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  • isamisam Posts: 41,118

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    The interesting dynamic now is that the Tories don't need the support of London, politically speaking.

    They can basically get a majority from provincial England and Wales............

    They need London's tax revenues though.
    Yes, but those will flow anyway until someone gets serious about a London independence party. For now it is basically a hostage capital.
    London has no right to independence.

    It is the ancient capital of England (and the UK) and belongs to the country, and neither can survive without each other.
    Good Lord!

    Colchester and Winchester say hello.

    Say at the 2020 general election a majority of London MPs are from a London Independence Party, will you say they have no right to independence then?

    Britain leaving the EU is awkward, but doable.

    Scotland leaving Britain is much harder, but possible.

    London leaving England is fantasy land.

    How could London possibly be independent from the rest of England when a huge % of London workers don't live there and a huge % of those who live there weren't born there? Who'd get a vote?
  • calumcalum Posts: 3,046
    RobD said:

    calum said:

    I wonder how GO will be paid?

    Electronic funds transfer, most likely. :D
    Are turnips subject to NIC?
  • nunununu Posts: 6,024
    Is he going to use this as a platform to undermine TM's brexit negotiations? I think he will use it to fight for soft Brexit.

    He will quit as MP soon, we know he loves doing u-turns.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,257

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    The interesting dynamic now is that the Tories don't need the support of London, politically speaking.

    They can basically get a majority from provincial England and Wales............

    They need London's tax revenues though.
    Yes, but those will flow anyway until someone gets serious about a London independence party. For now it is basically a hostage capital.
    London has no right to independence.

    It is the ancient capital of England (and the UK) and belongs to the country, and neither can survive without each other.
    Good Lord!

    Colchester and Winchester say hello.

    Say at the 2020 general election a majority of London MPs are from a London Independence Party, will you say they have no right to independence then?

    Britain leaving the EU is awkward, but doable.

    Scotland leaving Britain is much harder, but possible.

    London leaving England is fantasy land.

    Dam the Thames at Rainham and see how far the water rises before they capitulate.

    It's astonishing how quickly the little Englanders resort to ideas that African dictators would blush to contemplate.
    Mr Meeks, it was a joke.

    So is the idea of a London independence party.
    Quite so.
  • George Osborne's former Chief of Staff tweets

    https://twitter.com/rbrharrison/status/842725035915857920
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,075
    Good afternoon, Mr. D, Mr. Urquhart.

    I see the deranged wibbling of London independence has arisen. I feel that now would be a good time for me to mention that The Last Kingdom got off to a good start, not least because super blonde nuns pave the way to televisual delight.
  • MonikerDiCanioMonikerDiCanio Posts: 5,792
    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Patrick said:

    DavidL said:

    This is quite a substantive job. I don't think that there is any chance George would have taken it if he thought that there was any chance of him being offered a senior post by the government in the near future. Which is a pity. There is a dearth of talent in our politics generally, not just in the Labour Party, and it is too valuable to waste like this.

    Indeed. But talent needs to come tempered with good judgement. Ozzy got the national view and doing what is right badly wrong. So he had to go. Bit like that Bank of England lady. Super clever but an idiot.
    arrogant idiot at that , both of them, totally wrong that these effete elite tos**** get handed top jobs purely on their silver spooned upbringing
    Check out five-pensions Eck's extra-parliamentary earnings. At least the Tories get rid of their losers.
    its eeyore, get over it Monica , get a job , work hard and get your own pensions instead of fixating on others who have done it.
    Professional Nat Eck is as happy as a pig at trough in Westminster and on the LBC, laughing up his sleeve at gullible mugs like you.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    The interesting dynamic now is that the Tories don't need the support of London, politically speaking.

    They can basically get a majority from provincial England and Wales............

    They need London's tax revenues though.
    Yes, but those will flow anyway until someone gets serious about a London independence party. For now it is basically a hostage capital.
    London has no right to independence.

    It is the ancient capital of England (and the UK) and belongs to the country, and neither can survive without each other.
    Good Lord!

    Colchester and Winchester say hello.

    Say at the 2020 general election a majority of London MPs are from a London Independence Party, will you say they have no right to independence then?

    Britain leaving the EU is awkward, but doable.

    Scotland leaving Britain is much harder, but possible.

    London leaving England is fantasy land.

    Dam the Thames at Rainham and see how far the water rises before they capitulate.

    It's astonishing how quickly the little Englanders resort to ideas that African dictators would blush to contemplate.
    Mr Meeks, it was a joke.

    Whenever the subject of London independence comes up, the riposte is usually (1) close the border (2) hold them to ransom over food (3) hold them to ransom over water (4) hold them to ransom over energy. But right round the world there are countries that are interdependent where such behaviour would be seen as completely beyond the pale. It shows a prickly defensiveness.

    I can well understand why the idea of an independent London irks many. Resorting to threats, however jokey, to rebut the idea isn't likely to make it go away.

    To go back to a point I made a couple of weeks ago (and I'm still wondering about whether to do a thread header on the subject): if Britain is to prosper in the future, the effete metropolitans and the country bumpkins are going to need to look to see if they can find common ground and common values, work out what unites them instead of what divides them.

    But what if there isn't enough to justify hanging together? What then?
  • Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    The interesting dynamic now is that the Tories don't need the support of London, politically speaking.

    They can basically get a majority from provincial England and Wales............

    They need London's tax revenues though.
    Yes, but those will flow anyway until someone gets serious about a London independence party. For now it is basically a hostage capital.
    London has no right to independence.

    It is the ancient capital of England (and the UK) and belongs to the country, and neither can survive without each other.
    Good Lord!

    Colchester and Winchester say hello.

    Say at the 2020 general election a majority of London MPs are from a London Independence Party, will you say they have no right to independence then?

    Britain leaving the EU is awkward, but doable.

    Scotland leaving Britain is much harder, but possible.

    London leaving England is fantasy land.

    Dam the Thames at Rainham and see how far the water rises before they capitulate.

    It's astonishing how quickly the little Englanders resort to ideas that African dictators would blush to contemplate.
    Mr Meeks, it was a joke.

    Whenever the subject of London independence comes up, the riposte is usually (1) close the border (2) hold them to ransom over food (3) hold them to ransom over water (4) hold them to ransom over energy. But right round the world there are countries that are interdependent where such behaviour would be seen as completely beyond the pale. It shows a prickly defensiveness.

    I can well understand why the idea of an independent London irks many. Resorting to threats, however jokey, to rebut the idea isn't likely to make it go away.

    To go back to a point I made a couple of weeks ago (and I'm still wondering about whether to do a thread header on the subject): if Britain is to prosper in the future, the effete metropolitans and the country bumpkins are going to need to look to see if they can find common ground and common values, work out what unites them instead of what divides them.

    But what if there isn't enough to justify hanging together? What then?
    Waging war on France. That should unite us all.
  • calumcalum Posts: 3,046
    isam said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    The interesting dynamic now is that the Tories don't need the support of London, politically speaking.

    They can basically get a majority from provincial England and Wales............

    They need London's tax revenues though.
    Yes, but those will flow anyway until someone gets serious about a London independence party. For now it is basically a hostage capital.
    London has no right to independence.

    It is the ancient capital of England (and the UK) and belongs to the country, and neither can survive without each other.
    Good Lord!

    Colchester and Winchester say hello.

    Say at the 2020 general election a majority of London MPs are from a London Independence Party, will you say they have no right to independence then?

    Britain leaving the EU is awkward, but doable.

    Scotland leaving Britain is much harder, but possible.

    London leaving England is fantasy land.

    How could London possibly be independent from the rest of England when a huge % of London workers don't live there and a huge % of those who live there weren't born there? Who'd get a vote?
    Many of us London workers don't even live in England !
  • david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,990

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    The interesting dynamic now is that the Tories don't need the support of London, politically speaking.

    They can basically get a majority from provincial England and Wales............

    They need London's tax revenues though.
    Yes, but those will flow anyway until someone gets serious about a London independence party. For now it is basically a hostage capital.
    London has no right to independence.

    It is the ancient capital of England (and the UK) and belongs to the country, and neither can survive without each other.
    Good Lord!

    Colchester and Winchester say hello.

    Say at the 2020 general election a majority of London MPs are from a London Independence Party, will you say they have no right to independence then?

    Britain leaving the EU is awkward, but doable.

    Scotland leaving Britain is much harder, but possible.

    London leaving England is fantasy land.

    Dam the Thames at Rainham and see how far the water rises before they capitulate.

    It's astonishing how quickly the little Englanders resort to ideas that African dictators would blush to contemplate.
    Mr Meeks, it was a joke.

    Whenever the subject of London independence comes up, the riposte is usually (1) close the border (2) hold them to ransom over food (3) hold them to ransom over water (4) hold them to ransom over energy. But right round the world there are countries that are interdependent where such behaviour would be seen as completely beyond the pale. It shows a prickly defensiveness.

    I can well understand why the idea of an independent London irks many. Resorting to threats, however jokey, to rebut the idea isn't likely to make it go away.

    To go back to a point I made a couple of weeks ago (and I'm still wondering about whether to do a thread header on the subject): if Britain is to prosper in the future, the effete metropolitans and the country bumpkins are going to need to look to see if they can find common ground and common values, work out what unites them instead of what divides them.

    But what if there isn't enough to justify hanging together? What then?
    Then one side will impose itself on the other, in some form.

    And you have to remember that as with all civil wars - whether physical or cultural - there is no clean division. They divide within towns, villages and families as well as between them.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,654
    Lol "Death Duty" is the 13-8 favourite in this one.
  • Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    The interesting dynamic now is that the Tories don't need the support of London, politically speaking.

    They can basically get a majority from provincial England and Wales............

    They need London's tax revenues though.
    Yes, but those will flow anyway until someone gets serious about a London independence party. For now it is basically a hostage capital.
    London has no right to independence.

    It is the ancient capital of England (and the UK) and belongs to the country, and neither can survive without each other.
    Good Lord!

    Colchester and Winchester say hello.

    Say at the 2020 general election a majority of London MPs are from a London Independence Party, will you say they have no right to independence then?

    Britain leaving the EU is awkward, but doable.

    Scotland leaving Britain is much harder, but possible.

    London leaving England is fantasy land.

    Dam the Thames at Rainham and see how far the water rises before they capitulate.

    It's astonishing how quickly the little Englanders resort to ideas that African dictators would blush to contemplate.
    Mr Meeks, it was a joke.

    Whenever the subject of London independence comes up, the riposte is usually (1) close the border (2) hold them to ransom over food (3) hold them to ransom over water (4) hold them to ransom over energy. But right round the world there are countries that are interdependent where such behaviour would be seen as completely beyond the pale. It shows a prickly defensiveness.

    I can well understand why the idea of an independent London irks many. Resorting to threats, however jokey, to rebut the idea isn't likely to make it go away.

    To go back to a point I made a couple of weeks ago (and I'm still wondering about whether to do a thread header on the subject): if Britain is to prosper in the future, the effete metropolitans and the country bumpkins are going to need to look to see if they can find common ground and common values, work out what unites them instead of what divides them.

    But what if there isn't enough to justify hanging together? What then?
    Waging war on France. That should unite us all.
    Not until after July though please.

  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,257
    edited March 2017

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    The interesting dynamic now is that the Tories don't need the support of London, politically speaking.

    They can basically get a majority from provincial England and Wales............

    They need London's tax revenues though.
    Yes, blockquote>

    London .
    Good Lord!

    Colchester and Winchester say hello.

    Say at the 2020 general election a majority of London MPs are from a London Independence Party, will you say they have no right to independence then?

    Britain

    Dam

    It's .
    Mr Meeks, it was a joke.

    Whenever the subject of London independence comes up, the riposte is usually (1) close the border (2) hold them to ransom over food (3) hold them to ransom over water (4) hold them to ransom over energy. But right round the world there are countries that are interdependent where such behaviour would be seen as completely beyond the pale. It shows a prickly defensiveness.

    I can well understand why the idea of an independent London irks many. Resorting to threats, however jokey, to rebut the idea isn't likely to make it go away.

    To go back to a point I made a couple of weeks ago (and I'm still wondering about whether to do a thread header on the subject): if Britain is to prosper in the future, the effete metropolitans and the country bumpkins are going to need to look to see if they can find common ground and common values, work out what unites them instead of what divides them.

    But what if there isn't enough to justify hanging together? What then?
    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.
  • Tissue_PriceTissue_Price Posts: 9,039

    Waging war on France Scotland. That should unite us all.

    FTFY
  • Waging war on France. That should unite us all.

    Not Scotland. Remember the auld alliance.

  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,376
    edited March 2017

    calum said:

    I wonder how GO will be paid?

    Cash in hand.
    Will they have a whip round?
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,180

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    The interesting dynamic now is that the Tories don't need the support of London, politically speaking.

    They can basically get a majority from provincial England and Wales............

    They need London's tax revenues though.
    Yes, but those will flow anyway until someone gets serious about a London independence party. For now it is basically a hostage capital.
    London has no right to independence.

    It is the ancient capital of England (and the UK) and belongs to the country, and neither can survive without each other.
    Good Lord!

    Colchester and Winchester say hello.

    Say at the 2020 general election a majority of London MPs are from a London Independence Party, will you say they have no right to independence then?

    Britain leaving the EU is awkward, but doable.

    Scotland leaving Britain is much harder, but possible.

    London leaving England is fantasy land.

    Dam the Thames at Rainham and see how far the water rises before they capitulate.

    It's astonishing how quickly the little Englanders resort to ideas that African dictators would blush to contemplate.
    Mr Meeks, it was a joke.

    Whenever the subject of London independence comes up, the riposte is usually (1) close the border (2) hold them to ransom over food (3) hold them to ransom over water (4) hold them to ransom over energy. But right round the world there are countries that are interdependent where such behaviour would be seen as completely beyond the pale. It shows a prickly defensiveness.

    I can well understand why the idea of an independent London irks many. Resorting to threats, however jokey, to rebut the idea isn't likely to make it go away.

    To go back to a point I made a couple of weeks ago (and I'm still wondering about whether to do a thread header on the subject): if Britain is to prosper in the future, the effete metropolitans and the country bumpkins are going to need to look to see if they can find common ground and common values, work out what unites them instead of what divides them.

    But what if there isn't enough to justify hanging together? What then?
    I thin it's pretty clear where you stand on the question so jog on.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,654

    calum said:

    I wonder how GO will be paid?

    Cash in hand.
    Will they have a whip round?
    I'm sure George will have all his ducks in a rowe.
  • Animal_pbAnimal_pb Posts: 608




    Whenever the subject of London independence comes up, the riposte is usually (1) close the border (2) hold them to ransom over food (3) hold them to ransom over water (4) hold them to ransom over energy. But right round the world there are countries that are interdependent where such behaviour would be seen as completely beyond the pale. It shows a prickly defensiveness.

    I can well understand why the idea of an independent London irks many. Resorting to threats, however jokey, to rebut the idea isn't likely to make it go away.

    To go back to a point I made a couple of weeks ago (and I'm still wondering about whether to do a thread header on the subject): if Britain is to prosper in the future, the effete metropolitans and the country bumpkins are going to need to look to see if they can find common ground and common values, work out what unites them instead of what divides them.

    But what if there isn't enough to justify hanging together? What then?

    Then one side will impose itself on the other, in some form.

    And you have to remember that as with all civil wars - whether physical or cultural - there is no clean division. They divide within towns, villages and families as well as between them.

    Whoa, there. Civil war? Defensive prickliness? This is little more than blokeish banter.

    As for the divide between effete metrosexuals and country bumpkins - there are damned few of the latter on here. As ever, the effect of the Internet is to magnify the narcissism of small differences. There's probably a small difference between those who choose to live in the city proper vs suburbia (which, to all intents and purposes, covers the vast majority of the population, now); as much as anything, though, what we tend to see here is a contest of caricatures. I rather suspect Alistair is significantly more charming than his de haut en bas internet persona; those of us who react to his more provocative posts are also adopting our own cliches when we do so.

  • The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
  • Carolus_RexCarolus_Rex Posts: 1,414

    Waging war on France. That should unite us all.

    Not Scotland. Remember the auld alliance.

    Then again... the Gordon Highlanders and the Scots Greys?

    "'Go at them the Greys! Scotland for ever!"
  • MonikerDiCanioMonikerDiCanio Posts: 5,792


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    You're a country bumpkin posing as a city slicker. You represent both sides, united in one being.
  • nunununu Posts: 6,024
    Isabel Oakeshott‏ @IsabelOakeshott 31m31 minutes ago

    At this point it genuinely wouldn't surprise me if @George_Osborne hired David Cameron as his deputy.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,654
    I'm not a Labour party member, but I think London Labour pro european MP Wes Streeting speaks for all right thinking and fair minded people here:

    https://twitter.com/wesstreeting/status/842713844116021248
  • calum said:

    I wonder how GO will be paid?

    Cash in hand.
    Will they have a whip round?
    You naughty boy.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,912
    isam said:
    The LibDem twitter account is run by someone with a pretty good sense of humour.
  • rcs1000 said:

    isam said:
    The LibDem twitter account is run by someone with a pretty good sense of humour.
    They really didn't like this joke though

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5hQvxtA9Dg
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,734


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
    I expect that Barnet, Hillingdon, Havering, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Bexley, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Westminster would want to secede back into England.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,075
    Mr. Pulpstar, I agree (with both you and Wes Streeting).
  • Sean_F said:


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
    I expect that Barnet, Hillingdon, Havering, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Bexley, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Westminster would want to secede back into England.
    And the north part of Enfield too.
    They can keep Ponders End and Edmonton though.

  • SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,786
    Sean_F said:


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
    I expect that Barnet, Hillingdon, Havering, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Bexley, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Westminster would want to secede back into England.
    So we can pretty much just keep south of the river.
  • Sean_F said:


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
    I expect that Barnet, Hillingdon, Havering, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Bexley, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Westminster would want to secede back into England.
    So we can pretty much just keep south of the river.
    Don't forget you get Tower Hamlets.

  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Sean_F said:


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
    I expect that Barnet, Hillingdon, Havering, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Bexley, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Westminster would want to secede back into England.
    London definitely seems more popular with people that aren't from London.
  • SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,786

    Sean_F said:


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
    I expect that Barnet, Hillingdon, Havering, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Bexley, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Westminster would want to secede back into England.
    So we can pretty much just keep south of the river.
    Don't forget you get Tower Hamlets.

    Swop the City and Kensington etc for it?
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118

    Sean_F said:


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
    I expect that Barnet, Hillingdon, Havering, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Bexley, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Westminster would want to secede back into England.
    So we can pretty much just keep south of the river.
    Don't forget you get Tower Hamlets.

    And Newham!
  • Sean_F said:


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
    I expect that Barnet, Hillingdon, Havering, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Bexley, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Westminster would want to secede back into England.
    So we can pretty much just keep south of the river.
    Don't forget you get Tower Hamlets.

    Swop the City and Kensington etc for it?
    An advisory referendum?

  • RoyalBlueRoyalBlue Posts: 3,223
    The BBC Asian network today had a phone in on what the appropriate punishment for blasphemy should be.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/bbcasiannetwork/status/842672388223483904

    That is far more important than all the tittle tattle about Osborne.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,734

    Sean_F said:


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
    I expect that Barnet, Hillingdon, Havering, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Bexley, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Westminster would want to secede back into England.
    So we can pretty much just keep south of the river.
    Independent London gets the grotty bits.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,712
    rcs1000 said:

    isam said:
    The LibDem twitter account is run by someone with a pretty good sense of humour.
    yes but not as good as the people who own the Standard
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    RoyalBlue said:

    The BBC Asian network today had a phone in on what the appropriate punishment for blasphemy should be.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/bbcasiannetwork/status/842672388223483904

    That is far more important than all the tittle tattle about Osborne.

    Nothing it shouldn't be a crime.

    Next story?
  • david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,990
    Sean_F said:


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
    I expect that Barnet, Hillingdon, Havering, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Bexley, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Westminster would want to secede back into England.
    Wouldn't that produce about ten customs checks on the District Line?
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,075
    Mr. Blue, saw that earlier. Whilst there was the odd nutcase, the vast majority seemed united in having their collective gast flabbered the question was even being asked, particularly in a way that implied it was a given that blasphemy warranted punishment.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,734
    RoyalBlue said:

    The BBC Asian network today had a phone in on what the appropriate punishment for blasphemy should be.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/bbcasiannetwork/status/842672388223483904

    That is far more important than all the tittle tattle about Osborne.

    The liberals presumably argued for imprisonment; the hardliners for stoning.
  • MonikerDiCanioMonikerDiCanio Posts: 5,792
    isam said:

    Sean_F said:


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
    I expect that Barnet, Hillingdon, Havering, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Bexley, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Westminster would want to secede back into England.
    London definitely seems more popular with people that aren't from London.
    That's profoundly true. It should be immortalized as Isam's Rule.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    Sean_F said:


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
    I expect that Barnet, Hillingdon, Havering, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Bexley, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Westminster would want to secede back into England.
    Wouldn't that produce about ten customs checks on the District Line?
    I'm quite interested in the logic, since, for example, Kensington and Westminster voted over 2:1 for Remain. I think Sean has just chosen places that he feels should belong to little England without any reference to underlying facts.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,712
    Sean_F said:

    RoyalBlue said:

    The BBC Asian network today had a phone in on what the appropriate punishment for blasphemy should be.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/bbcasiannetwork/status/842672388223483904

    That is far more important than all the tittle tattle about Osborne.

    The liberals presumably argued for imprisonment; the hardliners for stoning.
    like SNP views on their opponents
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,734

    Sean_F said:


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
    I expect that Barnet, Hillingdon, Havering, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Bexley, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Westminster would want to secede back into England.
    Wouldn't that produce about ten customs checks on the District Line?
    I'm quite interested in the logic, since, for example, Kensington and Westminster voted over 2:1 for Remain. I think Sean has just chosen places that he feels should belong to little England without any reference to underlying facts.
    I chose the places that voted Conservative, and would be most unlikely to be happy with someone like Jeremy Corbyn in charge.
  • Animal_pbAnimal_pb Posts: 608

    Sean_F said:


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
    I expect that Barnet, Hillingdon, Havering, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Bexley, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Westminster would want to secede back into England.
    Wouldn't that produce about ten customs checks on the District Line?
    I'm quite interested in the logic, since, for example, Kensington and Westminster voted over 2:1 for Remain. I think Sean has just chosen places that he feels should belong to little England without any reference to underlying facts.
    Heh. I think the idea that the Remain vote is a proxy for a vote for secession is, at the very least, questionable.
  • SimonStClareSimonStClare Posts: 7,976
    Brain the size of a planet and they make him sit on the back benches. Best all round imho, if G.O. goes sooner rather than later.
  • RoyalBlueRoyalBlue Posts: 3,223

    Mr. Blue, saw that earlier. Whilst there was the odd nutcase, the vast majority seemed united in having their collective gast flabbered the question was even being asked, particularly in a way that implied it was a given that blasphemy warranted punishment.

    It is the fact that a public broadcaster thinks that such a question is even worth raising which is so disturbing. How many license fee payers would be happy about it?
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    Mr. Blue, saw that earlier. Whilst there was the odd nutcase, the vast majority seemed united in having their collective gast flabbered the question was even being asked, particularly in a way that implied it was a given that blasphemy warranted punishment.

    It's been a long time since the era of Whitehouse prosecuting blasphemy. It's not even illegal anymore since 2008, a rare positive free speech reform from Labour.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,111
    Excellent Gold Cup - I thought Djakadam had it with a mile to go, Native River super plucky staying on but both done nicely by Sizing John with Minella Rocco swooping in just too late.

    A classic, for all the low expectations.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,075
    edited March 2017
    Mr. Blue, most of them won't notice. As Cameron once said, Twitter isn't Britain, and I doubt Asian Network is one of the more watched (listened to?) channels.

    I agree it's disturbing.

    Edited extra bit: maybe not de jure, Mr. Thompson. How many papers and broadcasters reproduced the Hebdo covers after the murders?
  • MarkHopkinsMarkHopkins Posts: 5,584

    So what tag shall we use for this GO-ES story?

    #gogate

    #editorgate

    #3jobgate

    Actually, scratch that last one, the way things are going it might be out of date soon.

  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,712


    So what tag shall we use for this GO-ES story?

    #gogate

    #editorgate

    #3jobgate

    Actually, scratch that last one, the way things are going it might be out of date soon.

    the curious death of the Evening Standard
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822
    Incidentally, I think the suggestion that the Standard under Osborne's no-doubt charismatic leadership will be hostile to Sadiq Khan is likely to prove very far from the mark. I'd expect rather the reverse, in fact.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,111


    So what tag shall we use for this GO-ES story?

    #gogate

    #editorgate

    #3jobgate

    Actually, scratch that last one, the way things are going it might be out of date soon.

    the curious death of the Evening Standard
    hurting much?
  • Wulfrun_PhilWulfrun_Phil Posts: 4,780


    So what tag shall we use for this GO-ES story?

    #gogate

    #editorgate

    #3jobgate

    Actually, scratch that last one, the way things are going it might be out of date soon.

    Indeed, double it. According to Sky News he's now "six jobs Osborne" which rather trumps "two jags Prescott".

    And they're running with the conflict of interest angle too:
    "For Mr. Osborne's critics, the question will arise of how, with so many other hats, it will be possible for him to discharge his duties effectively as an MP, not only in terms of time but also in terms of voting without prejudice. For example, how will he now vote on press regulation? And if a vote takes place on transport funding, for whom does the ex-Chancellor speak? His northern Cheshire constituents or Londoners for whom he promised today to "be their voice"?"

    http://news.sky.com/story/george-osbornes-evening-standard-role-raises-potential-conflicts-of-interest-10805063
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    edited March 2017

    Incidentally, I think the suggestion that the Standard under Osborne's no-doubt charismatic leadership will be hostile to Sadiq Khan is likely to prove very far from the mark. I'd expect rather the reverse, in fact.

    But, but... what about the huuuuge differences between the two major parties at GE2015?!

    Your Oval Office announcements about the devastation a labour govt would have caused to our portfolios?! ☺
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118

    Mr. Blue, most of them won't notice. As Cameron once said, Twitter isn't Britain, and I doubt Asian Network is one of the more watched (listened to?) channels.

    I agree it's disturbing.

    Edited extra bit: maybe not de jure, Mr. Thompson. How many papers and broadcasters reproduced the Hebdo covers after the murders?

    There are about 50 devoted Asian channels on Sky, something for everyone
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,712
    TOPPING said:


    So what tag shall we use for this GO-ES story?

    #gogate

    #editorgate

    #3jobgate

    Actually, scratch that last one, the way things are going it might be out of date soon.

    the curious death of the Evening Standard
    hurting much?
    not in the least, I find it all hugely amusing

    the upside must be GO is on his way out since his multijobbing is ultimately untenable

    a good day for the UK
  • david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,990
    edited March 2017

    Sean_F said:


    The divide is a false one, of course. Those that live in the country aren't bumpkins, and neither are those living in the capital all effete. It's only those who don't visit or live or work in either (I do both: work in London, live in the country and visit all over the UK - usually rural mini-breaks) that think in such terms.

    There is plenty that unites us.

    My point stands though: London doesn't just belong to the transient Londoners who currently happen to live in London, it belongs to the whole country, and is serviced by it and which services it in turn, so I do not believe it has any right to independence.

    It *does* have a right to be involved in the national conversation, respected and, the EU referendum result aside (perhaps) it is.

    Your assertion that "There is plenty that unites us" is one that is trotted out a lot by those on both sides. Yet it is never backed up with any concrete examples.
    If London did gain independence, with the way people vote Jezza would be the London PM.
    I expect that Barnet, Hillingdon, Havering, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Bexley, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Westminster would want to secede back into England.
    Wouldn't that produce about ten customs checks on the District Line?
    I'm quite interested in the logic, since, for example, Kensington and Westminster voted over 2:1 for Remain. I think Sean has just chosen places that he feels should belong to little England without any reference to underlying facts.
    Leave/Remain is a relatively trivial division as these things go.

    Amused at the pejorative use of the phrase Little England by a London independencer.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,111
    I am interested to know what the rank & file Cons MPs think of the appointment.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,490
    It wasn't frightening when it was giving him stonking great majorities, was it?

  • CyanCyan Posts: 1,262
    Pulpstar said:

    Cyan said:

    Latest Opinionway poll puts Le Pen at 28% in R1, and in the runoff at 41% against Macron and 45% against Fillon.

    Goodo, hopefully she'll move back into sub 4s again so I can relay trade her.
    OK, but in polls by Opinionway Le Pen's figures are currently at her best ever. (Equal best, in the case of a runoff against Macron.)
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,111

    TOPPING said:


    So what tag shall we use for this GO-ES story?

    #gogate

    #editorgate

    #3jobgate

    Actually, scratch that last one, the way things are going it might be out of date soon.

    the curious death of the Evening Standard
    hurting much?
    not in the least, I find it all hugely amusing

    the upside must be GO is on his way out since his multijobbing is ultimately untenable

    a good day for the UK
    "...not in the least..." through gritted teeth! V funny.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,490
    Anyway, now that it's clear that the meritocracy we live in is one where a total lack of knowledge and experience is no bar to a job, I'm expecting to be appointed Editor of the Times this evening, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons on Monday and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on Tuesday.

    After all, I've written a few thread headers, had more than 10 operations and have an Economics degree. In truth, I'm over qualified.

    God knows what I'll do with the rest of my free time, though.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,712
    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:


    So what tag shall we use for this GO-ES story?

    #gogate

    #editorgate

    #3jobgate

    Actually, scratch that last one, the way things are going it might be out of date soon.

    the curious death of the Evening Standard
    hurting much?
    not in the least, I find it all hugely amusing

    the upside must be GO is on his way out since his multijobbing is ultimately untenable

    a good day for the UK
    "...not in the least..." through gritted teeth! V funny.
    I dont live in London, it's bubble land it doesnt affect me

    I can only note your problem with dog mess has just got bigger
  • david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,990
    Cyclefree said:

    Anyway, now that it's clear that the meritocracy we live in is one where a total lack of knowledge and experience is no bar to a job, I'm expecting to be appointed Editor of the Times this evening, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons on Monday and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on Tuesday.

    After all, I've written a few thread headers, had more than 10 operations and have an Economics degree. In truth, I'm over qualified.

    God knows what I'll do with the rest of my free time, though.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer. You never know: there might be a vacancy soon.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 63,547
    Seems likely Osborne will be out by 2020. His seat is going and why would any constituency party be interested in taking on someone who clearly wasn't interested anymore?

    Whole thing is bizarre as he has gone out of his way to say, 'Dave may have gone, but I'm staying - who knows where my parliamentary career will go' etc etc.
  • Carolus_RexCarolus_Rex Posts: 1,414
    Cyclefree said:

    Anyway, now that it's clear that the meritocracy we live in is one where a total lack of knowledge and experience is no bar to a job, I'm expecting to be appointed Editor of the Times this evening, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons on Monday and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on Tuesday.

    After all, I've written a few thread headers, had more than 10 operations and have an Economics degree. In truth, I'm over qualified.

    God knows what I'll do with the rest of my free time, though.

    Have you considered standing for Parliament?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 63,547

    Cyclefree said:

    Anyway, now that it's clear that the meritocracy we live in is one where a total lack of knowledge and experience is no bar to a job, I'm expecting to be appointed Editor of the Times this evening, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons on Monday and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on Tuesday.

    After all, I've written a few thread headers, had more than 10 operations and have an Economics degree. In truth, I'm over qualified.

    God knows what I'll do with the rest of my free time, though.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer. You never know: there might be a vacancy soon.
    Gove said people are sick of experts. Newspaper proprietors clearly are.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,075
    I'd vote for Miss Cyclefree.

    Will you be standing as an independent, or as part of the Patrick Party?
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,075
    Mr. Borough, didn't Gove say people were fed up with experts who were consistently wrong? Didn't actually watch his interview with Faisal Islam.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,490

    Cyclefree said:

    Anyway, now that it's clear that the meritocracy we live in is one where a total lack of knowledge and experience is no bar to a job, I'm expecting to be appointed Editor of the Times this evening, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons on Monday and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on Tuesday.

    After all, I've written a few thread headers, had more than 10 operations and have an Economics degree. In truth, I'm over qualified.

    God knows what I'll do with the rest of my free time, though.

    Have you considered standing for Parliament?
    A number of people have suggested it. As a joke, I imagine.

    I am uncontrollable and know and speak my own mind plus I have more skeletons than cupboards to put them in. So the chances of me being chosen - even if I went for it - are about the same as the chances of me being picked for the UK Athletics team.

    If TSE ever becomes Benevolent Dictator I shall be his Consigliere and tell him what to do.

  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,712
    Cyclefree said:

    Cyclefree said:

    Anyway, now that it's clear that the meritocracy we live in is one where a total lack of knowledge and experience is no bar to a job, I'm expecting to be appointed Editor of the Times this evening, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons on Monday and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on Tuesday.

    After all, I've written a few thread headers, had more than 10 operations and have an Economics degree. In truth, I'm over qualified.

    God knows what I'll do with the rest of my free time, though.

    Have you considered standing for Parliament?
    A number of people have suggested it. As a joke, I imagine.

    I am uncontrollable and know and speak my own mind plus I have more skeletons than cupboards to put them in. So the chances of me being chosen - even if I went for it - are about the same as the chances of me being picked for the UK Athletics team.

    If TSE ever becomes Benevolent Dictator I shall be his Consigliere and tell him what to do.

    I suspect he's thinking more of a dominatrix
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Cyclefree said:

    Cyclefree said:

    Anyway, now that it's clear that the meritocracy we live in is one where a total lack of knowledge and experience is no bar to a job, I'm expecting to be appointed Editor of the Times this evening, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons on Monday and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on Tuesday.

    After all, I've written a few thread headers, had more than 10 operations and have an Economics degree. In truth, I'm over qualified.

    God knows what I'll do with the rest of my free time, though.

    Have you considered standing for Parliament?
    A number of people have suggested it. As a joke, I imagine.

    I am uncontrollable and know and speak my own mind plus I have more skeletons than cupboards to put them in. So the chances of me being chosen - even if I went for it - are about the same as the chances of me being picked for the UK Athletics team.

    If TSE ever becomes Benevolent Dictator I shall be his Consigliere and tell him what to do.

    Come the revolution, my ambition is to be the first one against the wall.
  • Cyclefree said:

    Cyclefree said:

    Anyway, now that it's clear that the meritocracy we live in is one where a total lack of knowledge and experience is no bar to a job, I'm expecting to be appointed Editor of the Times this evening, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons on Monday and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on Tuesday.

    After all, I've written a few thread headers, had more than 10 operations and have an Economics degree. In truth, I'm over qualified.

    God knows what I'll do with the rest of my free time, though.

    Have you considered standing for Parliament?
    A number of people have suggested it. As a joke, I imagine.

    I am uncontrollable and know and speak my own mind plus I have more skeletons than cupboards to put them in. So the chances of me being chosen - even if I went for it - are about the same as the chances of me being picked for the UK Athletics team.

    If TSE ever becomes Benevolent Dictator I shall be his Consigliere and tell him what to do.

    Good. Someone will need to.
    Just like the Portuguese chap who died thinking he was still in charge when power had long since been moved away.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,111
    Cyclefree said:

    Anyway, now that it's clear that the meritocracy we live in is one where a total lack of knowledge and experience is no bar to a job, I'm expecting to be appointed Editor of the Times this evening, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons on Monday and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on Tuesday.

    After all, I've written a few thread headers, had more than 10 operations and have an Economics degree. In truth, I'm over qualified.

    God knows what I'll do with the rest of my free time, though.

    Come on now. He is a hugely important figure in modern politics, hugely intelligent, hugely influential, in fact, let me rewrite that. He is [hugely (important + intelligent + influential + other stuff)].

    As a punter you have to be pleased that he now has a platform which has such a reach.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,111

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:


    So what tag shall we use for this GO-ES story?

    #gogate

    #editorgate

    #3jobgate

    Actually, scratch that last one, the way things are going it might be out of date soon.

    the curious death of the Evening Standard
    hurting much?
    not in the least, I find it all hugely amusing

    the upside must be GO is on his way out since his multijobbing is ultimately untenable

    a good day for the UK
    "...not in the least..." through gritted teeth! V funny.
    I dont live in London, it's bubble land it doesnt affect me

    I can only note your problem with dog mess has just got bigger
    digging. stop.
  • glwglw Posts: 10,010
    Cyclefree said:

    Cyclefree said:

    Anyway, now that it's clear that the meritocracy we live in is one where a total lack of knowledge and experience is no bar to a job, I'm expecting to be appointed Editor of the Times this evening, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons on Monday and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on Tuesday.

    After all, I've written a few thread headers, had more than 10 operations and have an Economics degree. In truth, I'm over qualified.

    God knows what I'll do with the rest of my free time, though.

    Have you considered standing for Parliament?
    A number of people have suggested it. As a joke, I imagine.

    I am uncontrollable and know and speak my own mind plus I have more skeletons than cupboards to put them in. So the chances of me being chosen - even if I went for it - are about the same as the chances of me being picked for the UK Athletics team.

    If TSE ever becomes Benevolent Dictator I shall be his Consigliere and tell him what to do.

    You'd get my vote that's for sure.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,712

    Cyclefree said:

    Cyclefree said:

    Anyway, now that it's clear that the meritocracy we live in is one where a total lack of knowledge and experience is no bar to a job, I'm expecting to be appointed Editor of the Times this evening, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons on Monday and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on Tuesday.

    After all, I've written a few thread headers, had more than 10 operations and have an Economics degree. In truth, I'm over qualified.

    God knows what I'll do with the rest of my free time, though.

    Have you considered standing for Parliament?
    A number of people have suggested it. As a joke, I imagine.

    I am uncontrollable and know and speak my own mind plus I have more skeletons than cupboards to put them in. So the chances of me being chosen - even if I went for it - are about the same as the chances of me being picked for the UK Athletics team.

    If TSE ever becomes Benevolent Dictator I shall be his Consigliere and tell him what to do.

    Come the revolution, my ambition is to be the first one against the wall.
    knee tremblers are rarely as good as you imagine
  • Animal_pbAnimal_pb Posts: 608

    Cyclefree said:

    Cyclefree said:

    Anyway, now that it's clear that the meritocracy we live in is one where a total lack of knowledge and experience is no bar to a job, I'm expecting to be appointed Editor of the Times this evening, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons on Monday and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on Tuesday.

    After all, I've written a few thread headers, had more than 10 operations and have an Economics degree. In truth, I'm over qualified.

    God knows what I'll do with the rest of my free time, though.

    Have you considered standing for Parliament?
    A number of people have suggested it. As a joke, I imagine.

    I am uncontrollable and know and speak my own mind plus I have more skeletons than cupboards to put them in. So the chances of me being chosen - even if I went for it - are about the same as the chances of me being picked for the UK Athletics team.

    If TSE ever becomes Benevolent Dictator I shall be his Consigliere and tell him what to do.

    Come the revolution, my ambition is to be the first one against the wall.
    Who are you expecting to be leading this revolution? Outraged clients?
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,290
    Well, George Osborne isn't my MP - he's in the neighbouring constituency. But if I was a Tory voter in Tatton (like, for example, my parents) I'd consider this a far bigger betrayal than had he decided to cross the floor. He's said he's going to be 'the voice of London'. I consider myself quite articulate, but I'm struggling for words to express my feelings towards him now. "Piss off George, you big fucking ponce" start to get close. But, you know, stronger.
    The voice of London, indeed. You're supposed to be representing Tatton, George.
    What. A. Twat.

    I don't know how the local party feels, but is there any mechanism for forcing a by-election?

  • TOPPING said:

    I am interested to know what the rank & file Cons MPs think of the appointment.

    As a rank and file conservative I think he should stand down - too much of a conflict but more important an insult to his constituents.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,111

    TOPPING said:

    I am interested to know what the rank & file Cons MPs think of the appointment.

    As a rank and file conservative I think he should stand down - too much of a conflict but more important an insult to his constituents.
    You're an MP? I'm a rank and file Conservative (and conservative); our views are ten a penny.
  • Carolus_RexCarolus_Rex Posts: 1,414
    Cyclefree said:

    Cyclefree said:

    Anyway, now that it's clear that the meritocracy we live in is one where a total lack of knowledge and experience is no bar to a job, I'm expecting to be appointed Editor of the Times this evening, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons on Monday and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on Tuesday.

    After all, I've written a few thread headers, had more than 10 operations and have an Economics degree. In truth, I'm over qualified.

    God knows what I'll do with the rest of my free time, though.

    Have you considered standing for Parliament?
    A number of people have suggested it. As a joke, I imagine.

    I am uncontrollable and know and speak my own mind plus I have more skeletons than cupboards to put them in. So the chances of me being chosen - even if I went for it - are about the same as the chances of me being picked for the UK Athletics team.

    If TSE ever becomes Benevolent Dictator I shall be his Consigliere and tell him what to do.

    Why would TSE (or anyone else) want to become Benevolent Dictator?

    Dictator maybe, but benevolent? Where's the fun in that?
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 21,769
    Standards drop
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,490

    Cyclefree said:

    Cyclefree said:

    Anyway, now that it's clear that the meritocracy we live in is one where a total lack of knowledge and experience is no bar to a job, I'm expecting to be appointed Editor of the Times this evening, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons on Monday and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on Tuesday.

    After all, I've written a few thread headers, had more than 10 operations and have an Economics degree. In truth, I'm over qualified.

    God knows what I'll do with the rest of my free time, though.

    Have you considered standing for Parliament?
    A number of people have suggested it. As a joke, I imagine.

    I am uncontrollable and know and speak my own mind plus I have more skeletons than cupboards to put them in. So the chances of me being chosen - even if I went for it - are about the same as the chances of me being picked for the UK Athletics team.

    If TSE ever becomes Benevolent Dictator I shall be his Consigliere and tell him what to do.

    I suspect he's thinking more of a dominatrix
    And you think I couldn't do that?

  • CyanCyan Posts: 1,262
    At the moment, two French presidential debates are scheduled for Monday: one on TV hosted by TF1, the other on Facebook hosted by Explicite. Arthaud, Cheminade and Poutou say they will attend the Explicite one, assuming in Cheminade and Poutou's cases that they get enough nominations. Explicite have also invited Dupont-Aignan and Asselineau but they have yet to confirm whether they'll take part.

    Asselineau is calling for invitees to the TF1 debate - the top five: Macron, Fillon, Le Pen, Mélenchon, and Hamon - to withdraw from it.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,290

    TOPPING said:

    I am interested to know what the rank & file Cons MPs think of the appointment.

    As a rank and file conservative I think he should stand down - too much of a conflict but more important an insult to his constituents.
    Well said - exactly. I hope your counterparts in Tatton feel the same.
  • BojabobBojabob Posts: 642
    Whenever London independence is raised on PB, the punters come up with cruel and unusual ways of placing Our World's Capital under siege. I see a malign dam has been proposed today. Next time, I expect to hear of some sort of giant tarpaulin being hoist from Croydon to Enfield, to shut out the light.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,712
    Cyclefree said:

    Cyclefree said:

    Cyclefree said:

    Anyway, now that it's clear that the meritocracy we live in is one where a total lack of knowledge and experience is no bar to a job, I'm expecting to be appointed Editor of the Times this evening, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons on Monday and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England on Tuesday.

    After all, I've written a few thread headers, had more than 10 operations and have an Economics degree. In truth, I'm over qualified.

    God knows what I'll do with the rest of my free time, though.

    Have you considered standing for Parliament?
    A number of people have suggested it. As a joke, I imagine.

    I am uncontrollable and know and speak my own mind plus I have more skeletons than cupboards to put them in. So the chances of me being chosen - even if I went for it - are about the same as the chances of me being picked for the UK Athletics team.

    If TSE ever becomes Benevolent Dictator I shall be his Consigliere and tell him what to do.

    I suspect he's thinking more of a dominatrix
    And you think I couldn't do that?

    it's rather I doubt Eagles could afford the hourly rate :-)
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 64,122
    edited March 2017
    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    I am interested to know what the rank & file Cons MPs think of the appointment.

    As a rank and file conservative I think he should stand down - too much of a conflict but more important an insult to his constituents.
    You're an MP? I'm a rank and file Conservative (and conservative); our views are ten a penny.
    Missed the bit about MP's but I expect my view will be fairly close to most MP's. It is unacceptable
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,111

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    I am interested to know what the rank & file Cons MPs think of the appointment.

    As a rank and file conservative I think he should stand down - too much of a conflict but more important an insult to his constituents.
    You're an MP? I'm a rank and file Conservative (and conservative); our views are ten a penny.
    Missed the bit about MP's but I expect my view will be fairly close to most MP's. It is unacceptable
    @Big_G_NorthWales: voice of Conservative MPs. Good to know.
This discussion has been closed.