Now I must go and clean my rabbit's litter tray...
Had to do a double-take there. Thought it said rabbi ...
It took ages to house-train our rabbi.
Our priest was no better. That's what made me an atheist. And a rabbit owner.
FPT "Ending the handouts for environmentally destructive farming practices was one of the reasons I voted Leave." - the EU ended them in 2003 when it phased out crop subsidies in favour of the Single Farm Payment which explicitly prioritises preservation of the environment.
As with so much of the EU, it hasn't worked.
Which specific destructive farming practice do you object to the EU subsidising?
Over grazing of upland areas.
You are badly misinformed over this. Dartmoor where I live is in a very serious crisis of undergrazing: it is scarcely worthwhile to keep any form of stock on it, so no one does, vegetation gets out of control, and the natural paths made by sheep and cattle disappear. I believe the same is true elsewhere - the economics of farming Dartmoor are the economics of farming the Lake district.
And what is the bad side of letting some land be reoccupied by natcher, wiled animals and plants? possibly animals that on the verge of extinction, or have a limited habitat?
When last I checked, sheep were part of nature. Android sheep never quite caught on.
Now I must go and clean my rabbit's litter tray...
Had to do a double-take there. Thought it said rabbi ...
It took ages to house-train our rabbi.
Our priest was no better. That's what made me an atheist. And a rabbit owner.
FPT "Ending the handouts for environmentally destructive farming practices was one of the reasons I voted Leave." - the EU ended them in 2003 when it phased out crop subsidies in favour of the Single Farm Payment which explicitly prioritises preservation of the environment.
As with so much of the EU, it hasn't worked.
Which specific destructive farming practice do you object to the EU subsidising?
Over grazing of upland areas.
You are badly misinformed over this. Dartmoor where I live is in a very serious crisis of undergrazing: it is scarcely worthwhile to keep any form of stock on it, so no one does, vegetation gets out of control, and the natural paths made by sheep and cattle disappear. I believe the same is true elsewhere - the economics of farming Dartmoor are the economics of farming the Lake district.
And what is the bad side of letting some land be reoccupied by natcher, wiled animals and plants? possibly animals that on the verge of extinction, or have a limited habitat?
Dartmoor is pretty wild whatever you do to it, and domesticated animals have been there so long they are part of the picture. Without them the more invasive vegetation takes hold and crowds out species diversity (i.e. fewer types of natural vegetation and reduction of other species which live on or in what has been crowded out).
In regard to the LDs, I don't mind Clegg, or Norman Lamb. The other MPs beside Farron I can't recall.
It's the true test of the political wonk,
Carmichael - the Orkney and Shetlands chap who leaked and lied Brake - London, Leave area Williams - Ceredigion Pugh - The one I'd forget except he's standing down Olney - newby
That gets us to 8, which means there's one person I am forgetting and feel bad for.
Mulholland - Leeds NW.
Gracias. Name rings a bell now. I know its not been many years since 'the great disaster', and they have struggled to get any airtime anyway, and probably they are focused on trying to work their own seats (they still aren't safe), but I feel weird that the most prominent one besides, or even over Farron, feels like Clegg, followed by Olney.
Now I must go and clean my rabbit's litter tray...
Had to do a double-take there. Thought it said rabbi ...
It took ages to house-train our rabbi.
Our priest was no better. That's what made me an atheist. And a rabbit owner.
FPT "Ending the handouts for environmentally destructive farming practices was one of the reasons I voted Leave." - the EU ended them in 2003 when it phased out crop subsidies in favour of the Single Farm Payment which explicitly prioritises preservation of the environment.
As with so much of the EU, it hasn't worked.
Which specific destructive farming practice do you object to the EU subsidising?
Over grazing of upland areas.
You are badly misinformed over this. Dartmoor where I live is in a very serious crisis of undergrazing: it is scarcely worthwhile to keep any form of stock on it, so no one does, vegetation gets out of control, and the natural paths made by sheep and cattle disappear. I believe the same is true elsewhere - the economics of farming Dartmoor are the economics of farming the Lake district.
It was only when there were no sheep on the fells due to foot and mouth that wild flowers actually had a chance to grow. Yes, it can go the other way and turn to scrub as you suggest, but that is where the subsidy policy should be aiming - to achieve a sustainable balance.
Foot and mouth - 2001. Single Farm Payment Scheme - 2003.
Now I must go and clean my rabbit's litter tray...
Had to do a double-take there. Thought it said rabbi ...
It took ages to house-train our rabbi.
Our priest was no better. That's what made me an atheist. And a rabbit owner.
FPT "Ending the handouts for environmentally destructive farming practices was one of the reasons I voted Leave." - the EU ended them in 2003 when it phased out crop subsidies in favour of the Single Farm Payment which explicitly prioritises preservation of the environment.
As with so much of the EU, it hasn't worked.
Which specific destructive farming practice do you object to the EU subsidising?
Over grazing of upland areas.
You are badly misinformed over this. Dartmoor where I live is in a very serious crisis of undergrazing: it is scarcely worthwhile to keep any form of stock on it, so no one does, vegetation gets out of control, and the natural paths made by sheep and cattle disappear. I believe the same is true elsewhere - the economics of farming Dartmoor are the economics of farming the Lake district.
And what is the bad side of letting some land be reoccupied by natcher, wiled animals and plants? possibly animals that on the verge of extinction, or have a limited habitat?
When last I checked, sheep were part of nature. Android sheep never quite caught on.
In regard to the LDs, I don't mind Clegg, or Norman Lamb. The other MPs beside Farron I can't recall.
It's the true test of the political wonk,
Carmichael - the Orkney and Shetlands chap who leaked and lied Brake - London, Leave area Williams - Ceredigion Pugh - The one I'd forget except he's standing down Olney - newby
That gets us to 8, which means there's one person I am forgetting and feel bad for.
In a line up I'm sure I could pick out Clegg, Farron, Carmichael, Olney and probably Lamb. The others, no chance.
I forgot about Olney, which is a bit bad considering she only won her seat fairly recently!
I'd not be able to pick out Brake, Carmichael etc in a line up.
The LDs have had a really unexciting, boring campaign so far. They'd actually be better off having Clegg as their leader again.
Now I must go and clean my rabbit's litter tray...
Had to do a double-take there. Thought it said rabbi ...
It took ages to house-train our rabbi.
Our priest was no better. That's what made me an atheist. And a rabbit owner.
FPT "Ending the handouts for environmentally destructive farming practices was one of the reasons I voted Leave." - the EU ended them in 2003 when it phased out crop subsidies in favour of the Single Farm Payment which explicitly prioritises preservation of the environment.
As with so much of the EU, it hasn't worked.
Which specific destructive farming practice do you object to the EU subsidising?
Over grazing of upland areas.
You are badly misinformed over this. Dartmoor where I live is in a very serious crisis of undergrazing: it is scarcely worthwhile to keep any form of stock on it, so no one does, vegetation gets out of control, and the natural paths made by sheep and cattle disappear. I believe the same is true elsewhere - the economics of farming Dartmoor are the economics of farming the Lake district.
And what is the bad side of letting some land be reoccupied by natcher, wiled animals and plants? possibly animals that on the verge of extinction, or have a limited habitat?
When last I checked, sheep were part of nature. Android sheep never quite caught on.
Now I must go and clean my rabbit's litter tray...
Had to do a double-take there. Thought it said rabbi ...
It took ages to house-train our rabbi.
Our priest was no better. That's what made me an atheist. And a rabbit owner.
FPT "Ending the handouts for environmentally destructive farming practices was one of the reasons I voted Leave." - the EU ended them in 2003 when it phased out crop subsidies in favour of the Single Farm Payment which explicitly prioritises preservation of the environment.
As with so much of the EU, it hasn't worked.
Which specific destructive farming practice do you object to the EU subsidising?
Over grazing of upland areas.
You are badly misinformed over this. Dartmoor where I live is in a very serious crisis of undergrazing: it is scarcely worthwhile to keep any form of stock on it, so no one does, vegetation gets out of control, and the natural paths made by sheep and cattle disappear. I believe the same is true elsewhere - the economics of farming Dartmoor are the economics of farming the Lake district.
It was only when there were no sheep on the fells due to foot and mouth that wild flowers actually had a chance to grow. Yes, it can go the other way and turn to scrub as you suggest, but that is where the subsidy policy should be aiming - to achieve a sustainable balance.
Foot and mouth - 2001. Single Farm Payment Scheme - 2003.
I posted two really good replies to you. But I won't repeat them here as on mature reflection I really must draw the line at asking somebody about which of the Big Four he favours. There may be children reading after all.
Now I must go and clean my rabbit's litter tray...
Had to do a double-take there. Thought it said rabbi ...
It took ages to house-train our rabbi.
Our priest was no better. That's what made me an atheist. And a rabbit owner.
FPT "Ending the handouts for environmentally destructive farming practices was one of the reasons I voted Leave." - the EU ended them in 2003 when it phased out crop subsidies in favour of the Single Farm Payment which explicitly prioritises preservation of the environment.
As with so much of the EU, it hasn't worked.
Which specific destructive farming practice do you object to the EU subsidising?
Over grazing of upland areas.
You are badly misinformed over this. Dartmoor where I live is in a very serious crisis of undergrazing: it is scarcely worthwhile to keep any form of stock on it, so no one does, vegetation gets out of control, and the natural paths made by sheep and cattle disappear. I believe the same is true elsewhere - the economics of farming Dartmoor are the economics of farming the Lake district.
And what is the bad side of letting some land be reoccupied by natcher, wiled animals and plants? possibly animals that on the verge of extinction, or have a limited habitat?
Dartmoor is pretty wild whatever you do to it, and domesticated animals have been there so long they are part of the picture. Without them the more invasive vegetation takes hold and crowds out species diversity (i.e. fewer types of natural vegetation and reduction of other species which live on or in what has been crowded out).
Thanks for the reply, my knolage expads every time I log on to PB!!
But seriously, are you shore you can use this, at best, marginal benefit to support massive subsidy's and unnesasrly high food prises?
Now I must go and clean my rabbit's litter tray...
Had to do a double-take there. Thought it said rabbi ...
It took ages to house-train our rabbi.
Our priest was no better. That's what made me an atheist. And a rabbit owner.
FPT "Ending the handouts for environmentally destructive farming practices was one of the reasons I voted Leave." - the EU ended them in 2003 when it phased out crop subsidies in favour of the Single Farm Payment which explicitly prioritises preservation of the environment.
As with so much of the EU, it hasn't worked.
Which specific destructive farming practice do you object to the EU subsidising?
Over grazing of upland areas.
You are badly misinformed over this. Dartmoor where I live is in a very serious crisis of undergrazing: it is scarcely worthwhile to keep any form of stock on it, so no one does, vegetation gets out of control, and the natural paths made by sheep and cattle disappear. I believe the same is true elsewhere - the economics of farming Dartmoor are the economics of farming the Lake district.
And what is the bad side of letting some land be reoccupied by natcher, wiled animals and plants? possibly animals that on the verge of extinction, or have a limited habitat?
When last I checked, sheep were part of nature. Android sheep never quite caught on.
Do androids dream of electric sheep?
Only if they're made in the Forest of Dean.
Or do you mean 'count' sheep?
With apologies - we re-watched Bladerunner yesterday so the reference is in my head
There are three Conservative candidates I could not vote for:
David Tredinnick Claire-Louise Leyland Zac Goldsmith
Any other personal dislikes that would over-rule personal political preference out there?
Why Claire?
I have always found her very pleasant
Think she will win Hamstead and Kilburn, the tories have finally realised they need to win over more ethnic minority voters and I don't think many Jewish people will stick with Jeremy Corbyns labour party.
In regard to the LDs, I don't mind Clegg, or Norman Lamb. The other MPs beside Farron I can't recall.
Tom Brake, Sarah Olney, Mark Williams, Alistair Carmichael are four of them. Can't remember the other two off-hand.
After next month you won't need to remember a few of those either.
Spitballing with very little local knowledge which could be crucial:
Farron - some talk of potential challenge, particularly in the event of a blue tide, but probably safe Brake - Leave area, but UKIP vote to squeeze. Seems a goner. Lamb - Ditto. Williams - LDs doing badly in Wales, PC candidate strong local candidate apparently. Probably safe though. Carmichael - Very close last time, but historically very safe Liberal, Holyrood result strong for them. Despite liar case probably safe. Mulholland - No UKIP, Tory surge(?), Labour doing ok in area (?), maybe three way marginal? Pugh (not standing) - UKIP are standing, I'd read on here (I think) that locals were ok in the area, but was very tight last time. Possible loss, probable hold. Olney - Depends entirely on how people feel about Zac. They previously voted him in massively when under the Tory brand. Probable loss. Clegg - No tory tacticals to save him, depends if area which traditionally was tory/Liberal for 30 years sheds the big lab vote from last time. Probable hold, but still in danger.
So I think they may need 4-5 gains just to stand still.
The Spectator isn't actually that bad as publication if you pretend that the only journalists that write for them are Cohen, Forsyth, Hardman, and of course Nelson.
Now I must go and clean my rabbit's litter tray...
Had to do a double-take there. Thought it said rabbi ...
It took ages to house-train our rabbi.
Our priest was no better. That's what made me an atheist. And a rabbit owner.
FPT "Ending the handouts for environmentally destructive farming practices was one of the reasons I voted Leave." - the EU ended them in 2003 when it phased out crop subsidies in favour of the Single Farm Payment which explicitly prioritises preservation of the environment.
As with so much of the EU, it hasn't worked.
Which specific destructive farming practice do you object to the EU subsidising?
Over grazing of upland areas.
You are badly misinformed over this. Dartmoor where I live is in a very serious crisis of undergrazing: it is scarcely worthwhile to keep any form of stock on it, so no one does, vegetation gets out of control, and the natural paths made by sheep and cattle disappear. I believe the same is true elsewhere - the economics of farming Dartmoor are the economics of farming the Lake district.
And what is the bad side of letting some land be reoccupied by natcher, wiled animals and plants? possibly animals that on the verge of extinction, or have a limited habitat?
When last I checked, sheep were part of nature. Android sheep never quite caught on.
Do androids dream of electric sheep?
Only if they're made in the Forest of Dean.
Or do you mean 'count' sheep?
With apologies - we re-watched Bladerunner yesterday so the reference is in my head
I had no idea Blade Runner contained a scene where androids fantasise about sheep!
I have clearly missed a vital part of my education.
There are three Conservative candidates I could not vote for:
David Tredinnick Claire-Louise Leyland Zac Goldsmith
Any other personal dislikes that would over-rule personal political preference out there?
Why Claire?
I have always found her very pleasant
Think she will win Hamstead and Kilburn, the tories have finally realised they need to win over more ethnic minority voters and I don't think many Jewish people will stick with Jeremy Corbyns labour party.
I think even Hague tried to win over more ethnic minority voters for the Tories. I LOL'd when I found out he went to Carnival!
There are three Conservative candidates I could not vote for:
David Tredinnick Claire-Louise Leyland Zac Goldsmith
Any other personal dislikes that would over-rule personal political preference out there?
Why Claire?
I have always found her very pleasant
Think she will win Hamstead and Kilburn, the tories have finally realised they need to win over more ethnic minority voters and I don't think many Jewish people will stick with Jeremy Corbyns labour party.
I think even Hague tried to win over more ethnic minority voters for the Tories. I LOL'd when I found out he went to Carnival!
The Spectator isn't actually that bad as publication if you pretend that the only journalists that write for them are Cohen, Forsyth, Hardman, and of course Nelson.
Also: Woman On Top is THE way to break your penis, or snap your frenulum.
How do you feel about "swaling"? Serious question. I'm writing a thriller set on Dartmoor and swaling plays a significant role - I also know it is highly controversial....
It's historically part of the deal, and the less stock there is to eat vegetation down the more burning helps to do the same job. It is limited to times of year when birds aren't nesting, and what the objection is to it I don't really understand other than a feeling that you shouldn't set fire to Nature.
Interesting sidelight on how subsidies affect things - some farmers would like to swale more than the National Park will let them - the temptation is to start a fire and blame it on anonymous arsonists - in order to stop that, a serious fire on your land disqualifies you from getting your Single Farm Payment that year *even if there is no evidence you started it*.
OT, but with Labour and the SNP expected to lose some seats, depending on the Tory candidates, I wonder if we'll still have the gayest parliament in the world after June 8th.
There are three Conservative candidates I could not vote for:
David Tredinnick Claire-Louise Leyland Zac Goldsmith
Any other personal dislikes that would over-rule personal political preference out there?
Why Claire?
I have always found her very pleasant
Think she will win Hamstead and Kilburn, the tories have finally realised they need to win over more ethnic minority voters and I don't think many Jewish people will stick with Jeremy Corbyns labour party.
I think even Hague tried to win over more ethnic minority voters for the Tories. I LOL'd when I found out he went to Carnival!
Didn't he look good?
TBH he looked hilarious.
Then again I thought the same when Corbyn showed up to Carnival as well, and he'd be more popular with the people there.
Now I must go and clean my rabbit's litter tray...
Had to do a double-take there. Thought it said rabbi ...
It took ages to house-train our rabbi.
Our priest was no better. That's what made me an atheist. And a rabbit owner.
FPT "Ending the handouts for environmentally destructive farming practices was one of the reasons I voted Leave." - the EU ended them in 2003 when it phased out crop subsidies in favour of the Single Farm Payment which explicitly prioritises preservation of the environment.
As with so much of the EU, it hasn't worked.
Which specific destructive farming practice do you object to the EU subsidising?
Over grazing of upland areas.
You are badly misinformed over this. Dartmoor where I live is in a very serious crisis of undergrazing: it is scarcely worthwhile to keep any form of stock on it, so no one does, vegetation gets out of control, and the natural paths made by sheep and cattle disappear. I believe the same is true elsewhere - the economics of farming Dartmoor are the economics of farming the Lake district.
And what is the bad side of letting some land be reoccupied by natcher, wiled animals and plants? possibly animals that on the verge of extinction, or have a limited habitat?
When last I checked, sheep were part of nature. Android sheep never quite caught on.
Do androids dream of electric sheep?
Only if they're made in the Forest of Dean.
Or do you mean 'count' sheep?
With apologies - we re-watched Bladerunner yesterday so the reference is in my head
I had no idea Blade Runner contained a scene where androids fantasise about sheep!
I have clearly missed a vital part of my education.
It's the name of the original Philip K Dick book which was adapted to become the film Blade Runner
If you ever win a pub quiz with that factoid as the tie-breaker then I'll happily take a thank-you beer from it!
I posted two really good replies to you. But I won't repeat them here as on mature reflection I really must draw the line at asking somebody about which of the Big Four he favours. There may be children reading after all.
Now I must go and clean my rabbit's litter tray...
Had to do a double-take there. Thought it said rabbi ...
It took ages to house-train our rabbi.
Our priest was no better. That's what made me an atheist. And a rabbit owner.
FPT "Ending the handouts for environmentally destructive farming practices was one of the reasons I voted Leave." - the EU ended them in 2003 when it phased out crop subsidies in favour of the Single Farm Payment which explicitly prioritises preservation of the environment.
As with so much of the EU, it hasn't worked.
Which specific destructive farming practice do you object to the EU subsidising?
Over grazing of upland areas.
You are badly misinformed over this. Dartmoor where I live is in a very serious crisis of undergrazing: it is scarcely worthwhile to keep any form of stock on it, so no one does, vegetation gets out of control, and the natural paths made by sheep and cattle disappear. I believe the same is true elsewhere - the economics of farming Dartmoor are the economics of farming the Lake district.
And what is the bad side of letting some land be reoccupied by natcher, wiled animals and plants? possibly animals that on the verge of extinction, or have a limited habitat?
When last I checked, sheep were part of nature. Android sheep never quite caught on.
Do androids dream of electric sheep?
Only if they're made in the Forest of Dean.
Or do you mean 'count' sheep?
With apologies - we re-watched Bladerunner yesterday so the reference is in my head
I had no idea Blade Runner contained a scene where androids fantasise about sheep!
I have clearly missed a vital part of my education.
Blade Runner is based on PK Dick story "Do androids dream of electric sheep".
The Spectator isn't actually that bad as publication if you pretend that the only journalists that write for them are Cohen, Forsyth, Hardman, and of course Nelson.
Interesting that the Greens apparently had fewer Ethnic minority candidates standing last time as a percentage of the total than UKIP. The stats for this election should be interesting.
According to UCL's Parliamentary Candidates UK project, of the major parties, the major parties had the following percentages of black and ethnic minority candidates: the Conservatives 11%, the Liberal Democrats 10%, Labour 9%, UKIP 6%, the Greens 4%.[16] About 17% of the British population as a whole identifies as black or ethnic minority.[16] Neither UKIP nor the Greens selected a black or ethnic minority candidate to stand in a seat viewed as winnable.[16] The Green leader, Natalie Bennett, stated that "I would agree that our percentage of BME candidates is disappointing and it's something we very much want to focus on.
In regard to the LDs, I don't mind Clegg, or Norman Lamb. The other MPs beside Farron I can't recall.
Tom Brake, Sarah Olney, Mark Williams, Alistair Carmichael are four of them. Can't remember the other two off-hand.
About 100 of the PLP!!!!!
Come on BJO. I know that the PLP have collectively the spine of a jellyfish and the intellect of a moron, but saying two anonymous Liberal Democrats are worth 100 of them is going a bit far.
OT, but with Labour and the SNP expected to lose some seats, depending on the Tory candidates, I wonder if we'll still have the gayest parliament in the world after June 8th.
Now I must go and clean my rabbit's litter tray...
Had to do a double-take there. Thought it said rabbi ...
It took ages to house-train our rabbi.
Our priest was no better. That's what made me an atheist. And a rabbit owner.
FPT "Ending the handouts for environmentally destructive farming practices was one of the reasons I voted Leave." - the EU ended them in 2003 when it phased out crop subsidies in favour of the Single Farm Payment which explicitly prioritises preservation of the environment.
As with so much of the EU, it hasn't worked.
Which specific destructive farming practice do you object to the EU subsidising?
Over grazing of upland areas.
You are badly misinformed over this. Dartmoor where I live is in a very serious crisis of undergrazing: it is scarcely worthwhile to keep any form of stock on it, so no one does, vegetation gets out of control, and the natural paths made by sheep and cattle disappear. I believe the same is true elsewhere - the economics of farming Dartmoor are the economics of farming the Lake district.
And what is the bad side of letting some land be reoccupied by natcher, wiled animals and plants? possibly animals that on the verge of extinction, or have a limited habitat?
When last I checked, sheep were part of nature. Android sheep never quite caught on.
Do androids dream of electric sheep?
Only if they're made in the Forest of Dean.
Or do you mean 'count' sheep?
With apologies - we re-watched Bladerunner yesterday so the reference is in my head
I had no idea Blade Runner contained a scene where androids fantasise about sheep!
I have clearly missed a vital part of my education.
It's the name of the original Philip K Dick book which was adapted to become the film Blade Runner
If you ever win a pub quiz with that factoid as the tie-breaker then I'll happily take a thank-you beer from it!
Ah, now I understand. Rather a surreal title. Was the good Mr Dick a Cinderford man?
The Spectator isn't actually that bad as publication if you pretend that the only journalists that write for them are Cohen, Forsyth, Hardman, and of course Nelson.
I'm a big fan of Alex Massie.
Yeah he's not too bad, although I haven't come across an article of his for the Spectator for a long time now. Doesn't help that they've limited the number of articles you can read on the site now.
I posted two really good replies to you. But I won't repeat them here as on mature reflection I really must draw the line at asking somebody about which of the Big Four he favours. There may be children reading after all.
Now I must go and clean my rabbit's litter tray...
Had to do a double-take there. Thought it said rabbi ...
It took ages to house-train our rabbi.
Our priest was no better. That's what made me an atheist. And a rabbit owner.
FPT "Ending the handouts for environmentally destructive farming practices was one of the reasons I voted Leave." - the EU ended them in 2003 when it phased out crop subsidies in favour of the Single Farm Payment which explicitly prioritises preservation of the environment.
As with so much of the EU, it hasn't worked.
Which specific destructive farming practice do you object to the EU subsidising?
Over grazing of upland areas.
And what is the bad side of letting some land be reoccupied by natcher, wiled animals and plants? possibly animals that on the verge of extinction, or have a limited habitat?
When last I checked, sheep were part of nature. Android sheep never quite caught on.
Do androids dream of electric sheep?
Only if they're made in the Forest of Dean.
Or do you mean 'count' sheep?
With apologies - we re-watched Bladerunner yesterday so the reference is in my head
I had no idea Blade Runner contained a scene where androids fantasise about sheep!
I have clearly missed a vital part of my education.
(comments based on my recollections from reading the story some while ago)
It didn't. Mr Dick's novel is certainly an enigma, and Blade Runner (the film) is a very peripheral interpretation. I think the film is brilliant, but somewhat disconnected from the source.
I presume that the 'sheep' bit is counting sheep, but the story leaves that wide open (and probably the other way).
I may have to re-read it now though to see if I missed something.
Some of UKIP's seat selections defy all logic. For instance they're contesting Cities of London & Westminster where they polled about 5% last time but not Tamworth where they got almost 20%. They got over 10% there at the local elections a few days ago.
Interesting that the Greens apparently had fewer Ethnic minority candidates standing last time as a percentage of the total than UKIP. The stats for this election should be interesting.
According to UCL's Parliamentary Candidates UK project, of the major parties, the major parties had the following percentages of black and ethnic minority candidates: the Conservatives 11%, the Liberal Democrats 10%, Labour 9%, UKIP 6%, the Greens 4%.[16] About 17% of the British population as a whole identifies as black or ethnic minority.[16] Neither UKIP nor the Greens selected a black or ethnic minority candidate to stand in a seat viewed as winnable.[16] The Green leader, Natalie Bennett, stated that "I would agree that our percentage of BME candidates is disappointing and it's something we very much want to focus on.
In defence of the Greens, not many seats could be considered winnable for them in the first place.
In terms of my own family and friends, I know of more BME voters that care about immigration and are eurosceptic (five) than those that care about the environment (basically one).
How do you feel about "swaling"? Serious question. I'm writing a thriller set on Dartmoor and swaling plays a significant role - I also know it is highly controversial....
It's historically part of the deal, and the less stock there is to eat vegetation down the more burning helps to do the same job. It is limited to times of year when birds aren't nesting, and what the objection is to it I don't really understand other than a feeling that you shouldn't set fire to Nature.
Interesting sidelight on how subsidies affect things - some farmers would like to swale more than the National Park will let them - the temptation is to start a fire and blame it on anonymous arsonists - in order to stop that, a serious fire on your land disqualifies you from getting your Single Farm Payment that year *even if there is no evidence you started it*.
From my research, I tend to agree. And I suspect that some of the people who object to swaling might be the VERY same people who applaud, say, ancient Aboriginal practices of burning the land in Outback Australia, as a great example of primal, authentic, man-meets-Nature harmony.
There's some people you can't win against - if you fell a tree for any reason whatever (including that it is an invasive weed, or diseased, or dangerous) they think you are murdering an entwife.
In regard to the LDs, I don't mind Clegg, or Norman Lamb. The other MPs beside Farron I can't recall.
Tom Brake, Sarah Olney, Mark Williams, Alistair Carmichael are four of them. Can't remember the other two off-hand.
After next month you won't need to remember a few of those either.
Spitballing with very little local knowledge which could be crucial:
Farron - some talk of potential challenge, particularly in the event of a blue tide, but probably safe Brake - Leave area, but UKIP vote to squeeze. Seems a goner. Lamb - Ditto. Williams - LDs doing badly in Wales, PC candidate strong local candidate apparently. Probably safe though. Carmichael - Very close last time, but historically very safe Liberal, Holyrood result strong for them. Despite liar case probably safe. Mulholland - No UKIP, Tory surge(?), Labour doing ok in area (?), maybe three way marginal? Pugh (not standing) - UKIP are standing, I'd read on here (I think) that locals were ok in the area, but was very tight last time. Possible loss, probable hold. Olney - Depends entirely on how people feel about Zac. They previously voted him in massively when under the Tory brand. Probable loss. Clegg - No tory tacticals to save him, depends if area which traditionally was tory/Liberal for 30 years sheds the big lab vote from last time. Probable hold, but still in danger.
So I think they may need 4-5 gains just to stand still.
Can you imagine if Carmichael was the only LD standing after the election! Liar-Leader.....
I think he made some decent points, particularly on linking Northern Ireland with agreed trade arrangements. He is flat wrong, however, on his suggestion that we will have a comprehensive trade agreement in place by the time we Brexit. There is no allowance in the EU position for one. Which means everything will hang on the "transition arrangements" - really partial and temporary extensions of the status quo, which he didn't mention at all and which make moot everything else he talked about.
I think the EU are keen for transition arrangements to last no longer than 3 years.
The implication is that, thereafter, the new relationship would take effect. Else, we just hard-crash out, just 3 years later than we otherwise would have.
And about two months prior to GE2022.
Given they are only going to start negotiations on the FTA after Brexit and it takes two or more years for national legislatures to ratify positions agreed by the EU Commission, Council and Parliament, I would say the chances are low that the FTA is sorted before the 3 year extension expires. Which suggests either the EU will have got what it wants from the extension and will cut us off, or more likely, there will be a negotiation on a further extension.
The people on the previous thread here have got this wrong IMO. We're not talking about a single comprehensive deal that wraps everything up. We are talking about a series of phased negotiations that will last a decade or more. These will effectively be to the EU's programme and timeframes. They won't have a great sense of urgency about it, I suspect. It's the opposite of David Davis' claim on Peston's show that the UK will not be pressured to make a hasty agreement. We are the ones that should want this wrapped up as quickly as possibly, while the EU will take their time.
why is Ms Soubry disliked.. because she ousted NPEXMP? or because she is a remainer?
It seems Ms Soubry is to Tories what Kate Hoey is to lefties...
No. Soubry (it's Mrs - she's married, not a lesbian) is a lefty who accidentally pinned a blue rosette on in the dark and then wandered into a Tory selection meeting whilst looking for the village hall fete committee evening. She doesn't have a Conservative bone in her body.
Kate Hoey has some very leftist views. Brexit was Labour Party policy in 1983. And she's unusual but not alone in Labour with her views on field sports.
Hoey is a bit of a maverick but she is in the right party. Soubry has the wrong rosette on.
Some of UKIP's seat selections defy all logic. For instance they're contesting Cities of London & Westminster where they polled about 5% last time but not Tamworth where they got almost 20%. They got over 10% there at the local elections a few days ago.
I would imagine they aren't selecting seats at all, as such. They're probably just sticking up candidates wherever they can find somebody willing to stand (it's possible that it may even be down to whether or not at least some of these candidates can help fund their own deposits - from what little I have heard it seems that the party may be close to broke.)
Ukip is currently circling ever more rapidly around the plughole. If they're still around to contest the next general election after this one, it'll most likely be as one of the niche hard/far right-wing nationalist curiosities, like the BNP and the English Democrats.
How do you feel about "swaling"? Serious question. I'm writing a thriller set on Dartmoor and swaling plays a significant role - I also know it is highly controversial....
It's historically part of the deal, and the less stock there is to eat vegetation down the more burning helps to do the same job. It is limited to times of year when birds aren't nesting, and what the objection is to it I don't really understand other than a feeling that you shouldn't set fire to Nature.
Interesting sidelight on how subsidies affect things - some farmers would like to swale more than the National Park will let them - the temptation is to start a fire and blame it on anonymous arsonists - in order to stop that, a serious fire on your land disqualifies you from getting your Single Farm Payment that year *even if there is no evidence you started it*.
From my research, I tend to agree. And I suspect that some of the people who object to swaling might be the VERY same people who applaud, say, ancient Aboriginal practices of burning the land in Outback Australia, as a great example of primal, authentic, man-meets-Nature harmony.
There's some people you can't win against - if you fell a tree for any reason whatever (including that it is an invasive weed, or diseased, or dangerous) they think you are murdering an entwife.
Had people up in arms about destruction of some land designated as ancient woodland as part of a quarry expansion not far from me. Now, the key issue was apparently to do with the soil structure and whether it could meaningfully be replaced once the quarry work was exhausted, as the actual trees in the area were non native trees planted as commercial woodland that had been before and were due to be felled and replanted for further felling in future, but a mass campaign still used images of ancient oak trees and the like when trying to stop it.
Some of UKIP's seat selections defy all logic. For instance they're contesting Cities of London & Westminster where they polled about 5% last time but not Tamworth where they got almost 20%. They got over 10% there at the local elections a few days ago.
I would imagine they aren't selecting seats at all, as such. They're probably just sticking up candidates wherever they can find somebody willing to stand (it's possible that it may even be down to whether or not at least some of these candidates can help fund their own deposits - from what little I have heard it seems that the party may be close to broke.)
Ukip is currently circling ever more rapidly around the plughole. If they're still around to contest the next general election after this one, it'll most likely be as one of the niche hard/far right-wing nationalist curiosities, like the BNP and the English Democrats.
The problem in Tamworth couldn't have been a shortage of candidates because as I said they had plenty of them for the local elections.
Because there isn't enough trivia in the world - there is a scifi novel called "the Bladerunner" - Ridley Scott bought the rights to the title only (not the story) because he thought it was so cool. I think Scott was right - it trips off the tongue better than the Dick one.
There are three Conservative candidates I could not vote for:
David Tredinnick Claire-Louise Leyland Zac Goldsmith
Any other personal dislikes that would over-rule personal political preference out there?
Why Claire?
I have always found her very pleasant
Think she will win Hamstead and Kilburn, the tories have finally realised they need to win over more ethnic minority voters and I don't think many Jewish people will stick with Jeremy Corbyns labour party.
Are you confusing H&K with Golders Green, Nunu? I shouldn't have thought the number of Jewish votes in the former was exceptionally high. In any case the 'Jewish vote' is always difficult to assess because there are so many strands and contradictions. I certainly wouldn't see it as a kind of bloc vote.
We discussed the betting possibilities in H&K on an earlier thread and there was a general consensus amongst the punters that it should be filed under 'too difficult'. Tulip Siddiq was a 4/1 shot at the time and this was thought to be about right.
Some of UKIP's seat selections defy all logic. For instance they're contesting Cities of London & Westminster where they polled about 5% last time but not Tamworth where they got almost 20%. They got over 10% there at the local elections a few days ago.
I think that they are skint and rely on candidates to stump up their own deposits. It is making it all a bit haphazard.
Because there isn't enough trivia in the world - there is a scifi novel called "the Bladerunner" - Ridley Scott bought the rights to the title only (not the story) because he thought it was so cool. I think Scott was right - it trips off the tongue better than the Dick one.
SeanT was discussing perfect book titles a few weeks back, there's a rhythm to them apparently, at least in the bigger selling genres, and it seems notable to me that sci-fi titles are often completely random or metaphorical, and you can get through an entire book with barely a hint why it is called that sometimes.
That said it throws up some interesting ones. Quite an odd little series was titled A Requiem for Homo Sapiens, and featured an organisation called the 'Order of Mystic Mathematicians and Other Seekers of the Ineffable Flame' among others.
Because there isn't enough trivia in the world - there is a scifi novel called "the Bladerunner" - Ridley Scott bought the rights to the title only (not the story) because he thought it was so cool. I think Scott was right - it trips off the tongue better than the Dick one.
SeanT was discussing perfect book titles a few weeks back, there's a rhythm to them apparently, at least in the bigger selling genres, and it seems notable to me that sci-fi titles are often completely random or metaphorical, and you can get through an entire book with barely a hint why it is called that sometimes.
That said it throws up some interesting ones. Quite an odd little series was titled A Requiem for Homo Sapiens, and featured an organisation called the 'Order of Mystic Mathematicians and Other Seekers of the Ineffable Flame' among others.
Now I must go and clean my rabbit's litter tray...
Had to do a double-take there. Thought it said rabbi ...
It took ages to house-train our rabbi.
Our priest was no better. That's what made me an atheist. And a rabbit owner.
FPT "Ending the handouts for environmentally destructive farming practices was one of the reasons I voted Leave." - the EU ended them in 2003 when it phased out crop subsidies in favour of the Single Farm Payment which explicitly prioritises preservation of the environment.
As with so much of the EU, it hasn't worked.
Which specific destructive farming practice do you object to the EU subsidising?
Over grazing of upland areas.
And what is the bad side of letting some land be reoccupied by natcher, wiled animals and plants? possibly animals that on the verge of extinction, or have a limited habitat?
When last I checked, sheep were part of nature. Android sheep never quite caught on.
Do androids dream of electric sheep?
Only if they're made in the Forest of Dean.
Or do you mean 'count' sheep?
With apologies - we re-watched Bladerunner yesterday so the reference is in my head
I had no idea Blade Runner contained a scene where androids fantasise about sheep!
I have clearly missed a vital part of my education.
(comments based on my recollections from reading the story some while ago)
It didn't. Mr Dick's novel is certainly an enigma, and Blade Runner (the film) is a very peripheral interpretation. I think the film is brilliant, but somewhat disconnected from the source.
I presume that the 'sheep' bit is counting sheep, but the story leaves that wide open (and probably the other way).
I may have to re-read it now though to see if I missed something.
I may have missed something but isn't it simply a question of what makes one human and can androids have human tendencies. Are they equal or subservient? See also the paper deer in the film.
Just saw the Marr clip and I don't think it was nearly as bad for Fallon as has been suggested.
His Parliamentary delegation answer was perfectly adequate - people are going to 1,000 times more interested and concerned about Corbyn and the IRA.
Just getting Corbyn and the IRA being discussed on BBC1 is a massive negative for Labour - most people aren't following every detail - just the association is toxic.
Now I must go and clean my rabbit's litter tray...
Had to do a double-take there. Thought it said rabbi ...
It took ages to house-train our rabbi.
Our priest was no better. That's what made me an atheist. And a rabbit owner.
FPT "Ending the handouts for environmentally destructive farming practices was one of the reasons I voted Leave." - the EU ended them in 2003 when it phased out crop subsidies in favour of the Single Farm Payment which explicitly prioritises preservation of the environment.
As with so much of the EU, it hasn't worked.
Which specific destructive farming practice do you object to the EU subsidising?
Over grazing of upland areas.
You are badly misinformed over this. Dartmoor where I live is in a very serious crisis of undergrazing: it is scarcely worthwhile to keep any form of stock on it, so no one does, vegetation gets out of control, and the natural paths made by sheep and cattle disappear. I believe the same is true elsewhere - the economics of farming Dartmoor are the economics of farming the Lake district.
And what is the bad side of letting some land be reoccupied by natcher, wiled animals and plants? possibly animals that on the verge of extinction, or have a limited habitat?
When last I checked, sheep were part of nature. Android sheep never quite caught on.
Just saw the Marr clip and I don't think it was nearly as bad for Fallon as has been suggested.
His Parliamentary delegation answer was perfectly adequate - people are going to 1,000 times more interested and concerned about Corbyn and the IRA.
Just getting Corbyn and the IRA being discussed on BBC1 is a massive negative for Labour - most people aren't following every detail - just the association is toxic.
I pretty much came to the same conclusion -
"The morning sofa discussion was a modest points win for Thornberry, and fair play to her for besting Fallon. But it takes the game onto ground that is utterly lethal for Labour.
MPs do not have to perfectly represent the collective view of their constituents, it is not defying their will to take a different stance on some issues, where this is known (in most cases it would be hard to say with certainty, with Brexit there is much more, though not total, clarity). They will have to take a view if they feel his stances on other issues embody what they would like enough to outweigh that he is taking a stance against most of them here.
He's probably a goner though.
Farron, Williams, Carmichael and (probably) Mulholland and Clegg, may find themselves in a truly elite group - the absolute core of the LD parliamentary party, the few who managed to survive everything thrown at them across 2 elections in 2 years.
There are three Conservative candidates I could not vote for:
David Tredinnick Claire-Louise Leyland Zac Goldsmith
Any other personal dislikes that would over-rule personal political preference out there?
Why Claire?
I have always found her very pleasant
Think she will win Hamstead and Kilburn, the tories have finally realised they need to win over more ethnic minority voters and I don't think many Jewish people will stick with Jeremy Corbyns labour party.
Are you confusing H&K with Golders Green, Nunu? I shouldn't have thought the number of Jewish votes in the former was exceptionally high. In any case the 'Jewish vote' is always difficult to assess because there are so many strands and contradictions. I certainly wouldn't see it as a kind of bloc vote.
We discussed the betting possibilities in H&K on an earlier thread and there was a general consensus amongst the punters that it should be filed under 'too difficult'. Tulip Siddiq was a 4/1 shot at the time and this was thought to be about right.
You're right, I've just seen the seat is only 6.5% Jewish, thought it was a lot higher than that. Also yes they aren't a block vote.
Which way do I vote ? For the policies which I support - but promoted by inadequate leaders - or for competent leaders - but promoting policies with which I disagree. Assad may be seen as a 'strong' leader - but I am more than hesitant about his policies. So - should weak leadership - but acceptable (or even desirable) policies win the day ?
Oh come on, Junius. Assad stands for strong and stable government. What more could you want?
MPs do not have to perfectly represent the collective view of their constituents, it is not defying their will to take a different stance on some issues, where this is known (in most cases it would be hard to say with certainty, with Brexit there is much more, though not total, clarity). They will have to take a view if they feel his stances on other issues embody what they would like enough to outweigh that he is taking a stance against most of them here.
He's probably a goner though.
No its the best for Brjtain decision to support 16 constituencies that i am talking about and what tge link is to
Some of UKIP's seat selections defy all logic. For instance they're contesting Cities of London & Westminster where they polled about 5% last time but not Tamworth where they got almost 20%. They got over 10% there at the local elections a few days ago.
I would imagine they aren't selecting seats at all, as such. They're probably just sticking up candidates wherever they can find somebody willing to stand (it's possible that it may even be down to whether or not at least some of these candidates can help fund their own deposits - from what little I have heard it seems that the party may be close to broke.)
Ukip is currently circling ever more rapidly around the plughole. If they're still around to contest the next general election after this one, it'll most likely be as one of the niche hard/far right-wing nationalist curiosities, like the BNP and the English Democrats.
The problem in Tamworth couldn't have been a shortage of candidates because as I said they had plenty of them for the local elections.
In that case it's most likely to do with raising a deposit to fight a hopeless seat - the sitting Tory has a five-figure majority - leavened with the fact that he appears to have voted to Leave the EU anyway.
(Leave sentiment is not necessarily decisive - my local Tory voted Remain and Ukip haven't bothered to put up a candidate around here, either.)
Given they are only going to start negotiations on the FTA after Brexit and it takes two or more years for national legislatures to ratify positions agreed by the EU Commission, Council and Parliament, I would say the chances are low that the FTA is sorted before the 3 year extension expires. Which suggests either the EU will have got what it wants from the extension and will cut us off, or more likely, there will be a negotiation on a further extension.
The people on the previous thread here have got this wrong IMO. We're not talking about a single comprehensive deal that wraps everything up. We are talking about a series of phased negotiations that will last a decade or more. These will effectively be to the EU's programme and timeframes. They won't have a great sense of urgency about it, I suspect. It's the opposite of David Davis' claim on Peston's show that the UK will not be pressured to make a hasty agreement. We are the ones that should want this wrapped up as quickly as possibly, while the EU will take their time.
The other thing is the money. The main consequence of Brexit for us internationally is a big loss of influence.. Money buys influence. We should get used to paying out in the new setup, and not just to the EU. If we are paying a big chunk of the EU budget so Germany doesn't have to and Poland gets more of the things they like, we become a lot more interesting to them. The EU maintains the fiction that this is money we owe them; we maintain the fiction that we don't owe them anything. Whereas what the EU really wants is a commitment to a fixed sum and we don't want to pay when we don't know what we getting in return. So our negotiations should drive towards the money going out on a recurring basis rather than in single lump sum (to keep our EU partners interested in our needs), as well as buying particular outcomes we would like.
Because there isn't enough trivia in the world - there is a scifi novel called "the Bladerunner" - Ridley Scott bought the rights to the title only (not the story) because he thought it was so cool. I think Scott was right - it trips off the tongue better than the Dick one.
SeanT was discussing perfect book titles a few weeks back, there's a rhythm to them apparently, at least in the bigger selling genres, and it seems notable to me that sci-fi titles are often completely random or metaphorical, and you can get through an entire book with barely a hint why it is called that sometimes.
That said it throws up some interesting ones. Quite an odd little series was titled A Requiem for Homo Sapiens, and featured an organisation called the 'Order of Mystic Mathematicians and Other Seekers of the Ineffable Flame' among others.
I would strongly, and I mean strongly, advise against tackling A Requiem for Homo Sapiens if you haven't already - it is months of your life you will not get back. The prequel Neverness is borderline readable, but don't be sucked in.
Because there isn't enough trivia in the world - there is a scifi novel called "the Bladerunner" - Ridley Scott bought the rights to the title only (not the story) because he thought it was so cool. I think Scott was right - it trips off the tongue better than the Dick one.
SeanT was discussing perfect book titles a few weeks back, there's a rhythm to them apparently, at least in the bigger selling genres, and it seems notable to me that sci-fi titles are often completely random or metaphorical, and you can get through an entire book with barely a hint why it is called that sometimes.
That said it throws up some interesting ones. Quite an odd little series was titled A Requiem for Homo Sapiens, and featured an organisation called the 'Order of Mystic Mathematicians and Other Seekers of the Ineffable Flame' among others.
I would strongly, and I mean strongly, advise against tackling A Requiem for Homo Sapiens if you haven't already - it is months of your life you will not get back. The prequel Neverness is borderline readable, but don't be sucked in.
Already read it. I recall mostly enjoying it at the time, in a 'I've never read anything quite so out there as this' kind of way. Shows how conventional a lot of sci-fi stuff actually is (although also why some things are conventional for a reason).
why is Ms Soubry disliked.. because she ousted NPEXMP? or because she is a remainer?
It seems Ms Soubry is to Tories what Kate Hoey is to lefties...
No. Soubry (it's Mrs - she's married, not a lesbian) is a lefty who accidentally pinned a blue rosette on in the dark and then wandered into a Tory selection meeting whilst looking for the village hall fete committee evening. She doesn't have a Conservative bone in her body.
Kate Hoey has some very leftist views. Brexit was Labour Party policy in 1983. And she's unusual but not alone in Labour with her views on field sports.
Hoey is a bit of a maverick but she is in the right party. Soubry has the wrong rosette on.
'Yes, I agree. Peston's tweet was extradionary, given David Davis came across as perfectly reasonable and confident. But then Peston is an arch-remainer.
David Davis made the point that the EU slows down considerably during the summer months, therefore, he and his team can get a lot more work done.'
Lots of gullible people, only a couple of years ago Labour were headed for a landslide according to twitter.
MPs do not have to perfectly represent the collective view of their constituents, it is not defying their will to take a different stance on some issues, where this is known (in most cases it would be hard to say with certainty, with Brexit there is much more, though not total, clarity). They will have to take a view if they feel his stances on other issues embody what they would like enough to outweigh that he is taking a stance against most of them here.
He's probably a goner though.
No its the best for Brjtain decision to support 16 constituencies that i am talking about and what tge link is to
Oh. First I've heard about them. Interesting only 3 sitting LD MPs met their requirements for this first batch, though I suppose more may follow, given this bit 'We have also given preference to candidates at threat from UKIP withdrawal from some parliamentary seats to lend support to other candidates'.
(comments based on my recollections from reading the story some while ago)
It didn't. Mr Dick's novel is certainly an enigma, and Blade Runner (the film) is a very peripheral interpretation. I think the film is brilliant, but somewhat disconnected from the source.
I presume that the 'sheep' bit is counting sheep, but the story leaves that wide open (and probably the other way).
I may have to re-read it now though to see if I missed something.
I may have missed something but isn't it simply a question of what makes one human and can androids have human tendencies. Are they equal or subservient? See also the paper deer in the film.
The book is set in a post-apocalyptic future where animals are rare (nodded to by Rachel's owl in the movie).
It's considered your civic duty to keep at least one animal, the rarer the better. But because it's so expensive a lot of people keep an android one instead for appearance's sake.
The Deckard of the novel keeps an android sheep and often wonders if the sheep (and therefore his quarry) is alive or not.
There are three Conservative candidates I could not vote for:
David Tredinnick Claire-Louise Leyland Zac Goldsmith
Any other personal dislikes that would over-rule personal political preference out there?
Why Claire?
I have always found her very pleasant
Think she will win Hamstead and Kilburn, the tories have finally realised they need to win over more ethnic minority voters and I don't think many Jewish people will stick with Jeremy Corbyns labour party.
Are you confusing H&K with Golders Green, Nunu? I shouldn't have thought the number of Jewish votes in the former was exceptionally high. In any case the 'Jewish vote' is always difficult to assess because there are so many strands and contradictions. I certainly wouldn't see it as a kind of bloc vote.
We discussed the betting possibilities in H&K on an earlier thread and there was a general consensus amongst the punters that it should be filed under 'too difficult'. Tulip Siddiq was a 4/1 shot at the time and this was thought to be about right.
why is Ms Soubry disliked.. because she ousted NPEXMP? or because she is a remainer?
It seems Ms Soubry is to Tories what Kate Hoey is to lefties...
No. Soubry (it's Mrs - she's married, not a lesbian) is a lefty who accidentally pinned a blue rosette on in the dark and then wandered into a Tory selection meeting whilst looking for the village hall fete committee evening. She doesn't have a Conservative bone in her body.
Kate Hoey has some very leftist views. Brexit was Labour Party policy in 1983. And she's unusual but not alone in Labour with her views on field sports.
Hoey is a bit of a maverick but she is in the right party. Soubry has the wrong rosette on.
If Soubry is SDP, probably so was Harold Macmillan who presided as housing minister over the building of more council houses than Labour had promised to build. So was Ted Heath when he reorganised the Prices and Incomes Board into two bodies instead of abolishing it. Earlier on, maybe so was Baldwin who created the National Grid in 1926.
why is Ms Soubry disliked.. because she ousted NPEXMP? or because she is a remainer?
It seems Ms Soubry is to Tories what Kate Hoey is to lefties...
No. Soubry (it's Mrs - she's married, not a lesbian) is a lefty who accidentally pinned a blue rosette on in the dark and then wandered into a Tory selection meeting whilst looking for the village hall fete committee evening. She doesn't have a Conservative bone in her body. Kate Hoey has some very leftist views. Brexit was Labour Party policy in 1983. And she's unusual but not alone in Labour with her views on field sports. Hoey is a bit of a maverick but she is in the right party. Soubry has the wrong rosette on.
I expect Anna Soubry would have felt quite at home with Harold Macmillan, Ted Heath and Willie Whitelaw. The problem for her is that the Conservative Party has been taken over by right-wing hardliners and neo-Kippers. I think she is only just beginning to realise....
why is Ms Soubry disliked.. because she ousted NPEXMP? or because she is a remainer?
It seems Ms Soubry is to Tories what Kate Hoey is to lefties...
No. Soubry (it's Mrs - she's married, not a lesbian) is a lefty who accidentally pinned a blue rosette on in the dark and then wandered into a Tory selection meeting whilst looking for the village hall fete committee evening. She doesn't have a Conservative bone in her body.
Kate Hoey has some very leftist views. Brexit was Labour Party policy in 1983. And she's unusual but not alone in Labour with her views on field sports.
Hoey is a bit of a maverick but she is in the right party. Soubry has the wrong rosette on.
Soubry was the only Conservative in NUS Exec when I was a student in the late 1970's. As I live in a constituency like Surbiton [ i.e. Labour has close to zero chance of winning ], Soubry alongwith Ken Clarke are the only two Tories who I could consider voting for.
There are three Conservative candidates I could not vote for:
David Tredinnick Claire-Louise Leyland Zac Goldsmith
Any other personal dislikes that would over-rule personal political preference out there?
Why Claire?
I have always found her very pleasant
Think she will win Hamstead and Kilburn, the tories have finally realised they need to win over more ethnic minority voters and I don't think many Jewish people will stick with Jeremy Corbyns labour party.
Are you confusing H&K with Golders Green, Nunu? I shouldn't have thought the number of Jewish votes in the former was exceptionally high. In any case the 'Jewish vote' is always difficult to assess because there are so many strands and contradictions. I certainly wouldn't see it as a kind of bloc vote.
We discussed the betting possibilities in H&K on an earlier thread and there was a general consensus amongst the punters that it should be filed under 'too difficult'. Tulip Siddiq was a 4/1 shot at the time and this was thought to be about right.
why is Ms Soubry disliked.. because she ousted NPEXMP? or because she is a remainer?
It seems Ms Soubry is to Tories what Kate Hoey is to lefties...
No. Soubry (it's Mrs - she's married, not a lesbian) is a lefty who accidentally pinned a blue rosette on in the dark and then wandered into a Tory selection meeting whilst looking for the village hall fete committee evening. She doesn't have a Conservative bone in her body.
Kate Hoey has some very leftist views. Brexit was Labour Party policy in 1983. And she's unusual but not alone in Labour with her views on field sports.
Hoey is a bit of a maverick but she is in the right party. Soubry has the wrong rosette on.
If Soubry is SDP, probably so was Harold Macmillan who presided as housing minister over the building of more council houses than Labour had promised to build. So was Ted Heath when he reorganised the Prices and Incomes Board into two bodies instead of abolishing it. Earlier on, maybe so was Baldwin who created the National Grid in 1926.
They were, as Nick so correctly pointed out earlier today, a bit like the CDU, i.e. pre-Thatcher Tories [ one nation ? ]
MPs do not have to perfectly represent the collective view of their constituents, it is not defying their will to take a different stance on some issues, where this is known (in most cases it would be hard to say with certainty, with Brexit there is much more, though not total, clarity). They will have to take a view if they feel his stances on other issues embody what they would like enough to outweigh that he is taking a stance against most of them here.
He's probably a goner though.
No its the best for Brjtain decision to support 16 constituencies that i am talking about and what tge link is to
Oh. First I've heard about them. Interesting only 3 sitting LD MPs met their requirements for this first batch, though I suppose more may follow, given this bit 'We have also given preference to candidates at threat from UKIP withdrawal from some parliamentary seats to lend support to other candidates'.
Well UKIP pulled out feom Carshalton but Brake so far has not wanted to even discuss Brexit in his leaflets so it probably suits him for this organisation to do it for him
There are three Conservative candidates I could not vote for:
David Tredinnick Claire-Louise Leyland Zac Goldsmith
Any other personal dislikes that would over-rule personal political preference out there?
Why Claire?
I have always found her very pleasant
Think she will win Hamstead and Kilburn, the tories have finally realised they need to win over more ethnic minority voters and I don't think many Jewish people will stick with Jeremy Corbyns labour party.
Are you confusing H&K with Golders Green, Nunu? I shouldn't have thought the number of Jewish votes in the former was exceptionally high. In any case the 'Jewish vote' is always difficult to assess because there are so many strands and contradictions. I certainly wouldn't see it as a kind of bloc vote.
We discussed the betting possibilities in H&K on an earlier thread and there was a general consensus amongst the punters that it should be filed under 'too difficult'. Tulip Siddiq was a 4/1 shot at the time and this was thought to be about right.
You're right, I've just seen the seat is only 6.5% Jewish, thought it was a lot higher than that. Also yes they aren't a block vote.
The Kilburn part of the constituency is distinctly non-Jewish. Hampstead is of course more Jewish, but it is more notably very anti-Brexit. Tulip Siddiq would have no chance by all normal reckonings given the current national poll numbers and the state of the Labour Party, but the strength of pro-Remain feeling in London and her own constituency in particular gives her a bit of a squeak nevertheless.
I rate her chances about 20% - so 4/1 is about right.
why is Ms Soubry disliked.. because she ousted NPEXMP? or because she is a remainer?
It seems Ms Soubry is to Tories what Kate Hoey is to lefties...
No. Soubry (it's Mrs - she's married, not a lesbian) is a lefty who accidentally pinned a blue rosette on in the dark and then wandered into a Tory selection meeting whilst looking for the village hall fete committee evening. She doesn't have a Conservative bone in her body. Kate Hoey has some very leftist views. Brexit was Labour Party policy in 1983. And she's unusual but not alone in Labour with her views on field sports. Hoey is a bit of a maverick but she is in the right party. Soubry has the wrong rosette on.
I expect Anna Soubry would have felt quite at home with Harold Macmillan, Ted Heath and Willie Whitelaw. The problem for her is that the Conservative Party has been taken over by right-wing hardliners and neo-Kippers. I think she is only just beginning to realise....
Who's calling the Tories (as a party) right wing hardliners? Hardly, my bucko; the blue right wing is a feeble thing and nothing to crow about.
Interesting (to me). It seems although Ken Clarke is the Father of the House, there is one MP who was elected prior to him, although not with uninterrupted service - David Winnick. Majority less than 2000.
Also, given how old some MPs are who are standing, presumably with the intention of a five year term, if Clarke were so bothered seems like he could stand in 2022 as well and it wouldn't be that unusual.
Following Peter the Punter's rather gallant efforts to try and state the bleeding obvious to Brexit ideologies, I was struck by a Time's piece this week.
Farmers now are realising that Brexit is utterly disastrous...not only will they lose vital subsidies and access to migrant Labour but they will be left completely exposed to the harshness of a market where standards outside the EU are piss poor...I could almost feel sorry for them if it wasn't for the fact that many of them supported Brexit, or like slaughtering wildlife, or both.....
Anyway the moral of the story is that we are dealing with morons who have no capacity for cognitive or intellectual debate such is their blind ideological prejudice....Brexit in a nutshell....
The government aren't going to continue with agricultural subsidies? I find that hard to imagine.
The Time's piece also indicated that in an austerity dominant environment, it is dawning on farmers that their subsidies might be slightly less important than say the NHS...as said, sating the bleeding obvious...
The good thing for free marketeers is that we will be able to flood our supermarkets with cheap meat from god knows where....
Argentina, New Zealand and Australia. Looking forward to it.
Oh! And I nearly forgot the bleached chickens from the US.
If people given a free chose decide to by a good, any good, including bleached chickens, that then demonstrates that is there preferred option, and to stop then buying it is wrong IMO.
You may not like Bleached chickens, I may not like bleached chickens but we do not have the right to stop others buying bleached chickens.
Consumer preferences are moving quickly in the US (last week I met with senior management of 2 of the top 4 veterinary antibiotic producers and seeing the other 2 at the end of the month)
At Costco, for example, antibiotic free chickens are sold in green wrappers while those that have been medicated are sold in red
Because there isn't enough trivia in the world - there is a scifi novel called "the Bladerunner" - Ridley Scott bought the rights to the title only (not the story) because he thought it was so cool. I think Scott was right - it trips off the tongue better than the Dick one.
SeanT was discussing perfect book titles a few weeks back, there's a rhythm to them apparently, at least in the bigger selling genres, and it seems notable to me that sci-fi titles are often completely random or metaphorical, and you can get through an entire book with barely a hint why it is called that sometimes.
That said it throws up some interesting ones. Quite an odd little series was titled A Requiem for Homo Sapiens, and featured an organisation called the 'Order of Mystic Mathematicians and Other Seekers of the Ineffable Flame' among others.
I would strongly, and I mean strongly, advise against tackling A Requiem for Homo Sapiens if you haven't already - it is months of your life you will not get back. The prequel Neverness is borderline readable, but don't be sucked in.
Already read it. I recall mostly enjoying it at the time, in a 'I've never read anything quite so out there as this' kind of way. Shows how conventional a lot of sci-fi stuff actually is (although also why some things are conventional for a reason).
What I'm reading and everyone on PB should read is "Sapiens - a brief history of humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari. It's brilliant and not at all the usual kind of history book.
Had a conversation with a smallish LL in Bolsover Constituency today. Tory voter deels sufficiently shafted by Osborne and friends (Stamp Duty, business costs taxed as income etc) that he is abstaining this time.
Comments
Since you just said that you would happily vote for the John the Baptist of fascism, he's more your cup of tea anyway.
I'd not be able to pick out Brake, Carmichael etc in a line up.
The LDs have had a really unexciting, boring campaign so far. They'd actually be better off having Clegg as their leader again.
Or do you mean 'count' sheep?
[blushes]
But seriously, are you shore you can use this, at best, marginal benefit to support massive subsidy's and unnesasrly high food prises?
Farron - some talk of potential challenge, particularly in the event of a blue tide, but probably safe
Brake - Leave area, but UKIP vote to squeeze. Seems a goner.
Lamb - Ditto.
Williams - LDs doing badly in Wales, PC candidate strong local candidate apparently. Probably safe though.
Carmichael - Very close last time, but historically very safe Liberal, Holyrood result strong for them. Despite liar case probably safe.
Mulholland - No UKIP, Tory surge(?), Labour doing ok in area (?), maybe three way marginal?
Pugh (not standing) - UKIP are standing, I'd read on here (I think) that locals were ok in the area, but was very tight last time. Possible loss, probable hold.
Olney - Depends entirely on how people feel about Zac. They previously voted him in massively when under the Tory brand. Probable loss.
Clegg - No tory tacticals to save him, depends if area which traditionally was tory/Liberal for 30 years sheds the big lab vote from last time. Probable hold, but still in danger.
So I think they may need 4-5 gains just to stand still.
The Spectator isn't actually that bad as publication if you pretend that the only journalists that write for them are Cohen, Forsyth, Hardman, and of course Nelson.
I have clearly missed a vital part of my education.
Interesting sidelight on how subsidies affect things - some farmers would like to swale more than the National Park will let them - the temptation is to start a fire and blame it on anonymous arsonists - in order to stop that, a serious fire on your land disqualifies you from getting your Single Farm Payment that year *even if there is no evidence you started it*.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/04/20/does-being-lgbt-hurt-your-chances-of-becoming-an-mp/#.WPke528kuIw.twitter
Then again I thought the same when Corbyn showed up to Carnival as well, and he'd be more popular with the people there.
If you ever win a pub quiz with that factoid as the tie-breaker then I'll happily take a thank-you beer from it!
According to UCL's Parliamentary Candidates UK project, of the major parties, the major parties had the following percentages of black and ethnic minority candidates: the Conservatives 11%, the Liberal Democrats 10%, Labour 9%, UKIP 6%, the Greens 4%.[16] About 17% of the British population as a whole identifies as black or ethnic minority.[16] Neither UKIP nor the Greens selected a black or ethnic minority candidate to stand in a seat viewed as winnable.[16] The Green leader, Natalie Bennett, stated that "I would agree that our percentage of BME candidates is disappointing and it's something we very much want to focus on.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidates_standing_in_the_United_Kingdom_general_election,_2015#Ethnic_background
In defence of the Greens, not many seats could be considered winnable for them in the first place.
Thank you to you and @Ishmael_Z for explaining.
I shall get an early night out of sheer disgust
Have a good week everyone.
It didn't. Mr Dick's novel is certainly an enigma, and Blade Runner (the film) is a very peripheral interpretation. I think the film is brilliant, but somewhat disconnected from the source.
I presume that the 'sheep' bit is counting sheep, but the story leaves that wide open (and probably the other way).
I may have to re-read it now though to see if I missed something.
Labour MPs don't know how many of them will survive.
But then again, who does?
The people on the previous thread here have got this wrong IMO. We're not talking about a single comprehensive deal that wraps everything up. We are talking about a series of phased negotiations that will last a decade or more. These will effectively be to the EU's programme and timeframes. They won't have a great sense of urgency about it, I suspect. It's the opposite of David Davis' claim on Peston's show that the UK will not be pressured to make a hasty agreement. We are the ones that should want this wrapped up as quickly as possibly, while the EU will take their time.
Kate Hoey has some very leftist views. Brexit was Labour Party policy in 1983. And she's unusual but not alone in Labour with her views on field sports.
Hoey is a bit of a maverick but she is in the right party. Soubry has the wrong rosette on.
Ukip is currently circling ever more rapidly around the plughole. If they're still around to contest the next general election after this one, it'll most likely be as one of the niche hard/far right-wing nationalist curiosities, like the BNP and the English Democrats.
We discussed the betting possibilities in H&K on an earlier thread and there was a general consensus amongst the punters that it should be filed under 'too difficult'. Tulip Siddiq was a 4/1 shot at the time and this was thought to be about right.
That said it throws up some interesting ones. Quite an odd little series was titled A Requiem for Homo Sapiens, and featured an organisation called the 'Order of Mystic Mathematicians and Other Seekers of the Ineffable Flame' among others.
https://twitter.com/Andy_Beadle/status/863847254720999424
His Parliamentary delegation answer was perfectly adequate - people are going to 1,000 times more interested and concerned about Corbyn and the IRA.
Just getting Corbyn and the IRA being discussed on BBC1 is a massive negative for Labour - most people aren't following every detail - just the association is toxic.
"The morning sofa discussion was a modest points win for Thornberry, and fair play to her for besting Fallon. But it takes the game onto ground that is utterly lethal for Labour.
I assume this was Fallon's job this morning."
He's probably a goner though.
Farron, Williams, Carmichael and (probably) Mulholland and Clegg, may find themselves in a truly elite group - the absolute core of the LD parliamentary party, the few who managed to survive everything thrown at them across 2 elections in 2 years.
(Leave sentiment is not necessarily decisive - my local Tory voted Remain and Ukip haven't bothered to put up a candidate around here, either.)
'Yes, I agree. Peston's tweet was extradionary, given David Davis came across as perfectly reasonable and confident. But then Peston is an arch-remainer.
David Davis made the point that the EU slows down considerably during the summer months, therefore, he and his team can get a lot more work done.'
Lots of gullible people, only a couple of years ago Labour were headed for a landslide according to twitter.
It's considered your civic duty to keep at least one animal, the rarer the better. But because it's so expensive a lot of people keep an android one instead for appearance's sake.
The Deckard of the novel keeps an android sheep and often wonders if the sheep (and therefore his quarry) is alive or not.
https://twitter.com/HandofGOD7/status/863653476227854336
I rate her chances about 20% - so 4/1 is about right.
Also, given how old some MPs are who are standing, presumably with the intention of a five year term, if Clarke were so bothered seems like he could stand in 2022 as well and it wouldn't be that unusual.
https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/863856455996366853
At Costco, for example, antibiotic free chickens are sold in green wrappers while those that have been medicated are sold in red
by Yuval Noah Harari. It's brilliant and not at all the usual kind of history book.
Oh what a choice for us free market, Thatcherite socially liberal Tories to make.
Had a conversation with a smallish LL in Bolsover Constituency today. Tory voter deels sufficiently shafted by Osborne and friends (Stamp Duty, business costs taxed as income etc) that he is abstaining this time.