It's telling that UK based coverage of the sequencing of negotiations almost always forgets to mention Ireland as one of the first items on the agenda.
Actually that's not true. One of the points DD and others have made is that it is completely impossible to discuss the Irish border question without at least some idea of what the border arrangements will have to be, i.e. discussing the trade deal.
The stated EU position is so competely irrational that one can only assume that it is window-dressing. And, to be fair, their published negotiating guideliness do allow plenty of wriggle room.
In addition it is Britain that wanted the rights of EU/UK citizens resident in a different country resolved immediately and the EU that demurred. But hey, facts, who needs them?
Here follows a quick thread on the proposal that some of the empty homes in Kensington should be seized to house the homeless from the fire
(1) This idea is catnip to some people. It sounds so good. "How can any1 decent oppose the rehousing of those affected? The houses r empty!"
2) To the people who say it's against the law, others bring up the concept of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), which are used by councils
3) Except that these are among the most expensive properties in Britain. Even at CPO rates, we're talking hundreds of millions of pounds
4) Oh, & owners (wherever they are) must be notified, & there's a notice period (by law) of a few weeks in which they can make objections
5) That's the law. You can talk about changing that law, sure. But in the meantime, that's the law.
Civil Contigencies Act 2004, state of emergency with respect to Grenfell Tower, requisition order, has to be voted on by both houses within 7 days but wouldn't be against the law.
Physiatrist on Sky saying that those in distress and the bereaved should not be interogated about how they feel and about their grief as this makes the truama worse. Sky and the BBC have been wholly unacceptable in the way they have presented the tragedy and good to see someone telling them so to their face
That would be true of any UK PM. The UK is trying to execute something beyond its strategic capacity and the EU just needs to confront us with patience while we exhaust our options.
Oh, fuck off, William. I'm tired of your constant ultra-europhile bullshit.
It's tedious and boring. Go and work for Verhofstadht if you want to spout this day in, day out.
Rather rude.
You would prefer that your eurosceptic invective went unchecked?
Mr. Gin, maybe. The media hardly held Corbyn to account during the campaign.
The idea that the media failed to scrutinize Jezza is risible. Were you in a political coma for the campaign?
Indeed. Risible is the word. The deeply irritating Laura K spent much of the campaign passing off her own opinion of Corbyn as fact - her Trident analysis being a new low for supposed BBC impartiality. But there are none so blind as those who cannot see.
If Laura K irritated Jezza or any other politician, then that's fine by me. I want them tested to within an inch of their political life.
The public deserve to see those that seek to govern us put under the greatest pressure possible. One on one interviews, open meeting media scrutiny by the voters, hustings and debates.
Politicians should fear the electorate, else the former get too high and mighty and forget from whence they gain their authority.
Here follows a quick thread on the proposal that some of the empty homes in Kensington should be seized to house the homeless from the fire
(1) This idea is catnip to some people. It sounds so good. "How can any1 decent oppose the rehousing of those affected? The houses r empty!"
2) To the people who say it's against the law, others bring up the concept of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), which are used by councils
3) Except that these are among the most expensive properties in Britain. Even at CPO rates, we're talking hundreds of millions of pounds
4) Oh, & owners (wherever they are) must be notified, & there's a notice period (by law) of a few weeks in which they can make objections
5) That's the law. You can talk about changing that law, sure. But in the meantime, that's the law.
6) "But what about all the cases where poor people are taken advantage of by councils via CPO b/c they don't have access to legal counsel?"
7) Yes, that is DESPICABLE. But that's the point. You're talking about taking houses from people who have very, very good lawyers
8) And when all this has died down, & Corbyn, Lammy, Harman etc go away, the lawyers are still there. And they'll sue the council. And win
9) The council will lose millions in civil suits, and who will suffer then? Not the rich, but the poor who need council services desperately
10) It would cost the council a million times less to house all those affected in a Hotel & pay for it, than it would to take those houses
11) There's no way Corbyn et al don't know all this. Notice, they aren't suggesting brand new legislation to change these laws
13) And given that the government has already committed to rehousing all those affected by the fire, what we actually have is Corbyn et al
14) Using this tragedy & very real distress of those affected to try & suggest something which makes them look good & opponents heartless...
15) But which, further down the line, would further devastate the lives of those they claim to care about so deeply.
Everything is black and white, everything is easy.
Until you try to do it.
I imagine that Corbyn's proposal, if serious, would have involved invoking the Civil Contingencies Act. There was no suggestion of purchasing the empty properties. That would be madness - they're about to halve in value!
The DUP agrees with the EU27 on this, as does the UK government for that matter. The only obstacle is that the EU27 say they can't yet discuss the framework under which the Irish question will have to sit.
Mr. Eagles, I did cite that editorial (not in so many words, but in the 'until the final day' line).
Osborne kicked May, and hence the Conservatives, repeatedly, for weeks, then had a last minute volte face. "That woman I said was shit for three months? Vote for her."
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well. Now McDonnell is calling for a march through London and the Leader of the Opposition is openly advocating the state seizure of private property.
To cap it all, the sheep of the PLP have gone back (with some honourable exceptions) to slapping their palms together whenever the Supreme Friend of Hamas utters a word.
It's a deeply concerning, and disturbing, picture.
One thing that won't help Labour regain office is if they start to whip up riots and civil disorder on the streets.
They already straws in the wind of this.
I have a feeling that's what's going to happen.
Corbyn's popularity is starting to feel like a "bubble" and like all bubbles I suspect it'll burst...
At some point this Summer I think we'll have a serious inner city riot (probably in London) and the Labour Party will be directly implicated in inciting it... We've already seen from Theresa May that opinion and likability can turn on a sixpence...
The Labour Party is playing a dangerous game and it may well blow up in their face.
Goodness me.
Who knows what events might bring, but the Tory party would be far better off finding an approach to Corbyn which accepts he is popular (and might remain so), has said things that people like and might not be baby eater after all.
At present, nothing you say resonates. It's all hyperbole.
We'll see...
We don't need to see. It's a fact. If anything your campaign helped make Corbyn.
Seriously, it's top advice. If you start taking Corbyn seriously and engage with him (rather than your caricature of him), you might do a bit better. Hell, you can't do much worse than losing 20 pts in a campaign.
Oh, I'm taking him very seriously (and by the way I'm NOT and never have been a Con member so it wasn't *MY* campaign)
The truth is I find myself flirting with the possibility of voting for Jezza on a daily basis... But equally on a regular basis he does something that scares the hell out of me.
You say I'm caricaturing him but then you have McDonnell demanding one million people take to the streets to force out the government and jezza talking about house confiscating... So am I caricaturing him or are you in a state of total denial about him?
Gin, you are a centre-left guy who votes Tory. Clearly Jezza needs to be reaching out to people like you not scaring you!
I would say I'm center. Slightly to the right on economics and to the left on NHS and social issues:
1997 - Lab
2001 - Didn't vote (because the Tories were so terrible and you could already see the danger signs with Blair becoming power crazed)
2005 - Lib-Dem
2010 - Con
2015 - Con
2017 - Con (reluctantly)
My vote is up for grabs with a sensible Labour Party.
Physiatrist on Sky saying that those in distress and the bereaved should not be interogated about how they feel and about their grief as this makes the truama worse. Sky and the BBC have been wholly unacceptable in the way they have presented the tragedy and good to see someone telling them so to their face
There was a really interesting psychologist from Israel a week or two ago after Manchester who emphasised that the best thing for victims who are not severely hurt is to make them helpers, not victims. Get them involved in doing something and they are much less likely to suffer PTSD, depression etc. Apparently this is now standard procedure in Israel.
There must be donations of food, water and material that can be distributed and as many as possible of these traumatised people should be involved.
That would be true of any UK PM. The UK is trying to execute something beyond its strategic capacity and the EU just needs to confront us with patience while we exhaust our options.
Oh, fuck off, William. I'm tired of your constant ultra-europhile bullshit.
It's tedious and boring. Go and work for Verhofstadht if you want to spout this day in, day out.
It's what this site is all about. Back and forth about likely machinations and conclusions and consequences of Brexit.
And each of us has our own particular rhetorical devices.
Mr. Eagles, I did cite that editorial (not in so many words, but in the 'until the final day' line).
Osborne kicked May, and hence the Conservatives, repeatedly, for weeks, then had a last minute volte face. "That woman I said was shit for three months? Vote for her."
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well. Now McDonnell is calling for a march through London and the Leader of the Opposition is openly advocating the state seizure of private property.
To cap it all, the sheep of the PLP have gone back (with some honourable exceptions) to slapping their palms together whenever the Supreme Friend of Hamas utters a word.
It's a deeply concerning, and disturbing, picture.
Actually Osborne was one of the people who said don't misunderestimate Corbyn.
And anyhoo, the Standard shouldn't be a Tory propaganda sheet.
Here follows a quick thread on the proposal that some of the empty homes in Kensington should be seized to house the homeless from the fire
(1) This idea is catnip to some people. It sounds so good. "How can any1 decent oppose the rehousing of those affected? The houses r empty!"
2) To the people who say it's against the law, others bring up the concept of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), which are used by councils
3) Except that these are among the most expensive properties in Britain. Even at CPO rates, we're talking hundreds of millions of pounds
4) Oh, & owners (wherever they are) must be notified, & there's a notice period (by law) of a few weeks in which they can make objections
5) That's the law. You can talk about changing that law, sure. But in the meantime, that's the law.
6) "But what about all the cases where poor people are taken advantage of by councils via CPO b/c they don't have access to legal counsel?"
7) Yes, that is DESPICABLE. But that's the point. You're talking about taking houses from people who have very, very good lawyers
8) And when all this has died down, & Corbyn, Lammy, Harman etc go away, the lawyers are still there. And they'll sue the council. And win
9) The council will lose millions in civil suits, and who will suffer then? Not the rich, but the poor who need council services desperately
10) It would cost the council a million times less to house all those affected in a Hotel & pay for it, than it would to take those houses
11) There's no way Corbyn et al don't know all this. Notice, they aren't suggesting brand new legislation to change these laws
13) And given that the government has already committed to rehousing all those affected by the fire, what we actually have is Corbyn et al
14) Using this tragedy & very real distress of those affected to try & suggest something which makes them look good & opponents heartless...
15) But which, further down the line, would further devastate the lives of those they claim to care about so deeply.
Everything is black and white, everything is easy.
Until you try to do it.
I imagine that Corbyn's proposal, if serious, would have involved invoking the Civil Contingencies Act. There was no suggestion of purchasing the empty properties. That would be madness - they're about to halve in value!
It would be madness to pre-announce the sale of our gold reserves then sell at the bottom of the market.
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well..
Corbyn would have been absolutely slaughtered if Osborne had been in charge of the campaign. Osborne's cunning wheeze would have been to make voters aware of what Corbyn was proposing.
The Queen today is showing just why we have a monarchy, and why it's better than a republic led by elected politicians.
The problem is it might not always be the case.The queen is excellent but her successors chosen because of birth right do not have to be .It is archaic in a modern democracy to be born Head of state.
Who's responsible for this capitulation? Is it DD? It was always rumoured that he was a secret europhile (whip during Maastricht, mates with Alistair Campbell) so this is surely borne out by this genuflection before the EU elite!
David Davis is mates with Alastair Campbell?
So rumour has it - some shared business interests.
Actually more than just a rumour. Looks to be verified.
Here follows a quick thread on the proposal that some of the empty homes in Kensington should be seized to house the homeless from the fire
(1) This idea is catnip to some people. It sounds so good. "How can any1 decent oppose the rehousing of those affected? The houses r empty!"
2) To the people who say it's against the law, others bring up the concept of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), which are used by councils
3) Except that these are among the most expensive properties in Britain. Even at CPO rates, we're talking hundreds of millions of pounds
4) Oh, & owners (wherever they are) must be notified, & there's a notice period (by law) of a few weeks in which they can make objections
5) That's the law. You can talk about changing that law, sure. But in the meantime, that's the law.
Civil Contigencies Act 2004, state of emergency with respect to Grenfell Tower, requisition order, has to be voted on by both houses within 7 days but wouldn't be against the law.
I think you would suddently find it very difficult to find any 'empty' houses if that ever happened, there should be 'someone' living in every one.
Mr. Eagles, I did cite that editorial (not in so many words, but in the 'until the final day' line).
Osborne kicked May, and hence the Conservatives, repeatedly, for weeks, then had a last minute volte face. "That woman I said was shit for three months? Vote for her."
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well. Now McDonnell is calling for a march through London and the Leader of the Opposition is openly advocating the state seizure of private property.
To cap it all, the sheep of the PLP have gone back (with some honourable exceptions) to slapping their palms together whenever the Supreme Friend of Hamas utters a word.
It's a deeply concerning, and disturbing, picture.
Actually Osborne was one of the people who said don't misunderestimate Corbyn.
And anyhoo, the Standard shouldn't be a Tory propaganda sheet.
Especially when, by Ozzy's own admission, most of its readers vote Labour.
It's an odd thing, having a Tory paper in a Labour town.
Mr. Eagles, I did cite that editorial (not in so many words, but in the 'until the final day' line).
Osborne kicked May, and hence the Conservatives, repeatedly, for weeks, then had a last minute volte face. "That woman I said was shit for three months? Vote for her."
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well. Now McDonnell is calling for a march through London and the Leader of the Opposition is openly advocating the state seizure of private property.
To cap it all, the sheep of the PLP have gone back (with some honourable exceptions) to slapping their palms together whenever the Supreme Friend of Hamas utters a word.
It's a deeply concerning, and disturbing, picture.
Actually Osborne was one of the people who said don't misunderestimate Corbyn.
And anyhoo, the Standard shouldn't be a Tory propaganda sheet.
Especially when, by Ozzy's own admission, most of its readers vote Labour.
It's an odd thing, having a Tory paper in a Labour town.
The audience goes far beyond London itself though. Think of all the City commuters. They don't live in Labour towns.
Mr. Eagles, I did cite that editorial (not in so many words, but in the 'until the final day' line).
Osborne kicked May, and hence the Conservatives, repeatedly, for weeks, then had a last minute volte face. "That woman I said was shit for three months? Vote for her."
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well. Now McDonnell is calling for a march through London and the Leader of the Opposition is openly advocating the state seizure of private property.
To cap it all, the sheep of the PLP have gone back (with some honourable exceptions) to slapping their palms together whenever the Supreme Friend of Hamas utters a word.
It's a deeply concerning, and disturbing, picture.
The first formal meeting for UK's economic suicide bid.
What a black day in the history of Britain.
There are arguments for and against EU membership but the idea that it leads to economic suicide is just ridiculous and has not been advanced by any serious economist.
At most it may shave a few percentage points off future growth. We already know that the forecasts of recession in the first year after a vote to leave have been proven wrong.
The first formal meeting for UK's economic suicide bid.
What a black day in the history of Britain.
There are arguments for and against EU membership but the idea that it leads to economic suicide is just ridiculous and has not been advanced by any serious economist.
At most it may shave a few percentage points off future growth. We already know that the forecasts of recession in the first year after a vote to leave have been proven wrong.
Well, we'll know one way or the other in a few years time.
One thing that won't help Labour regain office is if they start to whip up riots and civil disorder on the streets.
They already straws in the wind of this.
I have a feeling that's what's going to happen.
Corbyn's popularity is starting to feel like a "bubble" and like all bubbles I suspect it'll burst...
At some point this Summer I think we'll have a serious inner city riot (probably in London) and the Labour Party will be directly implicated in inciting it... We've already seen from Theresa May that opinion and likability can turn on a sixpence...
The Labour Party is playing a dangerous game and it may well blow up in their face.
Goodness me.
Who knows what events might bring, but the Tory party would be far better off finding an approach to Corbyn which accepts he is popular (and might remain so), has said things that people like and might not be baby eater after all.
At present, nothing you say resonates. It's all hyperbole.
We'll see...
We don't need to see. It's a fact. If anything your campaign helped make Corbyn.
Seriously, it's top advice. If you start taking Corbyn seriously and engage with him (rather than your caricature of him), you might do a bit better. Hell, you can't do much worse than losing 20 pts in a campaign.
Oh, I'm taking him very seriously (and by the way I'm NOT and never have been a Con member so it wasn't *MY* campaign)
The truth is I find myself flirting with the possibility of voting for Jezza on a daily basis... But equally on a regular basis he does something that scares the hell out of me.
You say I'm caricaturing him but then you have McDonnell demanding one million people take to the streets to force out the government and jezza talking about house confiscating... So am I caricaturing him or are you in a state of total denial about him?
Gin, you are a centre-left guy who votes Tory. Clearly Jezza needs to be reaching out to people like you not scaring you!
I would say I'm center. Slightly to the right on economics and to the left on NHS and social issues:
1997 - Lab
2001 - Didn't vote (because the Tories were so terrible and you could already see the danger signs with Blair becoming power crazed)
2005 - Lib-Dem
2010 - Con
2015 - Con
2017 - Con (reluctantly)
My vote is up for grabs with a sensible Labour Party.
Similar to me then. I doubt we'd disagree about much. I'd chance that probably be a touch more left than you on both economics and social areas, but not by any massive degree.
Here follows a quick thread on the proposal that some of the empty homes in Kensington should be seized to house the homeless from the fire
(1) This idea is catnip to some people. It sounds so good. "How can any1 decent oppose the rehousing of those affected? The houses r empty!"
2) To the people who say it's against the law, others bring up the concept of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), which are used by councils
3) Except that these are among the most expensive properties in Britain. Even at CPO rates, we're talking hundreds of millions of pounds
4) Oh, & owners (wherever they are) must be notified, & there's a notice period (by law) of a few weeks in which they can make objections
5) That's the law. You can talk about changing that law, sure. But in the meantime, that's the law.
Civil Contigencies Act 2004, state of emergency with respect to Grenfell Tower, requisition order, has to be voted on by both houses within 7 days but wouldn't be against the law.
I think you would suddently find it very difficult to find any 'empty' houses if that ever happened, there should be 'someone' living in every one.
They don't have to be empty, the government used similar law in WWII to requisition two whole villages that haven't been given back yet.
Mike Smithson quite literally entered the campaign in East Dunbartonshire on behalf of Jo Swinson.
SO treat his comments with the appropriate care :-)
Given that overall the Lib Dems lost votes in Scotland, it strikes me that realistically the election of a Scots Lib Dem might give them NE Fife but nothing else in terms of seats.
Mr. Eagles, I did cite that editorial (not in so many words, but in the 'until the final day' line).
Osborne kicked May, and hence the Conservatives, repeatedly, for weeks, then had a last minute volte face. "That woman I said was shit for three months? Vote for her."
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well. Now McDonnell is calling for a march through London and the Leader of the Opposition is openly advocating the state seizure of private property.
To cap it all, the sheep of the PLP have gone back (with some honourable exceptions) to slapping their palms together whenever the Supreme Friend of Hamas utters a word.
It's a deeply concerning, and disturbing, picture.
Actually Osborne was one of the people who said don't misunderestimate Corbyn.
And anyhoo, the Standard shouldn't be a Tory propaganda sheet.
Unlike DC then who kicked off the misunderestimation of JC with his roaring "for God's sake go man" peroration in the HoC.
Here follows a quick thread on the proposal that some of the empty homes in Kensington should be seized to house the homeless from the fire
(1) This idea is catnip to some people. It sounds so good. "How can any1 decent oppose the rehousing of those affected? The houses r empty!"
2) To the people who say it's against the law, others bring up the concept of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), which are used by councils
3) Except that these are among the most expensive properties in Britain. Even at CPO rates, we're talking hundreds of millions of pounds
4) Oh, & owners (wherever they are) must be notified, & there's a notice period (by law) of a few weeks in which they can make objections
5) That's the law. You can talk about changing that law, sure. But in the meantime, that's the law.
Civil Contigencies Act 2004, state of emergency with respect to Grenfell Tower, requisition order, has to be voted on by both houses within 7 days but wouldn't be against the law.
I think you would suddently find it very difficult to find any 'empty' houses if that ever happened, there should be 'someone' living in every one.
They don't have to be empty, the government used similar law in WWII to requisition two whole villages that haven't been given back yet.
i'd love to see the optics of the police breaking into people houses to allow other people to move in.
Mr. Eagles, I did cite that editorial (not in so many words, but in the 'until the final day' line).
Osborne kicked May, and hence the Conservatives, repeatedly, for weeks, then had a last minute volte face. "That woman I said was shit for three months? Vote for her."
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well. Now McDonnell is calling for a march through London and the Leader of the Opposition is openly advocating the state seizure of private property.
To cap it all, the sheep of the PLP have gone back (with some honourable exceptions) to slapping their palms together whenever the Supreme Friend of Hamas utters a word.
It's a deeply concerning, and disturbing, picture.
Actually Osborne was one of the people who said don't misunderestimate Corbyn.
And anyhoo, the Standard shouldn't be a Tory propaganda sheet.
Especially when, by Ozzy's own admission, most of its readers vote Labour.
It's an odd thing, having a Tory paper in a Labour town.
The audience goes far beyond London itself though. Think of all the City commuters. They don't live in Labour towns.
Indeed so, but its readership is still mainly Labour (according to Ozzy himself!!)
There are arguments for and against EU membership but the idea that it leads to economic suicide is just ridiculous and has not been advanced by any serious economist.
True - no serious economist claimed that EU membership leads to economic suicide.
Mike Smithson quite literally entered the campaign in East Dunbartonshire on behalf of Jo Swinson.
SO treat his comments with the appropriate care :-)
Given that overall the Lib Dems lost votes in Scotland, it strikes me that realistically the election of a Scots Lib Dem might give them NE Fife but nothing else in terms of seats.
Wholesale hollowing out of alot of Highland and island votes by Ruth.
I THINK Jo is the only Lib Dem that added votes from 2015. Carmichael did too.
The idea that there is some kind of emergency because we need to find 100 homes in a city of millions is absolutely bonkers. It always would be bonkers, but at the moment doubly so: there is currently a glut of rental property on the market in central London, landlords are accepting offers well below the asking price.
The Queen today is showing just why we have a monarchy, and why it's better than a republic led by elected politicians.
The problem is it might not always be the case.The queen is excellent but her successors chosen because of birth right do not have to be .It is archaic in a modern democracy to be born Head of state.
Not really. New monarchs learn the rules, and the do's and don't. It's not about them, it's about it.
From the Government point of view, as Bagehot said, it's a relationship between the dignified and the efficient.
A living, breathing family representing and emblemising the nation is a very good thing.
Mr. Bobajob, calling for the state to seize private property because the owners are wealthy is reprehensible.
You're probably wealthier than me (most PBers are). Think I should be entitled to seize *your* property?
Mr. Andy, I'm not very au fait with modern history, but I think WWII finished some time ago.
Mr. Owls, speak for yourself. Morris Dancer shall never vote for a socialist, rabble-rousing, unilateralist, terrorist-sympathising creature like Corbyn.
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well..
Corbyn would have been absolutely slaughtered if Osborne had been in charge of the campaign. Osborne's cunning wheeze would have been to make voters aware of what Corbyn was proposing.
Your faith in Osborne is touching. He led and lost the EU referendum and went as a result. He might have been less bad than May, but he is yesterday's man.
The idea that there is some kind of emergency because we need to find 100 homes in a city of millions is absolutely bonkers. It always would be bonkers, but at the moment doubly so: there is currently a glut of rental property on the market in central London, landlords are accepting offers well below the asking price.
But, for the hard Left, it's a case of never waste a good crisis.
Who's responsible for this capitulation? Is it DD? It was always rumoured that he was a secret europhile (whip during Maastricht, mates with Alistair Campbell) so this is surely borne out by this genuflection before the EU elite!
David Davis is mates with Alastair Campbell?
So rumour has it - some shared business interests.
Actually more than just a rumour. Looks to be verified.
Thanks. That's an extraordinary story. There are some odd friendships behind the scenes, across the political divide. Justine Greening was a very good friend of the late Jo Cox, I believe, as was Andrew Mitchell. And of course, Ed Balls and George Osborne are good friends despite tearing strips off each other regularly when Balls shadowed Ozzy in the days when politics was still vaguely sensible.
The idea that there is some kind of emergency because we need to find 100 homes in a city of millions is absolutely bonkers. It always would be bonkers, but at the moment doubly so: there is currently a glut of rental property on the market in central London, landlords are accepting offers well below the asking price.
How do we know May wasn't advised by the police and the security services to stay away from the tower, for fear of making matters a lot worse? I do not see what possible good could have come from her going there with everything so raw and anger rising on a daily basis.
What if there had been a riot? People could have been hurt and a bad situation made far worse.
If she'd gone, and trouble had kicked off, she would have been criticised for provoking it. She stays away, she's a cold-hearted automaton.
The media have spent the last few days stoking this up for all its worth.
Mr. Bobajob, calling for the state to seize private property because the owners are wealthy is reprehensible.
You're probably wealthier than me (most PBers are). Think I should be entitled to seize *your* property?
Mr. Andy, I'm not very au fait with modern history, but I think WWII finished some time ago.
Mr. Owls, speak for yourself. Morris Dancer shall never vote for a socialist, rabble-rousing, unilateralist, terrorist-sympathising creature like Corbyn.
Have you been drinking caffeinated coffee this morning Mr Dancer? You seem rather..... prickly
Similar to me then. I doubt we'd disagree about much. I'd chance that probably be a touch more left than you on both economics and social areas, but not by any massive degree.
We'd disagree sharply on Brexit though I suspect...
The idea that there is some kind of emergency because we need to find 100 homes in a city of millions is absolutely bonkers. It always would be bonkers, but at the moment doubly so: there is currently a glut of rental property on the market in central London, landlords are accepting offers well below the asking price.
But, for the hard Left, it's a case of never waste a good crisis.
So says the party that used the banking crisis to regain power.
Oh, and the myth that there are zillions of homes being bought up by foreigners and left empty turns out to be hogwash - says a report commissioned by the Labour Mayor:
Mr. Eagles, I did cite that editorial (not in so many words, but in the 'until the final day' line).
Osborne kicked May, and hence the Conservatives, repeatedly, for weeks, then had a last minute volte face. "That woman I said was shit for three months? Vote for her."
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well. Now McDonnell is calling for a march through London and the Leader of the Opposition is openly advocating the state seizure of private property.
To cap it all, the sheep of the PLP have gone back (with some honourable exceptions) to slapping their palms together whenever the Supreme Friend of Hamas utters a word.
It's a deeply concerning, and disturbing, picture.
Actually Osborne was one of the people who said don't misunderestimate Corbyn.
And anyhoo, the Standard shouldn't be a Tory propaganda sheet.
Unlike DC then who kicked off the misunderestimation of JC with his roaring "for God's sake go man" peroration in the HoC.
No, Dave was also in the don't misunderestimate Corbyn camp.
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well..
Corbyn would have been absolutely slaughtered if Osborne had been in charge of the campaign. Osborne's cunning wheeze would have been to make voters aware of what Corbyn was proposing.
Your faith in Osborne is touching. He led and lost the EU referendum and went as a result. He might have been less bad than May, but he is yesterday's man.
Unlike your man, Corbyn, who is last century's man.
Mr. Bobajob, calling for the state to seize private property because the owners are wealthy is reprehensible.
You're probably wealthier than me (most PBers are). Think I should be entitled to seize *your* property?
Mr. Andy, I'm not very au fait with modern history, but I think WWII finished some time ago.
Mr. Owls, speak for yourself. Morris Dancer shall never vote for a socialist, rabble-rousing, unilateralist, terrorist-sympathising creature like Corbyn.
Well according to many PBers from the Tories' Provincial Paleo Wing I'm a wealthy metropolitan europhile leftie who should be strung up for being a traitor. I'm told I am in the top 5% of earnings in the UK but down here that doesn't make you anything like rich!
I see some sense in using 100 long-term empty homes to house the wounded and bereaved as a *temporary* emergency measure. As my four bedroomed house in the London suburbs is occupied I don't expect John McDonnell banging on my door and disturbing my cat any time soon.
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well..
Corbyn would have been absolutely slaughtered if Osborne had been in charge of the campaign. Osborne's cunning wheeze would have been to make voters aware of what Corbyn was proposing.
Apparently the standard today is pretty critical of the government over Grenfell. If Osborne regrets the coverage over the election, he's not showing it
Mr. Bobajob, calling for the state to seize private property because the owners are wealthy is reprehensible.
You're probably wealthier than me (most PBers are). Think I should be entitled to seize *your* property?
Mr. Andy, I'm not very au fait with modern history, but I think WWII finished some time ago.
Mr. Owls, speak for yourself. Morris Dancer shall never vote for a socialist, rabble-rousing, unilateralist, terrorist-sympathising creature like Corbyn.
Mr Dancer, you're right, but the laws are still on the statute books and the Government have still kept hold of Imber and Tyneham. There would be nothing illegal about requisitioning Kensington houses. Whether that's morally right or politically wise is a different discussion.
This Guardian guide to what can be done about empty properties is useful:
"Reasons for homes being left empty are often complex. In some instances the home will have fallen into such a state of disrepair that renovating it is too expensive for the owner. In other instances it can be as a result of “buy to leave”, whereby investors acquire property solely as an asset that will appreciate thanks to London’s booming property market.
There are an array of other measures councils can take to reduce vacant housing stock, such as financing the renovation of decrepit properties, and even mechanisms to force landlords to return properties to use. But some are so complicated that they are “ignored” or not used.
Last year the Guardian established that more than 8,500 homes across the capital had been empty for more than two years. 1,100 had been left empty for more than a decade."
Emergency requisition for a fixed period of "buy to leave" property seems to me something the public would support - the idea that London housing space is gradually bought up by Russian and Chinese oligarchs etc. so as to park their wealth and leave unused does not command widespread enthusiasm. Long-term discouragement of the practice is probably better tackled by increasing the extra council tax on properties left empty for more than a year from the 50% extra to say, 1000% extra.
On the march issue that worries GIN, the left have always argued that you can't achieve lasting change purely by passing laws - you need to have popular enthusiasm. But they don't (with nutty exceptions) argue that this replaces Parliament and McDonnell is not calling for a march to storm Parliament a la French Revolution, simply for people to reinforce the sense that the Government is failing and an alternative is needed. The worry/hope expressed by some on the right that this will turn into encouragement of street riots misunderstands the whole idea and will be disappointed, though there will always be a few idiots from Class War etc. who try to make it happen. The one example we do have, the youth disorders of a few years ago, was notably unpolitical.
Mr. Eagles, I did cite that editorial (not in so many words, but in the 'until the final day' line).
Osborne kicked May, and hence the Conservatives, repeatedly, for weeks, then had a last minute volte face. "That woman I said was shit for three months? Vote for her."
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well. Now McDonnell is calling for a march through London and the Leader of the Opposition is openly advocating the state seizure of private property.
To cap it all, the sheep of the PLP have gone back (with some honourable exceptions) to slapping their palms together whenever the Supreme Friend of Hamas utters a word.
It's a deeply concerning, and disturbing, picture.
Actually Osborne was one of the people who said don't misunderestimate Corbyn.
And anyhoo, the Standard shouldn't be a Tory propaganda sheet.
Unlike DC then who kicked off the misunderestimation of JC with his roaring "for God's sake go man" peroration in the HoC.
No, Dave was also in the don't misunderestimate Corbyn camp.
Really? Then why try to humiliate him in the HoC in that peculiarly public school way?
The idea that there is some kind of emergency because we need to find 100 homes in a city of millions is absolutely bonkers. It always would be bonkers, but at the moment doubly so: there is currently a glut of rental property on the market in central London, landlords are accepting offers well below the asking price.
Yes it is an emergency but it is an emergency comprising predominantly poor people in urgent need.It is not,therefore,a Tory emergency.It would have been an emergency though if it was Chelsea citizens needing urgent re-housing would it not? Mr Corbyn is quite right to come up with a good local temporary solution.I am sure the rich owners will understand.His leadership shines through compared to the Maybot
Any prickliness is caused by concern at the alarming turn of political events and the spineless subservience of the PLP, who now seems to think the far left is absolutely fine.
Similar to me then. I doubt we'd disagree about much. I'd chance that probably be a touch more left than you on both economics and social areas, but not by any massive degree.
We'd disagree sharply on Brexit though I suspect...
I thought you had switched to Remain now? I distinctly remember your saying so last week??
Last year the Guardian established that more than 8,500 homes across the capital had been empty for more than two years. 1,100 had been left empty for more than a decade.
In a city of 8.5 million, those are astonishingly tiny numbers.
This Guardian guide to what can be done about empty properties is useful:
"Reasons for homes being left empty are often complex. In some instances the home will have fallen into such a state of disrepair that renovating it is too expensive for the owner. In other instances it can be as a result of “buy to leave”, whereby investors acquire property solely as an asset that will appreciate thanks to London’s booming property market.
There are an array of other measures councils can take to reduce vacant housing stock, such as financing the renovation of decrepit properties, and even mechanisms to force landlords to return properties to use. But some are so complicated that they are “ignored” or not used.
Last year the Guardian established that more than 8,500 homes across the capital had been empty for more than two years. 1,100 had been left empty for more than a decade."
Emergency requisition for a fixed period of "buy to leave" property seems to me something the public would support - the idea that London housing space is gradually bought up by Russian and Chinese oligarchs etc. so as to park their wealth and leave unused does not command widespread enthusiasm. Long-term discouragement of the practice is probably better tackled by increasing the extra council tax on properties left empty for more than a year from the 50% extra to say, 1000% extra.
On the march issue that worries GIN, the left have always argued that you can't achieve lasting change purely by passing laws - you need to have popular enthusiasm. But they don't (with nutty exceptions) argue that this replaces Parliament and McDonnell is not calling for a march to storm Parliament a la French Revolution, simply for people to reinforce the sense that the Government is failing and an alternative is needed. The worry/hope expressed by some on the right that this will turn into encouragement of street riots misunderstands the whole idea and will be disappointed, though there will always be a few idiots from Class War etc. who try to make it happen. The one example we do have, the youth disorders of a few years ago, was notably unpolitical.
If on Tories need an example of how hysteria has sapped their credibility, they need look no further than the idea that McDonnell told people to violently overthrow the government
Apparently the standard today is pretty critical of the government over Grenfell. If Osborne regrets the coverage over the election, he's not showing it
I really cant understand what more the Government can currently do at the moment
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well..
Corbyn would have been absolutely slaughtered if Osborne had been in charge of the campaign. Osborne's cunning wheeze would have been to make voters aware of what Corbyn was proposing.
Your faith in Osborne is touching. He led and lost the EU referendum and went as a result. He might have been less bad than May, but he is yesterday's man.
Corbyn won the 2006 local elections when Cameron and Osborne were in charge of the Tories
Oh, and the myth that there are zillions of homes being bought up by foreigners and left empty turns out to be hogwash - says a report commissioned by the Labour Mayor:
Mr. Gin, maybe. The media hardly held Corbyn to account during the campaign.
The idea that the media failed to scrutinize Jezza is risible. Were you in a political coma for the campaign?
I'm afraid people like to believe comfortable myths, it saves facing reality. The usual culprits printed screeds of anti-corbnyn stuff throughout the campaign.
Papers like the Mail have little impact because they say the same thing about every Labour leader whether it's justified or not. Social media has now given people who can't afford to buy newspapers to push their political agenda a potent alternative. Times have changed
The first formal meeting for UK's economic suicide bid.
What a black day in the history of Britain.
Oh give over. "Suicide" - lol
We're gonna experience a few years of subdued growth, and a recession which might have happened anyway. And then, who knows, we might seize the new opportunities outside the EU.
I don't see Switzerland, Norway or Iceland clamouring to get in, do you? It's only poor countries that want to join, now.
Okay, so we are going to go for an off-the-shelf Switzerland/Norway model. That's excellent news, thanks letting us know.
Any prickliness is caused by concern at the alarming turn of political events and the spineless subservience of the PLP, who now seems to think the far left is absolutely fine.
As damningly pointed out by Portillo last night in his evisceration of the hapless Liz Kendall. The PLP will live to regret their capitulation to Corbyn.
Mr. Eagles, I did cite that editorial (not in so many words, but in the 'until the final day' line).
Osborne kicked May, and hence the Conservatives, repeatedly, for weeks, then had a last minute volte face. "That woman I said was shit for three months? Vote for her."
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well. Now McDonnell is calling for a march through London and the Leader of the Opposition is openly advocating the state seizure of private property.
To cap it all, the sheep of the PLP have gone back (with some honourable exceptions) to slapping their palms together whenever the Supreme Friend of Hamas utters a word.
It's a deeply concerning, and disturbing, picture.
Actually Osborne was one of the people who said don't misunderestimate Corbyn.
And anyhoo, the Standard shouldn't be a Tory propaganda sheet.
Unlike DC then who kicked off the misunderestimation of JC with his roaring "for God's sake go man" peroration in the HoC.
No, Dave was also in the don't misunderestimate Corbyn camp.
Was he really though? Or did he just say it a few times, because it's one of those things you say
This Guardian guide to what can be done about empty properties is useful:
"Reasons for homes being left empty are often complex. In some instances the home will have fallen into such a state of disrepair that renovating it is too expensive for the owner. In other instances it can be as a result of “buy to leave”, whereby investors acquire property solely as an asset that will appreciate thanks to London’s booming property market.
There are an array of other measures councils can take to reduce vacant housing stock, such as financing the renovation of decrepit properties, and even mechanisms to force landlords to return properties to use. But some are so complicated that they are “ignored” or not used.
Last year the Guardian established that more than 8,500 homes across the capital had been empty for more than two years. 1,100 had been left empty for more than a decade."
Emergency requisition for a fixed period of "buy to leave" property seems to me something the public would support - the idea that London housing space is gradually bought up by Russian and Chinese oligarchs etc. so as to park their wealth and leave unused does not command widespread enthusiasm. Long-term discouragement of the practice is probably better tackled by increasing the extra council tax on properties left empty for more than a year from the 50% extra to say, 1000% extra.
On the march issue that worries GIN, the left have always argued that you can't achieve lasting change purely by passing laws - you need to have popular enthusiasm. But they don't (with nutty exceptions) argue that this replaces Parliament and McDonnell is not calling for a march to storm Parliament a la French Revolution, simply for people to reinforce the sense that the Government is failing and an alternative is needed. The worry/hope expressed by some on the right that this will turn into encouragement of street riots misunderstands the whole idea and will be disappointed, though there will always be a few idiots from Class War etc. who try to make it happen. The one example we do have, the youth disorders of a few years ago, was notably unpolitical.
If on Tories need an example of how hysteria has sapped their credibility, they need look no further than the idea that McDonnell told people to violently overthrow the government
Or wished that he could go back in time and murder Thatcher
Any prickliness is caused by concern at the alarming turn of political events and the spineless subservience of the PLP, who now seems to think the far left is absolutely fine.
As damningly pointed out by Portillo last night in his evisceration of the hapless Liz Kendall. The PLP will live to regret their capitulation to Corbyn.
He hardly eviscerated her. He merely talked at her while she elegantly sat there and responded when she could get word in edgeways.
The Queen and Duke of Cambridge at the Grenfell Towers area.
when even the Queen is more in touch with the common people than the PM, the PM has issues.
As was mentioned on the BBC the Queen was badly scared by the failures of the royal family to the Aberfan disaster. HM has over the decades attuned herself extremely well to the mood of the nation, although the death of Diana was a notable exception.
That's because in situations like this fire, or a terrorist attack, the disaster affects her in the same way it affects all of us - with Diana she was affected by the situation in an entirely different, more personal, way to the rest of the nation. The complete mental breakdown that the country suffered was not something anyone could have predicted at the time.
The idea that there is some kind of emergency because we need to find 100 homes in a city of millions is absolutely bonkers. It always would be bonkers, but at the moment doubly so: there is currently a glut of rental property on the market in central London, landlords are accepting offers well below the asking price.
It would be a very good idea to have people moving out of these emergency centres into their new homes with suitable furnishings today.
The first formal meeting for UK's economic suicide bid.
What a black day in the history of Britain.
Oh give over. "Suicide" - lol
We're gonna experience a few years of subdued growth, and a recession which might have happened anyway. And then, who knows, we might seize the new opportunities outside the EU.
I don't see Switzerland, Norway or Iceland clamouring to get in, do you? It's only poor countries that want to join, now.
Okay, so we are going to go for an off-the-shelf Switzerland/Norway model. That's excellent news, thanks letting us know.
Panic over.
I've no idea. I'm just pointing out that wealthy western countries in Europe do perfectly fine outside the EU. I imagine in a few years we will have something close to Single Market membership, but fine-tuned for both sides, as it is in everyone's mutual interest to have as much free trade as possible.
Last year the Guardian established that more than 8,500 homes across the capital had been empty for more than two years. 1,100 had been left empty for more than a decade.
In a city of 8.5 million, those are astonishingly tiny numbers.
And a lot of those will simply be wrecks via neglect.
Yes it is an emergency but it is an emergency comprising predominantly poor people in urgent need.It is not,therefore,a Tory emergency.It would have been an emergency though if it was Chelsea citizens needing urgent re-housing would it not? Mr Corbyn is quite right to come up with a good local temporary solution.I am sure the rich owners will understand.His leadership shines through compared to the Maybot
Are you quite as stupid and unpleasant as you sound?
I'll leave your unpleasantness to speak for itself, but perhaps you could explain what the 'emergency' is that can't be handled by the simple expedient of, you know, finding homes which are available without invoking powers designed for wartime or similar national emergencies? We are talking about just 100 families or so - that's an absolutely tiny number, far less, for example, than routinely have to be rehoused after floods.
The first formal meeting for UK's economic suicide bid.
What a black day in the history of Britain.
Oh give over. "Suicide" - lol
We're gonna experience a few years of subdued growth, and a recession which might have happened anyway. And then, who knows, we might seize the new opportunities outside the EU.
I don't see Switzerland, Norway or Iceland clamouring to get in, do you? It's only poor countries that want to join, now.
Okay, so we are going to go for an off-the-shelf Switzerland/Norway model. That's excellent news, thanks letting us know.
Panic over.
I've no idea. I'm just pointing out that wealthy western countries in Europe do perfectly fine outside the EU. I imagine in a few years we will have something close to Single Market membership, but fine-tuned for both sides, as it is in everyone's mutual interest to have as much free trade as possible.
But turbulence before then? Yep. Buckle up.
Shitloads of turbulence before then, possibly. We are currently going through the Brexit event horizon. The cusp of the wormhole. The Endurance is starting to shake, and our palms are sweating, but we will come out the other side fine.
But, we know what all the various analysis said on our economic growth to 2030 on ultra-hard Brexit, with nothing, and assumptions the EU knocks it out the park whilst we achieve no deals at all: 29% growth to 37% growth.
Similar to me then. I doubt we'd disagree about much. I'd chance that probably be a touch more left than you on both economics and social areas, but not by any massive degree.
We'd disagree sharply on Brexit though I suspect...
I thought you had switched to Remain now? I distinctly remember your saying so last week??
Nope. I still think we've got to honour the referendum result.
Though I do think the upshot of May's election disaster is that we'll probably finish up not Brexiting... But I don't agree with it if that happens.
Mr. Gin, maybe. The media hardly held Corbyn to account during the campaign.
The idea that the media failed to scrutinize Jezza is risible. Were you in a political coma for the campaign?
You'd have to have been in a coma for two years to have missed the vilification of Corbyn by the media. I'm sure that's part of the reason he became more popular during the campaign. Non-stop vilification had been the norm, and during the campaign the coverage necessarily wasn't quite so unbalanced.
If the Queen's speech doesn't pass with a majority of the House next week, or the negotiations break-down straight away on Monday, then May is toast. But this fire may finish her off over the weekend.
I think the EU will run rings around her.
Can I write a letter to Graham Brady as an ordinary party member?
You can! Won't have the same weight as from an MP though.
I've posted repeatedly that May is a political zombie. The only reason that she is still moving and turning up to screw up the NI peace process or try and incite a riot in Kensington is that her own party are cowards unable to decapitate her.
"If we remove her we have to have a leadership election which would be divisive and delay Brexit talks"
But LOOK at her. She is incapable of doing the basics like speaking to residents after a disaster. Like seeing past the immediate effects of her dealing with the Red Hand Commando. Like "we start Brexit negotiations next week".
If the plan is to utterly destroy the Tories lingering reputation for competence, and tar the whole party with her actions as Clegg did the LibDems, then leave her in place. The longer this goes on, the worse things get. That 6 point Labour poll lead will be 16, and thats before Britain gets told "here's your bus fare home" in the "negotiation" with the EU.
Similar to me then. I doubt we'd disagree about much. I'd chance that probably be a touch more left than you on both economics and social areas, but not by any massive degree.
We'd disagree sharply on Brexit though I suspect...
I thought you had switched to Remain now? I distinctly remember your saying so last week??
Nope. I still think we've got to honour the referendum result.
Though I do think the upshot of May's election disaster is that we'll probably finish up not Brexiting... But I don't agree with it if that happens.
I see. However your opening sentence is ambiguous.
If there was a referendum tomorrow, how would you vote?
Comments
That's something of a relief, actually.
You would prefer that your eurosceptic invective went unchecked?
The public deserve to see those that seek to govern us put under the greatest pressure possible. One on one interviews, open meeting media scrutiny by the voters, hustings and debates.
Politicians should fear the electorate, else the former get too high and mighty and forget from whence they gain their authority.
Osborne kicked May, and hence the Conservatives, repeatedly, for weeks, then had a last minute volte face. "That woman I said was shit for three months? Vote for her."
The blithe assumption by Osborne and others that Corbyn didn't stand a chance is one of the reasons he did so well. Now McDonnell is calling for a march through London and the Leader of the Opposition is openly advocating the state seizure of private property.
To cap it all, the sheep of the PLP have gone back (with some honourable exceptions) to slapping their palms together whenever the Supreme Friend of Hamas utters a word.
It's a deeply concerning, and disturbing, picture.
What a black day in the history of Britain.
1997 - Lab
2001 - Didn't vote (because the Tories were so terrible and you could already see the danger signs with Blair becoming power crazed)
2005 - Lib-Dem
2010 - Con
2015 - Con
2017 - Con (reluctantly)
My vote is up for grabs with a sensible Labour Party.
There must be donations of food, water and material that can be distributed and as many as possible of these traumatised people should be involved.
SeanT?
And anyhoo, the Standard shouldn't be a Tory propaganda sheet.
http://www.newstatesman.com/node/152906
It's an odd thing, having a Tory paper in a Labour town.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/16/sun-journalist-grenfell-tower-victim-hospital
We're all Corbynistas now
Mr. Eagles, I agree. Nor should it take its eye off the Communist's dream of a Soviet Britain.
At most it may shave a few percentage points off future growth. We already know that the forecasts of recession in the first year after a vote to leave have been proven wrong.
SO treat his comments with the appropriate care :-)
Given that overall the Lib Dems lost votes in Scotland, it strikes me that realistically the election of a Scots Lib Dem might give them NE Fife but nothing else in terms of seats.
The state is coming for you empty properties
It s required for emergency housing.
I THINK Jo is the only Lib Dem that added votes from 2015. Carmichael did too.
From the Government point of view, as Bagehot said, it's a relationship between the dignified and the efficient.
A living, breathing family representing and emblemising the nation is a very good thing.
You're probably wealthier than me (most PBers are). Think I should be entitled to seize *your* property?
Mr. Andy, I'm not very au fait with modern history, but I think WWII finished some time ago.
Mr. Owls, speak for yourself. Morris Dancer shall never vote for a socialist, rabble-rousing, unilateralist, terrorist-sympathising creature like Corbyn.
What if there had been a riot? People could have been hurt and a bad situation made far worse.
If she'd gone, and trouble had kicked off, she would have been criticised for provoking it. She stays away, she's a cold-hearted automaton.
The media have spent the last few days stoking this up for all its worth.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/house-prices/almost-no-evidence-london-homes-owned-foreign-buyers-left-empty/
Once again, mere facts don't trouble the ideologues or those seeking to exploit a tragedy to attack the government.
I see some sense in using 100 long-term empty homes to house the wounded and bereaved as a *temporary* emergency measure. As my four bedroomed house in the London suburbs is occupied I don't expect John McDonnell banging on my door and disturbing my cat any time soon.
Messina data draws up list of People liked the Labour manifesto.
"Reasons for homes being left empty are often complex. In some instances the home will have fallen into such a state of disrepair that renovating it is too expensive for the owner. In other instances it can be as a result of “buy to leave”, whereby investors acquire property solely as an asset that will appreciate thanks to London’s booming property market.
There are an array of other measures councils can take to reduce vacant housing stock, such as financing the renovation of decrepit properties, and even mechanisms to force landlords to return properties to use. But some are so complicated that they are “ignored” or not used.
Last year the Guardian established that more than 8,500 homes across the capital had been empty for more than two years. 1,100 had been left empty for more than a decade."
Emergency requisition for a fixed period of "buy to leave" property seems to me something the public would support - the idea that London housing space is gradually bought up by Russian and Chinese oligarchs etc. so as to park their wealth and leave unused does not command widespread enthusiasm. Long-term discouragement of the practice is probably better tackled by increasing the extra council tax on properties left empty for more than a year from the 50% extra to say, 1000% extra.
On the march issue that worries GIN, the left have always argued that you can't achieve lasting change purely by passing laws - you need to have popular enthusiasm. But they don't (with nutty exceptions) argue that this replaces Parliament and McDonnell is not calling for a march to storm Parliament a la French Revolution, simply for people to reinforce the sense that the Government is failing and an alternative is needed. The worry/hope expressed by some on the right that this will turn into encouragement of street riots misunderstands the whole idea and will be disappointed, though there will always be a few idiots from Class War etc. who try to make it happen. The one example we do have, the youth disorders of a few years ago, was notably unpolitical.
Mr Corbyn is quite right to come up with a good local temporary solution.I am sure the rich owners will understand.His leadership shines through compared to the Maybot
Any prickliness is caused by concern at the alarming turn of political events and the spineless subservience of the PLP, who now seems to think the far left is absolutely fine.
Here we go.
Papers like the Mail have little impact because they say the same thing about every Labour leader whether it's justified or not. Social media has now given people who can't afford to buy newspapers to push their political agenda a potent alternative. Times have changed
Panic over.
Twitter cryptologists are almost as bad as Twitter poll rampers.
I'll leave your unpleasantness to speak for itself, but perhaps you could explain what the 'emergency' is that can't be handled by the simple expedient of, you know, finding homes which are available without invoking powers designed for wartime or similar national emergencies? We are talking about just 100 families or so - that's an absolutely tiny number, far less, for example, than routinely have to be rehoused after floods.
But, we know what all the various analysis said on our economic growth to 2030 on ultra-hard Brexit, with nothing, and assumptions the EU knocks it out the park whilst we achieve no deals at all: 29% growth to 37% growth.
It's fine.
Though I do think the upshot of May's election disaster is that we'll probably finish up not Brexiting... But I don't agree with it if that happens.
I've posted repeatedly that May is a political zombie. The only reason that she is still moving and turning up to screw up the NI peace process or try and incite a riot in Kensington is that her own party are cowards unable to decapitate her.
"If we remove her we have to have a leadership election which would be divisive and delay Brexit talks"
But LOOK at her. She is incapable of doing the basics like speaking to residents after a disaster. Like seeing past the immediate effects of her dealing with the Red Hand Commando. Like "we start Brexit negotiations next week".
If the plan is to utterly destroy the Tories lingering reputation for competence, and tar the whole party with her actions as Clegg did the LibDems, then leave her in place. The longer this goes on, the worse things get. That 6 point Labour poll lead will be 16, and thats before Britain gets told "here's your bus fare home" in the "negotiation" with the EU.
She has to go. The fuck now.
If there was a referendum tomorrow, how would you vote?