@jessicaelgot: One to watch - Labour pick JLM's @Jeremy_Newmark, former spox for chief rabbi, as candidate in Finchley & Golders Green
I've backed Labour @ 2-1 Hammersmith and 3-1 Westminster North, but I'd need a lobotomy before plunging into Golders Green even at 8-1. Le Pen more likely to win on Saturday than that happening.
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
While not being a fan of huge majorities, in addition to thinking perhaps one is necessary for Labour to learn its lesson, I almost wish Labour do worse for no reason other than from what I hear of Foot, even with the manifesto he had, he doesn't deserve to be the low bar for modern leaders leading their parties to massive defeats.
Major, Hague and Howard all did worse than Foot did in 1983 didn't they? At least in terms of seats won.
@bbclaurak: 'Bloody difficult woman' boast won't hurt with some voters-but if May wins, in long term it's precisely that approach that winds up Brussels
Tories 400+ seats is good value folks. Fill your boots.
Possible fly in the ointment is the Tory election expenses. Even then it comes down to sleazy cheating Tories versus the hopeless dimwits that is the Labour party. Very disappointed that the LDs are not making any headway.
Perhaps re-branding as Battyboy Haram was not the masterstroke it first looked?
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
LOSSES Southport (to Cons) Carshalton (to Cons) North Norfolk (to Cons) Richmond Park (to Cons) Leeds North West (to Lab - bit of a wildcard admittedly)
GAINS Twickenham (from Cons) Kingston & Surbiton (from Cons) Oxford West & Abingdon (from Cons) East Dunbartonshire (from SNP) Edinburgh West (from SNP)
Leaving them unchanged on 9 seats overall.
I can't see Leeds NW going Lab. It's a Remain facing constituency, and Greg had a pretty good lead over Labour.
I can't see Kingston & Surbiton going Yellow either.
And if you're going to use local defences to say that the LDs won't gain Cambridge, then you need to point to the LDs in Southport last year where they were up 7% on their 2012 vote share while the Conservatives fell back.
The difference is that, while it's fairly common for the Lib Dems to underperform local election results in GEs, it's far less common for them to overperform - especially by a margin of 20%.
I've also got a feeling May is a better fit for Merseyside than Cameron & Osborne were -- she's less obviously Southern(!!) or supercilious, and her classy handling of the Hillsborough inquiries earned her some goodwill round these parts even among people who usually hate the Tories.
I think that Merseyside will be below average swing to the Tories. Even Ed Miliband made gains there.
The LDs should get a good bit of useful publicity out of the Local elections next weekend. That and the collapse of UKIP are pretty certain to dominate next weeks news. Both are good reasons to celebrate of course!
While not being a fan of huge majorities, in addition to thinking perhaps one is necessary for Labour to learn its lesson, I almost wish Labour do worse for no reason other than from what I hear of Foot, even with the manifesto he had, he doesn't deserve to be the low bar for modern leaders leading their parties to massive defeats.
Major, Hague and Howard all did worse than Foot did in 1983 didn't they? At least in terms of seats won.
I was thinking of Labour, but you're right I believe.
@jessicaelgot: One to watch - Labour pick JLM's @Jeremy_Newmark, former spox for chief rabbi, as candidate in Finchley & Golders Green
I've backed Labour @ 2-1 Hammersmith and 3-1 Westminster North, but I'd need a lobotomy before plunging into Golders Green even at 8-1. Le Pen more likely to win on Saturday than that happening.
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
In that case make it optional and we'll see how many agree with you
@bbclaurak: 'Bloody difficult woman' boast won't hurt with some voters-but if May wins, in long term it's precisely that approach that winds up Brussels
Everything winds them up. They hate that national politicians have to play to national audiences sometimes, and they treat with contempt anyone who does it. And who cares? The EU have set out their stall of 'You get nothing and you pay handsomely for that' and are promising not to bend - unless they are now saying they were going to bend, how can they get harsher?
She claimed she forgot the numbers because it was her sixth interview of the day...
@theousherwood: Diane Abbott's interview on LBC was the third of five, after Today and Sky. GMB and BBC Breakfast followed. Plus 2 clips for ITV and C5.
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
Yet they can't be arsed with a local elections show this year. Harumph.
@jessicaelgot: One to watch - Labour pick JLM's @Jeremy_Newmark, former spox for chief rabbi, as candidate in Finchley & Golders Green
I've backed Labour @ 2-1 Hammersmith and 3-1 Westminster North, but I'd need a lobotomy before plunging into Golders Green even at 8-1. Le Pen more likely to win on Saturday than that happening.
Would be the shock of the night if it did happen.
I'm giving up political betting if it does.
I'd be happy enough to have £160 on the Tories at 1-8 if you're offering though...
She claimed she forgot the numbers because it was her sixth interview of the day...
@theousherwood: Diane Abbott's interview on LBC was the third of five, after Today and Sky. GMB and BBC Breakfast followed. Plus 2 clips for ITV and C5.
Surely that excuse makes it worse, she had time to wake up and plenty of practice at getting her patter down.
Anyone in favour of getting some of the 28% onto Betfair?
There's 1.11 available to lay on the majority, and 1.06 to lay on Con Most Seats, we need more people to bet against the Tories!
Here's my favourite bet in the related markets to that thus far (PM after election)
Lay (Bet Against) Jeremy Corbyn 9.20 £100.00 £920.00
That's a good one. I think we should try and get a story going about everyone backing the Tories so Jeremy looks bad, try and get the trots to start putting some cash behind their man.
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
In that case make it optional and we'll see how many agree with you
I've been saying on here for yonks that the system has to change. It's odd that so many lefties have got furious with the latest licence fee settlement, as the changes to the law wrt Internet viewing has potentially saved the BBC.
At least for a few years. The trend is not their friend though, and the BBC would best be looking at other funding mechanisms.
Any PB views on Lewes in Sussex. Was Tory forever. Then went LibDem. Then Tory again. Now a Tory / LD marginal?
It's next door to my constituency, and I know a bit about it. (My wife and I helped the campaign last time, although we mainly helped in Eastbourne).
I think it's probably a Tory hold. A lot of the LibDem vote was very much a personal Norman Baker vote, and he's not standing this time. Also there were a fair number of 2015 Kippers in the constituency. But obviously the LibDems will be trying hard, and they do have a reasonable size core university-style vote.
I should have a better feel in a few days.
I'm thinking Lewes will be closer than Eastbourne. Lewes Tory maj of about 2,500 and Eastbourne about 4,000. Does that look plausible?
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
However, in line with the phased approach agreed by the European Council on 29 April, discussion on the future relationship may, on an informal basis and in part, run alongside the formal exit negotiations. Therefore, in parallel, we will continue to prepare for those discussions and negotiations.
It is vitally important that the withdrawal of the UK from the EU is done in an orderly manner. In order to provide legal certainty and to avoid any ‘cliff edge effect’, including with regard to trade, customs and key sectors, transitional arrangements should be agreed as part of the withdrawal agreement.
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
Theresa May says she will be a "bloody difficult woman" towards European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker during Brexit talks.
That's Ken Clarke's line about her.
And yet it is one which I imagine she does not mind at all - being bloody difficult can be made to be a virtue in the right circumstances, and it fits her persona and image.
Agreed.
In the original quip from Clarke he went on to say that May doesn't know much about foreign affairs...
I must confess i don't understand how being a 'bloody difficult woman' is meant to help us build a 'new positive constructive partnership' with the EU as May has also said in the past.
If all we had to do was achieve was a divorce being difficult would be fine but since we also have to sign a new relationship with the EU being difficult for the sake of it seems stupid.
But probably ok in the eyes of the public who think negotiations with the EU are 4 am haggles in Brussels between the German chancellor and a n other European leader. In reality it takes armies of bureaucrats with spreadsheets and heavily annotated texts.
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
In that case make it optional and we'll see how many agree with you
I've been saying on here for yonks that the system has to change. It's odd that so many lefties have got furious with the latest licence fee settlement, as the changes to the law wrt Internet viewing has potentially saved the BBC.
At least for a few years. The trend is not their friend though, and the BBC would best be looking at other funding mechanisms.
Like letting foreigners pay to watch iPlayer, perhaps? I know they can't because of rights issues, but surely that doesn't apply to the real ratings winners like This Week?
Embarrasing, just embarassing. The party that has given us some of the greatest political figures of the 20th century now give us Corbyn, Abbott and McDonnell. While most of the country are shedding tears through laughter, I just cry.
The Labour party which I love so much is being reduced to a joke. Sad, sad times...
I can't wait for 9th June when we can get rid of these idiots and ideally kick them out of the party. Let them go and form a Momentum party if they like. These morons make the Militant tendency look like intellectual heavyweights.
First time I won't be voting Labour in years because I know that if I do it will be interpreted as a vote for Corbyn. Faced with a potential government led by Corbyn, McDonnell and Abbot voters are going to run a mile and the best that NickP can come up with is that it might not be as bad as 1983. Jesus wept, I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
A Labour vote is a vote for the party to retain Corbyn. Simples.
Which is why I won't do it and we are in Labour's most marginal seat.
Anyone in favour of getting some of the 28% onto Betfair?
There's 1.11 available to lay on the majority, and 1.06 to lay on Con Most Seats, we need more people to bet against the Tories!
Here's my favourite bet in the related markets to that thus far (PM after election)
Lay (Bet Against) Jeremy Corbyn 9.20 £100.00 £920.00
That's a good one. I think we should try and get a story going about everyone backing the Tories so Jeremy looks bad, try and get the trots to start putting some cash behind their man.
Yeah - sadly that price has gone for a bit of a walk now.
Theresa May says she will be a "bloody difficult woman" towards European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker during Brexit talks.
That's Ken Clarke's line about her.
And yet it is one which I imagine she does not mind at all - being bloody difficult can be made to be a virtue in the right circumstances, and it fits her persona and image.
Agreed.
In the original quip from Clarke he went on to say that May doesn't know much about foreign affairs...
I must confess i don't understand how being a 'bloody difficult woman' is meant to help us build a 'new positive constructive partnership' with the EU as May has also said in the past.
If all we had to do was achieve was a divorce being difficult would be fine but since we also have to sign a new relationship with the EU being difficult for the sake of it seems stupid.
But probably ok in the eyes of the public who think negotiations with the EU are 4 am haggles in Brussels between the German chancellor and a n other European leader. In reality it takes armies of bureaucrats with spreadsheets and heavily annotated texts.
Yep - it's designed for a Maggie May kind of headline in the Mail and Express.
@jessicaelgot: One to watch - Labour pick JLM's @Jeremy_Newmark, former spox for chief rabbi, as candidate in Finchley & Golders Green
I've backed Labour @ 2-1 Hammersmith and 3-1 Westminster North, but I'd need a lobotomy before plunging into Golders Green even at 8-1. Le Pen more likely to win on Saturday than that happening.
Would be the shock of the night if it did happen.
I'm giving up political betting if it does.
I'd be happy enough to have £160 on the Tories at 1-8 if you're offering though...
Yahweh no, I'm not touching that bet with a barge poll.
I cannot see one of the most Jewish seats in the country voting for Corbyn's Labour.
Not even if the Chief Rabbi was standing for Labour.
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
She claimed she forgot the numbers because it was her sixth interview of the day...
@theousherwood: Diane Abbott's interview on LBC was the third of five, after Today and Sky. GMB and BBC Breakfast followed. Plus 2 clips for ITV and C5.
Surely that excuse makes it worse, she had time to wake up and plenty of practice at getting her patter down.
Exactly, and she wasn't rushed into saying anything, Ferrari gave her plenty of time to think about it, confirm she meant what she did, and so on.
She's a liar. She forgot her script, and she took a guess, and lied. I don't speak so strongly usually, but she is not convincing.
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
You are a pea-brained right-wing moron and I claim my £5.
What is about about the right-wing trash on here and the BBC?
Not sure if I qualify as right wing trash but I don't see why I should be coerced into something I neither want or need
Becasue for the main, it's high quality content (c.f. the competition) - especially when it comes to news, documentaries and drama. Yes, they occassionally show rubbish such as The Voice but crap happens even on the BBC.
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
Yet they can't be arsed with a local elections show this year. Harumph.
I've also got a feeling May is a better fit for Merseyside than Cameron & Osborne were -- she's less obviously Southern(!!) or supercilious, and her classy handling of the Hillsborough inquiries earned her some goodwill round these parts even among people who usually hate the Tories.
I agree regarding Merseyside, but some of the majorities the Conservatives have to overcome are astronomical. Yes, Wirral West is lost but the rest of the seats will (probably) stay Red (Southport excepted which will probably stay LD or else go CON, and I have some doubts over Wirral South).
Too many voters round here are Donkey with Red Rosette voters and 'Thatcher, Thatcher, Thatcher!', 'We hate the tories! They eat babies.'
In my seat of Bootle, Labour's majority of 28,000 is bigger than some seats winning vote share. And Bootle *isn't* even the safest seat anymore. Knowsley has a safer majority and vote share, and Liverpool West Derby has a higher vote share.
If ANY seat in Merseyside except Wirral West goes Blue from Red then we really are looking at the destruction of Labour. And if it's more than just Wirral West and Wirral South, for instance if Wallasey or Sefton Central are in play, then it's really game over for the Labour party.
Wallasey was a Tory seat until 1992 - represented by Lynda Chalker and Ernest Marples.
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
You are a pea-brained right-wing moron and I claim my £5.
What is about about the right-wing trash on here and the BBC?
Not sure if I qualify as right wing trash but I don't see why I should be coerced into something I neither want or need
Becasue for the main, it's high quality content (c.f. the competition) - especially when it comes to news, documentaries and drama. Yes, they occassionally show rubbish such as The Voice but crap happens even on the BBC.
Well if its so good making it optional won't be a problem
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
You are a pea-brained right-wing moron and I claim my £5.
What is about about the right-wing trash on here and the BBC?
Not sure if I qualify as right wing trash but I don't see why I should be coerced into something I neither want or need
Becasue for the main, it's high quality content (c.f. the competition) - especially when it comes to news, documentaries and drama. Yes, they occassionally show rubbish such as The Voice but crap happens even on the BBC.
I'm willing to criticise the BBC for plenty, and I don't watch much of it myself anymore, but the way anything, anything at all, is seized on as reason for the licence fee to be scrapped, is a better argument through overreaction for its retention than most of defenders manage.
Wow. Finally managed to listen to all of the initial Abbott interview. Wow. Her claim she just misspoke is clearly an absolute stinking lie, given her multiple attempts, pauses to think before answering, confirming figures after a minute's opportunity to realise the error. And she's always so offended and condescending whenever someone points out she's made such mistakes.
Abbott has stolen a living from licence payers for years, she is reason enough to scrap the BBC
On the other hand, I've recently been binge-listening to In Our Time. Enough reason in itself to keep the blessed BBC!
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
She claimed she forgot the numbers because it was her sixth interview of the day...
@theousherwood: Diane Abbott's interview on LBC was the third of five, after Today and Sky. GMB and BBC Breakfast followed. Plus 2 clips for ITV and C5.
Surely that excuse makes it worse, she had time to wake up and plenty of practice at getting her patter down.
Exactly, and she wasn't rushed into saying anything, Ferrari gave her plenty of time to think about it, confirm she meant what she did, and so on.
She's a liar. She forgot her script, and she took a guess, and lied. I don't speak so strongly usually, but she is not convincing.
It was only the other day I said the interruptathon technique is far less effective than a switched on well prepped interviewer that lets their subject dig their own hole. Ferraris questions were perfectly timed and pitched.
There is a shared desire to have an ambitious and comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between the EU and the UK, if possible.
(Ireland is) making a strong case at EU level that the UK’s withdrawal represents a serious disturbance to the Irish economy overall and that we will require support;
Wow. Finally managed to listen to all of the initial Abbott interview. Wow. Her claim she just misspoke is clearly an absolute stinking lie, given her multiple attempts, pauses to think before answering, confirming figures after a minute's opportunity to realise the error. And she's always so offended and condescending whenever someone points out she's made such mistakes.
And Labour MPs want her to be Home Secretary.
Not many of them want that I suspect!
You're probably right, but sadly either they are silent and implicitly backing her as such, or they are saying 'Corbyn and co are crap but vote for me' which has other problems, since if Corbyn were somehow to win, she would be in place.
Probably more important than visas for doctors and nurses are the automatic recognition of professional qualifications. All they need is an english language certification. Whether we continue to automatically do so for EU/EEA nationals is one of many uncertainties.
@bbclaurak: May's critics argue it's her 'bloody difficult' stance that is going to cause havoc, and leave the UK without a decent deal
The trouble is we aren't primarily negotiating a trade deal. It's an international divorce settlement. It's never been likely we were going to come up with some comprehensive agreement inside two years.
BBC just put to sword the idea Theresa May is hiding with a full coverage of her canvassing today with meeting voters and a genuine discussion with a member of the public who did not agree with her
Wow. Finally managed to listen to all of the initial Abbott interview. Wow. Her claim she just misspoke is clearly an absolute stinking lie, given her multiple attempts, pauses to think before answering, confirming figures after a minute's opportunity to realise the error. And she's always so offended and condescending whenever someone points out she's made such mistakes.
And Labour MPs want her to be Home Secretary.
you'd think it might be worth a thread perhaps?
I did think about writing one, but it feels cruel, a bit like laughing at a Bobby Soldado miss or Jade Dernbach bowling.
Surely all 3 examples should be on it - job done....
She claimed she forgot the numbers because it was her sixth interview of the day...
@theousherwood: Diane Abbott's interview on LBC was the third of five, after Today and Sky. GMB and BBC Breakfast followed. Plus 2 clips for ITV and C5.
Surely that excuse makes it worse, she had time to wake up and plenty of practice at getting her patter down.
Exactly, and she wasn't rushed into saying anything, Ferrari gave her plenty of time to think about it, confirm she meant what she did, and so on.
She's a liar. She forgot her script, and she took a guess, and lied. I don't speak so strongly usually, but she is not convincing.
It was only the other day I said the interruptathon technique is far less effective than a switched on well prepped interviewer that lets their subject dig their own hole. Ferraris questions were perfectly timed and pitched.
In person, creative use of silence works quite well to get people to speak revealingly and openly. It is a bit trickier on TV though.
Wow. Finally managed to listen to all of the initial Abbott interview. Wow. Her claim she just misspoke is clearly an absolute stinking lie, given her multiple attempts, pauses to think before answering, confirming figures after a minute's opportunity to realise the error. And she's always so offended and condescending whenever someone points out she's made such mistakes.
And Labour MPs want her to be Home Secretary.
you'd think it might be worth a thread perhaps?
Surely it is being written as we type?
And the Headline should be "Abbott & Cost-Ello Ello Ello"
That would be because the EU wants to retain jurisdiction over EU citizens living in a non-EU country. It is not calling someone's bluff if your offer is unreasonable.
I've also got a feeling May is a better fit for Merseyside than Cameron & Osborne were -- she's less obviously Southern(!!) or supercilious, and her classy handling of the Hillsborough inquiries earned her some goodwill round these parts even among people who usually hate the Tories.
I agree regarding Merseyside, but some of the majorities the Conservatives have to overcome are astronomical. Yes, Wirral West is lost but the rest of the seats will (probably) stay Red (Southport excepted which will probably stay LD or else go CON, and I have some doubts over Wirral South).
Too many voters round here are Donkey with Red Rosette voters and 'Thatcher, Thatcher, Thatcher!', 'We hate the tories! They eat babies.'
In my seat of Bootle, Labour's majority of 28,000 is bigger than some seats winning vote share. And Bootle *isn't* even the safest seat anymore. Knowsley has a safer majority and vote share, and Liverpool West Derby has a higher vote share.
If ANY seat in Merseyside except Wirral West goes Blue from Red then we really are looking at the destruction of Labour. And if it's more than just Wirral West and Wirral South, for instance if Wallasey or Sefton Central are in play, then it's really game over for the Labour party.
Wallasey was a Tory seat until 1992 - represented by Lynda Chalker and Ernest Marples.
And Sefton Central ie the old Crosby constituency had a near 15,000 majority in 1992.
As someone here said previously - when religious places become less religious they move leftwards politcally.
Probably more important than visas for doctors and nurses are the automatic recognition of professional qualifications. All they need is an english language certification. Whether we continue to automatically do so for EU/EEA nationals is one of many uncertainties.
Qualifications held but shortages of roles applying for will be key
As a member of the EU, the UK made commitments together with the other 27 EU Member States when agreeing the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in 2013, which runs from 2014 until 2020.
The UK is currently a significant net contributor to the EU budget. According to the 2015 Financial Accounts, total EU expenditure in 2015 amounted to approximately €145 billion and the UK’s gross contribution (post-rebate) was approximately €21 billion (looks like £350m a week!!) with its net contribution being approximately €14 billion.
"Vote for my candidate" - Is the Conservative party now just the Theresa May List?
After a general election Thatcher famously asked one Tory MP his result, he said something like 28, 564 votes, she replied 'so 28 000 votes for me and 564 for you'
May used her Saturday to speak to voters in Banchory, in West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, where the SNP have a majority of over 7,000. The Tories came second here in 2015 and May’s visit shows they have ambitions to move up a place come June. Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn busied himself speaking to the Labour party faithful in East London (an area where Labour already boasts majorities that run into the tens of thousands).
In fact, the majority of constituencies May has visited of late boast sizeable majorities the Tories are hoping to overturn. Last week May went on a Labour offensive as she visited Chesterfield — a constituency that last voted Conservative in 1931. Here the Tories would need to overturn a Labour majority of over 13,000. What’s more, the seat is not even within the top 150 Conservative target seats — which gives you some idea of the scale of victory the party is hoping for. May has also visited Ormskirk, in West Lancashire (an area where Labour had an 8,000 majority in 2015) as well as Leeds North East – a seat held by Labour since 1997 (where its current MP Fabian Hamilton, boasts a Labour majority of over 7,000). Other targets in her sights include Wales — a one-time Labour heartland. As part of her visit, May spoke in Bridgend, an area where Labour had a majority of nearly 2,000 in 2015.
I think 'rigging an election' is a slightly hyperbolic turn of phrase. Nobody is accused of stuffing ballots.
No kidding. I think it likely there's been widespread flouting of the ruled in many quarters which needs punishing, but some of the language has been absurdist.
By the by is it 30 people or 30 mPS, since I've seen the latter advanced many times.
And haven't the other parties largely been quiet since they have their own skeletons? I can well believe the tories were worst offenders, but in a mudfight you all end up dirty.
But the Tories are the only ones who have anything to lose.
As a member of the EU, the UK made commitments together with the other 27 EU Member States when agreeing the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in 2013, which runs from 2014 until 2020.
The UK is currently a significant net contributor to the EU budget. According to the 2015 Financial Accounts, total EU expenditure in 2015 amounted to approximately €145 billion and the UK’s gross contribution (post-rebate) was approximately €21 billion (looks like £350m a week!!) with its net contribution being approximately €14 billion.
I could quite easily see TM agreeing fairly early on to support the budget as it was agreed (until 2020) but playing hardball with any post 2020 contributions.
Comments
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39775693
FFS - If I did this at work, I would say "sorry guys I screwed up." Just be f*cking honest!!
Le Pen more likely to win on Saturday than that happening.
I'm as critical of the BBC as the next person. But on the whole it has to be the best value entertainment there is. I cannot think of anything else where I get so many hours of joy for £145.50 a year.
@bbclaurak: 'Bloody difficult woman' boast won't hurt with some voters-but if May wins, in long term it's precisely that approach that winds up Brussels
https://biasedbbc.org/
The LDs should get a good bit of useful publicity out of the Local elections next weekend. That and the collapse of UKIP are pretty certain to dominate next weeks news. Both are good reasons to celebrate of course!
The EU has consistently shown that it has a course and only reforms which aid it in heading on that course are acceptable for it.
She claimed she forgot the numbers because it was her sixth interview of the day...
@theousherwood: Diane Abbott's interview on LBC was the third of five, after Today and Sky. GMB and BBC Breakfast followed. Plus 2 clips for ITV and C5.
What is about about the right-wing trash on here and the BBC?
I'd be happy enough to have £160 on the Tories at 1-8 if you're offering though...
At least for a few years. The trend is not their friend though, and the BBC would best be looking at other funding mechanisms.
However, in line with the phased approach agreed by the European Council on 29 April, discussion on the future relationship may, on an informal basis and in part, run alongside the formal exit negotiations. Therefore, in parallel, we will continue to prepare for those discussions and negotiations.
It is vitally important that the withdrawal of the UK from the EU is done in an orderly manner. In order to provide legal certainty and to avoid any ‘cliff edge effect’, including with regard to trade, customs and key sectors, transitional arrangements should be agreed as part of the withdrawal agreement.
advocated the abolition of Parliament in favour of devolution to city-states and decision-making by referendum
Something for everyone there.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/britons-back-work-visas-for-doctors-after-brexit-but-not-for-baristas-a3528281.html?amp
I cannot see one of the most Jewish seats in the country voting for Corbyn's Labour.
Not even if the Chief Rabbi was standing for Labour.
She's a liar. She forgot her script, and she took a guess, and lied. I don't speak so strongly usually, but she is not convincing.
There is a shared desire to have an ambitious and comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between the EU and the UK, if possible.
(Ireland is) making a strong case at EU level that the UK’s withdrawal represents a serious disturbance to the Irish economy overall and that we will require support;
https://twitter.com/theresa_may/status/859452229350195201
We'll save McDonnell and Stalin for the day he's scheduled for a chat with Andrew Neil.
http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/here-general-election-voting-odds-41024
Caveat emptor.
The SNP are questioning loans which were apparently funnelled in secret to the Tories...
https://twitter.com/LabourEoin/status/859434712598798336?s=09
http://ukandeu.ac.uk/calling-our-bluff-time-for-the-uk-to-honour-its-promises-to-eu-27-and-uk-citizens/
Instant penalty of a week at Conhome as penance.
As someone here said previously - when religious places become less religious they move leftwards politcally.
As a member of the EU, the UK made commitments together with the other 27 EU Member States when agreeing the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in 2013, which runs from 2014 until 2020.
The UK is currently a significant net contributor to the EU budget. According to the 2015 Financial Accounts, total EU expenditure in 2015 amounted to approximately €145 billion and the UK’s gross contribution (post-rebate) was approximately €21 billion (looks like £350m a week!!) with its net contribution being approximately €14 billion.
In fact, the majority of constituencies May has visited of late boast sizeable majorities the Tories are hoping to overturn. Last week May went on a Labour offensive as she visited Chesterfield — a constituency that last voted Conservative in 1931. Here the Tories would need to overturn a Labour majority of over 13,000. What’s more, the seat is not even within the top 150 Conservative target seats — which gives you some idea of the scale of victory the party is hoping for. May has also visited Ormskirk, in West Lancashire (an area where Labour had an 8,000 majority in 2015) as well as Leeds North East – a seat held by Labour since 1997 (where its current MP Fabian Hamilton, boasts a Labour majority of over 7,000). Other targets in her sights include Wales — a one-time Labour heartland. As part of her visit, May spoke in Bridgend, an area where Labour had a majority of nearly 2,000 in 2015.
https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2017/05/want-to-know-what-the-tories-are-thinking-look-at-the-seats-theresa-may-is-visiting/
At which point the contempt of court laws kick in and the media will be able to say precisely nothing about the matter.
@rowenamason: Protestors at Theresa May event have prepared - now chanting Tory, Tory, Tory scum https://twitter.com/rowenamason/status/859457477326376964/photo/1