What I see is a PM who is not remarkably quick on her feet sticking relentlessly to her election talking points.
Second this, I don't understand why that GIF even exists, ways to put moving stuff on teh interweb have moved on since the mid 1990s. The actual footage shows pretty warm body language, esp given that neither participant is a natural at it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39948296
Agreed. I've just watched the whole thing, instead of the reports and Gifs, and I have changed my mind. They're both quite stiff characters, anyway, and in that light they seem to have a certain rapport.
David Herdson's analysis is superior, and surely correct. TMay was just doing her usual stone-walling, poker-faced shtick. She doesn't want a series of questions about this or that minister's future, so she just says nothing, until the journos get bored.
Hammond is staying.
I have to agree. The only notable thing about the (real) clip was the typically self-important grandstanding from the ever-irritating Laura K. This is a non-story to end all non-stories.
I'm having to watch Barry 'Patronising' Gardiner on DP instead of obsessing about a poll....
That was extraordinary!
What are the numbers for your nationalisation program?
We are not going to just buy them at market value. We are going to destroy the market value first, so they will be cheaper...
So, a putative Labour government would greatly increase individual and corporate taxation, and mount a raid on largely foreign owned assets. Sounds like a wonderful strategy for encouraging post Brexit economic activity.... anywhere else but here.
... He said the market value of the National Grid is a combination of the plant assets, and the license to operate them. Labour would split them, so the grid could be left with deteriorating plant and no license to generate revenue...
I think I detect a tiny little flaw in that cunning plan: the nationalised utility would have a license to distribute the nation's electricity, but no cables or sub-stations to distribute it through.
Agreed. I've just watched the whole thing, instead of the reports and Gifs, and I have changed my mind. They're both quite stiff characters, anyway, and in that light they seem to have a certain rapport.
David Herdson's analysis is superior, and surely correct. TMay was just doing her usual stone-walling, poker-faced shtick. She doesn't want a series of questions about this or that minister's future, so she just says nothing, until the journos get bored.
Hammond is staying.
Quite possibly - this is exactly the sort of hypothetical speculation that politicians always struggle with ("Will you resign if you lose?" "What will you do if Trump attacks Belgium?"). The main point, though, is that whatever it was they were trying to say has been allowed to be swamped by the speculation. If that was the Tory campaign getting into gear, it's a bit weak.
Reading the runes the cabinet ministers most at risk on June 9th are Jeremy Hunt, Justine Greening, Liz Truss, and Liam Fox.
Leadsom. Unless there is another "promotion" that amounts to punishment...
She'd make a fine Northern Ireland Secretary.
Does the NI secretary still have to put up with PM-levels of security while in office and for years afterwards, or did they dial that back a bit in recent - more peaceful - times?
Nope they have lifetime security/protection.
As that report in The Sunday Times said last year, according to MI5 we're more at risk of terrorism from dissident Irish republicans than from Islamist terrorism.
Because the former have more stocks/access to bombs, Semtex, and weapons than the latter.
Let's put Leadsom at NI then, it will annoy the hell out of her.
I thought Theresa Villiers was a good NI secretary and appeared to be well respected by the NI MPs. I'm not sure why she lost this post.
A testament to how incredibly DULL this election is that we have a PB thread about a facial expression on a GIF from a incredibly DULL PM and incredibly DULL Chancellor. Someone shake things up. PLEASE. Arthur Scargill defect to Ukip and take on Dennis Skinner in Bolsover or something. ANYTHING.
BBC - The Liberal Democrats have put a second EU referendum at the heart of their general election manifesto, saying it would "give the final say to the British people". - The vote on the final Brexit deal would include an option to remain in the EU.
What I see is a PM who is not remarkably quick on her feet sticking relentlessly to her election talking points.
Second this, I don't understand why that GIF even exists, ways to put moving stuff on teh interweb have moved on since the mid 1990s. The actual footage shows pretty warm body language, esp given that neither participant is a natural at it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39948296
Agreed. I've just watched the whole thing, instead of the reports and Gifs, and I have changed my mind. They're both quite stiff characters, anyway, and in that light they seem to have a certain rapport.
David Herdson's analysis is superior, and surely correct. TMay was just doing her usual stone-walling, poker-faced shtick. She doesn't want a series of questions about this or that minister's future, so she just says nothing, until the journos get bored.
Hammond is staying.
I have to agree. The only notable thing about the (real) clip was the typically self-important grandstanding from the ever-irritating Laura K. This is a non-story to end all non-stories.
We'll soon know, but I wouldn't be surprised by a reshuffle in which he's moved.
What I see is a PM who is not remarkably quick on her feet sticking relentlessly to her election talking points.
Second this, I don't understand why that GIF even exists, ways to put moving stuff on teh interweb have moved on since the mid 1990s. The actual footage shows pretty warm body language, esp given that neither participant is a natural at it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39948296
Agreed. I've just watched the whole thing, instead of the reports and Gifs, and I have changed my mind. They're both quite stiff characters, anyway, and in that light they seem to have a certain rapport.
David Herdson's analysis is superior, and surely correct. TMay was just doing her usual stone-walling, poker-faced shtick. She doesn't want a series of questions about this or that minister's future, so she just says nothing, until the journos get bored.
Hammond is staying.
I have to agree. The only notable thing about the (real) clip was the typically self-important grandstanding from the ever-irritating Laura K. This is a non-story to end all non-stories.
"the typically self-important grandstanding from the ever-irritating Laura K..."
You're more of a fan of the "Prime Minister, have you a message which you would like to share with the nation" approach then ?
Reading the runes the cabinet ministers most at risk on June 9th are Jeremy Hunt, Justine Greening, Liz Truss, and Liam Fox.
Leadsom. Unless there is another "promotion" that amounts to punishment...
She'd make a fine Northern Ireland Secretary.
Does the NI secretary still have to put up with PM-levels of security while in office and for years afterwards, or did they dial that back a bit in recent - more peaceful - times?
Nope they have lifetime security/protection.
As that report in The Sunday Times said last year, according to MI5 we're more at risk of terrorism from dissident Irish republicans than from Islamist terrorism.
Because the former have more stocks/access to bombs, Semtex, and weapons than the latter.
Let's put Leadsom at NI then, it will annoy the hell out of her.
I thought Theresa Villiers was a good NI secretary and appeared to be well respected by the NI MPs. I'm not sure why she lost this post.
Her insouciance about the impact of Brexit on NI can't have helped.
It would a silly mistake to sack him. And she should have backed him, now.
First unforced election error by the Tories.
Second.
First was fox hunting
Nah. After all the horrible interventionist leftwing crap (needed to win over Labour waverers) she had to throw some symbolic red meat to the backbench bloodhounds. Foxhunting was it. It's unlikely to pass.
Blair of course did the same, but in reverse.
I doubt it will change more than a few thousand votes. Passionate anti-hunters, the kind of voter where this cause trumps any other consideration, are a very small minority, and most unlikely to vote Tory.
It won't change any votes, but if they actually try to repeal the ban then it could cause all sorts of trouble. It's an issue with a small but extremely vocal minority of very active opponents, and a public that currently is pretty calm about it all but remains largely opposed on the whole. Potential for it to tarnish May's popularity, and it doesn't really fit with her Mother of the Nation image. Could suck up much oxygen from the next parliament if so.
Agreed. She'll need to punt it into the long grass.
Alternatively, she might decide that the Commons is against hunting, given the expected new intake of urban, younger Tory MPs (much less likely to be pro-hunting than the old toffs in the shires), and give a Free Vote, happy in the expectation it will lose.
Then she'll have showed that sticks to her guns, without losing support in the country....
It all depends on the political complexion of the new MPs.
Yeah, a great many Tories are anti–hunting, many are in fact full-blown animal rights types. The fox hunting thing will just disappear, any which way.
Very balanced and grown-up "campaign round-up" here; 45 seconds of its two minutes devoted to a Super Mario Tory Party game, and a "mash-up" of Theresa May. They do manage to show Abbott doing her Shadow Ho-de-Home secretary act, but don't mention her getting lost or jeered at.
What I see is a PM who is not remarkably quick on her feet sticking relentlessly to her election talking points.
Second this, I don't understand why that GIF even exists, ways to put moving stuff on teh interweb have moved on since the mid 1990s. The actual footage shows pretty warm body language, esp given that neither participant is a natural at it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39948296
Agreed. I've just watched the whole thing, instead of the reports and Gifs, and I have changed my mind. They're both quite stiff characters, anyway, and in that light they seem to have a certain rapport.
David Herdson's analysis is superior, and surely correct. TMay was just doing her usual stone-walling, poker-faced shtick. She doesn't want a series of questions about this or that minister's future, so she just says nothing, until the journos get bored.
Hammond is staying.
I have to agree. The only notable thing about the (real) clip was the typically self-important grandstanding from the ever-irritating Laura K. This is a non-story to end all non-stories.
"the typically self-important grandstanding from the ever-irritating Laura K..."
You're more of a fan of the "Prime Minister, have you a message which you would like to share with the nation" approach then ?
No. I'm more a fan of journalists asking proper questions that lead to insight. Laura K loves the sound of her own syntax.
I think people are reading too much into Mrs May's comments.
Would be a mistake if she did sack him though.
I think people forget Cameron and Osborne getting on well was the exception not the norm between The First and Second Lords of the Treasury.
Yes -- ironically as a result of official CCHQ spin about how Blair and Brown were the first and only Downing Street neighbours to disagree on whether the milk or tea goes in first.
Nah, Brown was unlike any other Chancellor when it came to undermining his Prime Minister.
You must not remember the Thatcher years, or the Heath years, or the Macmillan years. Oh, for the innocence of youth.
You must recall that TSE considers Osborne to be the greatest Chancellor in his lifetime.
Who knew TSE was born in 2010 ? .... A boy genius to match a genius of a Chancellor ....
Nah the greatest Chancellor of my lifetime was Ken Clarke.
Said so on the previous thread.
KenC gets right up my left nostril but I agree with that.
Have any of our East Mids correspondents got a view on Gedling constituency ? Seems an easy Tory gain on nat trends but then Coaker held on last time whereas neighbouring Broxtowe and similar suburban seats fell (sorry Nick) I can't decide whether 1/3 for the Cons is value, or whether he has some personal appeal there and might keep it close. There's barely any UKIP there - straight up Lab Con race
BBC - The Liberal Democrats have put a second EU referendum at the heart of their general election manifesto, saying it would "give the final say to the British people". - The vote on the final Brexit deal would include an option to remain in the EU.
Great picture of a sheep on page 54 of the Lib Dem manifesto.
She knows her pasture will be under threat from fracking if the Tories win
Reading the intro it sounds like Farron's message to the troops is "Go back to your constituencies and prepare to save your deposits."
I think there may be a connection with their plan to legalise cannabis and putting the sheep out to grass. Not forgetting that Farron is the archetypical dope.
@JamieRoss7: Dugdale says she will take forward disciplinary action against the Aberdeen Labour group if they enter coalition with the Conservatives.
It's disgraceful. SCON, SLAB, SLD, SNP, none of these are unconscionable parties (though there will be individuals within them who are) - it should not be official policy of any party that you cannot set national politics aside for the good of the local community if the numbers mean you have to work together sometimes, and it seems with the scottish system agreements between groups is necessary. By all means don't encourage it, suggest working with others is preferable, but do not locals know what is best for their areas?
I'm having to watch Barry 'Patronising' Gardiner on DP instead of obsessing about a poll....
That was extraordinary!
What are the numbers for your nationalisation program?
We are not going to just buy them at market value. We are going to destroy the market value first, so they will be cheaper...
Which is why I'm absolutely sure that Corbyn and Mcdonell were leavers to the core. There's not a cat in hell's chance they could carry out this kind of programme inside the single market. Not a chance.
What I see is a PM who is not remarkably quick on her feet sticking relentlessly to her election talking points.
Second this, I don't understand why that GIF even exists, ways to put moving stuff on teh interweb have moved on since the mid 1990s. The actual footage shows pretty warm body language, esp given that neither participant is a natural at it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39948296
Agreed. I've just watched the whole thing, instead of the reports and Gifs, and I have changed my mind. They're both quite stiff characters, anyway, and in that light they seem to have a certain rapport.
David Herdson's analysis is superior, and surely correct. TMay was just doing her usual stone-walling, poker-faced shtick. She doesn't want a series of questions about this or that minister's future, so she just says nothing, until the journos get bored.
Hammond is staying.
I have to agree. The only notable thing about the (real) clip was the typically self-important grandstanding from the ever-irritating Laura K. This is a non-story to end all non-stories.
Correct - although I am struggling with the concept of agreeing with you
What I see is a PM who is not remarkably quick on her feet sticking relentlessly to her election talking points.
Second this, I don't understand why that GIF even exists, ways to put moving stuff on teh interweb have moved on since the mid 1990s. The actual footage shows pretty warm body language, esp given that neither participant is a natural at it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39948296
Agreed. I've just watched the whole thing, instead of the reports and Gifs, and I have changed my mind. They're both quite stiff characters, anyway, and in that light they seem to have a certain rapport.
David Herdson's analysis is superior, and surely correct. TMay was just doing her usual stone-walling, poker-faced shtick. She doesn't want a series of questions about this or that minister's future, so she just says nothing, until the journos get bored.
Hammond is staying.
I have to agree. The only notable thing about the (real) clip was the typically self-important grandstanding from the ever-irritating Laura K. This is a non-story to end all non-stories.
We'll soon know, but I wouldn't be surprised by a reshuffle in which he's moved.
Hammond is for the chop, (moving sideways?) anyway. As a Chancellor Hammond makes a poor poker player.
Agreed. I've just watched the whole thing, instead of the reports and Gifs, and I have changed my mind. They're both quite stiff characters, anyway, and in that light they seem to have a certain rapport.
David Herdson's analysis is superior, and surely correct. TMay was just doing her usual stone-walling, poker-faced shtick. She doesn't want a series of questions about this or that minister's future, so she just says nothing, until the journos get bored.
Hammond is staying.
Quite possibly - this is exactly the sort of hypothetical speculation that politicians always struggle with ("Will you resign if you lose?" "What will you do if Trump attacks Belgium?"). The main point, though, is that whatever it was they were trying to say has been allowed to be swamped by the speculation. If that was the Tory campaign getting into gear, it's a bit weak.
Especially when they are so far behind in the polling............
Great picture of a sheep on page 54 of the Lib Dem manifesto.
She knows her pasture will be under threat from fracking if the Tories win
Reading the intro it sounds like Farron's message to the troops is "Go back to your constituencies and prepare to save your deposits."
It should be that they need to laser focus on say 50 seats and good luck to everyone fighting the good fight with limit resources in the rest. Some current LD survivors look goners, remarkably, other gains look pretty questionable in the face of their flatlining, but they have a large membership now, they need to flood their key areas, even at the risk of irritation, so it doesn't just end up with the 4(5) seats that are probably safe (even they are not 100%).
What I see is a PM who is not remarkably quick on her feet sticking relentlessly to her election talking points.
Second this, I don't understand why that GIF even exists, ways to put moving stuff on teh interweb have moved on since the mid 1990s. The actual footage shows pretty warm body language, esp given that neither participant is a natural at it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39948296
Agreed. I've just watched the whole thing, instead of the reports and Gifs, and I have changed my mind. They're both quite stiff characters, anyway, and in that light they seem to have a certain rapport.
David Herdson's analysis is superior, and surely correct. TMay was just doing her usual stone-walling, poker-faced shtick. She doesn't want a series of questions about this or that minister's future, so she just says nothing, until the journos get bored....
Contrast with the hapless Lib approach to dealing with Farron's biblical beliefs. Their national campaigning skills are rotten, and they really ought to ditch the homunculus.
BBC - The Liberal Democrats have put a second EU referendum at the heart of their general election manifesto, saying it would "give the final say to the British people". - The vote on the final Brexit deal would include an option to remain in the EU.
BBC - The Liberal Democrats have put a second EU referendum at the heart of their general election manifesto, saying it would "give the final say to the British people". - The vote on the final Brexit deal would include an option to remain in the EU.
It would a silly mistake to sack him. And she should have backed him, now.
First unforced election error by the Tories.
Second.
First was fox hunting
Nah. After all the horrible interventionist leftwing crap (needed to win over Labour waverers) she had to throw some symbolic red meat to the backbench bloodhounds. Foxhunting was it. It's unlikely to pass.
Blair of course did the same, but in reverse.
I doubt it will change more than a few thousand votes. Passionate anti-hunters, the kind of voter where this cause trumps any other consideration, are a very small minority, and most unlikely to vote Tory.
It won't change any votes, but if they actually try to repeal the ban then it could cause all sorts of trouble. It's an issue with a small but extremely vocal minority of very active opponents, and a public that currently is pretty calm about it all but remains largely opposed on the whole. Potential for it to tarnish May's popularity, and it doesn't really fit with her Mother of the Nation image. Could suck up much oxygen from the next parliament if so.
Agreed. She'll need to punt it into the long grass.
Alternatively, she might decide that the Commons is against hunting, given the expected new intake of urban, younger Tory MPs (much less likely to be pro-hunting than the old toffs in the shires), and give a Free Vote, happy in the expectation it will lose.
Then she'll have showed that sticks to her guns, without losing support in the country....
It all depends on the political complexion of the new MPs.
Yeah, a great many Tories are anti–hunting, many are in fact full-blown animal rights types. The fox hunting thing will just disappear, any which way.
Not least because most hunters seem in practice quite content to "work within the law" (ie carry on as before, knowing Plod has better things to do and would struggle to prove a case to the CPS's/jury's satisfaction when foxes "accidentally" get killed).
Great picture of a sheep on page 54 of the Lib Dem manifesto.
She knows her pasture will be under threat from fracking if the Tories win
Reading the intro it sounds like Farron's message to the troops is "Go back to your constituencies and prepare to save your deposits."
It should be that they need to laser focus on say 50 seats and good luck to everyone fighting the good fight with limit resources in the rest. Some current LD survivors look goners, remarkably, other gains look pretty questionable in the face of their flatlining, but they have a large membership now, they need to flood their key areas, even at the risk of irritation, so it doesn't just end up with the 4(5) seats that are probably safe (even they are not 100%).
Westmoreland Ceredigion Orkney Sheffield Hallam
The LibDems reduced to just the liar from Orkney would be funny beyond belief....
BBC - The Liberal Democrats have put a second EU referendum at the heart of their general election manifesto, saying it would "give the final say to the British people". - The vote on the final Brexit deal would include an option to remain in the EU.
What I see is a PM who is not remarkably quick on her feet sticking relentlessly to her election talking points.
Second this, I don't understand why that GIF even exists, ways to put moving stuff on teh interweb have moved on since the mid 1990s. The actual footage shows pretty warm body language, esp given that neither participant is a natural at it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39948296
Agreed. I've just watched the whole thing, instead of the reports and Gifs, and I have changed my mind. They're both quite stiff characters, anyway, and in that light they seem to have a certain rapport.
David Herdson's analysis is superior, and surely correct. TMay was just doing her usual stone-walling, poker-faced shtick. She doesn't want a series of questions about this or that minister's future, so she just says nothing, until the journos get bored.
Hammond is staying.
I have to agree. The only notable thing about the (real) clip was the typically self-important grandstanding from the ever-irritating Laura K. This is a non-story to end all non-stories.
Correct - although I am struggling with the concept of agreeing with you
We agreed many times during the european referendum!
Have any of our East Mids correspondents got a view on Gedling constituency ? Seems an easy Tory gain on nat trends but then Coaker held on last time whereas neighbouring Broxtowe and similar suburban seats fell (sorry Nick) I can't decide whether 1/3 for the Cons is value, or whether he has some personal appeal there and might keep it close. There's barely any UKIP there - straight up Lab Con race
I grew up in that seat.
He does have some personal appeal, but the Corbyn factor will mean it votes Tory for first time since 1992 IMO.
Plus there was nearly 15% UKIP last time, if I'm not mistaken - easily enough to put the Tories over the top?
What I see is a PM who is not remarkably quick on her feet sticking relentlessly to her election talking points.
Second this, I don't understand why that GIF even exists, ways to put moving stuff on teh interweb have moved on since the mid 1990s. The actual footage shows pretty warm body language, esp given that neither participant is a natural at it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39948296
Agreed. I've just watched the whole thing, instead of the reports and Gifs, and I have changed my mind. They're both quite stiff characters, anyway, and in that light they seem to have a certain rapport.
David Herdson's analysis is superior, and surely correct. TMay was just doing her usual stone-walling, poker-faced shtick. She doesn't want a series of questions about this or that minister's future, so she just says nothing, until the journos get bored.
Hammond is staying.
I have to agree. The only notable thing about the (real) clip was the typically self-important grandstanding from the ever-irritating Laura K. This is a non-story to end all non-stories.
"the typically self-important grandstanding from the ever-irritating Laura K..."
You're more of a fan of the "Prime Minister, have you a message which you would like to share with the nation" approach then ?
No. I'm more a fan of journalists asking proper questions that lead to insight. Laura K loves the sound of her own syntax.
She's no Brillo, but irritating is far preferable to complaisant in a political journalist. Particularly when covering such a dull affair.
May does not like: 1. People who question her. 2. Anyone the anti-European press does not like.
On that basis, Hammond is surely toast. Gove passes test 2, he fails test 1. So Hammond will be replaced by a nodding Brexiteer - or someone who can pretend to be one. The quality of the cabinet will fall even further.
Can I ask, who would you want her to appoint to make the quality rise?
BBC - The Liberal Democrats have put a second EU referendum at the heart of their general election manifesto, saying it would "give the final say to the British people". - The vote on the final Brexit deal would include an option to remain in the EU.
Presumably May will largely leave ministers in place given most have barely had time to fully settle in yet. You read the odd piece e.g the ineptness of Andrea Leadsom at the dispatch box in the Guardian but the question always is whether this is a leftie journo playing revenge politics with a despised brexiteer or whether they're on to anything . Hunt maybe is perhaps someone who perhaps wouldn't mind being moved given the continued visceral hostility to him by some in the medical profession (as seen in recent days). A promotion to CoE might be pushing it a bit
Presumably May will largely leave ministers in place given most have barely had time to fully settle in yet.
Alternately since they've been treading water since the Brexti vote, a good time to move people and get in the long term team she wants, when she wasn't quite ready to entirely turf some out before.
May does not like: 1. People who question her. 2. Anyone the anti-European press does not like.
On that basis, Hammond is surely toast. Gove passes test 2, he fails test 1. So Hammond will be replaced by a nodding Brexiteer - or someone who can pretend to be one. The quality of the cabinet will fall even further.
Can I ask, who would you want her to appoint to make the quality rise?
If it were up to me, if he's elected, Aaron Bell would make a fine Chancellor.
He's good with numbers/stats, what more do you want in a Chancellor?
Plus he's a fab tipster, I'd be happy with him betting some of government's cash with the bookies for a very decent return.
The deficit and debt would be wiped out in no time.
I'm having to watch Barry 'Patronising' Gardiner on DP instead of obsessing about a poll....
That was extraordinary!
What are the numbers for your nationalisation program?
We are not going to just buy them at market value. We are going to destroy the market value first, so they will be cheaper...
Which is why I'm absolutely sure that Corbyn and Mcdonell were leavers to the core. There's not a cat in hell's chance they could carry out this kind of programme inside the single market. Not a chance.
In 1975 all the Labour left and most of its centre considered the EU to be 'a capitalist club'.
Yes, I'm almost 100% sure that their views haven't changed and they both voted to Leave.
Off topic but Witcher fans it looks like Netflix is going to do a Witcher series!
The gorgeous Eva Green as Yennefer as Vengerberg! Please! That would be the perfect casting!
But then we'd have to wait til like Season 3 or something
Yeah, I guess it depends how close they want to stick to the books (the first two were short stories right?) and how much of a time-frame they want to cover with each season I guess.
Sounds promising though, the Witcher universe has some amazing characters in it and a great setting overall. The casting will be key, they have to get Geralt right or it will fail straight away.
Geoffrey Howe and Nigel Lawson were 2 of the most intellectually gifted Chancellors of modern times, both in their different ways the creators of what we now call Thatcherism. Spread sheet Phil is absolutely nowhere near their level. At best he is a safe pair of hands but if you have that role you should not make silly mistakes.
But I think people are failing to recognise how extraordinarily close and congenial the relationship between Dave and George was. This seems to me no more than a reversion to a more normal kind of relationship. I suspect behind the scenes he has been arguing against financial commitments that she wants to make and she is not happy about it. That is a Chancellor's job in large part. I wouldn't read too much into it.
BBC - The Liberal Democrats have put a second EU referendum at the heart of their general election manifesto, saying it would "give the final say to the British people". - The vote on the final Brexit deal would include an option to remain in the EU.
If they only get a handful of MPs on June 8th, will they finally shut the fuck up about a second referendum and accept the result?
Possibly not – but would anyone hear them…?
No Clegg will survive and be like that annoying stone in your shoe that you cant get out...totally irritating
Must admit I always liked Clegg and have no problem with MPs who have strong convictions different from my own. Clegg was one of the few sane MPs amongst the Cable, Huhnes’ etc.
Not being funny but why is "Lib Dems make EU referendum pledge" leading the BBC News on the website? How is that news? They've been banging on about it for nearly a year now.
That's like saying "PM pledges to take the UK out of the EU" is news.
Not being funny but why is "Lib Dems make EU referendum pledge" leading the BBC News on the website? How is that news? They've been banging on about it for nearly a year now.
That's like saying "PM pledges to take the UK out of the EU" is news.
It's a bland report of what they today (re)emphasised I suppose - that's how they deal withallpolitical announcements inthe campaign, evenif they arenot new.
Presumably May will largely leave ministers in place given most have barely had time to fully settle in yet.
Alternately since they've been treading water since the Brexti vote, a good time to move people and get in the long term team she wants,
This time she'll pick the cabinet she wants - last summer it was a hasty compromise between the brexit factions. I would be surprised if there aren't several no-names plucked from obscurity. This is worth bearing in mind for next con leader betting - I'd guess laying all of the current cabinet, then rebacking them in a few months is likely to yield a profit. I haven't checked betfair for liquidity/odds though.
As for Hammond, I'm not convinced he is vulnerable - but if he was replaced, I think Jeremy Hunt might be her pick.
It would a silly mistake to sack him. And she should have backed him, now.
First unforced election error by the Tories.
Second.
First was fox hunting
Nah. After all the horrible interventionist leftwing crap (needed to win over Labour waverers) she had to throw some symbolic red meat to the backbench bloodhounds. Foxhunting was it. It's unlikely to pass.
Blair of course did the same, but in reverse.
I doubt it will change more than a few thousand votes. Passionate anti-hunters, the kind of voter where this cause trumps any other consideration, are a very small minority, and most unlikely to vote Tory.
It won't change any votes, but if they actually try to repeal the ban then it could cause all sorts of trouble. It's an issue with a small but extremely vocal minority of very active opponents, and a public that currently is pretty calm about it all but remains largely opposed on the whole. Potential for it to tarnish May's popularity, and it doesn't really fit with her Mother of the Nation image. Could suck up much oxygen from the next parliament if so.
Agreed. She'll need to punt it into the long grass.
Alternatively, she might decide that the Commons is against hunting, given the expected new intake of urban, younger Tory MPs (much less likely to be pro-hunting than the old toffs in the shires), and give a Free Vote, happy in the expectation it will lose.
Then she'll have showed that sticks to her guns, without losing support in the country....
It all depends on the political complexion of the new MPs.
Yeah, a great many Tories are anti–hunting, many are in fact full-blown animal rights types. The fox hunting thing will just disappear, any which way.
Not least because most hunters seem in practice quite content to "work within the law" (ie carry on as before, knowing Plod has better things to do and would struggle to prove a case to the CPS's/jury's satisfaction when foxes "accidentally" get killed).
I.e. they are criminals who ought to be prosecuted.
I'm having to watch Barry 'Patronising' Gardiner on DP instead of obsessing about a poll....
That was extraordinary!
What are the numbers for your nationalisation program?
We are not going to just buy them at market value. We are going to destroy the market value first, so they will be cheaper...
Which is why I'm absolutely sure that Corbyn and Mcdonell were leavers to the core. There's not a cat in hell's chance they could carry out this kind of programme inside the single market. Not a chance.
In 1975 all the Labour left and most of its centre considered the EU to be 'a capitalist club'.
Yes, I'm almost 100% sure that their views haven't changed and they both voted to Leave.
Yes their seeming indifference to the result (regardless of how they personally voted) undoubtedly tipped Leave over the finishing post.
BBC - The Liberal Democrats have put a second EU referendum at the heart of their general election manifesto, saying it would "give the final say to the British people". - The vote on the final Brexit deal would include an option to remain in the EU.
I can't see that moving the 52% but with enough of an airing it might pull a few per cent out of the Corbyn column.
No wonder some of his opponents have been dredging up all the old abortion/gay sex type stories to discredit him.
But people know it is never going to happen. The LibDems are W-A-Y more unlikely to have any influence on the next Government than is Jeremy Corbyn, and that is vanishingly small. As one of my Grandpa's inexhaustible supply of colourful expressions would have it, they might as well wish in one hand and shit in the other.....
If you wanted to do something about stopping Brexit, the time to put in the effort was May/June 2016, not May/June 2017.
Boris Johnson was reportedly confronted by a Sikh woman after he discussed alcohol during a visit to a Gurdwara.
The Foreign Secretary was visiting a Sikh temple in St George’s, Bristol where he made remarks about ending tariffs on whisky between the UK and India.
But a Sikh voter who was there berated him for his remarks, asking: “How dare you talk about alcohol in a Sikh temple?” The Sikh religion forbids drinking alcohol.
Mr Johnson is said to have apologised repeatedly after she told him about alcoholism in her family.
What I see is a PM who is not remarkably quick on her feet sticking relentlessly to her election talking points.
Second this, I don't understand why that GIF even exists, ways to put moving stuff on teh interweb have moved on since the mid 1990s. The actual footage shows pretty warm body language, esp given that neither participant is a natural at it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39948296
Agreed. I've just watched the whole thing, instead of the reports and Gifs, and I have changed my mind. They're both quite stiff characters, anyway, and in that light they seem to have a certain rapport.
David Herdson's analysis is superior, and surely correct. TMay was just doing her usual stone-walling, poker-faced shtick. She doesn't want a series of questions about this or that minister's future, so she just says nothing, until the journos get bored.
Hammond is staying.
I have to agree. The only notable thing about the (real) clip was the typically self-important grandstanding from the ever-irritating Laura K. This is a non-story to end all non-stories.
Correct - although I am struggling with the concept of agreeing with you
We agreed many times during the european referendum!
Boris Johnson was reportedly confronted by a Sikh woman after he discussed alcohol during a visit to a Gurdwara.
The Foreign Secretary was visiting a Sikh temple in St George’s, Bristol where he made remarks about ending tariffs on whisky between the UK and India.
But a Sikh voter who was there berated him for his remarks, asking: “How dare you talk about alcohol in a Sikh temple?” The Sikh religion forbids drinking alcohol.
Mr Johnson is said to have apologised repeatedly after she told him about alcoholism in her family.
Boris Johnson was reportedly confronted by a Sikh woman after he discussed alcohol during a visit to a Gurdwara.
The Foreign Secretary was visiting a Sikh temple in St George’s, Bristol where he made remarks about ending tariffs on whisky between the UK and India.
But a Sikh voter who was there berated him for his remarks, asking: “How dare you talk about alcohol in a Sikh temple?” The Sikh religion forbids drinking alcohol.
Mr Johnson is said to have apologised repeatedly after she told him about alcoholism in her family.
May does not like: 1. People who question her. 2. Anyone the anti-European press does not like.
On that basis, Hammond is surely toast. Gove passes test 2, he fails test 1. So Hammond will be replaced by a nodding Brexiteer - or someone who can pretend to be one. The quality of the cabinet will fall even further.
Can I ask, who would you want her to appoint to make the quality rise?
If it were up to me, if he's elected, Aaron Bell would make a fine Chancellor.
He's good with numbers/stats, what more do you want in a Chancellor?
Plus he's a fab tipster, I'd be happy with him betting some of government's cash with the bookies for a very decent return.
The deficit and debt would be wiped out in no time.
I could see PaddyPower withdrawing his access to promotions and free-bets,m though.
BBC - The Liberal Democrats have put a second EU referendum at the heart of their general election manifesto, saying it would "give the final say to the British people". - The vote on the final Brexit deal would include an option to remain in the EU.
I can't see that moving the 52% but with enough of an airing it might pull a few per cent out of the Corbyn column.
No wonder some of his opponents have been dredging up all the old abortion/gay sex type stories to discredit him.
But people know it is never going to happen. The LibDems are W-A-Y more unlikely to have any influence on the next Government than is Jeremy Corbyn, and that is vanishingly small. As one of my Grandpa's inexhaustible supply of colourful expressions would have it, they might as well wish in one hand and shit in the other.....
If you wanted to do something about stopping Brexit, the time to put in the effort was May/June 2016, not May/June 2017.
Boris Johnson was reportedly confronted by a Sikh woman after he discussed alcohol during a visit to a Gurdwara.
The Foreign Secretary was visiting a Sikh temple in St George’s, Bristol where he made remarks about ending tariffs on whisky between the UK and India.
But a Sikh voter who was there berated him for his remarks, asking: “How dare you talk about alcohol in a Sikh temple?” The Sikh religion forbids drinking alcohol.
Mr Johnson is said to have apologised repeatedly after she told him about alcoholism in her family.
May does not like: 1. People who question her. 2. Anyone the anti-European press does not like.
On that basis, Hammond is surely toast. Gove passes test 2, he fails test 1. So Hammond will be replaced by a nodding Brexiteer - or someone who can pretend to be one. The quality of the cabinet will fall even further.
Can I ask, who would you want her to appoint to make the quality rise?
If it were up to me, if he's elected, Aaron Bell would make a fine Chancellor.
He's good with numbers/stats, what more do you want in a Chancellor?
Plus he's a fab tipster, I'd be happy with him betting some of government's cash with the bookies for a very decent return.
The deficit and debt would be wiped out in no time.
I could see PaddyPower withdrawing his access to promotions and free-bets,m though.
Already happened.
But just imagine the money we could all make on the budget specials/buzzword bingo
Boris Johnson was reportedly confronted by a Sikh woman after he discussed alcohol during a visit to a Gurdwara.
The Foreign Secretary was visiting a Sikh temple in St George’s, Bristol where he made remarks about ending tariffs on whisky between the UK and India.
But a Sikh voter who was there berated him for his remarks, asking: “How dare you talk about alcohol in a Sikh temple?” The Sikh religion forbids drinking alcohol.
Mr Johnson is said to have apologised repeatedly after she told him about alcoholism in her family.
You're not allowed to even mention alcohol in the temple? Seems harsh.
You should wait until you are sat at home with a bottle of Chivas Regal in front of you before talking about alcohol.
(Or in the case of a Sikh wedding, wait until you are at the reception when there will be a bottle of Chivas Regal, a bottle of Bacardi, and a bottle of Coke sat in the middle of each table.)
Boris Johnson was reportedly confronted by a Sikh woman after he discussed alcohol during a visit to a Gurdwara.
The Foreign Secretary was visiting a Sikh temple in St George’s, Bristol where he made remarks about ending tariffs on whisky between the UK and India.
But a Sikh voter who was there berated him for his remarks, asking: “How dare you talk about alcohol in a Sikh temple?” The Sikh religion forbids drinking alcohol.
Mr Johnson is said to have apologised repeatedly after she told him about alcoholism in her family.
TFFT... If the Tories under May can move away from policies aimed at helping the already-rich to get richer, those of us on the centre-left could be a lot more supportive.
Off topic but Witcher fans it looks like Netflix is going to do a Witcher series!
The gorgeous Eva Green as Yennefer as Vengerberg! Please! That would be the perfect casting!
But then we'd have to wait til like Season 3 or something
Not if it's based on the books, she's in it from the first one.
I see. I do own the first book, but not read it yet - I understand the games a basically fanfiction of their favorite character?
Speaking of which, anyone any ideas for the next book I should read?
I am at a loss right now. I saw someone reading Edmund de Waal's The White Road on the tube and thought of that. Anyone?
And, tout le monde, as for the hunting thing...again...
The reason she made that comment was to mobilise foot soldiers from the hunting community to get out to help on the streets. They provide a large contingent and the approach has been successful in constituencies across the UK in previous GEs. It really is not complicated.
Will she then give a free vote? Not on repeal of the Hunting Act, too many Blue Foxes, but she might try to use a Statutory Instrument again.
BBC - The Liberal Democrats have put a second EU referendum at the heart of their general election manifesto, saying it would "give the final say to the British people". - The vote on the final Brexit deal would include an option to remain in the EU.
I can't see that moving the 52% but with enough of an airing it might pull a few per cent out of the Corbyn column.
No wonder some of his opponents have been dredging up all the old abortion/gay sex type stories to discredit him.
But people know it is never going to happen. The LibDems are W-A-Y more unlikely to have any influence on the next Government than is Jeremy Corbyn, and that is vanishingly small. As one of my Grandpa's inexhaustible supply of colourful expressions would have it, they might as well wish in one hand and shit in the other.....
If you wanted to do something about stopping Brexit, the time to put in the effort was May/June 2016, not May/June 2017.
From July 2016 onwards there should have been a realigning of all those opposed to Brexit with the soft brexiteer/Dan Hannan leaver types. In those early days there was scope to present a sort of majority coalition - if 90% of remainers would prefer a soft brexit, and say 30% of leavers, it would have been a legitimate option. Trying to overturn the result of the referendum was a non starter. It left May with more to worry about from the press and her right than on the remain flank, hence why she decided to abandon single market plans.
I think the Lib Dems could have made more progress against tory remainers by going for that approach, and it is primarily tory voters that the Lib Dems should be trying to win over.
Putin is loving the chaos at the top in Washington. Most damaging for Trump in the eyes of the people might well be the sight of a Russian President riding to the rescue and calling for order in American government. Gotta sting
Have any of our East Mids correspondents got a view on Gedling constituency ? Seems an easy Tory gain on nat trends but then Coaker held on last time whereas neighbouring Broxtowe and similar suburban seats fell (sorry Nick) I can't decide whether 1/3 for the Cons is value, or whether he has some personal appeal there and might keep it close. There's barely any UKIP there - straight up Lab Con race
I grew up in that seat.
He does have some personal appeal, but the Corbyn factor will mean it votes Tory for first time since 1992 IMO.
Plus there was nearly 15% UKIP last time, if I'm not mistaken - easily enough to put the Tories over the top?
Labour's making a serious effort there, and in general the Labour ground game is superior in the Nottingham area. As Peter observes, UKIP got 15% (though the Greens got 3%). Vernon has a substantial personal vote and is running a personalised campaign (non-standard posters for a start) and I've heard a senior Conservative say that demographics there have been moving to Labour (and the reverse in Broxtowe). On current polls the Tories must be hopeful but it's not a walkover.
On Boris's latest exploit, I'm a bit puzzled. I know Sikhs who are quite religious but also quite keen on a drink or two - the Standard is mistaken on that. I think it varies with the particular brand, like Christianity. Perhaps this particular temple is strict on the issue?
Comments
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39947296
After Phil, Fallon would be my pick.
Sounds like a wonderful strategy for encouraging post Brexit economic activity.... anywhere else but here.
Given the upcoming election it was a terrible unforced error.
One could write an essay on his achievements as CoTE on the back of a postage stamp.
I thought Theresa Villiers was a good NI secretary and appeared to be well respected by the NI MPs. I'm not sure why she lost this post.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39942573
You're more of a fan of the "Prime Minister, have you a message which you would like to share with the nation" approach then ?
https://twitter.com/daily_politics/status/864807880821571584
Fewer baby boomers taking dabbling in the rental market.
? Seems an easy Tory gain on nat trends but then Coaker held on last time whereas neighbouring Broxtowe and similar suburban seats fell (sorry Nick)
I can't decide whether 1/3 for the Cons is value, or whether he has some personal appeal there and might keep it close. There's barely any UKIP there - straight up Lab Con race
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-39947238
Westmoreland
Ceredigion
Orkney
Sheffield Hallam
Their national campaigning skills are rotten, and they really ought to ditch the homunculus.
The gorgeous Eva Green as Yennefer as Vengerberg! Please! That would be the perfect casting!
https://twitter.com/DineshDSouza/status/864818267965333504
https://twitter.com/PrisonPlanet/status/864818155029483531
https://twitter.com/YoungDems4Trump/status/864818852701511680
He does have some personal appeal, but the Corbyn factor will mean it votes Tory for first time since 1992 IMO.
Plus there was nearly 15% UKIP last time, if I'm not mistaken - easily enough to put the Tories over the top?
No wonder some of his opponents have been dredging up all the old abortion/gay sex type stories to discredit him.
He's good with numbers/stats, what more do you want in a Chancellor?
Plus he's a fab tipster, I'd be happy with him betting some of government's cash with the bookies for a very decent return.
The deficit and debt would be wiped out in no time.
Yes, I'm almost 100% sure that their views haven't changed and they both voted to Leave.
Sounds promising though, the Witcher universe has some amazing characters in it and a great setting overall. The casting will be key, they have to get Geralt right or it will fail straight away.
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/05/17/did-trump-obstruct-justice-215147?lo=ap_b1
But I think people are failing to recognise how extraordinarily close and congenial the relationship between Dave and George was. This seems to me no more than a reversion to a more normal kind of relationship. I suspect behind the scenes he has been arguing against financial commitments that she wants to make and she is not happy about it. That is a Chancellor's job in large part. I wouldn't read too much into it.
That's like saying "PM pledges to take the UK out of the EU" is news.
https://twitter.com/KTHopkins/status/864575307688398848
As for Hammond, I'm not convinced he is vulnerable - but if he was replaced, I think Jeremy Hunt might be her pick.
Just a hunch.
If you wanted to do something about stopping Brexit, the time to put in the effort was May/June 2016, not May/June 2017.
The Foreign Secretary was visiting a Sikh temple in St George’s, Bristol where he made remarks about ending tariffs on whisky between the UK and India.
But a Sikh voter who was there berated him for his remarks, asking: “How dare you talk about alcohol in a Sikh temple?” The Sikh religion forbids drinking alcohol.
Mr Johnson is said to have apologised repeatedly after she told him about alcoholism in her family.
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-confronted-by-sikh-woman-after-whisky-in-temple-gaffe-a3541576.html
But just imagine the money we could all make on the budget specials/buzzword bingo
(Or in the case of a Sikh wedding, wait until you are at the reception when there will be a bottle of Chivas Regal, a bottle of Bacardi, and a bottle of Coke sat in the middle of each table.)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39945782
I am at a loss right now. I saw someone reading Edmund de Waal's The White Road on the tube and thought of that. Anyone?
And, tout le monde, as for the hunting thing...again...
The reason she made that comment was to mobilise foot soldiers from the hunting community to get out to help on the streets. They provide a large contingent and the approach has been successful in constituencies across the UK in previous GEs. It really is not complicated.
Will she then give a free vote? Not on repeal of the Hunting Act, too many Blue Foxes, but she might try to use a Statutory Instrument again.
I think the Lib Dems could have made more progress against tory remainers by going for that approach, and it is primarily tory voters that the Lib Dems should be trying to win over.
Should get a YouGov tonight
On Boris's latest exploit, I'm a bit puzzled. I know Sikhs who are quite religious but also quite keen on a drink or two - the Standard is mistaken on that. I think it varies with the particular brand, like Christianity. Perhaps this particular temple is strict on the issue?