May surely cannot go into a GE with Labour promising to keep the pensions triple lock and not raise taxes (up to a certain level of income) and yet the Conservatives not making the same commitments.
If she does, she'll be attacked relentlessly.
Anything could happen.
She could, and she should - with the leads she has in the polls, particularly the personal comparisons on leadership and economic competence, she should still walk away with a sizable increase in majority even if Labour promises to retain those policies.
Would that not be better for the country rather than committing to poor policies to get a larger majority, then be forced into embarrassing u-turns later? (If one thinks they are good policies, of course that is a different matter)
Preposterous bollocks (just like the Daily Express stories that claim the opposite). Trump is a narcissist with the attention span of his handbag designing daughter. The USA will pursue free trade agreements with whoever it can, and whoever it benefits, as and when.
The Times is morphing, rather sadly, into the contrary, broadsheet version of the Daily Mail, in its anti-Brexit positioning.
To get a decent objective view of Brexit one is forced to read the more boring, business pages of the FT. Incredibly.
The Times, seems to have, moved to a more anti US/ left wing position, since the independent stopped printing. most of the reads of the pint edition seem to have moved to the Times, and the times seems keen to accommodate them.
Maybe I'm just being cynical?
The Times backed Remain - though in fairness, they are carrying the story about the UK being unhappy wth the inferior standards of animal welfare within the EU with a potential ban on exports for slaughter in the offing.
It looks like EU religious exemptions for slaughter might be in the UK's firing line as well.
My assessment of the US national interest on trade deals with the EU and UK is that they will want both, ideally as soon as possible.
The EU is the larger economic prize, but it will be harder to negotiate, take longer and come with lots of exclusions and conditions.
The UK will offer deeper and more flexible access to its markets, and strike that deal more quickly.
Meanwhile, the UK and EU are planning to settle themselves within 5 years. So I imagine the US would want the new order to come into effect roundabout the same time, ideally.
Far too many people here seem absolutely convinced that no unlikely thing can ever happen when, if the last year at has taught us nothing else, we ought to know that unlikely s**t happens all the time.
The Tories getting 50% in the election is quite unlikely...
Why do you say that?
My 2 cents:
1. The historical trends are unfavourable. No party has gained 50% since WW2, and the winning party %age has trended sharply downhill.
2. The Tories got 36% just 2 years ago. Britain is an equable country and we are an equable people. I can't see the Tories putting on 14% in such a short space of time, especially when so little has changed. Don't laugh: Labour were already pretty useless last time, and Brexit although huge is still only one factor among many others.
3. Although Labour are tanking, the Tories aren't the only game in town. There is still the LibDems, Greens and Ukip, so ex-Labour voters do have other options. Having said that, it's likely that none of those parties, especially Ukip, will put up a full slate of candidates, so that'll push the Tories a bit closer to 50.
Theresa May is calculating that large numbers of voters (and the press) have nowhere else to go, so is seeking as free a hand as possible. She is prepared to sacrifice some seats to give herself the power to do more without having made inconvenient commitments.
Good strategy.
Dave went for that strategy in 2010.
Should we start bracing ourselves for Tim Farron as Deputy PM?
Sky just reported on UKIP in Dagenham and UKIP voters are going conservative. Indeed over the last few days Sky and BBC live reports from across the Country show a huge move to Theresa May - the last time I witnessed anything like this was Tony Blair in 1997
It won't happen if she protects aid and leaves the door open to more tax on Mr and Mrs Average and pensioners.
Preposterous bollocks (just like the Daily Express stories that claim the opposite). Trump is a narcissist with the attention span of his handbag designing daughter. The USA will pursue free trade agreements with whoever it can, and whoever it benefits, as and when.
The Times is morphing, rather sadly, into the contrary, broadsheet version of the Daily Mail, in its anti-Brexit positioning.
To get a decent objective view of Brexit one is forced to read the more boring, business pages of the FT. Incredibly.
Isn't The Times "your" paper? You'll be going the same way as Kelvin Mackenzie if you aren't careful!
Please don't quote me (really). I love my paper and honour my employer, Mr Rupert Murdoch (PBUH). And I absolutely love saying I WRITE FOR THE TIMES. Yes. THE TIMES OF LONDON. All over the world, this opens doors and eyes. Fab.
But I suspect a small bunch of the editorial team have been seized by Remoaner madness.
Hopefully they will revert to sanity soon.
Times increasing its cover price by 20p from tomorrow
Just took out an 8 week trial for £8 so covers the campaign and option of £24 per month if I want to continue
There is little reason why information transfer needs to happen in a classroom at all these days. The best method, particularly for High School onwards, is to use class-time for discussion, engagement and selection of interesting problems to address, and let the kids research the information on their own (individually or in study groups) outside. Presentations of their work can then be used to assess the quality of their information sources, if that is a worry, but still with more emphasis on critiquing and improving their ability to manipulate data and present it in useful ways, rather than simply proof of data acquisition.
"The Blob" in the UK is essentially conservative, but in 15-25 years time I can imagine that the learning experience here will be completely transformed - and the teaching profession with it.
Another interesting factor is big online learning providers (likely to be tied in with existing educational publishers, and/or exam boards) using AI/Machine Learning perhaps supplemented with cheap, well-educated English-speaking online tutors from developing countries like India to make internet-based learning far more interactive than current offerings allow. (We are talking a world of difference beyond Khan Academy or MyMaths and the likes, certainly within the next 10 years. May suit some subjects more than others, of course.)
I understand your daughter did very well essentially working for herself (in a carefully structured environment). I imagine she found the transition to independent learning at college much easier to boot.
Just graduating, Deans List from GWU (one of the top schools), very early entry into medical school and invited to apply for Rhodes and Marshal scholarships. Slacker.
But you are right, her experience in distance learning helped her immeasurably in the transition to college.
I highly recommend a short book - A New Culture of Learning - Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change (Thomas and Brown, 2011)
Sky just reported on UKIP in Dagenham and UKIP voters are going conservative. Indeed over the last few days Sky and BBC live reports from across the Country show a huge move to Theresa May - the last time I witnessed anything like this was Tony Blair in 1997
Corbyn potentially seven weeks from No. 10 is a very different proposition from who you might vote for in 2020.
That Sun front page just makes me want to vote Conservative. Clever.
It makes me more inclined to than the 'crush the saboteurs' Mail page, but I wonder about the wider impact - how much wiggle room are these new TMay fans prepared to give her before they bolt?
You have to put that in the context of UKIP getting 12.6%. What I find most extraordinary is that anecdotally many floating protest voters - the archetypal none-of-the-aboves - seem to be going for May.
May surely cannot go into a GE with Labour promising to keep the pensions triple lock and not raise taxes (up to a certain level of income) and yet the Conservatives not making the same commitments.
If she does, she'll be attacked relentlessly.
Anything could happen.
My guess is she's dipping her toe in the water to see the reaction. She didn't rule out the triple lock, sensibly. Regardless, there's nothing on this Earth that will propel Jeremy Corbyn to Downing Street. May could increase taxes by 50% and he still wouldn't make it.
Theresa May is calculating that large numbers of voters (and the press) have nowhere else to go, so is seeking as free a hand as possible. She is prepared to sacrifice some seats to give herself the power to do more without having made inconvenient commitments.
Good strategy.
Dave went for that strategy in 2010.
Should we start bracing ourselves for Tim Farron as Deputy PM?
Sky just reported on UKIP in Dagenham and UKIP voters are going conservative. Indeed over the last few days Sky and BBC live reports from across the Country show a huge move to Theresa May - the last time I witnessed anything like this was Tony Blair in 1997
It won't happen if she protects aid and leaves the door open to more tax on Mr and Mrs Average and pensioners.
And that will pale into insignificance with Corbyn's 500 billion bill
The Sun is quite right. FFS exclude students from the migration stats, forget the tens of thousands shit, concentrate on what is right for the UK, not an abstract figure. And give up the 0.7% aid crap.
Suggests she will aim to be more Merkel than Thatcher but she wins either way
Preposterous bollocks (just like the Daily Express stories that claim the opposite). Trump is a narcissist with the attention span of his handbag designing daughter. The USA will pursue free trade agreements with whoever it can, and whoever it benefits, as and when.
The Times is morphing, rather sadly, into the contrary, broadsheet version of the Daily Mail, in its anti-Brexit positioning.
To get a decent objective view of Brexit one is forced to read the more boring, business pages of the FT. Incredibly.
Indeed to state Trump is prepared not to rule out an EU trade deal means nothing considering it took the EU 7 years to even do a deal with Canada and it has to get through all the EU institutions and Congress
This is the Sun throwing their weight around. The Mail will likely do the same. Regardless of the merits of the policy proposals, May should be using this opportunity to win the election entirely on her own terms, and give her freedom to govern as she wants. Changing policy now because it angers the Sun just indicates that she will be at their beck and call throughout her premiership.
The Sun is quite right. FFS exclude students from the migration stats, forget the tens of thousands shit, concentrate on what is right for the UK, not an abstract figure. And give up the 0.7% aid crap.
Hammond is a disaster.
I continually fail to understand this attitude - May surely signs off on anything her Chancellor proposes, if you think he is a disaster, you think she is a disaster.
The papers will not be happy unless we pay no taxes at all while seeing no reduction in any service or investment, sooner or later a prime minister has to suck it up and either cut spending drastically, or tell their own supporters to deal with the rises already if they want to keep their own godsdamned spending, which you bet they do, since they moan like absolute babies whenever anything other than the foreign aid is proposed to be cut, and if any tax is proposed.
I'm part convinced the 0.7% is only kept as a sort of lightning rod. That its some kind of conjuring trick, as people are so angry about it they don't notice other things to be angry about.
Regardless, whinging about the 0.7% has become the right's version of 'NHS, NHS, NHS' to me - I can concede issues about it that may well need addressing, but I am just so sick and tired of the moaning.
I assume the potential tax rises are due to the projected fiscal squeeze of Brexit. The basic problem is that Leave was sold on a no cost prospectus. Mrs May hasn't yet dared to spell out the real compromises people will have to make as a consequence.
The Sun I think is wrong in saying the international aid budget will increase. Mrs May is committing to keeping it the same. I'm uncynical about Mrs May's motives in this instance. I believe she is doing what she thinks is right.
I think I might have to turn off all media and not read PB....knee knocking here at the thought of PM Corbyn.
You're this worried with a 20% poll lead? You have no need to be. The public rejected Brown and Miliband - they sure as hell aren't going to elect an unhinged, dimwitted, 70 year old far left terrorist sympathiser. These headlines are the early firing shots of a very long campaign. The Sun are sabre rattling - they don't want to see Corbyn in Downing Street any more than we do.
The Sun is quite right. FFS exclude students from the migration stats, forget the tens of thousands shit, concentrate on what is right for the UK, not an abstract figure. And give up the 0.7% aid crap.
Hammond is a disaster.
I continually fail to understand this attitude - May surely signs off on anything her Chancellor proposes, if you think he is a disaster, you think she is a disaster.
The papers will not be happy unless we pay no taxes at all while seeing no reduction in any service or investment, sooner or later a prime minister has to suck it up and either cut spending drastically, or tell their own supporters to deal with the rises already if they want to keep their own godsdamned spending, which you bet they do, since they moan like absolute babies whenever anything other than the foreign aid is proposed to be cut, and if any tax is proposed.
I'm part convinced the 0.7% is only kept as a sort of lightning rod. That its some kind of conjuring trick, as people are so angry about it they don't notice other things to be angry about.
Regardless, whinging about the 0.7% has become the right's version of 'NHS, NHS, NHS' to me - I can concede issues about it that may well need addressing, but I am just so sick and tired of the moaning.
I assume the potential tax rises are due to the projected fiscal squeeze of Brexit. The basic problem is that Leave was sold on a no cost prospectus. Mrs May hasn't yet dared to spell out the real compromises people will have to make as a consequence.
The Sun I think is wrong in saying the international aid budget will increase. Mrs May is committing to keeping it the same. I'm uncynical about Mrs May's motives in this instance. I believe she is doing what she thinks is right.
Isn't she committed to keeping the percentage of GDP the same? Which means the budget grows if GDP grows?
Unless we have five years of no GDP growth it means the budget will grow - and if there is five year of no GDP growth we'd have far greater worries than what the aid budget is.
The Sun is quite right. FFS exclude students from the migration stats, forget the tens of thousands shit, concentrate on what is right for the UK, not an abstract figure. And give up the 0.7% aid crap.
Hammond is a disaster.
I continually fail to understand this attitude - May surely signs off on anything her Chancellor proposes, if you think he is a disaster, you think she is a disaster.
The papers will not be happy unless we pay no taxes at all while seeing no reduction in any service or investment, sooner or later a prime minister has to suck it up and either cut spending drastically, or tell their own supporters to deal with the rises already if they want to keep their own godsdamned spending, which you bet they do, since they moan like absolute babies whenever anything other than the foreign aid is proposed to be cut, and if any tax is proposed.
I'm part convinced the 0.7% is only kept as a sort of lightning rod. That its some kind of conjuring trick, as people are so angry about it they don't notice other things to be angry about.
Regardless, whinging about the 0.7% has become the right's version of 'NHS, NHS, NHS' to me - I can concede issues about it that may well need addressing, but I am just so sick and tired of the moaning.
The Sun I think is wrong in saying the international aid budget will increase. Mrs May is committing to keeping it the same..
I presume their reasoning will be that in order to keep it at 0.7% the sterling amount will go up.
The Sun is quite right. FFS exclude students from the migration stats, forget the tens of thousands shit, concentrate on what is right for the UK, not an abstract figure. And give up the 0.7% aid crap.
Hammond is a disaster.
I continually fail to understand this attitude - May surely signs off on anything her Chancellor proposes, if you think he is a disaster, you think she is a disaster.
The papers will not be happy unless we pay no taxes at all while seeing no reduction in any service or investment, sooner or later a prime minister has to suck it up and either cut spending drastically, or tell their own supporters to deal with the rises already if they want to keep their own godsdamned spending, which you bet they do, since they moan like absolute babies whenever anything other than the foreign aid is proposed to be cut, and if any tax is proposed.
I'm part convinced the 0.7% is only kept as a sort of lightning rod. That its some kind of conjuring trick, as people are so angry about it they don't notice other things to be angry about.
Regardless, whinging about the 0.7% has become the right's version of 'NHS, NHS, NHS' to me - I can concede issues about it that may well need addressing, but I am just so sick and tired of the moaning.
I assume the potential tax rises are due to the projected fiscal squeeze of Brexit. The basic problem is that Leave was sold on a no cost prospectus. Mrs May hasn't yet dared to spell out the real compromises people will have to make as a consequence.
The Sun I think is wrong in saying the international aid budget will increase. Mrs May is committing to keeping it the same. I'm uncynical about Mrs May's motives in this instance. I believe she is doing what she thinks is right.
I listened to Theresa May today and she did confirm the foreign aid budget but a review will take place on how it is spent. She also said pensioners had had a £1250 rise (as a pensioner I can confirm that) but made no comment on the triple lock at all. As for tax it is just plain common sense.
This is the Sun throwing their weight around. The Mail will likely do the same. Regardless of the merits of the policy proposals, May should be using this opportunity to win the election entirely on her own terms, and give her freedom to govern as she wants. Changing policy now because it angers the Sun just indicates that she will be at their beck and call throughout her premiership.
Quite frankly, I'm glad they do.
If it weren't for challenge from the Mail, Sun and the Telegraph, most Conservative Prime Ministers would tack to the Left over time.
Looks like may and Hammond will turn against hard working successful people and increase handouts!!!
It's certainly going to be a very "hard sell" to hike taxes on working people, cut benefits to British pensioners, watch the NHS and schools systems fall into ruins whole continuing to shell out millions in foreign aid.
Presumably May and Hammond know what they're doing so we'll see how it shakes out....
Theresa May is calculating that large numbers of voters (and the press) have nowhere else to go, so is seeking as free a hand as possible. She is prepared to sacrifice some seats to give herself the power to do more without having made inconvenient commitments.
Good strategy.
Dave went for that strategy in 2010.
Should we start bracing ourselves for Tim Farron as Deputy PM?
Sky just reported on UKIP in Dagenham and UKIP voters are going conservative. Indeed over the last few days Sky and BBC live reports from across the Country show a huge move to Theresa May - the last time I witnessed anything like this was Tony Blair in 1997
It won't happen if she protects aid and leaves the door open to more tax on Mr and Mrs Average and pensioners.
And that will pale into insignificance with Corbyn's 500 billion bill
These people left Corbyn and Labour years ago. Labour are not a consideration.
What if labour start to go over 30% and the tories high 30% in future polls,should we be worried ;-)
In all seriousness I think that sort of trend will happen at some point, even if it does not get as close as that. There have been polls putting the lead at below 10, and even if an outlier there will be more outliers, and the Tories have had such a great start with 20+ leads, and Lab are statistically bound to have a good day or two across 7 weeks. If the LDs have good locals and the Tories not as good as thought, there'll be more gentle nerves, so there will be opportunity for people to think Con won't win outright, or at least not by massive amounts.
Yeah, you mentioned something about a polonium pill?
I also suggested there might well be an antidote to that!
Chelation is the only know way to remove ingested polonium from the body. Given the high energy of its alpha radiation, I doubt whether chelation can be effective within a timeframe that might save a patient who has been deliberately poisoned with it.
May surely cannot go into a GE with Labour promising to keep the pensions triple lock and not raise taxes (up to a certain level of income) and yet the Conservatives not making the same commitments.
If she does, she'll be attacked relentlessly.
Anything could happen.
My guess is she's dipping her toe in the water to see the reaction. She didn't rule out the triple lock, sensibly. Regardless, there's nothing on this Earth that will propel Jeremy Corbyn to Downing Street. May could increase taxes by 50% and he still wouldn't make it.
Very true great opportunity to raise whatever she likes Stick VAT on new house building over a certain amount in certain areas as it is already on anyone wishing to build an extension.
Tyke johnno I agree CON are imploding like Huddersfield promotion push! We need clear working class right wing policies on helping hard working class people or we will go sub 30%!
Remember no conservative government has ever increased its share of the vote two elections in a row congratulations pm corbyn
No conservative government have had the bonus of upto 4 million UKIP votes
You're kidding yourself if you think they are going to land in the Tories' laps if May appears to be continuity Cameron.
I am somewhat confused as to whether May wants to be the continuity Cameron or Cameron is shit candidate. Her biggest supporters are definitely in the latter group, but others insist she is still broadly the former.
Remember no conservative government has ever increased its share of the vote two elections in a row congratulations pm corbyn
No conservative government have had the bonus of upto 4 million UKIP votes
You're kidding yourself if you think they are going to land in the Tories' laps if May appears to be continuity Cameron.
I am somewhat confused as to whether May wants to be the continuity Cameron or Cameron is shit candidate. Her biggest supporters are definitely in the latter group, but others insist she is still broadly the former.
I think she's viewed as the custodian of sensible Brexit in the true spirit of Brexit by those who support her.
Tyke johnno I agree CON are imploding like Huddersfield promotion push! We need clear working class right wing policies on helping hard working class people or we will go sub 30%!
What if labour start to go over 30% and the tories high 30% in future polls,should we be worried ;-)
Pathetic start to the tories campaign and a decent start from corbyn,when does lynton crosby take charge ;-)
If people want to cut overseas aid and taxes and immigration they certainly won't go to Corbyn if they don't think May is giving enough red meat, they will go to UKIP and at least that means May has more of a mandate of her own without being dependent on the right
PISA, who collect comparative international data on educational outcomes, do so to identify common trends amongst the best performing education systems and promote best practice. They reckon class sizes don't make a difference but teacher pay does. The implication being that you're better using your inevitably limited education budgets to fund fewer but better teachers.
Putting it another way, if teachers want those generous salaries, the deal is they take on larger classes.
I'm pretty sure parents are keen on smaller class sizes however.
The Sun is quite right. FFS exclude students from the migration stats, forget the tens of thousands shit, concentrate on what is right for the UK, not an abstract figure. And give up the 0.7% aid crap.
Hammond is a disaster.
I continually fail to understand this attitude - May surely signs off on anything her Chancellor proposes, if you think he is a disaster, you think she is a disaster.
The papers will not be happy unless we pay no taxes at all while seeing no reduction in any service or investment, sooner or later a prime minister has to suck it up and either cut spending drastically, or tell their own supporters to deal with the rises already if they want to keep their own godsdamned spending, which you bet they do, since they moan like absolute babies whenever anything other than the foreign aid is proposed to be cut, and if any tax is proposed.
I'm part convinced the 0.7% is only kept as a sort of lightning rod. That its some kind of conjuring trick, as people are so angry about it they don't notice other things to be angry about.
Regardless, whinging about the 0.7% has become the right's version of 'NHS, NHS, NHS' to me - I can concede issues about it that may well need addressing, but I am just so sick and tired of the moaning.
I assume the potential tax rises are due to the projected fiscal squeeze of Brexit. The basic problem is that Leave was sold on a no cost prospectus. Mrs May hasn't yet dared to spell out the real compromises people will have to make as a consequence.
The Sun I think is wrong in saying the international aid budget will increase. Mrs May is committing to keeping it the same. I'm uncynical about Mrs May's motives in this instance. I believe she is doing what she thinks is right.
Isn't she committed to keeping the percentage of GDP the same? Which means the budget grows if GDP grows?
Unless we have five years of no GDP growth it means the budget will grow - and if there is five year of no GDP growth we'd have far greater worries than what the aid budget is.
Yeah but the same inflationary uprating applies to everything. It's meaningless to say EVERY budget item is increasing.
What a difference a day makes, or even a few hours.
Reading the posts on here this evening (not least those of Ave_it who seems to have jumped ship) and you could easily convince yourself that the forthcoming GE is going to be a mightily close run thing!
PISA, who collect comparative international data on educational outcomes, do so to identify common trends amongst the best performing education systems and promote best practice. They reckon class sizes don't make a difference but teacher pay does. The implication being that you're better using your inevitably limited education budgets to fund fewer but better teachers.
Putting it another way, if teachers want those generous salaries, the deal is they take on larger classes.
I'm pretty sure parents are keen on smaller class sizes however.
I believe this is also the OECD prescription. Will try to avoid repeating points I made downthread but the I can't see this trade-off ever being explored in the UK, particularly with teachers also getting the additional planning/assessment/ongoing training time they get in some of the more successful countries taking the route of high class size/high pay/highly educated practitioners. If class sizes do go up, it'll be cost-cutting (or related, recruitment/retention) reasons alone.
For God sake,the con's should be on the front foot with 20% lead but what have had is theresa running away from tv debates,Theresa running away from pension lock,Theresa running away from tax hikes and the only firm hard stance is on oversea's aid - which is a vote loser in my opinion.
What we have got is corbyn on the front foot,pull your f-king finger out Theresa.
The Sun I think is wrong in saying the international aid budget will increase. Mrs May is committing to keeping it the same. I'm uncynical about Mrs May's motives in this instance. I believe she is doing what she thinks is right.
Isn't she committed to keeping the percentage of GDP the same? Which means the budget grows if GDP grows?
Unless we have five years of no GDP growth it means the budget will grow - and if there is five year of no GDP growth we'd have far greater worries than what the aid budget is.
Yeah but the same inflationary uprating applies to everything. It's meaningless to say EVERY budget item is increasing.
GDP grows in real terms, which means locking something as a percentage of GDP is not inflationary uprating. It is a real terms increase and that does not apply to everything.
If we average 2.5% real terms growth over the next five years (ambitious to be fair) then that means the budget will have increased by over 13% in real terms over the life of the Parliament.
PISA, who collect comparative international data on educational outcomes, do so to identify common trends amongst the best performing education systems and promote best practice. They reckon class sizes don't make a difference but teacher pay does. The implication being that you're better using your inevitably limited education budgets to fund fewer but better teachers.
Putting it another way, if teachers want those generous salaries, the deal is they take on larger classes.
I'm pretty sure parents are keen on smaller class sizes however.
I believe this is also the OECD prescription. Will try to avoid repeating points I made downthread but the I can't see this trade-off ever being explored in the UK, particularly with teachers also getting the additional planning/assessment/ongoing training time they get in some of the more successful countries taking the route of high class size/high pay/highly educated practitioners. If class sizes do go up, it'll be cost-cutting (or related, recruitment/retention) reasons alone.
I think Theresa May should increase the age for free bus passes from 60 to 65 and risk losing some votes. She can afford to lose a couple of seats if that's what happens.
For God sake,the con's should be on the front foot with 20% lead but what have had is theresa running away from tv debates,Theresa running away from pension lock,Theresa running away from tax hikes and the only firm hard stance is on oversea's aid - which is a vote loser in my opinion.
What we have got is corbyn on the front foot,pull your f-king finger out Theresa.
These posts are reminding me of Casino R's reported missives to Matthew Elliot during the referendum....
I think I might have to turn off all media and not read PB....knee knocking here at the thought of PM Corbyn.
You're this worried with a 20% poll lead? You have no need to be. The public rejected Brown and Miliband - they sure as hell aren't going to elect an unhinged, dimwitted, 70 year old far left terrorist sympathiser. These headlines are the early firing shots of a very long campaign. The Sun are sabre rattling - they don't want to see Corbyn in Downing Street any more than we do.
As Corporal Jones said 'don't panic!!'.
One of my Green voting, Corbyn sympathetic friends asked me for a prediction - I said Lab would really tank once the right wing tabs got their file of Loony Left Jez n' John stories from the 1980s out.
Most people aged over 45 living in England have a clear memory of an active PIRA targeting civilians, and won't be aware of Jezza's past associations as he was an insignificant backbencher.
The British public shat it in the polling booth at the prospect of Kinnock, as he was Welsh and ginger, so Chairman Jez has got no chance.
But I suspect a small bunch of the editorial team have been seized by Remoaner madness.
Or they are right, and you just haven't figured it out yet.
I'm a Protestant. They are Catholics. This is the Reformation. There isn't any "debate" to be had on matters of theology. I am intrinsically right, and you Remainers are, by definition, utterly wrong and loathsome, and condemned to eternal perdition.
This is where we are. Because we won the referendum. And you lost.
I spoke to my mother yesterday (very much lifelong suburban Tory voter, still anti Brexit but not considering LDs at all) and she was genuinely worried that Corbyn would get in via some sort of agreement with the LDs and SNP. She doesn't think the tories will win. I was quite surprised because it seems like such a foregone conclusion, but maybe that message hasn't caught on with the non anoraks yet?
Tyke johnno I agree CON are imploding like Huddersfield promotion push! We need clear working class right wing policies on helping hard working class people or we will go sub 30%!
Look, Theresa, I appreciate the policy changes, honestly.
Keeping foreign aid, lovely. Ending the triple lock for all pensioners except my Dad, fantastic.
Yes, I know, you'd rather have my vote than four million of those what did you call them, working class plebs. You really shouldn't be rude to those people who read the Sun and the Mail and drive white transit vans.
Well, I suppose, but the Conservative Party can't just be the Party of the daughters of clergymen, can it ?
You might be right - perhaps Mr Corbyn won't be so bad.
No, really, thanks for everything but I still won't be voting Conservative, sorry.
Regards to Philip - oh, he'll be voting Lib Dem too, will he ?
Comments
Would that not be better for the country rather than committing to poor policies to get a larger majority, then be forced into embarrassing u-turns later? (If one thinks they are good policies, of course that is a different matter)
The EU is the larger economic prize, but it will be harder to negotiate, take longer and come with lots of exclusions and conditions.
The UK will offer deeper and more flexible access to its markets, and strike that deal more quickly.
Meanwhile, the UK and EU are planning to settle themselves within 5 years. So I imagine the US would want the new order to come into effect roundabout the same time, ideally.
1. The historical trends are unfavourable. No party has gained 50% since WW2, and the winning party %age has trended sharply downhill.
2. The Tories got 36% just 2 years ago. Britain is an equable country and we are an equable people. I can't see the Tories putting on 14% in such a short space of time, especially when so little has changed. Don't laugh: Labour were already pretty useless last time, and Brexit although huge is still only one factor among many others.
3. Although Labour are tanking, the Tories aren't the only game in town. There is still the LibDems, Greens and Ukip, so ex-Labour voters do have other options. Having said that, it's likely that none of those parties, especially Ukip, will put up a full slate of candidates, so that'll push the Tories a bit closer to 50.
If I were a betting man I'd plump for 43%...
But you are right, her experience in distance learning helped her immeasurably in the transition to college.
I highly recommend a short book - A New Culture of Learning - Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change (Thomas and Brown, 2011)
https://www.amazon.com/New-Culture-Learning-Cultivating-Imagination/dp/1456458884
'Pollsters have gone off trackers, like sex, they prefer it good than quick'
The Sun I think is wrong in saying the international aid budget will increase. Mrs May is committing to keeping it the same. I'm uncynical about Mrs May's motives in this instance. I believe she is doing what she thinks is right.
As Corporal Jones said 'don't panic!!'.
Unless we have five years of no GDP growth it means the budget will grow - and if there is five year of no GDP growth we'd have far greater worries than what the aid budget is.
Pathetic start to the tories campaign and a decent start from corbyn,when does lynton crosby take charge ;-)
If it weren't for challenge from the Mail, Sun and the Telegraph, most Conservative Prime Ministers would tack to the Left over time.
Presumably May and Hammond know what they're doing so we'll see how it shakes out....
2) Populus do the fieldwork for Sir Lynton's polls I believe
Chelation is the only know way to remove ingested polonium from the body. Given the high energy of its alpha radiation, I doubt whether chelation can be effective within a timeframe that might save a patient who has been deliberately poisoned with it.
But you should remember
1) Polls cost a lot of money, especially the phone ones, and papers don't have finite budgets
2) Polling as a whole has been as accurate as a Imperial Storm Trooper in recent events.
Putting it another way, if teachers want those generous salaries, the deal is they take on larger classes.
I'm pretty sure parents are keen on smaller class sizes however.
https://twitter.com/alliehbnews/status/855541237125963778
I'm going to shut up now. I'm talking too much. Apologies one and all.
I'm sure we won't have to wait too long for Corbyn to get the brickbats chucked at him.
Reading the posts on here this evening (not least those of Ave_it who seems to have jumped ship) and you could easily convince yourself that the forthcoming GE is going to be a mightily close run thing!
What we have got is corbyn on the front foot,pull your f-king finger out Theresa.
If we average 2.5% real terms growth over the next five years (ambitious to be fair) then that means the budget will have increased by over 13% in real terms over the life of the Parliament.
The Brexiteers seem awfy quiet about this, especially given how vocal they were when Obama said it...
'Why you shouldn't expect a 1997 style landslide or even a 1983 style landslide this time'
It is entitled
'Why X will be the most important constituency result this general election'
I.e. Well meaning but entirely unnecessary :-)
Most people aged over 45 living in England have a clear memory of an active PIRA targeting civilians, and won't be aware of Jezza's past associations as he was an insignificant backbencher.
The British public shat it in the polling booth at the prospect of Kinnock, as he was Welsh and ginger, so Chairman Jez has got no chance.
The foreign secretary added, ‘I think the new President (of the United States) has said that he wants to put Britain at the front of the line’
Keeping foreign aid, lovely. Ending the triple lock for all pensioners except my Dad, fantastic.
Yes, I know, you'd rather have my vote than four million of those what did you call them, working class plebs. You really shouldn't be rude to those people who read the Sun and the Mail and drive white transit vans.
Well, I suppose, but the Conservative Party can't just be the Party of the daughters of clergymen, can it ?
You might be right - perhaps Mr Corbyn won't be so bad.
No, really, thanks for everything but I still won't be voting Conservative, sorry.
Regards to Philip - oh, he'll be voting Lib Dem too, will he ?
Good Night.