Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
Don't confuse respect for the Queen and a tabloid obsession with the younger royals as "massive popularity"
Give Charles 3 years and he will rival Jezza for declining popularity.
I'll be surprised if he ever gets 3 years as King ..... 68 years of age in November, would he ascend the throne at say 75 years old or more? I very much doubt it.
I don't think that he's waited this long to pass up the chance, even if it's only for five years or so. He'll want to make his mark.
I think he'll abdicate after a couple of years and hand over to William who is as popular as the Queen. If he stays in longer than that he risks republicanism winning key battles and possibly forcing a referendum on the royals.
Like his mother, the new king will not break the coronation oath. Unlike some overseas sovereigns monarchy is for life not just Christmas (broadcasts).
Of course, there is a marvellous window of opportunity to reform things like the coronation oath between a demise and the ensuing coronation.
Given the relative ease by which the change in the succession went through the various realms, introducing 'abdication on demand' or, perhaps, 'regency on demand' might not be as difficult as was previously thought.
I notice the 3rd umpire giving that terrible decision for Hales is the same guy who basically willed himself to find evidence in the 2nd test to give an England player out (despite initially saying well we can't give that out...then proceeded to go through all the replays which showed nothing new and deciding that yes I must give this out).
He reminds me of Justin124 on polling for the Labour Party....
I notice the 3rd umpire giving that terrible decision for Hales is the same guy who basically willed himself to find evidence in the 2nd test to give an England player out (despite initially saying well we can't give that out...then proceeded to go through all the replays which showed nothing new and deciding that yes I must give this out).
Harsh on this occasion, the on field umpires gave it as out, and there were no decent replays/angles for him to overturn the decision, so he followed the protocols.
The Tories were on 38 per cent, down 4 percentage points, with Labour on 31 per cent, up 3, Ukip on 13, up 1, and the Lib Dems unchanged on 8 per cent.
August poll. Ignore I say. Tories all on holiday (and grouse shooting from tomorrow).
Such a poll would still see the Tories up 1% on the general election
YouGov gives us GB data so on that basis the Tories are up 0.2% and Labour down 0.2%. Clearly MOE. Why has the Tory lead suddenly crashed? Perhaps May's honeymoon is starting to wear off.!
Labour are truly in the brown stuff if people are celebrating the Tory lead being reduced to just 7%.
On the other hand, YouGov implies no real change since May 2015 at a time when the new PM is having a honeymoon and Labour is fighting a civil war!
A new poll by TNS BMRB shows that 44% of people think Theresa May is a better leader for Britain than Jeremy Corbyn (16%). It also gives the Conservative party a 13 point lead over Labour.
The full voter intention figures are:
CON 39%, LAB 26%, UKIP 11%, LIB DEM 10%, Green 7%, Other 7% Support for Theresa May is strongest amongst women over 55, with 68% thinking she makes the best leader for Britain and only 9% of this group thinking Jeremy Corbyn would be best.
More than half of those interviewed (54%) said they thought Theresa May is performing well as leader of the Conservative Party. In contrast, over half (51%) of those surveyed said Jeremy Corbyn is not performing in his job as leader of the Labour Party. Indeed, 45% of those who voted for Labour at the last general election say he is performing badly in his role as party leader.
A large number of those interviewed (43%) were uncertain about the future of the Labour party. Only a quarter (24%), think the Labour party can survive its current divisions while a third (33%) believe the Labour Party will split.
The LD+Grn share - some 17% - is particularly notable when set against Labour's declining share. That the Greens have hit 7% without any effort at all (indeed, with Corbyn parking Labour's tanks on the Greens' lawn), shows both the potential Labour support with a competent leader and also the potential for another party of the centre-left to capitalise on the floating oppositionist voters if they don't.
The 7% Green figure looks very doubtful and makes the poll rather suspect.
Seems high to me as well. Particularly as it seems anecdotally that some highly activist Greens have left for Labour (e.g. Nick P's nemesis).
I think he'll abdicate after a couple of years and hand over to William who is as popular as the Queen. If he stays in longer than that he risks republicanism winning key battles and possibly forcing a referendum on the royals.
Like his mother, the new king will not break the coronation oath. Unlike some overseas sovereigns monarchy is for life not just Christmas (broadcasts).
Of course, there is a marvellous window of opportunity to reform things like the coronation oath between a demise and the ensuing coronation.
Given the relative ease by which the change in the succession went through the various realms, introducing 'abdication on demand' or, perhaps, 'regency on demand' might not be as difficult as was previously thought.
It would be great to have it playing before England games and when English sportsmen and women win medals when they compete for England. It would also place England on an equal footing with the other home nations. England is not the UK.
Jerusalem, I Vow To Thee My Country, Nimrod, Pomp & Circumstance - there's any number of super candidates for an English national anthem. I for one think England must have one to differentiate from the rUK. Jerusalem would get my vote, with I Vow To Thee My Country a very very close second.
A new poll by TNS BMRB shows that 44% of people think Theresa May is a better leader for Britain than Jeremy Corbyn (16%). It also gives the Conservative party a 13 point lead over Labour.
The full voter intention figures are:
CON 39%, LAB 26%, UKIP 11%, LIB DEM 10%, Green 7%, Other 7% Support for Theresa May is strongest amongst women over 55, with 68% thinking she makes the best leader for Britain and only 9% of this group thinking Jeremy Corbyn would be best.
More than half of those interviewed (54%) said they thought Theresa May is performing well as leader of the Conservative Party. In contrast, over half (51%) of those surveyed said Jeremy Corbyn is not performing in his job as leader of the Labour Party. Indeed, 45% of those who voted for Labour at the last general election say he is performing badly in his role as party leader.
A large number of those interviewed (43%) were uncertain about the future of the Labour party. Only a quarter (24%), think the Labour party can survive its current divisions while a third (33%) believe the Labour Party will split.
The LD+Grn share - some 17% - is particularly notable when set against Labour's declining share. That the Greens have hit 7% without any effort at all (indeed, with Corbyn parking Labour's tanks on the Greens' lawn), shows both the potential Labour support with a competent leader and also the potential for another party of the centre-left to capitalise on the floating oppositionist voters if they don't.
The 7% Green figure looks very doubtful and makes the poll rather suspect.
On what basis do you say that? An increase in the vote shares of other left-of-centre parties is exactly what I'd expect from Labour's current shambles. The Green share might be topside but I'd be dubious about calling it as outside the MoE.
The Chinese stole a load of wind turbine tech not all that long ago.
In this case, they'd be nicking French nuclear technology. It's far too late to worry about the Chinese public-private espionage complex - we let BT use their gear in the core 21CN network.
If his house is off-grid, how does he manage to get the electricity he generates to the electricity company? Also, how does he manage to generate enough power from solar panels in the depths of winter?
Did you see the quotation marks around the expression "Off-grid"? He is generating more electricity than he uses, winter and summer alike. At night he draws in from the grid during the day he contributes to it. The balance works in his favour so he gets a cheque.
If building regs were changed so that all new builds were required to have solar panels and heat exchangers/geothermal then it would, over a few years, make a massive difference to that country's energy demands. I am sure you can think through why.
"Off-grid" has a pretty clear meaning, quotation marks or not. So you cousin is not actually off-grid, but, like many others, generates some of his electricity from solar panels, selling any surplus and relying on the grid to top up at other times. I can believe that he makes a net profit in the summer, but I find it hard to believe that he can still rely exclusively on solar power during the winter without some hardship.
Obviously I'd like to see more use of solar power, but I'm not convinced that mandating the incorporation of solar panels into newbuilds is a good idea. Some buildings may not be suitable, and I'd rather people had the choice. I'm open to persuasion though. Presumably, by geothermal you actually mean heat-pumps used to extract heat from the ground and surroundings, like an inside-out fridge. These are indeed an efficient way to warm a house, but they are usually expensive to install and, again, may not be suitable for all locations.
On the whole, I'd rather see a free-market approach driven by higher energy prices (through taxation), with, of course, assistance for those who need it. The additional income could be used to reduce the deficit/income taxes.
Driving higher prices through increased taxation is not a 'free market aporoach'. It is simply the government trying to manipulate the market via an alternative route.
It would be great to have it playing before England games and when English sportsmen and women win medals when they compete for England. It would also place England on an equal footing with the other home nations. England is not the UK.
And deeply religious, hence the name of the hymn.
If Labour wish for a renaissance in England they would be well advised to get back in touch with their radical / Christian socialist roots in the English civil war. Of a love of England that has its roots in the land and the people, seeking their liberation and freedom within a peaceful and more equal land, rather than the institutional conservatism of the high church, army and establishment.
Technically it is not a hymn as it is not a prayer.
Blake was a rather anti-establishment Dissenter and his romanticised vision of England is often seen as satirical of Napoleonic jingoism. Blake was pro-French revolution and not noted for his English nationalism.
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
I Vow To Thee My Country?
Not for me. "Land of dope and Tories" is more stirring. I happen to have been born in these islands and I there are a lot worse places to live as well as a lot better. I genuinely can't get excited about patriotism and flag waving either way and if I never saw another picture of "cute" Prince George or Kate Middleton's latest outfit to my dying day I would die happy!
The liberal white embarrassed to be British left. Now I see why you're so scared of Brexit.
In what way am I "scared" of Brexit? Can't you just understand that some people have a different opinion and that not everyone thinks like you do?
I'm not scared of it, just believe it's a bad idea economically (which I am 100% convinced it will be even in the long term) and I couldn't give a stuff about the regaining our sovereignty rubbish that seems to float some peoples' boats.
Stop being so touchy about your Brexit beliefs. God knows what you will be like if the sh1t does hit the fan in a couple of years.
If his house is off-grid, how does he manage to get the electricity he generates to the electricity company? Also, how does he manage to generate enough power from solar panels in the depths of winter?
Did you see the quotation marks around the expression "Off-grid"? He is generating more electricity than he uses, winter and summer alike. At night he draws in from the grid during the day he contributes to it. The balance works in his favour so he gets a cheque.
If building regs were changed so that all new builds were required to have solar panels and heat exchangers/geothermal then it would, over a few years, make a massive difference to that country's energy demands. I am sure you can think through why.
"Off-grid" has a pretty clear meaning, quotation marks or not. So you cousin is not actually off-grid, but, like many others, generates some of his electricity from solar panels, selling any surplus and relying on the grid to top up at other times. I can believe that he makes a net profit in the summer, but I find it hard to believe that he can still rely exclusively on solar power during the winter without some hardship.
Obviously I'd like to see more use of solar power, but I'm not convinced that mandating the incorporation of solar panels into newbuilds is a good idea. Some buildings may not be suitable, and I'd rather people had the choice. I'm open to persuasion though. Presumably, by geothermal you actually mean heat-pumps used to extract heat from the ground and surroundings, like an inside-out fridge. These are indeed an efficient way to warm a house, but they are usually expensive to install and, again, may not be suitable for all locations.
On the whole, I'd rather see a free-market approach driven by higher energy prices (through taxation), with, of course, assistance for those who need it. The additional income could be used to reduce the deficit/income taxes.
Driving higher prices through increased taxation is not a 'free market aporoach'. It is simply the government trying to manipulate the market via an alternative route.
An insight into the leftist version of the free market. I'd be happy to have a truly free market for energy generation. Remove all subsidies and see what works.
Ed Smith taken all 4 wickets so far... get him off.
Jonny Bairstow's going to score a triple hundred in this innings.
I am also confident I'm going to win this season's PB fantasy football competition.
It would be a Leicester type miracle surely for either of those... as a reminder to others this is the code to sign up to the PB league ahead of this weekend's kick off.
A new poll by TNS BMRB shows that 44% of people think Theresa May is a better leader for Britain than Jeremy Corbyn (16%). It also gives the Conservative party a 13 point lead over Labour.
The full voter intention figures are:
CON 39%, LAB 26%, UKIP 11%, LIB DEM 10%, Green 7%, Other 7% Support for Theresa May is strongest amongst women over 55, with 68% thinking she makes the best leader for Britain and only 9% of this group thinking Jeremy Corbyn would be best.
More than half of those interviewed (54%) said they thought Theresa May is performing well as leader of the Conservative Party. In contrast, over half (51%) of those surveyed said Jeremy Corbyn is not performing in his job as leader of the Labour Party. Indeed, 45% of those who voted for Labour at the last general election say he is performing badly in his role as party leader.
A large number of those interviewed (43%) were uncertain about the future of the Labour party. Only a quarter (24%), think the Labour party can survive its current divisions while a third (33%) believe the Labour Party will split.
The LD+Grn share - some 17% - is particularly notable when set against Labour's declining share. That the Greens have hit 7% without any effort at all (indeed, with Corbyn parking Labour's tanks on the Greens' lawn), shows both the potential Labour support with a competent leader and also the potential for another party of the centre-left to capitalise on the floating oppositionist voters if they don't.
The 7% Green figure looks very doubtful and makes the poll rather suspect.
Seems high to me as well. Particularly as it seems anecdotally that some highly activist Greens have left for Labour (e.g. Nick P's nemesis).
A new poll by TNS BMRB shows that 44% of people think Theresa May is a better leader for Britain than Jeremy Corbyn (16%). It also gives the Conservative party a 13 point lead over Labour.
The full voter intention figures are:
CON 39%, LAB 26%, UKIP 11%, LIB DEM 10%, Green 7%, Other 7% Support for Theresa May is strongest amongst women over 55, with 68% thinking she makes the best leader for Britain and only 9% of this group thinking Jeremy Corbyn would be best.
More than half of those interviewed (54%) said they thought Theresa May is performing well as leader of the Conservative Party. In contrast, over half (51%) of those surveyed said Jeremy Corbyn is not performing in his job as leader of the Labour Party. Indeed, 45% of those who voted for Labour at the last general election say he is performing badly in his role as party leader.
A large number of those interviewed (43%) were uncertain about the future of the Labour party. Only a quarter (24%), think the Labour party can survive its current divisions while a third (33%) believe the Labour Party will split.
The LD+Grn share - some 17% - is particularly notable when set against Labour's declining share. That the Greens have hit 7% without any effort at all (indeed, with Corbyn parking Labour's tanks on the Greens' lawn), shows both the potential Labour support with a competent leader and also the potential for another party of the centre-left to capitalise on the floating oppositionist voters if they don't.
The 7% Green figure looks very doubtful and makes the poll rather suspect.
On what basis do you say that? An increase in the vote shares of other left-of-centre parties is exactly what I'd expect from Labour's current shambles. The Green share might be topside but I'd be dubious about calling it as outside the MoE.
TNS are suggesting that the Greens have gone from 4% to 7% in just a month. No other poll has suggested anything close to that happening. Indeed - if anything - the Greens have been losing ground as voters switch to support Corbyn! The LibDem figure also looks odd - doubling in a month from 5% to 10%.
The Chinese stole a load of wind turbine tech not all that long ago.
In this case, they'd be nicking French nuclear technology. It's far too late to worry about the Chinese public-private espionage complex - we let BT use their gear in the core 21CN network.
The Tories were on 38 per cent, down 4 percentage points, with Labour on 31 per cent, up 3, Ukip on 13, up 1, and the Lib Dems unchanged on 8 per cent.
August poll. Ignore I say. Tories all on holiday (and grouse shooting from tomorrow).
Such a poll would still see the Tories up 1% on the general election
YouGov gives us GB data so on that basis the Tories are up 0.2% and Labour down 0.2%. Clearly MOE. Why has the Tory lead suddenly crashed? Perhaps May's honeymoon is starting to wear off.!
You can tell how desperate Labour now are that they are celebrating a small swing to the Tories since the general election as a good result
I remember when I was just a long time lurker on here reading the posts and topics on why individual leadership polling can sometimes be a better indicator than actual party polling. I think we saw that with Cameron at times.
If that still holds true then that TNS data is incredibly dire for Corbyn, it's not just TNS though he seems to be hitting historic lows on most leadership polling questions/data.
In what way am I "scared" of Brexit? Can't you just understand that some people have a different opinion and that not everyone thinks like you do?
I'm not scared of it, just believe it's a bad idea economically (which I am 100% convinced it will be even in the long term) and I couldn't give a stuff about the regaining our sovereignty rubbish that seems to float some peoples' boats.
Stop being so touchy about your Brexit beliefs. God knows what you will be like if the sh1t does hit the fan in a couple of years.
Sorry, you're scared of Brexit being successful, not the concept itself.
Ed Smith taken all 4 wickets so far... get him off.
Jonny Bairstow's going to score a triple hundred in this innings.
I am also confident I'm going to win this season's PB fantasy football competition.
It would be a Leicester type miracle surely for either of those... as a reminder to others this is the code to sign up to the PB league ahead of this weekend's kick off.
Ed Smith taken all 4 wickets so far... get him off.
Jonny Bairstow's going to score a triple hundred in this innings.
I am also confident I'm going to win this season's PB fantasy football competition.
It would be a Leicester type miracle surely for either of those... as a reminder to others this is the code to sign up to the PB league ahead of this weekend's kick off.
Reports of there being a new Micheal Howard are oft repeated, and grossly exaggerated.
Howard only won 198 seats and 32% in 2005, he did not set a very high bar for Smith to leap to match him even if he did stabilise the Tories
Howard did manage to gain 33 seats and only lost the popular vote by 3% - ie 33% to Labour's 36%. It also represented a 3% swing from 2001. Smith would probably be happy with that.
Howard only increased the Tory voteshare by 0.7% in 2005, most of the Tory seats gained came as a result of Labour voters moving to the LDs after Iraq much as any Labour gains in 2020 would probably come from Tory voters moving to UKIP if May allows some free movement to keep at least some membership of the single market
TNS are suggesting that the Greens have gone from 4% to 7% in just a month. No other poll has suggested anything close to that happening. Indeed - if anything - the Greens have been losing ground as voters switch to support Corbyn! The LibDem figure also looks odd - doubling in a month from 5% to 10%.
I think it's possible that this is a reaction to the attempts to exclude Corbyn from the race and/or to exclude 20% of the voters for participating. Left-wing voters might conclude that the Labour swing to the left is not yet a domne deal, so they're safer with other left-wing parties for now. Certainly if Corbyn was overthrown by this sort of means I'd expect this to intensify.
But it's hazardous to retrofit explanations to polls, especially when they contradict each other!
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
I didn't say it wasn't, doesn't mean that there aren't also millions of people that find it a little pathetic that we still fawn over a "royal" family in 2016.
If his house is off-grid, how does he manage to get the electricity he generates to the electricity company? Also, how does he manage to generate enough power from solar panels in the depths of winter?
Did you see the quotation marks around the expression "Off-grid"? He is generating more electricity than he uses, winter and summer alike. At night he draws in from the grid during the day he contributes to it. The balance works in his favour so he gets a cheque.
If building regs were changed so that all new builds were required to have solar panels and heat exchangers/geothermal then it would, over a few years, make a massive difference to that country's energy demands. I am sure you can think through why.
"Off-grid" has a pretty clear meaning, quotation marks or not. So you cousin is not actually off-grid, but, like many others, generates some of his electricity from solar panels, selling any surplus and relying on the grid to top up at other times. I can believe that he makes a net profit in the summer, but I find it hard to believe that he can still rely exclusively on solar power during the winter without some hardship.
Obviously I'd like to see more use of solar power, but I'm not convinced that mandating the incorporation of solar panels into newbuilds is a good idea. Some buildings may not be suitable, and I'd rather people had the choice. I'm open to persuasion though. Presumably, by geothermal you actually mean heat-pumps used to extract heat from the ground and surroundings, like an inside-out fridge. These are indeed an efficient way to warm a house, but they are usually expensive to install and, again, may not be suitable for all locations.
On the whole, I'd rather see a free-market approach driven by higher energy prices (through taxation), with, of course, assistance for those who need it. The additional income could be used to reduce the deficit/income taxes.
Driving higher prices through increased taxation is not a 'free market aporoach'. It is simply the government trying to manipulate the market via an alternative route.
It's a lot more free market than the current use of subsidies to favour certain technologies and regulations to prevent the use of others. What is wrong with using taxation to compensate for adverse externalities and leaving the rest to the market? This is surely the most efficient way to obtain sufficient energy generation with the least possible adverse effects and is, I believe, favoured by most economists.
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
I Vow To Thee My Country?
Not for me. "Land of dope and Tories" is more stirring. I happen to have been born in these islands and I there are a lot worse places to live as well as a lot better. I genuinely can't get excited about patriotism and flag waving either way and if I never saw another picture of "cute" Prince George or Kate Middleton's latest outfit to my dying day I would die happy!
Why don't you go and live in one of your better countries then?
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
I didn't say it wasn't, doesn't mean that there aren't also millions of people that find it a little pathetic that we still fawn over a "royal" family in 2016.
If an accident or assassination killed the most senior royals and led to a King Andrew, a King Edward or a Queen Beatrice the royals popularity would diminish rather a lot
Reports of there being a new Micheal Howard are oft repeated, and grossly exaggerated.
Howard only won 198 seats and 32% in 2005, he did not set a very high bar for Smith to leap to match him even if he did stabilise the Tories
Howard did manage to gain 33 seats and only lost the popular vote by 3% - ie 33% to Labour's 36%. It also represented a 3% swing from 2001. Smith would probably be happy with that.
Howard only increased the Tory voteshare by 0.7% in 2005, most of the Tory seats gained came as a result of Labour voters moving to the LDs after Iraq much as any Labour gains in 2020 would probably come from Tory voters moving to UKIP if May allows some free movement to keep at least some membership of the single market
Labour could also gain from some Tory voters returning to the LibDems.
Storage will indeed be a gamechanger because intermittent sources of electrical generation can be 'peak smoothed' , so it doesn't matter alot when they generate as long as in aggregate over a reasonably short timescale they produce enough. But that is an issue. There needs to be an underlying source of energy. I'm far from convinced the UK has enough renewable energy to smooth in the first place. Not unless we do some brave stuff like put a double tidal barrage across the Severn estuary or shove a gazillion tidal flow turbines in the Pentland Firth.
I'd recommend to anyone to read Energy Without the Hot Air by David Mackay.
Reports of there being a new Micheal Howard are oft repeated, and grossly exaggerated.
Howard only won 198 seats and 32% in 2005, he did not set a very high bar for Smith to leap to match him even if he did stabilise the Tories
Howard did manage to gain 33 seats and only lost the popular vote by 3% - ie 33% to Labour's 36%. It also represented a 3% swing from 2001. Smith would probably be happy with that.
Howard only increased the Tory voteshare by 0.7% in 2005, most of the Tory seats gained came as a result of Labour voters moving to the LDs after Iraq much as any Labour gains in 2020 would probably come from Tory voters moving to UKIP if May allows some free movement to keep at least some membership of the single market
Labour could also gain from some Tory voters returning to the LibDems.
That is only likely if May takes us out of the single market
A new poll by TNS BMRB shows that 44% of people think Theresa May is a better leader for Britain than Jeremy Corbyn (16%). It also gives the Conservative party a 13 point lead over Labour.
The full voter intention figures are:
CON 39%, LAB 26%, UKIP 11%, LIB DEM 10%, Green 7%, Other 7% Support for Theresa May is strongest amongst women over 55, with 68% thinking she makes the best leader for Britain and only 9% of this group thinking Jeremy Corbyn would be best.
More than half of those interviewed (54%) said they thought Theresa May is performing well as leader of the Conservative Party. In contrast, over half (51%) of those surveyed said Jeremy Corbyn is not performing in his job as leader of the Labour Party. Indeed, 45% of those who voted for Labour at the last general election say he is performing badly in his role as party leader.
A large number of those interviewed (43%) were uncertain about the future of the Labour party. Only a quarter (24%), think the Labour party can survive its current divisions while a third (33%) believe the Labour Party will split.
The LD+Grn share - some 17% - is particularly notable when set against Labour's declining share. That the Greens have hit 7% without any effort at all (indeed, with Corbyn parking Labour's tanks on the Greens' lawn), shows both the potential Labour support with a competent leader and also the potential for another party of the centre-left to capitalise on the floating oppositionist voters if they don't.
The 7% Green figure looks very doubtful and makes the poll rather suspect.
On what basis do you say that? An increase in the vote shares of other left-of-centre parties is exactly what I'd expect from Labour's current shambles. The Green share might be topside but I'd be dubious about calling it as outside the MoE.
TNS are suggesting that the Greens have gone from 4% to 7% in just a month. No other poll has suggested anything close to that happening. Indeed - if anything - the Greens have been losing ground as voters switch to support Corbyn! The LibDem figure also looks odd - doubling in a month from 5% to 10%.
The Green/Lab swing could be going both ways. It may well be that committed eco-communist Greens have switched to Labour but that the general Labour voter has gone the other way, for want of alternatives.
Last month's LD score looked out of line with local by-elections and other polling. 10% might be a tad high but 8%ish wouldn't be unreasonable.
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
I didn't say it wasn't, doesn't mean that there aren't also millions of people that find it a little pathetic that we still fawn over a "royal" family in 2016.
You said half the population don't believe in God and 'many more' than that think monarchy is an outdated concept, so more than 50%. I suppose it's possible someone could think it outdated and still support it, but the implication still looked like more than 50% do not support the monarchy, which is untrue. That said, I support continuation of the monarchy and do not trouble myself with the overdone fawning, so there are grey areas, you are correct about that.
The Tories were on 38 per cent, down 4 percentage points, with Labour on 31 per cent, up 3, Ukip on 13, up 1, and the Lib Dems unchanged on 8 per cent.
August poll. Ignore I say. Tories all on holiday (and grouse shooting from tomorrow).
Such a poll would still see the Tories up 1% on the general election
YouGov gives us GB data so on that basis the Tories are up 0.2% and Labour down 0.2%. Clearly MOE. Why has the Tory lead suddenly crashed? Perhaps May's honeymoon is starting to wear off.!
You can tell how desperate Labour now are that they are celebrating a small swing to the Tories since the general election as a good result
A 7% Tory lead is not a good result for Labour - but neither is it disastrous particularly in context. Were it to come to pass it would be no worse than 2010 - 1992 - 1979.
The Tories were on 38 per cent, down 4 percentage points, with Labour on 31 per cent, up 3, Ukip on 13, up 1, and the Lib Dems unchanged on 8 per cent.
August poll. Ignore I say. Tories all on holiday (and grouse shooting from tomorrow).
Such a poll would still see the Tories up 1% on the general election
YouGov gives us GB data so on that basis the Tories are up 0.2% and Labour down 0.2%. Clearly MOE. Why has the Tory lead suddenly crashed? Perhaps May's honeymoon is starting to wear off.!
You can tell how desperate Labour now are that they are celebrating a small swing to the Tories since the general election as a good result
A 7% Tory lead is not a good result for Labour - but neither is it disastrous particularly in context. Were it to come to pass it would be no worse than 2010 - 1992 - 1979.
Although that was the best poll for Labour today, TNS had a 13% Tory lead
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
I didn't say it wasn't, doesn't mean that there aren't also millions of people that find it a little pathetic that we still fawn over a "royal" family in 2016.
You said half the population don't believe in God and 'many more' than that think monarchy is an outdated concept, so more than 50%. I suppose it's possible someone could think it outdated and still support it, but the implication still looked like more than 50% do not support the monarchy, which is untrue. That said, I support continuation of the monarchy and do not trouble myself with the overdone fawning, so there are grey areas, you are correct about that.
I'm strongly in favour of the monarchy - and entirely disinterested in seeing photos of them. I don't care a jot what they do or where they go provided they act professionally and with the dignity that the role requires.
I don't like Charles - he plays at politics when he's no business to. Glad he finally married Camilla - I do like her.
A new poll by TNS BMRB shows that 44% of people think Theresa May is a better leader for Britain than Jeremy Corbyn (16%). It also gives the Conservative party a 13 point lead over Labour.
The full voter intention figures are:
CON 39%, LAB 26%, UKIP 11%, LIB DEM 10%, Green 7%, Other 7% Support for Theresa May is strongest amongst women over eader of the Labour Party. Indeed, 45% of those who voted for Labour at the last general election say he is performing badly in his role as party leader.
A large number of those interviewed (43%) were uncertain about the future of the Labour party. Only a quarter (24%), think the Labour party can survive its current divisions while a third (33%) believe the Labour Party will split.
The LD+Grn share - some 17% - is particularly notable when set against Labour's declining share. That the Greens have hit 7% without any effort at all (indeed, with Corbyn parking Labour's tanks on the Greens' lawn), shows both the potential Labour support with a competent leader and also the potential for another party of the centre-left to capitalise on the floating oppositionist voters if they don't.
The 7% Green figure looks very doubtful and makes the poll rather suspect.
On what basis do you say that? An increase in the vote shares of other left-of-centre parties is exactly what I'd expect from Labour's current shambles. The Green share might be topside but I'd be dubious about calling it as outside the MoE.
TNS are suggesting that the Greens have gone from 4% to 7% in just a month. No other poll has suggested anything close to that happening. Indeed - if anything - the Greens have been losing ground as voters switch to support Corbyn! The LibDem figure also looks odd - doubling in a month from 5% to 10%.
The Green/Lab swing could be going both ways. It may well be that committed eco-communist Greens have switched to Labour but that the general Labour voter has gone the other way, for want of alternatives.
Last month's LD score looked out of line with local by-elections and other polling. 10% might be a tad high but 8%ish wouldn't be unreasonable.
The rise in the Green score could be about Hinkley Point and nothing to do with Corbyn or Smith
Reports of there being a new Micheal Howard are oft repeated, and grossly exaggerated.
Howard only won 198 seats and 32% in 2005, he did not set a very high bar for Smith to leap to match him even if he did stabilise the Tories
Howard did manage to gain 33 seats and only lost the popular vote by 3% - ie 33% to Labour's 36%. It also represented a 3% swing from 2001. Smith would probably be happy with that.
Howard only increased the Tory voteshare by 0.7% in 2005, most of the Tory seats gained came as a result of Labour voters moving to the LDs after Iraq much as any Labour gains in 2020 would probably come from Tory voters moving to UKIP if May allows some free movement to keep at least some membership of the single market
Labour could also gain from some Tory voters returning to the LibDems.
That is only likely if May takes us out of the single market
Not necessarily so at all. The EU is not the most salient of issues when it comes to how people vote. There may be many who switched from LibDem to the Tories in 2015 who regret doing so for reasons totally unrelated to Brexit!
It's remarkable to reflect that only one member of this England side does not have a Test 50 or better. It's even more remarkable that he's still in the side given he's supposed to be a specialist batsman.
By way of a comparison India, playing West Indies, have a tail that in theory starts at no. 6 and in practice encompasses nos. 3, 5 and 8-11. Rohit Sharma is apparently playing as a specialist wicket.
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
I didn't say it wasn't, doesn't mean that there aren't also millions of people that find it a little pathetic that we still fawn over a "royal" family in 2016.
You said half the population don't believe in God and 'many more' than that think monarchy is an outdated concept, so more than 50%. I suppose it's possible someone could think it outdated and still support it, but the implication still looked like more than 50% do not support the monarchy, which is untrue. That said, I support continuation of the monarchy and do not trouble myself with the overdone fawning, so there are grey areas, you are correct about that.
The Queen is a very special case. It will be intetesting to see how perceptions of the monarchy evolve once she is gone. I doubt any royal will ever again command the respect and affection she does.
Reports of there being a new Micheal Howard are oft repeated, and grossly exaggerated.
Howard only won 198 seats and 32% in 2005, he did not set a very high bar for Smith to leap to match him even if he did stabilise the Tories
Howard did manage to gain 33 seats and only lost the popular vote by 3% - ie 33% to Labour's 36%. It also represented a 3% swing from 2001. Smith would probably be happy with that.
Howard only increased the Tory voteshare by 0.7% in 2005, most of the Tory seats gained came as a result of Labour voters moving to the LDs after Iraq much as any Labour gains in 2020 would probably come from Tory voters moving to UKIP if May allows some free movement to keep at least some membership of the single market
Labour could also gain from some Tory voters returning to the LibDems.
That is only likely if May takes us out of the single market
Not necessarily so at all. The EU is not the most salient of issues when it comes to how people vote. There may be many who switched from LibDem to the Tories in 2015 who regret doing so for reasons totally unrelated to Brexit!
I highly doubt it given they are now led by Tim Farron and are more leftwing than 2015. If voters switched from the LDs to a more rightwing party they are not going to switch back for an even more leftwing one. Brexit of course will dominate political debate for the next few years and don't forget more people voted in the EU referendum than even the last general election
The Tories were on 38 per cent, down 4 percentage points, with Labour on 31 per cent, up 3, Ukip on 13, up 1, and the Lib Dems unchanged on 8 per cent.
August poll. Ignore I say. Tories all on holiday (and grouse shooting from tomorrow).
Such a poll would still see the Tories up 1% on the general election
YouGov gives us GB data so on that basis the Tories are up 0.2% and Labour down 0.2%. Clearly MOE. Why has the Tory lead suddenly crashed? Perhaps May's honeymoon is starting to wear off.!
You can tell how desperate Labour now are that they are celebrating a small swing to the Tories since the general election as a good result
A 7% Tory lead is not a good result for Labour - but neither is it disastrous particularly in context. Were it to come to pass it would be no worse than 2010 - 1992 - 1979.
The context is mid-term [admittedly a honeymoon too, but against that a divisive referendum]. It's atrocious. The 13%+ leads are diabolical.
In what way am I "scared" of Brexit? Can't you just understand that some people have a different opinion and that not everyone thinks like you do?
I'm not scared of it, just believe it's a bad idea economically (which I am 100% convinced it will be even in the long term) and I couldn't give a stuff about the regaining our sovereignty rubbish that seems to float some peoples' boats.
Stop being so touchy about your Brexit beliefs. God knows what you will be like if the sh1t does hit the fan in a couple of years.
Sorry, you're scared of Brexit being successful, not the concept itself.
I'm not "scared "of it being successful I just genuinely don't believe it will be. I think there are far more Brexiters that are terrified that the economic "experts" will be proved correct!
I'm strongly in favour of the monarchy - and entirely disinterested in seeing photos of them. I don't care a jot what they do or where they go provided they act professionally and with the dignity that the role requires.
I don't like Charles - he plays at politics when he's no business to. Glad he finally married Camilla - I do like her.
That's the thing with the monarchy, though - if we get one we don't like, we can't do anything about it. I'm not in favour of the monarchy, but I'm in favour of the queen personally, because I think she does a good job. She presumably has an ego, but she's pretty much the only person in public life who doesn't display any trace of it. So I wouldn't change anything right now. But what when she goes? And she's 90, for goodness sake - I can't help feeling there's an element of cruelty in forcing a woman that age to keep doing what she does.
A very polite pedant might very gently also suggest that you might be uninterested in, or indifferent to - rather than disinterested in - seeing photos of them. Though I fear in that particular battle we pedants might be fighting a losing battle.
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
I didn't say it wasn't, doesn't mean that there aren't also millions of people that find it a little pathetic that we still fawn over a "royal" family in 2016.
You said half the population don't believe in God and 'many more' than that think monarchy is an outdated concept, so more than 50%. I suppose it's possible someone could think it outdated and still support it, but the implication still looked like more than 50% do not support the monarchy, which is untrue. That said, I support continuation of the monarchy and do not trouble myself with the overdone fawning, so there are grey areas, you are correct about that.
I was not arguing that Monarchy is unpopular, currently it is very popular.
I was arguing that a national anthem about God and the Queen is not a sure fire winner with a majority of the population in 2016.
Storage will indeed be a gamechanger because intermittent sources of electrical generation can be 'peak smoothed' , so it doesn't matter alot when they generate as long as in aggregate over a reasonably short timescale they produce enough. But that is an issue. There needs to be an underlying source of energy. I'm far from convinced the UK has enough renewable energy to smooth in the first place. Not unless we do some brave stuff like put a double tidal barrage across the Severn estuary or shove a gazillion tidal flow turbines in the Pentland Firth.
I'd recommend to anyone to read Energy Without the Hot Air by David Mackay.
That looks like an excellent read, and freely available too! Thanks!
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
I didn't say it wasn't, doesn't mean that there aren't also millions of people that find it a little pathetic that we still fawn over a "royal" family in 2016.
You said half the population don't believe in God and 'many more' than that think monarchy is an outdated concept, so more than 50%. I suppose it's possible someone could think it outdated and still support it, but the implication still looked like more than 50% do not support the monarchy, which is untrue. That said, I support continuation of the monarchy and do not trouble myself with the overdone fawning, so there are grey areas, you are correct about that.
I was not arguing that Monarchy is unpopular, currently it is very popular.
I was arguing that a national anthem about God and the Queen is not a sure fire winner with a majority of the population in 2016.
The problem is more the tune than the words. Dreadful dirge.
I'm strongly in favour of the monarchy - and entirely disinterested in seeing photos of them. I don't care a jot what they do or where they go provided they act professionally and with the dignity that the role requires.
I don't like Charles - he plays at politics when he's no business to. Glad he finally married Camilla - I do like her.
That's the thing with the monarchy, though - if we get one we don't like, we can't do anything about it. I'm not in favour of the monarchy, but I'm in favour of the queen personally, because I think she does a good job. She presumably has an ego, but she's pretty much the only person in public life who doesn't display any trace of it. So I wouldn't change anything right now. But what when she goes? And she's 90, for goodness sake - I can't help feeling there's an element of cruelty in forcing a woman that age to keep doing what she does.
A very polite pedant might very gently also suggest that you might be uninterested in, or indifferent to - rather than disinterested in - seeing photos of them. Though I fear in that particular battle we pedants might be fighting a losing battle.
I think one can only be disinterested in the monarchy if not in the line of descent, otherwise one is uninterested.
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
I didn't say it wasn't, doesn't mean that there aren't also millions of people that find it a little pathetic that we still fawn over a "royal" family in 2016.
You said half the population don't believe in God and 'many more' than that think monarchy is an outdated concept, so more than 50%. I suppose it's possible someone could think it outdated and still support it, but the implication still looked like more than 50% do not support the monarchy, which is untrue. That said, I support continuation of the monarchy and do not trouble myself with the overdone fawning, so there are grey areas, you are correct about that.
I was not arguing that Monarchy is unpopular, currently it is very popular.
I was arguing that a national anthem about God and the Queen is not a sure fire winner with a majority of the population in 2016.
Yes, so you have now clarified - I was merely explaining how your initial words did not read as such.
Russian expansionism. People need to wake up; even now there are some faffing about thinking Putin is okay really and we just need to talk more. Nobody wants a new cold war but that fear is causing a paralysis that will just lead to greater conflict down the line.
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
I didn't say it wasn't, doesn't mean that there aren't also millions of people that find it a little pathetic that we still fawn over a "royal" family in 2016.
You said half the population don't believe in God and 'many more' than that think monarchy is an outdated concept, so more than 50%. I suppose it's possible someone could think it outdated and still support it, but the implication still looked like more than 50% do not support the monarchy, which is untrue. That said, I support continuation of the monarchy and do not trouble myself with the overdone fawning, so there are grey areas, you are correct about that.
The Queen is a very special case. It will be intetesting to see how perceptions of the monarchy evolve once she is gone. I doubt any royal will ever again command the respect and affection she does.
William will, and just wait until he gets a hair transplant.
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
I didn't say it wasn't, doesn't mean that there aren't also millions of people that find it a little pathetic that we still fawn over a "royal" family in 2016.
If an accident or assassination killed the most senior royals and led to a King Andrew, a King Edward or a Queen Beatrice the royals popularity would diminish rather a lot
Assuming that it wasn't an inside job like Nepal, the Diana precedent suggests that in the short term at least there'd be an overwhelming wave of support for whoever ended up in the role.
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that cept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
I didn't say it wasn't, doesn't mean that there aren't also millions of people that find it a little pathetic that we still fawn over a "royal" family in 2016.
You said half the population don't believe in God and 'ma
The Queen is a very special case. It will be intetesting to see how perceptions of the monarchy evolve once she is gone. I doubt any royal will ever again command the respect and affection she does.
Certainly possible. I happen to think Charles knows once monarch he will have less wiggle room than he now does, and will hold the fort for the institution as best he can, but affection for the present monarch will be hard to replicate. Several monarchies are having similar issues.
On abdication, the Queen seems disinclined to do so, so is not being forced into anything other than what she perceives as her duty, although when her health worsens as it surely will one day, alas, perhaps like many other monarchs in recent times she will reconsider. Although get into that habit too often and you get abdications on the grounds of lowering popularity for an individual, which is a slippery slope.
The Tories were on 38 per cent, down 4 percentage points, with Labour on 31 per cent, up 3, Ukip on 13, up 1, and the Lib Dems unchanged on 8 per cent.
August poll. Ignore I say. Tories all on holiday (and grouse shooting from tomorrow).
Such a poll would still see the Tories up 1% on the general election
YouGov gives us GB data so on that basis the Tories are up 0.2% and Labour down 0.2%. Clearly MOE. Why has the Tory lead suddenly crashed? Perhaps May's honeymoon is starting to wear off.!
You can tell how desperate Labour now are that they are celebrating a small swing to the Tories since the general election as a good result
A 7% Tory lead is not a good result for Labour - but neither is it disastrous particularly in context. Were it to come to pass it would be no worse than 2010 - 1992 - 1979.
The context is mid-term [admittedly a honeymoon too, but against that a divisive referendum]. It's atrocious. The 13%+ leads are diabolical.
We are not yet at midterm which I suggest will not arrive until 2017. If next year we face serious economic problems and the Tories continue to enjoy a lead of circa 7% , I will agree with your point. As of today ,however, the YouGov poll is no worse than Labour was doing at the same stage of the 1959 Parliament - and perhaps a bit better than at the equivalent point of the 1987 Parliament. I accept that 13% Tory leads are appalling for Labour - but that has to be seen in the context of May's honeymoon and Labour's civil war, neither of which are likely to be permanent.There tends to be a lot of fluff in these big leads whichever party is enjoying them particularly when they come about suddenly - 'Easy come easy go!'
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
I didn't say it wasn't, doesn't mean that there aren't also millions of people that find it a little pathetic that we still fawn over a "royal" family in 2016.
You said half the population don't believe in God and 'many more' than that think monarchy is an outdated concept, so more than 50%. I suppose it's possible someone could think it outdated and still support it, but the implication still looked like more than 50% do not suppothat.
I was not arguing that Monarchy is unpopular, currently it is very popular.
I was arguing that a national anthem about God and the Queen is not a sure fire winner with a majority of the population in 2016.
The problem is more the tune than the words. Dreadful dirge.
It's not stirring, but is very simple and slowly paced, which lends itself to easy singing in unison by tens of thousands of people.
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
I didn't say it wasn't, doesn't mean that there aren't also millions of people that find it a little pathetic that we still fawn over a "royal" family in 2016.
You said half the population don't believe in God and 'many more' than that think monarchy is an outdated concept, so more than 50%. I suppose it's possible someone could think it outdated and still support it, but the implication still looked like more than 50% do not support the monarchy, which is untrue. That said, I support continuation of the monarchy and do not trouble myself with the overdone fawning, so there are grey areas, you are correct about that.
The Queen is a very special case. It will be intetesting to see how perceptions of the monarchy evolve once she is gone. I doubt any royal will ever again command the respect and affection she does.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
I think the Queen does a good job too. But really anyone who was required by the job description never to say or do anything controversial and who enjoyed wall-to-wall adultaory media coverage would be pretty popular. I see no reason why that shouldn't be true of her successors too, so long as Charles can refrain from his urge to meddle, which is perfectly understandable (we all have opinions, and no doubt the Queen does too) but not compatible with the job.
Reports of there being a new Micheal Howard are oft repeated, and grossly exaggerated.
Howard only won 198 seats and 32% in 2005, he did not set a very high bar for Smith to leap to match him even if he did stabilise the Tories
Howard did manage to gain 33 seats and only lost the popular vote by 3% - ie 33% to Labour's 36%. It also represented a 3% swing from 2001. Smith would probably be happy with that.
Howard only increased the Tory voteshare by 0.7% in 2005, most of the Tory seats gained came as a result of Labour voters moving to the LDs after Iraq much as any Labour gains in 2020 would probably come from Tory voters moving to UKIP if May allows some free movement to keep at least some membership of the single market
Labour could also gain from some Tory voters returning to the LibDems.
That is only likely if May takes us out of the single market
Not necessarily so at all. The EU is not the most salient of issues when it comes to how people vote. There may be many who switched from LibDem to the Tories in 2015 who regret doing so for reasons totally unrelated to Brexit!
I highly doubt it given they are now led by Tim Farron and are more leftwing than 2015. If voters switched from the LDs to a more rightwing party they are not going to switch back for an even more leftwing one. Brexit of course will dominate political debate for the next few years and don't forget more people voted in the EU referendum than even the last general election
I am aware of the high turnout for the Referendum , but there is still very little evidence to suggest that the EU is a major determinant of how people vote at general elections - with the exception of UKIP and Tory Eurosceptic types. If we hit stormy economic waters next year I am sure that will override everything else .
We are not yet at midterm which I suggest will not arrive until 2017. If next year we face serious economic problems and the Tories continue to enjoy a lead of circa 7% , I will agree with your point. As of today ,however, the YouGov poll is no worse than Labour was doing at the same stage of the 1959 Parliament - and perhaps a bit better than at the equivalent point of the 1987 Parliament. I accept that 13% Tory leads are appalling for Labour - but that has to be seen in the context of May's honeymoon and Labour's civil war, neither of which are likely to be permanent.There tends to be a lot of fluff in these big leads whichever party is enjoying them particularly when they come about suddenly - 'Easy come easy go!'
In 1960 the divisions within Labour were very much about policy rather than about principle or personality. For example, Foot and Bevan, the two leaders of the left wing, were on opposite sides of the debate. Although Bevan died before the divisions were fully healed, there was no danger of a formal split. The party was also led by a personally popular, experienced and extremely capable politician who commanded general respect and who would very likely have been a better Prime Minister than either Macmillan or Wilson had he not tragically died in 1963 a year before an election he was favourite to win.
Right now Labour are divided on policy, on principles, on strategy, on personality and on whether the sun rises in the east (OK, so I exaggerate very slightly there). They are led by a geriatric nobody who has been in parliament for 33 years while attaining the sole distinction of having rejected the Labour whip more often than a man who spent six years as a Conservative Prime Minister, and whose intellectual capacity may charitably be characterised as rather limited. They are also being dominated by a small clique within the unions who want to use the Labour party not as a political movement but as a sort of publicity agency for their manifold frustrations.
We have just seen a government with a Prime Minister forced out, a bitter and divisive leadership election, a cabinet reshuffle storing up poison for the future, strong economic headwinds blowing, the collapse of our diplomatic position and some guff about the EU. Any halfway decent opposition would be 15 points ahead. Heck, even Miliband would be ten points ahead.
Labour's decision 'we'll compromise for power, but not for 250 seats under Yvette' is starting to look like the dumbest political mistake since Brutus forgot to kill Mark Antony.
Cookie said: "And she's 90, for goodness sake - I can't help feeling there's an element of cruelty in forcing a woman that age to keep doing what she does."
The wickedness, I believe, is in raising a "royal" infant (and many of us too) from the start to think that royalty and all the attached paraphernalia, although unearned, is somehow superior. The process relies on the huge plasticity of the young brain. The whole thing is strange. It's like a zoo. And for the rest of us, I think, it tends to give a focus on class structure. Still, there are bigger worries around us.
Union update: Unison has polled its members on whom to endorse, and they've gone 58-42 for Corbyn. The question asked was less complex than the GMB's, which asked about suitability to be PM and went the other way by 60-40. UNITE and the CWU are also backing Corbyn while USDAW is backing Smith, though I'm not sure any of these have polled members.
The NEC court case doesn't seem to be going very well, with judges contradicting the barrister, who's admitted that he's "trying to have my cake and eat it" by bringing in some background material while asking the court to ignore others. But we'll see what they make of the other side.
Mr. Royale, that's why we must embrace the diversity of other cultures.
Some aspects of which are fine. Others include FGM [with a 0% conviction rate] and honour killings.
To me it's like not loving your own family and putting their needs first.
Very few suggest that doing that means you don't give a toss about anyone else.
As a friend of mine always points out, we support Indian, Pakistani, West Indian, African and other assorted nationalism as multi-cultural, but should English or British people take pride in their country it is instantly labelled as racist. It is one peculiarity of white people in this country I will never understand. I guess being an outsider to that gives me a different perspective, but I think there are more people who share it now than when I was growing up when it was almost a taboo to have a Union Flag or a George Cross hanging from a window.
that is a laugh , given the vitriol and bile on here piled on Scottish people who support Scotland.
Not from me malc, I am still a supporter of Scottish independence, I'm just not sure that the majority of Scots are.
Unfortunately not , bizarre as it seems to me, I cannot understand why you would want to have someone else make all your decisions for you. Given the population difference it can never go well for Scotland, far better to be making your own decisions to suit a small country.
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
Don't confuse respect for the Queen and a tabloid obsession with the younger royals as "massive popularity"
Give Charles 3 years and he will rival Jezza for declining popularity.
I'll be surprised if he ever gets 3 years as King ..... 68 years of age in November, would he ascend the throne at say 75 years old or more? I very much doubt it.
If he has waited 75 years I am sure he will give it a go, not many have a 75 year apprenticeship and then decide its the wrong job for them..
Am I the only one who hasn't got used to the time difference re Rio?
Haven't tuned into a single event so far, and it's just passing me by bar clips floating about on Twitter.
Jashvina Shah I mean come on look at the opening to Raisman's floor routine. Insane #olympics #USA https://t.co/SQsPGSitzx
Nope, it's ideal for us - plenty of Olympics to watch before bed after a hard day's work.
Finding the jingoistic BBC commentators quite cringe worthy though.
You should hear the Spanish on RTVE - I don't think the Beeb is unusual.
Only in this country do people get upset with the national broadcaster with British presenters and pundits cheer on British athletes at a sporting event. It goes beyond ordinary liberal white guilt.
Being ashamed to take pride in your own country is a badge of basic decency and respect amongst much of the intelligentsia.
Nothing Orwell said many decades ago has changed and, in fact, it's got worse.
Patriotism in this country is too closely associated with Daily Mail style fawning over Kate Middleton and the Royals. It is a turn-off to many people. We need an anthem that that is more inclusive not still prattling on about "God save the Queen" in 2016 when half the population don't believe in God and many more think Monarchy is an outdated concept.
Of course right wingers love it but surely its not too hard to understand why others don't.
The monarchy is massively popular in this country.
I didn't say it wasn't, doesn't mean that there aren't also millions of people that find it a little pathetic that we still fawn over a "royal" family in 2016.
If an accident or assassination killed the most senior royals and led to a King Andrew, a King Edward or a Queen Beatrice the royals popularity would diminish rather a lot
Assuming that it wasn't an inside job like Nepal, the Diana precedent suggests that in the short term at least there'd be an overwhelming wave of support for whoever ended up in the role.
Reports of there being a new Micheal Howard are oft repeated, and grossly exaggerated.
Howard only won 198 seats and 32% in 2005, he did not set a very high bar for Smith to leap to match him even if he did stabilise the Tories
Howard did manage to gain 33 seats and only lost the popular vote by 3% - ie 33% to Labour's 36%. It also represented a 3% swing from 2001. Smith would probably be happy with that.
Howard only increased the Tory voteshare by 0.7% in 2005, most of the Tory seats gained came as a result of Labour voters moving to the LDs after Iraq much as any Labour gains in 2020 would probably come from Tory voters moving to UKIP if May allows some free movement to keep at least some membership of the single market
Labour could also gain from some Tory voters returning to the LibDems.
That is only likely if May takes us out of the single market
Not necessarily so at all. The EU is not the most salient of issues when it comes to how people vote. There may be many who switched from LibDem to the Tories in 2015 who regret doing so for reasons totally unrelated to Brexit!
I highly doubt it given they are now led by Tim Farron and are more leftwing than 2015. If voters switched from the LDs to a more rightwing party they are not going to switch back for an even more leftwing one. Brexit of course will dominate political debate for the next few years and don't forget more people voted in the EU referendum than even the last general election
I am aware of the high turnout for the Referendum , but there is still very little evidence to suggest that the EU is a major determinant of how people vote at general elections - with the exception of UKIP and Tory Eurosceptic types. If we hit stormy economic waters next year I am sure that will override everything else .
Tory and UKIP types were the main ones I was talking about and of course if we do hit stormy waters next year much of that will be down to Brexit and the form it takes
Comments
Given the relative ease by which the change in the succession went through the various realms, introducing 'abdication on demand' or, perhaps, 'regency on demand' might not be as difficult as was previously thought.
He reminds me of Justin124 on polling for the Labour Party....
It's not Sky Monarchy Channel ..
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/11/chinese-energy-firm-linked-to-hinkley-point-facing-charges-of-nu/
The Chinese stole a load of wind turbine tech not all that long ago.
I am also confident I'm going to win this season's PB fantasy football competition.
Blake was a rather anti-establishment Dissenter and his romanticised vision of England is often seen as satirical of Napoleonic jingoism. Blake was pro-French revolution and not noted for his English nationalism.
It is a good song nonetheless.
I'm not scared of it, just believe it's a bad idea economically (which I am 100% convinced it will be even in the long term) and I couldn't give a stuff about the regaining our sovereignty rubbish that seems to float some peoples' boats.
Stop being so touchy about your Brexit beliefs. God knows what you will be like if the sh1t does hit the fan in a couple of years.
843320-227121
https://fantasy.premierleague.com/
I have a team in that - have a league code ?
Westminster voting intention:
CON: 39% (+1)
LAB: 26% (-5)
UKIP: 11% (-2)
LDEM: 10% (+2)
GRN: 7% (+3)
(TNS, 05 - 08 Aug)
Chgs. vs GE, GB only
The LibDem figure also looks odd - doubling in a month from 5% to 10%.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/10191154/Ex-CIA-chief-accuses-Huawei-of-industrial-espionage.html
If that still holds true then that TNS data is incredibly dire for Corbyn, it's not just TNS though he seems to be hitting historic lows on most leadership polling questions/data.
MIck Lynch's car crash RMT interview with Evan Davies on Newsnight last night was dire, but this is even worse .... https://t.co/4rf22vESwT
But it's hazardous to retrofit explanations to polls, especially when they contradict each other!
I didn't say it wasn't, doesn't mean that there aren't also millions of people that find it a little pathetic that we still fawn over a "royal" family in 2016.
Storage will indeed be a gamechanger because intermittent sources of electrical generation can be 'peak smoothed' , so it doesn't matter alot when they generate as long as in aggregate over a reasonably short timescale they produce enough. But that is an issue. There needs to be an underlying source of energy. I'm far from convinced the UK has enough renewable energy to smooth in the first place. Not unless we do some brave stuff like put a double tidal barrage across the Severn estuary or shove a gazillion tidal flow turbines in the Pentland Firth.
I'd recommend to anyone to read Energy Without the Hot Air by David Mackay.
Last month's LD score looked out of line with local by-elections and other polling. 10% might be a tad high but 8%ish wouldn't be unreasonable.
I don't like Charles - he plays at politics when he's no business to. Glad he finally married Camilla - I do like her.
By way of a comparison India, playing West Indies, have a tail that in theory starts at no. 6 and in practice encompasses nos. 3, 5 and 8-11. Rohit Sharma is apparently playing as a specialist wicket.
EDIT - see here:
http://utilityweek.co.uk/news/rwe-to-close-uk’s-last-remaining-oil-fired-power-plant-in-march-2015/1003932#.V6xvHJMrKd4
Interestingly, I can only find one outside London and Kent - Fawley in Hampshire. Were there any others?
One way to get rid of the deficit
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tax/income-tax/my-14-trillion-tax-demand-from-hmrc/
A very polite pedant might very gently also suggest that you might be uninterested in, or indifferent to - rather than disinterested in - seeing photos of them. Though I fear in that particular battle we pedants might be fighting a losing battle.
I was arguing that a national anthem about God and the Queen is not a sure fire winner with a majority of the population in 2016.
;-)
On abdication, the Queen seems disinclined to do so, so is not being forced into anything other than what she perceives as her duty, although when her health worsens as it surely will one day, alas, perhaps like many other monarchs in recent times she will reconsider. Although get into that habit too often and you get abdications on the grounds of lowering popularity for an individual, which is a slippery slope.
NEW THREAD NEW THREAD
Right now Labour are divided on policy, on principles, on strategy, on personality and on whether the sun rises in the east (OK, so I exaggerate very slightly there). They are led by a geriatric nobody who has been in parliament for 33 years while attaining the sole distinction of having rejected the Labour whip more often than a man who spent six years as a Conservative Prime Minister, and whose intellectual capacity may charitably be characterised as rather limited. They are also being dominated by a small clique within the unions who want to use the Labour party not as a political movement but as a sort of publicity agency for their manifold frustrations.
We have just seen a government with a Prime Minister forced out, a bitter and divisive leadership election, a cabinet reshuffle storing up poison for the future, strong economic headwinds blowing, the collapse of our diplomatic position and some guff about the EU. Any halfway decent opposition would be 15 points ahead. Heck, even Miliband would be ten points ahead.
Labour's decision 'we'll compromise for power, but not for 250 seats under Yvette' is starting to look like the dumbest political mistake since Brutus forgot to kill Mark Antony.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/1044219.html
It was originally oil, flirted with geothermal and solar and is now gas I believe.
The wickedness, I believe, is in raising a "royal" infant (and many of us too) from the start to think that royalty and all the attached paraphernalia, although unearned, is somehow superior. The process relies on the huge plasticity of the young brain. The whole thing is strange. It's like a zoo. And for the rest of us, I think, it tends to give a focus on class structure. Still, there are bigger worries around us.
Just off to attend a sick friend.
The NEC court case doesn't seem to be going very well, with judges contradicting the barrister, who's admitted that he's "trying to have my cake and eat it" by bringing in some background material while asking the court to ignore others. But we'll see what they make of the other side.