future.
We can certainly reinstate the primary purpose rule (the main reason for the increase in the late 90s), but it was pretty harsh in practice, and I'm not sure reinstatement would attract public support now. Mixed race couples are pretty common today (e.g. two of my five nephews have foreign fiances).
We're likely to find it quite hard to clamp down. Many of us dislike mass immigration, but like immigrants in the round. The usual paradox of public policy.
Interestingly, one of the former Eastern states (Slovenia) has now overtaken Portugal and Greece in GDP per capita. I wouldn't be surprised if the Baltics all manage it within the next five years.
Poland aren't too far behind either. It won't be long until Labour shortages cause wage rises in countries like Poland and the differential becomes small enough to reduce immigration.
Labour have basically admitted that there are so many thugs and bullies operating in CLPs that they have had to suspend meetings for the leadership campaign.
This is no longer a functioning democratic political party.
The John Harris article this morning seems to echo this. Warming to the idea of a split - hard to see how the brand isn't going to become toxic if this continues.
Labour have basically admitted that there are so many thugs and bullies operating in CLPs that they have had to suspend meetings for the leadership campaign.
This is no longer a functioning democratic political party.
My memory of last week is pretty vague. Can you remind me how many Tory members voted for their new leader?
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
That loophole has been closed. Only Sweden use it, Denmark are in ERMII and Finland are in the Eurozone. It's one of the reasons the Scots had a problem. The Euro is non-negotiable.
If the loophole has been closed then how come Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Croatia are neither members of ERM II or the Euro. In fact none of the EU nations without an opt-out that are not part of the Euro are currently part of ERM II, only Denmark is in ERM II at the moment and they of course have an opt-out. All other non-Euro nations have gone down the Swedish route.
The commission were about to launch action to force Poland and others into ERM II before Brexit. Now that's obviously on the back burner. There is now a mechanism to force them into it, Sweden can't be but the rest can.
Yep, the jailers are indeed looking at ways to reinforce the bars.
Labour have basically admitted that there are so many thugs and bullies operating in CLPs that they have had to suspend meetings for the leadership campaign.
This is no longer a functioning democratic political party.
Holding no local meetings before September seems quite a strange way to plan for a possible general election in October.
Luckily for labour there wont be a GE this year imho. i saw talk of first week in november - just don't buy it myself.
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
That loophole has been closed. Only Sweden use it, Denmark are in ERMII and Finland are in the Eurozone. It's one of the reasons the Scots had a problem. The Euro is non-negotiable.
Rubbish, there are all sorts of criteria you have to meet before you are allowed into Euro. It was not an issue for Scotland then or now.
All new entrants have to abide by Maastricht rules and then join ERM II before joining the Eurozone. It really is non-negotiable. If the UK tried to rejoin the EU we'd be subject to those rules. Its one of the reason why once we're out we'll never go back in.
We would be unlikely to be able to meet the criteria ever and certainly not at this point, we would never need to be in Euro unless we wanted to be
Two wickets in an over for Woakes 310-7 and then 8
Is there a test match on? Honestly, I hadn't noticed, and I am someone who a decade ago used to visit Edgbaston occasionally to watch Warks and England when it was still affordable. Nowadays I'm not bothered.
If cricket were still on terrestrial TV it would still be a national sport and played by a new generation of young people other than those attending public schools. Wind back 11 years to the 2005 Ashes and compare and contrast with the present. Never has a sport scored such an own goal.
Oh crap, hadn't noticed there was a match on!
*checks weather forecast*
Lay the draw!
I am due to be going to Lords on Sunday so if it rains all day today no complaints here
A fair point! Fingers crossed for a good day's play on Sunday!
Some bad (for me, anyway) cricket news, Pakistan have unveiled extra security for visiting cricket teams, including armoured buses, in an attempt to persuade other countries to tour there. For the last few years they've played "home" matches in the UAE and I've managed to attend a couple of Tests every winter!
Yes rain all day today and sunshine all day Sunday would be ideal.
Hope Pakistan keep playing some matches in the UAE even if they improve security a little back home, it is a great venue for cricket
Lib Dems winning in LEAVE Cornwall despite being most pro REMAIN party. Must be just local candidate and circumstances not a systemic swing.
I think it would be a mistake to see the whole of UK politics through the Leave-Remain spectrum. There are loads of other important issues.
The four Lib Dem gains all came in or just next to areas where they previously had a Lib Dem MP. A lot of people are bitterly regretting the advent of a 100% Tory Government, and looking back with nostalgia to when there was a good Lib Dem MP.
Yes I agree with that. If it was really about Europe, the Lib Dems would have taken the Islington seat and made progress in Newham, not Norfolk and Cornwall.
Still, it does feel that trust locally is coming back and that's showing in results. My guess is that it will take a long time till this is reflected nationally, hence the continuing poor national polls, but that the long journey back is underway.
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
That loophole has been closed. Only Sweden use it, Denmark are in ERMII and Finland are in the Eurozone. It's one of the reasons the Scots had a problem. The Euro is non-negotiable.
If the loophole has been closed then how come Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Croatia are neither members of ERM II or the Euro. In fact none of the EU nations without an opt-out that are not part of the Euro are currently part of ERM II, only Denmark is in ERM II at the moment and they of course have an opt-out. All other non-Euro nations have gone down the Swedish route.
The commission were about to launch action to force Poland and others into ERM II before Brexit.
I note that Hammond's decision not to hold an emergency Budget has not been met with the market crash we were told before 23rd June was surely inevitable.....
I partly agree. It was the A8 accession in 2004 that really threw the doors open though. In six EU countries the average wage is a third of the UKs. In another eight its half. That's not taking into account the more generous UK H&W systems. Up until 2004, EU countries were similarly wealthy. That's not true now, and given accession plans, will not be true in the future.
We can certainly reinstate the primary purpose rule (the main reason for the increase in the late 90s), but it was pretty harsh in practice, and I'm not sure reinstatement would attract public support now. Mixed race couples are pretty common today (e.g. two of my five nephews have foreign fiances).
We're likely to find it quite hard to clamp down. Many of us dislike mass immigration, but like immigrants in the round. The usual paradox of public policy.
Interestingly, one of the former Eastern states (Slovenia) has now overtaken Portugal and Greece in GDP per capita. I wouldn't be surprised if the Baltics all manage it within the next five years.
I know it's only a Wikipedia link, but their IMF data shows that on a PPP basis Estonia and Lithuania already have.
I'm going to repost this link in case you missed it earlier. Full of crunchy numbers.
But if the current number is the new normal, how much gas is burnt to charge an EV?
A standard EV battery is 60KWh which is 60,000 x 60 x 60 = 216MJ. Natural gas produces 50MJ per kilo so it's 4.2kg of natural gas to recharge the whole battery, but since gas provides about 40% of UK energy that means 1.7kg of gas is required to recharge a battery, or ~2m².
You also have to account for the fact that:
- natural gas power station is only 50-60% efficient - there are transmission losses - there are charging losses
But even so, it's amazingly little isn't it?
So looking at around 5kg of gas, plus all the other sources used?
How far can it go on one charge?
I can go around a hundred miles on three kilos of diesel
Well, my Tesla Model S has a theoretical range of 240 miles, but I find it really does more like 200. (That being said, if I were on the motorway the entire time it would probably be closer to 300.)
The point about natural gas, though, is that it is:
(a) inexpensive (b) incredibly abundant (c) much more efficient (in therms of joules of energy converted to motion) than the internal combustion engine (d) cleaner burning (very little particulate matter) and (e) available from a wide variety of countries, many of whom don't hate us (Canada, Australia, the US, Norway, Ireland)
Thanks for all the well informed replies on this.
It looks as though I wouldn't be making that much smaller a carbon footprint if I had an EV, if I could afford one. I do about 90mpg in my diesel skoda fabia - I know carbon footprint isn't the major worry with diesel engines but it's nice to know!
But if the current number is the new normal, how much gas is burnt to charge an EV?
A standard EV battery is 60KWh which is 60,000 x 60 x 60 = 216MJ. Natural gas produces 50MJ per kilo so it's 4.2kg of natural gas to recharge the whole battery, but since gas provides about 40% of UK energy that means 1.7kg of gas is required to recharge a battery, or ~2m².
You also have to account for the fact that:
- natural gas power station is only 50-60% efficient - there are transmission losses - there are charging losses
But even so, it's amazingly little isn't it?
So looking at around 5kg of gas, plus all the other sources used?
How far can it go on one charge?
I can go around a hundred miles on three kilos of diesel
Well, my Tesla Model S has a theoretical range of 240 miles, but I find it really does more like 200. (That being said, if I were on the motorway the entire time it would probably be closer to 300.)
What's the Tesla like to live with in London, in terms of charging infrastructure? Or is the city range good enough to get you home every time?
The charging infrastructure in London is excellent, tbh. I don't even have a home charger.
I partly agree. It was the A8 accession in 2004 that really threw the doors open though. In six EU countries the average wage is a third of the UKs. In another eight its half. That's not taking into account the more generous UK H&W systems. Up until 2004, EU countries were similarly wealthy. That's not true now, and given accession plans, will not be true in the future.
We can certainly reinstate the primary purpose rule (the main reason for the increase in the late 90s), but it was pretty harsh in practice, and I'm not sure reinstatement would attract public support now. Mixed race couples are pretty common today (e.g. two of my five nephews have foreign fiances).
We're likely to find it quite hard to clamp down. Many of us dislike mass immigration, but like immigrants in the round. The usual paradox of public policy.
Interestingly, one of the former Eastern states (Slovenia) has now overtaken Portugal and Greece in GDP per capita. I wouldn't be surprised if the Baltics all manage it within the next five years.
Poland aren't too far behind either. It won't be long until Labour shortages cause wage rises in countries like Poland and the differential becomes small enough to reduce immigration.
I see that happening in some fields already; housing is also incredibly cheap in some of these places (and Berlin too).
If Hillary wins Utah, then something truly astonishing would have happened in US politics.... I think that single state on its own is 1/100 Republican.
Even more astonishing would be Hillary winning Wyoming and Mississippi
Safe to say, I shan't be following him in on that bet. There must be 10-15 states that the Clinton campaign have already written off as not worth spending a cent on.
I bought some very nice cases of wine* last time on the back of predicting which states would go for Obama.
*So I was told, not being a drinker....
Indeed, personally I think Hillary will scrape home in the closest election since 2004 but I think Trump could win Florida and Ohio even if Hillary wins nationwide
I partly agree. It was the A8 accession in 2004 that really threw the doors open though. In six EU countries the average wage is a third of the UKs. In another eight its half. That's not taking into account the more generous UK H&W systems. Up until 2004, EU countries were similarly wealthy. That's not true now, and given accession plans, will not be true in the future.
We can certainly reinstate the primary purpose rule (the main reason for the increase in the late 90s), but it was pretty harsh in practice, and I'm not sure reinstatement would attract public support now. Mixed race couples are pretty common today (e.g. two of my five nephews have foreign fiances).
We're likely to find it quite hard to clamp down. Many of us dislike mass immigration, but like immigrants in the round. The usual paradox of public policy.
Interestingly, one of the former Eastern states (Slovenia) has now overtaken Portugal and Greece in GDP per capita. I wouldn't be surprised if the Baltics all manage it within the next five years.
Poland aren't too far behind either. It won't be long until Labour shortages cause wage rises in countries like Poland and the differential becomes small enough to reduce immigration.
Poland is already pissing off the EU and threatened with sanctions over policies the Eurowallahs don't like. From May 18th 2016.
"Poland faces the prospect of becoming the first EU country to be sanctioned for failing to uphold the rule of law after Brussels issued Warsaw with another warning over its constitutional overhaul.
On Wednesday, the European Commission gave Poland five days to demonstrate “significant progress” in addressing Brussels’ concerns over controversial changes to the country’s constitutional court and its state media.
If Warsaw fails to comply, the commission can issue a “Rule of Law Opinion”, which paves the way for more serious sanctions, such as stripping Poland of its right to vote on EU laws. This last option, available under Article 7 of the EU’s treaty, has been nicknamed “the nuclear option” by diplomats. The option has never been used before."
Labour have basically admitted that there are so many thugs and bullies operating in CLPs that they have had to suspend meetings for the leadership campaign.
This is no longer a functioning democratic political party.
My memory of last week is pretty vague. Can you remind me how many Tory members voted for their new leader?
Labour have basically admitted that there are so many thugs and bullies operating in CLPs that they have had to suspend meetings for the leadership campaign.
This is no longer a functioning democratic political party.
My memory of last week is pretty vague. Can you remind me how many Tory members voted for their new leader?
Zero. There was no need as only one candidate.
I'm no Tory, but at least they actually know who is entitled to vote in their leadership elections.
The two day window for post-Jan'16 members to join additionally as supporters in order to qualify for a vote is beyond parody.
No10 are flying the Tricolor. - A trivial, little thing but says so much imho.
I'm going to get flamed for this, but frankly I've had a gut full of symbolic trivia that achieves Eff All.
There's a predictable cycle:
1. Terrorist attack 2. Twitter grief/ghoulish interest 3. #JeSuisWhatever and #PrayForWhatever 4. Changing your avatar to a rainbow flag or Tricolour 5. Light up Eiffel Tower, HoP and candle light vigils 6. Media apologists 7. Claims of increased hate crimes 8. Lessons must be learned 9. Rinse and repeat
/rantover
Slightly unsure if we're still allowed to say "This".
"I agree" is acceptable.
Substantively: I agree with Plato.
I did wonder what "This" meant, thanks.
minutes slience inflation I don't like. there are so many more now so when something more serious happens they need a two minute silence. used to need a war where 10m were killed before you got 2 mins. and what are days of national mourning all about? and why do some countries need 3? is there a productivity issue at play? and why does every bend on a road have dead flowers on it?
would the band carry on playing if the titanic was sinking today or would they be paddling their double bass to boston?
everyone should be forced to watch the dining scene from carry on up the khyber and learn how to behave.
Two wickets in an over for Woakes 310-7 and then 8
Is there a test match on? Honestly, I hadn't noticed, and I am someone who a decade ago used to visit Edgbaston occasionally to watch Warks and England when it was still affordable. Nowadays I'm not bothered.
If cricket were still on terrestrial TV it would still be a national sport and played by a new generation of young people other than those attending public schools. Wind back 11 years to the 2005 Ashes and compare and contrast with the present. Never has a sport scored such an own goal.
Oh crap, hadn't noticed there was a match on!
*checks weather forecast*
Lay the draw!
I am due to be going to Lords on Sunday so if it rains all day today no complaints here
A fair point! Fingers crossed for a good day's play on Sunday!
Some bad (for me, anyway) cricket news, Pakistan have unveiled extra security for visiting cricket teams, including armoured buses, in an attempt to persuade other countries to tour there. For the last few years they've played "home" matches in the UAE and I've managed to attend a couple of Tests every winter!
Yes rain all day today and sunshine all day Sunday would be ideal.
Hope Pakistan keep playing some matches in the UAE even if they improve security a little back home, it is a great venue for cricket
It is indeed a good place to play cricket! Lots of Pakistani expats there, plus a good number from whichever country they're playing, and a good number of others like me who just like the opportunity to watch international cricket.
Sold out venues for the shorter forms of the game too, great atmosphere for those, even if like me you prefer the Tests.
Labour have basically admitted that there are so many thugs and bullies operating in CLPs that they have had to suspend meetings for the leadership campaign.
This is no longer a functioning democratic political party.
Holding no local meetings before September seems quite a strange way to plan for a possible general election in October.
Luckily for labour there wont be a GE this year imho. i saw talk of first week in november - just don't buy it myself.
No, I suspect not. All the same, I wouldn't rule the possibility out and putting a party into suspended animation for two months over the summer seems an unorthodox way to prepare for the eventuality.
Labour have basically admitted that there are so many thugs and bullies operating in CLPs that they have had to suspend meetings for the leadership campaign.
This is no longer a functioning democratic political party.
Holding no local meetings before September seems quite a strange way to plan for a possible general election in October.
Luckily for labour there wont be a GE this year imho. i saw talk of first week in november - just don't buy it myself.
No, I suspect not. All the same, I wouldn't rule the possibility out and putting a party into suspended animation for two months over the summer seems an unorthodox way to prepare for the eventuality.
Agree. Although I suspect "unorthodox" could be read as a euphemism for "clusterf***"
I note that Hammond's decision not to hold an emergency Budget has not been met with the market crash we were told before 23rd June was surely inevitable.....
I saw several market big wheels on Sky yesterday really pissed off with Carney and lots of talk of him as *an unreliable boyfriend*
Whatever else - Carney must be toast. He's lost faith all over the shop by politicking. His totally OTT 3 page rant to Bernard Jenkin said it all. If he'd not danced to Osborne's fiddle, he'd be safe.
Mervyn King blew him out of the water with plain commonsense.
I note that Hammond's decision not to hold an emergency Budget has not been met with the market crash we were told before 23rd June was surely inevitable.....
I saw several market big wheels on Sky yesterday really pissed off with Carney and lots of talk of him as *an unreliable boyfriend*
Whatever else - Carney must be toast. He's lost faith all over the shop by politicking. His totally OTT 3 page rant to Bernard Jenkin said it all. If he'd not danced to Osborne's fiddle, he'd be safe.
Mervyn King blew him out of the water with plain commonsense.
I think it's incredibly unlikely Carney will be fired.
But if the current number is the new normal, how much gas is burnt to charge an EV?
A standard EV battery is 60KWh which is 60,000 x 60 x 60 = 216MJ. Natural gas produces 50MJ per kilo so it's 4.2kg of natural gas to recharge the whole battery, but since gas provides about 40% of UK energy that means 1.7kg of gas is required to recharge a battery, or ~2m².
You also have to account for the fact that:
- natural gas power station is only 50-60% efficient - there are transmission losses - there are charging losses
But even so, it's amazingly little isn't it?
So looking at around 5kg of gas, plus all the other sources used?
How far can it go on one charge?
I can go around a hundred miles on three kilos of diesel
Well, my Tesla Model S has a theoretical range of 240 miles, but I find it really does more like 200. (That being said, if I were on the motorway the entire time it would probably be closer to 300.)
What's the Tesla like to live with in London, in terms of charging infrastructure? Or is the city range good enough to get you home every time?
The charging infrastructure in London is excellent, tbh. I don't even have a home charger.
That's pretty good. The big question will be how well it all scales when Tesla start selling cars at £25k instead of £65k, and there's a few lot more of them around!
Mr. M, lots of primary schools have very few, or even no, male teachers. Coupled with the decline in the nuclear family, it does raise a serious question about the male role models children have, or lack.
I think I was 9 before I had a male teacher. This was in the sixties.
For many years married women were not allowed to teach primary classes -my mother was one who had to give up. This is why until fairly recently kids would put up their hand and say 'Please Miss!'
Well noted. Almost all my primary teachers were Miss. My personal favourite was Miss Mary McMurray. She had every deep dimple possible, long blond plaits and taught maths using her cigarette habit. Her most memorable lesson was that by giving up - she'd be able to buy a Mini.
She didn't.
My mother taught the first year of Primary for 40 years ending about 15 years ago so it was either a very long time ago, or only enforced by some LEAs.
No10 are flying the Tricolor. - A trivial, little thing but says so much imho.
I'm going to get flamed for this, but frankly I've had a gut full of symbolic trivia that achieves Eff All.
There's a predictable cycle:
1. Terrorist attack 2. Twitter grief/ghoulish interest 3. #JeSuisWhatever and #PrayForWhatever 4. Changing your avatar to a rainbow flag or Tricolour 5. Light up Eiffel Tower, HoP and candle light vigils 6. Media apologists 7. Claims of increased hate crimes 8. Lessons must be learned 9. Rinse and repeat
/rantover
Slightly unsure if we're still allowed to say "This".
"I agree" is acceptable.
Substantively: I agree with Plato.
I did wonder what "This" meant, thanks.
minutes slience inflation I don't like. there are so many more now so when something more serious happens they need a two minute silence. used to need a war where 10m were killed before you got 2 mins. and what are days of national mourning all about? and why do some countries need 3? is there a productivity issue at play? and why does every bend on a road have dead flowers on it?
would the band carry on playing if the titanic was sinking today or would they be paddling their double bass to boston?
everyone should be forced to watch the dining scene from carry on up the khyber and learn how to behave.
Two wickets in an over for Woakes 310-7 and then 8
Is there a test match on? Honestly, I hadn't noticed, and I am someone who a decade ago used to visit Edgbaston occasionally to watch Warks and England when it was still affordable. Nowadays I'm not bothered.
If cricket were still on terrestrial TV it would still be a national sport and played by a new generation of young people other than those attending public schools. Wind back 11 years to the 2005 Ashes and compare and contrast with the present. Never has a sport scored such an own goal.
Oh crap, hadn't noticed there was a match on!
*checks weather forecast*
Lay the draw!
I am due to be going to Lords on Sunday so if it rains all day today no complaints here
A fair point! Fingers crossed for a good day's play on Sunday!
Some bad (for me, anyway) cricket news, Pakistan have unveiled extra security for visiting cricket teams, including armoured buses, in an attempt to persuade other countries to tour there. For the last few years they've played "home" matches in the UAE and I've managed to attend a couple of Tests every winter!
Yes rain all day today and sunshine all day Sunday would be ideal.
Hope Pakistan keep playing some matches in the UAE even if they improve security a little back home, it is a great venue for cricket
It is indeed a good place to play cricket! Lots of Pakistani expats there, plus a good number from whichever country they're playing, and a good number of others like me who just like the opportunity to watch international cricket.
Sold out venues for the shorter forms of the game too, great atmosphere for those, even if like me you prefer the Tests.
Yes and big TV audiences, especially for the shorter matches
Lib Dems winning in LEAVE Cornwall despite being most pro REMAIN party. Must be just local candidate and circumstances not a systemic swing.
I think it would be a mistake to see the whole of UK politics through the Leave-Remain spectrum. There are loads of other important issues.
The four Lib Dem gains all came in or just next to areas where they previously had a Lib Dem MP. A lot of people are bitterly regretting the advent of a 100% Tory Government, and looking back with nostalgia to when there was a good Lib Dem MP.
Yes I agree with that. If it was really about Europe, the Lib Dems would have taken the Islington seat and made progress in Newham, not Norfolk and Cornwall.
Still, it does feel that trust locally is coming back and that's showing in results. My guess is that it will take a long time till this is reflected nationally, hence the continuing poor national polls, but that the long journey back is underway.
The other trend that is becoming evident - and which underpins the Islington/Newham results - is that Labour remains very strong and continues to chalk up good results in London. Politically, as arguably socially, London is something of a 'bubble'; further, London contains a significant proportion of Labour's membership. These London-centric members fighting for control of their party (on both sides) are therefore to a great extent isolated from the communities where Labour has either already lost or is well on the way to doing so.
Labour have basically admitted that there are so many thugs and bullies operating in CLPs that they have had to suspend meetings for the leadership campaign.
This is no longer a functioning democratic political party.
My memory of last week is pretty vague. Can you remind me how many Tory members voted for their new leader?
I'm a seriously pissed off one with a vote. When Leadsom dropped out, Gove should've been put to the members along with May. The ballots hadn't been issued.
I expected May to win, but a contest is a contest.
Labour are just making the most appalling spectacle of themselves - anti democratic, bent and untrustworthy.
I feel really sorry for those who joined in the last 6 months/or encouraged by the likes of Eagles to join in the week or so - and have no vote.
I note that Hammond's decision not to hold an emergency Budget has not been met with the market crash we were told before 23rd June was surely inevitable.....
I saw several market big wheels on Sky yesterday really pissed off with Carney and lots of talk of him as *an unreliable boyfriend*
Whatever else - Carney must be toast. He's lost faith all over the shop by politicking. His totally OTT 3 page rant to Bernard Jenkin said it all. If he'd not danced to Osborne's fiddle, he'd be safe.
Mervyn King blew him out of the water with plain commonsense.
I think it's incredibly unlikely Carney will be fired.
Everything carney said has turned out correct. Has the Moggster apologised yet ?
But if the current number is the new normal, how much gas is burnt to charge an EV?
A standard EV battery is 60KWh which is 60,000 x 60 x 60 = 216MJ. Natural gas produces 50MJ per kilo so it's 4.2kg of natural gas to recharge the whole battery, but since gas provides about 40% of UK energy that means 1.7kg of gas is required to recharge a battery, or ~2m².
You also have to account for the fact that:
- natural gas power station is only 50-60% efficient - there are transmission losses - there are charging losses
But even so, it's amazingly little isn't it?
So looking at around 5kg of gas, plus all the other sources used?
How far can it go on one charge?
I can go around a hundred miles on three kilos of diesel
Well, my Tesla Model S has a theoretical range of 240 miles, but I find it really does more like 200. (That being said, if I were on the motorway the entire time it would probably be closer to 300.)
What's the Tesla like to live with in London, in terms of charging infrastructure? Or is the city range good enough to get you home every time?
The charging infrastructure in London is excellent, tbh. I don't even have a home charger.
That's pretty good. The big question will be how well it all scales when Tesla start selling cars at £25k instead of £65k, and there's a few lot more of them around!
£25k? When electric cars start coming at at £10-12k (at today's prices) with a 400 mile range in summer and winter, light and dark, then we can start taking them seriously. Until then they will remain a rich man's plaything.
I note that Hammond's decision not to hold an emergency Budget has not been met with the market crash we were told before 23rd June was surely inevitable.....
I saw several market big wheels on Sky yesterday really pissed off with Carney and lots of talk of him as *an unreliable boyfriend*
Whatever else - Carney must be toast. He's lost faith all over the shop by politicking. His totally OTT 3 page rant to Bernard Jenkin said it all. If he'd not danced to Osborne's fiddle, he'd be safe.
Mervyn King blew him out of the water with plain commonsense.
I think it's incredibly unlikely Carney will be fired.
Carney is widely considered the only grown up figure in the UK at the moment. He is totally bullet proof. Bernard Jenkin, by contrast is a prat of the highest water.
The other trend that is becoming evident - and which underpins the Islington/Newham results - is that Labour remains very strong and continues to chalk up good results in London. Politically, as arguably socially, London is something of a 'bubble'; further, London contains a significant proportion of Labour's membership. These London-centric members fighting for control of their party (on both sides) are therefore to a great extent isolated from the communities where Labour has either already lost or is well on the way to doing so.
There must be room for a moderate centrist or centre-left party, because… because… because…
No10 are flying the Tricolor. - A trivial, little thing but says so much imho.
I'm going to get flamed for this, but frankly I've had a gut full of symbolic trivia that achieves Eff All.
There's a predictable cycle:
1. Terrorist attack 2. Twitter grief/ghoulish interest 3. #JeSuisWhatever and #PrayForWhatever 4. Changing your avatar to a rainbow flag or Tricolour 5. Light up Eiffel Tower, HoP and candle light vigils 6. Media apologists 7. Claims of increased hate crimes 8. Lessons must be learned 9. Rinse and repeat
/rantover
Slightly unsure if we're still allowed to say "This".
"I agree" is acceptable.
Substantively: I agree with Plato.
everyone should be forced to watch the dining scene from carry on up the khyber and learn how to behave.
Kenneth Williams (The Mad Khazi) had a great line - "These British are impossible! You can destroy their cities, rape their women and murder their children and they don't bat an eyelid - but oooh..put the tea in before the milk and they go berserk..."
Bernard Jenkin, by contrast is a prat of the highest water.
What might be an interesting side effect of the reshuffle is that May will have made few new friends (Jenkin and the rest of the headbangers will continue to moan about betrayal) while making a whole bunch of new enemies.
There might be an election sooner than she would like
Based on the reports of Corbyn's involvement in the attempt to deselect Angle Eagle, is there a case for suspending Corbyn from the Labour Party for breaching his own party rules?
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
That loophole has been closed. Only Sweden use it, Denmark are in ERMII and Finland are in the Eurozone. It's one of the reasons the Scots had a problem. The Euro is non-negotiable.
Rubbish, there are all sorts of criteria you have to meet before you are allowed into Euro. It was not an issue for Scotland then or now.
All new entrants have to abide by Maastricht rules and then join ERM II before joining the Eurozone. It really is non-negotiable. If the UK tried to rejoin the EU we'd be subject to those rules. Its one of the reason why once we're out we'll never go back in.
" Its one of the reason why once we're out we'll never go back in."
If there's another referendum, I think it will just produce a bigger Leave win. People now know Leave _can_ win.
But if the current number is the new normal, how much gas is burnt to charge an EV?
A standard EV battery is 60KWh which is 60,000 x 60 x 60 = 216MJ. Natural gas produces 50MJ per kilo so it's 4.2kg of natural gas to recharge the whole battery, but since gas provides about 40% of UK energy that means 1.7kg of gas is required to recharge a battery, or ~2m².
You also have to account for the fact that:
- natural gas power station is only 50-60% efficient - there are transmission losses - there are charging losses
But even so, it's amazingly little isn't it?
So looking at around 5kg of gas, plus all the other sources used?
How far can it go on one charge?
I can go around a hundred miles on three kilos of diesel
Well, my Tesla Model S has a theoretical range of 240 miles, but I find it really does more like 200. (That being said, if I were on the motorway the entire time it would probably be closer to 300.)
What's the Tesla like to live with in London, in terms of charging infrastructure? Or is the city range good enough to get you home every time?
The charging infrastructure in London is excellent, tbh. I don't even have a home charger.
That's pretty good. The big question will be how well it all scales when Tesla start selling cars at £25k instead of £65k, and there's a few lot more of them around!
£25k? When electric cars start coming at at £10-12k (at today's prices) with a 400 mile range in summer and winter, light and dark, then we can start taking them seriously. Until then they will remain a rich man's plaything.
The upcoming switch to electric cars is more likely to be driven by increasing petrol and diesel prices than falling electric car prices.
Lib Dems winning in LEAVE Cornwall despite being most pro REMAIN party. Must be just local candidate and circumstances not a systemic swing.
I think it would be a mistake to see the whole of UK politics through the Leave-Remain spectrum. There are loads of other important issues.
The four Lib Dem gains all came in or just next to areas where they previously had a Lib Dem MP. A lot of people are bitterly regretting the advent of a 100% Tory Government, and looking back with nostalgia to when there was a good Lib Dem MP.
Yes I agree with that. If it was really about Europe, the Lib Dems would have taken the Islington seat and made progress in Newham, not Norfolk and Cornwall.
Still, it does feel that trust locally is coming back and that's showing in results. My guess is that it will take a long time till this is reflected nationally, hence the continuing poor national polls, but that the long journey back is underway.
This is something I genuinely don't understand at all re the Remain voter.
Given how often we're told that the EU didn't matter - it's caused the most immense ructions.
And three weeks on, some Remainers are still clearly very upset about it on here and in the press/wishing for the worst.
From my own POV, I feel liberated from a failing organisation that whittled away my national identity. What was so compelling bar the 'pound in your pocket' that makes Remainers so annoyed?
Based on the reports of Corbyn's involvement in the attempt to deselect Angle Eagle, is there a case for suspending Corbyn from the Labour Party for breaching his own party rules?
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
That loophole has been closed. Only Sweden use it, Denmark are in ERMII and Finland are in the Eurozone. It's one of the reasons the Scots had a problem. The Euro is non-negotiable.
Rubbish, there are all sorts of criteria you have to meet before you are allowed into Euro. It was not an issue for Scotland then or now.
All new entrants have to abide by Maastricht rules and then join ERM II before joining the Eurozone. It really is non-negotiable. If the UK tried to rejoin the EU we'd be subject to those rules. Its one of the reason why once we're out we'll never go back in.
" Its one of the reason why once we're out we'll never go back in."
If there's another referendum, I think it will just produce a bigger Leave win. People now know Leave _can_ win.
In a two-horse race, how does it make any difference at all whether people believe one or the other can win? They can hardly vote tactically, can they?
I can't imagine any judge in his right mind would want to challenge the NEC's decisions either on the membership freeze or Corbyn's eligibility in the contest now. Case law is on Corbyn's side anyhow as @RodCrosby has repeatedly shown.
I note that Hammond's decision not to hold an emergency Budget has not been met with the market crash we were told before 23rd June was surely inevitable.....
I saw several market big wheels on Sky yesterday really pissed off with Carney and lots of talk of him as *an unreliable boyfriend*
Whatever else - Carney must be toast. He's lost faith all over the shop by politicking. His totally OTT 3 page rant to Bernard Jenkin said it all. If he'd not danced to Osborne's fiddle, he'd be safe.
Mervyn King blew him out of the water with plain commonsense.
I think it's incredibly unlikely Carney will be fired.
Given how keen Hammond is on Remain, I wonder what he'll do.
So are Labour going to propose re-entry into the EU at the GE? Seems mental to me. Re-entry is going to involve taking up the Euro and Schengen. There is no way the EU would allow us to keep our current opt-outs and vetoes if we rejoined. They hate the fact that we cause so many problems.
Please stop repeating the nonsense re: Schengen and the Euro. Just as our leaving will be a custom deal with pragmatic concessions from Germany and France, so would our entry. Joining the Euro could be easily avoided by adopting the same strategy as the Scandinavian countries, i.e. refrain from joining ERMII.
That loophole has been closed. Only Sweden use it, Denmark are in ERMII and Finland are in the Eurozone. It's one of the reasons the Scots had a problem. The Euro is non-negotiable.
Rubbish, there are all sorts of criteria you have to meet before you are allowed into Euro. It was not an issue for Scotland then or now.
All new entrants have to abide by Maastricht rules and then join ERM II before joining the Eurozone. It really is non-negotiable. If the UK tried to rejoin the EU we'd be subject to those rules. Its one of the reason why once we're out we'll never go back in.
" Its one of the reason why once we're out we'll never go back in."
If there's another referendum, I think it will just produce a bigger Leave win. People now know Leave _can_ win.
In a two-horse race, how does it make any difference at all whether people believe one or the other can win? They can hardly vote tactically, can they?
No but there's a 'back the sensible option' angle. Leave was presented as fringe, unrealistic, dangerous, undoable. Now its government policy.
I partly agree. It was the A8 accession in 2004 that really threw the doors open though. In six EU countries the average wage is a third of the UKs. In another eight its half. That's not taking into account the more generous UK H&W systems. Up until 2004, EU countries were similarly wealthy. That's not true now, and given accession plans, will not be true in the future.
We can certainly reinstate the primary purpose rule (the main reason for the increase in the late 90s), but it was pretty harsh in practice, and I'm not sure reinstatement would attract public support now. Mixed race couples are pretty common today (e.g. two of my five nephews have foreign fiances).
We're likely to find it quite hard to clamp down. Many of us dislike mass immigration, but like immigrants in the round. The usual paradox of public policy.
Interestingly, one of the former Eastern states (Slovenia) has now overtaken Portugal and Greece in GDP per capita. I wouldn't be surprised if the Baltics all manage it within the next five years.
I know it's only a Wikipedia link, but their IMF data shows that on a PPP basis Estonia and Lithuania already have.
I'm going to repost this link in case you missed it earlier. Full of crunchy numbers.
I have visited former East Europe (they prefer to be called Central Europe) every couple of years or so since the 1980s, particularly Poland. The transformation in that country over the past twenty years is truly one of the success stories of our age (and we can be proud that, particularly through the EU, we have played a key part). Poland's recovery was only marginally affected by the 2008 crisis and its economy continues to be one of the strongest of the former communist countries. My visit last year, admittedly to the more prosperous west of Poland, was the first where, had I been dropped there without knowing where I was, I would not immediately have been able to guess - from the buildings, clothes and cars - that I was behind the former Iron Curtain, rather than (say) Portugal or southern Italy.
Of course Poland still has huge challenges and problems, like most places, and of course the money coming home from their young working in the UK and elsewhere has played a part in their success. But to be honest you don't have to do much reading on the tragic story of Polish history to share a bit of pride and joy at the recent progress they have made; it makes it even more regrettable that Polish people here have borne the brunt of the post-EUref spate of racist incidents. Particularly as the Poles still regard Britain as one of their closest friends and any Brit who travels there is assured of a warm welcome.
Comments
Very true, but that's the current lot at the top. Many European electorates may be coming round to the point of view that those uppity brits have a pretty good point, actually, mon ami.
Forcing it underground just hands the advantage to the most committed - and that isn't the moderates.
ICYMI - Brighton & Hove CLP have been suspended for their Momentum wholesale takeover. IIRC it's the biggest CLP with over 6000 members.
I voted for two candidates.
I think this whole business of 'slates' of candidates is a pile of bollocks. Parties within a party.
Shadsy goes 10/1 that he is the first cabinet member to quit
Some bad (for me, anyway) cricket news, Pakistan have unveiled extra security for visiting cricket teams, including armoured buses, in an attempt to persuade other countries to tour there. For the last few years they've played "home" matches in the UAE and I've managed to attend a couple of Tests every winter!
https://twitter.com/toadmeister/status/753912458897661952
She didn't.
Mayers
Mayists
Mayites
Mayerites
Mayflys
Mayflowers
Maynards
Maykers
Maykweights
Social Democrats
I also wish to offer: "Theresa Maynard Keynes" as a headline for the Economist.
In reality, although Poland, the Czechs and so on are obliged by treaty to join the Euro, it's still dependent in reality on their joining ERMII, for which there's no automatic mechanism, so it's still a voluntary act.
Re Britain, in theory, it could rejoin with opt-outs; every accession is a one-off. In practice, I think that's highly unlikely. Leaving aside current EU policy, it's not going to be keen to relive all the British battle of the last 40 years so it's likely to protect itself by ensuring that either Britain is genuinely signed up to the same project as everyone else or that it has a formalised relationship that's different to everyone else.
Substantively: I agree with Plato.
I followed Luke Akehurst and a few others last time and got bored of endless "thank you CLP XYZ for voting for me" tweets.
I bought some very nice cases of wine* last time on the back of predicting which states would go for Obama.
*So I was told, not being a drinker....
Hope Pakistan keep playing some matches in the UAE even if they improve security a little back home, it is a great venue for cricket
Still, it does feel that trust locally is coming back and that's showing in results. My guess is that it will take a long time till this is reflected nationally, hence the continuing poor national polls, but that the long journey back is underway.
Ann Black
Rhea Wolfson
Claudia Webbe
Darren Williams
Christine Shawcroft
Peter WIllsman
If you don't then it is
@elliereeves
@JohannaBaxter
@BexBailey6
@lukeakehurst
@ParmjitDhanda
@PeterWheeler
I'm going to repost this link in case you missed it earlier. Full of crunchy numbers.
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/Documents/speeches/2016/speech916.pdf
It looks as though I wouldn't be making that much smaller a carbon footprint if I had an EV, if I could afford one. I do about 90mpg in my diesel skoda fabia - I know carbon footprint isn't the major worry with diesel engines but it's nice to know!
"Poland faces the prospect of becoming the first EU country to be sanctioned for failing to uphold the rule of law after Brussels issued Warsaw with another warning over its constitutional overhaul.
On Wednesday, the European Commission gave Poland five days to demonstrate “significant progress” in addressing Brussels’ concerns over controversial changes to the country’s constitutional court and its state media.
If Warsaw fails to comply, the commission can issue a “Rule of Law Opinion”, which paves the way for more serious sanctions, such as stripping Poland of its right to vote on EU laws. This last option, available under Article 7 of the EU’s treaty, has been nicknamed “the nuclear option” by diplomats. The option has never been used before."
https://next.ft.com/content/1fb0e9c4-1d04-11e6-b286-cddde55ca122
I'm no Tory, but at least they actually know who is entitled to vote in their leadership elections.
The two day window for post-Jan'16 members to join additionally as supporters in order to qualify for a vote is beyond parody.
minutes slience inflation I don't like. there are so many more now so when something more serious happens they need a two minute silence. used to need a war where 10m were killed before you got 2 mins. and what are days of national mourning all about? and why do some countries need 3? is there a productivity issue at play? and why does every bend on a road have dead flowers on it?
would the band carry on playing if the titanic was sinking today or would they be paddling their double bass to boston?
everyone should be forced to watch the dining scene from carry on up the khyber and learn how to behave.
Sold out venues for the shorter forms of the game too, great atmosphere for those, even if like me you prefer the Tests.
Whatever else - Carney must be toast. He's lost faith all over the shop by politicking. His totally OTT 3 page rant to Bernard Jenkin said it all. If he'd not danced to Osborne's fiddle, he'd be safe.
Mervyn King blew him out of the water with plain commonsense.
Bless them for trying...
Oh well, we may be in a bit of a pickle - but things could be worse....
The final kilt lifting scene is also a hoot...
I expected May to win, but a contest is a contest.
Labour are just making the most appalling spectacle of themselves - anti democratic, bent and untrustworthy.
I feel really sorry for those who joined in the last 6 months/or encouraged by the likes of Eagles to join in the week or so - and have no vote.
http://reaction.life/happens-labour-party-beyond-saving/
There's a guy sueing to keep him off the ballot.
The defendant would ordinarily be McNichol, the general secretary of the Labour party.
Problem is McNichol (and therefore Labour) would be represented by solicitors whose advice was that... Corbyn should be kept off the ballot!
There's talk that the NEC would have to intervene to get Corbyn added as a named defendant, else the Court will be hearing the same thing from both sides... that Corbyn should be kept off the ballot. https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-be49-Corbyns-right-to-stand-faces-legal-challenge#.V4jVNctwbqA
There might be an election sooner than she would like
If there's another referendum, I think it will just produce a bigger Leave win. People now know Leave _can_ win.
Given how often we're told that the EU didn't matter - it's caused the most immense ructions.
And three weeks on, some Remainers are still clearly very upset about it on here and in the press/wishing for the worst.
From my own POV, I feel liberated from a failing organisation that whittled away my national identity. What was so compelling bar the 'pound in your pocket' that makes Remainers so annoyed?
Case law is on Corbyn's side anyhow as @RodCrosby has repeatedly shown.
Of course Poland still has huge challenges and problems, like most places, and of course the money coming home from their young working in the UK and elsewhere has played a part in their success. But to be honest you don't have to do much reading on the tragic story of Polish history to share a bit of pride and joy at the recent progress they have made; it makes it even more regrettable that Polish people here have borne the brunt of the post-EUref spate of racist incidents. Particularly as the Poles still regard Britain as one of their closest friends and any Brit who travels there is assured of a warm welcome.