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    tysontyson Posts: 6,052
    edited May 2017

    tyson said:

    tyson said:

    I think when the votes are counted, labour will mop up the trendy bohemian urban and student vote and get massacred in every other dynamic.

    I went to see the sublimely brilliant jazz pianist Brad Mehdlau at the Norwich festival last night...I doubt there were many Tories there. The town centre had some anti Tory protesters too with the Newsnight juggernaut coming to town.

    Not one Tory poster as far as I can see in the whole of the golden triangle too...

    I've got a Labour Board out (for solidarity) and a Green, and I'm an undecided....
    I haven't seen a Tory board either
    Just the way I like it....my neighbour with the callous, clawed, baby bird murderer has a Green and Labour board, my other neighbour, a Green

    BTW..we are working our way around veggie roasts on Sundays around the GT, something we missed in Italy, and would classify as follows in order of preference;
    Black Bull (superb); BellVue (great trimmings); Warwick Social (expensive); Garden House (stodgy); Unthank Arms (cold)....we've still got the York Tavern, Georgian TownHouse and Eagle left...Namaste Indian in town is fab though, great Thai takeaway too on Dereham Road, and the chippy in Stafford Street is sublime....
    Take Thai is fabulous, a really top drawer takeaway. I'm getting dinner from there tomorrow as it happens! Stafford chippy has been one of the best since the 90s, queued out the door every Friday.
    If you like Chinese, Planet Wok on Dereham Rd is very good.
    For food Norwich is a major notch upwards from Oxford. The pubs around the GT are great too...the majority are dog friendly. For films, theatre and music Norwich is spoilt for choice...and the Sainsbury's Centre...we have joined that too. I really do like Norwich...a civilised part of the country...

    The English chap who runs takeThai is particularly enthusiastic about his stuff. I asked him where he sourced his food and five minutes later wished I hadn't....
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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,844
    Scott_P said:

    Hey Divot, maybe this one is easier for you

    https://twitter.com/scottynational/status/865589838271172608

    Shome mishtake shurely? People of Scotland can no longer be relied upon so it's the Parliament of Scotland from now on....
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,688
    The weiner that probably made Donald Trump President

    https://twitter.com/guardian/status/865590780206776322
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    JPJ2 said:

    It is quite clear that as a group the SNP MPs have cost less and contributed more in Parliament than those they replaced, so you should give up trying to prove the SNP are bigger troughers than the unionists because it simply isn't true.

    Link?

    Last I saw they had expenses significantly higher than the MPs they replaced
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 50,019

    Sandpit said:

    For how many flights?
    Doesn't seem massively excessive, assuming biz class.
    Her minions averaged £2000.......
    The minions probably got sent down the back of the plane.

    I dislike politicians generally, and Ms Sturgeon in particular, but really don't expect a senior minister to travel coach on a long haul business trip.
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    dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    tyson said:

    tyson said:

    tyson said:

    I think when the votes are counted, labour will mop up the trendy bohemian urban and student vote and get massacred in every other dynamic.

    I went to see the sublimely brilliant jazz pianist Brad Mehdlau at the Norwich festival last night...I doubt there were many Tories there. The town centre had some anti Tory protesters too with the Newsnight juggernaut coming to town.

    Not one Tory poster as far as I can see in the whole of the golden triangle too...

    I've got a Labour Board out (for solidarity) and a Green, and I'm an undecided....
    I haven't seen a Tory board either
    Just the way I like it....my neighbour with the callous, clawed, baby bird murderer has a Green and Labour board, my other neighbour, a Green

    BTW..we are working our way around veggie roasts on Sundays around the GT, something we missed in Italy, and would classify as follows in order of preference;
    Black Bull (superb); BellVue (great trimmings); Warwick Social (expensive); Garden House (stodgy); Unthank Arms (cold)....we've still got the York Tavern, Georgian TownHouse and Eagle left...Namaste Indian in town is fab though, great Thai takeaway too on Dereham Road, and the chippy in Stafford Street is sublime....
    Take Thai is fabulous, a really top drawer takeaway. I'm getting dinner from there tomorrow as it happens! Stafford chippy has been one of the best since the 90s, queued out the door every Friday.
    If you like Chinese, Planet Wok on Dereham Rd is very good.
    For food Norwich is a major notch upwards from Oxford. The pubs around the GT are great too...the majority are dog friendly. For films, theatre and music Norwich is spoilt for choice...and the Sainsbury's Centre...we have joined that too. I really do like Norwich...a civilised part of the country...

    The English chap who runs takeThai is particularly enthusiastic about his stuff. I asked him where he sourced his food and five minutes later wished I hadn't....
    You should have seen him two weeks ago taking on BT over their phones going down. Brutal!
    The cafe next door is being revamped but is a nice spot to chill and suck smoke.
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    freetochoosefreetochoose Posts: 1,107
    This cradle to grave state dependency is worrying, free school meals for infants, free tuition fees, help to buy mortgages, housing benefits, care for the elderly, it seems people need help through their entire lives when actually they don't. They might want it and believe they're entitled but that's different to need.

    How about we all learn to look after ourselves instead of holding our hands out.

    Those who CAN have a responsibility to look after those who CAN'T. The WON'Ts and CAN'T BE BOTHEREDs need to wake up.
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    Labour have called on Nicola Sturgeon to order an audit into the expenses of SNP MPs after it claimed the past year has seen a significant rise in the amount claimed for travel.

    Ten Nationalist MPs claimed twice as much or more in travel costs for themselves and their staff in their first ten-and-a-half-months at Westminster as their Labour and Liberal Democrat predecessors did in the last full comparable year.

    Figures published by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority show that Alex Salmond claimed £48,470.66 for travel in 2015-16, while Malcolm Bruce claimed £22,394.07 in 2013-14.


    Read more at: http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/demand-for-probe-into-snp-mps-expenses-1-4292849
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    RestharrowRestharrow Posts: 233

    IFS have report on the Dementia Tax proposal. Pretty damning conclusion:

    "the Conservative plan makes no attempt to deal with the fundamental challenge of social care funding. That is the big problem – not how many people might win or lose."

    http://election2017.ifs.org.uk/article/social-care-a-step-forwards-or-a-step-backwards

    Absolutely. This was Mrs May's opportunity to use some political capital to solve a long-term knotty problem and she's fluffed it. She has tweaked the threshold, but by reminding old folk of the unfair system that she has failed to reform, has convinced them that they'll be much worse off when in fact they'll be slightly better off.
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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,844
    JPJ2 said:

    Carlotta Vance

    Don't pretend a unionist FM would be any cheaper. If the cost of the replaced unionist MPs are anything to go by, a unionist FM would be much more expensive (they would have to keep going down to London for their instructions, if nothing else).

    It is quite clear that as a group the SNP MPs have cost less and contributed more in Parliament than those they replaced, so you should give up trying to prove the SNP are bigger troughers than the unionists because it simply isn't true.

    The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) said that Stirling MP Steven Paterson claimed £41,506 last year, far more than the £17,569 claimed by then Labour MP Anne McGuire in 2013/14, her last full year in the job.

    http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14912904.Labour_call_for_probe_over_SNP_MPs__travel_expenses/
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    Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Assange is full of crap. He's not been detained without charge for seven years, he's voluntarily and costing us a fortune skipped his bail and avoided going out to face his charges. Had he honoured his bail pledge he would have been charged and faced a fair trial.
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    TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 40,380
    edited May 2017
    Scott_P said:

    Squirrelsquirrelsquirrelsquirrelsquirrelsquirrelsquirrelsquirrelsquirrel (to be continued).

    Oh dear, Divot.

    Squirrel is not the right answer. You got the first letter right, though.

    Do you want to have another go?
    You first.
    Just lie back on the couch, close your eyes, take yourself back 11 months and talk me through it.

    "Scottykipperboy Posts: 21,367
    June 25

    '4. Next PM. It's May for me, anyone but Boris.

    5. Corbyn should go too. A total tool. About as effective as a leader and potential PM as a fart in a hurricane.

    6.Lastly and this will shock many but Scotland should now opt for independence. There I said it. The will of the Scottish people on the EU, a matter of the most crucial significance for the future, was clear. Hopefully it will be an amicable uncoupling. I would vote for YES in SINDY2, if still around.

    SINDY2 should take place within 18 months and a YES vote take effect on the date of BREXIT two years after Article 50 is enabled or before 2020 whichever is sooner.'

    Nice to see you Jack

    I agree on all 3 points."
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    tysontyson Posts: 6,052

    tyson said:

    tyson said:

    tyson said:

    I think when the votes are counted, labour will mop up the trendy bohemian urban and student vote and get massacred in every other dynamic.

    I went to see the sublimely brilliant jazz pianist Brad Mehdlau at the Norwich festival last night...I doubt there were many Tories there. The town centre had some anti Tory protesters too with the Newsnight juggernaut coming to town.

    Not one Tory poster as far as I can see in the whole of the golden triangle too...

    I've got a Labour Board out (for solidarity) and a Green, and I'm an undecided....
    I haven't seen a Tory board either
    Just the way I like it....my neighbour with the callous, clawed, baby bird murderer has a Green and Labour board, my other neighbour, a Green

    BTW..we are working our way around veggie roasts on Sundays around the GT, something we missed in Italy, and would classify as follows in order of preference;
    Black Bull (superb); BellVue (great trimmings); Warwick Social (expensive); Garden House (stodgy); Unthank Arms (cold)....we've still got the York Tavern, Georgian TownHouse and Eagle left...Namaste Indian in town is fab though, great Thai takeaway too on Dereham Road, and the chippy in Stafford Street is sublime....
    Take Thai is fabulous, a really top drawer takeaway. I'm getting dinner from there tomorrow as it happens! Stafford chippy has been one of the best since the 90s, queued out the door every Friday.
    If you like Chinese, Planet Wok on Dereham Rd is very good.
    For food Norwich is a major notch upwards from Oxford. The pubs around the GT are great too...the majority are dog friendly. For films, theatre and music Norwich is spoilt for choice...and the Sainsbury's Centre...we have joined that too. I really do like Norwich...a civilised part of the country...

    The English chap who runs takeThai is particularly enthusiastic about his stuff. I asked him where he sourced his food and five minutes later wished I hadn't....
    You should have seen him two weeks ago taking on BT over their phones going down. Brutal!
    The cafe next door is being revamped but is a nice spot to chill and suck smoke.
    I could quite easily hijack this thread for hours talking about Norwich and the Golden Triangle...I'm going to drive to the newly opened Aldi now to get some wine
  • Options
    dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    tyson said:

    tyson said:

    tyson said:

    tyson said:

    I think when the votes are counted, labour will mop up the trendy bohemian urban and student vote and get massacred in every other dynamic.

    I went to see the sublimely brilliant jazz pianist Brad Mehdlau at the Norwich festival last night...I doubt there were many Tories there. The town centre had some anti Tory protesters too with the Newsnight juggernaut coming to town.

    Not one Tory poster as far as I can see in the whole of the golden triangle too...

    I've got a Labour Board out (for solidarity) and a Green, and I'm an undecided....
    I haven't seen a Tory board either
    Just the way I like it....my neighbour with the callous, clawed, baby bird murderer has a Green and Labour board, my other neighbour, a Green

    BTW..we are working our way around veggie roasts on Sundays around the GT, something we missed in Italy, and would classify as follows in order of preference;
    Black Bull (superb); BellVue (great trimmings); Warwick Social (expensive); Garden House (stodgy); Unthank Arms (cold)....we've still got the York Tavern, Georgian TownHouse and Eagle left...Namaste Indian in town is fab though, great Thai takeaway too on Dereham Road, and the chippy in Stafford Street is sublime....
    Take Thai is fabulous, a really top drawer takeaway. I'm getting dinner from there tomorrow as it happens! Stafford chippy has been one of the best since the 90s, queued out the door every Friday.
    If you like Chinese, Planet Wok on Dereham Rd is very good.
    For food Norwich is a major notch upwards from Oxford. The pubs around the GT are great too...the majority are dog friendly. For films, theatre and music Norwich is spoilt for choice...and the Sainsbury's Centre...we have joined that too. I really do like Norwich...a civilised part of the country...

    The English chap who runs takeThai is particularly enthusiastic about his stuff. I asked him where he sourced his food and five minutes later wished I hadn't....
    You should have seen him two weeks ago taking on BT over their phones going down. Brutal!
    The cafe next door is being revamped but is a nice spot to chill and suck smoke.
    I could quite easily hijack this thread for hours talking about Norwich and the Golden Triangle...I'm going to drive to the newly opened Aldi now to get some wine
    Enjoy. I shall be out in the GT tonight carousing.
  • Options
    ConcanvasserConcanvasser Posts: 165
    It is starting to feel to me that the Conservative party is 'absorbing' a chunk of the LD vote.

    Would not be the first time .There were plenty of Con voters (and indeed the odd Con MP) in the period '45-to roughly '79 who would say they were really 'Old Liberals' but voted Con as they were not Socialists. They were especially prevalent in the South West.

    Mrs May is imho pitching to this group quite successfully.
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,778
    tyson said:

    tyson said:

    tyson said:

    tyson said:

    I think when the votes are counted, labour will mop up the trendy bohemian urban and student vote and get massacred in every other dynamic.

    I went to see the sublimely brilliant jazz pianist Brad Mehdlau at the Norwich festival last night...I doubt there were many Tories there. The town centre had some anti Tory protesters too with the Newsnight juggernaut coming to town.

    Not one Tory poster as far as I can see in the whole of the golden triangle too...

    I've got a Labour Board out (for solidarity) and a Green, and I'm an undecided....
    I haven't seen a Tory board either
    Just the way I like it....my neighbour with the callous, clawed, baby bird murderer has a Green and Labour board, my other neighbour, a Green

    BTW..we are working our way around veggie roasts on Sundays around the GT, something we missed in Italy, and would classify as follows in order of preference;
    Black Bull (superb); BellVue (great trimmings); Warwick Social (expensive); Garden House (stodgy); Unthank Arms (cold)....we've still got the York Tavern, Georgian TownHouse and Eagle left...Namaste Indian in town is fab though, great Thai takeaway too on Dereham Road, and the chippy in Stafford Street is sublime....
    Take Thai is fabulous, a really top drawer takeaway. I'm getting dinner from there tomorrow as it happens! Stafford chippy has been one of the best since the 90s, queued out the door every Friday.
    If you like Chinese, Planet Wok on Dereham Rd is very good.
    For food Norwich is a major notch upwards from Oxford. The pubs around the GT are great too...the majority are dog friendly. For films, theatre and music Norwich is spoilt for choice...and the Sainsbury's Centre...we have joined that too. I really do like Norwich...a civilised part of the country...

    The English chap who runs takeThai is particularly enthusiastic about his stuff. I asked him where he sourced his food and five minutes later wished I hadn't....
    You should have seen him two weeks ago taking on BT over their phones going down. Brutal!
    The cafe next door is being revamped but is a nice spot to chill and suck smoke.
    I could quite easily hijack this thread for hours talking about Norwich and the Golden Triangle...I'm going to drive to the newly opened Aldi now to get some wine
    I'll see your Aldi and raise you a Tesco. And beer, rather than wine. Laters...
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,027
    Mr. Concanvasser, didn't Heseltine stand as a National Liberal at one point?
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    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,564

    IFS have report on the Dementia Tax proposal. Pretty damning conclusion:

    "the Conservative plan makes no attempt to deal with the fundamental challenge of social care funding. That is the big problem – not how many people might win or lose."

    http://election2017.ifs.org.uk/article/social-care-a-step-forwards-or-a-step-backwards

    The IFS is wrong about this. It presupposes that the problem is an insurance problem necessarily requiring extensive coverage. But there is no evidence that the public wants more than safety net coverage. It's seeking to force comprehensive insurance on people that apparently only want to pay for third party, fire and theft.
    Obviously, given my ranting for the last two days, I have to disagree.
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    MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034

    Mr. Tyson, roast vegetables are the best kind. Well, except for something like peppers.

    Roasted bell peppers are great.
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    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549
    Cricket: Bangladesh beats Ireland with 23 overs to spare.
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    PaulMPaulM Posts: 613
    edited May 2017

    It is starting to feel to me that the Conservative party is 'absorbing' a chunk of the LD vote.

    Would not be the first time .There were plenty of Con voters (and indeed the odd Con MP) in the period '45-to roughly '79 who would say they were really 'Old Liberals' but voted Con as they were not Socialists. They were especially prevalent in the South West.

    Mrs May is imho pitching to this group quite successfully.

    I remember a PBer from the south west once claiming that the SW LibDem voters were a lot more Eurosceptic than LibDems elsewhere and that a fair proportion voted UKIP or its predecessors in Euro Parliament elections.
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    Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905
    Waiting to see at the moment if there's any pronounced negative impact from the Tory plans to restrict pensioner entitlements, but if there's not then there still has to be a decent chance of them taking an absolute majority of votes case in England.

    Beyond that, a reminder of where we might be at the moment according to the polls - *IF* the secondary questions remain as reliable a guide as they have been in the past:

    https://twitter.com/leobarasi/status/865316669429882884

    Oh, and also this on the Labour resurgence:

    https://twitter.com/PollingDigest/status/865592375401340928

    The net Conservative lead is currently down 1pt in the month since Theresa May called the election: third party squeeze appears to be boosting both main parties by near-equal amounts, relative to their standings earlier in the Spring.

    Feeling more reassured about my earlier predictions for the final result (a landslide, but not a total rout.) Up to a point, anyway...
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    Guido: Jez does not understand Tory social care policy

    https://order-order.com/2017/05/19/jez-not-understand-tory-social-care-policy/
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    ab195ab195 Posts: 477
    Off Topic: Anyone know the maximum penalty for skipping bail and/contempt of court? Does it vary at all for Aussie egomaniacs?
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    JPJ2JPJ2 Posts: 378
    Carlotta Vance

    SNP Expenses

    IPSA were forced to apologise for issuing incorrect data which had understated the 2014/2015 expenses of the defeated Labour and Lib Dem MPs.

    Figures on the IPSA website confirm that in 2015-16 SNP MPs cost 1 million less (£1,101,801.64) than their predecessors in 2014-15. This is on average £21,000 less per MP than their predecessors.

    Of course the internet remains awash with articles attacking the SNP based on the original false figures. As ever, you have to hunt hard for the truth-perhaps you didn't? :-)
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    ConcanvasserConcanvasser Posts: 165

    Mr. Concanvasser, didn't Heseltine stand as a National Liberal at one point?

    Yes I believe he did, although I think he was 'Conservative AND National Liberal'.

    I think the late John Nott (he of 'be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the Union Flag flies again over Port Stanle'y fame in '82) stood simply as a National Liberal.

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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    JPJ2 said:

    IPSA were forced to apologise for issuing incorrect data which had understated the 2014/2015 expenses of the defeated Labour and Lib Dem MPs.

    Figures on the IPSA website confirm that in 2015-16 SNP MPs cost 1 million less (£1,101,801.64) than their predecessors in 2014-15. This is on average £21,000 less per MP than their predecessors.

    Link?
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 76,026
    PaulM said:

    It is starting to feel to me that the Conservative party is 'absorbing' a chunk of the LD vote.

    Would not be the first time .There were plenty of Con voters (and indeed the odd Con MP) in the period '45-to roughly '79 who would say they were really 'Old Liberals' but voted Con as they were not Socialists. They were especially prevalent in the South West.

    Mrs May is imho pitching to this group quite successfully.

    I remember a PBer from the south west once claiming that the SW LibDem voters were a lot more Eurosceptic than LibDems elsewhere and that a fair proportion voted UKIP or its predecessors in Euro Parliament elections.
    I've smashed into the Tories at odds on in the SW except Bath on the basis the LD vote down there is old and eurosceptic
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    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549

    bobajobPB said:

    Is that in any way remarkable?
    When the seven staff who accompanied her cost £15,000, yes.
    £7000 seems pretty reasonable to me.
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,214
    Pulpstar said:

    PaulM said:

    It is starting to feel to me that the Conservative party is 'absorbing' a chunk of the LD vote.

    Would not be the first time .There were plenty of Con voters (and indeed the odd Con MP) in the period '45-to roughly '79 who would say they were really 'Old Liberals' but voted Con as they were not Socialists. They were especially prevalent in the South West.

    Mrs May is imho pitching to this group quite successfully.

    I remember a PBer from the south west once claiming that the SW LibDem voters were a lot more Eurosceptic than LibDems elsewhere and that a fair proportion voted UKIP or its predecessors in Euro Parliament elections.
    I've smashed into the Tories at odds on in the SW except Bath on the basis the LD vote down there is old and eurosceptic
    Cheltenham May also go LD
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    GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 20,942
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    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549
    Scott_P said:

    JPJ2 said:

    IPSA were forced to apologise for issuing incorrect data which had understated the 2014/2015 expenses of the defeated Labour and Lib Dem MPs.

    Figures on the IPSA website confirm that in 2015-16 SNP MPs cost 1 million less (£1,101,801.64) than their predecessors in 2014-15. This is on average £21,000 less per MP than their predecessors.

    Link?
    http://www.thenational.scot/news/14931290.Labour_under_fire_for_SNP_expenses_attack_after_IPSA_admit_they_got_their_sums_wrong/

    But this is an old story.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,027
    Mr. Gin, it does look that way.

    If Osborne had stayed in the Commons he'd still be in great position to take over from May.
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 50,019
    edited May 2017
    ab195 said:

    Off Topic: Anyone know the maximum penalty for skipping bail and/contempt of court? Does it vary at all for Aussie egomaniacs?

    Ecuadorian egomanics, shurely?

    I think 40 weeks is the maximum for skipping bail. Contempt of court could be considerably longer.
    Source: https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/web_Fail_to_Surrender_to_Bail.pdf
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    Scrapheap_as_wasScrapheap_as_was Posts: 10,060
    the latest Ashcroft modelling is beyond me TBH... no time to look at it but the headline Tory numbers look 'ambitious'
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    RestharrowRestharrow Posts: 233
    GIN1138 said:
    Looks like Ted Heath's "Longest Sulk" record may eventually be broken. Only 30 years to go.
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    AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    edited May 2017
    So, looking at Scottish Constituency odds got me thinking.

    Edinburgh North and Leith
    From 2001 the Lib Dems progression was

    Year Rank Votes % Distance from 1st
    2001 2nd 6,454 19.4% 26.5%
    2005 2nd 12,444 29.2% 5.0%
    2010 2nd 16,016 33.8% 3.6%
    2015 5th 2,634 4.5% 36.4%
    A 2010-15 drop of a stonking 29.3%. Did the LDs suffer a loss greater than this anywhere else?
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    surbiton said:

    Scott_P said:

    JPJ2 said:

    IPSA were forced to apologise for issuing incorrect data which had understated the 2014/2015 expenses of the defeated Labour and Lib Dem MPs.

    Figures on the IPSA website confirm that in 2015-16 SNP MPs cost 1 million less (£1,101,801.64) than their predecessors in 2014-15. This is on average £21,000 less per MP than their predecessors.

    Link?
    http://www.thenational.scot/news/14931290.Labour_under_fire_for_SNP_expenses_attack_after_IPSA_admit_they_got_their_sums_wrong/

    But this is an old story.
    I was looking for a link to the IPSA website that was quoted, not the SNP fanzine...
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    TudorRoseTudorRose Posts: 1,662

    Mr. Concanvasser, didn't Heseltine stand as a National Liberal at one point?

    Yes I believe he did, although I think he was 'Conservative AND National Liberal'.

    I think the late John Nott (he of 'be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the Union Flag flies again over Port Stanle'y fame in '82) stood simply as a National Liberal.

    John Nott; that takes me back.... the first politician to really fight back against the MSM!
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    Scott_P said:
    What is going on with Keir Starmer's hair?
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    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Here's an endorsement I doubt the Conservatives were expecting:

    https://twitter.com/ev_bartlett/status/865598008729141248
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    EssexitEssexit Posts: 1,956

    Mr. Gin, it does look that way.

    If Osborne had stayed in the Commons he'd still be in great position to take over from May.

    I don't see it. One of the most universally disliked people in politics.
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    PeterCPeterC Posts: 1,274

    Mr. Concanvasser, didn't Heseltine stand as a National Liberal at one point?

    Yes I believe he did, although I think he was 'Conservative AND National Liberal'.

    I think the late John Nott (he of 'be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the Union Flag flies again over Port Stanle'y fame in '82) stood simply as a National Liberal.

    Not so much of the 'late', though!!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nott
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    JasonJason Posts: 1,614
    This election campaign so far - A Tale of Two Manifestos.

    One of them is Alice in Wonderland, the other is Reality Bites.

    One of them is pushed by a party that doesn't seriously believe it's going to form the next government, and one is being pushed (or maybe pulled?) by a party that knows it's nailed on to win.

    The Labour manifesto is wholly unrealistic, every right thinking person knows that. I believe if the polls started closing, and it even became an extreme outside chance that Corbyn could become PM, the public would quickly put a stop to it. That's why their manifesto is superficially attractive. A free lunch always is. It also takes away (successfully, it has to be admitted - so far) the spotlight on the three crackpots at the helm - Corbyn, McDonnell and Abbott. It's a manifesto written by the Unions for the Unions.

    The Tory manifesto is less of an election prospectus, but more of a blueprint for actual government. It's less eye catching than Labour's, and there's no free lunch. It's stark, brutal in parts, efficient, sincere and determined - and crucially, grown up. And it is precisely why it will win the war.

    Knowing the British electorate as the serious, sensible and sober bunch they are, they will not be swayed by Corbyn and McDonnell's socialist Utopia, because they know it is them who will end up paying for the inevitable car crash.

    Remember this - when people go to cast their votes, some of those (many, probably) who have been partly seduced by Labour's reckless promises of free money, will come to the same conclusion as all the other sensible folk. This is a straight choice between who is PM - May or Corbyn.

    I hope I have helped to calm Tory nerves here (Sean T appears to be having some sort of a breakdown).
  • Options
    ParistondaParistonda Posts: 1,819

    Here's an endorsement I doubt the Conservatives were expecting:

    https://twitter.com/ev_bartlett/status/865598008729141248

    Bloody no-nothing luvvies the lot of them
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,688
    edited May 2017

    Here's an endorsement I doubt the Conservatives were expecting:

    https://twitter.com/ev_bartlett/status/865598008729141248

    Last week you put Blue Da Ba Dee in my head.

    Now you've done the same with 21 Seconds in my head.

    I. Hate. You.

    I got 21 seconds to flow. I got 21 seconds to go
  • Options
    freetochoosefreetochoose Posts: 1,107
    Essexit said:

    Mr. Gin, it does look that way.

    If Osborne had stayed in the Commons he'd still be in great position to take over from May.

    I don't see it. One of the most universally disliked people in politics.
    Yes, and despite earning a fortune his bitterness is there for all to see.
  • Options
    Scrapheap_as_wasScrapheap_as_was Posts: 10,060
    edited May 2017
    Blimey Neville Southall has changed.... his photos on his profile are slightly different to his footy days...

    https://twitter.com/NevilleSouthall/status/865555726445330433
  • Options
    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    Here's an endorsement I doubt the Conservatives were expecting:

    https://twitter.com/ev_bartlett/status/865598008729141248

    Last week you put Blue Da Ba Dee in my head.

    Now you've done the same with 21 Seconds in my head.

    I. Hate. You.

    I got 21 seconds to flow. I got 21 seconds to go
    Just think of Bound 4 Da Reload by Oxide & Neutrino and everything will be fine.

    I accept no responsibility for collateral damage from the theme from Casualty.
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,087
    So I see Julian Assange is claiming a great victory for waiting out the clock and for enormous whingers complaining about others doing their duty seeking to arrest a man who had jumped bail. 'Had been detained' for seven years my arse.
  • Options
    AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    edited May 2017

    JPJ2 said:

    Carlotta Vance

    Don't pretend a unionist FM would be any cheaper. If the cost of the replaced unionist MPs are anything to go by, a unionist FM would be much more expensive (they would have to keep going down to London for their instructions, if nothing else).

    It is quite clear that as a group the SNP MPs have cost less and contributed more in Parliament than those they replaced, so you should give up trying to prove the SNP are bigger troughers than the unionists because it simply isn't true.

    The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) said that Stirling MP Steven Paterson claimed £41,506 last year, far more than the £17,569 claimed by then Labour MP Anne McGuire in 2013/14, her last full year in the job.

    http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14912904.Labour_call_for_probe_over_SNP_MPs__travel_expenses/
    That £17,569 is only Travel Expenses, for some reason when the shock horror story was splashed everywhere the SNPs total expenses were compared against just travel expenses for everyone else.

    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
  • Options
    ab195ab195 Posts: 477
    Sandpit said:

    ab195 said:

    Off Topic: Anyone know the maximum penalty for skipping bail and/contempt of court? Does it vary at all for Aussie egomaniacs?

    Ecuadorian egomanics, shurely?

    I think 40 weeks is the maximum for skipping bail. Contempt of court could be considerably longer.
    Source: https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/web_Fail_to_Surrender_to_Bail.pdf
    Cheers, couldn't think where to look. It's the embassy staff I feel sorry for, they have to hear him drone on every day.
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,214
    Scott_P said:
    Looks like Starmer will challenge Corbyn if he loses
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,214
    Support for nationalising or privatizing key industries and services by party
    https://mobile.twitter.com/YouGov/status/865535136720338946
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,087

    Here's an endorsement I doubt the Conservatives were expecting:

    https://twitter.com/ev_bartlett/status/865598008729141248

    Bloody no-nothing luvvies the lot of them
    Quite possibly. Luvvie does have specific connotations, for me at any rate, of a sort of overly sentimental kind of lecturing celebrity, but there's no reason to presume those who go the other way are in general better, though on an individual basis who knows. Eddie Izzard for instance puts work in for the party at least, for good and ill, which is more than most who lecture.
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,087
    HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    Looks like Starmer will challenge Corbyn if he loses
    Looks like, and that the challengers no longer think Corbyn will do worse than Ed M, in vote share at least - the belief is growing, even as the seats tally is still expected to be very bad.
  • Options
    sladeslade Posts: 1,941
    stodge said:

    I've heard the going rate for care homes in the nicer parts of Surrey is north of £1,200 per week which is up there with the cost of a week in a Vegas 5-star.

    I've been so fortunate with my parents - Mum required some home care before she died and so far Dad hasn't needed too much apart from a little home help.

    If this was an easy problem to solve, we'd have solved it by now. I'm not sure rushing out a policy in the midst of an abrupt GE campaign was a good idea. The whole area is complex and needs much wider consultation and input. There's obviously the perspective of the person and their family but the local authority who puts the care package together has a stake in this in terms of trying to manage its budgets and future provision.

    I suspect there will be a new or extended cottage industry around trying to avoid paying the fees too soon. The process seems to rely on increasing property values meeting the care home fees but how will that work from an accounting perspective for both local authorities and care home providers ? Presumably the local authority will have to pay the fees up front and then wait until the person's death to redeem the rest of the fees from the estate.

    At least this has started a discussion - that needs to be broadened away from the specifics so families and individuals need to think about and plan for care provision.

    I have just come back from a cruise on the Queen Mary 2. There was an elderly lady on board who said that a luxury cruise was cheaper for her than paying for a good care home - so she was going round the world, certainly once and perhaps twice.
  • Options
    ConcanvasserConcanvasser Posts: 165
    PeterC said:

    Mr. Concanvasser, didn't Heseltine stand as a National Liberal at one point?

    Yes I believe he did, although I think he was 'Conservative AND National Liberal'.

    I think the late John Nott (he of 'be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the Union Flag flies again over Port Stanle'y fame in '82) stood simply as a National Liberal.

    Not so much of the 'late', though!!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nott
    My apologies. I am very glad to learn he is still with us. Not so many of Mrs T's first term cabinet left now. I remember him storming out on Sir Robin Day on the BBC.
  • Options
    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549
    HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    Looks like Starmer will challenge Corbyn if he loses
    Good news
  • Options
    Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905
    Scott_P said:
    Well he would say that, wouldn't he?

    The more likely scenario, if Corbyn beats Miliband's vote share is (of course) that his faction will proclaim that his project is working and that he should be given more time to complete it, and his supporters amongst the Labour mass membership will blame everybody but him (and, by extension, themselves) for not doing better than that.

    A result in the low 30s (or, heaven forbid, better than that if enough pensioners sulk over having some of their perks curtailed) won't provide the kind of shock that the centre-left is forlornly hoping for as a means to get Labour's rank-and-file to ditch Corbyn - even if the Tories increase their majority significantly and quite a lot of Labour seats are lost. I fancy Corbyn's chances of survival under any circumstances, but even more so if that's the final outcome.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,688

    Here's an endorsement I doubt the Conservatives were expecting:

    https://twitter.com/ev_bartlett/status/865598008729141248

    Last week you put Blue Da Ba Dee in my head.

    Now you've done the same with 21 Seconds in my head.

    I. Hate. You.

    I got 21 seconds to flow. I got 21 seconds to go
    Just think of Bound 4 Da Reload by Oxide & Neutrino and everything will be fine.

    I accept no responsibility for collateral damage from the theme from Casualty.
    This is bringing back the summer of 2001 for me.

    I've got Chocolate Puma, Atomic Kitten, Five, Liberty X, and the cover of Chain Reaction by Steps.

    I was 22, living in London, working long hours and unwinding at the weekends.
  • Options
    JasonJason Posts: 1,614
    HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    Looks like Starmer will challenge Corbyn if he loses
    What a very odd person Keir Starmer is. People think May is dull and one dimensional. They're in for a reality check when they see or hear Starmer.

    Even TM offers the occasional smile.
  • Options
    Scrapheap_as_wasScrapheap_as_was Posts: 10,060
    By the time we get to election day, we're going to be sick of the 5 or so Lab people allowed on telly / radio.... Emily is on duty again!

    https://twitter.com/LBC/status/865601699951640577

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQAci92fIEM
  • Options
    RestharrowRestharrow Posts: 233

    PeterC said:

    Mr. Concanvasser, didn't Heseltine stand as a National Liberal at one point?

    Yes I believe he did, although I think he was 'Conservative AND National Liberal'.

    I think the late John Nott (he of 'be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the Union Flag flies again over Port Stanle'y fame in '82) stood simply as a National Liberal.

    Not so much of the 'late', though!!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nott
    My apologies. I am very glad to learn he is still with us. Not so many of Mrs T's first term cabinet left now. I remember him storming out on Sir Robin Day on the BBC.
    Lord Carrington is still with us, too:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Carington,_6th_Baron_Carrington

    Last minister to resign honourably, as far as I can recall.
  • Options
    SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,713
    HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    Looks like Starmer will challenge Corbyn if he loses
    Also seems like he's worried that Corbyn will try to stay on.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,688

    PeterC said:

    Mr. Concanvasser, didn't Heseltine stand as a National Liberal at one point?

    Yes I believe he did, although I think he was 'Conservative AND National Liberal'.

    I think the late John Nott (he of 'be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the Union Flag flies again over Port Stanle'y fame in '82) stood simply as a National Liberal.

    Not so much of the 'late', though!!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nott
    My apologies. I am very glad to learn he is still with us. Not so many of Mrs T's first term cabinet left now. I remember him storming out on Sir Robin Day on the BBC.
    Lord Carrington is still with us, too:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Carington,_6th_Baron_Carrington

    Last minister to resign honourably, as far as I can recall.
    You could argue Cameron resigned honourably.

    But if you don't, I reckon Estelle Morris resigning counts, she said admitted publicly she wasn't up to the job.
  • Options
    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    PeterC said:

    Mr. Concanvasser, didn't Heseltine stand as a National Liberal at one point?

    Yes I believe he did, although I think he was 'Conservative AND National Liberal'.

    I think the late John Nott (he of 'be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the Union Flag flies again over Port Stanle'y fame in '82) stood simply as a National Liberal.

    Not so much of the 'late', though!!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nott
    My apologies. I am very glad to learn he is still with us. Not so many of Mrs T's first term cabinet left now. I remember him storming out on Sir Robin Day on the BBC.
    Lord Carrington is still with us, too:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Carington,_6th_Baron_Carrington

    Last minister to resign honourably, as far as I can recall.
    Estelle Morris.
  • Options
    dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786

    PeterC said:

    Mr. Concanvasser, didn't Heseltine stand as a National Liberal at one point?

    Yes I believe he did, although I think he was 'Conservative AND National Liberal'.

    I think the late John Nott (he of 'be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the Union Flag flies again over Port Stanle'y fame in '82) stood simply as a National Liberal.

    Not so much of the 'late', though!!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nott
    My apologies. I am very glad to learn he is still with us. Not so many of Mrs T's first term cabinet left now. I remember him storming out on Sir Robin Day on the BBC.
    Lord Carrington is still with us, too:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Carington,_6th_Baron_Carrington

    Last minister to resign honourably, as far as I can recall.
    Cook over Iraq?
  • Options
    SandpitSandpit Posts: 50,019
    ab195 said:

    Sandpit said:

    ab195 said:

    Off Topic: Anyone know the maximum penalty for skipping bail and/contempt of court? Does it vary at all for Aussie egomaniacs?

    Ecuadorian egomanics, shurely?

    I think 40 weeks is the maximum for skipping bail. Contempt of court could be considerably longer.
    Source: https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/web_Fail_to_Surrender_to_Bail.pdf
    Cheers, couldn't think where to look. It's the embassy staff I feel sorry for, they have to hear him drone on every day.
    Yeah, and the embassy is basically a two bedroom flat, it's a tiny place to have an interloper just walk in one day and not leave for however long he's been there.

    If he gets out, I'm looking forward to him getting lynched by the bunch of London Luvvies that lost their bail money - £150k IIRC.
  • Options

    Mr. Concanvasser, didn't Heseltine stand as a National Liberal at one point?

    Yes I believe he did, although I think he was 'Conservative AND National Liberal'.

    I think the late John Nott (he of 'be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the Union Flag flies again over Port Stanle'y fame in '82) stood simply as a National Liberal.

    Yes, according to Michael Crick's great biography of Heseltine, he stood in 1955 in the (then) safe Labour seat of Gower as a "National Liberal and Conservative."

    Fascinating organisation, the National Liberals, a legacy of the pre-war split in the traditional Liberal Party. In the early 1950s, they were a significant Parliamentary force with 19 MPs.
    One of their number, Lloyd George's son Gwilym, even served as Home Secretary in Churchill's last Government. A former Liberal himself, Churchill liked the Conservative alliance with them because he felt it kept the Liberal name alive within the Toryism. But by the late 1960s, the National Liberals were wholly subsumed within the Conservative Party. Interestingly, their last chairman was the corrupt architect John Poulson, who used the group as a vehicle for developing political contacts.
  • Options
    RestharrowRestharrow Posts: 233

    PeterC said:

    Mr. Concanvasser, didn't Heseltine stand as a National Liberal at one point?

    Yes I believe he did, although I think he was 'Conservative AND National Liberal'.

    I think the late John Nott (he of 'be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the Union Flag flies again over Port Stanle'y fame in '82) stood simply as a National Liberal.

    Not so much of the 'late', though!!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nott
    My apologies. I am very glad to learn he is still with us. Not so many of Mrs T's first term cabinet left now. I remember him storming out on Sir Robin Day on the BBC.
    Lord Carrington is still with us, too:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Carington,_6th_Baron_Carrington

    Last minister to resign honourably, as far as I can recall.
    Cook over Iraq?
    OK. I'll go with Cook. He resigned over a point of disagreement, whereas Carrington resigned over personal responsibility for a disaster. For the same reason I'll accept Cameron.
  • Options
    isamisam Posts: 41,043
    Haven't been following/don't understand the "dementia tax" debate, but it seems to me that we should look after our parents the way that they looked after us when we couldn't fend for ourselves. The moral way would be to take time out and tend to them.

    Didn't TM the PM unveil a policy recently that an employee with a sick relative could take a lot of time off to look after them? This should cover Parents w dementia
  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 36,013
    But, Conservatives on 49%.
  • Options
    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,211

    PeterC said:

    Mr. Concanvasser, didn't Heseltine stand as a National Liberal at one point?

    Yes I believe he did, although I think he was 'Conservative AND National Liberal'.

    I think the late John Nott (he of 'be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the Union Flag flies again over Port Stanle'y fame in '82) stood simply as a National Liberal.

    Not so much of the 'late', though!!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nott
    My apologies. I am very glad to learn he is still with us. Not so many of Mrs T's first term cabinet left now. I remember him storming out on Sir Robin Day on the BBC.
    Lord Carrington is still with us, too:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Carington,_6th_Baron_Carrington

    Last minister to resign honourably, as far as I can recall.
    Nick Clegg over student fees?
  • Options
    felixfelix Posts: 15,125
    Jason said:

    This election campaign so far - A Tale of Two Manifestos.

    One of them is Alice in Wonderland, the other is Reality Bites.

    One of them is pushed by a party that doesn't seriously believe it's going to form the next government, and one is being pushed (or maybe pulled?) by a party that knows it's nailed on to win.

    The Labour manifesto is wholly unrealistic, every right thinking person knows that. I believe if the polls started closing, and it even became an extreme outside chance that Corbyn could become PM, the public would quickly put a stop to it. That's why their manifesto is superficially attractive. A free lunch always is. It also takes away (successfully, it has to be admitted - so far) the spotlight on the three crackpots at the helm - Corbyn, McDonnell and Abbott. It's a manifesto written by the Unions for the Unions.

    The Tory manifesto is less of an election prospectus, but more of a blueprint for actual government. It's less eye catching than Labour's, and there's no free lunch. It's stark, brutal in parts, efficient, sincere and determined - and crucially, grown up. And it is precisely why it will win the war.

    Knowing the British electorate as the serious, sensible and sober bunch they are, they will not be swayed by Corbyn and McDonnell's socialist Utopia, because they know it is them who will end up paying for the inevitable car crash.

    Remember this - when people go to cast their votes, some of those (many, probably) who have been partly seduced by Labour's reckless promises of free money, will come to the same conclusion as all the other sensible folk. This is a straight choice between who is PM - May or Corbyn.

    I hope I have helped to calm Tory nerves here (Sean T appears to be having some sort of a breakdown).

    Sean T has these breakdowns regularly during the Rugby 5 Nations and frequently both for and against Btexit. It all adds to the gaiety which is PB.
  • Options
    AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    Scott_P said:

    surbiton said:

    Scott_P said:

    JPJ2 said:

    IPSA were forced to apologise for issuing incorrect data which had understated the 2014/2015 expenses of the defeated Labour and Lib Dem MPs.

    Figures on the IPSA website confirm that in 2015-16 SNP MPs cost 1 million less (£1,101,801.64) than their predecessors in 2014-15. This is on average £21,000 less per MP than their predecessors.

    Link?
    http://www.thenational.scot/news/14931290.Labour_under_fire_for_SNP_expenses_attack_after_IPSA_admit_they_got_their_sums_wrong/

    But this is an old story.
    I was looking for a link to the IPSA website that was quoted, not the SNP fanzine...
    Quick check from http://www.theipsa.org.uk/mp-costs/other-published-data/

    Not sure if I'm looking at the right field but SNP Glasgow MPs seem to have cost £137,745.10 less than their Labour counterparts comparing 2013-14 to 2015-16 - about 12% cheaper.

  • Options
    FF43FF43 Posts: 15,837
  • Options
    kyf_100kyf_100 Posts: 3,988
    Jason said:

    This election campaign so far - A Tale of Two Manifestos.

    One of them is Alice in Wonderland, the other is Reality Bites.

    One of them is pushed by a party that doesn't seriously believe it's going to form the next government, and one is being pushed (or maybe pulled?) by a party that knows it's nailed on to win.

    The Labour manifesto is wholly unrealistic, every right thinking person knows that. I believe if the polls started closing, and it even became an extreme outside chance that Corbyn could become PM, the public would quickly put a stop to it. That's why their manifesto is superficially attractive. A free lunch always is. It also takes away (successfully, it has to be admitted - so far) the spotlight on the three crackpots at the helm - Corbyn, McDonnell and Abbott. It's a manifesto written by the Unions for the Unions.

    The Tory manifesto is less of an election prospectus, but more of a blueprint for actual government. It's less eye catching than Labour's, and there's no free lunch. It's stark, brutal in parts, efficient, sincere and determined - and crucially, grown up. And it is precisely why it will win the war.

    Knowing the British electorate as the serious, sensible and sober bunch they are, they will not be swayed by Corbyn and McDonnell's socialist Utopia, because they know it is them who will end up paying for the inevitable car crash.

    Remember this - when people go to cast their votes, some of those (many, probably) who have been partly seduced by Labour's reckless promises of free money, will come to the same conclusion as all the other sensible folk. This is a straight choice between who is PM - May or Corbyn.

    I hope I have helped to calm Tory nerves here (Sean T appears to be having some sort of a breakdown).

    The problem here isn't that Theresa May loses, victory next month is certain.

    The problem is what happens when she only gets, say, a 60 - 70 seat majority (e.g. Con 46%, Labour 35%), not impossible on current polling.

    There's a convincing case to be made in this scenario that either:

    a) Labour's policies are appealing to voters and a more palatable leader than Corbyn could lead a hard left Labour party to victory in 2022 or

    b) Corbyn stays on and in a scenario where Brexit proves unpopular and/or you get a John Major style, fag-end Conservative five years that leave the party looking worn out, Corbyn sweeps to power in 2022.

    That's the sort of thing that worries SeanT. Me too.
  • Options
    isamisam Posts: 41,043

    GIN1138 said:
    Looks like Ted Heath's "Longest Sulk" record may eventually be broken. Only 30 years to go.
    He was the strategist for the campaign that made the original pledge. No shame!
  • Options
    felixfelix Posts: 15,125
    FF43 said:
    Not sure that is a relevant question at this stage. you just have to suck it up.
  • Options
    ConcanvasserConcanvasser Posts: 165

    PeterC said:

    Mr. Concanvasser, didn't Heseltine stand as a National Liberal at one point?

    Yes I believe he did, although I think he was 'Conservative AND National Liberal'.

    I think the late John Nott (he of 'be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the Union Flag flies again over Port Stanle'y fame in '82) stood simply as a National Liberal.

    Not so much of the 'late', though!!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nott
    My apologies. I am very glad to learn he is still with us. Not so many of Mrs T's first term cabinet left now. I remember him storming out on Sir Robin Day on the BBC.
    Lord Carrington is still with us, too:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Carington,_6th_Baron_Carrington

    Last minister to resign honourably, as far as I can recall.
    A gentlemen undoubtedly. One of the 'men in grey suits' too I believe.
  • Options
    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    isam said:

    Haven't been following/don't understand the "dementia tax" debate, but it seems to me that we should look after our parents the way that they looked after us when we couldn't fend for ourselves. The moral way would be to take time out and tend to them.

    Didn't TM the PM unveil a policy recently that an employee with a sick relative could take a lot of time off to look after them? This should cover Parents w dementia

    That's a Conservative manifesto commitment:

    "As the majority of care is informally provided, mainly by families, we will give workers a new statutory entitlement to carer’s leave, as enjoyed in other countries."

    It's an excellent idea.
  • Options
    DisraeliDisraeli Posts: 1,106
    kle4 said:

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    Looks like Starmer will challenge Corbyn if he loses
    Looks like, and that the challengers no longer think Corbyn will do worse than Ed M, in vote share at least - the belief is growing, even as the seats tally is still expected to be very bad.
    Good points.

    Nevertheless, if Corbyn could get,say, 35% of the vote then he could point out that he had been able to attract just over one million more people to vote for the him than Ed Miliband.

    He could argue (plausibly) that in a special year such as this one that he did better than the Blairites would have (in part because there would be little differentiation between Blairite and Mayism)
  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 36,013
    kyf_100 said:

    Jason said:

    This election campaign so far - A Tale of Two Manifestos.

    One of them is Alice in Wonderland, the other is Reality Bites.

    One of them is pushed by a party that doesn't seriously believe it's going to form the next government, and one is being pushed (or maybe pulled?) by a party that knows it's nailed on to win.

    The Labour manifesto is wholly unrealistic, every right thinking person knows that. I believe if the polls started closing, and it even became an extreme outside chance that Corbyn could become PM, the public would quickly put a stop to it. That's why their manifesto is superficially attractive. A free lunch always is. It also takes away (successfully, it has to be admitted - so far) the spotlight on the three crackpots at the helm - Corbyn, McDonnell and Abbott. It's a manifesto written by the Unions for the Unions.

    The Tory manifesto is less of an election prospectus, but more of a blueprint for actual government. It's less eye catching than Labour's, and there's no free lunch. It's stark, brutal in parts, efficient, sincere and determined - and crucially, grown up. And it is precisely why it will win the war.

    Knowing the British electorate as the serious, sensible and sober bunch they are, they will not be swayed by Corbyn and McDonnell's socialist Utopia, because they know it is them who will end up paying for the inevitable car crash.

    Remember this - when people go to cast their votes, some of those (many, probably) who have been partly seduced by Labour's reckless promises of free money, will come to the same conclusion as all the other sensible folk. This is a straight choice between who is PM - May or Corbyn.

    I hope I have helped to calm Tory nerves here (Sean T appears to be having some sort of a breakdown).

    The problem here isn't that Theresa May loses, victory next month is certain.

    The problem is what happens when she only gets, say, a 60 - 70 seat majority (e.g. Con 46%, Labour 35%), not impossible on current polling.

    There's a convincing case to be made in this scenario that either:

    a) Labour's policies are appealing to voters and a more palatable leader than Corbyn could lead a hard left Labour party to victory in 2022 or

    b) Corbyn stays on and in a scenario where Brexit proves unpopular and/or you get a John Major style, fag-end Conservative five years that leave the party looking worn out, Corbyn sweeps to power in 2022.

    That's the sort of thing that worries SeanT. Me too.
    Viewed another way, that would the fourth election in a row in which the number of Labour seats fell.
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    isamisam Posts: 41,043
    edited May 2017
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    MikeLMikeL Posts: 7,321
    edited May 2017
    Probably posted earlier but in case not:

    ITV Leaders debate last night had a rating of just 1.65m.

    NB. That's the average audience throughout the two hours - at times it may have been higher and at other times lower but that's the average at any point in time during the two hours.
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    Carolus_RexCarolus_Rex Posts: 1,414
    edited May 2017

    PeterC said:

    Mr. Concanvasser, didn't Heseltine stand as a National Liberal at one point?

    Yes I believe he did, although I think he was 'Conservative AND National Liberal'.

    I think the late John Nott (he of 'be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the Union Flag flies again over Port Stanle'y fame in '82) stood simply as a National Liberal.

    Not so much of the 'late', though!!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nott
    My apologies. I am very glad to learn he is still with us. Not so many of Mrs T's first term cabinet left now. I remember him storming out on Sir Robin Day on the BBC.
    Lord Carrington is still with us, too:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Carington,_6th_Baron_Carrington

    Last minister to resign honourably, as far as I can recall.
    Cook over Iraq?
    OK. I'll go with Cook. He resigned over a point of disagreement, whereas Carrington resigned over personal responsibility for a disaster. For the same reason I'll accept Cameron.
    Carrington was the last to resign under the doctrine of ministerial responsibility - ie, when your department screws up in a big way, you take the bullet, even if it wasn't your fault.

    Cook's resignation was brought about by a different doctrine, collective responsibility - he couldn't continue as a member of government whose policy he couldn't support.

    Different convention in each case.

    Honourable men, both.

    Edit: I should of course have added that plenty of departmental screw ups have happened since 1982 but for some reason ministers haven't felt the same need to do the honourable thing.
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    felixfelix Posts: 15,125
    kyf_100 said:

    Jason said:

    This election campaign so far - A Tale of Two Manifestos.

    One of them is Alice in Wonderland, the other is Reality Bites.

    One of them is pushed by a party that doesn't seriously believe it's going to form the next government, and one is being pushed (or maybe pulled?) by a party that knows it's nailed on to win.

    The Labour manifesto is wholly unrealistic, every right thinking person knows that. I believe if the polls started closing, and it even became an extreme outside chance that Corbyn could become PM, the public would quickly put a stop to it. That's why their manifesto is superficially attractive. A free lunch always is. It also takes away (successfully, it has to be admitted - so far) the spotlight on the three crackpots at the helm - Corbyn, McDonnell and Abbott. It's a manifesto written by the Unions for the Unions.

    The Tory manifesto is less of an election prospectus, but more of a blueprint for actual government. It's less eye catching than Labour's, and there's no free lunch. It's stark, brutal in parts, efficient, sincere and determined - and crucially, grown up. And it is precisely why it will win the war.

    Knowing the British electorate as the serious, sensible and sober bunch they are, they will not be swayed by Corbyn and McDonnell's socialist Utopia, because they know it is them who will end up paying for the inevitable car crash.

    Remember this - when people go to cast their votes, some of those (many, probably) who have been partly seduced by Labour's reckless promises of free money, will come to the same conclusion as all the other sensible folk. This is a straight choice between who is PM - May or Corbyn.

    I hope I have helped to calm Tory nerves here (Sean T appears to be having some sort of a breakdown).

    The problem here isn't that Theresa May loses, victory next month is certain.

    The problem is what happens when she only gets, say, a 60 - 70 seat majority (e.g. Con 46%, Labour 35%), not impossible on current polling.

    There's a convincing case to be made in this scenario that either:

    a) Labour's policies are appealing to voters and a more palatable leader than Corbyn could lead a hard left Labour party to victory in 2022 or

    b) Corbyn stays on and in a scenario where Brexit proves unpopular and/or you get a John Major style, fag-end Conservative five years that leave the party looking worn out, Corbyn sweeps to power in 2022.

    That's the sort of thing that worries SeanT. Me too.
    I personally expected a 50+ majority from day 1. It will be enough. If Brexit is a disaster no matter what the majority the Tories will get the blame and be thrown out. In fact like most things in politics it will end up meh and everyone will move on.
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,087
    Disraeli said:

    kle4 said:

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_P said:
    Looks like Starmer will challenge Corbyn if he loses
    Looks like, and that the challengers no longer think Corbyn will do worse than Ed M, in vote share at least - the belief is growing, even as the seats tally is still expected to be very bad.
    Good points.

    Nevertheless, if Corbyn could get,say, 35% of the vote then he could point out that he had been able to attract just over one million more people to vote for the him than Ed Miliband.

    He could argue (plausibly) that in a special year such as this one that he did better than the Blairites would have (in part because there would be little differentiation between Blairite and Mayism)
    Oh, I have long thought if he faced a shellacking he would, despite statements to the contrary, stand down for fear of provoking a split...but if he does get that many votes, which will save some number of seats, then I fully expect he will stay on with that as his defence, and the others will be too cowed by his relative out performance to split.
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    chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341
    edited May 2017
    I can't see Corbyn going now and certainly not for a 'centrist'.

    If Labour poll 33-34 it will be seen as evidence that the last two manifestos were too Tory and they should push even further to the left.

    Corbyn needs to lose bigly for the suits to move back in.
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    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549
    isam said:
    Don't worry ! Fallon said yesterday on Newsnight, it is NOT a policy, just an ambition. In other words, they have no intention of actually doing anything about it.

    They also have not published the costs of reduced migration, a calculation which the OBR has done.

    It is CON con.
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 92,087
    Sean_F said:

    kyf_100 said:

    Jason said:

    This election campaign so far - A Tale of Two Manifestos.

    One of them is Alice in Wonderland, the other is Reality Bites.

    One of them is pushed by a party that doesn't seriously believe it's going to form the next government, and one is being pushed (or maybe pulled?) by a party that knows it's nailed on to win.

    The Labour manifesto is wholly unrealistic, every right thinking person knows that. I believe if the polls started closing, and it even became an extreme outside chance that Corbyn could become PM, the public would quickly put a stop to it. That's why their manifesto is superficially attractive. A free lunch always is. It also takes away (successfully, it has to be admitted - so far) the spotlight on the three crackpots at the helm - Corbyn, McDonnell and Abbott. It's a manifesto written by the Unions for the Unions.

    The Tory manifesto is less of an election prospectus, but more of a blueprint for actual government. It's less eye catching than Labour's, and there's no free lunch. It's stark, brutal in parts, efficient, sincere and determined - and crucially, grown up. And it is precisely why it will win the war.

    Knowing the British electorate as the serious, sensible and sober bunch they are, they will not be swayed by Corbyn and McDonnell's socialist Utopia, because they know it is them who will end up paying for the inevitable car crash.

    Remember this - when people go to cast their votes, some of those (many, probably) who have been partly seduced by Labour's reckless promises of free money, will come to the same conclusion as all the other sensible folk. This is a straight choice between who is PM - May or Corbyn.

    I hope I have helped to calm Tory nerves here (Sean T appears to be having some sort of a breakdown).

    The problem here isn't that Theresa May loses, victory next month is certain.

    The problem is what happens when she only gets, say, a 60 - 70 seat majority (e.g. Con 46%, Labour 35%), not impossible on current polling.

    There's a convincing case to be made in this scenario that either:

    a) Labour's policies are appealing to voters and a more palatable leader than Corbyn could lead a hard left Labour party to victory in 2022 or

    b) Corbyn stays on and in a scenario where Brexit proves unpopular and/or you get a John Major style, fag-end Conservative five years that leave the party looking worn out, Corbyn sweeps to power in 2022.

    That's the sort of thing that worries SeanT. Me too.
    Viewed another way, that would the fourth election in a row in which the number of Labour seats fell.
    Oh it is still bad either way, but that Labour under Corbyn, Corbyn of all people, will be just as or more popular than Ed M it seemed, is still a worry for those that think he is bad news.
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    felixfelix Posts: 15,125

    isam said:

    Haven't been following/don't understand the "dementia tax" debate, but it seems to me that we should look after our parents the way that they looked after us when we couldn't fend for ourselves. The moral way would be to take time out and tend to them.

    Didn't TM the PM unveil a policy recently that an employee with a sick relative could take a lot of time off to look after them? This should cover Parents w dementia

    That's a Conservative manifesto commitment:

    "As the majority of care is informally provided, mainly by families, we will give workers a new statutory entitlement to carer’s leave, as enjoyed in other countries."

    It's an excellent idea.
    Indeed. I think it's shameful the way too many people look to the state rather than themselves to deal with all the difficulties life throws our way.
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    RestharrowRestharrow Posts: 233

    PeterC said:

    Mr. Concanvasser, didn't Heseltine stand as a National Liberal at one point?

    Yes I believe he did, although I think he was 'Conservative AND National Liberal'.

    I think the late John Nott (he of 'be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the Union Flag flies again over Port Stanle'y fame in '82) stood simply as a National Liberal.

    Not so much of the 'late', though!!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nott
    My apologies. I am very glad to learn he is still with us. Not so many of Mrs T's first term cabinet left now. I remember him storming out on Sir Robin Day on the BBC.
    Lord Carrington is still with us, too:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Carington,_6th_Baron_Carrington

    Last minister to resign honourably, as far as I can recall.
    Cook over Iraq?
    OK. I'll go with Cook. He resigned over a point of disagreement, whereas Carrington resigned over personal responsibility for a disaster. For the same reason I'll accept Cameron.
    Actually, now I think about it, resignation due to disagreement isn't quite the same thing as the Carrington and Cameron cases. Otherwise it would include Lawson, Howe and Heseltine among others. Honourable resignation means (to me) carrying the can for political failure. An element of mea culpa is required. Not nearly enough of it about.
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