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For me the most interesting political story of the weekend was the Sunday Times piece, linked to in the Tweet above, about his planned covert operation to undermine UKIP.

Read the full story here

JosiasJessop

Crosby'll stay for two reasons:

1) He's good.
2) Labour have already shot their bolt - they've made accusations and smears that do not stand up. They should have waited for a better time.

CarlottaVance

"A spokesman for Mr Crosby described the allegations as “categorically untrue”. “This is categorically wrong,” the spokesman said. “People will make their own mind up about who is more accurate – people who were actually at the meeting or un-named sources who were not at the meeting.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/10222092/Cameron-strategy-guru-attacks-Clarkes-Ukip-remarks.html

Fag packets didn't work....try something else.....

Plato

Reports are that Mr Crosby will be going full time from the end of this year and therefore won't have other clients. I can't see what Labour are going to throw of any substance now - they've had a shot and it failed, not exactly very surprising.

Labour would be better off focusing on their own problems than indulging in displacement behaviour over Mr Who's He Again? This is the real battleground...

Paywall

" Confidence in the health of the economy has seen its biggest monthly leap in this Parliament, according to a poll. In a YouGov survey for The Times, 32 per cent predicted that they would be “satisfied” with the economy in 12 months’ time — up from 21 per cent in June.

Twenty-six per cent said that they were satisfied with the strength of the economy now, up from 14 per cent in June.

The optimism will be welcomed by the Tories, but Labour is to seize on the belief among voters that they are getting a disproportionately small bite of the apple, as the party begins a week of attacks over the cost of living. Overall, 68 per cent remain dissatisfied with the state of the economy..."

SquareRoot

The left have been smearing Messina. Its gonna be smear smear smear all the way to the GE most especially as the economy is on the up.

CarlottaVance

"A LEADING figure in the “Labour for Independence” campaign group is a former SNP member who only switched parties last year before taking up her role as treasurer for the organisation."

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/fitzgerald-fuels-row-over-labour-front-for-snp-1-3029536

NickPalmer

Labour seems to have too few advisers on PR strategy, but the Tories have too many past and present ones, and they're using their skills to brief against each other. It's not clear what the source for this was, but clearly it was a Tory one. The public won't care about the details but the general air of disarray isn't helpful, nor a "secret" strategy which gets into the press within hours.

Easterross

I would have thought that Crosby plans for strategy would be known only to a small inner circle with no prospect of leaks. Meanwhile headlines like today's in one paper confirming growing economic confidence must dishearten Labour supporters.

Mention the name Crosby to the average punter and they will either think you mean the area once represented by Shirley Williams or the old crooner Bing.

Plato

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article3834265.ece

" The latest UK Business Confidence Monitor predicts that Britain’s economy could grow by 1 per cent in the third quarter of this year — the fastest since early 2010 — as consumer spending and optimism rises.

The survey, by ICAEW and Grant Thornton, indicated that British businesses expected turnover and profits in the next year to grow by 4.9 per cent and 4.6 per cent respectively and were planning to raise staff numbers by 1.6 per cent in the next 12 months. Wages were forecast to grow by 1.8 per cent."

JosiasJessop

NickPalmer said:

Labour seems to have too few advisers on PR strategy, but the Tories have too many past and present ones, and they're using their skills to brief against each other. It's not clear what the source for this was, but clearly it was a Tory one. The public won't care about the details but the general air of disarray isn't helpful, nor a "secret" strategy which gets into the press within hours.

Why 'clearly'? What's your thinking?

Financier

Plato:

Spreadsheet emailed to you.

DecrepitJohnL

Interesting that Crosby disavows the vans. It is doubtful that Jim Messina would want anything to do with them either: his forte is carefully targeted messages.

Look, a red squirrel. As ever, Labour is irrelevant to the internal machinations of the Conservative Party. It rather looks as if Crosby is being set up. If you are going to run a dirty tricks operation, then keep it secret: don't confess all to Uncle Rupert. So who leaked? If Crosby does stay, how will he interact with Messina, and whoever did think up the vans against UKIP gimmick?

JosiasJessop

Off-topic:

Some Labour MPs have been having good campaigns, in exactly the way that MPs should. Stella Creasy and her campaign about pay-day lenders is one. It is an issue that directly effects many people at the lower end of the income scale. David Lammy and the problems in many of our inner-city communities is another.

Today's news about the growth in the number of people on zero-hour contracts is worrying. I wouldn't necessarily want to see them banned, but the potential for abuse is currently too high. IANAE, but I think I agree with Chukka Umunna on this: they should be the exception rather than the rule. This could be fertile ground for Labour, although the coalition is looking at the problem.

Labour need to take ownership of these campaigns, and others like them, if their upcoming 'living standards' attack is going to seem anything but self-serving.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23570345

CarlottaVance

Interesting ComRes on attitudes to parties:

http://www.comres.co.uk/polls/The_4th_Agenda_5_July_2013.pdf

In General Elections my vote does not count - net agree:
Con: -23
Lab: -2
LibDem: +3
UKIP: +14

Politicians don't seem to have principles any more - net agree:
Con: +45
Lab: +67
LibDem: +45
UKIP: +93

Major parties have pretty much same policies - net agree:
Con: +23
Lab: +17
LibDem: +21
UKIP: +54

UKIP clear outliers while Labour disgruntlement may be because they are out of office - or may be a reflection of what we have seen elsewhere of the Miliband problem.

CarlottaVance

"SOMETIMES, what seems like a small, inconsequential story refuses to die, until the issues it raises begin to take on a life of their own and they consume the subjects in embarrassment and ridicule because they did not attend to legitimate public concerns early enough.

The case of the support being given by the SNP and Yes Scotland to Labour for Independence is becoming one such story."

http://www.scotsman.com/news/brian-monteith-yes-campaign-heading-for-scandal-1-3029664

Mick_Pork

"The idea is to launch what the report describes as “a “below-the-radar” operation to undermine UKIP politicians by catching them making embarrassing comments”. A key part of this, based allegedly on comments made by Crosby at a private meeting, is that third parties would do the briefing of the press because Crosby was concerned “that the plan will be wrecked if anyone finds out the Tories are behind it”.

Not exactly news though, is it?

It's precisely what he did with "Not Ken Again" so the only surprise here is that he's shooting his bolt on the kippers rather than saving such an operation for little Ed. I'd presume he'll still try it on little Ed but he'll eventually have to decide whether 'red' Ed is Stalin and Scargill rollled into one or just plain ineffectual. The fact that CCHQ has kept flopping between those two shows you that they don't have 2015 nailed down yet.

"The Sunday Times also reported Crosby as attacking last week’s immigration moves which many had assumed had been shaped by him in the first place."

Spinner spins against counterproductive spin shocker. Campbell and Mandy did that all the time. Didn't make it any more believable then or now. Expect the inept tory spinners on here to still consider him a genius since they have the memory of a goldfish and have forgotten what happened at the May local elections and Eastleigh when the Crosby and Osbrowne master strategy of banging on about Europe and immigration was a triumph.

edmundintokyo

DecrepitJohnL said:

Interesting that Crosby disavows the vans. It is doubtful that Jim Messina would want anything to do with them either: his forte is carefully targeted messages.

Crosby obviously can't say he had anything to do with the vans, that would be to admit they were a political move not a law enforcement one.

Messina seems like he'd do whatever he thought would help.

[Messina has] been the administration's point person on changing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy changing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy and deserves considerable credit for managing the process through last night's votes.

That's a fascinating turn, since in an earlier stage in his career, Messina was a Montana political operative who managed the 2002 re-election campaign of Sen. Max Baucus . The effort has become something of a legend in political circles because of the above advertisement, ostensibly a spot on student loans but in effect a case of gay-baiting.

The ad knocked Baucus' opponent, Republican Mike Taylor , who was already trailing in the polls, right out of the race. A flier associated with the effort read, "At Mike Taylor's hair care schools, someone besides the customers got clipped."

http://prospect.org/article/strange-journey-jim-messina#13756852117391&action=collapse_widget&id=5854444

Easterross

JosiasJessop said:

Off-topic:

Some Labour MPs have been having good campaigns, in exactly the way that MPs should. Stella Creasy and her campaign about pay-day lenders is one. It is an issue that directly effects many people at the lower end of the income scale. David Lammy and the problems in many of our inner-city communities is another.

Today's news about the growth in the number of people on zero-hour contracts is worrying. I wouldn't necessarily want to see them banned, but the potential for abuse is currently too high. IANAE, but I think I agree with Chukka Umunna on this: they should be the exception rather than the rule. This could be fertile ground for Labour, although the coalition is looking at the problem.

Labour need to take ownership of these campaigns, and others like them, if their upcoming 'living standards' attack is going to seem anything but self-serving.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23570345

I see SKY News has been interviewing James Reed of Reeds the Recruitment company who has been defending Zero hours contracts. His family are/were big Labour donors and his father got a CBE from Blair/Brown!

Richard_Tyndall

"We know from Cameron’s treatment of Peter Cruddas that he can be totally ruthless when the need arises."

Hmm, given the news over the last few days concerning Cruddas' winning of his liable cases against everyone under the sun, this is hardly a comparison that should bring joy to the hearts of Tory members.

I wonder how long it will be until Cameron finally makes that apology to Cruddas?

Roger

Looks like someone's got it in for Crosby. Wouldn't be the first back stabbing in the communications business! And of course when it comes to dog eating dog no group of people are more skilled.

Alanbrooke

edmundintokyo said:

DecrepitJohnL said:

Interesting that Crosby disavows the vans. It is doubtful that Jim Messina would want anything to do with them either: his forte is carefully targeted messages.

Crosby obviously can't say he had anything to do with the vans, that would be to admit they were a political move not a law enforcement one.

Messina seems like he'd do whatever he thought would help.

[Messina has] been the administration's point person on changing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy changing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy and deserves considerable credit for managing the process through last night's votes.

That's a fascinating turn, since in an earlier stage in his career, Messina was a Montana political operative who managed the 2002 re-election campaign of Sen. Max Baucus . The effort has become something of a legend in political circles because of the above advertisement, ostensibly a spot on student loans but in effect a case of gay-baiting.

The ad knocked Baucus' opponent, Republican Mike Taylor , who was already trailing in the polls, right out of the race. A flier associated with the effort read, "At Mike Taylor's hair care schools, someone besides the customers got clipped."

http://prospect.org/article/strange-journey-jim-messina#13756852117391&action=collapse_widget&id=5854444

Why do the Left need bogeymen ? This time it's Crosby, last time it was Murdoch. Is it to frighten supporters in to turning out ?

Alanbrooke

Roger said:

Looks like someone's got it in for Crosby. Wouldn't be the first back stabbing in the communications business! And of course when it comes to dog eating dog no group of people are more skilled.

I'm sure we'd all appreciate your tales of dogging Roger.

Mick_Pork

CarlottaVance said:

"SOMETIMES, what seems like a small, inconsequential story refuses to die

Only for those so staggeringly stupid not to realise this laughably desperate SLAB bullshit was comprehensively debunked as soon as it appeared.

http://wingsoverscotland.com/running-scared/

richardDodd

Crosby doesn't have to do a darn thing and he will still be sending tremors of fear through New Labour, or Labour, or Unite Labour..whatever it calls itself these days

Plato

It's just a longer version of the Two Minute Hate.

I find it the most dislikeable feature of Leftish politics. And it's all not casual prejudice but targeted and sustained to single out their rivals and kill them off.

Righties aren't perfect by a long chalk but I can't recall a laundry list of bogeymen they've systematically sought to bring down.

For example - Labourlist trying to start a campaign to force Mr Messina to go using Obama FFS or the Guardian *discovering* he's really an evil homophobe about a decade ago. It's pitiful and very unattractive.

Alanbrooke said:

edmundintokyo said:

DecrepitJohnL said:

Interesting that Crosby disavows the vans. It is doubtful that Jim Messina would want anything to do with them either: his forte is carefully targeted messages.

Crosby obviously can't say he had anything to do with the vans, that would be to admit they were a political move not a law enforcement one.

Messina seems like he'd do whatever he thought would help.

[Messina has] been the administration's point person on changing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy changing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy and deserves considerable credit for managing the process through last night's votes.

That's a fascinating turn, since in an earlier stage in his career, Messina was a Montana political operative who managed the 2002 re-election campaign of Sen. Max Baucus . The effort has become something of a legend in political circles because of the above advertisement, ostensibly a spot on student loans but in effect a case of gay-baiting.

The ad knocked Baucus' opponent, Republican Mike Taylor , who was already trailing in the polls, right out of the race. A flier associated with the effort read, "At Mike Taylor's hair care schools, someone besides the customers got clipped."

http://prospect.org/article/strange-journey-jim-messina#13756852117391&action=collapse_widget&id=5854444

Why do the Left need bogeymen ? This time it's Crosby, last time it was Murdoch. Is it to frighten supporters in to turning out ?

Roger

Alanbrooke.


I hope you've not been showing the gentle folk of Ludlow the ways of your metropolitan past

CarlottaVance

Mick_Pork said:

CarlottaVance said:

"SOMETIMES, what seems like a small, inconsequential story refuses to die

Only for those so staggeringly stupid not to realise this laughably desperate SLAB bullshit was comprehensively debunked as soon as it appeared.http://wingsoverscotland.com/running-scared/

Doesn't address the latest revelation:

"THE controversial Labour for Independence group (LFI), which is accused of being an SNP front, is facing new questions over its authenticity after one of its office-bearers admitted being a long-term SNP activist who switched to Labour just a few months ago with the aim of undermining the party over the referendum."

http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendum-news/fresh-questions-raised-over-pro-independence-groups-labour-credentials.21774204

Mick_Pork

Richard_Tyndall said:

"We know from Cameron’s treatment of Peter Cruddas that he can be totally ruthless when the need arises."

Hmm, given the news over the last few days concerning Cruddas' winning of his liable cases against everyone under the sun, this is hardly a comparison that should bring joy to the hearts of Tory members.

I wonder how long it will be until Cameron finally makes that apology to Cruddas?

Obviously because the lefty Cruddas, the lefty Sunday Times and the lefty kippers are all being manipulated by the lefty 'genius' little Ed because labour hate Crosby. Or something equally dimwitted. ;^ )

DecrepitJohnL

richardDodd said:

Crosby doesn't have to do a darn thing and he will still be sending tremors of fear through New Labour, or Labour, or Unite Labour..whatever it calls itself these days

It is not Labour briefing against Crosby. This is blue on blue.

CarlottaVance

"But the Law Society paper stresses the “need for legal certainty” on the issue to allow voters to make an informed decision in the referendum.

It calls on the SNP administration to set out what would happen if negotiations about EU membership could not be concluded in the 16-month window between a Yes vote and “Independence Day”, the date on which Scotland would become an independent nation.

“Would Independence Day be moved back to allow for a conclusion to negotiations or would Independence Day be a fixed date requiring Scotland to leave the EU and rejoin when the negotiations were concluded?” the paper asks. Meanwhile, Westminster is urged to say whether it would support an application by an independent Scotland to join the EU."

http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/independence-call-for-legal-advice-on-eu-membership-1-3029688

No doubt just another scare story in the detail free onward march to independence......

Roger

@Alanbrooke

'Why do the left need bogeymen'

What like the 'loony left'! I don't believe you said that. You must be channeling Fitilass.. Labour aren't even particularly good at it

richardDodd

DJL..Whatever you say.

It is not Labour briefing against Crosby. This is blue on blue.

TGOHF

I thought the ST story was an obvious leak to goad journos into investigate Ukip ?

TGOHF

As if Crosby would take a serious meeting without a non disclosure agreement. ..

Mick_Pork

CarlottaVance said:

Mick_Pork said:

CarlottaVance said:

"SOMETIMES, what seems like a small, inconsequential story refuses to die

Only for those so staggeringly stupid not to realise this laughably desperate SLAB bullshit was comprehensively debunked as soon as it appeared.http://wingsoverscotland.com/running-scared/

Doesn't address the latest revelation:

You mean desperate allegation of course. And she does address it.

She said: "I left Labour ages ago and joined the SNP to work for independence, then rejoined the Labour Party [in East Lothian] after I heard about Allan Grogan and Labour for Independence.

"I rejoined the Labour Party in November.

"It's about reclaiming the Labour Party for its members and its supporters and the people, and taking it away from this ghastly leadership."

She added: "New Labour is not real Labour at all. It's a Westminster party. It's not presenting the people of Scotland. We see it as a Scottish party, and we want to bring it back to Scotland, dust it down, return it to its proper values and then re-export it to England. We can't do that unless Scotland is independent."

She added that it was "ludicrous" to suggest LFI was an SNP front or dishonest in its activities.

LFI chairman Alex Bell, 59, who rejoined Labour in mid-2012 after many years out of the party, said he hated the SNP and was a "tactical nationalist" who saw independence as a way to socialism and "saving" the Labour Party from New Labour.

He said: "Getting rid of New Labour is the issue. If someone could convince me there was still a British road to socialism I might not be voting Yes. It [independence] frees the current Scottish Labour Party or a new one from having to pander to that Thatcherite greed of the southeast of England to get elected.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendum-news/fresh-questions-raised-over-pro-independence-groups-labour-credentials.21774204

Those deluded enough to think all is well within SLAB appear to have forgotten their frantic postings over Falkirk and the Silence of the Lamont over it ever since.

AlastairMeeks

Steve Richards has written a really good article in the Guardian on the Scottish independence referendum:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/04/referendum-talk-cheap-campaigning-hard-part

"Senior Liberal Democrats in Scotland worry about Labour's internal tensions.

They worry with good cause. There is a small echo of the disastrous AV campaign, when Labour's internal differences and those tensions between Miliband and Clegg led to a one-sided outcome."

"What is more surprising is the degree to which the SNP has struggled to adapt to the demands of a referendum campaign. Its leading figures spent much energy on timing, the question on the ballot paper and securing a reduction in voting age to 16. Now that the campaign is under way, concerns are being raised about how lacklustre it is and at how unprepared advocates of independence are when asked detailed questions about the implications for the economy, public services, the BBC and the rest."

Plato

TGOHF said:

I thought the ST story was an obvious leak to goad journos into investigate Ukip ?

I thought it was laughable - Crosby is going to set up a spy ring to watch 139 UKIP councillors to see if they're racists and peedos? Yeah, right.

If I had to guess, I'd say it was either a prompt to go digging or more likely a Kipper leaner who wanted to generate some outrage sympathy. They are losing voters back to the Tories.

Either way - I find it entirely implausible. Local newspapers carry stories about stupid things all councillors do and say already. And with about 8000 of them - the Tories are more likely to have more of this stuff. Hence why we don't tend to get parties attacking each other as they're all guilty.

Certainly on Twitter it got Kipper activists terribly worked up = comparing it to Watergate no less!

Mick_Pork

CarlottaVance said:

No doubt just another scare story in the detail free onward march to independence......

No doubt one day you might eventually find out whether Cammie supports staying IN or OUT of Europe for his own Cast Iron Referendum.

*chortle*

NickPalmer

JosiasJessop said:

NickPalmer said:

Labour seems to have too few advisers on PR strategy, but the Tories have too many past and present ones, and they're using their skills to brief against each other. It's not clear what the source for this was, but clearly it was a Tory one. The public won't care about the details but the general air of disarray isn't helpful, nor a "secret" strategy which gets into the press within hours.

Why 'clearly'? What's your thinking?

The story doesn't work as a Labour leak. If you're a journalist, and a Labour bod whispers to you that Crosby has secretly done this or that, you say "Why would he tell you that?"

On zero hours contracts, the issue is surely the implied exploitation. Sometimes they're convenient if the relationship is genuinely casual - I have a contract with a dozen agencies to offer me translations when they feel like it, and I take them if it's convenient. The sort of thing we need to stamp out is the arrangement that involves the worker being constantly hanging around on the off-chance that a job becomes free, with no employment rights even if in reality regularly employed.

Alanbrooke

Roger said:

@Alanbrooke

'Why do the left need bogeymen'

What like the 'loony left'! I don't believe you said that. You must be channeling Fitilass.. Labour aren't even particularly good at it

The right is just as capable of using bogeymen, currently it's Len McCluskey, but it uses them as demons of policy. To me it seems the Left use their bogeymen more as symptoms of a bigger conspiracy, a bit like the Bilderbergers. As a result the left tend to create theirs rather than just use one readily available.

redcliffe62

CarlottaVance said:

"A LEADING figure in the “Labour for Independence” campaign group is a former SNP member who only switched parties last year before taking up her role as treasurer for the organisation."

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/fitzgerald-fuels-row-over-labour-front-for-snp-1-3029536

As the organisation is new it is likely they belonged to another party previously. Lots of UKIP did likewise as I recall?

CarlottaVance

antifrank said:

Steve Richards has written a really good article in the Guardian on the Scottish independence referendum"

The SNP can't even decide if the campaign has started:

"THE SNP spent more than £500,000 last year in pursuit of a Yes vote in the independence referendum, despite Alex Salmond saying the campaign was still at the "phoney war" stage."

http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendum-news/snp-spends-500000-but-its-just-a-phoney-war.21774195

TOPPING

Alanbrooke said:

Roger said:

@Alanbrooke

'Why do the left need bogeymen'

What like the 'loony left'! I don't believe you said that. You must be channeling Fitilass.. Labour aren't even particularly good at it

The right is just as capable of using bogeymen, currently it's Len McCluskey, but it uses them as demons of policy. To me it seems the Left use their bogeymen more as symptoms of a bigger conspiracy, a bit like the Bilderbergers. As a result the left tend to create theirs rather than just use one readily available.

Indeed. No one needs to make up McCluskey/Crow quotes or fabricate meetings in, say, a Tilbury working mens' club. They say it in broad daylight and so are, rightly, demonised by (the) right-thinking people.

Plato

@Roger - you do know that repeatedly singling out female posters who aren't even part of this discussion looks like bad form.

I'm here - pick on me, Carlotta is here too. Yet you use @Fitalass' name in vain. Come on man!

redcliffe62

CarlottaVance said:

"SOMETIMES, what seems like a small, inconsequential story refuses to die, until the issues it raises begin to take on a life of their own and they consume the subjects in embarrassment and ridicule because they did not attend to legitimate public concerns early enough.

The case of the support being given by the SNP and Yes Scotland to Labour for Independence is becoming one such story."

http://www.scotsman.com/news/brian-monteith-yes-campaign-heading-for-scandal-1-3029664

Labour need to make it an anti SNP campaign, not one involving say the Greens who have 6% of the vote in Scotland, as wella s other groups too, whereas please note there is support from people in all parties, including the Tories and LibDems, for independence if the other option is more of the same or even less pocket money from George in future.

CarlottaVance

Mick_Pork said:

CarlottaVance said:

No doubt just another scare story in the detail free onward march to independence......

No doubt one day you might eventually find out whether Cammie supports staying IN or OUT of Europe for his own Cast Iron Referendum.

*chortle*

The SNP have just blown £500,000 on the phoney war......"titter"....

Mick_Pork

Roger said:

Looks like someone's got it in for Crosby. Wouldn't be the first back stabbing in the communications business! And of course when it comes to dog eating dog no group of people are more skilled.

Yeah right. There was no concerted effort just before the May local elections to attack the kippers and their prospective councillors in most of the papers. You imagined such a laughable and counterproductive master strategy. ;^ )

JosiasJessop

NickPalmer said:

JosiasJessop said:

NickPalmer said:

Labour seems to have too few advisers on PR strategy, but the Tories have too many past and present ones, and they're using their skills to brief against each other. It's not clear what the source for this was, but clearly it was a Tory one. The public won't care about the details but the general air of disarray isn't helpful, nor a "secret" strategy which gets into the press within hours.

Why 'clearly'? What's your thinking?

The story doesn't work as a Labour leak. If you're a journalist, and a Labour bod whispers to you that Crosby has secretly done this or that, you say "Why would he tell you that?"

On zero hours contracts, the issue is surely the implied exploitation. Sometimes they're convenient if the relationship is genuinely casual - I have a contract with a dozen agencies to offer me translations when they feel like it, and I take them if it's convenient. The sort of thing we need to stamp out is the arrangement that involves the worker being constantly hanging around on the off-chance that a job becomes free, with no employment rights even if in reality regularly employed.

But that's not the only potential source - there are other parties, and it doesn't just have to be a red-on-blue. Without getting too far into conspiracy theories, it would be handy for UKIP to set up such a story, as when embarrassing stories do come out - as they will with all parties - they have a ready-made attack line ("This is all part of Crosby's scheme) to go with a defensive line.

That's probably wrong, but easily possible.

And that's even if the story is reported correctly. I have a very healthy distrust of all our media. If a story's unsourced about any party without any evidence, if someone is not willing to put their name to it, then treat it with a pinch of salt. Even then it's far too easy to get caught out ...

Agree on zero-hour contracts - as I said, I don't want them to be banned. They are particularly iniquitous when the employee cannot get other work in the meantime.

redcliffe62

CarlottaVance said:

"But the Law Society paper stresses the “need for legal certainty” on the issue to allow voters to make an informed decision in the referendum.

It calls on the SNP administration to set out what would happen if negotiations about EU membership could not be concluded in the 16-month window between a Yes vote and “Independence Day”, the date on which Scotland would become an independent nation.

“Would Independence Day be moved back to allow for a conclusion to negotiations or would Independence Day be a fixed date requiring Scotland to leave the EU and rejoin when the negotiations were concluded?” the paper asks. Meanwhile, Westminster is urged to say whether it would support an application by an independent Scotland to join the EU."

http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/independence-call-for-legal-advice-on-eu-membership-1-3029688
No doubt just another scare story in the detail free onward march to independence......

the big issue today is if catalonia changes its date for a referendum and votes YES a month or so before Scotland votes, and Spain then goes nuts and negative. That would be a bad scenario for a negative campaign in scotland which threatens people if they leave as the benefits of giving oil away to your neighbours to spend on rail links, Olympics and tunnels are borderline at best to stay.

Theuniondivvie

CarlottaVance said:

The SNP have just blown £500,000 on the phoney war......"titter"....

MO of a (self-confessed) PB Cyberbrit troll.

Leap from bed in wee small hours to dredge the Scotsman (with occasional forays to the Telegraph and Spectator) for any fear mongering, anti-independence tidbit, post it up, wait, palms itching, for a response, then expectorate the rest of their Hootsman haul, squawking all the time about 'links', 'Victories for Eck' and 'rue the day'.

Passes the time till one dies I suppose.

CarlottaVance

CarlottaVance said:

“Would Independence Day be moved back to allow for a conclusion to negotiations or would Independence Day be a fixed date requiring Scotland to leave the EU and rejoin when the negotiations were concluded?”.

Any of our Nationalist friends care to venture an answer - we know we won't get one from Salmond......Ah, I see the problem......

Mick_Pork

CarlottaVance said:

antifrank said:

Steve Richards has written a really good article in the Guardian on the Scottish independence referendum"

The SNP can't even decide if the campaign has started:

"THE SNP spent more than £500,000 last year in pursuit of a Yes vote in the independence referendum, despite Alex Salmond saying the campaign was still at the "phoney war" stage."

http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendum-news/snp-spends-500000-but-its-just-a-phoney-war.21774195

The SNP's finances dwarfed those of the Scottish Labour Party, which had an income of £530,387 and spent £620,870 in 2012, leading to a deficit of £90,483, with reserves of £319,702.

The Scottish LibDems' annual accounts showed the party have lost almost one-third of its members since entering coalition with the Tories at Westminster, down from 4158 at the close of 2010 to 2837 by the end of 2012.

SNP membership recently passed the 25,000 mark. Labour do not publish their membership figures.

*titters*

Plato

Alanbrooke said:

Roger said:

@Alanbrooke

'Why do the left need bogeymen'

What like the 'loony left'! I don't believe you said that. You must be channeling Fitilass.. Labour aren't even particularly good at it

The right is just as capable of using bogeymen, currently it's Len McCluskey, but it uses them as demons of policy. To me it seems the Left use their bogeymen more as symptoms of a bigger conspiracy, a bit like the Bilderbergers. As a result the left tend to create theirs rather than just use one readily available.

What the Tories haven't done is sought to question Mr McCluskey's morality or probity. They've attacked him for being from the Far Left, a policy dinosaur, a man with a great deal of influence reminiscent of the worst of the 70s.

Crosby has been attacked for being evil, a racist bigot, a man with malign motives who is using his dark skills to change policy for personal gain, Messina a homophobe - and on and on. There is a very big difference between attacking someone on a personal level and what they stand for.

As I said, I find it very unattractive and I wish the Left would pack it in.

Freggles

Plato said:

Why do the Left need bogeymen ? This time it's Crosby, last time it was Murdoch. Is it to frighten supporters in to turning out ?

How many times did Dave say "McCluskey" in PMQs the other week?

Alanbrooke

Theuniondivvie said:

CarlottaVance said:

The SNP have just blown £500,000 on the phoney war......"titter"....

MO of a (self-confessed) PB Cyberbrit troll.

Leap from bed in wee small hours to dredge the Scotsman (with occasional forays to the Telegraph and Spectator) for any fear mongering, anti-independence tidbit, post it up, wait, palms itching, for a response, then expectorate the rest of their Hootsman haul, squawking all the time about 'links', 'Victories for Eck' and 'rue the day'.

Passes the time till one dies I suppose.

How's that different from Rev Stuart Campbell and his readers bar the slogans ?

Plato

It was very generous of Unite's press office to stream Mr McCluskey's colourful speech the other day.

I hope they continue to share what the horse's mouth is saying without journalists *interpreting it* for us.

TOPPING said:

Alanbrooke said:

Roger said:

@Alanbrooke

'Why do the left need bogeymen'

What like the 'loony left'! I don't believe you said that. You must be channeling Fitilass.. Labour aren't even particularly good at it

The right is just as capable of using bogeymen, currently it's Len McCluskey, but it uses them as demons of policy. To me it seems the Left use their bogeymen more as symptoms of a bigger conspiracy, a bit like the Bilderbergers. As a result the left tend to create theirs rather than just use one readily available.

Indeed. No one needs to make up McCluskey/Crow quotes or fabricate meetings in, say, a Tilbury working mens' club. They say it in broad daylight and so are, rightly, demonised by (the) right-thinking people.

MikeSmithson

@Plato

If you don't want to be accused of being a racist bigot then don't use terms like "Fucking Muslims"

CarlottaVance

redcliffe62 said:

CarlottaVance said:

"But the Law Society paper stresses the “need for legal certainty” on the issue to allow voters to make an informed decision in the referendum.

It calls on the SNP administration to set out what would happen if negotiations about EU membership could not be concluded in the 16-month window between a Yes vote and “Independence Day”, the date on which Scotland would become an independent nation.

“Would Independence Day be moved back to allow for a conclusion to negotiations or would Independence Day be a fixed date requiring Scotland to leave the EU and rejoin when the negotiations were concluded?” the paper asks. Meanwhile, Westminster is urged to say whether it would support an application by an independent Scotland to join the EU."

http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/independence-call-for-legal-advice-on-eu-membership-1-3029688
No doubt just another scare story in the detail free onward march to independence......

the big issue today is if catalonia changes its date for a referendum and votes YES a month or so before Scotland votes, and Spain then goes nuts and negative.

Agree - if Scotland votes to leave the Union, both sides will seek to negotiate an amicable settlement - inevitably neither will get everything they want (Trident, currency, to name but two contentious matters) but separation will come about. As the current Spanish government has shown over Gibraltar they are more than happy to play silly buggers - and if blocking Scottish EU membership is a stick which they can beat Catalonia with, I have no doubt they'll try to use it.

So, to the Law Society's question - delay independence until (re-)accession negotiated, or go ahead on set date and re-join later?

Plato

@JossiasJessop

An unnamed source who wasn't at the meeting who provided lashings of detail...that tried to hurt the Tory's campaign hard man?

Jonathan

The Tories have been very effective using proxies to attack their enemies. Glad that's being exposed.

Roger

What is strange to me is that British advertising and marketing is recognised (together with the US) as the best in the world. Likewise the top talent. The idea that anyone would go to Australia to find the best marketing person is laughable.

Whether the money isn't there to buy the British talent or whether Labour are keeping their powder dry till the election I don't know. But what I do know is there will be some very bemused and amused faces around the watering holes of the West End at the moment.

Morris_Dancer

Good morning, everyone.

I don't care much about the Crosby chatter. In broad political terms the economy remains king, and in the present I reckon most people will be talking about Gibraltar over the breakfast table.

Plato

MikeSmithson said:

@Plato

If you don't want to be accused of being a racist bigot then don't use terms like "Fucking Muslims"

And being a Muslim isn't a race. Like being a Christian isn't being white.

CarlottaVance

@TUD - your thoughts on the Law Society's paper?

Alanbrooke

Roger said:

What is strange to me is that British advertising and marketing is recognised (together with the US) as the best in the world. Likewise the top talent. The idea that anyone would go to Australia to find the best marketing person is laughable.

Whether the money isn't there to buy the British talent or whether Labour are keeping their powder dry till the election I don't know. But what I do know is there will be some very bemused and amused faces around the watering holes of the West End at the moment.

how british marketing is one of the best in the world is beyond me. We ape US sales push, british marketing is simply a me too product.

Plato

Just for our Labour posters - oh the horror! Evil bigot! And Iain is a LD and worth following on Twitter.

Iain Roberts @CllrIainRoberts
Immigration debate rarely changes - in 2007 Labour proposed their plan "to stop illegal immigrants getting housing, healthcare or work".

Iain Roberts @CllrIainRoberts
In 2007, Labour Home Sec John Reid announced a clampdown on "foreigners [who] come to this country illegitimately and steal our benefits"

CarlottaVance

Analysis suggesting Catalonia's referendum may be 4 days before Scotland's:

http://www.newscatalonia.com/2013/07/is-september-14th-catalonias-best-day.html

richardDodd

RODGER,Perhaps it is because the so called best talent in the world seems to be constantly in the watering holes of the West End that they are not considered good enough, or even sober enough, to be offered the job.

Mick_Pork

MikeSmithson said:

@Plato

If you don't want to be accused of being a racist bigot then don't use terms like "Fucking Muslims"

Far wiser for Cammie to call the kippers "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists" since that will guarantee he and his CCHQ spinners will be believed when they claim they definitely aren't planning a smear campaign against the kippers.

SquareRoot

Jonathan said:

The Tories have been very effective using proxies to attack their enemies. Glad that's being exposed.

"let him who is without sin cast the first stone"

JamesM

Good morning all; long time lurker and occasional poster here.

Apologies for going off topic but I wanted to pick the brains of the pb.com community on reading recommendations, as I remember a superb, similar post a couple of years ago.

I am looking for books in three broad categories, any suggestions would be appreciated:

(1) Historical, action fiction - a bit like Game of Thrones but not that, as I don't want to ruin the TV series!

(2) Political/Sports strategy - in short, I love books about campaigning, developing successful delivery structures, marketing, with transferable skills. Anything from data management to marginal gains.

(3) Biographies - mainly of foreign policy leaders in the format of Mayor Giuliani's or of sportsman which outlines their training regimes.

All suggestions gratefully received.

To kick-start proceedings myself, I really enjoyed the book on NFL coach Bill Walsh, The Score Takes Care of Itself.

JosiasJessop

Roger said:

What is strange to me is that British advertising and marketing is recognised (together with the US) as the best in the world. Likewise the top talent. The idea that anyone would go to Australia to find the best marketing person is laughable.

Whether the money isn't there to buy the British talent or whether Labour are keeping their powder dry till the election I don't know. But what I do know is there will be some very bemused and amused faces around the watering holes of the West End at the moment.

Advertising and marketing are both very wide fields. Perhaps our expertise is in the wrong areas of those fields? After all, the amount of money sloshing about in US campaigning alone must soak up a great deal of the best talent.

There might also be a reluctance to have your name connected to any particular party, and to put your head above the parapet. Look at the stupid attacks Messina and Crosby are getting: why put your head above the parapet in the main country you work in?

We've already seen infantile calls from some on the left for the clients of Crosby's company to be unveiled. We all know what would follow: a fishing and smear campaign. And what after that? Protesters outside companies that do business with Crosby?

Why should someone who relies on working with many different clients become known as working for one particular party in the country they do their main work in?

Morris_Dancer

Mr. M, you may enjoy The Warlord Chronicles, by Bernard Cornwell. They're set around the time of Arthur and the Saxon invasion, but it's a gritty, fairly low-magic trilogy and a very enjoyable read.

Of course, there's the Sharpe books (by the same author).

edmundintokyo

CarlottaVance said:

Analysis suggesting Catalonia's referendum may be 4 days before Scotland's:

http://www.newscatalonia.com/2013/07/is-september-14th-catalonias-best-day.html

Interesting move, a yes could be very helpful for Salmond momentum-wise.

Anyone else in Europe feel like joining in? Flanders? Venice?

Theuniondivvie

Alanbrooke said:

How's that different from Rev Stuart Campbell and his readers bar the slogans ?

You being one of his readers evidently.

WoS makes no claims for objectivity. The main difference is that he and his readers are actively involved in the Independence debate on various levels and have an investment in the outcome; any 'debate' that goes on here (which, lets face it, is a backwater on the subject) is mainly for people that aren't and haven't. Also, I don't think WoS is trying to troll Unionists.

Theuniondivvie

CarlottaVance said:

@TUD - your thoughts on the Law Society's paper?

I believe trolls should be kept on a strict diet.

CarlottaVance

edmundintokyo said:

CarlottaVance said:

Analysis suggesting Catalonia's referendum may be 4 days before Scotland's:

http://www.newscatalonia.com/2013/07/is-september-14th-catalonias-best-day.html

Interesting move, a yes could be very helpful for Salmond momentum-wise.

Anyone else in Europe feel like joining in? Flanders? Venice?

Yes - if its close it might easily tip the balance - and the Catalans seem much keener on independence than the Scots.....

CarlottaVance

Theuniondivvie said:

CarlottaVance said:

@TUD - your thoughts on the Law Society's paper?

I believe trolls should be kept on a strict diet.

Characteristic engagement in policy, as ever.....I suppose childish insults are easier......troll on.....

Morris_Dancer

The Catalan vote could swing things either way, even if it's Yes. The Spanish will, I imagine, refuse to acknowledge it and promise to veto any breakaway 'nation' seeking to join the EU, which would (if it occurs) make Scotland's position regarding the EU seem less certain.

AveryLP

CarlottaVance said:

"A spokesman for Mr Crosby described the allegations as “categorically untrue”. “This is categorically wrong,” the spokesman said. “People will make their own mind up about who is more accurate – people who were actually at the meeting or un-named sources who were not at the meeting.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/10222092/Cameron-strategy-guru-attacks-Clarkes-Ukip-remarks.html

Fag packets didn't work....try something else.....

What are the odds on Isabel Oakeshott naming her source?

JamesM

Thanks Morris Dancer, I was certainly a fan of the Sharpe tv series, but had not heard of the other series by Cornwall.

Theuniondivvie

CarlottaVance said:

Theuniondivvie said:

CarlottaVance said:

@TUD - your thoughts on the Law Society's paper?

I believe trolls should be kept on a strict diet.

Characteristic engagement in policy, as ever.....I suppose childish insults are easier......troll on.....

What was it you said several weeks ago, something like 'it's always enjoyable to troll our Nat friends'?

If you think engaging with you represents some kind of Olympian discussion of policy, you're delusional.

JackW

BTW I think it's a wee bit thoughtless of Nick Palmer to get reselected as OGH will have to increase the bandwith :

Nick Palmer EXMP, LABPPC, PB, UNITE, RSPCA, BHS, M&S(Pants), PhD, CDM(bar)

CarlottaVance

Theuniondivvie said:

CarlottaVance said:

Theuniondivvie said:

CarlottaVance said:

@TUD - your thoughts on the Law Society's paper?

I believe trolls should be kept on a strict diet.

Characteristic engagement in policy, as ever.....I suppose childish insults are easier......troll on.....

What was it you said several weeks ago, something like 'it's always enjoyable to troll our Nat friends'?

Link?

And I really think calling the Law Society of Scotland trolls more than a little desperate.....

JosiasJessop

JamesM said:

Good morning all; long time lurker and occasional poster here.

Apologies for going off topic but I wanted to pick the brains of the pb.com community on reading recommendations, as I remember a superb, similar post a couple of years ago.

I am looking for books in three broad categories, any suggestions would be appreciated:

(1) Historical, action fiction - a bit like Game of Thrones but not that, as I don't want to ruin the TV series!

(2) Political/Sports strategy - in short, I love books about campaigning, developing successful delivery structures, marketing, with transferable skills. Anything from data management to marginal gains.

(3) Biographies - mainly of foreign policy leaders in the format of Mayor Giuliani's or of sportsman which outlines their training regimes.

All suggestions gratefully received.

To kick-start proceedings myself, I really enjoyed the book on NFL coach Bill Walsh, The Score Takes Care of Itself.

For Christmas and my b'day, Mrs J got me Ken Follett's 'The Pillars of the Earth' and its sequel, 'World without end'. They aren't really action, but brilliant sagas of intertwined families set around the construction of a cathedral.

They're the best historical stuff I've read this year. Then again, I love architecture.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pillars-Earth-Ken-Follett/dp/0330450131

isam

JamesM said:

Good morning all; long time lurker and occasional poster here.

Apologies for going off topic but I wanted to pick the brains of the pb.com community on reading recommendations, as I remember a superb, similar post a couple of years ago.

I am looking for books in three broad categories, any suggestions would be appreciated:

(1) Historical, action fiction - a bit like Game of Thrones but not that, as I don't want to ruin the TV series!

(2) Political/Sports strategy - in short, I love books about campaigning, developing successful delivery structures, marketing, with transferable skills. Anything from data management to marginal gains.

(3) Biographies - mainly of foreign policy leaders in the format of Mayor Giuliani's or of sportsman which outlines their training regimes.

All suggestions gratefully received.

To kick-start proceedings myself, I really enjoyed the book on NFL coach Bill Walsh, The Score Takes Care of Itself.

The Count of Monte Cristo

Plato

Mandy's The Third Man - great autobiog, lots of personal anecdotes and some LOL scenes. It's very good re challenging Brand Labour and how he did it.

I must read it again.

JamesM said:

Good morning all; long time lurker and occasional poster here.

Apologies for going off topic but I wanted to pick the brains of the pb.com community on reading recommendations, as I remember a superb, similar post a couple of years ago.

I am looking for books in three broad categories, any suggestions would be appreciated:

(1) Historical, action fiction - a bit like Game of Thrones but not that, as I don't want to ruin the TV series!

(2) Political/Sports strategy - in short, I love books about campaigning, developing successful delivery structures, marketing, with transferable skills. Anything from data management to marginal gains.

(3) Biographies - mainly of foreign policy leaders in the format of Mayor Giuliani's or of sportsman which outlines their training regimes.

All suggestions gratefully received.

To kick-start proceedings myself, I really enjoyed the book on NFL coach Bill Walsh, The Score Takes Care of Itself.

Plato

Her namesake?

AveryLP said:

CarlottaVance said:

"A spokesman for Mr Crosby described the allegations as “categorically untrue”. “This is categorically wrong,” the spokesman said. “People will make their own mind up about who is more accurate – people who were actually at the meeting or un-named sources who were not at the meeting.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/10222092/Cameron-strategy-guru-attacks-Clarkes-Ukip-remarks.html

Fag packets didn't work....try something else.....

What are the odds on Isabel Oakeshott naming her source?

TheScreamingEagles

Most days this wouldn't be news.

I can confirm it is raining in Manchester, and Old Trafford in particular.

I'm confident in saying that by this evening, England will have retained the Ashes for the third consecutive series.

MaxPB

60.2 Services PMI.

Massive figure.

Plato

MaxPB said:

60.2 Services PMI.

Massive figure.

Highest since 2006 - Blimey.

Calling Ed Balls...

AveryLP

Fantastic UK Services PMI from Markit this morning with index for July over 60!

Key Points:

• Faster increase in new sales volumes as market conditions continue to strengthen

• Backlogs rise at sharpest rate since February 2000

• Business confidence strengthens to highest level for 15 months

Summary:
The UK service sector expanded at its quickest pace for over six-and-a-half years in July as new business continued to rise strongly amid evidence of an improvement in market conditions. The strong gain in new work placed pressure on capacity, leading to a marked increase in backlogs of work and encouraged solid payroll growth.

Service providers were also optimistic about future activity levels while, on the price front, output charges were raised to the greatest degree since June 2011.

The headline seasonally adjusted Business Activity Index climbed to its highest reading since December 2006 during July, posting 60.2, up from 56.9 in June.Above 50.0 readings have now been recorded for seven months in a row, with growth accelerating continuously throughout this period.

Boy George has generated so much escape velocity we will all be able to holiday on the Sun this year.

Slackbladder

Plato said:

MaxPB said:

60.2 Services PMI.

Massive figure.

Highest since 2006 - Blimey.

Calling Ed Balls...

Bank of England should consider putting interest rates up now I think.

anotherDave

JamesM said:

Good morning all; long time lurker and occasional poster here.

Apologies for going off topic but I wanted to pick the brains of the pb.com community on reading recommendations, as I remember a superb, similar post a couple of years ago.

I am looking for books in three broad categories, any suggestions would be appreciated:

(1) Historical, action fiction - a bit like Game of Thrones but not that, as I don't want to ruin the TV series!

(2) Political/Sports strategy - in short, I love books about campaigning, developing successful delivery structures, marketing, with transferable skills. Anything from data management to marginal gains.

(3) Biographies - mainly of foreign policy leaders in the format of Mayor Giuliani's or of sportsman which outlines their training regimes.

All suggestions gratefully received.

To kick-start proceedings myself, I really enjoyed the book on NFL coach Bill Walsh, The Score Takes Care of Itself.

John Hoskyns "Just in Time: inside the Thatcher revolution" - out of print now, but you should be able to get it through your local library.

Conn Iggulden's conqueror & emperor series. He also has a 'favourite books' page on his website.

http://www.conniggulden.com/conn-iggulden-recommends/

"The experience economy" by Pine and Gilmore.

Theuniondivvie

CarlottaVance said:

Link?

It's a bit early in the week to comprehensively lose the will to live by trawling through your old posts.

CarlottaVance said:

And I really think calling the Law Society of Scotland trolls more than a little desperate.....

What would you say is the best antonym to the word 'witty'?

RichardNabavi

The obsession with Crosby is utterly bizarre. From the coverage in the Guardian and the various Labour websites, you'd think he's a cross between Rasputin, Alastair Campbell and Superman. According to the coverage, he seems to be running not only the Conservative Party but the entire government, right down to organising the workload of minor officials of UKBA and the consultation on cigarette packaging. That's particularly impressive given that he has not the slightest role whatsoever in this Con/LD coalition government, is not a civil servant and doesn't even have a parliamentary pass.

Luckily, voters are too sane to take any interest in such nonsense, and I suppose as a displacement activiity for the left with nothing else to say, it's fairly harmless.

MaxPB

Slackbladder said:

Plato said:

MaxPB said:

60.2 Services PMI.

Massive figure.

Highest since 2006 - Blimey.

Calling Ed Balls...

Bank of England should consider putting interest rates up now I think.

No. Keep interest rates low, it's the only thing keeping the economy growing, especially with the savings rate decreasing. If the cost of living increases then the economy will suffer. It's a harsh truth that wealth needs to be transferred from pensioners to people of working age, low interest rates is a way to do that without raising any suspicion.

Plato

Golly - Owen Jones has left the building http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/i-know-its-the-summer-holidays-ed-but-what-is-labours-message-8745341.html

"We’re clearing up Labour’s mess. Labour overspent and now we’re balancing the books. A national deficit is like a household budget. Welfare is out of control and lining the pockets of the skivers. The unemployed person or immigrant down the road is living off your hard-earned taxes. Labour is in the pocket of union barons.

Summing up the Tories’ message – poisonous and drenched in myths as it is – in quick, sharp sentences is remarkably easy to do. It has been relentlessly, remorselessly, tediously hammered into the electorate’s skulls. Ministers, backbenchers, and Tory media outriders have been disciplined members of this co-ordinated campaign. When yet another second-rate Tory standard-bearer proclaims that “We’re clearing up the mess Labour left us” on Question Time, hundreds of thousands of lefties instantly curl up in a foetal position, pulling their hair out in lumps, yelping in anguish. But if nonsense is repeated incessantly and is met with a weak challenge, it can soon become received wisdom.

The Tories’ hiring of Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign supremo Jim Messina provoked a sense of betrayal among Labour activists smitten with the current occupant of the White House. Odd, given most British Conservatives would be perfectly politically at home in the US Democratic Party...

Where are Labour? Apparently the rationale of Ed Miliband’s advisers for the last three years can be summed up as: “Hey, what’s the rush!” Being coaxed into setting out policies is a Tory trap. “Zen socialism”, it’s been called. It has proved a tragic mistake. Labour didn’t need to set out fully-costed policies at this stage: it just needed to stick to clear, sharp messages that were repeated ad infinitum. Its failure to do so has simply allowed the Tories to set the terms of debate, to allow their narrative to seize control of the public consciousness, and to constantly force Labour on to the defensive.

Pulpstar

RichardNabavi said:

The obsession with Crosby is utterly bizarre. From the coverage in the Guardian and the various Labour websites, you'd think he's a cross between Rasputin, Alastair Campbell and Superman. According to the coverage, he seems to be running not only the Conservative Party but the entire government, right down to organising the workload of minor officials of UKBA and the consultation on cigarette packaging. That's particularly impressive given that he has not the slightest role whatsoever in this Con/LD coalition government, is not a civil servant and doesn't even have a parliamentary pass.

Luckily, voters are too sane to take any interest in such nonsense, and I suppose as a displacement activiity for the left with nothing else to say, it's fairly harmless.

I agree, this is strictly Westminster village stuff and won't play out to the wider public.

AveryLP

When all three Markit PMIs (Manufacturing, Construction & Services) for July are combined into a Composite Index the growth in business last month shows the highest combined rate of growth since Markit started publishing its series.

Paul Smith, the Senior Economist of Markit, stated:

a composite reading of the respective output balances from all three PMI surveys reached a series record high during July, driven by the sharpest increase in new business since March 2004.

Particularly strong evidence of employment growth with service order backlogs indicating more to follow.

JackW

@JamesM

The multi volume biog of Churchill by his son and Martin Gilbert is outstanding ..... although for holiday reading you'll require a large trunk to pack them and a round the world cruise to have time to read them !!