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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Whatever the rights and wrongs of “#Traingate” Corbyn needs

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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,643
    kle4 said:

    I can't believe that traingate has made headline national news, on the telly and in the papers.

    It's about a seat. On the train.

    I can only conclude Britain is a safe and secure country, and there's nothing much going on at the moment.

    a) You're right, not much is happening domestically
    b) It involves a celebrity tycoon in a spat with a wildly popular/hated political figure, good for headlines
    c) It's funny
    I agree it's funny. And also somehow reassuring that we worry about such trivia.

    There will be other countries around the world totally baffled right now as to why this is even an issue. Let alone a national headline grabbing one.
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    bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 21,899
    FT columnist is a maybe

    Janan GaneshVerified account
    @JananGanesh
    You can do analysis of Corbyn and his "movement" (I have done it) but the essence of the whole thing is that they are just thick as pigshit.
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,048
    RobD said:

    Its getting like rail forums here!

    The holy trinity -- political betting, railways, and AV (praise be unto it)
    Clearly you belong to the heretical Erantist* strand of PBism. Betting, AV and History is the true trinity, as divined in the Antiquitus branch.

    Both are better than the purity sects eschewing all but betting, or those monster who claim AV is but a late comer to true PBism.


    *Erant is Latin for Train...look it was best I could come up with
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    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    .

    TOPPING said:

    AndyJS said:

    O/T:

    The critics have got this right IMO:

    "Mulholland Drive leads the pack in list of 21st century's top films
    BBC Culture poll of 177 film critics around the world puts David Lynch’s 2001 surrealist masterpiece in top spot"


    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/aug/23/mulholland-drive-david-lynch-21st-century-top-films-bbc-poll

    Four Lions by a country mile. Don't make me post a clip of it. Again.
    Filmed in Sheffield too, I cried watching it, that's how much I laughed

    I've got this plan right? I'm gonna put a bomb on a crow, then fly it into one of them towers filled with Jews and slags.

    Chris Morris at his best, oh and spark plugs are Jewish
    There is a good q&a with Chris Morris about it on YouTube.
    It was filmed less than a mile away from the house I spent the first two years of my life in.
    Which means you must be a regular of Chicken Cottage..?
    Very rarely, though my parents insist on shopping at the Tesco near Wicker arches
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990
    Y0kel said:
    Also hearing of some shock news coming from the Vatican regarding the Pope..... :D
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    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,913

    FT columnist is a maybe

    Janan GaneshVerified account
    @JananGanesh
    You can do analysis of Corbyn and his "movement" (I have done it) but the essence of the whole thing is that they are just thick as pigshit.

    I've heard worse.
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    TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 41,403
    Sorry I tried not to...and on that...nite all.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw-fHLssmsI
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,048

    kle4 said:

    I can't believe that traingate has made headline national news, on the telly and in the papers.

    It's about a seat. On the train.

    I can only conclude Britain is a safe and secure country, and there's nothing much going on at the moment.

    a) You're right, not much is happening domestically
    b) It involves a celebrity tycoon in a spat with a wildly popular/hated political figure, good for headlines
    c) It's funny
    I agree it's funny. And also somehow reassuring that we worry about such trivia.

    There will be other countries around the world totally baffled right now as to why this is even an issue. Let alone a national headline grabbing one.
    After discovering irrefutable proof some of them refer to the same sort of thing as Cucumber Time, I think they might understand it.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silly_season#Other_names

    FT columnist is a maybe

    Janan GaneshVerified account
    @JananGanesh
    You can do analysis of Corbyn and his "movement" (I have done it) but the essence of the whole thing is that they are just thick as pigshit.

    That's just the sort of thing people say when they are fighting their own instinct to join the mass movement. You'll win him over yet.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990
    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    Its getting like rail forums here!

    The holy trinity -- political betting, railways, and AV (praise be unto it)
    Clearly you belong to the heretical Erantist* strand of PBism. Betting, AV and History is the true trinity, as divined in the Antiquitus branch.

    Both are better than the purity sects eschewing all but betting, or those monster who claim AV is but a late comer to true PBism.


    *Erant is Latin for Train...look it was best I could come up with
    How about we mend the schism and decide on a holy pentarchy? Just need one other topic....
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,048
    RobD said:

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    Its getting like rail forums here!

    The holy trinity -- political betting, railways, and AV (praise be unto it)
    Clearly you belong to the heretical Erantist* strand of PBism. Betting, AV and History is the true trinity, as divined in the Antiquitus branch.

    Both are better than the purity sects eschewing all but betting, or those monster who claim AV is but a late comer to true PBism.


    *Erant is Latin for Train...look it was best I could come up with
    How about we mend the schism and decide on a holy pentarchy? Just need one other topic....
    Cricket
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    Y0kelY0kel Posts: 2,307
    RobD said:

    Y0kel said:
    Also hearing of some shock news coming from the Vatican regarding the Pope..... :D
    Bear in mind that if this kind of gap polling keeps appearing then short of a Clinton calamity the energy will just drain from Trumps campaign and there will be no competitiveness, never mind winning.
  • Options
    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    Its getting like rail forums here!

    The holy trinity -- political betting, railways, and AV (praise be unto it)
    Clearly you belong to the heretical Erantist* strand of PBism. Betting, AV and History is the true trinity, as divined in the Antiquitus branch.

    Both are better than the purity sects eschewing all but betting, or those monster who claim AV is but a late comer to true PBism.


    *Erant is Latin for Train...look it was best I could come up with
    How about we mend the schism and decide on a holy pentarchy? Just need one other topic....
    Cricket
    Next week PB will be edited from Trent Bridge and Headingley
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990
    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    Its getting like rail forums here!

    The holy trinity -- political betting, railways, and AV (praise be unto it)
    Clearly you belong to the heretical Erantist* strand of PBism. Betting, AV and History is the true trinity, as divined in the Antiquitus branch.

    Both are better than the purity sects eschewing all but betting, or those monster who claim AV is but a late comer to true PBism.


    *Erant is Latin for Train...look it was best I could come up with
    How about we mend the schism and decide on a holy pentarchy? Just need one other topic....
    Cricket
    Bingo!
  • Options
    GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 20,920
    Y0kel said:
    We don't think yet another polling calamity could be on the way?
  • Options
    bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 21,899

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    Its getting like rail forums here!

    The holy trinity -- political betting, railways, and AV (praise be unto it)
    Clearly you belong to the heretical Erantist* strand of PBism. Betting, AV and History is the true trinity, as divined in the Antiquitus branch.

    Both are better than the purity sects eschewing all but betting, or those monster who claim AV is but a late comer to true PBism.


    *Erant is Latin for Train...look it was best I could come up with
    How about we mend the schism and decide on a holy pentarchy? Just need one other topic....
    Cricket
    Next week PB will be edited from Trent Bridge and Headingley
    Excellent is Mike away again?
  • Options

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    Its getting like rail forums here!

    The holy trinity -- political betting, railways, and AV (praise be unto it)
    Clearly you belong to the heretical Erantist* strand of PBism. Betting, AV and History is the true trinity, as divined in the Antiquitus branch.

    Both are better than the purity sects eschewing all but betting, or those monster who claim AV is but a late comer to true PBism.


    *Erant is Latin for Train...look it was best I could come up with
    How about we mend the schism and decide on a holy pentarchy? Just need one other topic....
    Cricket
    Next week PB will be edited from Trent Bridge and Headingley
    Excellent is Mike away again?
    Yup, starting tomorrow.
  • Options
    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    Its getting like rail forums here!

    The holy trinity -- political betting, railways, and AV (praise be unto it)
    Clearly you belong to the heretical Erantist* strand of PBism. Betting, AV and History is the true trinity, as divined in the Antiquitus branch.

    Both are better than the purity sects eschewing all but betting, or those monster who claim AV is but a late comer to true PBism.


    *Erant is Latin for Train...look it was best I could come up with
    How about we mend the schism and decide on a holy pentarchy? Just need one other topic....
    Cricket
    Next week PB will be edited from Trent Bridge and Headingley
    Excellent is Mike away again?
    Yup, starting tomorrow.
    Russia invades Ukraine in 3..2..1.
  • Options
    One of my heroes has tweeted this, *epic sad face*

    https://twitter.com/mrmarkmillar/status/768190467859152898
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    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503
    Germany's silly season. Oh those Krauts, always with the wacky humour.

    http://www.welt.de/satire/article157797261/Hamster-in-Deutschland-komplett-ausverkauft.html
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    bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 21,899

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    Its getting like rail forums here!

    The holy trinity -- political betting, railways, and AV (praise be unto it)
    Clearly you belong to the heretical Erantist* strand of PBism. Betting, AV and History is the true trinity, as divined in the Antiquitus branch.

    Both are better than the purity sects eschewing all but betting, or those monster who claim AV is but a late comer to true PBism.


    *Erant is Latin for Train...look it was best I could come up with
    How about we mend the schism and decide on a holy pentarchy? Just need one other topic....
    Cricket
    Next week PB will be edited from Trent Bridge and Headingley
    Excellent is Mike away again?
    Yup, starting tomorrow.
    Quiet, no news days, at the cricket a certainty then
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,048
    John_M said:

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    Its getting like rail forums here!

    The holy trinity -- political betting, railways, and AV (praise be unto it)
    Clearly you belong to the heretical Erantist* strand of PBism. Betting, AV and History is the true trinity, as divined in the Antiquitus branch.

    Both are better than the purity sects eschewing all but betting, or those monster who claim AV is but a late comer to true PBism.


    *Erant is Latin for Train...look it was best I could come up with
    How about we mend the schism and decide on a holy pentarchy? Just need one other topic....
    Cricket
    Next week PB will be edited from Trent Bridge and Headingley
    Excellent is Mike away again?
    Yup, starting tomorrow.
    Russia invades Ukraine in 3..2..1.
    They already have...
  • Options
    Looks like Owen Smith has made a tit of himself

    https://twitter.com/tompeck/status/768200189240807425
  • Options

    Looks like Owen Smith has made a tit of himself

    https://twitter.com/tompeck/status/768200189240807425

    Remind...this bloke...he was a PR professional right?
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    oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,831

    Looks like Owen Smith has made a tit of himself

    https://twitter.com/tompeck/status/768200189240807425

    oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...

    You are allowed to think these things - but never utter them in any place that might have recording equipment in it.

    Smith has a lot to learn about thinking before speaking.
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,048

    Looks like Owen Smith has made a tit of himself

    htps://twitter.com/tompeck/status/768200189240807425

    Remind...this bloke...he was a PR professional right?
    He's clearly under a lot of stress - trying to get 2 million people who voted Tory 1 year ago to go Labour is a task that wears you down.
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    AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 2,869
    RobD said:

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    Its getting like rail forums here!

    The holy trinity -- political betting, railways, and AV (praise be unto it)
    Clearly you belong to the heretical Erantist* strand of PBism. Betting, AV and History is the true trinity, as divined in the Antiquitus branch.

    Both are better than the purity sects eschewing all but betting, or those monster who claim AV is but a late comer to true PBism.


    *Erant is Latin for Train...look it was best I could come up with
    How about we mend the schism and decide on a holy pentarchy? Just need one other topic....
    Shoes.
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    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,956
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/23/wages-fall-poverty-trade-unions

    Sounds like OJ has decided Corbyn is going to win.

    Collective bargaining?! Do me a flavour.
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    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,146

    Looks like Owen Smith has made a tit of himself

    Doctored recording. It's clearly a poor impersonator of Neil Kinnock caught rehearsing his act.
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    AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 2,869

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    Its getting like rail forums here!

    The holy trinity -- political betting, railways, and AV (praise be unto it)
    Clearly you belong to the heretical Erantist* strand of PBism. Betting, AV and History is the true trinity, as divined in the Antiquitus branch.

    Both are better than the purity sects eschewing all but betting, or those monster who claim AV is but a late comer to true PBism.


    *Erant is Latin for Train...look it was best I could come up with
    How about we mend the schism and decide on a holy pentarchy? Just need one other topic....
    Cricket
    Next week PB will be edited from Trent Bridge and Headingley
    Excellent is Mike away again?
    Yup, starting tomorrow.
    Enjoy your holiday, Mike.
  • Options
    alex.alex. Posts: 4,658

    Looks like Owen Smith has made a tit of himself

    https://twitter.com/tompeck/status/768200189240807425

    oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...

    You are allowed to think these things - but never utter them in any place that might have recording equipment in it.

    Smith has a lot to learn about thinking before speaking.
    Sometimes you might as well call a spade a spade.
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,913

    Looks like Owen Smith has made a tit of himself

    https://twitter.com/tompeck/status/768200189240807425

    oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...

    You are allowed to think these things - but never utter them in any place that might have recording equipment in it.

    Smith has a lot to learn about thinking before speaking.
    Curious no-one is arguing he's wrong. Just he shouldn't have said it.
  • Options
    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,956
    edited August 2016
    So, day 1 of the Labour leadership campaign - and both candidates have damaged themselves even more than before entirely through their own mistakes.

    Makes you proud to be a Tory....
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    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503
    AnneJGP said:

    RobD said:

    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    Its getting like rail forums here!

    The holy trinity -- political betting, railways, and AV (praise be unto it)
    Clearly you belong to the heretical Erantist* strand of PBism. Betting, AV and History is the true trinity, as divined in the Antiquitus branch.

    Both are better than the purity sects eschewing all but betting, or those monster who claim AV is but a late comer to true PBism.


    *Erant is Latin for Train...look it was best I could come up with
    How about we mend the schism and decide on a holy pentarchy? Just need one other topic....
    Shoes.
    Sorry Anne, far too plebeian for the colossal intellects of political betting. It has to be Wittgenstein, or possibly Lego.
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    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,956
    edited August 2016
    I'm increasingly disappointed by Newsnight. The talking heads chat poor comparisons of what is discussed here on a daily basis...
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    oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,831
    alex. said:

    Looks like Owen Smith has made a tit of himself

    https://twitter.com/tompeck/status/768200189240807425

    oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...

    You are allowed to think these things - but never utter them in any place that might have recording equipment in it.

    Smith has a lot to learn about thinking before speaking.
    Sometimes you might as well call a spade a spade.
    The problem is that Smith is trying to persuade people to back him. That requires being seen to be better.

    Talking like this only makes him look unpleasant - some may say desperate...
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990
    Mortimer said:

    I'm increasingly disappointed by Newsnight. The talking heads are a poor imitation of what is discussed here on a daily basis...

    There'd be weekly specials on AV!
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    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,292
    edited August 2016
    Mortimer said:

    I'm increasingly disappointed by Newsnight. The talking heads chat poor comparisons of what is discussed here on a daily basis...

    Guardian Reject TV really is piss poor, no wonder they have bugger all audience these days.
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    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,292
    edited August 2016
    LOL....the Maomentum women even trying to spin the video when shown to her in person. I guess she managed to avoid claiming it was a Zionist conspiracy.
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    RobD said:

    Quite apart from all the blatant lying and deceit involved in this story, one would have thought that there would have been someone around in the Labour leader's team to have the not too demanding nous to have arranged a reserved seat for him and indeed for his entourage.
    It's the sort of very basic thing, very basic people such as you and I undertake every time we travel long distances on a train. Didn't this occur to anyone?

    My own hunch is that they bought open return tickets, and missed the train they had reservations for.
    Advance tickets you mean.
    No open returns I mean.
    Open returns come with reservations? I thought you were kicked off trains if you don't travel on the train you have reservations for?
    An open return lets you travel back within one calendar month of your original departure, you can make reservations at the time of the original booking, or by 6pm on the day of your return.

    Even if you miss your reservation, you're still allowed to travel back on a later (or earlier) train, within one calendar month of your original departure.
    Bloody hell! No need to OUT-SAD me, man!

    I only ever reserved seats when buying advance tickets online. Last year a couple of times I was able to travel from Euston to Coventry for only £9 one-way on Virgin.
    I'm someone who buys an open (first class) return at least once a month for work, because I don't know how long I'll be in London for.
    Well la-di-bloody-da :p
    Worse part of my week is when I have to catch the Manchester to Dore train on the Northern Service or the East Midlands Trains service, they have no first class section. THE HORROR, THE HORROR.

    Thank Allah for Trans Pennine Express.

    If you asked me, if I had to choose between going on a train without a first class section or go to Guantanamo Bay, I'd probably choose the latter
    First Class = Snob Class
    Business = Spiv Class (planes only)
    Economy/Standard = Steerage

    I have been to Chester, Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport, Sheffield, Worksop and Lincoln, so my next few priorities will be to do Chester to Stockport, Manchester/Stockport to Sheffield, Sheffield to Lincoln via Worksop.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990
    edited August 2016

    RobD said:

    Quite apart from all the blatant lying and deceit involved in this story, one would have thought that there would have been someone around in the Labour leader's team to have the not too demanding nous to have arranged a reserved seat for him and indeed for his entourage.
    It's the sort of very basic thing, very basic people such as you and I undertake every time we travel long distances on a train. Didn't this occur to anyone?

    My own hunch is that they bought open return tickets, and missed the train they had reservations for.
    Advance tickets you mean.
    No open returns I mean.
    Open returns come with reservations? I thought you were kicked off trains if you don't travel on the train you have reservations for?
    An open return lets you travel back within one calendar month of your original departure, you can make reservations at the time of the original booking, or by 6pm on the day of your return.

    Even if you miss your reservation, you're still allowed to travel back on a later (or earlier) train, within one calendar month of your original departure.
    Bloody hell! No need to OUT-SAD me, man!

    I only ever reserved seats when buying advance tickets online. Last year a couple of times I was able to travel from Euston to Coventry for only £9 one-way on Virgin.
    I'm someone who buys an open (first class) return at least once a month for work, because I don't know how long I'll be in London for.
    Well la-di-bloody-da :p
    Worse part of my week is when I have to catch the Manchester to Dore train on the Northern Service or the East Midlands Trains service, they have no first class section. THE HORROR, THE HORROR.

    Thank Allah for Trans Pennine Express.

    If you asked me, if I had to choose between going on a train without a first class section or go to Guantanamo Bay, I'd probably choose the latter
    First Class = Snob Class
    Business = Spiv Class (planes only)
    Economy/Standard = Steerage

    I have been to Chester, Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport, Sheffield, Worksop and Lincoln, so my next few priorities will be to do Chester to Stockport, Manchester/Stockport to Sheffield, Sheffield to Lincoln via Worksop.
    Suite class = ?
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,146

    LOL....the Maomentum women even trying to spin the video when shown to her in person. I guess she managed to avoid claiming it was a Zionist conspiracy.

    Perhaps Ken Livingstone would have something valuable to say on the subject of trains...
  • Options
    Interestingly he also said that it BBC were desperate to do a piece on how much of a down to earth Yorkshire-man he was....
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    RobD said:

    Quite apart from all the blatant lying and deceit involved in this story, one would have thought that there would have been someone around in the Labour leader's team to have the not too demanding nous to have arranged a reserved seat for him and indeed for his entourage.
    It's the sort of very basic thing, very basic people such as you and I undertake every time we travel long distances on a train. Didn't this occur to anyone?

    My own hunch is that they bought open return tickets, and missed the train they had reservations for.
    Advance tickets you mean.
    No open returns I mean.
    Open returns come with reservations? I thought you were kicked off trains if you don't travel on the train you have reservations for?
    An open return lets you travel back within one calendar month of your original departure, you can make reservations at the time of the original booking, or by 6pm on the day of your return.

    Even if you miss your reservation, you're still allowed to travel back on a later (or earlier) train, within one calendar month of your original departure.
    Bloody hell! No need to OUT-SAD me, man!

    I only ever reserved seats when buying advance tickets online. Last year a couple of times I was able to travel from Euston to Coventry for only £9 one-way on Virgin.
    I'm someone who buys an open (first class) return at least once a month for work, because I don't know how long I'll be in London for.
    Well la-di-bloody-da :p
    Worse part of my week is when I have to catch the Manchester to Dore train on the Northern Service or the East Midlands Trains service, they have no first class section. THE HORROR, THE HORROR.

    Thank Allah for Trans Pennine Express.

    If you asked me, if I had to choose between going on a train without a first class section or go to Guantanamo Bay, I'd probably choose the latter
    First Class = Snob Class
    Business = Spiv Class (planes only)
    Economy/Standard = Steerage

    I have been to Chester, Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport, Sheffield, Worksop and Lincoln, so my next few priorities will be to do Chester to Stockport, Manchester/Stockport to Sheffield, Sheffield to Lincoln via Worksop.
    Let me know when you're planning to visit Manchester/Sheffield and we can meet up and I'll show you the sights
  • Options
    edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,151
    edited August 2016
    Sandpit said:

    alex. said:

    alex. said:

    I've often been on trains where on the face of it there is no seat with people standing and sitting on floors. It is not unusual to discover that there are in fact half empty (non-first class) carriages at the extremity of the train but people can't be bothered to go looking for them, and ultimately are prepared to put up with the incovenience for an hour. That's hardly the fault of the train operator.

    It would be good if they had indicators like in modern carparks to tell you how many empty seats there are in each carriage. It would also provide very useful data for train operators.
    Not quite sure how they'd do that though. It's a bit easier when you have cars going through barriers to give a foolproof method of determining the numbers in the carpark. And i've never seen one that tells you precisely where the spaces are, as opposed to the contention that they must exist.
    My local mall car park has a light and sensor above each space, light is green when the space is empty and red when it's occupied. Display at the end of each lane indicate how many free spaces are in that lane. Works really well but probably costs a few quid.
    For first-class on my commute you pay for your first-class ticket by putting your starting point and destination into your phone, then swipe the phone on a sensor above the seat, which turns on a little light next to the sensor. That way the ticket inspector - who for the ultimate genteel experience is disguised as a lady selling snacks and drinks - just has to walk through and see if there are any people in seats without the light on.

    They don't use this to show people which seats are available, but presumably it wouldn't be very hard.
  • Options
    alex.alex. Posts: 4,658
    The Corbyn defence is getting more far-fetched.

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/aug/23/jeremy-corbyn-virgin-trains-disputes-claim-over-lack-of-seats

    The latest spin is that he sat on the floor because he wanted to sit with his wife. Who he then proceeded to ignore by tucking in to a copy of Private Eye and the Guardian...
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    MontyHallMontyHall Posts: 226
    Mortimer said:

    I'm increasingly disappointed by Newsnight. The talking heads chat poor comparisons of what is discussed here on a daily basis...

    And they keep using 'ram packed' without realising that it should be either 'rammed' or 'jam packed'

    Very Ron Burgundy
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    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,146
    alex. said:

    The Corbyn defence is getting more far-fetched.

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/aug/23/jeremy-corbyn-virgin-trains-disputes-claim-over-lack-of-seats

    The latest spin is that he sat on the floor because he wanted to sit with his wife. Who he then proceeded to ignore by tucking in to a copy of Private Eye and the Guardian...

    So the spin is that he made his wife sit on the floor when there were plenty of seats available?
  • Options
    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503

    alex. said:

    The Corbyn defence is getting more far-fetched.

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/aug/23/jeremy-corbyn-virgin-trains-disputes-claim-over-lack-of-seats

    The latest spin is that he sat on the floor because he wanted to sit with his wife. Who he then proceeded to ignore by tucking in to a copy of Private Eye and the Guardian...

    So the spin is that he made his wife sit on the floor when there were plenty of seats available?
    A man on £130k p.a. can afford to put his hand in his pocket and pay for an upgrade without troubling the public purse. If he was actually bothered, that is.
  • Options
    alex. said:

    The Corbyn defence is getting more far-fetched.

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/aug/23/jeremy-corbyn-virgin-trains-disputes-claim-over-lack-of-seats

    The latest spin is that he sat on the floor because he wanted to sit with his wife. Who he then proceeded to ignore by tucking in to a copy of Private Eye and the Guardian...

    Fleet of JCB diggers working overtime.
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    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,146
    John_M said:

    alex. said:

    The Corbyn defence is getting more far-fetched.

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/aug/23/jeremy-corbyn-virgin-trains-disputes-claim-over-lack-of-seats

    The latest spin is that he sat on the floor because he wanted to sit with his wife. Who he then proceeded to ignore by tucking in to a copy of Private Eye and the Guardian...

    So the spin is that he made his wife sit on the floor when there were plenty of seats available?
    A man on £130k p.a. can afford to put his hand in his pocket and pay for an upgrade without troubling the public purse. If he was actually bothered, that is.
    He covered that in the original soundbite. He was showing solidarity with those who can't afford the upgrade.
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    alex.alex. Posts: 4,658
    John_M said:

    alex. said:

    The Corbyn defence is getting more far-fetched.

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/aug/23/jeremy-corbyn-virgin-trains-disputes-claim-over-lack-of-seats

    The latest spin is that he sat on the floor because he wanted to sit with his wife. Who he then proceeded to ignore by tucking in to a copy of Private Eye and the Guardian...

    So the spin is that he made his wife sit on the floor when there were plenty of seats available?
    A man on £130k p.a. can afford to put his hand in his pocket and pay for an upgrade without troubling the public purse. If he was actually bothered, that is.
    Apparently he was even offered a free upgrade and he refused! Evil Private sector bastards. The spin that he didn't want to accept an offer that smacked of 'special treatment' doesn't really hold much water when we hear that another family was offered the upgrade instead!
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990

    John_M said:

    alex. said:

    The Corbyn defence is getting more far-fetched.

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/aug/23/jeremy-corbyn-virgin-trains-disputes-claim-over-lack-of-seats

    The latest spin is that he sat on the floor because he wanted to sit with his wife. Who he then proceeded to ignore by tucking in to a copy of Private Eye and the Guardian...

    So the spin is that he made his wife sit on the floor when there were plenty of seats available?
    A man on £130k p.a. can afford to put his hand in his pocket and pay for an upgrade without troubling the public purse. If he was actually bothered, that is.
    He covered that in the original soundbite. He was showing solidarity with those who can't afford the upgrade.
    Showing solidarity by taking up space in the vestibule others could have used? The right thing to do would have been to pay for it to get out of the way.
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,048
    RobD said:

    John_M said:

    alex. said:

    The Corbyn defence is getting more far-fetched.

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/aug/23/jeremy-corbyn-virgin-trains-disputes-claim-over-lack-of-seats

    The latest spin is that he sat on the floor because he wanted to sit with his wife. Who he then proceeded to ignore by tucking in to a copy of Private Eye and the Guardian...

    So the spin is that he made his wife sit on the floor when there were plenty of seats available?
    A man on £130k p.a. can afford to put his hand in his pocket and pay for an upgrade without troubling the public purse. If he was actually bothered, that is.
    He covered that in the original soundbite. He was showing solidarity with those who can't afford the upgrade.
    Showing solidarity by taking up space in the vestibule others could have used? The right thing to do would have been to pay for it to get out of the way.
    Well, that wouldn't get hits on youtube, would it?
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    oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,831
    John_M said:

    alex. said:

    The Corbyn defence is getting more far-fetched.

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/aug/23/jeremy-corbyn-virgin-trains-disputes-claim-over-lack-of-seats

    The latest spin is that he sat on the floor because he wanted to sit with his wife. Who he then proceeded to ignore by tucking in to a copy of Private Eye and the Guardian...

    So the spin is that he made his wife sit on the floor when there were plenty of seats available?
    A man on £130k p.a. can afford to put his hand in his pocket and pay for an upgrade without troubling the public purse. If he was actually bothered, that is.
    His point was unclear - it wasn't clear whether he didn't want to pay for it (because he is paid using public money) or he didn't want to pay (and thus reclaim the money on expenses)

    Given that he was on his way to do Labour Party business IIRC, then surely the Labour Party would be picking up the tab...
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,048

    John_M said:

    alex. said:

    The Corbyn defence is getting more far-fetched.

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/aug/23/jeremy-corbyn-virgin-trains-disputes-claim-over-lack-of-seats

    The latest spin is that he sat on the floor because he wanted to sit with his wife. Who he then proceeded to ignore by tucking in to a copy of Private Eye and the Guardian...

    So the spin is that he made his wife sit on the floor when there were plenty of seats available?
    A man on £130k p.a. can afford to put his hand in his pocket and pay for an upgrade without troubling the public purse. If he was actually bothered, that is.
    His point was unclear - it wasn't clear whether he didn't want to pay for it (because he is paid using public money) or he didn't want to pay (and thus reclaim the money on expenses)

    Given that he was on his way to do Labour Party business IIRC, then surely the Labour Party would be picking up the tab...
    There was an amusing exchange between two MPs on twitter with one showering Jeremy with praise for not using expenses to pay for an upgrade, solidarity and all that, and the other replying that he was on Labour party business, so if he'd claimed it on expenses he's break the law, so grow up.
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    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503
    Smith calls Corbyn a lunatic. Corbyn behaves like a lunatic. I try and be reasonable and non-partisan, but enough is enough. Labour think the man who won them three elections is a liability and an epithet.

    They are beyond redemption. Incoherent mediocrities with nothing to offer other than harking back to their 70-year old accomplishments. Anti-semites, misogynists and crazies. What a sad end for a great political movement.
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    MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034

    John_M said:

    alex. said:

    The Corbyn defence is getting more far-fetched.

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/aug/23/jeremy-corbyn-virgin-trains-disputes-claim-over-lack-of-seats

    The latest spin is that he sat on the floor because he wanted to sit with his wife. Who he then proceeded to ignore by tucking in to a copy of Private Eye and the Guardian...

    So the spin is that he made his wife sit on the floor when there were plenty of seats available?
    A man on £130k p.a. can afford to put his hand in his pocket and pay for an upgrade without troubling the public purse. If he was actually bothered, that is.
    His point was unclear - it wasn't clear whether he didn't want to pay for it (because he is paid using public money) or he didn't want to pay (and thus reclaim the money on expenses)

    Given that he was on his way to do Labour Party business IIRC, then surely the Labour Party would be picking up the tab...
    Isn't the point that this is political tokenism which will resonate with some, be risible and sneerworthy to others, and be meh to the majority? From a distance, it does seem a storm in a teacup.
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,048
    John_M said:

    Smith calls Corbyn a lunatic. Corbyn behaves like a lunatic. I try and be reasonable and non-partisan, but enough is enough. Labour think the man who won them three elections is a liability and an epithet.

    They are beyond redemption. Incoherent mediocrities with nothing to offer other than harking back to their 70-year old accomplishments. Anti-semites, misogynists and crazies. What a sad end for a great political movement.

    It's not the end. They'll take millions of votes even like this, which provides a platform for recovery even if it will take awhile.

    Night all.
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    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    RobD said:

    Quite apart from all the blatant lying and deceit involved in this story, one would have thought that there would have been someone around in the Labour leader's team to have the not too demanding nous to have arranged a reserved seat for him and indeed for his entourage.
    It's the sort of very basic thing, very basic people such as you and I undertake every time we travel long distances on a train. Didn't this occur to anyone?

    My own hunch is that they bought open return tickets, and missed the train they had reservations for.
    Advance tickets you mean.
    No open returns I mean.
    Open returns come with reservations? I thought you were kicked off trains if you don't travel on the train you have reservations for?
    An open return lets you travel back within one calendar month of your original departure, you can make reservations at the time of the original booking, or by 6pm on the day of your return.

    Even if you miss your reservation, you're still allowed to travel back on a later (or earlier) train, within one calendar month of your original departure.
    Bloody hell! No need to OUT-SAD me, man!

    I only ever reserved seats when buying advance tickets online. Last year a couple of times I was able to travel from Euston to Coventry for only £9 one-way on Virgin.
    I'm someone who buys an open (first class) return at least once a month for work, because I don't know how long I'll be in London for.
    Well la-di-bloody-da :p
    Worse part of my week is when I have to catch the Manchester to Dore train on the Northern Service or the East Midlands Trains service, they have no first class section. THE HORROR, THE HORROR.

    Thank Allah for Trans Pennine Express.

    If you asked me, if I had to choose between going on a train without a first class section or go to Guantanamo Bay, I'd probably choose the latter
    First Class = Snob Class
    Business = Spiv Class (planes only)
    Economy/Standard = Steerage

    I have been to Chester, Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport, Sheffield, Worksop and Lincoln, so my next few priorities will be to do Chester to Stockport, Manchester/Stockport to Sheffield, Sheffield to Lincoln via Worksop.
    Skip Kings Cross to Newcastle though. You cannot get a seat.
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    Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091
    Anywho, I'm a Trident supporter, who in last year's leadership contest didn't vote for Corbyn (or even give him second preference come to that).

    I just cast my vote for Corbyn this time.
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    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503

    RobD said:

    Quite apart from all the blatant lying and deceit involved in this story, one would have thought that there would have been someone around in the Labour leader's team to have the not too demanding nous to have arranged a reserved seat for him and indeed for his entourage.
    It's the sort of very basic thing, very basic people such as you and I undertake every time we travel long distances on a train. Didn't this occur to anyone?

    My own hunch is that they bought open return tickets, and missed the train they had reservations for.
    Advance tickets you mean.
    No open returns I mean.
    Open returns come with reservations? I thought you were kicked off trains if you don't travel on the train you have reservations for?
    An open return lets you travel back within one calendar month of your original departure, you can make reservations at the time of the original booking, or by 6pm on the day of your return.

    Even if you miss your reservation, you're still allowed to travel back on a later (or earlier) train, within one calendar month of your original departure.
    Bloody hell! No need to OUT-SAD me, man!

    I'm someone who buys an open (first class) return at least once a month for work, because I don't know how long I'll be in London for.
    Well la-di-bloody-da :p
    Worse part of my week is when I have to catch the Manchester to Dore train on the Northern Service or the East Midlands Trains service, they have no first class section. THE HORROR, THE HORROR.

    Thank Allah for Trans Pennine Express.

    If you asked me, if I had to choose between going on a train without a first class section or go to Guantanamo Bay, I'd probably choose the latter
    First Class = Snob Class
    Business = Spiv Class (planes only)
    Economy/Standard = Steerage

    I have been to Chester, Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport, Sheffield, Worksop and Lincoln, so my next few priorities will be to do Chester to Stockport, Manchester/Stockport to Sheffield, Sheffield to Lincoln via Worksop.
    Skip Kings Cross to Newcastle though. You cannot get a seat.
    Or can you? Dun dun dun. Stay tuned for next week's thrilling installment.
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    RobD said:

    Quite apart from all the blatant lying and deceit involved in this story, one would have thought that there would have been someone around in the Labour leader's team to have the not too dy basic people such as you and I undertake every time we travel long distances on a train. Didn't this occur to anyone?

    My own hunch is that they bought open return tickets, and missed the train they had reservations for.
    Advance tickets you mean.
    No open returns I mean.
    Open returns come with reservations? I thought you were kicked off trains if you don't travel on the train you have reservations for?
    An open return lets you travel back within one calendar month of your original departure, you can make reservations at the time of the original booking, or by 6pm on the day of your return.

    Even if you miss your reservation, you're still allowed to travel back on a later (or earlier) train, within one calendar month of your original departure.
    Bloody hell! No need to OUT-SAD me, man!

    I only ever reserved seats when buying advance tickets online. Last year a couple of times I was able to travel from Euston to Coventry for only £9 one-way on Virgin.
    I'm someone who buys an open (first class) return at least once a month for work, because I don't know how long I'll be in London for.
    Well la-di-bloody-da :p
    Worse part of my week is when I have to catch the Manchester to Dore train on the Northern Service or the East Midlands Trains service, they have no first class section. THE HORROR, THE HORROR.

    Thank Allah for Trans Pennine Express.

    If you asked me, if I had to choose between going on a train without a first class section or go to Guantanamo Bay, I'd probably choose the latter
    First Class = Snob Class
    Business = Spiv Class (planes only)
    Economy/Standard = Steerage

    I have been to Chester, Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport, Sheffield, Worksop and Lincoln, so my next few priorities will be to do Chester to Stockport, Manchester/Stockport to Sheffield, Sheffield to Lincoln via Worksop.
    Skip Kings Cross to Newcastle though. You cannot get a seat.
    Too late - I did King's Cross to Leeds in 2010, and Doncaster to Leuchars in 2012 :)
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,048
    Danny565 said:

    Anywho, I'm a Trident supporter, who in last year's leadership contest didn't vote for Corbyn (or even give him second preference come to that).

    I just cast my vote for Corbyn this time.

    And if you will others will too, and Smith needs all of those who voted not Corbyn last time and more.
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    oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,831
    Danny565 said:

    Anywho, I'm a Trident supporter, who in last year's leadership contest didn't vote for Corbyn (or even give him second preference come to that).

    I just cast my vote for Corbyn this time.

    Is this because you have been persuaded by the Corbyn leadership style and policies or because Smith is too bad to vote for?
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    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,144

    Danny565 said:

    Anywho, I'm a Trident supporter, who in last year's leadership contest didn't vote for Corbyn (or even give him second preference come to that).

    I just cast my vote for Corbyn this time.

    Is this because you have been persuaded by the Corbyn leadership style and policies or because Smith is too bad to vote for?
    Or because you've seen the light and become a Tory mischief maker?
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    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,913
    Danny565 said:

    Anywho, I'm a Trident supporter, who in last year's leadership contest didn't vote for Corbyn (or even give him second preference come to that).

    I just cast my vote for Corbyn this time.

    Sad
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    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,144
    I may have got the wrong end of this Jeremy-without-a-seat thingy, but does it mean he has been deselected from Islington then?
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    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    edited August 2016
    On the joys of travel by train:

    I took a train laughably called "the Acropolis Express" from Venice to Athens in 1983 while interrailing.

    We were alright until we got to the Yugoslavian border, where we had to change carriage as our one was going to Bulgaria. The Greek carriages were ram packed so we had to stand in the corridor. The train became filled with Yugoslav conscripts on leave for the weekend, and clearly had spent their soap money on beer. We had misread the timetable and realised at midnight that the train took 36 hours rather than 12 to reach its destination. We had no food and no Yugoslav money, so stood in the corridor with heads out the window smoking and feeling a light spray of mist from the toilets up the train. The Guard kicked anyone awake who lay down in the corridor and tried to sleep. We finally got seats at Thessalonika after 24 hours of standing.

    It was all much more enjoyable knowing that we were travelling on a nationalised railway in a Communist country, and despite it all managed to pull some Dutch students. Happy days!
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    Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091

    Danny565 said:

    Anywho, I'm a Trident supporter, who in last year's leadership contest didn't vote for Corbyn (or even give him second preference come to that).

    I just cast my vote for Corbyn this time.

    Is this because you have been persuaded by the Corbyn leadership style and policies or because Smith is too bad to vote for?
    A few reasons...

    1. Although I generally haven't disagreed with anything Smith has said in the contest, I'm not sure I trust that he (or, probably more to the point, the MPs who'll be surrounding him) will stick to everything he's said. I'm happy to compromise on quite a few issues, and on some issues I actively agree with the Labour 'moderates' much more than I do with Corbyn (e.g. Trident, Israel) but things like welfare are a red line for me (i.e. no abstaining on welfare cuts ever again).

    2. I genuinely now think that the Labour 'establishment' don't actually have a clue how to appeal to the public any more than Corbyn does. Corbyn ain't going to win the election, but I do genuinely think there's more chance that he would limit the damage than a 'moderate' MP would - as a comparison between Labour's unspectacular-but-OK results in the May local elections, compared to the complete disaster of the Remain campaign, shows.

    3. A smaller point, but the MPs have generally acted appallingly in the past few months, and a Smith victory would essentially be rewarding them for bad behaviour (and, more to the point, would encourage them to keep throwing tantrums and destabilising the party whenever something they don't like happens, since they'd remember they got what they wanted the last time they tried it).
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    Ally_BAlly_B Posts: 185
    As someone who actually held the record for travelling the most miles in a year on BR in the early 80s I have little sympathy for JC. "Everyone" knows you check the seat reservation labels to see if a seat will be occupied for all or part of your proposed journey and then you sit in it until asked to move!

    I once had to sit on the corridor floor of an overnight sleeper train between Birmingham and Carlisle when all the seating was taken but did I moan about it? Well actually I did because when I woke up to see where I was I realised the train was passing Morecambe Bay when I only had a ticket to Preston! I was allowed to return on the first train south before you ask but I expect on today's railways that courtesy might not apply.
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    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,913
    Danny565 said:

    Danny565 said:

    Anywho, I'm a Trident supporter, who in last year's leadership contest didn't vote for Corbyn (or even give him second preference come to that).

    I just cast my vote for Corbyn this time.

    Is this because you have been persuaded by the Corbyn leadership style and policies or because Smith is too bad to vote for?
    A few reasons...

    1. Although I generally haven't disagreed with anything Smith has said in the contest, I'm not sure I trust that he (or, probably more to the point, the MPs who'll be surrounding him) will stick to everything he's said. I'm happy to compromise on quite a few issues, and on some issues I actively agree with the Labour 'moderates' much more than I do with Corbyn (e.g. Trident, Israel) but things like welfare are a red line for me (i.e. no abstaining on welfare cuts ever again).

    2. I genuinely now think that the Labour 'establishment' don't actually have a clue how to appeal to the public any more than Corbyn does. Corbyn ain't going to win the election, but I do genuinely think there's more chance that he would limit the damage than a 'moderate' MP would - as a comparison between Labour's unspectacular-but-OK results in the May local elections, compared to the complete disaster of the Remain campaign, shows.

    3. A smaller point, but the MPs have generally acted appallingly in the past few months, and a Smith victory would essentially be rewarding them for bad behaviour (and, more to the point, would encourage them to keep throwing tantrums and destabilising the party whenever something they don't like happens, since they'd remember they got what they wanted the last time they tried it).
    Corbyn hasn't a clue how to reach beyond his core. Not only that. He doesn't want to. He only appears popular because he is super serving his cheerleaders.

    He is a dead end for Labour. You have made a mistake.
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    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,144
    PlatoSaid said:

    More than half the people outside the government who met with Hillary Clinton while she was secretary of state gave money — either personally or through companies or groups — to the Clinton Foundation. It's an extraordinary proportion indicating her possible ethics challenges if elected president.

    At least 85 of 154 people from private interests who met or had phone conversations scheduled with Clinton while she led the State Department donated to her family charity or pledged commitments to its international programs, according to a review of State Department calendars released so far to The Associated Press. Combined, the 85 donors contributed as much as $156 million. At least 40 donated more than $100,000 each, and 20 gave more than $1 million.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/08/23/now-hillary-has-a-big-clinton-foundation-problem-too/?postshare=9771471983016396&tid=ss_tw

    I thought the reason she had installed her private servers was to stop this stuff coming out?

    Oh dear.

    Trump is going to make hay with this stuff in the debates.
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    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,144

    Too late - I did King's Cross to Leeds in 2010, and Doncaster to Leuchars in 2012 :)

    Sunil, have you done the Bunk Line between Cholsey and Wallingford in Oxfordshire? I think it may be within 50 miles of London....
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    With the Olympics ending, I wondered where my entertainment might come from....I forgot that Corbyn media management normally results in a f##k up a day.
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,164
    edited August 2016
    Danny565 said:

    Danny565 said:

    Anywho, I'm a Trident supporter, who in last year's leadership contest didn't vote for Corbyn (or even give him second preference come to that).

    I just cast my vote for Corbyn this time.

    Is this because you have been persuaded by the Corbyn leadership style and policies or because Smith is too bad to vote for?
    A few reasons...

    1. Although I generally haven't disagreed with anything Smith has said in the contest, I'm not sure I trust that he (or, probably more to the point, the MPs who'll be surrounding him) will stick to everything he's said. I'm happy to compromise on quite a few issues, and on some issues I actively agree with the Labour 'moderates' much more than I do with Corbyn (e.g. Trident, Israel) but things like welfare are a red line for me (i.e. no abstaining on welfare cuts ever again).

    2. I genuinely now think that the Labour 'establishment' don't actually have a clue how to appeal to the public any more than Corbyn does. Corbyn ain't going to win the election, but I do genuinely think there's more chance that he would limit the damage than a 'moderate' MP would - as a comparison between Labour's unspectacular-but-OK results in the May local elections, compared to the complete disaster of the Remain campaign, shows.

    3. A smaller point, but the MPs have generally acted appallingly in the past few months, and a Smith victory would essentially be rewarding them for bad behaviour (and, more to the point, would encourage them to keep throwing tantrums and destabilising the party whenever something they don't like happens, since they'd remember they got what they wanted the last time they tried it).
    Remain won 48% in June, Labour won 31% in May. You also confirm Labour lack the killer instinct, Tory MPs toppled IDS after 2 years, while it seems Labour MPs are unable to get anywhere near killing off Corbyn
  • Options
    oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,831

    Too late - I did King's Cross to Leeds in 2010, and Doncaster to Leuchars in 2012 :)

    Sunil, have you done the Bunk Line between Cholsey and Wallingford in Oxfordshire? I think it may be within 50 miles of London....
    I used to live right by Cholsey Station. One of the dullest villages ever to have existed.
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    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503
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    NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,369
    Danny565 said:

    Danny565 said:

    Anywho, I'm a Trident supporter, who in last year's leadership contest didn't vote for Corbyn (or even give him second preference come to that).

    I just cast my vote for Corbyn this time.

    Is this because you have been persuaded by the Corbyn leadership style and policies or because Smith is too bad to vote for?
    A few reasons...

    1. Although I generally haven't disagreed with anything Smith has said in the contest, I'm not sure I trust that he (or, probably more to the point, the MPs who'll be surrounding him) will stick to everything he's said. I'm happy to compromise on quite a few issues, and on some issues I actively agree with the Labour 'moderates' much more than I do with Corbyn (e.g. Trident, Israel) but things like welfare are a red line for me (i.e. no abstaining on welfare cuts ever again).

    2. I genuinely now think that the Labour 'establishment' don't actually have a clue how to appeal to the public any more than Corbyn does. Corbyn ain't going to win the election, but I do genuinely think there's more chance that he would limit the damage than a 'moderate' MP would - as a comparison between Labour's unspectacular-but-OK results in the May local elections, compared to the complete disaster of the Remain campaign, shows.

    3. A smaller point, but the MPs have generally acted appallingly in the past few months, and a Smith victory would essentially be rewarding them for bad behaviour (and, more to the point, would encourage them to keep throwing tantrums and destabilising the party whenever something they don't like happens, since they'd remember they got what they wanted the last time they tried it).
    Pretty much agreed on all three points. I don't think the train story will damage him either - like the collar button thing, it's an example of how the media go bonkers over trivia if they think someone is vulnerable.

    But the more fundamental point, implicit in your number 2, is that we really badly need a new social democrat narrative. At present, it's basically "We aren't the Tories or Corbyn". It's not enough. It hasn't been enough since around 2008. And it's a problem not only affecting British social democrats but similarly-inclined people in Germany, France, Italy and in some ways (if you accept the Clintons as American social democrats, which they sort of are) the US.
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    Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091
    HYUFD said:

    Danny565 said:

    Danny565 said:

    Anywho, I'm a Trident supporter, who in last year's leadership contest didn't vote for Corbyn (or even give him second preference come to that).

    I just cast my vote for Corbyn this time.

    Is this because you have been persuaded by the Corbyn leadership style and policies or because Smith is too bad to vote for?
    A few reasons...

    1. Although I generally haven't disagreed with anything Smith has said in the contest, I'm not sure I trust that he (or, probably more to the point, the MPs who'll be surrounding him) will stick to everything he's said. I'm happy to compromise on quite a few issues, and on some issues I actively agree with the Labour 'moderates' much more than I do with Corbyn (e.g. Trident, Israel) but things like welfare are a red line for me (i.e. no abstaining on welfare cuts ever again).

    2. I genuinely now think that the Labour 'establishment' don't actually have a clue how to appeal to the public any more than Corbyn does. Corbyn ain't going to win the election, but I do genuinely think there's more chance that he would limit the damage than a 'moderate' MP would - as a comparison between Labour's unspectacular-but-OK results in the May local elections, compared to the complete disaster of the Remain campaign, shows.

    3. A smaller point, but the MPs have generally acted appallingly in the past few months, and a Smith victory would essentially be rewarding them for bad behaviour (and, more to the point, would encourage them to keep throwing tantrums and destabilising the party whenever something they don't like happens, since they'd remember they got what they wanted the last time they tried it).
    Remain won 48% in June, Labour won 31% in May
    On the other hand, Remain came second, while Labour came (narrowly) first in May. And in particular they did much better in currently Labour-held seats than Remain did.
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,146
    John_M said:
    'The Belgians' in the guise of the Belgian version of Nicola Sturgeon seeing an opportunity to further the cause of Flanders.
  • Options
    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,787
    The Times
    Daily Mail
    The Sun
    The Telegraph


    Daily Mirror

    Corbyn’s foolish feat has shown up his own ineptitude, not the profiteering disgrace of Britain’s privatised rail system.


    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/paul-routledge-jeremy-corbyns-ram-8691428
  • Options
    FloaterFloater Posts: 14,195
    When you think Corbyn can't get any worse he surprises you yet again.

  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,164
    edited August 2016
    Danny565 said:

    HYUFD said:

    Danny565 said:

    Danny565 said:

    Anywho, I'm a Trident supporter, who in last year's leadership contest didn't vote for Corbyn (or even give him second preference come to that).

    I just cast my vote for Corbyn this time.

    Is this because you have been persuaded by the Corbyn leadership style and policies or because Smith is too bad to vote for?
    A few reasons...

    1. Although I generally haven't disagreed with anything Smith has said in the contest, I'm not sure I trust that he (or, probably more to the point, the MPs who'll be surrounding him) will stick to everything he's said. I'm happy to compromise on quite a few issues, and on some issues I actively agree with the Labour 'moderates' much more than I do with Corbyn (e.g. Trident, Israel) but things like welfare are a red line for me (i.e. no abstaining on welfare cuts ever again).

    2. I genuinely now think that the Labour 'establishment' don't actually have a clue how to appeal to the public any more than Corbyn does. Corbyn ain't going to win the election, but I do genuinely think there's more chance that he would limit the damage than a 'moderate' MP would - as a comparison between Labour's unspectacular-but-OK results in the May local elections, compared to the complete disaster of the Remain campaign, shows.

    3. A smaller point, but the MPs have generally acted appallingly in the past few months, and a Smith victory would essentially be rewarding them for bad behaviour (and, more to the point, would encourage them to keep throwing tantrums and destabilising the party whenever something they don't like happens, since they'd remember they got what they wanted the last time they tried it).
    Remain won 48% in June, Labour won 31% in May
    On the other hand, Remain came second, while Labour came (narrowly) first in May. And in particular they did much better in currently Labour-held seats than Remain did.
    Labour had one of the worst local election performances for an opposition party in years, Corbyn did far worse in voteshare than Ed Miliband, Michael Howard, William Hague etc all of whom hardly stormed to victory at the subsequent general election. Actually Remain did even better than Labour in seats in inner London, Cambridge and many other university cities
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,913

    Danny565 said:

    Danny565 said:

    Anywho, I'm a Trident supporter, who in last year's leadership contest didn't vote for Corbyn (or even give him second preference come to that).

    I just cast my vote for Corbyn this time.

    Is this because you have been persuaded by the Corbyn leadership style and policies or because Smith is too bad to vote for?
    A few reasons...

    1. Although I generally haven't disagreed with anything Smith has said in the contest, I'm not sure I trust that he (or, probably more to the point, the MPs who'll be surrounding him) will stick to everything he's said. I'm happy to compromise on quite a few issues, and on some issues I actively agree with the Labour 'moderates' much more than I do with Corbyn (e.g. Trident, Israel) but things like welfare are a red line for me (i.e. no abstaining on welfare cuts ever again).

    2. I genuinely now think that the Labour 'establishment' don't actually have a clue how to appeal to the public any more than Corbyn does. Corbyn ain't going to win the election, but I do genuinely think there's more chance that he would limit the damage than a 'moderate' MP would - as a comparison between Labour's unspectacular-but-OK results in the May local elections, compared to the complete disaster of the Remain campaign, shows.

    3. A smaller point, but the MPs have generally acted appallingly in the past few months, and a Smith victory would essentially be rewarding them for bad behaviour (and, more to the point, would encourage them to keep throwing tantrums and destabilising the party whenever something they don't like happens, since they'd remember they got what they wanted the last time they tried it).
    Pretty much agreed on all three points. I don't think the train story will damage him either - like the collar button thing, it's an example of how the media go bonkers over trivia if they think someone is vulnerable.

    But the more fundamental point, implicit in your number 2, is that we really badly need a new social democrat narrative. At present, it's basically "We aren't the Tories or Corbyn". It's not enough. It hasn't been enough since around 2008. And it's a problem not only affecting British social democrats but similarly-inclined people in Germany, France, Italy and in some ways (if you accept the Clintons as American social democrats, which they sort of are) the US.
    That takes hard work and fresh thinking. In both cases Corbyn is not the way.
  • Options
    John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503

    John_M said:
    'The Belgians' in the guise of the Belgian version of Nicola Sturgeon seeing an opportunity to further the cause of Flanders.
    More like May, Flanders is the Belgian dog, not the tail.
  • Options
    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,787
    edited August 2016
    Oh dear......when the UK Treasury cites them they're overblown claims

    "People have got the savvy to see through of some of the overblown claims… We only have to look at the Scottish independence referendum to know that kind of fear-based campaigning starts to insult people’s intelligence and can start to have a negative effect"

    But when Nicola recycles them they show the:

    “profound and long-lasting impact on the public finances and the wider economic and societal wellbeing of both Scotland and the UK as a whole”.

    https://whytepaper.wordpress.com/2016/08/23/spinning-squirrels/

    Now why would the Scottish Government be trying to distract from the GERS figures published today?
  • Options
    Ally_BAlly_B Posts: 185


    Sunil, have you done the Bunk Line between Cholsey and Wallingford in Oxfordshire? I think it may be within 50 miles of London....

    I used to live right by Cholsey Station. One of the dullest villages ever to have existed.
    This Bank Holiday weekend the train services on that line will be haled by the diesel shunters. I will be there on Monday.
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,164

    Danny565 said:

    Danny565 said:

    Anywho, I'm a Trident supporter, who in last year's leadership contest didn't vote for Corbyn (or even give him second preference come to that).

    I just cast my vote for Corbyn this time.

    Is this because you have been persuaded by the Corbyn leadership style and policies or because Smith is too bad to vote for?
    A few reasons...

    1. Although I generally haven't disagreed with anything Smith has said in the contest, I'm not sure I trust that he (or, probably more to the point, the MPs who'll be surrounding him) will stick to everything he's said. I'm happy to compromise on quite a few issues, and on some issues I actively agree with the Labour 'moderates' much more than I do with Corbyn (e.g. Trident, Israel) but things like welfare are a red line for me (i.e. no abstaining on welfare cuts ever again).

    2. I genuinely now think that the Labour 'establishment' don't actually have a clue how to appeal to the public any more than Corbyn does. Corbyn ain't going to win the election, but I do genuinely think there's more chance that he would limit the damage than a 'moderate' MP would - as a comparison between Labour's unspectacular-but-OK results in the May local elections, compared to the complete disaster of the Remain campaign, shows.

    3. A smaller point, but the MPs have generally acted appallingly in the past few months, and a Smith victory would essentially be rewarding them for bad behaviour (and, more to the point, would encourage them to keep throwing tantrums and destabilising the party whenever something they don't like happens, since they'd remember they got what they wanted the last time they tried it).
    Pretty much agreed on all three points. I don't think the train story will damage him either - like the collar button thing, it's an example of how the media go bonkers over trivia if they think someone is vulnerable.

    But the more fundamental point, implicit in your number 2, is that we really badly need a new social democrat narrative. At present, it's basically "We aren't the Tories or Corbyn". It's not enough. It hasn't been enough since around 2008. And it's a problem not only affecting British social democrats but similarly-inclined people in Germany, France, Italy and in some ways (if you accept the Clintons as American social democrats, which they sort of are) the US.
    Though not Canada where a charismatic, moderate social democratic leader last year won a landslide victory, the centre left are also in power in Italy too, again under a charismatic, young social democrat. Corbyn is trying to be Tsipras in a nation without the mass unemployment and without the charisma or telegenic looks
  • Options
    FloaterFloater Posts: 14,195

    kle4 said:

    AndyJS said:

    O/T:

    The critics have got this right IMO:

    "Mulholland Drive leads the pack in list of 21st century's top films
    BBC Culture poll of 177 film critics around the world puts David Lynch’s 2001 surrealist masterpiece in top spot"


    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/aug/23/mulholland-drive-david-lynch-21st-century-top-films-bbc-poll

    The one group of people not to listen to when selecting great movies is movie critics. They'll collectively jump on anything different or unique enough, even if it is crap, and call it excellent. They're also even more prone to groupthink than normal people.

    Mulholland Drive? Never watched it. Hear it's good from people whose views I trust, though when I see 'surreal' as a descriptor that's usually an indication you're about to see pretentious artsy bollocks.
    Has a very good lesbian sex scene in it. Very enjoyable and arty.
    I may be shallow.... but you had me at "lesbian sex scene" *g*
  • Options

    The Times
    Daily Mail
    The Sun
    The Telegraph


    Daily Mirror

    Corbyn’s foolish feat has shown up his own ineptitude, not the profiteering disgrace of Britain’s privatised rail system.


    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/paul-routledge-jeremy-corbyns-ram-8691428

    Cut Paul Routledge in half and you would read 'Labour' like a stick of Blackpool rock... bloody hell, you lose Paul Routledge, you lose Labour voters, full stop.
  • Options
    oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,831
    Floater said:

    kle4 said:

    AndyJS said:

    O/T:

    The critics have got this right IMO:

    "Mulholland Drive leads the pack in list of 21st century's top films
    BBC Culture poll of 177 film critics around the world puts David Lynch’s 2001 surrealist masterpiece in top spot"


    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/aug/23/mulholland-drive-david-lynch-21st-century-top-films-bbc-poll

    The one group of people not to listen to when selecting great movies is movie critics. They'll collectively jump on anything different or unique enough, even if it is crap, and call it excellent. They're also even more prone to groupthink than normal people.

    Mulholland Drive? Never watched it. Hear it's good from people whose views I trust, though when I see 'surreal' as a descriptor that's usually an indication you're about to see pretentious artsy bollocks.
    Has a very good lesbian sex scene in it. Very enjoyable and arty.
    I may be shallow.... but you had me at "lesbian sex scene" *g*
    What is it with Straight men and Lesbian porn??
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,164

    The Times
    Daily Mail
    The Sun
    The Telegraph


    Daily Mirror

    Corbyn’s foolish feat has shown up his own ineptitude, not the profiteering disgrace of Britain’s privatised rail system.


    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/paul-routledge-jeremy-corbyns-ram-8691428

    Cut Paul Routledge in half and you would read 'Labour' like a stick of Blackpool rock... bloody hell, you lose Paul Routledge, you lose Labour voters, full stop.
    The Mirror has already effectively backed Smith
    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jeremy-corbyn-risks-goal-owen-8508466
  • Options
    Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091
    edited August 2016
    HYUFD said:

    Danny565 said:

    HYUFD said:

    Danny565 said:

    Danny565 said:

    Anywho, I'm a Trident supporter, who in last year's leadership contest didn't vote for Corbyn (or even give him second preference come to that).

    I just cast my vote for Corbyn this time.

    Is this because you have been persuaded by the Corbyn leadership style and policies or because Smith is too bad to vote for?
    A few reasons...

    1. Although I generally haven't disagreed with anything Smith has said in the contest, I'm not sure I trust that he (or, probably more to the point, the MPs who'll be surrounding him) will stick to everything he's said. I'm happy to compromise on quite a few issues, and on some issues I actively agree with the Labour 'moderates' much more than I do with Corbyn (e.g. Trident, Israel) but things like welfare are a red line for me (i.e. no abstaining on welfare cuts ever again).

    2. I genuinely now think that the Labour 'establishment' don't actually have a clue how to appeal to the public any more than Corbyn does. Corbyn ain't going to win the election, but I do genuinely think there's more chance that he would limit the damage than a 'moderate' MP would - as a comparison between Labour's unspectacular-but-OK results in the May local elections, compared to the complete disaster of the Remain campaign, shows.

    3. A smaller point, but the MPs have generally acted appallingly in the past few months, and a Smith victory would essentially be rewarding them for bad behaviour (and, more to the point, would encourage them to keep throwing tantrums and destabilising the party whenever something they don't like happens, since they'd remember they got what they wanted the last time they tried it).
    Remain won 48% in June, Labour won 31% in May
    On the other hand, Remain came second, while Labour came (narrowly) first in May. And in particular they did much better in currently Labour-held seats than Remain did.
    Labour had one of the worst local election performances for an opposition party in years, Corbyn did far worse in voteshare than Ed Miliband, Michael Howard, William Hague etc all of whom hardly stormed to victory at the subsequent general election. Actually Remain did even better than Labour in seats in inner London, Cambridge and many other university cities
    Actually, Corbyn did better than Miliband or Hague - they both lost to the governing party in their first set of local elections, whereas Corbyn (narrowly) won.

    And yes, Remain did do better than Corbyn's Labour in inner London and Cambridge and the like, but Labour don't need to be racking up even bigger majorities in those places.
  • Options
    HYUFD said:

    The Times
    Daily Mail
    The Sun
    The Telegraph


    Daily Mirror

    Corbyn’s foolish feat has shown up his own ineptitude, not the profiteering disgrace of Britain’s privatised rail system.


    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/paul-routledge-jeremy-corbyns-ram-8691428

    Cut Paul Routledge in half and you would read 'Labour' like a stick of Blackpool rock... bloody hell, you lose Paul Routledge, you lose Labour voters, full stop.
    The Mirror has already effectively backed Smith
    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jeremy-corbyn-risks-goal-owen-8508466
    I'm not talking about the paper, I'm talking about its political editor who is the acme of middle England Labour... his is the heart beat of English Labour.
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,164
    edited August 2016
    Danny565 said:

    HYUFD said:

    Danny565 said:

    HYUFD said:

    Danny565 said:

    Danny565 said:

    Anywho, I'm a Trident supporter, who in last year's leadership contest didn't vote for Corbyn (or even give him second preference come to that).

    I just cast my vote for Corbyn this time.

    Is this because you have been persuaded by the Corbyn leadership style and policies or because Smith is too bad to vote for?
    A few reasons...

    1. Although I generally haven't disagreed with anything Smith has said in the contest, I'm not sure I trust that he (or, probably more to the point, the MPs who'll be surrounding him) will stick to everything he's said. I'm happy to compromise on quite a few issues, and on some issues I actively agree with the Labour 'moderates' much more than I do with Corbyn (e.g. Trident, Israel) but things like welfare are a red line for me (i.e. no abstaining on welfare cuts ever again).

    2. I genuinely now think that the Labour 'establishment' don't actually have a clue how to appeal to the public any more than Corbyn does. Corbyn ain't going to win the election, but I do genuinely think there's more chance that he would limit the damage than a 'moderate' MP would - as a comparison between Labour's unspectacular-but-OK results in the May local elections, compared to the complete disaster of the Remain campaign, shows.

    3. A smaller p
    Remain won 48% in June, Labour won 31% in May
    On the other hand, Remain came second, while Labour came (narrowly) first in May. And in particular they did much better in currently Labour-held seats than Remain did.
    Labour had one of the worst local election performances for an opposition party in years, Corbyn did far worse in voteshare than Ed Miliband, Michael Howard, William Hague etc all of whom hardly stormed to victory at the subsequent general election. Actually Remain did even better than Labour in seats in inner London, Cambridge and many other university cities
    Actually, Corbyn did better than Miliband or Hague - they both lost to the governing party in their first set of local elections, whereas Corbyn (narrowly) won.

    And yes, Remain did do better than Corbyn's Labour in inner London and Cambridge and the like, but Labour don't need to be racking up even bigger majorities in those places.
    Ed Miliband won 37% in 2011, Michael Howard got 37% in 2004, even IDS won 34% in 2002 and came top, all did better than Corbyn in voteshare, Hague did not do that well in 1998 but most of the local elections then were in London which leans Labour. Given Corbyn's pro immigration line he is hardly going to win back the white working class from UKIP either
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,164
    edited August 2016

    HYUFD said:

    The Times
    Daily Mail
    The Sun
    The Telegraph


    Daily Mirror

    Corbyn’s foolish feat has shown up his own ineptitude, not the profiteering disgrace of Britain’s privatised rail system.


    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/paul-routledge-jeremy-corbyns-ram-8691428

    Cut Paul Routledge in half and you would read 'Labour' like a stick of Blackpool rock... bloody hell, you lose Paul Routledge, you lose Labour voters, full stop.
    The Mirror has already effectively backed Smith
    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jeremy-corbyn-risks-goal-owen-8508466
    I'm not talking about the paper, I'm talking about its political editor who is the acme of middle England Labour... his is the heart beat of English Labour.
    Routledge has backed Smith too
    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/vote-owen-smith-not-scarecrow-8584512

    'I shall vote for Owen Smith, not because I really expect him to win but to protest against the deification of Jezza C.

    Comrade Corbyn is a leaf-dry, ­talentless Worzel Gummidge who immured himself in a cave
    of political correctness for decades until he was dragged blinking into the sunshine last summer.

    And the light hasn’t been very kind to him. Ever since he failed to mumble the national anthem in St Paul’s, it has been a sorry story of cruel exposure to reality.

    His performance at Prime Minister’s Questions – the acid test of political oomph – is an embarrassment. And to call his Euro gig lacklustre is greatly to exaggerate its brightness. I never expected much from the Islington apostle but his leadership fell woefully below expectation.'
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,292
    edited August 2016
    Comrade Corbyn is a leaf-dry, ­talentless Worzel Gummidge

    LOL.

    I was watching the interview with Louis Theroux about his research in Scientology. There were a number of similarities to Corbynism.
  • Options

    Too late - I did King's Cross to Leeds in 2010, and Doncaster to Leuchars in 2012 :)

    Sunil, have you done the Bunk Line between Cholsey and Wallingford in Oxfordshire? I think it may be within 50 miles of London....
    No I haven't though I have spied it from the train towards Didcot, branching away to the North. I'm prioritising the National Rail network and trams, but I have done Epping Ongar (I volunteered there 2012-13), Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch, Bluebell, and the Severn Valley. Oh and a very long time ago the Mid Hants, and also Snowdon.
This discussion has been closed.