Last year I was forced to avail myself of the "facilities" at MacDonald's and whilst I disdain their lack of attendants en-suite I was prevailed upon to purchase a coffee. To my surprise twas rather better than hot flavoured brown water !!
My next step on the wild side might have to include a pot of Earl Grey at BurgerKing.
..........................
Laters.
Try eating a Big Nasty at Macdonalds.
One of the great culinary moments of my life occured during my first ever visit to Silicon Valley. One lunchtime I came across a McDonald's and saw to my surprise and wonder a half pounder with cheese. I still remember the unctuous deliciousness of that first bite, then the ravenous demolition of the offending beast, all washed down with a super-sized coke. McD's is like crack - I have been searching for that hit again ever since, but have never quite got there. It is killing me, literally.
Since when were far right PB tories "normal people". You always get it wrong. Just look at Osbrowne's omnishambles budget when the idiots on here thought it was a great idea.
Go and find me one of my comments praising the omnishambles budget and I promise I'll send you a food parcel.
It amuses me greatly that you think I'm some uber right-winger!
Let's see: Aside from the fact I sometimes agree with Labour postings on here, I also support a Palestinian state, I support a minimum wage, I am about as anti-war as you could get, I want to legalise hard drugs, I believe in 20mph driving zones, I want to reform the House of Lords and I don't want Britain to leave the EU. Oh, and I don't spend all day, every day on PB bitching at every poster I disagree with.
Now who's the most liberal, you or me?
And do I think a political party would ever accept me as a member? Resounding NO. When it comes to skeletons in the cupboard and a patchy history with the law, I don't think any party would want me near their membership.
But as for 'normal', well, guilty as charged. Now gotta run, lost of work to be done....
I think what people still find unbelievable and distressing is that there was open warfare (open to everyone apart from the public) between Blair & Brown for substantially the whole time Labour were in office.
That is what is so corrosive for the legacy. They see it a bit with EBalls and EdM and they are nervous; they think they are setting themselves up for another internecine/puppet government with the Labour party.
The worst thing for the Tories would be for the same impression to form about GO. The fact that he is seen as too good a friend of Dave is actually a plus as people are sick of the duplicity of the Blair/Brown years.
"When the welfare state has been dismantled, what happens then?
What we do not know is what happens when the very wealthy continue to prosper, but nobody else does. Then the widening income gap becomes a real issue - especially when wealth has never been more visible. What is the right's answer to that? It seems to me that at some stage the better off are going to realise that a level of wealth redistribution is actually in their interests - just as they realised it before."
Nope, we'll just become much more like America.
America has big disparities in wealth, and the standard of living for the majority at the bottom has remained static for 12 years at least:
Some would argue average American incomes have barely budged in 30 years. Even as the billionaires become trillionaires.
People tolerate this because they are still doing OK; however they will not tolerate their taxes being paid to people they regard as 1. undeserving, or 2. genetically and culturally unrelated, which is why individualistic, high-immigration societies like the States have much smaller welfare states.
America reveals the inevitable future for the UK - and much of the rest of the EU. It's the European model which is bust, not capitalism itself.
OK, gym time. S'kap.
The thing is, people are not tolerating it. American politics is becoming more polarised and dysfuctional as inequality and the income gap grow. Something is going to give there too.
I'm really shocked by the latest revelations in the Osborne story.
Can it really be true that Osborne was buying a McDonalds? And worse still, (this bit is not for the faint-hearted), that he intended to eat the disgusting thing in the car?
My reaction, too. Who the F eats a McDonalds if they can afford something else? My presumption is that maybe Osborne had his kids in the car. He does have kids, doesn't he? If they're like mine, they love McDs.
In fairnes, Sean, their chips are pretty good and the coffee isn't bad.
But the best thing about McD's is the toilets, which are invariably spacious and clean.
Balls is more toxic than any of the Tory front bench.
That is Labours' biggest problem.
Asked whether "tackling the deficit and keeping interest rates low should be our top priority" (the Osborne position) or whether "we need more government spending on investment to kick-start our economy and a temporary cut in taxes to support growth" (the Balls position), 52 per cent said the former and 41 per cent the latter. But when the policies are associated with their respective authors, the coalition's 11-point lead becomes a Labour lead of 16 points. Only 37 per cent say they support Osborne's approach, compared to 53 per cent who support Balls's.
There's nothing inevitable about the UKIP surge. Cameron has played right into their hands and deserves all he gets.
Help for UKIP
1.Osborne's budget shatters reputation for competence 2.Osborne's gay marriage detox Master Strategy 3.Cameron's Europe speech 4.Cameron's Duke Of York Immigration speech 5.Cameron's refusal to withdraw the "fruitcakes,loonies,closet racists" comments 6.Keep a halfwit candidate in place in Eastleigh
If we're talking about the reasons for UKIP's rise, you shouldn't leave out:
7. 13 years of Labour taking the WWC vote for granted 8. "British Jobs for British Workers"
IIRC A while back there was some polling on the %age of former Lab voters considering, or actually voting UKIP. Anyone have a link? I can't find it on google search.
UKIP's rise is part of a Western phenomenon, of new right wing parties emerging to challenge existing right wing parties. That's because plenty of centre-right voters think that the Conservatives, or continental Christian Democrats, have proved inadequate at defending their interests and values. At the same time, these new right wing parties seem able to attract support from socially conservative left wingers, in a way that established right wing parties can't do.
Thanks to Yougov, we now have a very clear profile of UKIP voters. They're aged 40+, on average incomes, have a very low opinion of the government, and people in authority generally, detest the Labour Party, are pretty socially conservative, less economically conservative than current Conservative voters, and are very concerned for the future.
They're not at all retired company directors in blazers, drinking G & T's and bemoaning the state of the nation.
There's nothing inevitable about the UKIP surge. Cameron has played right into their hands and deserves all he gets.
Help for UKIP
1.Osborne's budget shatters reputation for competence 2.Osborne's gay marriage detox Master Strategy 3.Cameron's Europe speech 4.Cameron's Duke Of York Immigration speech 5.Cameron's refusal to withdraw the "fruitcakes,loonies,closet racists" comments 6.Keep a halfwit candidate in place in Eastleigh
If we're talking about the reasons for UKIP's rise, you shouldn't leave out:
7. 13 years of Labour taking the WWC vote for granted 8. "British Jobs for British Workers"
IIRC A while back there was some polling on the %age of former Lab voters considering, or actually voting UKIP. Anyone have a link? I can't find it on google search.
UKIP's rise is part of a Western phenomenon, of new right wing parties emerging to challenge existing right wing parties. That's because plenty of centre-right voters think that the Conservatives, or continental Christian Democrats, have proved inadequate at defending their interests and values. At the same time, these new right wing parties seem able to attract support from socially conservative left wingers, in a way that established right wing parties can't do.
Thanks to Yougov, we now have a very clear profile of UKIP voters. They're aged 40+, on average incomes, have a very low opinion of the government, and people in authority generally, detest the Labour Party, are pretty socially conservative, less economically conservative than current Conservative voters, and are very concerned for the future.
They're not at all retired company directors in blazers, drinking G & T's and bemoaning the state of the nation.
Balls has some competition from the Savile Row socialist.
'SNOBBY Shadow Cabinet MP Chuka Umunna was blasted yesterday for moaning at having to mix with “trash” when out clubbing. The Labour high-flier, 34 — who is Shadow Business Secretary — vented his disgust on a website for JETSETTERS. He whined that London’s nightspots were not exclusive enough for him, saying: “Most of the West End haunts seem to be full of trash and C-list wannabes.”
@Southam - When I think of great culinary moments, I tend to think more of Michel Bras and Alain Senderens, but even if you restrict yourself to Silicon Valley (where there are some very good restaurants at all prices), it is certainly an eccentic choice to go for abbatoir scrapings and industrial cheese, washed down with sugared water, or, even worse, saccharined water, contaminated with the waste products of sugar refining and pumped full of CO2.
That's pretty much my take, too, though with the slight caveat that Blair is a more skilled politician than Brown, and much more suited to being a PM, so that may have mitigated the losses.
Of course, had Milliband D knocked off Brown, as he could have, the likelihood is he would be PM now, quite possibly with a proper working majority.
What must that guy be thinking now as he pores over his charity work?
The biggest chunk of welfare spending is the pension bill and there's nothing anyone can do about that. And with people living longer, it's going to get worse.
Options ... selective culling, an increase in the pension age, or reduction in the poor old folks' living standards after paying in all their lives. The first is illegal, the third is political suicide.
That's why any reduction in the welfare bill has to come the second option and other parts of the bill; tim may not like that but whining about it won't change matters.
Is this a first for pb? A close acquaintance of mine has just become a murder suspect. Police are digging up her patio in Kent.
No kidding. Life!
*wanders off to gym, with vague sense of bewilderment*
In this particular area, my life experience far outstrips yours. I've known two murderers and three murder victims. All five were completely unconnected. One of the killers was a serial killer.
Balls is more toxic than any of the Tory front bench.
That is Labours' biggest problem.
Asked whether "tackling the deficit and keeping interest rates low should be our top priority" (the Osborne position) or whether "we need more government spending on investment to kick-start our economy and a temporary cut in taxes to support growth" (the Balls position), 52 per cent said the former and 41 per cent the latter. But when the policies are associated with their respective authors, the coalition's 11-point lead becomes a Labour lead of 16 points. Only 37 per cent say they support Osborne's approach, compared to 53 per cent who support Balls's.
Thanks for that carl - quite a remarkable result.
I wonder if there will be a debate between Osborne and Balls during the next election campaign?
Is this a first for pb? A close acquaintance of mine has just become a murder suspect. Police are digging up her patio in Kent.
No kidding. Life!
*wanders off to gym, with vague sense of bewilderment*
In this particular area, my life experience far outstrips yours. I've known two murderers and three murder victims. All five were completely unconnected. One of the killers was a serial killer.
I'm sure that Chuka Harrison would claim that he was trying to connect with voters in South Beach.
Amazing when Mitchell was accused of calling a policeman a pleb lefties were wetting themselves,but when a senior member of the shadow cabinet refers to voters as trash we have a deathly silence.
The disabled parking issue has the potential to get messy for Osborne. Political Scrapbook http://goo.gl/4dhKg pic.twitter.com/kon67cz7Zk
Where was the car initially parked, before Osbrowne got back in it. If it is the same place after all and the Mirror prove it then it is a Huhne scale deception interms of trust. Problem is Labour do not want the cctv to get rid of Osbrown as he is their best asset.
Labour are missing the point here. I get the feeling the public are very black and white on welfare.
They despise crooks and scroungers as much as they support money for the deserving. Partly because they see the former as taking money from the latter.
@oflynnexpress: My knowledge of these things is limited, but trendy types tell me, wouldn't "Trash" actually be a great name 4 a club night hosted by Chuka?
Charities call for all disabled adults to be exempt from the bedroom tax
Leading charities are demanding that the Government consider exemptions for disabled adults in the bedroom tax that has been introduced this month.
The controversial bedroom tax came into effect at the start of this month, and since the initial announcements of the change, there has been strong concerns raised about the implications the tax will have on many households with disabled family members.
David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation said: "This perverse tax is doing exactly what the Government promised they wouldn’t – hitting the most vulnerable people in our society. They are being penalised for a weak housing policy that for years has failed to build enough affordable homes and reduce the housing benefit bill.”
The tax has been introduced by the Government to tax people who are living in social housing with more bedrooms than occupants, by taxing people for any spare bedrooms which the Government has deemed excessive.
The tax has also been titled ‘under-occupancy’, and although it exempts some disabled children from sharing rooms with their siblings if it is unsuitable, disabled adults are facing the tax for their specialised homes, and extra rooms used for their carers to sleep in.
In reaction to the bedroom tax, six key charities have joined together in order to appeal to the Chancellor about the decisions that have been made about the tax, and urge the Government to create a set of exemptions for disabled adults.
The letter has been signed by the chief executive officers of Carers UK, Carer Trust, Disability Rights UK, Contact and Family, Macmillan Cancer Support and Mencap who hope that they will be able to influence the Government to change the new policy.
Are you sure it isn't outside one of Michael Meacher's houses?
It doesn't look like one of the four in London, perhaps it's the one in the Cotswolds?
"Four residential properties in London from which rental income is received. A property in the Cotswolds from which rental income was received for two weeks' holiday rental."
tim's gone strangely quiet. Must be on the phone to his fellow attack-gerbils to get the lineon Chuka Boom, don't you just love it.
You've got to love the description of Boutique 60, one of the few "decent" London clubs Chuka approves of: "Boutique 60 club is directly tucked beneath the restaurant of the beautiful five star Baglioni Hotel. The 150 capacity club looks like a cross between a photo studio and a Dubai millionaires pied a terre" http://www.feneo.com/links/Boutique_60.html
@oflynnexpress: My knowledge of these things is limited, but trendy types tell me, wouldn't "Trash" actually be a great name 4 a club night hosted by Chuka?
The letter has been signed by the chief executive officers of....etc.etc.etc.
Wonder what their salaries are...???
Shouldn't you find out what they do first?
Which shall we start with since etc.etc.etc. is not exactly helpful? Carers UK, Carer Trust, Disability Rights UK, Contact and Family, Macmillan Cancer Support and Mencap. Okay Mencap.
Labour’s solution to the problem is the reason they will lose the next election: it’s not an overstatement, I think, to describe their response to Philpott as an existential crisis, as Philip Collins did in his brilliant article in the Times today. Since the Brown era, Labour’s approach to welfare has been simple: "Make more and more people dependent on the state, regardless of affordability. And never, ever judge anyone's behaviour." On every opportunity to introduce an element of compulsion or discernment, Labour have backed the alternative. The party won’t win on such a basis, because the pendulum of public opinion has slipped way beyond their scrabbling fingers; but neither can they unpick themselves from their commitment to increased spending. All that’s left is their unappealing, synthetic anger.
@TelePolitics: Blog: The Philpott case shows that, under Labour, we outsourced our moral judgement to uncaring algorithms http://tgr.ph/13X8bBY
Confirmation Osborne got it absolutely right on Philpott
Lord Oakeshott, a senior Liberal Democrat peer, also added his condemnation, questioning whether Mr Osborne deserved to be in his job.
"If George Osborne can't see how wrong it is to play politicse with six children's deaths he's not fit to be Chancellor," he said.
@TelePolitics: Cameron 'absolutely backs' George Osborne for linking the #Philpotts to benefit 'lifestyles', No. 10 sources say http://soa.li/6dYzDMC
You can set your watch by Oakeshott - as soon as a right of communism idea is floated or implemented he's out telling porkies about it. Is he Cable's mouthpiece ?
Chris Heaton-Harris, Tory MP for Daventry, said: “The secret life of Chuka Umunna has been exposed.
“In public he likes to portray himself as a man of the people. Yet we know in private he has a lack of respect for the public.
“Chuka, or should I say Harrison, has been outed as the ultimate champagne socialist who revels in living the high life, brands the public C-list celebrities and trashes our capital city.
“You can’t get more out of touch than that.”
Nadhim Zahawi, Conservative MP for Stratford-on-Avon, added: “Chuka, like many Labour MPs before him, loves the glitzy wealthy lifestyle, only in secret!
“If you’ve worked for it and earned it, why would you need to hide it? Or is it because it doesn’t go down well with his anti-enterprise lefty leader?”
"Like many local people, I was caught out by the never-ending roadworks on the M62. Pulling on to the motorway at Morley I realised too late that the speed restrictions were still in place. I was caught and bang to rights – doing 56 in a 50 mile restriction zone. Going too far, too fast, you might say."
The tea party tories forget that Osborne and Oakshotte have much past form. Not that the incompetent Osbrowne comes out of this one particularly well either.
MPs' expenses: George Osborne 'must be made to pay' say Lib Dems
George Osborne, the shadow chancellor, is facing demands to “pay back” £55,000 in capital gains tax, which critics say he is morally obliged to pay after “flipping” his designated second property.
The Liberal Democrats said they had calculated how much capital gains tax Mr Osborne avoided by the way he designated his London family home. They called on David Cameron to force him to pay it back.
The Tory leader has clamped down heavily on backbench Tory MPs who have abused the expenses system, but he has yet to censure a senior member of his inner circle.
Shortly before Mr Osborne entered Parliament in 2001, he bought a large farmhouse in his Tatton constituency. Instead of taking out a mortgage on it he increased the mortgage on the London property to pay for his new home. When he had been elected an MP, he designated his London property as his second home with the House of Commons fees office, allowing him to claim back on his additional costs allowance the interest on the portion of the mortgage representing the farmhouse.
Two years later, Mr Osborne took out a separate £450,000 mortgage on the farmhouse and flipped his second home designation, enabling him to claim those mortgage interest payments on his ACA. Since then he has claimed up to £100,000 in mortgage interest payments for the farmhouse mortgage. During this whole period, Mr Osborne told the Inland Revenue that his primary residence for tax purposes was his London home.
In 2006, Mr Osborne sold his London home for £1.48?million, making a £748,000 profit. Because it had been declared for tax purposes as his primary residence since he bought it in 1998, he did not have to pay capital gains tax.
Good day at the office yesterday. Much more difficult cards today - a lot of races are either too easy or far too difficult. Here are my suggestions - small stakes throughout.
Aintree: 2.00 My Tent Or Yours 4/9 2.30 River Creek 6/4 3.05 Sprinter Sacre 4/11 4.15 At Fishers Cross 6/4 4.50 Meister Eckhart 9/1 Prima Porta 22/1 Bar de Ligne 40/1
Dundalk: 6.50 More Questions 17/2 7.20 Rigid Rock 13/2 8.20 Tennessee Widcat 7/1
Wolverhampton: 9.00 Exit Clause 6/1
My regular followers will know just how averse I am to backing odds on, but I have no hesitation in taking the 4/11 Sprinter Sacre. In my opinion, it should be 1/10.
The three suggestions for the 4.50 can be mixed and matched. The place value in this race is very good. I have done all three each way, with the biggest stake on Meister Eckhart. I've also done the reverse forecasts and a tricast - for footling amounts though.
Good luck and enjoy the racing, especiially Sprinter Sacre. He's a bit special.
You can swallow the propaganda these charities peddle if you want to. That, after all is what they are best at.
I have people in my immediate family who are carers and people who are severely mentally and physically disabled.
I've never even come across any of the charities you are citing.
We have loads of help, on the other hand, from small charities who would not dream of intervening in government policy. They are too busy offering useful stuff like overnight respite care and week-ends away.
I guess you'd call that an anecdotal view, and you'd be right, but in this case bitter experience has probably jaundiced my opinion.
Confirmation Osborne got it absolutely right on Philpott
Lord Oakeshott, a senior Liberal Democrat peer, also added his condemnation, questioning whether Mr Osborne deserved to be in his job.
"If George Osborne can't see how wrong it is to play politicse with six children's deaths he's not fit to be Chancellor," he said.
@TelePolitics: Cameron 'absolutely backs' George Osborne for linking the #Philpotts to benefit 'lifestyles', No. 10 sources say http://soa.li/6dYzDMC
You can set your watch by Oakeshott - as soon as a right of communism idea is floated or implemented he's out telling porkies about it. Is he Cable's mouthpiece ? What a dumb comment. Your use of the term "communist" is ludicrous.
We all know people who are carers or disabled or elderly and vulnerable and affected by the issues these charities deal with. They have branches across the country and the likes of CAB will always try to put you directly in touch with an appropriate one if possible. As will the likes of NHS Direct and other consumer advocate services.
Word of advice, don't attack charities just because you don't like them disagreeing with a tory policy. It doesn't look particularly edifying.
I am viewing PB on the politicalbetting.vanillaforums.com website and you manage to post pictures which actually show. For example I can see the tory tombstone.
I accept your argument up to a point and know these charities good work. I have some bitter experience with big charities and so when talking about this subject, the red mist tends to descend.....
I am viewing PB on the politicalbetting.vanillaforums.com website and you manage to post pictures which actually show. For example I can see the tory tombstone.
Can you tell your secret please?
Magic!
LOL
Ask the poster Topping, he showed me.
Actually, why not? It's not that difficult.
You just need to use the appropriate modifiers then put your image inside the " ".
.<.img. .src.=.". .". ./.>.
Take out all the dots. They need to be there so you can see the code.
No just incompetence. The fields round us are still bogs. If ST can't run a service after one of the wettest years on record we should be banning all driectors bonuses until they decide the can be bothered to try.
We all know people who are carers or disabled or elderly and vulnerable and affected by the issues these charities deal with. They have branches across the country and the likes of CAB will always try to put you directly in touch with an appropriate one if possible. As will the likes of NHS Direct and other consumer advocate services.
Word of advice, don't attack charities just because you don't like them disagreeing with a tory policy. It doesn't look particularly edifying.
Macmillan were magnificent when by Dad was in the final stages of his cancer. It's a wonderful, wonderful organisation.
I think thats probably true, doesn't smoking incidence increase as you head down the income scale. £53/week, ok you are having a miserable time but if you don't drink, smoke , go out socially and can buy books from the charity shop (Richer people more likely to read ?). Also richer people are probably more likely to have more possessions so you've got more to amuse yourself. Of course one of the sacrifices you'd have to make is to sell your car - if you're on a low income you'll perhaps be more likely to already use the bus, though perhaps you'll have a decent bike to use if you're a better earner.
Theres a myriad of factors but particularly the added pressures of being a smoker in particular would quickly smash a £53/week budget - and that is less likely the better off you are ?
Macmillan were magnificent when by Dad was in the final stages of his cancer. It's a wonderful, wonderful organisation.
Carers UK have some truly excellent people working for them. I forgot to add the obvious that if anyone needs to get in touch your local GP will also have an extensive list of them to contact as indeed will some pharmacies. They are not a panacea and not everyone is guaranteed to have all their problems solved but it is futile to pretend that they do not help a great many people in the direst of circumstance.
To call people "Commies" makes you look ridiculous. Oakeshott is not a minister but a free agent like a large number of CON MPs you could mention. He and them are not bound.
No just incompetence. The fields round us are still bogs. If ST can't run a service after one of the wettest years on record we should be banning all driectors bonuses until they decide the can be bothered to try.
It is absolutely unbelievable. The water table is still at surface level almost everywhere round our way. It takes a special level of incompetence to start warning about shortages three months after the end of the second wettest year in history. Sacking is surely the only answer here. We can't have such incompetents running a vital utility.
US President Barack Obama is prepared to offer cuts to Americans' pensions to strike a deficit deal with Republicans, a White House official says.
In return, the Democratic president wants higher taxes on the rich. He will outline his budget plan next Wednesday.
The proposal would cut the deficit by $1.8 trillion (£1.2 trillion) over 10 years, say administration officials.
But Democrats would oppose cuts to pensions, while Republicans have refused to accept tax rises.
Under the deal trailed by the White House, Mr Obama would support lowering the inflation measure used to calculate cost-of-living increases in Social Security pensions.
He would also countenance cuts to other benefit programmes, said the senior administration official, speaking anonymously because the budget has yet to be released.
However, Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner is likely to balk at the idea of fresh tax rises on the rich.
He already agreed to revenue increases on the wealthiest American earners earlier this year, and has ruled out asking them for any more.
The US economy added just 88,000 new jobs in March, the lowest level for nine months, official data has shown.
The number was much lower than the approximately 200,000 new jobs predicted by economists, and will inevitably raise new concerns about the strength of the US economic recovery.
At the same time, the US jobless rate fell to 7.6% from 7.7% in February.
The US economy needs to add about 90,000 jobs each month just to keep up with population growth.
Interesting also to note the logo and strapline: Union Jack, and 'Conservatives - For Hardworking People'.
Thank goodness we've moved on from "families" and dropped the tree - I wonder how much "environmental" is now linked to "taxes" - if the Lib Dems want that...they can have it...
I've spent the last week pumping water out of a basement, so I (and much of Hungary) have plenty going spare if Severn Trent are really in need of some.
Former Staffordshire Moorlands MP Charlotte Atkins is standing in Staffordshire CC elections (Leek South where Labour is in third place behind Con and UKIP). She already became a District Cllr(for Leek North) last year .
Car manufacturing and sales continue to go grow in the UK and contract in the Eurozone countries. More evidence of a step by step differential recovery in the UK.
New UK March car registrations came in above forecasts, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) announced Friday.
Compared to the same month a year ago, registration numbers were up nearly two per cent, bucking the trend seen in the European Union.
March is generally considered to be a strong month for new registrations because it is when new number plates are released.
It marked the 13th consecutive month of growth, with volumes the highest since 2010 when the Scrappage Incentive Scheme supported the market.
The data showed that 394,806 cars were registered with the new 13-plate, up 5.9% compared to a year ago, driven by demand for private registrations, which climbed 7.8% year-on-year, and were up 11.2% in the first quarter.
SeanT should note that he has contributed personally to this growth:
the Mini segment again showed the strongest growth in March, up 56.5%,
Comments
The disabled parking issue has the potential to get messy for Osborne.
Political Scrapbook http://goo.gl/4dhKg pic.twitter.com/kon67cz7Zk
That is Labours' biggest problem.
8pts up yesterday. I rest my case, again.
It amuses me greatly that you think I'm some uber right-winger!
Let's see: Aside from the fact I sometimes agree with Labour postings on here, I also support a Palestinian state, I support a minimum wage, I am about as anti-war as you could get, I want to legalise hard drugs, I believe in 20mph driving zones, I want to reform the House of Lords and I don't want Britain to leave the EU. Oh, and I don't spend all day, every day on PB bitching at every poster I disagree with.
Now who's the most liberal, you or me?
And do I think a political party would ever accept me as a member? Resounding NO. When it comes to skeletons in the cupboard and a patchy history with the law, I don't think any party would want me near their membership.
But as for 'normal', well, guilty as charged. Now gotta run, lost of work to be done....
That is what is so corrosive for the legacy. They see it a bit with EBalls and EdM and they are nervous; they think they are setting themselves up for another internecine/puppet government with the Labour party.
The worst thing for the Tories would be for the same impression to form about GO. The fact that he is seen as too good a friend of Dave is actually a plus as people are sick of the duplicity of the Blair/Brown years.
But the best thing about McD's is the toilets, which are invariably spacious and clean.
Prison populations are higher too.
Thanks to Yougov, we now have a very clear profile of UKIP voters. They're aged 40+, on average incomes, have a very low opinion of the government, and people in authority generally, detest the Labour Party, are pretty socially conservative, less economically conservative than current Conservative voters, and are very concerned for the future.
They're not at all retired company directors in blazers, drinking G & T's and bemoaning the state of the nation.
Thanks to Yougov, we now have a very clear profile of UKIP voters. They're aged 40+, on average incomes, have a very low opinion of the government, and people in authority generally, detest the Labour Party, are pretty socially conservative, less economically conservative than current Conservative voters, and are very concerned for the future.
They're not at all retired company directors in blazers, drinking G & T's and bemoaning the state of the nation.
Balls has some competition from the Savile Row socialist.
'SNOBBY Shadow Cabinet MP Chuka Umunna was blasted yesterday for moaning at having to mix with “trash” when out clubbing.
The Labour high-flier, 34 — who is Shadow Business Secretary — vented his disgust on a website for JETSETTERS.
He whined that London’s nightspots were not exclusive enough for him, saying: “Most of the West End haunts seem to be full of trash and C-list wannabes.”
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4873724/Labour-MP-Chuka-Umunna-complains-about-trash-and-wannabes-in-nightclubs.html#ixzz2PaKPJS7W
That's pretty much my take, too, though with the slight caveat that Blair is a more skilled politician than Brown, and much more suited to being a PM, so that may have mitigated the losses.
Of course, had Milliband D knocked off Brown, as he could have, the likelihood is he would be PM now, quite possibly with a proper working majority.
What must that guy be thinking now as he pores over his charity work?
Balls is far more toxic to the brand
The biggest chunk of welfare spending is the pension bill and there's nothing anyone can do about that. And with people living longer, it's going to get worse.
Options ... selective culling, an increase in the pension age, or reduction in the poor old folks' living standards after paying in all their lives. The first is illegal, the third is political suicide.
That's why any reduction in the welfare bill has to come the second option and other parts of the bill; tim may not like that but whining about it won't change matters.
I wonder if there will be a debate between Osborne and Balls during the next election campaign?
Internet secrets of 'jetrosexual' Chuka Umunna the party-loving MP being hailed as Labour's Obama
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2304227/Internet-secrets-jetrosexual-Chuka-Umunna-party-loving-MP-hailed-Labours-Obama.html#ixzz2PaNwom3z
Apparently this "Jetrosexual" had been looking for tips on where to party in South Beach Miami.....
I'm sure that Chuka Harrison would claim that he was trying to connect with voters in South Beach.
Amazing when Mitchell was accused of calling a policeman a pleb lefties were wetting themselves,but when a senior member of the shadow cabinet refers to voters as trash we have a deathly silence.
I could imagine a drink/night out with Shapps might be quite fun though - Umuna probably not.
@MichaelWhite
Odd that Ed Balls complains about Osborne's blatant use of welfare dividing lines over Philpott trial. GB/EB were New Labour's experts
*chuckles*
Are you sure it isn't outside one of Michael Meacher's houses?
Did they both go to the same public school?
Labour are missing the point here. I get the feeling the public are very black and white on welfare.
They despise crooks and scroungers as much as they support money for the deserving. Partly because they see the former as taking money from the latter.
They cannot abide me too-ism.
Leading charities are demanding that the Government consider exemptions for disabled adults in the bedroom tax that has been introduced this month.
The controversial bedroom tax came into effect at the start of this month, and since the initial announcements of the change, there has been strong concerns raised about the implications the tax will have on many households with disabled family members.
David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation said: "This perverse tax is doing exactly what the Government promised they wouldn’t – hitting the most vulnerable people in our society. They are being penalised for a weak housing policy that for years has failed to build enough affordable homes and reduce the housing benefit bill.”
The tax has been introduced by the Government to tax people who are living in social housing with more bedrooms than occupants, by taxing people for any spare bedrooms which the Government has deemed excessive.
The tax has also been titled ‘under-occupancy’, and although it exempts some disabled children from sharing rooms with their siblings if it is unsuitable, disabled adults are facing the tax for their specialised homes, and extra rooms used for their carers to sleep in.
In reaction to the bedroom tax, six key charities have joined together in order to appeal to the Chancellor about the decisions that have been made about the tax, and urge the Government to create a set of exemptions for disabled adults.
The letter has been signed by the chief executive officers of Carers UK, Carer Trust, Disability Rights UK, Contact and Family, Macmillan Cancer Support and Mencap who hope that they will be able to influence the Government to change the new policy.
http://www.homecare.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/1559630/charaities-call-for-all-disabled-adults-to-be-exempt-from-the-bedroom-tax#
The fops are clearly not for turning.
"Four residential properties in London from which rental income is received.
A property in the Cotswolds from which rental income was received for two weeks' holiday rental."
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/michael_meacher/oldham_west_and_royton
The letter has been signed by the chief executive officers of....etc.etc.etc.
Wonder what their salaries are...???
"Boutique 60 club is directly tucked beneath the restaurant of the beautiful five star Baglioni Hotel. The 150 capacity club looks like a cross between a photo studio and a Dubai millionaires pied a terre" http://www.feneo.com/links/Boutique_60.html
Which shall we start with since etc.etc.etc. is not exactly helpful? Carers UK, Carer Trust, Disability Rights UK, Contact and Family, Macmillan Cancer Support and Mencap. Okay Mencap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tRptpGAUT8
@tnewtondunn: BREAKING: Ed Balls admits being caught speeding - 56mph in a 50mph zone. http://www.edballs.co.uk/blog/
Or not
CC candidates in West Oxfordshire
www.westoxon.gov.uk/files/download/9513-5095.pdf
Nuneaton
http://www.nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk/news/article/181/candidates_for_warwickshire_county_council_elections
Elmbridge
http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/documents/detail.htm?pk_document=23416
Erewash
http://www.erewash.gov.uk/your-council/elections/current-elections/county-council.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwjs944TJV0
' The 150 capacity club looks like a cross between a photo studio and a Dubai millionaires pied a terre"
No trash or plebs just perfect for Savile Row socialists.
You can set your watch by Oakeshott - as soon as a right of communism idea is floated or implemented he's out telling porkies about it. Is he Cable's mouthpiece ?
"Like many local people, I was caught out by the never-ending roadworks on the M62. Pulling on to the motorway at Morley I realised too late that the speed restrictions were still in place. I was caught and bang to rights – doing 56 in a 50 mile restriction zone. Going too far, too fast, you might say."
http://www.edballs.co.uk/blog/
Not that the incompetent Osbrowne comes out of this one particularly well either.
BREAKING: North Korea asks British Embassy and others in Pyongyang if they are planning to evacuate - Foreign Office considering.
Good day at the office yesterday. Much more difficult cards today - a lot of races are either too easy or far too difficult. Here are my suggestions - small stakes throughout.
Aintree:
2.00 My Tent Or Yours 4/9
2.30 River Creek 6/4
3.05 Sprinter Sacre 4/11
4.15 At Fishers Cross 6/4
4.50 Meister Eckhart 9/1
Prima Porta 22/1
Bar de Ligne 40/1
Sedgefield:
2.10 Glasson Lad 9/2
3.20 Kings Chorister 7/2
Dundalk:
6.50 More Questions 17/2
7.20 Rigid Rock 13/2
8.20 Tennessee Widcat 7/1
Wolverhampton:
9.00 Exit Clause 6/1
My regular followers will know just how averse I am to backing odds on, but I have no hesitation in taking the 4/11 Sprinter Sacre. In my opinion, it should be 1/10.
The three suggestions for the 4.50 can be mixed and matched. The place value in this race is very good. I have done all three each way, with the biggest stake on Meister Eckhart. I've also done the reverse forecasts and a tricast - for footling amounts though.
Good luck and enjoy the racing, especiially Sprinter Sacre. He's a bit special.
You can swallow the propaganda these charities peddle if you want to. That, after all is what they are best at.
I have people in my immediate family who are carers and people who are severely mentally and physically disabled.
I've never even come across any of the charities you are citing.
We have loads of help, on the other hand, from small charities who would not dream of intervening in government policy. They are too busy offering useful stuff like overnight respite care and week-ends away.
I guess you'd call that an anecdotal view, and you'd be right, but in this case bitter experience has probably jaundiced my opinion.
Says it all really.
As for Chuka - typical lefty hypocracy rules ok.
What a dumb comment. Your use of the term "communist" is ludicrous.
https://mobile.twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/320142934123110400/photos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLpS97XA5VA
We all know people who are carers or disabled or elderly and vulnerable and affected by the issues these charities deal with. They have branches across the country and the likes of CAB will always try to put you directly in touch with an appropriate one if possible. As will the likes of NHS Direct and other consumer advocate services.
Word of advice, don't attack charities just because you don't like them disagreeing with a tory policy. It doesn't look particularly edifying.
I am viewing PB on the politicalbetting.vanillaforums.com website and you manage to post pictures which actually show. For example I can see the tory tombstone.
Can you tell your secret please?
Labour can't field a full slate in Mid Sussex (1 division missed), Horsham (2 divisions missed) and Aylesbury Valley
I accept your argument up to a point and know these charities good work. I have some bitter experience with big charities and so when talking about this subject, the red mist tends to descend.....
LOL
Ask the poster Topping, he showed me.
Actually, why not? It's not that difficult.
You just need to use the appropriate modifiers then put your image inside the " ".
.<.img. .src.=.". .". ./.>.
Take out all the dots. They need to be there so you can see the code.
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-22031085
@ Verulamius
in the "Leave a comment" field at the top there is a picture icon. Click that and then insert the picture URL (right click "Copy Image URL").
I wish it was more complicated so I looked smarter.
(all done in the vanillaforums part)
time and time again he's out attacking from the left or calling on Clegg to quit.
from Lords reform to economics to saying No2AV is a Tory plot - he's wheeled out like clockwork.
To call people "Commies" makes you look ridiculous. Oakeshott is not a minister but a free agent like a large number of CON MPs you could mention. He and them are not bound.
Your real problem is that Oakeshott is effective.
I just copied the code from one of your pictures and use that code to insert an image.
In return, the Democratic president wants higher taxes on the rich. He will outline his budget plan next Wednesday.
The proposal would cut the deficit by $1.8 trillion (£1.2 trillion) over 10 years, say administration officials.
But Democrats would oppose cuts to pensions, while Republicans have refused to accept tax rises.
Under the deal trailed by the White House, Mr Obama would support lowering the inflation measure used to calculate cost-of-living increases in Social Security pensions.
He would also countenance cuts to other benefit programmes, said the senior administration official, speaking anonymously because the budget has yet to be released.
However, Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner is likely to balk at the idea of fresh tax rises on the rich.
He already agreed to revenue increases on the wealthiest American earners earlier this year, and has ruled out asking them for any more.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22042555
The number was much lower than the approximately 200,000 new jobs predicted by economists, and will inevitably raise new concerns about the strength of the US economic recovery.
At the same time, the US jobless rate fell to 7.6% from 7.7% in February.
The US economy needs to add about 90,000 jobs each month just to keep up with population growth.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22042657
Car manufacturing and sales continue to go grow in the UK and contract in the Eurozone countries. More evidence of a step by step differential recovery in the UK.
New UK March car registrations came in above forecasts, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) announced Friday.
Compared to the same month a year ago, registration numbers were up nearly two per cent, bucking the trend seen in the European Union.
March is generally considered to be a strong month for new registrations because it is when new number plates are released.
It marked the 13th consecutive month of growth, with volumes the highest since 2010 when the Scrappage Incentive Scheme supported the market.
The data showed that 394,806 cars were registered with the new 13-plate, up 5.9% compared to a year ago, driven by demand for private registrations, which climbed 7.8% year-on-year, and were up 11.2% in the first quarter.
SeanT should note that he has contributed personally to this growth:
the Mini segment again showed the strongest growth in March, up 56.5%,
DM Thomas's The White Hotel probably would have won the 1981 Booker Prize if it hadn't been for Salmon Rushdie's Midnight's Children.