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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Vince Cable looks set to become the first Strictly contestant to lead a political party

The news tonight that ex-coalition cabinet minister, Ed Davey, is not planning to stand for the LD leadership means that that former Business Secretary Secretary looks set to take over from Tim Farron as LD leader.

Read the full story here

IanB2

First, like Vince. For better or worse.

His unwritten promise is to stand down in a couple of years. Let's hope he sticks to it.

williamglenn

Second like Balls?

Casino_Royale

All because he told a half-funny joke about Gordon Brown about 10 years ago.

Barnesian

Any views on the Betfair rules for the next LibDem leader?

The rules say "This market will be settled based on the first official announcement of the next permanent Liberal Democrat leader after Tim Farron, as chosen by a Liberal Democrat leadership contest."

If there is only one contender, is there a contest? Or is the contest the result of the request for nominations?

The reason I ask is that am sitting on a pile of winning on Vince but don't know whether I should attempt to lay it. And even if I am successful in laying it (or cash out) and go all green, will I lose the greenery if the bet is declared void?

Sunil_Prasannan

"From Strictly to Mr Bean!"

Casino_Royale said:

All because he told a half-funny joke about Gordon Brown about 10 years ago.

IanB2

Barnesian said:

Any views on the Betfair rules for the next LibDem leader?

The rules say "This market will be settled based on the first official announcement of the next permanent Liberal Democrat leader after Tim Farron, as chosen by a Liberal Democrat leadership contest."

If there is only one contender, is there a contest? Or is the contest the result of the request for nominations?

The reason I ask is that am sitting on a pile of winning on Vince but don't know whether I should attempt to lay it. And even if I am successful in laying it (or cash out) and go all green, will I lose the greenery if the bet is declared void?

When Vince is confirmed at next leader you should win your bet

Edit/ and, no, cashing out doesn't make you immune from a bet being voided. Cashing out simply balances out your back/lay position with new bets, which all remain live until the market is finally settled, or voided.

Recidivist

There will be more ex-leaders of political parties than ex-members of Fairport Convention soon.

IanB2

Casino_Royale said:

All because he told a half-funny joke about Gordon Brown about 10 years ago.

Actually his claim to fame was predicting the imminent economic bust whilst Gordon Brown was claiming to have abolished forever any future downturn in the economy.

TheScreamingEagles

Barnesian said:

Any views on the Betfair rules for the next LibDem leader?

The rules say "This market will be settled based on the first official announcement of the next permanent Liberal Democrat leader after Tim Farron, as chosen by a Liberal Democrat leadership contest."

If there is only one contender, is there a contest? Or is the contest the result of the request for nominations?

The reason I ask is that am sitting on a pile of winning on Vince but don't know whether I should attempt to lay it. And even if I am successful in laying it (or cash out) and go all green, will I lose the greenery if the bet is declared void?

You should win your bet.

Is like when Brown succeeded Blair or when Sturgeon succeeded Salmond.

williamglenn

Recidivist said:

There will be more ex-leaders of political parties than ex-members of Fairport Convention soon.

Who knows where the slime goes?

Torby_Fennel

If all of the Lib Dem MPs were standing for the leadership then Cable would be my 12th preference. What a mess... Though I suppose things could be worse... but only in a parallel world where Cable hadn't won back his seat and none of the elected MPs wanted the leadership...

Nigelb

FPT
How did you resist 'A period of Radiohead silence from you would be appreciated'?...

The pithier "a period of Radiohead silence would be appreciated" sounds better - in both senses...

Artist

He probably never thought he'd even be an MP again three months ago, never mind Lib Dem leader. As the only Lib Dem with any sort of profile, he was the only choice really. Lamb and Davey would have really struggled for attention.

ThreeQuidder

Barnesian said:

Any views on the Betfair rules for the next LibDem leader?

The rules say "This market will be settled based on the first official announcement of the next permanent Liberal Democrat leader after Tim Farron, as chosen by a Liberal Democrat leadership contest."

If there is only one contender, is there a contest? Or is the contest the result of the request for nominations?

The reason I ask is that am sitting on a pile of winning on Vince but don't know whether I should attempt to lay it. And even if I am successful in laying it (or cash out) and go all green, will I lose the greenery if the bet is declared void?

The nomination period is surely the first stage of a leadership contest.

ThreeQuidder

IanB2 said:

Casino_Royale said:

All because he told a half-funny joke about Gordon Brown about 10 years ago.

Actually his claim to fame was predicting the imminent economic bust whilst Gordon Brown was claiming to have abolished forever any future downturn in the economy.

And the ten economic busts he's predicted since...

TheScreamingEagles

Point of pedantry.

Sir Vince isn't a bona fide Strictly contestant.

He was merely on the Christmas show.

Scott_P

Nigelb said:

FPT
How did you resist 'A period of Radiohead silence from you would be appreciated'?...

The pithier "a period of Radiohead silence would be appreciated" sounds better - in both senses...

A period of Radiohead silence would be appreciated by fans of music everywhere...

RobD

TheScreamingEagles said:

Point of pedantry.

Sir Vince isn't a bona fide Strictly contestant.

He was merely on the Christmas show.

Bring on Ed Balls!

Omnium

The big question mark about Cable is nothing to do with his age. He's long represented Labour by another means.

MarkSenior

Omnium said:

The big question mark about Cable is nothing to do with his age. He's long represented Labour by another means.

What an idiotic comment .

CarlottaVance

Thanks to OGH for his forensic dissection of the pitfalls and shortcomings of political party leaders being elevated to office without a contest......or something like that.....

IanB2

ThreeQuidder said:

IanB2 said:

Casino_Royale said:

All because he told a half-funny joke about Gordon Brown about 10 years ago.

Actually his claim to fame was predicting the imminent economic bust whilst Gordon Brown was claiming to have abolished forever any future downturn in the economy.

And the ten economic busts he's predicted since...

Twice right is well above average for economic forecasting

Omnium

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

The big question mark about Cable is nothing to do with his age. He's long represented Labour by another means.

What an idiotic comment .

Thanks. In what way?

Pulpstar

Barnesian said:

Any views on the Betfair rules for the next LibDem leader?

The rules say "This market will be settled based on the first official announcement of the next permanent Liberal Democrat leader after Tim Farron, as chosen by a Liberal Democrat leadership contest."

If there is only one contender, is there a contest? Or is the contest the result of the request for nominations?

The reason I ask is that am sitting on a pile of winning on Vince but don't know whether I should attempt to lay it. And even if I am successful in laying it (or cash out) and go all green, will I lose the greenery if the bet is declared void?

If the market is void you'll lose the green. I think if Vince gets the gig he'll be settled as a winner though.

MarkSenior

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

The big question mark about Cable is nothing to do with his age. He's long represented Labour by another means.

What an idiotic comment .

Thanks. In what way?

He left the Labour Party 35 years ago and has opposed them ever since then .

Philip_Thompson

IanB2 said:

ThreeQuidder said:

IanB2 said:

Casino_Royale said:

All because he told a half-funny joke about Gordon Brown about 10 years ago.

Actually his claim to fame was predicting the imminent economic bust whilst Gordon Brown was claiming to have abolished forever any future downturn in the economy.

And the ten economic busts he's predicted since...

Twice right is well above average for economic forecasting

No its standard fare for an economist to predict 10 of the last 2 recessions.

RobD

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

The big question mark about Cable is nothing to do with his age. He's long represented Labour by another means.

What an idiotic comment .

Thanks. In what way?

He left the Labour Party 35 years ago and has opposed them ever since then .

He has?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/08/revealed-sir-vince-cable-urges-lib-dem-supporters-back-labour/

IanB2

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

The big question mark about Cable is nothing to do with his age. He's long represented Labour by another means.

What an idiotic comment .

Nevertheless is is true that if you arranged everyone along a spectrum from liberal to authoritatian, almost every Labour councillor past or present would be at the latter end of the line.

stevef

And Corbyn would be 73.

Omnium

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

The big question mark about Cable is nothing to do with his age. He's long represented Labour by another means.

What an idiotic comment .

Thanks. In what way?

He left the Labour Party 35 years ago and has opposed them ever since then .

And yet he's been recorded as favouring Labour candidates, and was also regarded as somewhat unhelpful when in coalition.

Are you honestly suggesting that Cable would ever lead the LDs into a coalition other than with Labour?

MarkSenior

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

The big question mark about Cable is nothing to do with his age. He's long represented Labour by another means.

What an idiotic comment .

Thanks. In what way?

He left the Labour Party 35 years ago and has opposed them ever since then .

And yet he's been recorded as favouring Labour candidates, and was also regarded as somewhat unhelpful when in coalition.

Are you honestly suggesting that Cable would ever lead the LDs into a coalition other than with Labour?

I don't think he would lead the Lib Dems into a coalition with any other party .

Roger

Bobajob_PB said:

The_Apocalypse said:

Torby_Fennel said:

The_Apocalypse said:

My favourite Tory MP. I was very glad to see that she held on in Broxtowe during GE night.

I agree 100%. She's great. She's my favourite MP of any party - and I say this as a Lib Dem member. For me, the brief interview with her on the BBC results show was the most memorable moment of election night.

Actually, I may just well agree with you on that one thinking about it now - I can't recall agreeing with another MP more in the last several years. She was brilliant in that interview on election night. She was also great in an interview with Owen Jones (yes, I know, not everyone's favourite person, but still).

Here it is, for anyone that may be interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4E7-aPBBCI

Soubry is great value. I don't know why people keep apologising to @NickPalmer for liking her - I'm pretty sure he gets on well with her!

I wish Corbyn had half her bottle. We might not now be leaving. Incidentally I don't believe he and McDonnell will escape the fallout after Brexit unravels

Recidivist

IanB2 said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

The big question mark about Cable is nothing to do with his age. He's long represented Labour by another means.

What an idiotic comment .

Nevertheless is is true that if you arranged everyone along a spectrum from liberal to authoritatian, almost every Labour councillor past or present would be at the latter end of the line.

What does that even mean?

CarlottaVance

Roger said:

Bobajob_PB said:

The_Apocalypse said:

Torby_Fennel said:

The_Apocalypse said:

My favourite Tory MP. I was very glad to see that she held on in Broxtowe during GE night.

I agree 100%. She's great. She's my favourite MP of any party - and I say this as a Lib Dem member. For me, the brief interview with her on the BBC results show was the most memorable moment of election night.

Actually, I may just well agree with you on that one thinking about it now - I can't recall agreeing with another MP more in the last several years. She was brilliant in that interview on election night. She was also great in an interview with Owen Jones (yes, I know, not everyone's favourite person, but still).

Here it is, for anyone that may be interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4E7-aPBBCI

Soubry is great value. I don't know why people keep apologising to @NickPalmer for liking her - I'm pretty sure he gets on well with her!

We might not now be leaving.

Rogerdamus has spoken!

Leavers sleep easy in their beds.....

Danny565

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

Omnium

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

The big question mark about Cable is nothing to do with his age. He's long represented Labour by another means.

What an idiotic comment .

Thanks. In what way?

He left the Labour Party 35 years ago and has opposed them ever since then .

And yet he's been recorded as favouring Labour candidates, and was also regarded as somewhat unhelpful when in coalition.

Are you honestly suggesting that Cable would ever lead the LDs into a coalition other than with Labour?

I don't think he would lead the Lib Dems into a coalition with any other party .

Apart from Labour! And thus your observation of my comment being idiotic seems to be on unsafe ground.

I don't mind you being rude, but I hope for your sake that you try to think things out a little more in the future before doing something like venturing our of your house.

Edit: Sorry that was very rude, and uncalled for. You annoyed me and I let it get the better of me. I apologise.

Scott_P

https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879803429530554369

RobD

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

The Guardian in 2010 described him as a 'natural Labour coalition man'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/11/coalition-talks-libdem-labour-deal

Danny565

RobD said:

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

The Guardian in 2010 described him as a 'natural Labour coalition man'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/11/coalition-talks-libdem-labour-deal

But, in the end, he backed a Coalition with the Conservatives, and threw himself with gusto into some of the Coalition's flagship right-wing policies....

MarkSenior

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

The big question mark about Cable is nothing to do with his age. He's long represented Labour by another means.

What an idiotic comment .

Thanks. In what way?

He left the Labour Party 35 years ago and has opposed them ever since then .

And yet he's been recorded as favouring Labour candidates, and was also regarded as somewhat unhelpful when in coalition.

Are you honestly suggesting that Cable would ever lead the LDs into a coalition other than with Labour?

I don't think he would lead the Lib Dems into a coalition with any other party .

Apart from Labour! And thus your observation of my comment being idiotic seems to be on unsafe ground.

I don't mind you being rude, but I hope for your sake that you try to think things out a little more in the future before doing something like venturing our of your house.

Edit: Sorry that was very rude, and uncalled for. You annoyed me and I let it get the better of me. I apologise.

I meant as I am sure you know any and every other party including Labour and the Weak and wobbly shower .

MarkSenior

RobD said:

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

The Guardian in 2010 described him as a 'natural Labour coalition man'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/11/coalition-talks-libdem-labour-deal

Not for the first time events proved the Guardian wrong ,

Bobajob_PB

Danny565 said:

RobD said:

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

The Guardian in 2010 described him as a 'natural Labour coalition man'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/11/coalition-talks-libdem-labour-deal

But, in the end, he backed a Coalition with the Conservatives, and threw himself with gusto into some of the Coalition's flagship right-wing policies....

Privatising the Royal Mail was a low point, one of the more shambolic projects of the Coalition regime. Unwanted by the public, then flogged off a billion quid too cheaply thus ripping off the taxpayer. That said, given that we now chuck about billions to rapid sectarian homophobes willy nilly, I guess that's small change compared to Toxic Tess and The Killer Clowns.

RobD

MarkSenior said:

RobD said:

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

The Guardian in 2010 described him as a 'natural Labour coalition man'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/11/coalition-talks-libdem-labour-deal

Not for the first time events proved the Guardian wrong ,

I don't think there is anything incorrect in that report, it was saying how things were moving towards the Conservatives, which is what happened in the end.

DavidL

You think it's his age that is the big question about him? Interesting.

Bobajob_PB

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879803429530554369

Yet again makes my point that the government haven't got a sodding clue what they are doing, and are just shambling around while Brussels runs rings around them, to the amusement of the rest of the world. How we ended up with Toxic Tess and the Killer Clowns Boris and Davis handling this, I have no idea. Where's Foxy? Has someone shot him?

OldKingCole

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

The big question mark about Cable is nothing to do with his age. He's long represented Labour by another means.

What an idiotic comment .

Thanks. In what way?

He left the Labour Party 35 years ago and has opposed them ever since then .

And yet he's been recorded as favouring Labour candidates, and was also regarded as somewhat unhelpful when in coalition.

Are you honestly suggesting that Cable would ever lead the LDs into a coalition other than with Labour?

I suspect it’s a case of once bitten as far as the Tories are concerned.

RobD

Bobajob_PB said:

Scott_P said:

twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879803429530554369

Yet again makes my point that the government haven't got a sodding clue what they are doing, and are just shambling around while Brussels runs rings around them, to the amusement of the rest of the world. How we ended up with Toxic Tess and the Killer Clowns Boris and Davis handling this, I have no idea. Where's Foxy? Has someone shot him?

I don't think the two statements are actually all that contradictory. Davis said that he expected the UK to be out of the customs union/single market by the end of the A50 period. Hammond said he expected that there would be transitional arrangements. These two aren't exclusive. Even Davis himself said that there would be transitional arrangements, possibly for three years after the A50 date.

Omnium

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

The big question mark about Cable is nothing to do with his age. He's long represented Labour by another means.

What an idiotic comment .

Thanks. In what way?

He left the Labour Party 35 years ago and has opposed them ever since then .

And yet he's been recorded as favouring Labour candidates, and was also regarded as somewhat unhelpful when in coalition.

Are you honestly suggesting that Cable would ever lead the LDs into a coalition other than with Labour?

I don't think he would lead the Lib Dems into a coalition with any other party .

Apart from Labour! And thus your observation of my comment being idiotic seems to be on unsafe ground.

I don't mind you being rude, but I hope for your sake that you try to think things out a little more in the future before doing something like venturing our of your house.

Edit: Sorry that was very rude, and uncalled for. You annoyed me and I let it get the better of me. I apologise.

I meant as I am sure you know any and every other party including Labour and the Weak and wobbly shower .

Yep. The LDs need to find a new footing. I find it hard to believe that Cable is their man. Layla Moran - you may as well!

Stark_Dawning

If the Tories aren't terrified about Vince becoming the leader they should be. He's now the grand old man of the centre Left, recognized by the public at large and, unlike Jezza and co., has no dark corners in his past. With Jezza playing the rock star and venerable Vince a safe pair of hands, Theresa's going to get squeezed into obsolescence. The Tories need to carve at a niche for themselves, but so much political space is now solidly occupied.

RobD

Stark_Dawning said:

If the Tories aren't terrified about Vince becoming the leader they should be. He's now the grand old man of the centre Left, recognized by the public at large and, unlike Jezza and co., has no dark corners in his past. With Jezza playing the rock star and venerable Vince a safe pair of hands, Theresa's going to get squeezed into obsolescence. The Tories need to carve at a niche for themselves, but so much political space is now solidly occupied.

Splits on the left? What's not to like?

FrancisUrquhart

Vince cable was one of the worst coalition ministers, pperhaps the worst of those that stayed in their job for the entire period. While clegg, alexander, Webb and lamb put him to shame.

IanB2

MarkSenior said:

RobD said:

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

The Guardian in 2010 described him as a 'natural Labour coalition man'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/11/coalition-talks-libdem-labour-deal

Not for the first time events proved the Guardian wrong ,

Nevertheless, with a left-wing Labour maj the betting favourite outcome from the next GE, PB'ers might consider the prospect of an alternative Labour/LD coalition as a preferable alternative?

MarkSenior

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

MarkSenior said:

Omnium said:

The big question mark about Cable is nothing to do with his age. He's long represented Labour by another means.

What an idiotic comment .

Thanks. In what way?

He left the Labour Party 35 years ago and has opposed them ever since then .

And yet he's been recorded as favouring Labour candidates, and was also regarded as somewhat unhelpful when in coalition.

Are you honestly suggesting that Cable would ever lead the LDs into a coalition other than with Labour?

I don't think he would lead the Lib Dems into a coalition with any other party .

Apart from Labour! And thus your observation of my comment being idiotic seems to be on unsafe ground.

I don't mind you being rude, but I hope for your sake that you try to think things out a little more in the future before doing something like venturing our of your house.

Edit: Sorry that was very rude, and uncalled for. You annoyed me and I let it get the better of me. I apologise.

I meant as I am sure you know any and every other party including Labour and the Weak and wobbly shower .

Yep. The LDs need to find a new footing. I find it hard to believe that Cable is their man. Layla Moran - you may as well!

I expect the next LD leadership contest in 2/3 years time will be between Swinson and Moran

HYUFD

Stark_Dawning said:

If the Tories aren't terrified about Vince becoming the leader they should be. He's now the grand old man of the centre Left, recognized by the public at large and, unlike Jezza and co., has no dark corners in his past. With Jezza playing the rock star and venerable Vince a safe pair of hands, Theresa's going to get squeezed into obsolescence. The Tories need to carve at a niche for themselves, but so much political space is now solidly occupied.

Ironically Cable as LD leader may actually help the Tories a little, as a well known social democrat heavyweight and social liberal unlike Farron he may be able to win back a few centre left LDs who voted Labour this time while he is unlikely to appeal to many who voted for May

Bobajob_PB

IanB2 said:

MarkSenior said:

RobD said:

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

The Guardian in 2010 described him as a 'natural Labour coalition man'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/11/coalition-talks-libdem-labour-deal

Not for the first time events proved the Guardian wrong ,

Nevertheless, with a left-wing Labour maj the betting favourite outcome from the next GE, PB'ers might consider the prospect of an alternative Labour/LD coalition as a preferable alternative?

Lib-Lab Pact would be my ideal. Rock star Corbyn as PM with Vince as Chancellor, and the likes of Jo and Layla reining in the wilder elements of a resurgent Labour Party. I think the country would also like that.

HYUFD

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

Cable was a Labour councillor and parliamentary candidate before he joined the SDP, he is also a staunch Europhile and social democrat (note not socialist)

Stark_Dawning

Bobajob_PB said:

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879803429530554369

Yet again makes my point that the government haven't got a sodding clue what they are doing, and are just shambling around while Brussels runs rings around them, to the amusement of the rest of the world. How we ended up with Toxic Tess and the Killer Clowns Boris and Davis handling this, I have no idea. Where's Foxy? Has someone shot him?

No, Liam's still alive:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/24/liam-fox-interview-country-made-views-clear-part-dont-people/

He's beaming a lot surrounded by his art collection, but still seems to be fighting the EU referendum a little bit much to my mind. Come on, Liam - put that triumph behind you. You won. Now roll up your sleeves and start securing us those trade deals!

Big_G_NorthWales

Bobajob_PB said:

IanB2 said:

MarkSenior said:

RobD said:

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

The Guardian in 2010 described him as a 'natural Labour coalition man'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/11/coalition-talks-libdem-labour-deal

Not for the first time events proved the Guardian wrong ,

Nevertheless, with a left-wing Labour maj the betting favourite outcome from the next GE, PB'ers might consider the prospect of an alternative Labour/LD coalition as a preferable alternative?

Lib-Lab Pact would be my ideal. Rock star Corbyn as PM with Vince as Chancellor, and the likes of Jo and Layla reining in the wilder elements of a resurgent Labour Party. I think the country would also like that.

I don't think Corbyn or McDonnell would or even agree to it

Scott_P

https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879809263526440960

Bobajob_PB

Stark_Dawning said:

Bobajob_PB said:

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879803429530554369

Yet again makes my point that the government haven't got a sodding clue what they are doing, and are just shambling around while Brussels runs rings around them, to the amusement of the rest of the world. How we ended up with Toxic Tess and the Killer Clowns Boris and Davis handling this, I have no idea. Where's Foxy? Has someone shot him?

No, Liam's still alive:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/24/liam-fox-interview-country-made-views-clear-part-dont-people/

He's beaming a lot surrounded by his art collection, but still seems to be fighting the EU referendum a little bit much to my mind. Come on, Liam - put that triumph behind you. You won. Now roll up your sleeves and start securing us those trade deals!

Chortle. The most ineffective Secretary of State since Alan Clark?

IanB2

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Bobajob_PB said:

IanB2 said:

MarkSenior said:

RobD said:

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

The Guardian in 2010 described him as a 'natural Labour coalition man'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/11/coalition-talks-libdem-labour-deal

Not for the first time events proved the Guardian wrong ,

Nevertheless, with a left-wing Labour maj the betting favourite outcome from the next GE, PB'ers might consider the prospect of an alternative Labour/LD coalition as a preferable alternative?

Lib-Lab Pact would be my ideal. Rock star Corbyn as PM with Vince as Chancellor, and the likes of Jo and Layla reining in the wilder elements of a resurgent Labour Party. I think the country would also like that.

I don't think Corbyn or McDonnell would or even agree to it

They appeared keen enough to give it a shot this time, when the prospect of assembling an anti-Conservative government briefly appeared a possibility. And even went talking to the DUP.

By the next GE they will be keener still.

Bobajob_PB

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Bobajob_PB said:

IanB2 said:

MarkSenior said:

RobD said:

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

The Guardian in 2010 described him as a 'natural Labour coalition man'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/11/coalition-talks-libdem-labour-deal

Not for the first time events proved the Guardian wrong ,

Nevertheless, with a left-wing Labour maj the betting favourite outcome from the next GE, PB'ers might consider the prospect of an alternative Labour/LD coalition as a preferable alternative?

Lib-Lab Pact would be my ideal. Rock star Corbyn as PM with Vince as Chancellor, and the likes of Jo and Layla reining in the wilder elements of a resurgent Labour Party. I think the country would also like that.

I don't think Corbyn or McDonnell would or even agree to it

They would if it meant power

foxinsoxuk

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Bobajob_PB said:

IanB2 said:

MarkSenior said:

RobD said:

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

The Guardian in 2010 described him as a 'natural Labour coalition man'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/11/coalition-talks-libdem-labour-deal

Not for the first time events proved the Guardian wrong ,

Nevertheless, with a left-wing Labour maj the betting favourite outcome from the next GE, PB'ers might consider the prospect of an alternative Labour/LD coalition as a preferable alternative?

Lib-Lab Pact would be my ideal. Rock star Corbyn as PM with Vince as Chancellor, and the likes of Jo and Layla reining in the wilder elements of a resurgent Labour Party. I think the country would also like that.

I don't think Corbyn or McDonnell would or even agree to it

LDs are unlikely to join another coalition either. Fear not.

TheScreamingEagles

Bobajob_PB said:

Stark_Dawning said:

Bobajob_PB said:

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879803429530554369

Yet again makes my point that the government haven't got a sodding clue what they are doing, and are just shambling around while Brussels runs rings around them, to the amusement of the rest of the world. How we ended up with Toxic Tess and the Killer Clowns Boris and Davis handling this, I have no idea. Where's Foxy? Has someone shot him?

No, Liam's still alive:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/24/liam-fox-interview-country-made-views-clear-part-dont-people/

He's beaming a lot surrounded by his art collection, but still seems to be fighting the EU referendum a little bit much to my mind. Come on, Liam - put that triumph behind you. You won. Now roll up your sleeves and start securing us those trade deals!

Chortle. The most ineffective Secretary of State since Alan Clark?

And what was Alan Clark Secretary of State for?

TheScreamingEagles

If Sir Vince is a stop gap leader for 3 years, what happens if there's an early election?

Big_G_NorthWales

IanB2 said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Bobajob_PB said:

IanB2 said:

MarkSenior said:

RobD said:

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

The Guardian in 2010 described him as a 'natural Labour coalition man'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/11/coalition-talks-libdem-labour-deal

Not for the first time events proved the Guardian wrong ,

Nevertheless, with a left-wing Labour maj the betting favourite outcome from the next GE, PB'ers might consider the prospect of an alternative Labour/LD coalition as a preferable alternative?

Lib-Lab Pact would be my ideal. Rock star Corbyn as PM with Vince as Chancellor, and the likes of Jo and Layla reining in the wilder elements of a resurgent Labour Party. I think the country would also like that.

I don't think Corbyn or McDonnell would or even agree to it

They appeared keen enough to give it a shot this time, when the prospect of assembling an anti-Conservative government briefly appeared a possibility. And even went talking to the DUP.

By the next GE they will be keener still.

You are thinking of new labour - not Corbyn- McDonnell's Venezuela model

foxinsoxuk

Torby_Fennel said:

If all of the Lib Dem MPs were standing for the leadership then Cable would be my 12th preference. What a mess... Though I suppose things could be worse... but only in a parallel world where Cable hadn't won back his seat and none of the elected MPs wanted the leadership...

I think if the PB LDs were the selectorate, Vince would lose a one horse race.

Bobajob_PB

TheScreamingEagles said:

Bobajob_PB said:

Stark_Dawning said:

Bobajob_PB said:

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879803429530554369

Yet again makes my point that the government haven't got a sodding clue what they are doing, and are just shambling around while Brussels runs rings around them, to the amusement of the rest of the world. How we ended up with Toxic Tess and the Killer Clowns Boris and Davis handling this, I have no idea. Where's Foxy? Has someone shot him?

No, Liam's still alive:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/24/liam-fox-interview-country-made-views-clear-part-dont-people/

He's beaming a lot surrounded by his art collection, but still seems to be fighting the EU referendum a little bit much to my mind. Come on, Liam - put that triumph behind you. You won. Now roll up your sleeves and start securing us those trade deals!

Chortle. The most ineffective Secretary of State since Alan Clark?

And what was Alan Clark Secretary of State for?

Shagging.

Although admittedly he was quite good at that portfolio.

(Realised after I posted that he was only minister of state, but let the error ride)

Richard_Tyndall

Seeing those pictures above I can't help but think of the similarity to Tom Wilkinson in the Full Monty.

MarkSenior

TheScreamingEagles said:

If Sir Vince is a stop gap leader for 3 years, what happens if there's an early election?

He would be the ideal leader for an early GE . Think it is unlikely there will be one as it will be 2/3 years before the Con/DUPs lose their majority through by election losses .

Bobajob_PB

The PB Quiz is to guess the identity of the lady on the Times front page, with only her right arm in shot on that Tweet.

archer101au

Hammond needs to be fired. Everyone else in Government is on the same page - he is just angling for the leadership by abandoning his so-called Eurosceptic principles to curry favour with the Soft Brexit crowd. His behaviour is entirely self-serving and May would look strong if she kicked him out - I doubt that many of his cabinet colleagues would come to his rescue. The reality is that the only people who support him as replacement PM are remainers who would never vote Conservative anyway.

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879809263526440960

Richard_Tyndall

TheScreamingEagles said:

Bobajob_PB said:

Stark_Dawning said:

Bobajob_PB said:

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879803429530554369

Yet again makes my point that the government haven't got a sodding clue what they are doing, and are just shambling around while Brussels runs rings around them, to the amusement of the rest of the world. How we ended up with Toxic Tess and the Killer Clowns Boris and Davis handling this, I have no idea. Where's Foxy? Has someone shot him?

No, Liam's still alive:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/24/liam-fox-interview-country-made-views-clear-part-dont-people/

He's beaming a lot surrounded by his art collection, but still seems to be fighting the EU referendum a little bit much to my mind. Come on, Liam - put that triumph behind you. You won. Now roll up your sleeves and start securing us those trade deals!

Chortle. The most ineffective Secretary of State since Alan Clark?

And what was Alan Clark Secretary of State for?

He wasn't. He was junior minister at various departments.

Mortimer

MarkSenior said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

If Sir Vince is a stop gap leader for 3 years, what happens if there's an early election?

He would be the ideal leader for an early GE . Think it is unlikely there will be one as it will be 2/3 years before the Con/DUPs lose their majority through by election losses .

Ideal leader to make Nick Clegg's 2015 performance look stellar?

FrancisUrquhart

DUP to demand £460m in tax cuts to keep Theresa May in power after Brexit

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/27/dup-demand-460m-tax-cuts-keep-theresa-may-power-brexit/

Danny565

HYUFD said:

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

Cable was a Labour councillor and parliamentary candidate before he joined the SDP, he is also a staunch Europhile and social democrat (note not socialist)

He was a Labour councillor in the 1970s, but I rather suspect voters may think his policies and actions in 2010-15 are rather more relevant.

TheScreamingEagles

Bobajob_PB said:

The PB Quiz is to guess the identity of the lady on the Times front page, with only her right arm in shot on that Tweet.

Miranda Kerr.

williamglenn

Bobajob_PB said:

Yet again makes my point that the government haven't got a sodding clue what they are doing, and are just shambling around while Brussels runs rings around them, to the amusement of the rest of the world. How we ended up with Toxic Tess and the Killer Clowns Boris and Davis handling this, I have no idea. Where's Foxy? Has someone shot him?

The Daily Express has an even stranger headline saying, 'Davis: We *are* still on course for EU exit', which doesn't do much to assure their readership that that is the case.

Bobajob_PB

Big_G_NorthWales said:

IanB2 said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Bobajob_PB said:

IanB2 said:

MarkSenior said:

RobD said:

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

The Guardian in 2010 described him as a 'natural Labour coalition man'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/11/coalition-talks-libdem-labour-deal

Not for the first time events proved the Guardian wrong ,

Nevertheless, with a left-wing Labour maj the betting favourite outcome from the next GE, PB'ers might consider the prospect of an alternative Labour/LD coalition as a preferable alternative?

Lib-Lab Pact would be my ideal. Rock star Corbyn as PM with Vince as Chancellor, and the likes of Jo and Layla reining in the wilder elements of a resurgent Labour Party. I think the country would also like that.

I don't think Corbyn or McDonnell would or even agree to it

They appeared keen enough to give it a shot this time, when the prospect of assembling an anti-Conservative government briefly appeared a possibility. And even went talking to the DUP.

By the next GE they will be keener still.

You are thinking of new labour - not Corbyn- McDonnell's Venezuela model

In all fairness G, your wisdom about the Labour Party could be written on the back of one of Uncle Vince's cruelly privatised postage stamps

Big_G_NorthWales

MarkSenior said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

If Sir Vince is a stop gap leader for 3 years, what happens if there's an early election?

He would be the ideal leader for an early GE . Think it is unlikely there will be one as it will be 2/3 years before the Con/DUPs lose their majority through by election losses .

I think he will be an OK leader for these times. Looks like Sturgeon may well be gone by 2021 as well as Theresa. Who would have thought that a few weeks ago

foxinsoxuk

archer101au said:

Hammond needs to be fired. Everyone else in Government is on the same page - he is just angling for the leadership by abandoning his so-called Eurosceptic principles to curry favour with the Soft Brexit crowd. His behaviour is entirely self-serving and May would look strong if she kicked him out - I doubt that many of his cabinet colleagues would come to his rescue. The reality is that the only people who support him as replacement PM are remainers who would never vote Conservative anyway.

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879809263526440960

Hammond should be listened to!

He is the only one in the cabinet speaking sense over Brexit. There needs to be a soft Brexit transition phase or a car crash Brexit. The latter looks increasingly likely.

HYUFD

archer101au said:

Hammond needs to be fired. Everyone else in Government is on the same page - he is just angling for the leadership by abandoning his so-called Eurosceptic principles to curry favour with the Soft Brexit crowd. His behaviour is entirely self-serving and May would look strong if she kicked him out - I doubt that many of his cabinet colleagues would come to his rescue. The reality is that the only people who support him as replacement PM are remainers who would never vote Conservative anyway.

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879809263526440960

I am a Remain voting Tory member and I would happily back Hammond, with 60% of the country now backing a softer Brexit according to polls and May having failed to get a majority for hard Brexit it is only right that at least one of the main Tory leadership candidates is not a hard Brexiteer

TheScreamingEagles

Richard_Tyndall said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Bobajob_PB said:

Stark_Dawning said:

Bobajob_PB said:

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879803429530554369

Yet again makes my point that the government haven't got a sodding clue what they are doing, and are just shambling around while Brussels runs rings around them, to the amusement of the rest of the world. How we ended up with Toxic Tess and the Killer Clowns Boris and Davis handling this, I have no idea. Where's Foxy? Has someone shot him?

No, Liam's still alive:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/24/liam-fox-interview-country-made-views-clear-part-dont-people/

He's beaming a lot surrounded by his art collection, but still seems to be fighting the EU referendum a little bit much to my mind. Come on, Liam - put that triumph behind you. You won. Now roll up your sleeves and start securing us those trade deals!

Chortle. The most ineffective Secretary of State since Alan Clark?

And what was Alan Clark Secretary of State for?

He wasn't. He was junior minister at various departments.

Yup.

Bobajob_PB

archer101au said:

Hammond needs to be fired. Everyone else in Government is on the same page - he is just angling for the leadership by abandoning his so-called Eurosceptic principles to curry favour with the Soft Brexit crowd. His behaviour is entirely self-serving and May would look strong if she kicked him out - I doubt that many of his cabinet colleagues would come to his rescue. The reality is that the only people who support him as replacement PM are remainers who would never vote Conservative anyway.

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879809263526440960

I think you must be delusional, much of the PCP is pro Remain as are millions of Tory voters

williamglenn

archer101au said:

The reality is that the only people who support him as replacement PM are remainers who would never vote Conservative anyway.

"Remainers who would never vote Conservative anyway."

They must be confusing the Conservatives with UKIP in the same way you have.

Casino_Royale

May truly is in awful place regarding getting Brexit past parliament.

She will have 20 New Bastards.

She will have about 80 Brexit hardliners.

And a split cabinet. And a playful House of Lords.

It will take diplomatic genius to reconcile all that lot.

(on the plus side, the Labour opposition is nowhere near as coordinated - in Parliament - as it was under Kinnock and Blair, and McDonnell will do what he will)

Bobajob_PB

williamglenn said:

Bobajob_PB said:

Yet again makes my point that the government haven't got a sodding clue what they are doing, and are just shambling around while Brussels runs rings around them, to the amusement of the rest of the world. How we ended up with Toxic Tess and the Killer Clowns Boris and Davis handling this, I have no idea. Where's Foxy? Has someone shot him?

The Daily Express has an even stranger headline saying, 'Davis: We *are* still on course for EU exit', which doesn't do much to assure their readership that that is the case.

Davis: My Brexit dream "could still" come true

Casino_Royale

RobD said:

Bobajob_PB said:

Scott_P said:

twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879803429530554369

Yet again makes my point that the government haven't got a sodding clue what they are doing, and are just shambling around while Brussels runs rings around them, to the amusement of the rest of the world. How we ended up with Toxic Tess and the Killer Clowns Boris and Davis handling this, I have no idea. Where's Foxy? Has someone shot him?

I don't think the two statements are actually all that contradictory. Davis said that he expected the UK to be out of the customs union/single market by the end of the A50 period. Hammond said he expected that there would be transitional arrangements. These two aren't exclusive. Even Davis himself said that there would be transitional arrangements, possibly for three years after the A50 date.

I don't think the cabinet divisions are that massive either.

I do think Hammond isn't fully inside the tent yet, and I'm not sure whether he wants to be.

Bobajob_PB

TheScreamingEagles said:

Bobajob_PB said:

The PB Quiz is to guess the identity of the lady on the Times front page, with only her right arm in shot on that Tweet.

Miranda Kerr.

My guess was JK Rowling, although I am probably wrong and have no idea why she would be on the front page. I just thought it looked like her arm!

GIN1138

I think Hammond is just muddying the waters to try and destabilize May even more...

This is between Davis and Barnier and I'm confident they'll reach a sensible settlement if the like's of Hammond and Boris aren't allowed to stir things up too much.

HYUFD

MarkSenior said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

If Sir Vince is a stop gap leader for 3 years, what happens if there's an early election?

He would be the ideal leader for an early GE . Think it is unlikely there will be one as it will be 2/3 years before the Con/DUPs lose their majority through by election losses .

How many seats in by elections have recent governments lost? Cameron lost 3 from 2005-2010 (but in fact only 1 if you count Carswell and Reckless as UKIP incumbents), Blair and Brown lost 3 from 2005 to 2010. That was over a 5 year Parliament. Even if 3 seats were lost the Tories could probably stay in power unless SF took their seats

foxinsoxuk

Bobajob_PB said:

archer101au said:

Hammond needs to be fired. Everyone else in Government is on the same page - he is just angling for the leadership by abandoning his so-called Eurosceptic principles to curry favour with the Soft Brexit crowd. His behaviour is entirely self-serving and May would look strong if she kicked him out - I doubt that many of his cabinet colleagues would come to his rescue. The reality is that the only people who support him as replacement PM are remainers who would never vote Conservative anyway.

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879809263526440960

I think you must be delusional, much of the PCP is pro Remain as are millions of Tory voters

Tories split over Europe?

Who could have predicted that!

Bobajob_PB

Mortimer said:

MarkSenior said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

If Sir Vince is a stop gap leader for 3 years, what happens if there's an early election?

He would be the ideal leader for an early GE . Think it is unlikely there will be one as it will be 2/3 years before the Con/DUPs lose their majority through by election losses .

Ideal leader to make Nick Clegg's 2015 performance look stellar?

As a Maydup booster boy you are in no position to comment on the performance of party leaders Morty!

Big_G_NorthWales

Bob a job

'In all fairness G, your wisdom about the Labour Party could be written on the back of one of Uncle Vince's cruelly privatised postage stamps '

Believe me I have lived through all kinds of labour parties and remember Kinnock saving them from the hard left only for the hard left to arise through Corbyn. I remember the refuse in the streets and the dead lyjng unburied. I also voted for Tony twice - so do not patronise me

Bobajob_PB

FrancisUrquhart said:

DUP to demand £460m in tax cuts to keep Theresa May in power after Brexit

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/27/dup-demand-460m-tax-cuts-keep-theresa-may-power-brexit/

And so it begins

Mortimer

Bobajob_PB said:

Mortimer said:

MarkSenior said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

If Sir Vince is a stop gap leader for 3 years, what happens if there's an early election?

He would be the ideal leader for an early GE . Think it is unlikely there will be one as it will be 2/3 years before the Con/DUPs lose their majority through by election losses .

Ideal leader to make Nick Clegg's 2015 performance look stellar?

As a Maydup booster boy you are in no position to comment on the performance of party leaders Morty!

Good grief. Same username for 903 posts...

HYUFD

Danny565 said:

HYUFD said:

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

Cable was a Labour councillor and parliamentary candidate before he joined the SDP, he is also a staunch Europhile and social democrat (note not socialist)

He was a Labour councillor in the 1970s, but I rather suspect voters may think his policies and actions in 2010-15 are rather more relevant.

Don't forget Labour won about a third of 2015 LDs in 2017, Cable could win them back, after all they voted for Clegg even if they did not vote for Farron

GIN1138

GIN1138 said:

I think Hammond is just muddying the waters to try and destabilize May even more...

This is between Davis and Barnier and I'm confident they'll reach a sensible settlement if the like's of Hammond and Boris aren't allowed to stir things up too much.

And of course lets not forget the extreme voices in the EU as well...

foxinsoxuk

HYUFD said:

Danny565 said:

HYUFD said:

Danny565 said:

LOL at the idea that Vince Cable is a "leftie" or "Labour by another means". Are we talking about the person who even back in 2009 was talking up the necessity of "savage" spending cuts, who was the main face of the tuition fees rise, who privatised the Royal Mail, and who generally didn't raise much objection to being in government with the Tories? If anything, I would say the biggest argument against him being leader is precisely that he would be distrusted by the left-liberal voters in Cambridge and the like who are still very negative towards the Coalition.

Even so, if I was a LibDem member I would still probably think him the best option -- with the situation the party is in, they really need someone who has something of a public profile to even get noticed, even when that profile isn't wholly positive. They can't afford to take a punt on some new MP who might theoretically have broader appeal to their pre-Coalition voters (if there are any MPs who meet that criteria), they need to go with someone who the public already know just to get back into the game.

Cable was a Labour councillor and parliamentary candidate before he joined the SDP, he is also a staunch Europhile and social democrat (note not socialist)

He was a Labour councillor in the 1970s, but I rather suspect voters may think his policies and actions in 2010-15 are rather more relevant.

Don't forget Labour won about a third of 2015 LDs in 2017, Cable could win them back, after all they voted for Clegg even if they did not vote for Farron

Cable would struggle to keep my vote, and I am a party member!

Bobajob_PB

Richard_Tyndall said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Bobajob_PB said:

Stark_Dawning said:

Bobajob_PB said:

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/879803429530554369

Yet again makes my point that the government haven't got a sodding clue what they are doing, and are just shambling around while Brussels runs rings around them, to the amusement of the rest of the world. How we ended up with Toxic Tess and the Killer Clowns Boris and Davis handling this, I have no idea. Where's Foxy? Has someone shot him?

No, Liam's still alive:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/24/liam-fox-interview-country-made-views-clear-part-dont-people/

He's beaming a lot surrounded by his art collection, but still seems to be fighting the EU referendum a little bit much to my mind. Come on, Liam - put that triumph behind you. You won. Now roll up your sleeves and start securing us those trade deals!

Chortle. The most ineffective Secretary of State since Alan Clark?

And what was Alan Clark Secretary of State for?

He wasn't. He was junior minister at various departments.

Indeed it was my cockup to posthumously promote him in the OP. Apologies. Although how he rose to the dizzy heights of minister remains something of a mystery.