I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
Independent Friends' (Quaker) School in Saffron Walden (recently renamed Walden School) suddenly announces closure at the end of this term. Small school est. 1702, relocated to Walden 1879. "Economic pressures (on parents)." Very sad. Alumni incl Edward Bawden & Tom Robinson, plus a translator of Marx and and a granddaughter of Stalin.
I have caught up with Gordon Brown's "epoch making" intervention.
It wasn't much cop but he should have mentioned Jeremy Corbyn. If you are trying to help rather than hinder a campaign then it is reasonable to expect that , in a General Election, the current leader is backed by a former one.
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
I have caught up with Gordon Brown's "epoch making" intervention.
It wasn't much cop but he should have mentioned Jeremy Corbyn. If you are trying to help rather than hinder a campaign then it is reasonable to expect that , in a General Election, the current leader is backed by a former one.
Mind you I haven't seen John Major out as yet!
He'll probably be on the campaign trail with the Lib Dems.
Was he a good Pensions minister who would know what he is talking about? Genuine question.
He was by far the most important Pensions Minister we have ever had. He was far from perfect but he knew what he was talking about and actually had the time and space to implement a reasonably coherent policy.
He would have made an infinitely better leader of the Lib Dems than Tim Farron.
He only just lost in 2015 I see, I'm a bit surprised he didn't retread, as he's barely over 50 it seems.
He'd had the best part of 20 years as an MP, and done the job he always wanted in the last few of those. Why come back to sit as a backbencher for a party that has a long road to recovery and is clear that it won't be a coalition partner for anyone any time soon?
Life's too short and there's too much else to do. I'm not saying it's a fool's errand, but it's perfectly understandable to call it a day and leave it to others to take it on. In a way the retreads are admirable for being knocked down and getting up again, but it isn't actually necessary in order to be well remembered as a good MP.
Shame for the LDs though, as he would have had a decent chance of winning whereas I very much doubt it for his successor.
My former MP, he's a good man well liked locally. I think the local LDs selected the next PPC straight after the last election, and they announced quickly she would definitely be standing, TBH I don't think he would have had a great chance. There is a large UKIP vote to squeeze for the Tory candidate and a lot of new houses going up around Thornbury and Chipping Sodbury. I will vote for Claire Young and think she would certainly be better than our current MP Luke Hall although I would note we have already had 3 leaflets from Tories and 1 from LDs and it is a LD target seat.
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
Historically, there was always a fair Mebyon Kernow/Lib Dem crossover from local to national level. Andrew George (St Ives) was MK before he was LD, and will probably benefit ever so slightly from their not standing. Tiny numbers though, and I suppose their national voters have a "plague on all your houses" attitude as it's such an obviously wasted vote (local voters less so as they can certainly be in the mix at that level).
Remember that it was the creation of the single market that pushed Austria, Finland and Sweden into joining the EU, and Norway into the EEA because being outside it had a real economic cost.
Austria 'exports' 75% of its goods to Europe, Sweden 69% Finland 68% (I haven't separated out non-EU European nations).
It's in their self interest to stay in because they do so little trade with the rest of the world. 64% of German 'exports' go to Europe.
We are currently unique in the sense that the EU is a minority trading destination (44%) for us. That's been our tipping point.
The Irish export 57% to the existing EU. That falls to 45% once we leave.
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
Will pollsters amend their methodology now to point out to interviewees when there is no Ukip or Green candidate standing?
Looking at the betting, above evens for Labour to get 25-30.0% looks good, but clearly if there's a lot of seats with a shortage of candidates it's an important factor in estimating other parties' vote share.
that's a very good point. even if labour dont get many frustrated UKIP voters it will still push their vote share up. although I'm more tempted by the bigger odds they get 30%+.
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
1987 under Maggie was the most miserable (though I recall that as the Second Summer of Love, and raverastic, so individual experience varies).
A terrible year, in 1987. I remember it well - a Tory landslide and Spurs losing the Cup Final. On the other hand, 1988 was a superb year. I moved to Spain as an illegal immigrant and so began five fantastic years.
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
I remember the power cuts and the three day week the Tories inflicted on us.
But people forget that the 1970s delivered one of the great leaps forward in living standards for ordinary Britons.
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
1987 under Maggie was the most miserable (though I recall that as the Second Summer of Love, and raverastic, so individual experience varies).
89 was the second summer of love
89 was a great year. Hanging around in the car park at South Mimms listening to Centre force trying to find out where the raves were. Crack open the Disco biscuits!
For the many not the few is not a terrible line, although it does feel like a hostage to fortune when (if) the Tories win massively, proving the many are behind them.
Except..it by definition is wrong and alienating. First because it is identifying a group of people (OK, bankers, fat cats, etc, but a subset of people nevertheless) who it is calling the enemy. And secondly because even if Lab wins there will be substantial minority, millions of people who don't agree with them and they are indirectly telling those people they are part of the "few".
It's not terrible in terms of appealing to the people it wants to appeal to was what I meant. Being alienating, but not too much, can work sometimes.
Isn't it exactly what the Tories are doing as well? If you are a patriot you will vote Tory is the very clear message.
For the many not the few is not a terrible line, although it does feel like a hostage to fortune when (if) the Tories win massively, proving the many are behind them.
Except..it by definition is wrong and alienating. First because it is identifying a group of people (OK, bankers, fat cats, etc, but a subset of people nevertheless) who it is calling the enemy. And secondly because even if Lab wins there will be substantial minority, millions of people who don't agree with them and they are indirectly telling those people they are part of the "few".
It's not terrible in terms of appealing to the people it wants to appeal to was what I meant. Being alienating, but not too much, can work sometimes.
Isn't it exactly what the Tories are doing as well? If you are a patriot you will vote Tory is the very clear message.
Yes indeed, although the tagline for their campaign doesn't make that point quite so obviously like Labour's does, other material does.
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
1987 under Maggie was the most miserable (though I recall that as the Second Summer of Love, and raverastic, so individual experience varies).
89 was the second summer of love
1968 was the Summer of Love in San Francisco. I was there in 1969.
Always seem to be late for these things.
In 1987, Maggie was starting to display symptoms of absolute power, Louis XIV-style. She might have been more cautious in her 2nd & 3rd terms had she not had
the Falklands War a Labour party on <30% a 3rd. party on >20%.
Her vote went *down* compared to 1979 when her majority had been only 40. But her seat count went *up*.
Moral to Labour: until you've introduced PR - as Blair promised, ha ha - don't be so stupid as to split.
Socialism ... what damage? Castle and Wilson were OK. Callaghan was unfortunately in hock to the unions and abandoned In Place of Strife. The outcome of that and the Thatcher coup 1975 was predictable.
UK economic performance was somewhat better 1945-79 than 1979-2017, despite an inauspicious start (near-bankruptcy and rationing.) Harold Macmillan followed almost the same policy as Labour. Surprise surprise, building council houses for those unable to afford to buy was popular.
For the many not the few is not a terrible line, although it does feel like a hostage to fortune when (if) the Tories win massively, proving the many are behind them.
Except..it by definition is wrong and alienating. First because it is identifying a group of people (OK, bankers, fat cats, etc, but a subset of people nevertheless) who it is calling the enemy. And secondly because even if Lab wins there will be substantial minority, millions of people who don't agree with them and they are indirectly telling those people they are part of the "few".
It's not terrible in terms of appealing to the people it wants to appeal to was what I meant. Being alienating, but not too much, can work sometimes.
Isn't it exactly what the Tories are doing as well? If you are a patriot you will vote Tory is the very clear message.
Indeed - it sounds just like dear old Dr Goebbels!
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
1987 under Maggie was the most miserable (though I recall that as the Second Summer of Love, and raverastic, so individual experience varies).
Ahhh the summer of '76. My first year at uni and my first full time job in '79 coincided with Maggies great victory that ended the pay freeze and gave me a 30+% pay rise.
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
1987 under Maggie was the most miserable (though I recall that as the Second Summer of Love, and raverastic, so individual experience varies).
89 was the second summer of love
1968 was the Summer of Love in San Francisco. I was there in 1969.
Always seem to be late for these things.
In 1987, Maggie was starting to display symptoms of absolute power, Louis XIV-style. She might have been more cautious in her 2nd & 3rd terms had she not had
the Falklands War a Labour party on <30% a 3rd. party on >20%.
Her vote went *down* compared to 1979 when her majority had been only 40. But her seat count went *up*.
Moral to Labour: until you've introduced PR - as Blair promised, ha ha - don't be so stupid as to split.
Socialism ... what damage? Castle and Wilson were OK. Callaghan was unfortunately in hock to the unions and abandoned In Place of Strife. The outcome of that and the Thatcher coup 1975 was predictable.
UK economic performance was somewhat better 1945-79 than 1979-2017, despite an inauspicious start (near-bankruptcy and rationing.) Harold Macmillan followed almost the same policy as Labour. Surprise surprise, building council houses for those unable to afford to buy was popular.
And of course real happiness is nothing to do with the governing party, it's to do with the economy and *that* very closely matches oil prices during the 70s and 80s.
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
1987 under Maggie was the most miserable (though I recall that as the Second Summer of Love, and raverastic, so individual experience varies).
89 was the second summer of love
89 was a great year. Hanging around in the car park at South Mimms listening to Centre force trying to find out where the raves were. Crack open the Disco biscuits!
It was. And the early 90s were epic for being young. Happy days
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
1987 under Maggie was the most miserable (though I recall that as the Second Summer of Love, and raverastic, so individual experience varies).
It's a dreadfully written article. It bangs on about various good things that happened in 1976, and bad things that happened in 1987... then reveals the measure it is talking about (the Genuine Progress Indicator or GPI) which takes into account NONE of the stuff it's been wittering on about.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of artificial stats like the GPI. I see what the aim is, but they hide rather than cut through the underlying conflicts. Instead of saying "we're getting richer and prices are stable, but on the downside crime is up and air pollution is worse" it says either "things are getting better!" or "things are getting worse!" and then "see pages 2 to 96 for a huge list of our dubious assumptions in getting to that headline".
EDIT: Is it just me, or does it look like a volunteer relieving himself against the poster?
Also, the motion of the poster is not 'holding back' but 'grabbing and pulling forward'
I have a book on marketing whose example is that there is no difference in a graphic between a man putting money in someone's pocket and stealing it from him.
Similar point here I think....
No. If it were holding UK back, Scotland should be leaning forward. If it is pulling, Scotland leans back. Think about braking in a car. When you brake, momentum makes you lean forward, when you accelerate momentum makes you lean back - simple physics.
Or in Labour's case, "Momentum" makes you go back to the 1970's.
I suspected at least one person would pick up on that. Thank you for not letting PBers down!
EDIT: Is it just me, or does it look like a volunteer relieving himself against the poster?
Also, the motion of the poster is not 'holding back' but 'grabbing and pulling forward'
I have a book on marketing whose example is that there is no difference in a graphic between a man putting money in someone's pocket and stealing it from him.
Similar point here I think....
No. If it were holding UK back, Scotland should be leaning forward. If it is pulling, Scotland leans back. Think about braking in a car. When you brake, momentum makes you lean forward, when you accelerate momentum makes you lean back - simple physics.
Or in Labour's case, "Momentum" makes you go back to the 1970's.
I suspected at least one person would pick up on that. Thank you for not letting PBers down!
Looking at the picture again, why are the too people on the left taking a slash on the billboard?
For the many not the few is not a terrible line, although it does feel like a hostage to fortune when (if) the Tories win massively, proving the many are behind them.
Except..it by definition is wrong and alienating. First because it is identifying a group of people (OK, bankers, fat cats, etc, but a subset of people nevertheless) who it is calling the enemy. And secondly because even if Lab wins there will be substantial minority, millions of people who don't agree with them and they are indirectly telling those people they are part of the "few".
It's not terrible in terms of appealing to the people it wants to appeal to was what I meant. Being alienating, but not too much, can work sometimes.
Isn't it exactly what the Tories are doing as well? If you are a patriot you will vote Tory is the very clear message.
Yes indeed, although the tagline for their campaign doesn't make that point quite so obviously like Labour's does, other material does.
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
1987 under Maggie was the most miserable (though I recall that as the Second Summer of Love, and raverastic, so individual experience varies).
Ahhh the summer of '76. My first year at uni and my first full time job in '79 coincided with Maggies great victory that ended the pay freeze and gave me a 30+% pay rise.
Summer of 76 was probably happy because of the weather - the 8 week drought.
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
1987 under Maggie was the most miserable (though I recall that as the Second Summer of Love, and raverastic, so individual experience varies).
It's a dreadfully written article. It bangs on about various good things that happened in 1976, and bad things that happened in 1987... then reveals the measure it is talking about (the Genuine Progress Indicator or GPI) which takes into account NONE of the stuff it's been wittering on about.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of artificial stats like the GPI. I see what the aim is, but they hide rather than cut through the underlying conflicts. Instead of saying "we're getting richer and prices are stable, but on the downside crime is up and air pollution is worse" it says either "things are getting better!" or "things are getting worse!" and then "see pages 2 to 96 for a huge list of our dubious assumptions in getting to that headline".
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
1987 under Maggie was the most miserable (though I recall that as the Second Summer of Love, and raverastic, so individual experience varies).
It's a dreadfully written article. It bangs on about various good things that happened in 1976, and bad things that happened in 1987... then reveals the measure it is talking about (the Genuine Progress Indicator or GPI) which takes into account NONE of the stuff it's been wittering on about.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of artificial stats like the GPI. I see what the aim is, but they hide rather than cut through the underlying conflicts. Instead of saying "we're getting richer and prices are stable, but on the downside crime is up and air pollution is worse" it says either "things are getting better!" or "things are getting worse!" and then "see pages 2 to 96 for a huge list of our dubious assumptions in getting to that headline".
I do risk management for work. Same problem there - top management are looking for a single number to plot on a chart. But learning and hence improvement does not come from numbers, but from understanding processes and human performance - what could go wrong and how to build up capability either to prevent, or to contain and recover rapidly.
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
1987 under Maggie was the most miserable (though I recall that as the Second Summer of Love, and raverastic, so individual experience varies).
Ahhh the summer of '76. My first year at uni and my first full time job in '79 coincided with Maggies great victory that ended the pay freeze and gave me a 30+% pay rise.
Summer of 76 was probably happy because of the weather - the 8 week drought.
And we had a Native American rain dance performed on Nationwide.
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
1987 under Maggie was the most miserable (though I recall that as the Second Summer of Love, and raverastic, so individual experience varies).
89 was the second summer of love
1968 was the Summer of Love in San Francisco. I was there in 1969.
Always seem to be late for these things.
In 1987, Maggie was starting to display symptoms of absolute power, Louis XIV-style. She might have been more cautious in her 2nd & 3rd terms had she not had
the Falklands War a Labour party on <30% a 3rd. party on >20%.
Her vote went *down* compared to 1979 when her majority had been only 40. But her seat count went *up*.
Moral to Labour: until you've introduced PR - as Blair promised, ha ha - don't be so stupid as to split.
Socialism ... what damage? Castle and Wilson were OK. Callaghan was unfortunately in hock to the unions and abandoned In Place of Strife. The outcome of that and the Thatcher coup 1975 was predictable.
UK economic performance was somewhat better 1945-79 than 1979-2017, despite an inauspicious start (near-bankruptcy and rationing.) Harold Macmillan followed almost the same policy as Labour. Surprise surprise, building council houses for those unable to afford to buy was popular.
And of course real happiness is nothing to do with the governing party, it's to do with the economy and *that* very closely matches oil prices during the 70s and 80s.
Discontent has a lot to do with a bad economy. Happiness has very little to do with a good economy.
I don't think the vast majority of the public will care about the Labour manifesto being leaked, this is just media fodder for all those journalists who have too much time on their hands.
I lived through the 70's and this country was in a very dire state, but of course young people who haven't experienced the damage socialism can do, will no doubt be very tempted to vote for Corbyn.
For half of the 70s we had a Tory Government.
1976 was Britains happiest year, and Wilson was PM:
1987 under Maggie was the most miserable (though I recall that as the Second Summer of Love, and raverastic, so individual experience varies).
It's a dreadfully written article. It bangs on about various good things that happened in 1976, and bad things that happened in 1987... then reveals the measure it is talking about (the Genuine Progress Indicator or GPI) which takes into account NONE of the stuff it's been wittering on about.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of artificial stats like the GPI. I see what the aim is, but they hide rather than cut through the underlying conflicts. Instead of saying "we're getting richer and prices are stable, but on the downside crime is up and air pollution is worse" it says either "things are getting better!" or "things are getting worse!" and then "see pages 2 to 96 for a huge list of our dubious assumptions in getting to that headline".
Just watched Mr. Lennon's appearance on the Daily Politics. Liked almost everything he had to say, and the Pirate Party stands for, but please rethink slashing copyright from 70 to 10 years. It's very, very difficult to make any money at all as a writer, and having a back catalogue if you eventually have a hit is one of the very few upsides.
Was he a good Pensions minister who would know what he is talking about? Genuine question.
He was by far the most important Pensions Minister we have ever had. He was far from perfect but he knew what he was talking about and actually had the time and space to implement a reasonably coherent policy.
He would have made an infinitely better leader of the Lib Dems than Tim Farron.
He only just lost in 2015 I see, I'm a bit surprised he didn't retread, as he's barely over 50 it seems.
He'd had the best part of 20 years as an MP, and done the job he always wanted in the last few of those. Why come back to sit as a backbencher for a party that has a long road to recovery and is clear that it won't be a coalition partner for anyone any time soon?
Life's too short and there's too much else to do. I'm not saying it's a fool's errand, but it's perfectly understandable to call it a day and leave it to others to take it on. In a way the retreads are admirable for being knocked down and getting up again, but it isn't actually necessary in order to be well remembered as a good MP.
Shame for the LDs though, as he would have had a decent chance of winning whereas I very much doubt it for his successor.
My former MP, he's a good man well liked locally. I think the local LDs selected the next PPC straight after the last election, and they announced quickly she would definitely be standing, TBH I don't think he would have had a great chance. There is a large UKIP vote to squeeze for the Tory candidate and a lot of new houses going up around Thornbury and Chipping Sodbury. I will vote for Claire Young and think she would certainly be better than our current MP Luke Hall although I would note we have already had 3 leaflets from Tories and 1 from LDs and it is a LD target seat.
To answer the original question - he was a brilliant and innovative pensions minister who both knew the detail and had the political skills to drive through radical reform from his position within the junior coalition partner. I am quite sure his radical shake up of both the state and private pensions worlds will stand the test of time - and he is a VERY rare example of a politician who made the financial environment simpler rather than more complicated.
But to jump from there to suggesting he is a 'missed leader' is misunderstanding the type of politician he was - he was made for the job he had, not for being party leader.
If he would confirm that, it'd probably help people vote Labour. Nobody sane expects a win.
Not sure that she even expects a personal win in Yardley ...
3 way marginal, like Redcar
Redcar?! I know the LDs snatched it in 2010, and Labour had some local party issues, and the Tories just won in Teeside, and there's UKIP to consider, but it could be that close as a three way?
Redcar?! I know the LDs snatched it in 2010, and Labour had some local party issues, and the Tories just won in Teeside, and there's UKIP to consider, but it could be that close as a three way?
I am on the Tories here at 14-1, reckon its an ok bet personally.
Redcar?! I know the LDs snatched it in 2010, and Labour had some local party issues, and the Tories just won in Teeside, and there's UKIP to consider, but it could be that close as a three way?
I am on the Tories here at 14-1, reckon its an ok bet personally.
Redcar?! I know the LDs snatched it in 2010, and Labour had some local party issues, and the Tories just won in Teeside, and there's UKIP to consider, but it could be that close as a three way?
I am on the Tories here at 14-1, reckon its an ok bet personally.
Gah! I only got 11's *sad face*
Depends how much effort the local Lib Dem team puts in. A few thousand Focus leaflets could get the winning bar down to ~ 35% :>
Was he a good Pensions minister who would know what he is talking about? Genuine question.
He would have made an infinitely better leader of the Lib Dems than Tim Farron.
He only just lost in 2015 I see, I'm a bit surprised he didn't retread, as he's barely over 50 it seems.
He'd had the best part of 20 years as an MP, and done the job he always wanted in the last few of those. Why come back to sit as a backbencher for a party that has a long road to recovery and is clear that it won't be a coalition partner for anyone any time soon?
Life's too short and there's too much else to do. I'm not saying it's a fool's errand, but it's perfectly understandable to call it a day and leave it to others to take it on. In a way the retreads are admirable for being knocked down and getting up again, but it isn't actually necessary in order to be well remembered as a good MP.
Shame for the LDs though, as he would have had a decent chance of winning whereas I very much doubt it for his successor.
My former MP, he's a good man well liked locally. I think the local LDs selected the next PPC straight after the last election, and they announced quickly she would definitely be standing, TBH I don't think he would have had a great chance. There is a large UKIP vote to squeeze for the Tory candidate and a lot of new houses going up around Thornbury and Chipping Sodbury. I will vote for Claire Young and think she would certainly be better than our current MP Luke Hall although I would note we have already had 3 leaflets from Tories and 1 from LDs and it is a LD target seat.
To answer the original question - he was a brilliant and innovative pensions minister who both knew the detail and had the political skills to drive through radical reform from his position within the junior coalition partner. I am quite sure his radical shake up of both the state and private pensions worlds will stand the test of time - and he is a VERY rare example of a politician who made the financial environment simpler rather than more complicated.
But to jump from there to suggesting he is a 'missed leader' is misunderstanding the type of politician he was - he was made for the job he had, not for being party leader.
Yes, Steve Webb was a good guy, someone with industry experience given a governmental job in that area. We need way more of those.
Didn't realise we had a genuine bona fide UK party leader amongst our ranks !
No technically leader - just the candidate which is based in London and thus can get to the studio...
Excellent performance on Daily Politics.
How refreshing to have a clear policy and polite discusion of the issues - whilst being able to put down the Plaid leader on her challenge about crowd sourcing.
Mike Smithson @MSmithsonPB 2m2 minutes ago More PaddyPower shop in London has taken a bet of £330 at 500/1 that UKIP will win most seats
Where is MikeL these days?
What is betting shops' policy in these instances? Do they just take the bet, or is there any code of honour that states they warn the punter that it's a losing bet?
My former MP, he's a good man well liked locally. I think the local LDs selected the next PPC straight after the last election, and they announced quickly she would definitely be standing, TBH I don't think he would have had a great chance. There is a large UKIP vote to squeeze for the Tory candidate and a lot of new houses going up around Thornbury and Chipping Sodbury. I will vote for Claire Young and think she would certainly be better than our current MP Luke Hall although I would note we have already had 3 leaflets from Tories and 1 from LDs and it is a LD target seat.
To answer the original question - he was a brilliant and innovative pensions minister who both knew the detail and had the political skills to drive through radical reform from his position within the junior coalition partner. I am quite sure his radical shake up of both the state and private pensions worlds will stand the test of time - and he is a VERY rare example of a politician who made the financial environment simpler rather than more complicated.
But to jump from there to suggesting he is a 'missed leader' is misunderstanding the type of politician he was - he was made for the job he had, not for being party leader.
I quite agree but he could have been an excellent CofE. I'm not keen on Tim Farron, I preferred Nick Clegg, too europhile for my taste in supporting a party with democrat in their name, but I think he has been unfairly judged regarding the coalition, considering the way a coalition works elsewhere e.g. Germany.
Mike Smithson @MSmithsonPB 2m2 minutes ago More PaddyPower shop in London has taken a bet of £330 at 500/1 that UKIP will win most seats
Where is MikeL these days?
What is betting shops' policy in these instances? Do they just take the bet, or is there any code of honour that states they warn the punter that it's a losing bet?
I'm on the same bet curiously enough.
11/05/2015 Single To Win UKIP @ 500/1 Most Seats Party to win the Most Seats £0.72 Pending
Mike Smithson @MSmithsonPB 2m2 minutes ago More PaddyPower shop in London has taken a bet of £330 at 500/1 that UKIP will win most seats
Where is MikeL these days?
What is betting shops' policy in these instances? Do they just take the bet, or is there any code of honour that states they warn the punter that it's a losing bet?
I imagine they take the money and try to keep a straight face.
Was he a good Pensions minister who would know what he is talking about? Genuine question.
He would have made an infinitely better leader of the Lib Dems than Tim Farron.
He only just lost in 2015 I see, I'm a bit surprised he didn't retread, as he's barely over 50 it seems.
He'd had the best part of 20 years as an MP, and done the job he always wanted in the last few of those. Why come back to sit as a backbencher for a party that has a long road to recovery and is clear that it won't be a coalition partner for anyone any time soon?
Life's too short and there's too much else to do. I'm not saying it's a fool's errand, but it's perfectly understandable to call it a day and leave it to others to take it on. In a way the retreads are admirable for being knocked down and getting up again, but it isn't actually necessary in order to be well remembered.
Shame for the LDs though, as he would have had a decent chance of winning whereas I very much doubt it for his successor.
My former MP, he's a good man well liked locally. I think the local LDs selected the next PPC straight after the last election, and they announced quickly she would definitely be standing, TBH I don't think he would have had a great chance. There is a large UKIP vote to squeeze for the Tory candidate and a lot of new houses going up around Thornbury and Chipping Sodbury. I will vote for Claire Young and think she would certainly be better than our current MP Luke Hall although I would note we have already had 3 leaflets from Tories and 1 from LDs and it is a LD target seat.
To answer the original question - he was a brilliant and innovative pensions minister who both knew the detail and had the political skills to drive through radical reform from his position within the junior coalition partner. I am quite sure his radical shake up of both the state and private pensions worlds will stand the test of time - and he is a VERY rare example of a politician who made the financial environment simpler rather than more complicated.
But to jump from there to suggesting he is a 'missed leader' is misunderstanding the type of politician he was - he was made for the job he had, not for being party leader.
Yes, Steve Webb was a good guy, someone with industry experience given a governmental job in that area. We need way more of those.
I urged him to stand as leader, but he decided to get behind Clegg.
Mr. Pulpstar, had Remain won, Cameron stayed, Corbyn been in place and Farage remained leader (all credible possibilities), that could've looked rather tasty.
Someone told the press a week or so back that Labour would be committing to electoral reform in its manifesto, and the story ran in a couple of the papers. I see that, if this was ever true, no such commitment has now made it into the leaked draft.
SNP 45.0% (+2.2) Conservatives 31.5% (+2.2) Labour 15.8% (-0.7) Liberal Democrats 4.8% (-2.2)
(The Poll of Polls for Westminster voting intentions uses the Scottish subsamples from all GB-wide polls that have been conducted entirely within the last seven days and for which datasets have been provided, and also all full-scale Scottish polls that have been conducted at least partly within the last seven days. Full-scale polls are given ten times the weighting of subsamples.)
STRIKES ME AS A SENSIBLE WAY TO DEAL WITH SUB SAMPLES FOR SCOTLAND - note these figures are before YouGov this morning suggesting 46 SNP -26 TORY.
So on the GE that's the SNP down 5% and the Tories up 16.6%
So that's a 10.8% SNP to Con swing in Scotland.
Fire up the Klaxons.
Go on - Baxter those figures, adding 1% for UKIP and 1% for Greens. You might be surprised at the result!
Mike Smithson @MSmithsonPB 2m2 minutes ago More PaddyPower shop in London has taken a bet of £330 at 500/1 that UKIP will win most seats
Where is MikeL these days?
What is betting shops' policy in these instances? Do they just take the bet, or is there any code of honour that states they warn the punter that it's a losing bet?
I imagine they take the money and try to keep a straight face.
No, the person taking the actual money won't have a clue if it is a decent bet or not. They'll have had to phone up head office to ask how much the punter wanted and probably also took about 20 minutes to find the market as it won't be "on their screens". Head office would let the punter have as much as he liked as they realise there is absolubtely no chance of it winning. But the guy taking the cash in the shop will have had no idea.
Mr. Pulpstar, had Remain won, Cameron stayed, Corbyn been in place and Farage remained leader (all credible possibilities), that could've looked rather tasty.
Obviously it was contingent on a "remain" narrow victory, at 500-1 you don't particularly care though - uncertainty and a longish timescale are your friends at long odds.
Comments
(I didn't see that before the election. Though I did profit nonetheless).
EDIT: Too slow.
Independent Friends' (Quaker) School in Saffron Walden (recently renamed Walden School) suddenly announces closure at the end of this term. Small school est. 1702, relocated to Walden 1879. "Economic pressures (on parents)." Very sad. Alumni incl Edward Bawden & Tom Robinson, plus a translator of Marx and and a granddaughter of Stalin.
It wasn't much cop but he should have mentioned Jeremy Corbyn. If you are trying to help rather than hinder a campaign then it is reasonable to expect that , in a General Election, the current leader is backed by a former one.
Mind you I haven't seen John Major out as yet!
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/1976-britians-best-ever-year-2070469
1987 under Maggie was the most miserable (though I recall that as the Second Summer of Love, and raverastic, so individual experience varies).
Always seem to be late for these things.
It's in their self interest to stay in because they do so little trade with the rest of the world. 64% of German 'exports' go to Europe.
We are currently unique in the sense that the EU is a minority trading destination (44%) for us. That's been our tipping point.
The Irish export 57% to the existing EU. That falls to 45% once we leave.
But people forget that the 1970s delivered one of the great leaps forward in living standards for ordinary Britons.
The happiness index does show that getting richer is no substitute for falling inequality and social cohesion though, FWIW.
Hanging around in the car park at South Mimms listening to Centre force trying to find out where the raves were.
Crack open the Disco biscuits!
She might have been more cautious in her 2nd & 3rd terms had she not had
the Falklands War
a Labour party on <30%
a 3rd. party on >20%.
Her vote went *down* compared to 1979 when her majority had been only 40. But her seat count went *up*.
Moral to Labour: until you've introduced PR - as Blair promised, ha ha - don't be so stupid as to split.
Socialism ... what damage? Castle and Wilson were OK. Callaghan was unfortunately in hock to the unions and abandoned In Place of Strife. The outcome of that and the Thatcher coup 1975 was predictable.
UK economic performance was somewhat better 1945-79 than 1979-2017, despite an inauspicious start (near-bankruptcy and rationing.) Harold Macmillan followed almost the same policy as Labour. Surprise surprise, building council houses for those unable to afford to buy was popular.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of artificial stats like the GPI. I see what the aim is, but they hide rather than cut through the underlying conflicts. Instead of saying "we're getting richer and prices are stable, but on the downside crime is up and air pollution is worse" it says either "things are getting better!" or "things are getting worse!" and then "see pages 2 to 96 for a huge list of our dubious assumptions in getting to that headline".
Seems a position has opened up for Corbyn after the election.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/11/theresa-may-identity-politics-tory-patriotic-british-policies
Summer of 76 was probably happy because of the weather - the 8 week drought.
Dark !
Oversimplification kills.
Inside Venezuela's anti-government protests
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-39871694
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OO9LloDSJo
BBC cameraman's foot run over by Jeremy Corbyn's car - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39882969
Just watched Mr. Lennon's appearance on the Daily Politics. Liked almost everything he had to say, and the Pirate Party stands for, but please rethink slashing copyright from 70 to 10 years. It's very, very difficult to make any money at all as a writer, and having a back catalogue if you eventually have a hit is one of the very few upsides.
George Osborne
https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2017/05/how-i-almost-became-a-victim-of-the-moped-muggers/
Parallels between 1983 and 2017.
But to jump from there to suggesting he is a 'missed leader' is misunderstanding the type of politician he was - he was made for the job he had, not for being party leader.
Corbyn has to say he will stay on otherwise some Labour voters will vote against him to get him out of the leadership.
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PaddyPower shop in London has taken a bet of £330 at 500/1 that UKIP will win most seats
Where is MikeL these days?
I'll go a million to one for anyone who fancies a top up.
This was actually a very good bet had it been placed in say October 2015 though.
Imagine having £330 you can fling away like that. I just hope it was a grown man, and not his thirteen year old son.
How refreshing to have a clear policy and polite discusion of the issues - whilst being able to put down the Plaid leader on her challenge about crowd sourcing.
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Lab's Jon Ashworth: postponement of NHS stats till after polling day "a cover-up" - writing "to insist this data is released as planned"
11/05/2015 Single To Win
UKIP @ 500/1
Most Seats
Party to win the Most Seats £0.72 Pending
But the guy taking the cash in the shop will have had no idea.