Reading the FT over lunch. An interesting article about the position of the City re Brexit. Much less doom and gloom than their usual fare which is why it's buried at the back of the companies supplement. The consensus seems to be that not a lot will change and since London is far more than just EUR trading it's difficult to see why anything outside of that will change, if that does at all. Finally the FT seems to have taken notice of London's deep capital markets as a reason why European companies may just defy the EU and stay in London anyway ignoring any calls to come home.
What is noticeable about Corbyn is he just ploughs on regardless. Some of the questions are fine but he doesn't seem to engage in any debate AT ALL. I think that's a mistake. It means the PM always has the last word on things.
He's just not very bright. He mixes up unrelated things in a single question (for example today, housing and piccaninnies), leaving the PM free to choose whichever bit of his rambling is most convenient for a counter-thrust.
I thought the R5L analysis was totally wrong on PMQs - questions on personality like Boris in the end don't get the opposition anywhere and are just asking for an evasion since in the end it doesn't matter.
Personally I think he should have prepped up 7 or 8 questions on say housing and childcare costs. The result may have been similiar, but when a question on substance are dodged (Or not) then you create evasion, long term hostages to fortune and potential future booby traps.
Orgreave is too niche, and asking about Boris is just asking for comebacks in kind.
I read that the Wallasey constituency Labour Party has been suspended due to claims of bullying and intimidation. Over the Weekend I was told that the Brighton and Hove Constituency Labour Party had similarly been suspended. WTF is going on?
@MichaelLCrick: Owen Smith has just held a campaign meeting for MPs and peers at Westminster with Angela Eagle alongside him, I was told, "as his deputy"
Orgreave is too niche, and asking about Boris is just asking for comebacks in kind.
Andrew Sparrow pointed out that Orgreave, whilst of no interest whatsoever to normal people, is a hot-button issue for some of the Labour leadership selectorate.
Reading the FT over lunch. An interesting article about the position of the City re Brexit. Much less doom and gloom than their usual fare which is why it's buried at the back of the companies supplement. The consensus seems to be that not a lot will change and since London is far more than just EUR trading it's difficult to see why anything outside of that will change, if that does at all. Finally the FT seems to have taken notice of London's deep capital markets as a reason why European companies may just defy the EU and stay in London anyway ignoring any calls to come home.
FPT: David Herdson said: "yes, but they're also balanced by 'the rest'. California is still only about 20% overall. England within the UK would be even larger than Prussia within the German Empire. i can't think of another federation where one component accounts for 80% of the whole.
The logical solution is to implement it on a regional basis within England, particularly as London already has its own devolution deal.
Morris Dancer is, I believe, a big fan of the idea"
This is similar to John Prescott's approach in the early years of this century. Unfortunately, it didn't get much support and was roundly rejected in a referendum in the North East. The English, it seems, don't want to be broken up.
We just need to seperate England and London. It's simple - so simple it's becoming embarrassing it isn't being widely proposed.
Why? There is no real demand for it and will not be unless Paris or NYC also become independent city states (which would probably require a President Trump and Le Pen to even be on the table). More devolution to county and city councils and London, Scotland, Wales and NI is the best solution
Too sodding humid. Clouds but no rain. The promised thunderstorms are yet to arrive. Forecast now showing no rain that at least it'll be 'only' 16C tonight.
Saw the main exchange of PMQs. May might have overcooked it a shade, but better that than the stumbling feebleness of Brown's first outing.
The Thatcherism wasn't subliminal, or a dogwhistle. It was a foghorn. It couldn't've been more blatant if she'd smacked Corbyn in the face with a handbag.
Edited extra bit: but 82% humidity during the early hours. Ugh.
I read that the Wallasey constituency Labour Party has been suspended due to claims of bullying and intimidation. Over the Weekend I was told that the Brighton and Hove Constituency Labour Party had similarly been suspended. WTF is going on?
The Labour party taking notes form Erdogan... anyway the entire Labour party, Blairites, Corbynistas, Moderates, progress, momentum, all of it, all of IT the whole nine yards needs to be utterly crushed at the next GE.
Orgreave is too niche, and asking about Boris is just asking for comebacks in kind.
Andrew Sparrow pointed out that Orgreave, whilst of no interest whatsoever to normal people, is a hot-button issue for some of the Labour leadership selectorate.
I think Orgreave could, in the hands of an effective politic machine, be part of a fairly effective Labour narrative. However none of the other pieces of the puzzle are there and neither is the skill.
Orgreave is too niche, and asking about Boris is just asking for comebacks in kind.
Andrew Sparrow pointed out that Orgreave, whilst of no interest whatsoever to normal people, is a hot-button issue for some of the Labour leadership selectorate.
That something from the 80s is hot-button-issue speaks volumes.
When Orgreave was in the news Ali was gambling away the Cafe in EastEnders and Sue was livid. I was a teenager.
Orgreave is too niche, and asking about Boris is just asking for comebacks in kind.
Andrew Sparrow pointed out that Orgreave, whilst of no interest whatsoever to normal people, is a hot-button issue for some of the Labour leadership selectorate.
Yes but with Andy Burnham reading a statement on it just after PMQs...
Have you met anyone from the Protestant NI community?
Because I have and they'd sooner sell their souls to the devil than take up Irish nationality.
Don't forget that 45% of NI voted Leave. These people are very, very, very pro-British.
s...
That's what Daniel Hannan thinks but it might mean ditching the euro, and an awful lot else, and they love it.
I agree, however it wouldn't be a bad thing for the UK tnd: If Scotland were independent today, what kind of arrangement might it chose to join?
The English might also finally learn something about what federalism really means.
Federalism wouldn't work in the British Isles - England is just too big.
For the same reason, plus the rise of Nationalism, the UK has no long-term future either.
We cause we know it will be difficult and messy.
Why? In the US Texas and California are about as many times bigger than Vermont and Wyoming as England is bigger than Scotland and Wales
yes, but they're also balanced by 'the rest'. California is still only about 20% overall. England within the UK would be even larger than Prussia within the German Empire. i can't think of another federation where one component accounts for 80% of the whole.
The logical solution is to implement it on a regional basis within England, particularly as London already has its own devolution deal.
Morris Dancer is, I believe, a big fan of the idea.
Yes but the UK is already almost a century older than the U.S., personally I have no problem with regional assemblies or if they are not popular enough at least devolution of powers to county and city councils
Agree that some sort of regional tier makes sense. Prescott tried it but found people didn't want four tiers of UK government and, as ever, drawing the boundaries is fraught with difficulty. It works in London because the GLA boundary is long-standing and because there is only one tier of local government beneath.
Labour responded to the rejection of regional councils by renewing the drive towards unitary authorities, which I would guess now cover more than half the country. But there are still lots of rural areas with both district and county councils, plus parishes, which make adding a further tier problematic.
More power for county councils probably the best answer
Orgreave is too niche, and asking about Boris is just asking for comebacks in kind.
Andrew Sparrow pointed out that Orgreave, whilst of no interest whatsoever to normal people, is a hot-button issue for some of the Labour leadership selectorate.
Orgreave happened more than thirty years ago, probably before a big chunk of the Labour selectorate were even born and almost certainly the majority were too young to have understood. If things of which they have no living experience are hot-button issues, is that not clear evidence of a party determined to live in the past?
What Mr. Observer finds so attractive about the current Labour Party that he rejoined it is beyond me.
Too sodding humid. Clouds but no rain. The promised thunderstorms are yet to arrive. Forecast now showing no rain that at least it'll be 'only' 16C tonight.
Saw the main exchange of PMQs. May might have overcooked it a shade, but better that than the stumbling feebleness of Brown's first outing.
The Thatcherism wasn't subliminal, or a dogwhistle. It was a foghorn. It couldn't've been more blatant if she'd smacked Corbyn in the face with a handbag.
Yup.
I desperately want it to rain. Got up at 0600 and it was 26.5C. It's gone down to 26C with 70% humidity/all cloudy. Urgh. I yearn for 16C!!
Well done to all those Tory MPs and the black ops on Andrea Leadsom.
Leadsom would have been in tears at PMQs
Your personal nastiness to Andrea Leadsom has been one of the most unedifying features of this site over recent weeks. I read some of your comments whilst on holiday and I was, frankly, shocked.
Thankfully, Theresa May doesn't share your spite.
Well the behaviour of several site regulars over the last couple of months has been fairly unedifying.
Still, as they managed to call the referendum completely wrongly despite their smug self-satisfaction we can be cheerful.
Yes, this is true.
We should all move on now.
We should but different people take different times to work through their grief. That some still seem to be in denial, let alone the later stages, should be no surprise. Most people get to the end and come out of it at some point, though some never do.
Hmmm - it was the questions from the 2 headbangers on the Tory benches which most obviously showed an unwillingness to move on.
FPT: David Herdson said: "yes, but they're also balanced by 'the rest'. California is still only about 20% overall. England within the UK would be even larger than Prussia within the German Empire. i can't think of another federation where one component accounts for 80% of the whole.
The logical solution is to implement it on a regional basis within England, particularly as London already has its own devolution deal.
Morris Dancer is, I believe, a big fan of the idea"
This is similar to John Prescott's approach in the early years of this century. Unfortunately, it didn't get much support and was roundly rejected in a referendum in the North East. The English, it seems, don't want to be broken up.
We just need to seperate England and London. It's simple - so simple it's becoming embarrassing it isn't being widely proposed.
Why? There is no real demand for it and will not be unless Paris or NYC also become independent city states (which would probably require a President Trump and Le Pen to even be on the table). More devolution to county and city councils and London, Scotland, Wales and NI is the best solution
Because together, they're too big, and cut up into regions, it denies England the opportunities given to Scotland.
Orgreave is too niche, and asking about Boris is just asking for comebacks in kind.
Andrew Sparrow pointed out that Orgreave, whilst of no interest whatsoever to normal people, is a hot-button issue for some of the Labour leadership selectorate.
Orgreave happened more than thirty years ago, probably before a big chunk of the Labour selectorate were even born and almost certainly the majority were too young to have understood. If things of which they have no living experience are hot-button issues, is that not clear evidence of a party determined to live in the past?
What Mr. Observer finds so attractive about the current Labour Party that he rejoined it is beyond me.
One characteristic of Jezza is that he never forgets, never moves on, never changes his pre-formed opinions. It doesn't surprise me that he wants to re-fight the miners strike. Perhaps it is May pretending to be Maggie that has sparked him wanting to be Scargill.
I read that the Wallasey constituency Labour Party has been suspended due to claims of bullying and intimidation. Over the Weekend I was told that the Brighton and Hove Constituency Labour Party had similarly been suspended. WTF is going on?
Brighton had a Corbynista takeover of the Elected positions. Don't know about Wallasey.
Just watched the 10 mind Corbyn/May section of PMQ's. My first thought was Corbyn's physical and mental health won't hold till 2020. He's clearly a broken man. The second thought is May's clearly deliberate Thatcher impression needs to be viewed in context of Mondays clearly scripted answer on using Nukes. The third thought is, as SeanT says, she's clearly spent 6 years looking contemptuously at the Posh Bots and thought she could do better. The psychological impact of getting the top job from the ashes of Cameron's ruined premiership has clearly had an enormous impact on her.
Have you met anyone from the Protestant NI community?
Because I have and they'd sooner sell their souls to the devil than take up Irish nationality.
Don't forget that 45% of NI voted Leave. These people are very, very, very pro-British.
s...
That's what Daniel Hannan thinks but it might mean ditching the euro, and an awful lot else, and they love it.
I agree, however it wouldn't be a bad thing for the UK tnd: If Scotland were independent today, what kind of arrangement might it chose to join?
The English might also finally learn something about what federalism really means.
Federalism wouldn't work in the British Isles - England is just too big.
For the same reason, plus the rise of Nationalism, the UK has no long-term future either.
We cause we know it will be difficult and messy.
Why? In the US Texas and California are about as many times bigger than Vermont and Wyoming as England is bigger than Scotland and Wales
yes, but they're also balanced by 'the rest'. California is still only
Morris Dancer is, I believe, a big fan of the idea.
Yes but the UK is already almost a century older than the U.S., personally I have no problem with regional assemblies or if they are not popular enough at least devolution of powers to county and city councils
Agree that some sort of regional tier makes sense. Prescott tried it but found people didn't want four tiers of UK government and, as ever, drawing the boundaries is fraught with difficulty. It works in London because the GLA boundary is long-standing and because there is only one tier of local government beneath.
Labour responded to the rejection of regional councils by renewing the drive towards unitary authorities, which I would guess now cover more than half the country. But there are still lots of rural areas with both district and county councils, plus parishes, which make adding a further tier problematic.
More power for county councils probably the best answer
People have loyalty and affinity to their county councils, they are the natural form of sub-national government in England. Several counties have populations comparable to the devolved nations.
Wales is an economic basket case and simply can't stand alone. That doesn't apply to Scotland. If they'd rather join the EU, more power to 'em.
Erm....Scotland runs a monster deficit. The UK runs a deficit but England, relatively speaking, subsidises Scotland to the tune of over £9bn a year. If Scotland goes they either join the Euro (!!!) or they go truly independent (central bank, currency, debt, etc). Scotland COULD be independent but to do so would require a balancing of the books that makes George Osborne's tax credit removal look like an episode of teletubbies. Ain't gonna happen. Scotland can have independence or socialism but not both. To be viable, as you claim, would require a massive return to the political economy of Adam Smith. A very small state running a surplus. The SNP is more at the Corbyn end of the spectrum.
There is a simple, if brutal, solution. We drastically reduce public spending. Independence isn't sensible, but then Brexit wasn't sensible, but people still voted for it (in just high enough numbers) for it to go ahead. It just requires a 7% swing from last time for independence to achieve the same proportion of voters as the UK leaving the EU. I regret it, but exiting is the theme of the moment.
Just watched the 10 mind Corbyn/May section of PMQ's. My first thought was Corbyn's physical and mental health won't hold till 2020. He's clearly a broken man.
The contributions from the Labour back benches were arguably worse
Jeremy Corbyn will be a defendant in the legal challenge to his automatic inclusion on the Labour leadership ballot, the high court has decided.
Lawyers for the Labour leader successfully argued he had a right to be heard in the case because his interests were not the same as those of Labour’s general secretary, Iain McNicol, who had previously been the only named defendant in the case brought by a Labour donor. Corbyn and McNicol will have separate legal teams.
The legal challenge, brought by former parliamentary candidate Michael Foster, contests the decision of Labour’s national executive committee to allow Corbyn on the ballot paper without having to secure nominations from Labour MPs.
McNicol was being sued in a representative capacity but Corbyn requested to be added to the proceedings as second defendant.
Have you met anyone from the Protestant NI community?
Because I have and they'd sooner sell their souls to the devil than take up Irish nationality.
Don't forget that 45% of NI voted Leave. These people are very, very, very pro-British.
s...
That's what Daniel Hannan thinks but it might mean ditching the euro, and an awful lot else, and they love it.
I agree, however it wouldn't be a bad thing for the UK tnd: If Scotland were independent today, what kind of arrangement might it chose to join?
The English might also finally learn something about what federalism really means.
Federalism wouldn't work in the British Isles - England is just too big.
For the same reason, plus the rise of Nationalism, the UK has no long-term future either.
We cause we know it will be difficult and messy.
Why? In the US Texas and California are about as many times bigger than Vermont and Wyoming as England is bigger than Scotland and Wales
yes, but they're also balanced by 'the rest'. California is still only
Morris Dancer is, I believe, a big fan of the idea.
Yes but the UK is already almost a century older than the U.S., personally I have no problem with regional assemblies or if they are not popular enough at least devolution of powers to county and city councils
Agree that some sort of regional tier makes sense. Prescott tried it but found people didn't want four tiers of UK government and, as ever, drawing the boundaries is fraught with difficulty. It works in London because the GLA boundary is long-standing and because there is only one tier of local government beneath.
Labour responded to the rejection of regional councils by renewing the drive towards unitary authorities, which I would guess now cover more than half the country. But there are still lots of rural areas with both district and county councils, plus parishes, which make adding a further tier problematic.
More power for county councils probably the best answer
People have loyalty and affinity to their county councils, they are the natural form of sub-national government in England. Several counties have populations comparable to the devolved nations.
Indeed, Kent, Essex, Lancashire etc have populations in the millions
Well done to all those Tory MPs and the black ops on Andrea Leadsom.
Leadsom would have been in tears at PMQs
Your personal nastiness to Andrea Leadsom has been one of the most unedifying features of this site over recent weeks. I read some of your comments whilst on holiday and I was, frankly, shocked.
Just watched the 10 mind Corbyn/May section of PMQ's. My first thought was Corbyn's physical and mental health won't hold till 2020. He's clearly a broken man. The second thought is May's clearly deliberate Thatcher impression needs to be viewed in context of Mondays clearly scripted answer on using Nukes. The third thought is, as SeanT says, she's clearly spent 6 years looking contemptuously at the Posh Bots and thought she could do better. The psychological impact of getting the top job from the ashes of Cameron's ruined premiership has clearly had an enormous impact on her.
People have been calling Corbyn 'a broken man' for months. Let me digress with a parable.
Once, on holiday in Kenya, I was browbeaten into participating in a Masai folk dance. I didn't understand what the dance was about, but managed to shamble through the steps, being completely outclassed by the natives. I was useless, but didn't mind because it didn't matter.
That's Corbyn. He has his eye on a grander prize. Every now and then he has to ask some woman questions, or chair the Shadow Cabinet or talk to a journalist. These are all just distractions to the actual job at hand. Completely irrelevant.
Just watched the 10 mind Corbyn/May section of PMQ's. My first thought was Corbyn's physical and mental health won't hold till 2020. He's clearly a broken man. The second thought is May's clearly deliberate Thatcher impression needs to be viewed in context of Mondays clearly scripted answer on using Nukes. The third thought is, as SeanT says, she's clearly spent 6 years looking contemptuously at the Posh Bots and thought she could do better. The psychological impact of getting the top job from the ashes of Cameron's ruined premiership has clearly had an enormous impact on her.
Corbyn has only had a gleam in his eye and spring in his step once in the last few weeks. This was when he left the NEC on the ballot. He seems to only relish the battle against his enemies in the party, not against other parties.
FPT: David Herdson said: "yes, but they're also balanced by 'the rest'. California is still only about 20% overall. England within the UK would be even larger than Prussia within the German Empire. i can't think of another federation where one component accounts for 80% of the whole.
The logical solution is to implement it on a regional basis within England, particularly as London already has its own devolution deal.
Morris Dancer is, I believe, a big fan of the idea"
This is similar to John Prescott's approach in the early years of this century. Unfortunately, it didn't get much support and was roundly rejected in a referendum in the North East. The English, it seems, don't want to be broken up.
We just need to seperate England and London. It's simple - so simple it's becoming embarrassing it isn't being widely proposed.
Why? There is no real demand for it and will not be unless Paris or NYC also become independent city states (which would probably require a President Trump and Le Pen to even be on the table). More devolution to county and city councils and London, Scotland, Wales and NI is the best solution
Because together, they're too big, and cut up into regions, it denies England the opportunities given to Scotland.
Give London more devolution along with everywhere else
People have loyalty and affinity to their county councils, they are the natural form of sub-national government in England. Several counties have populations comparable to the devolved nations.
This totally makes sense. Standardize the local-ish things at the county level. If some of the counties are too small, merge them together.
It seems they have planned for the UK to do a sizeable chunk of the EU's heavy lifting on climate targets. A few nations are about to find that their lot will get considerably more arduous once we are gone.
Well done to all those Tory MPs and the black ops on Andrea Leadsom.
Leadsom would have been in tears at PMQs
Your personal nastiness to Andrea Leadsom has been one of the most unedifying features of this site over recent weeks. I read some of your comments whilst on holiday and I was, frankly, shocked.
Thankfully, Theresa May doesn't share your spite.
But May has put Leadsom to fail with the farmers.
Yes; it was a pretty mean promotion in a Brexit world. Second only to Northern Ireland in terms of "not fun at all, high chance of f*ck up".
Re: Orgreave being an older issue than most of Corbyn's cheerleaders is irrelevant. I've lost count of the number of spotty teenage Trots who were born up to 10 years after MT left office spouting venom about 'Fatcha' and the poor heroic miners.
How about - instead of thinking of how we give power to politicians (ohhh... shall we have another devolved assembly?) we start thinking about how we can take it away from them?
People have loyalty and affinity to their county councils, they are the natural form of sub-national government in England. Several counties have populations comparable to the devolved nations.
This totally makes sense. Standardize the local-ish things at the county level. If some of the counties are too small, merge them together.
There are a few like Rutland or Isle of Wight that are rather school, but most are in the range 0.5 to 1 million. A few are over 2 million. Artificial combinations are likely to be poorly received.
How about - instead of thinking of how we give power to politicians (ohhh... shall we have another devolved assembly?) we start thinking about how we can take it away from them?
Wales is an economic basket case and simply can't stand alone. That doesn't apply to Scotland. If they'd rather join the EU, more power to 'em.
Erm....Scotland runs a monster deficit. The UK runs a deficit but England, relatively speaking, subsidises Scotland to the tune of over £9bn a year. If Scotland goes they either join the Euro (!!!) or they go truly independent (central bank, currency, debt, etc). Scotland COULD be independent but to do so would require a balancing of the books that makes George Osborne's tax credit removal look like an episode of teletubbies. Ain't gonna happen. Scotland can have independence or socialism but not both. To be viable, as you claim, would require a massive return to the political economy of Adam Smith. A very small state running a surplus. The SNP is more at the Corbyn end of the spectrum.
Patrick , your arse. England mismanages Scotland and borrows money that it does not spend in Scotland, wastes on crap like Trident etc but charges Scotland interest for it. A bllody scam. If you are talking about borrowing , why is England borrowing £100B a year you halfwit.
PS: over the last 30 years we would have run a surplus.
Orgreave is too niche, and asking about Boris is just asking for comebacks in kind.
Andrew Sparrow pointed out that Orgreave, whilst of no interest whatsoever to normal people, is a hot-button issue for some of the Labour leadership selectorate.
Orgreave happened more than thirty years ago, probably before a big chunk of the Labour selectorate were even born and almost certainly the majority were too young to have understood. If things of which they have no living experience are hot-button issues, is that not clear evidence of a party determined to live in the past?
What Mr. Observer finds so attractive about the current Labour Party that he rejoined it is beyond me.
I don't find it attractive. I want to do all I can to change it.That being a better option than starting from scratch. I went through all this in the 1980s and know how the hard left work and what it thinks. Maybe I can be of some service. We'll have to see how it turns out. I am not hopeful, but you never know.
People have loyalty and affinity to their county councils, they are the natural form of sub-national government in England. Several counties have populations comparable to the devolved nations.
This totally makes sense. Standardize the local-ish things at the county level. If some of the counties are too small, merge them together.
Agreed. The police forces in England and Wales already are divided into roughly county-sized units.
We just need to seperate England and London. It's simple - so simple it's becoming embarrassing it isn't being widely proposed.
Why? There is no real demand for it and will not be unless Paris or NYC also become independent city states (which would probably require a President Trump and Le Pen to even be on the table). More devolution to county and city councils and London, Scotland, Wales and NI is the best solution
Because together, they're too big, and cut up into regions, it denies England the opportunities given to Scotland.
Give London more devolution along with everywhere else
Stop spending all our money on London more liek, make the beggars pay their way instead of sponging.
Well done to all those Tory MPs and the black ops on Andrea Leadsom.
Leadsom would have been in tears at PMQs
Your personal nastiness to Andrea Leadsom has been one of the most unedifying features of this site over recent weeks. I read some of your comments whilst on holiday and I was, frankly, shocked.
Thankfully, Theresa May doesn't share your spite.
But May has put Leadsom to fail with the farmers.
Yes; it was a pretty mean promotion in a Brexit world. Second only to Northern Ireland in terms of "not fun at all, high chance of f*ck up".
How about - instead of thinking of how we give power to politicians (ohhh... shall we have another devolved assembly?) we start thinking about how we can take it away from them?
The one bum note today for the PM I thought. I think that was what prompted the "sigh" as she sat down, thinking that the last remark hadn't quite worked. No matter, job done and she can be well satisfied with her first week on the domestic front.
Now to Germany and France to get cracking on the really rather pressing business we need to sort out....
Re: Orgreave being an older issue than most of Corbyn's cheerleaders is irrelevant. I've lost count of the number of spotty teenage Trots who were born up to 10 years after MT left office spouting venom about 'Fatcha' and the poor heroic miners.
I think the comparisons with Thatcher are being overdone. May does not come across as being anything like as brash, bossy or domineering as Thatcher did . Nor does she arouse such strong feelings on either side. Many on the Labour side genuinely despised Thatcher and saw her as pure evil - they do not feel that way about Theresa May.
I read that the Wallasey constituency Labour Party has been suspended due to claims of bullying and intimidation. Over the Weekend I was told that the Brighton and Hove Constituency Labour Party had similarly been suspended. WTF is going on?
Brighton had a Corbynista takeover of the Elected positions. Don't know about Wallasey.
Thanks, Mr. W. So Brighton & Hove CLP some sort of entryist coup in support of the party leader. The result of this is that the party leadership (minus probably the actual party leader) suspends the CLP. Bonkers doesn't begin to describe it.
I am starting to think the mr. Star's comment upthread that the Labour Party needs to be utterly crushed at the 2020 GE might be for the best. Maybe if that happens we might get a Party capable of holding the government to account and even being an alternative government in due course.
Mind you if Patrick, gent of this Parish, would re-publish his manifesto and we could get some seriously monied people to back him, maybe we could get the Partrick Party up under starters orders for 2020.
Well done to all those Tory MPs and the black ops on Andrea Leadsom.
Leadsom would have been in tears at PMQs
Your personal nastiness to Andrea Leadsom has been one of the most unedifying features of this site over recent weeks. I read some of your comments whilst on holiday and I was, frankly, shocked.
Thankfully, Theresa May doesn't share your spite.
But May has put Leadsom to fail with the farmers.
I don't think May is making appointments with the goal of failure in mind.
Leadsom looked pleased with the promotion. It is now a challenge she can step up to.
I also rate George Eustice and Therese Coffey who've been appointed to support her.
Interesting. The Gloriana Redux thing could work though. Though the cluster**k she's inherited may mean systemic failure is being underpriced at the moment.
Just watched PMQS, cannot say I fully understand how Mike arrived at his personal ranking. I'd say it was more May 8/10, Corbyn 6/10. It was one of the better performances I've seen May give, although her defence of the long term plan was pretty laughable, given presumably it's her people who have been briefing journalists about how she reamed out Osborne for over promising and under delivering, and now she's abandoned his targets.
As for Corbyn, well, maybe it's because I don't watch it often, but he really doesn't seem that bad in terms of his own delivery. He's mocked by the PM and clearly gets irritated by the Tory barracking, neither of which is necessarily a good look for him (but only the former is likely to get any wider coverage, inasmuch as these things go wider at all), but May's answers were not all strong, and he calmly pointed that out.
I think the comparisons with Thatcher are being overdone. May does not come across as being anything like as brash, bossy or domineering as Thatcher did . Nor does she arouse such strong feelings on either side. Many on the Labour side genuinely despised Thatcher and saw her as pure evil - they do not feel that way about Theresa May.
Give it a few years - I would not know, but surely Thatcher did not arouse such passionate hatred at the start?
Interesting that Mrs. May's folder of supposedly readily accessible information, which no PM ever seems to actually refer to, appeared to be a tiny fraction the thickness of the one used by her predecessor. Might I correct her on one all too commonly mispronounced word ...... children are brought up not bought up. A horrid mistake she uttered twice within a few seconds ..... aargh!
Yes, she won today, but was far too deliberately Thatcherite for my liking.
People have loyalty and affinity to their county councils, they are the natural form of sub-national government in England. Several counties have populations comparable to the devolved nations.
This totally makes sense. Standardize the local-ish things at the county level. If some of the counties are too small, merge them together.
Standardisation is the key. The current 'devolution' talk with northern powerhouses and mayors and counties, is a complete mess, and surely has to be an administrative nightmare.
Just watched PMQS, cannot say I fully understand how Mike arrived at his personal ranking. I'd say it was more May 8/10, Corbyn 6/10. It was one of the better performances I've seen May give, although her defence of the long term plan was pretty laughable, given presumably it's her people who have been briefing journalists about how she reamed out Osborne for over promising and under delivering, and now she's abandoned his targets.
As for Corbyn, well, maybe it's because I don't watch it often, but he really doesn't seem that bad in terms of his own delivery. He's mocked by the PM and clearly gets irritated by the Tory barracking, neither of which is necessarily a good look for him (but only the former is likely to get any wider coverage, inasmuch as these things go wider at all), but May's answers were not all strong, and he calmly pointed that out.
I think the comparisons with Thatcher are being overdone. May does not come across as being anything like as brash, bossy or domineering as Thatcher did . Nor does she arouse such strong feelings on either side. Many on the Labour side genuinely despised Thatcher and saw her as pure evil - they do not feel that way about Theresa May.
Give it a few years - I would not know, but surely Thatcher did not arouse such passionate hatred at the start?
It is subjective.
I remember a couple of years ago, when I was editing PB, I thought Dave had a poor PMQs, and I thought I might do a thread on that, within seconds, Andrew Spencer, who I rate very highly said Dave was very good and Ed was crap.
I will say that not having seen that much of May or, to be honest, Thatcher, some of her mannerisms today nevertheless did put my in mind of those bits I have seen of Thatcher.
Just watched PMQS, cannot say I fully understand how Mike arrived at his personal ranking. I'd say it was more May 8/10, Corbyn 6/10. It was one of the better performances I've seen May give, although her defence of the long term plan was pretty laughable, given presumably it's her people who have been briefing journalists about how she reamed out Osborne for over promising and under delivering, and now she's abandoned his targets.
As for Corbyn, well, maybe it's because I don't watch it often, but he really doesn't seem that bad in terms of his own delivery. He's mocked by the PM and clearly gets irritated by the Tory barracking, neither of which is necessarily a good look for him (but only the former is likely to get any wider coverage, inasmuch as these things go wider at all), but May's answers were not all strong, and he calmly pointed that out.
I think the comparisons with Thatcher are being overdone. May does not come across as being anything like as brash, bossy or domineering as Thatcher did . Nor does she arouse such strong feelings on either side. Many on the Labour side genuinely despised Thatcher and saw her as pure evil - they do not feel that way about Theresa May.
Give it a few years - I would not know, but surely Thatcher did not arouse such passionate hatred at the start?
Thatcher was hated because the de-industrialisation of Labour heartlands took place on her watch. It was a different age. Though that's clearly not got through to Corbyn et al.
People have loyalty and affinity to their county councils, they are the natural form of sub-national government in England. Several counties have populations comparable to the devolved nations.
This totally makes sense. Standardize the local-ish things at the county level. If some of the counties are too small, merge them together.
Standardisation is the key. The current 'devolution' talk with northern powerhouses and mayors and counties, is a complete mess, and surely has to be an administrative nightmare.
The great shame is that the Heath government so totally gutted the Redcliffe-Maud report into Local Government reorganisation. Hugely missed opportunity.
Might I correct her on one all too commonly mispronounced word ...... children are brought up not bought up. A horrid mistake she uttered twice within a few seconds ..... aargh!
Freudian slip - Tories have to buy the children they feast upon, and they're usually bought up in bulk.
What is noticeable about Corbyn is he just ploughs on regardless. Some of the questions are fine but he doesn't seem to engage in any debate AT ALL.
That's not the case - on several questions he first made sure to counter what the PM said in repsonse to the previous question.
True but he then went on with his prepared next question anyway. The trick, surely, is to know when the PMs answer is worth a cutting supplementary question in place of the question you had come prepared to ask?
Just watched PMQS, cannot say I fully understand how Mike arrived at his personal ranking. I'd say it was more May 8/10, Corbyn 6/10. It was one of the better performances I've seen May give, although her defence of the long term plan was pretty laughable, given presumably it's her people who have been briefing journalists about how she reamed out Osborne for over promising and under delivering, and now she's abandoned his targets.
As for Corbyn, well, maybe it's because I don't watch it often, but he really doesn't seem that bad in terms of his own delivery. He's mocked by the PM and clearly gets irritated by the Tory barracking, neither of which is necessarily a good look for him (but only the former is likely to get any wider coverage, inasmuch as these things go wider at all), but May's answers were not all strong, and he calmly pointed that out.
I think the comparisons with Thatcher are being overdone. May does not come across as being anything like as brash, bossy or domineering as Thatcher did . Nor does she arouse such strong feelings on either side. Many on the Labour side genuinely despised Thatcher and saw her as pure evil - they do not feel that way about Theresa May.
Give it a few years - I would not know, but surely Thatcher did not arouse such passionate hatred at the start?
Generally, Corbyn is OK at PMQs. It's about the only thing he has going for him. It's also the one opportunity the leader of the opposition has to claim equal attention with the prime minister. I think most prime ministers hate them. They don't have to do that well at them however. Avoiding disasters will get them through.
Just a thought. Whilst agreeing totally that May trampled all over JC, you should be careful in taking this Thatcher comparison too far. There are many many people out there who cringe at the thought of the Iron Lady and would never vote Tory simply because of her time as pm. A Thatcher mk2 may just galvanise the left against the Tories and not JC.
For now - her Cabinet appointments have led to paroxysms of delight among the more Kipper inclined in some cases, but if she should not prove to be Kipper at heart, or gods forbid we end up with FoM (not looking likely right now) then they'll desert her very quickly.
Comments
That was rehearsed - even down to the body language. A Margaret Thatcher dog whistle.
Very well executed.
Personally I think he should have prepped up 7 or 8 questions on say housing and childcare costs. The result may have been similiar, but when a question on substance are dodged (Or not) then you create evasion, long term hostages to fortune and potential future booby traps.
Orgreave is too niche, and asking about Boris is just asking for comebacks in kind.
Too sodding humid. Clouds but no rain. The promised thunderstorms are yet to arrive. Forecast now showing no rain that at least it'll be 'only' 16C tonight.
Saw the main exchange of PMQs. May might have overcooked it a shade, but better that than the stumbling feebleness of Brown's first outing.
The Thatcherism wasn't subliminal, or a dogwhistle. It was a foghorn. It couldn't've been more blatant if she'd smacked Corbyn in the face with a handbag.
Edited extra bit: but 82% humidity during the early hours. Ugh.
Therefore I agree with Sparrow's assessment.
When Orgreave was in the news Ali was gambling away the Cafe in EastEnders and Sue was livid. I was a teenager.
What Mr. Observer finds so attractive about the current Labour Party that he rejoined it is beyond me.
I desperately want it to rain. Got up at 0600 and it was 26.5C. It's gone down to 26C with 70% humidity/all cloudy. Urgh. I yearn for 16C!!
Lawyers for the Labour leader successfully argued he had a right to be heard in the case because his interests were not the same as those of Labour’s general secretary, Iain McNicol, who had previously been the only named defendant in the case brought by a Labour donor. Corbyn and McNicol will have separate legal teams.
The legal challenge, brought by former parliamentary candidate Michael Foster, contests the decision of Labour’s national executive committee to allow Corbyn on the ballot paper without having to secure nominations from Labour MPs.
McNicol was being sued in a representative capacity but Corbyn requested to be added to the proceedings as second defendant.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/20/jeremy-corbyn-wins-right-to-be-defendant-in-leadership-court-case
Once, on holiday in Kenya, I was browbeaten into participating in a Masai folk dance. I didn't understand what the dance was about, but managed to shamble through the steps, being completely outclassed by the natives. I was useless, but didn't mind because it didn't matter.
That's Corbyn. He has his eye on a grander prize. Every now and then he has to ask some woman questions, or chair the Shadow Cabinet or talk to a journalist. These are all just distractions to the actual job at hand. Completely irrelevant.
And I don't think Watson looks unhappy. Just sound asleep.
Dave's stand ins at PMQs were Nick Clegg, William Hague, and George Osborne
http://www.euronews.com/newswires/3222998-eu-national-climate-goals-test-blocs-resolve-amid-brexit/
It seems they have planned for the UK to do a sizeable chunk of the EU's heavy lifting on climate targets. A few nations are about to find that their lot will get considerably more arduous once we are gone.
A barnstorming debut, to cap off an impressive first week.
I think the Mays will be in No 10 for quite some time!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ceremonial_counties_of_England?wprov=sfla1
PS: over the last 30 years we would have run a surplus.
‘No need for threats just a bullet.’
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ukip-councillor-terence-nathan-calls-for-remainers-to-be-killed_uk_578f48a8e4b0b545e5cc0975?5prsv51vmgg44pldi
After those they are all a doddle.
Now to Germany and France to get cracking on the really rather pressing business we need to sort out....
http://www.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=leaflets&subName=display&leafletId=89
I am starting to think the mr. Star's comment upthread that the Labour Party needs to be utterly crushed at the 2020 GE might be for the best. Maybe if that happens we might get a Party capable of holding the government to account and even being an alternative government in due course.
Mind you if Patrick, gent of this Parish, would re-publish his manifesto and we could get some seriously monied people to back him, maybe we could get the Partrick Party up under starters orders for 2020.
CON: 40% (+10)
LAB: 29% (-4)
UKIP: 12% (-8)
LDEM: 9% (+3)
GRN: 3% (-)
(via YouGov / 17-18/07)
Chgs. from April
Leadsom looked pleased with the promotion. It is now a challenge she can step up to.
I also rate George Eustice and Therese Coffey who've been appointed to support her.
"He said: “Not threatening anyone, no need for threats just a bullet.”"
As for Corbyn, well, maybe it's because I don't watch it often, but he really doesn't seem that bad in terms of his own delivery. He's mocked by the PM and clearly gets irritated by the Tory barracking, neither of which is necessarily a good look for him (but only the former is likely to get any wider coverage, inasmuch as these things go wider at all), but May's answers were not all strong, and he calmly pointed that out. Give it a few years - I would not know, but surely Thatcher did not arouse such passionate hatred at the start?
Might I correct her on one all too commonly mispronounced word ...... children are brought up not bought up. A horrid mistake she uttered twice within a few seconds ..... aargh!
Yes, she won today, but was far too deliberately Thatcherite for my liking.
I remember a couple of years ago, when I was editing PB, I thought Dave had a poor PMQs, and I thought I might do a thread on that, within seconds, Andrew Spencer, who I rate very highly said Dave was very good and Ed was crap.
https://twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/status/755752025678307332
76% still Labour voters
8% now voting Tory
9% now voting Lib Dem
5% now voting UKIP
3% now voting other