Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Options

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The Tories needs to resolve divisions soon because divided par

SystemSystem Posts: 11,688
edited July 2017 in General

imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The Tories needs to resolve divisions soon because divided parties struggle at election time

One of the things that we know from previous elections is that parties that are seen to be divided can get punished by the voters. That was John Major’s fate at GE1997 after five difficult years of one split after another.

Read the full story here


«1

Comments

  • Options
    tlg86tlg86 Posts: 25,190
    First
  • Options
    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,747
    Second! Again!
  • Options
    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    That's a fantastic article by Marie Le Conte.
  • Options
    GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071
    Root gone
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,080

    That's a fantastic article by Marie Le Conte.

    Reading between the lines it looks like Priti v Amber once the losers have been eliminated.
  • Options
    Out of interest what % think Labour are divided?
  • Options
    PongPong Posts: 4,693
    edited July 2017
    The quotes in the Vice article are brilliant.

    For betting purposes i'll treat as 99% fiction, tho
  • Options
    tlg86tlg86 Posts: 25,190
    edited July 2017

    Out of interest what % think Labour are divided?

    https://tinyurl.com/y9cjun2w

    Interesting divide on males and females. Women are more likely to say don't know than men; probably more honest.
  • Options
    Labour party fighting like cats in a sack under Ed Milliband. Result: 9.3m votes. Jeremy Corbyn takes over, pours oil on troubled wter. Journalists in despair at finding a single dissenting voice. Result 12.8 m votes. Divided parties are punished at the ballot box. Well known fact.
  • Options
    Blue_rogBlue_rog Posts: 2,019

    Labour party fighting like cats in a sack under Ed Milliband. Result: 9.3m votes. Jeremy Corbyn takes over, pours oil on troubled wter. Journalists in despair at finding a single dissenting voice. Result 12.8 m votes. Divided parties are punished at the ballot box. Well known fact.

    So the shadow cabinet resigning and losing a vote of no confidence in the PLP is a united party?
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,488
    To think I was assured that only a Leave victory would unite the Tory party.
  • Options
    FregglesFreggles Posts: 3,486
    Blue_rog said:

    Labour party fighting like cats in a sack under Ed Milliband. Result: 9.3m votes. Jeremy Corbyn takes over, pours oil on troubled wter. Journalists in despair at finding a single dissenting voice. Result 12.8 m votes. Divided parties are punished at the ballot box. Well known fact.

    So the shadow cabinet resigning and losing a vote of no confidence in the PLP is a united party?
    I think it was sarcasm
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,488
    edited July 2017

    Out of interest what % think Labour are divided?

    Labour

    United - 28% (+15% since May)

    Divided - 47% (-18% since May)

    http://tinyurl.com/JustAPoundShopGordonBrown
  • Options
    david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,419
    Blue_rog said:

    Labour party fighting like cats in a sack under Ed Milliband. Result: 9.3m votes. Jeremy Corbyn takes over, pours oil on troubled wter. Journalists in despair at finding a single dissenting voice. Result 12.8 m votes. Divided parties are punished at the ballot box. Well known fact.

    So the shadow cabinet resigning and losing a vote of no confidence in the PLP is a united party?
    That was what pushed Lab to 23%.

    The Corbyn critics shut up during the election campaign and gave the appearance of a united party. It wasn't united but the critics wanted Corbyn to own the blame rather than it be assigned to their undermining him. Obviously, that's not quite how it turned out.

    And no, Labour isn't a united party by any means, both in terms of Corbyn's position and in terms of setting policy at a Shadow Cabinet level. But Labour's not in government and for those not paying close attention, it looks (and is) a good deal more united than it was this time last year.
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,988
    Good afternoon, everyone.

    This may be overblown. It's true the blues aren't united, but either May stays and they have to unite ahead of election, or she goes and her successor gets some time.

    I suspect she'll go of her own accord.
  • Options
    david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,419
    On topic, Mike's comment that "the Tory splits will continue as long as the leadership position remains uncertain" is right, though the splits will also continue as long as the broad Brexit settlement is so uncertain. The two are probably related in any case.

    However, of the two, the Brexit issue is the more important. The leadership question exists only in the background; Brexit is a daily challenge and one which can play out in any number of areas.
  • Options
    Ishmael_ZIshmael_Z Posts: 8,981
    "The Tories needs to resolve divisions in the next 4 years and 10 and a bit months because divided parties struggle at election time" surely? If anyone thinks Davis getting fresh with Bojo's sister at a Pimms party is Tory in-fighting, they ain't seen nuttin' yet.
  • Options
    rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 7,908
    Pong said:

    The quotes in the Vice article are brilliant.

    For betting purposes i'll treat as 99% fiction, tho

    "There's a whole group of 2010/2015 intake MPs who want Theresa May to carry on for as long as possible, and the reason for that is that if there's an election now, they won't be in the running, they're not ready."

    How would they get ready though?
    The next leader will be PM - you'd think then it would be someone in a top job already.
  • Options
    ThreeQuidderThreeQuidder Posts: 6,133

    To think I was assured that only a Leave victory would unite the Tory party.

    The party hasn't, for all the lefties hopes, split. It would have been quite likely to had Remain won in the circumstances Cameron caused.
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,988
    Mr. Quidder, if it had been 52/48 Remain, then yes. Not least because of the contemptuous attitude Cameron had, probably due to complacency.

    Had it been 60/40 Remain, a minor split *might* have occurred, though worth recalling the purple tide was receding even then.

    Perhaps Cameron's real misjudgement was seeing UKIP as a threat to the blues rather than a threat to the reds. But it's easy to consider things in hindsight.
  • Options
    ThreeQuidderThreeQuidder Posts: 6,133

    Mr. Quidder, if it had been 52/48 Remain, then yes. Not least because of the contemptuous attitude Cameron had, probably due to complacency.

    Had it been 60/40 Remain, a minor split *might* have occurred, though worth recalling the purple tide was receding even then.

    Fair point. And in the former case, also because Cameron rigged the referendum.
  • Options
    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,636

    That's a fantastic article by Marie Le Conte.

    Reading between the lines it looks like Priti v Amber once the losers have been eliminated.
    I do hope so.
  • Options
    ThreeQuidderThreeQuidder Posts: 6,133

    That's a fantastic article by Marie Le Conte.

    Reading between the lines it looks like Priti v Amber once the losers have been eliminated.
    I do hope so.
    Tories 3, Labour 0?
  • Options
    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,044

    Mr. Quidder, if it had been 52/48 Remain, then yes. Not least because of the contemptuous attitude Cameron had, probably due to complacency.

    Had it been 60/40 Remain, a minor split *might* have occurred, though worth recalling the purple tide was receding even then.

    Perhaps Cameron's real misjudgement was seeing UKIP as a threat to the blues rather than a threat to the reds. But it's easy to consider things in hindsight.

    Zero Labour MPs moved over to UKIP. Two Conservative ones did. UKIP were a threat to the Conservative government, and possibly an existential one, because of the headbangers whose Europhobia outweighed any sense of party loyalty or good government.

    I'm also amused by the idea that Cameron's attitude was 'contemptuous'.
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,988
    F1: reading a BBC article on Formula E. Quite telling paragraph:

    "The latest turbo hybrid F1 engines represent a revolutionary advance in technology but they are far from universally popular. Their detractors shrug off the 1,000bhp they produce, the fact they use 35% less fuel to do a grand prix, that they have increased thermal efficiency from 29% to a remarkable 50% in just four years, and focus instead on their muted sound and their high cost."

    Talking about fuel and thermal efficiency in F1 is a bit like saying you visit a particular brothel because you like chatting to the receptionist. That said, he's right that many dislike the new engines because of the lower noise (never bothered me), and that's a bit daft too.

    Mind you, the next line describes returning to old-fashioned engines as a delusional fantasy, so that does rather nail the colours to the mast.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/40735193
  • Options
    YorkcityYorkcity Posts: 4,382

    On topic, Mike's comment that "the Tory splits will continue as long as the leadership position remains uncertain" is right, though the splits will also continue as long as the broad Brexit settlement is so uncertain. The two are probably related in any case.

    However, of the two, the Brexit issue is the more important. The leadership question exists only in the background; Brexit is a daily challenge and one which can play out in any number of areas.

    Will no deal eventually cause the refiguration in both main parties ? As for many walking away is an option.
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,988
    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?
  • Options
    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,264

    That's a fantastic article by Marie Le Conte.

    Reading between the lines it looks like Priti v Amber once the losers have been eliminated.
    I do hope so.
    Rudd it seems doesn't worry about her constituency and its now marginal nature. Not sure others will be so sanguine.
  • Options
    GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071

    F1: reading a BBC article on Formula E. Quite telling paragraph:

    "The latest turbo hybrid F1 engines represent a revolutionary advance in technology but they are far from universally popular. Their detractors shrug off the 1,000bhp they produce, the fact they use 35% less fuel to do a grand prix, that they have increased thermal efficiency from 29% to a remarkable 50% in just four years, and focus instead on their muted sound and their high cost."

    Talking about fuel and thermal efficiency in F1 is a bit like saying you visit a particular brothel because you like chatting to the receptionist. That said, he's right that many dislike the new engines because of the lower noise (never bothered me), and that's a bit daft too.

    Mind you, the next line describes returning to old-fashioned engines as a delusional fantasy, so that does rather nail the colours to the mast.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/40735193

    In fairness though, Mr Dancer; would you visit a brothel with a miserable, ugly receptionist?
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,988
    Mr. M, no. But that's because I am a man of unremitting virtue, and therefore wouldn't visit a brothel at all.
  • Options
    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,264
    edited July 2017
  • Options
    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,044

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?

    Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.

    The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.

    Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.

    (*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,988
    Mr. Jessop, perhaps.
  • Options
    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,044
    Wisconsin are paying Foxconn $3 billion for the honour of having the factory. That's significant.

    In other news, a Wisconsin university has just got $506 million from Apple in a patent suit. Another sign of the patent madness overtaking America.

    http://fortune.com/2017/07/26/apple-wisconsin-patent-lawsuit/
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,988
    Slightly odd horse-racing story. The wrong one won, apparently, at 50/1:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/40740691
  • Options
    Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091
    The problem with the "divided parties struggle" theory is that, for the past 10 years, the Lib Dems have been by far the most united party - there was rarely any plotting against Clegg or Farron even when the LibDems' fortunes were dire, and practically never any disputes over policy. Yet they've taken a hammering over the same period.
  • Options
    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,264
    "TV was invented in America,” Mr. Gou said at the White House, before noting that products like LCD displays and similar technology were no longer made here."

    (From New York Times article: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/business/foxconn-factory-wisconsin-jobs.html)

    WTF??????
  • Options
    PongPong Posts: 4,693
    edited July 2017

    Slightly odd horse-racing story. The wrong one won, apparently, at 50/1:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/40740691

    I'd guess the bookies will quickly come to their own conclusion about whether that was a deliberate fraud after a quick glance at the betting patterns.

    "some bookmakers have said they will pay out on the horses finishing first and second."

    This bit ^ indicates it was more likely to be a cockup, not conspiracy.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,688

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?

    Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.

    The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.

    Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.

    (*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.

    "Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"


    I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,988
    Mr. Pong, indeed.

    Rather odd thing to happen. The closest F1 equivalent was, I think, a season or two ago when Williams (if memory serves) somehow managed to put on three soft and one medium tyre on Bottas' car.
  • Options
    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,044
    edited July 2017

    "TV was invented in America,” Mr. Gou said at the White House, before noting that products like LCD displays and similar technology were no longer made here."

    (From New York Times article: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/business/foxconn-factory-wisconsin-jobs.html)

    WTF??????

    It's arguable. AIUI Logie-Baird developed mechanical-scan TV, which was a technological dead end. (fx: checks Wiki). A couple of years later, Philo Farnsworth developed electronic TV in the US.

    People had been working on transmitting films for years; Logie-Baird's was not the system that progressed technologically, even if it was the first to transmit. If you were to look back through 'modern' TV's evolutionary tree, it would start in the US.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television#History
  • Options
    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,044

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?

    Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.

    The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.

    Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.

    (*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.

    "Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"


    I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
    Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,688

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?

    Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.

    The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.

    Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.

    (*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.

    "Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"


    I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
    Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
    Therein lies the problem. The referendum was all about what was right for the Conservative party, not for the country.

    Which just about sums up the Tories these days!
  • Options
    ThreeQuidderThreeQuidder Posts: 6,133

    "TV was invented in America,” Mr. Gou said at the White House, before noting that products like LCD displays and similar technology were no longer made here."

    (From New York Times article: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/business/foxconn-factory-wisconsin-jobs.html)

    WTF??????

    The actual broadcast technologies weren't but there's a strong argument that the modern TV industry was.
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,285
    edited July 2017
    Corbyn is a hard-right Brexiter. Progressives must fight back, not follow
    Vince Cable

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/27/brexit-corbyn-hard-right-progressive-labour-europe
  • Options
    ThreeQuidderThreeQuidder Posts: 6,133

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?

    Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.

    The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.

    Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.

    (*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.

    "Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"


    I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
    Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
    Therein lies the problem. The referendum was all about what was right for the Conservative party, not for the country.

    Which just about sums up the Tories these days!
    Nope. The referendum was held because there was significant popular demand for it.
  • Options
    logical_songlogical_song Posts: 9,721

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?

    Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.

    The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.

    Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.

    (*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.

    "Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"


    I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
    Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
    Therein lies the problem. The referendum was all about what was right for the Conservative party, not for the country.

    Which just about sums up the Tories these days!
    Nope. The referendum was held because there was significant popular demand for it.
    So, if there is significant popular support for a second referendum once the Brexit details are known, no doubt you will support it.
  • Options
    david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,419
    Yorkcity said:

    On topic, Mike's comment that "the Tory splits will continue as long as the leadership position remains uncertain" is right, though the splits will also continue as long as the broad Brexit settlement is so uncertain. The two are probably related in any case.

    However, of the two, the Brexit issue is the more important. The leadership question exists only in the background; Brexit is a daily challenge and one which can play out in any number of areas.

    Will no deal eventually cause the refiguration in both main parties ? As for many walking away is an option.
    Walking away has to be an option. Red lines need to mean read lines. The alternative is simply giving in to any EU demand that they insist on.

    But no, for all that Brexit is important and though it might lead to defections in all directions of voters and, to a lesser extent, politicians, the party structure will probably survive the next decade more-or-less unchanged.
  • Options
    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,044

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?

    Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.

    The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.

    Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.

    (*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.

    "Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"


    I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
    Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
    Therein lies the problem. The referendum was all about what was right for the Conservative party, not for the country.

    Which just about sums up the Tories these days!
    Nope. The referendum was held because there was significant popular demand for it.
    +1
  • Options
    david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,419
    GeoffM said:

    F1: reading a BBC article on Formula E. Quite telling paragraph:

    "The latest turbo hybrid F1 engines represent a revolutionary advance in technology but they are far from universally popular. Their detractors shrug off the 1,000bhp they produce, the fact they use 35% less fuel to do a grand prix, that they have increased thermal efficiency from 29% to a remarkable 50% in just four years, and focus instead on their muted sound and their high cost."

    Talking about fuel and thermal efficiency in F1 is a bit like saying you visit a particular brothel because you like chatting to the receptionist. That said, he's right that many dislike the new engines because of the lower noise (never bothered me), and that's a bit daft too.

    Mind you, the next line describes returning to old-fashioned engines as a delusional fantasy, so that does rather nail the colours to the mast.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/40735193

    In fairness though, Mr Dancer; would you visit a brothel with a miserable, ugly receptionist?
    They have receptionists? Do you need to make an appointment?!

    Besides, surely it's more like visiting a particular establishment because the service providers are vegetarian, or some such?
  • Options
    ThreeQuidderThreeQuidder Posts: 6,133

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?

    Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.

    The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.

    Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.

    (*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.

    "Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"


    I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
    Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
    Therein lies the problem. The referendum was all about what was right for the Conservative party, not for the country.

    Which just about sums up the Tories these days!
    Nope. The referendum was held because there was significant popular demand for it.
    So, if there is significant popular support for a second referendum once the Brexit details are known, no doubt you will support it.
    If there is significant popular support for a Rejoin referendum after we've left, of course I would support it.
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,988
    Mr. Herdson, I imagine you don't have to, but you could.

    There's a scene with a brothel receptionist in the second story in this book (by me):
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adventures-Edric-Hero-Hornska-Book-ebook/dp/B01DOSP9ZK/

    Quite a nice scene, (says he who wrote it).
  • Options
    Carolus_RexCarolus_Rex Posts: 1,414

    GeoffM said:

    F1: reading a BBC article on Formula E. Quite telling paragraph:

    "The latest turbo hybrid F1 engines represent a revolutionary advance in technology but they are far from universally popular. Their detractors shrug off the 1,000bhp they produce, the fact they use 35% less fuel to do a grand prix, that they have increased thermal efficiency from 29% to a remarkable 50% in just four years, and focus instead on their muted sound and their high cost."

    Talking about fuel and thermal efficiency in F1 is a bit like saying you visit a particular brothel because you like chatting to the receptionist. That said, he's right that many dislike the new engines because of the lower noise (never bothered me), and that's a bit daft too.

    Mind you, the next line describes returning to old-fashioned engines as a delusional fantasy, so that does rather nail the colours to the mast.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/40735193

    In fairness though, Mr Dancer; would you visit a brothel with a miserable, ugly receptionist?
    They have receptionists? Do you need to make an appointment?!

    Besides, surely it's more like visiting a particular establishment because the service providers are vegetarian, or some such?
    I believe the technical term is "maid".

    So I'm told.
  • Options
    FF43FF43 Posts: 15,736
    edited July 2017

    Walking away has to be an option. Red lines need to mean read lines. The alternative is simply giving in to any EU demand that they insist on.

    But no, for all that Brexit is important and though it might lead to defections in all directions of voters and, to a lesser extent, politicians, the party structure will probably survive the next decade more-or-less unchanged.

    Theoretically yes. In practice there will be no deal offered so bad to be worth walking away from. The UK side is unfortunately undermining a relatively successful outcome by being in that mindset. It's not that kind of negotation.

    In fact none of the apparent sticking points matter as far as the deal is concerned. The money is a haggle and manageable. We will want immigration from the EU, it's reciprocal for our citizens to the EU and in any case we have managed perfectly all right for the past 40 years. As there needs to be supranational oversight of the arrangements, the ECJ is as good a way to do it as any and, again, we have managed fine.

    These are simply sticking points in terms of domestic politics and the way Brexit was sold to the British population. If we don't get control over our EU immigration, can't reject foreign courts and have to pay as much as before, but get less trade, prosperity, tax revenue for public services, influence and jobs and have to go through massive disruption on the way, then what's the point of Brexit? It's not a question the EU needs to answer. It's a question half the country has been asking for a year without a good answer from the promoters of Brexit.

    What matters in terms of the deal is the stuff that isn't being discussed: what to do about nuclear waste, product certification, tariffs on automotive components, chlorinated chicken, financial regulation, aviation certification, fishing rights etc etc etc.
  • Options
    logical_songlogical_song Posts: 9,721

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?

    Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.

    The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.

    Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.

    (*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.

    "Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"


    I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
    Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
    Therein lies the problem. The referendum was all about what was right for the Conservative party, not for the country.

    Which just about sums up the Tories these days!
    Nope. The referendum was held because there was significant popular demand for it.
    So, if there is significant popular support for a second referendum once the Brexit details are known, no doubt you will support it.
    If there is significant popular support for a Rejoin referendum after we've left, of course I would support it.
    But that wasn't the question.
  • Options
    Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 30,964
    FF43 said:

    Walking away has to be an option. Red lines need to mean read lines. The alternative is simply giving in to any EU demand that they insist on.

    But no, for all that Brexit is important and though it might lead to defections in all directions of voters and, to a lesser extent, politicians, the party structure will probably survive the next decade more-or-less unchanged.

    Theoretically yes. In practice there will be no deal offered so bad to be worth walking away from. The UK side is unfortunately undermining a relatively successful outcome by being in that mindset. It's not that kind of negotation.

    In fact none of the apparent sticking points matter as far as the deal is concerned. The money is a haggle and manageable. We will want immigration from the EU, it's reciprocal for our citizens to the EU and in any case we have managed perfectly all right for the past 40 years. As there needs to be supranational oversight of the arrangements, the ECJ is as good a way to do it as any and, again, we have managed fine.

    These are simply sticking points in terms of domestic politics and the way Brexit was sold to the British population. If we don't get control over our EU immigration, can't reject foreign courts and have to pay as much as before, but get less trade, prosperity, tax revenue for public services, influence and jobs and have to go through massive disruption on the way, then what's the point of Brexit? It's not a question the EU needs to answer. It's a question half the country has been asking for a year without a good answer from the promoters of Brexit.

    What matters in terms of the deal is the stuff that isn't being discussed: what to do about nuclear waste, product certification, tariffs on automotive components, chlorinated chicken, financial regulation, aviation certification, fishing rights etc etc etc.
    And this is why you are still in denial about Brexit and the fact it will happen.

    Saying we have 'done fine' in regard to immigration, the ECJ oversight and how much we pay is arrogance in the extreme. Whilst I personally might be in favour of open borders, that is because I am in a privileged position whereby I am unaffected by it. That does not mean that for many people 'we have managed perfectly all right for the past 40 years'. We certainly haven't done alright as far as the ECJ is concerned, nor regarding the amount of money we have thrown away on Europhiles' vast vanity project.

    And actually half the country has not been asking that question at all. Fanatics like you might have been but the majority of the country has just been getting on with things and has expected the Government and politicians on all sides to do the same.
  • Options
    ThreeQuidderThreeQuidder Posts: 6,133
    edited July 2017

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?

    Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.

    The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.

    Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.

    (*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.

    "Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"


    I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
    Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
    Therein lies the problem. The referendum was all about what was right for the Conservative party, not for the country.

    Which just about sums up the Tories these days!
    Nope. The referendum was held because there was significant popular demand for it.
    So, if there is significant popular support for a second referendum once the Brexit details are known, no doubt you will support it.
    If there is significant popular support for a Rejoin referendum after we've left, of course I would support it.
    But that wasn't the question.
    I assumed you were postulating a possible scenario.

    An "overturn the first referendum" referendum is impossible, as it would require the Article 50 negotiations to yield two deals for the British people to choose between. That ain't gonna happen.

    A Noel Edmonds referendum, on the other hand, is technically possible but would be dumb beyond belief (cf the Greek experience) and so the chances of Parliament actually requesting one are (to say the least) remote - they will take the Deal or No Deal decision themselves.
  • Options
    Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 30,964

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?

    Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.

    The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.

    Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.

    (*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.

    "Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"


    I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
    Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
    It would have looked bleak for all the parties and the country as a whole. In fact given the direction of travel of the EU and our overwhelming antipathy towards that destination, it would have looked bleak for the whole of the EU.
  • Options
    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549
    edited July 2017
    I do not think any one of 650 MPs will want to take the decision. They will forever be held responsible by the opposite side. Much better pass the buck to the people with all the relevant information.
  • Options
    FF43FF43 Posts: 15,736

    FF43 said:

    Walking away has to be an option. Runchanged.

    Theoretically yes. In practice there will be no deal offered so bad to be worth walking away from. The UK side is unfortunately undermining a relatively successful outcome by being in that mindset. It's not that kind of negotation.

    In fact none of the apparent sticking points matter as far as the deal is concerned. The money is a haggle and manageable. We will want immigration from the EU, it's reciprocal for our citizens to the EU and in any case we have managed perfectly all right for the past 40 years. As there needs to be supranational oversight of the arrangements, the ECJ is as good a way to do it as any and, again, we have managed fine.

    These are simply sticking points in terms of domestic politics and the way Brexit was sold to the British population. If we don't get control over our EU immigration, can't reject foreign courts and have to pay as much as before, but get less trade, prosperity, tax revenue for public services, influence and jobs and have to go through massive disruption on the way, then what's the point of Brexit? It's not a question the EU needs to answer. It's a question half the country has been asking for a year without a good answer from the promoters of Brexit.

    What matters in terms of the deal is the stuff that isn't being discussed: what to do about nuclear waste, product certification, tariffs on automotive components, chlorinated chicken, financial regulation, aviation certification, fishing rights etc etc etc.
    And this is why you are still in denial about Brexit and the fact it will happen.

    Saying we have 'done fine' in regard to immigration, the ECJ oversight and how much we pay is arrogance in the extreme. Whilst I personally might be in favour of open borders, that is because I am in a privileged position whereby I am unaffected by it. That does not mean that for many people 'we have managed perfectly all right for the past 40 years'. We certainly haven't done alright as far as the ECJ is concerned, nor regarding the amount of money we have thrown away on Europhiles' vast vanity project.

    And actually half the country has not been asking that question at all. Fanatics like you might have been but the majority of the country has just been getting on with things and has expected the Government and politicians on all sides to do the same.
    Maybe you could read what I wrote? I have never been in denial that Brexit will happen, but I do have a real curiosity about how it's going to turn out and how the many contradictions are going to resolve themselves.
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,988
    F1: Honda deal with Sauber is off (just seen the headline):
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/40744668

    Also, Bottas is 9.4 on Betfair for the win. Hmm.
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,080

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?

    Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.

    The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.

    Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.

    (*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.

    "Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"


    I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
    Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
    It would have looked bleak for all the parties and the country as a whole. In fact given the direction of travel of the EU and our overwhelming antipathy towards that destination, it would have looked bleak for the whole of the EU.
    48% Remain after 20 years of hollowing out of domestic pro-European politics does not indicate 'overwhelming antipathy' to the EU.

    Nobody in the UK has a solution for how to leave the EU without undermining it and without diminishing ourselves. We could do one or the other but there isn't a majority in favour of becoming a supplicant and neither is there a majority in favour of becoming a geopolitical ally of Putin against the EU. Ultimately this conflict can only be resolved by getting a new pro-EU mandate and abandoning 20 years of drift, or by entering a long-term cycle of self-inflicted decline.
  • Options
    Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 30,964

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?

    Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.

    The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.

    Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.

    (*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.

    "Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"


    I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
    Perhaps not. But from the perspective of the Conservative Party, the alternate future where a referendum was not hold looked very bleak.
    It would have looked bleak for all the parties and the country as a whole. In fact given the direction of travel of the EU and our overwhelming antipathy towards that destination, it would have looked bleak for the whole of the EU.
    48% Remain after 20 years of hollowing out of domestic pro-European politics does not indicate 'overwhelming antipathy' to the EU.

    Nobody in the UK has a solution for how to leave the EU without undermining it and without diminishing ourselves. We could do one or the other but there isn't a majority in favour of becoming a supplicant and neither is there a majority in favour of becoming a geopolitical ally of Putin against the EU. Ultimately this conflict can only be resolved by getting a new pro-EU mandate and abandoning 20 years of drift, or by entering a long-term cycle of self-inflicted decline.
    Yep your stuck record is still producing the same rubbish sounds.

    Your fanatical belief in the EU blinds you both to its faults and to the alternatives. It is no wonder so many of us consider you an object of derision these days.
  • Options
    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453

    And this is why you are still in denial about Brexit and the fact it will happen.

    Saying we have 'done fine' in regard to immigration,

    Ummm...

    https://twitter.com/bbcpolitics/status/890619382606450689
  • Options
    Freggles said:

    Blue_rog said:

    Labour party fighting like cats in a sack under Ed Milliband. Result: 9.3m votes. Jeremy Corbyn takes over, pours oil on troubled wter. Journalists in despair at finding a single dissenting voice. Result 12.8 m votes. Divided parties are punished at the ballot box. Well known fact.

    So the shadow cabinet resigning and losing a vote of no confidence in the PLP is a united party?
    I think it was sarcasm
    It was!
  • Options
    Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091
    edited July 2017
    Scott_P said:

    And this is why you are still in denial about Brexit and the fact it will happen.

    Saying we have 'done fine' in regard to immigration,

    Ummm...

    https://twitter.com/bbcpolitics/status/890619382606450689
    Is there anything necessarily contradictory about thinking migrants as individuals are fantastic, but too much of it isn't?

    As much as every parent loves their kids, I'm sure at the same time most would think it a bad thing to have 20 or 30 of them.
  • Options
    Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 30,964
    FF43 said:


    Maybe you could read what I wrote? I have never been in denial that Brexit will happen, but I do have a real curiosity about how it's going to turn out and how the many contradictions are going to resolve themselves.

    Our whole political system - indeed the whole politics of democracy - is filled with contradictions. Brexit is no different. Anyone who says they are certain about every aspect of their lives or their beliefs is usually a liar or a lunatic. In the end people on all sides of all debates compromise with their beliefs whilst pretending they have held true.

    I am in a rare and fortunate position of knowing from long before the vote that my first, pure, preferences would never be achieved as I hold a very minority view. So for me compromise has already happened. I know there are plenty of people on the Remain side who are in a similar position for a slightly different reason.

    The fools are those on either side who think all their dreams will come true and the outcome of this process will be exactly as they hoped - yes I am looking at you Williamglenn.
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,988
    edited July 2017
    Mr. 565, indeed. Reminds me of this rather good Men in Black line (edited extra bit, timing's gone wonky and won't be fixed, it's at 5m55s on the clock at the bottom):
    https://youtu.be/QYouL4GBu5c?t=5m55s
  • Options
    Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820
    The Scotland Yard investigation into the Grenfell Tower disaster has said there are “reasonable grounds” to suspect the council and the organisation that managed the flats of corporate manslaughter.

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/27/met-says-grenfell-council-may-have-committed-corporate-manslaughter
  • Options
    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,907
    Evening all, just catching up.

    Mr Dancer, if the guy with the joint fastest car is 9.4 that's massive value.

    England's cricketers saved by the rain at the Oval, maybe this is the rare Test where one backs the draw?

    Good luck to Ms @Cyclefree on her new endeavour, working for yourself is so much better than a dreary day job chasing dodgy bankers. :)
  • Options
    TonyETonyE Posts: 938

    The Scotland Yard investigation into the Grenfell Tower disaster has said there are “reasonable grounds” to suspect the council and the organisation that managed the flats of corporate manslaughter.

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/27/met-says-grenfell-council-may-have-committed-corporate-manslaughter

    I've been reading this research on the Grenfell Fire and the regulatory issues surrounding it. I think it's got a lot of serious and what would seem neutral commentary in it.

    http://theriveroflife.com/


  • Options
    MyBurningEarsMyBurningEars Posts: 3,651

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?

    Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.

    The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.

    Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.

    (*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.

    "Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"


    I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
    If both (a) Brexit and (b) the EU, or its successor, manage to last out 20 or 30 or 40 years, I strongly suspect that the number of Brits surveying the scene and deciding it's shame the UK (or its successor) does not form a part of it, will be pretty small. Once the EU is a properly "foreign country", the idea of rejoining will have the same twist of fantasy and otherness about it, as does the concept of Britain becoming the 51st state today.
  • Options
    OmniumOmnium Posts: 9,786
    The great thing that the Tories have going for them is that they are actually right on many, if not most, of the political arguments.

    Whatever Brexit might bring initially the real game is about the long term. The UK can negotiate progressively better deals, and although its pretty important that a good deal is struck at the first asking it's not vital.

    The worst thing that Labour have going for them is that they choose to be on the wrong side of arguments.

  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,930

    That's a fantastic article by Marie Le Conte.

    Well done on becoming the world's richest man :)
  • Options
    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Omnium said:

    The great thing that the Tories have going for them is that they are actually right on many, if not most, of the political arguments.

    Whatever Brexit might bring initially the real game is about the long term. The UK can negotiate progressively better deals, and although its pretty important that a good deal is struck at the first asking it's not vital.

    The worst thing that Labour have going for them is that they choose to be on the wrong side of arguments.

    Pure speculation. The Tories have been on the wrong side of many arguments over the years, and continue to do so.

    The world is becoming an increasingly liberal place, intolerant of petty nationalisms, though they do tend to lash out in their death throes. It is going to be an increasingly mobile world, and future generations will blame the Brexiteers for putting us out in the cold politically.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,972

    Omnium said:

    The great thing that the Tories have going for them is that they are actually right on many, if not most, of the political arguments.

    Whatever Brexit might bring initially the real game is about the long term. The UK can negotiate progressively better deals, and although its pretty important that a good deal is struck at the first asking it's not vital.

    The worst thing that Labour have going for them is that they choose to be on the wrong side of arguments.

    Pure speculation. The Tories have been on the wrong side of many arguments over the years, and continue to do so.

    The world is becoming an increasingly liberal place, intolerant of petty nationalisms, though they do tend to lash out in their death throes. It is going to be an increasingly mobile world, and future generations will blame the Brexiteers for putting us out in the cold politically.
    I wouldn't consider the Tories nationalist.
  • Options
    Peter_the_PunterPeter_the_Punter Posts: 13,320

    Omnium said:

    The great thing that the Tories have going for them is that they are actually right on many, if not most, of the political arguments.

    Whatever Brexit might bring initially the real game is about the long term. The UK can negotiate progressively better deals, and although its pretty important that a good deal is struck at the first asking it's not vital.

    The worst thing that Labour have going for them is that they choose to be on the wrong side of arguments.

    Pure speculation. The Tories have been on the wrong side of many arguments over the years, and continue to do so.

    The world is becoming an increasingly liberal place, intolerant of petty nationalisms, though they do tend to lash out in their death throes. It is going to be an increasingly mobile world, and future generations will blame the Brexiteers for putting us out in the cold politically.
    I think he was taking the Jimmy Riddle.
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,080

    If both (a) Brexit and (b) the EU, or its successor, manage to last out 20 or 30 or 40 years, I strongly suspect that the number of Brits surveying the scene and deciding it's shame the UK (or its successor) does not form a part of it, will be pretty small. Once the EU is a properly "foreign country", the idea of rejoining will have the same twist of fantasy and otherness about it, as does the concept of Britain becoming the 51st state today.

    In 20 or 30 years it's possible that the EU might look and act like a single country from the perspective of the Chinese, or even the Americans, but it will never look that way to us because we are too close and too intimately bound up with its destiny.

    Imagine the UK news coverage from an EU summit 20 years from now where an event of world significance was being decided. Everything will be tinged with a sense of loss, of what could have been had we not walked out and given up our seat at the table.
  • Options
    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,946
    O/T, but just watching the cricket; does Tom Westley take an Off stump guard??
  • Options
    MarkHopkinsMarkHopkins Posts: 5,584

    If both (a) Brexit and (b) the EU, or its successor, manage to last out 20 or 30 or 40 years, I strongly suspect that the number of Brits surveying the scene and deciding it's shame the UK (or its successor) does not form a part of it, will be pretty small. Once the EU is a properly "foreign country", the idea of rejoining will have the same twist of fantasy and otherness about it, as does the concept of Britain becoming the 51st state today.

    In 20 or 30 years it's possible that the EU might look and act like a single country from the perspective of the Chinese, or even the Americans, but it will never look that way to us because we are too close and too intimately bound up with its destiny.

    Imagine the UK news coverage from an EU summit 20 years from now where an event of world significance was being decided. Everything will be tinged with a sense of loss, of what could have been had we not walked out and given up our seat at the table.

    Imagine the EU news coverage from the UK parliament 20 years from now where an event of world significance had been led by the UK. Everything will be tinged with a sense of failure, of what could have been had they not treated us so badly.

  • Options
    FF43FF43 Posts: 15,736
    In other news, Donald Trump is done for. He has pissed off the Boy Scouts.

    Invited to deliver the normal platitudes at the national jamboree, he ruined the Scout Spirit by making sarcastic comments about Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama and the Fake News Media. The Chief Scout is not pleased and issued a strongly worded statement condemning Donald Trump, including:

    We have steadfastly remained non-partisan and refused to comment on political matters. We sincerely regret that politics were inserted into the Scouting program.

    While we live in a challenging time in a country divided along political lines, the focus of Scouting remains the same today as every day.

    Trustworthiness, loyalty, kindness and bravery are just a few of the admirable traits Scouts aspire to develop [...]

    Few will argue the importance of teaching values and responsibility to our youth — not only right from wrong, but specific positive values such as fairness, courage, honor and respect for others. [...]

    In a time when differences seem to separate our country, we hope the true spirit of Scouting will empower our next generation of leaders to bring people together to do good in the world.


    It's clear he thinks Donald Trump has none of the values of trustworthiness, loyalty, kindness, bravery, responsibility, knowing right from wrong, fairness, courage, honor and respect for others. It's quite a list. The grown ups were the ones in the audience, many of whom would a better job than the incumbent.
  • Options
    MyBurningEarsMyBurningEars Posts: 3,651

    If both (a) Brexit and (b) the EU, or its successor, manage to last out 20 or 30 or 40 years, I strongly suspect that the number of Brits surveying the scene and deciding it's shame the UK (or its successor) does not form a part of it, will be pretty small. Once the EU is a properly "foreign country", the idea of rejoining will have the same twist of fantasy and otherness about it, as does the concept of Britain becoming the 51st state today.

    In 20 or 30 years it's possible that the EU might look and act like a single country from the perspective of the Chinese, or even the Americans, but it will never look that way to us because we are too close and too intimately bound up with its destiny.

    Imagine the UK news coverage from an EU summit 20 years from now where an event of world significance was being decided. Everything will be tinged with a sense of loss, of what could have been had we not walked out and given up our seat at the table.
    Every time America has a close presidential election result, or a close vote in Congress, or top US officials make a decision with far-reaching consequences, if we don't like it then it is in some respect "our own fault" - because we could have very easily become State 51 had we so chosen. If we measure things in terms of clout-per-capita, I suspect the "sovereignty multiplier effect" you often mention would work more to our advantage in the State 51 scenario than with full-blown euro-integration. After all, the decisions the USA makes are generally more important than those made by the EU, yet we would tip more balances over those decisions within the USA than within the Eurozone.

    I jest. But historically there were significant arguments within some of the Canadian colonies -
    generally during times of economic hardship - as to whether a merger with their U.S. markets would be the way forward. Every time the USA narrowly elects a president whom the Canadians take a disdain for (and that's regularly enough) I wonder how the Candians live with the guilt - that the USA inflicts such personages upon the world stage is basically their fault (or at least, sine qua non causal responsibility).
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,080
    I commend this thread to left and right alike:

    https://twitter.com/emporersnewc/status/890649761761468416
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,080

    we could have very easily become State 51 had we so chosen.

    There's that unfounded belief again that all sorts of unlikely outcomes are somehow there for the choosing.

    Our choices in this world are not what you think they are, and this delusion lies at the heart of so many of the problems we've had in accepting our membership of the EU.
  • Options
    FF43FF43 Posts: 15,736
    Brexit won't be particularly good for the UK in the short to medium term. Long term, who knows? All things being equal there's no reason to believe it will be beneficial long term either. But the longer you go out, the less things are equal. More importantly we will have given up caring about a decades old "what if?". And as someone famous once said, long term we are dead.
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,080
    I see Boris has compared Brexit to the millennium bug. He must mean in the sense that consultants are being paid megabucks to fly around in first class trying to sort it out.
  • Options
    MyBurningEarsMyBurningEars Posts: 3,651

    we could have very easily become State 51 had we so chosen.

    There's that unfounded belief again that all sorts of unlikely outcomes are somehow there for the choosing.

    Our choices in this world are not what you think they are, and this delusion lies at the heart of so many of the problems we've had in accepting our membership of the EU.
    Wilson and LBJ discussed it, though not necessarily seriously. Had there been a deep and sustained appetite among the British electorate for a grand reunion of the English-speaking peoples, even on American terms, it doesn't seem to me that it would have been an inherently more ridiculous proposal than, say, Britain joining a federal Europe. I think the fundamental constraint is that people do not want it.

    Pretty much ditto for the proposals (raised at an official level both during the early stages of WW2 and then again post-Suez) for a merger of Britain and France.
  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,930

    I commend this thread to left and right alike:

    https://twitter.com/emporersnewc/status/890649761761468416

    Judging by his tone on the thread, "he" voted for Trump......
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,402
    I struggle to understand how Owen Jones became such a twat.

    He's like a political Shia LaBeouf.
  • Options
    AllanAllan Posts: 262

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point, but the voters were seeping more from Labour, no?

    Yes, but the data about that was much more vague and wispy, and most relevant at the next election. On the other hand, he had a bunch of people determined to bring the party down from within, some of whom had previously brought the party down in Major's time.

    The most obvious and immediate threat to the party was from the bastards. Remember that conference when Farage went somewhere down south and the rumours were a third Conservative MP was shifting over? (*) The pat could not stand much more of that.

    Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote.

    (*) It'd be great to learn the true story behind that.

    "Cameron should be congratulated by Conservatives for holding the referendum. Some of us may have voted remain, some of us may dislike the result, some of us may wish it never happened, but at least he gave us a vote"


    I don't believe many people will think that in five years time! Even those who wanted the referendum and voted leave.
    If both (a) Brexit and (b) the EU, or its successor, manage to last out 20 or 30 or 40 years, I strongly suspect that the number of Brits surveying the scene and deciding it's shame the UK (or its successor) does not form a part of it, will be pretty small. Once the EU is a properly "foreign country", the idea of rejoining will have the same twist of fantasy and otherness about it, as does the concept of Britain becoming the 51st state today.
    The UK as an export market for the EU is roughly the same size as the USA. The 51st state would, if it acted with the USA, represent 34% of the Rest of the World exports from the EU.
    https://fullfact.org/europe/uk-eu-trade/

    A mere trifle?
  • Options
    Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091
    Pulpstar said:

    That's a fantastic article by Marie Le Conte.

    Well done on becoming the world's richest man :)
    LOL, I thought when that article about the Amazon guy came up that he reminded me of someone....
  • Options
    Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 4,816

    I commend this thread to left and right alike:

    https://twitter.com/emporersnewc/status/890649761761468416

    I commend this thread to left and right alike:

    https://twitter.com/emporersnewc/status/890649761761468416

    Democracy is as close to a religious tenet as many in the West have. And that makes bizarre and potentially dangerous interpretations almost inevitable.
  • Options
    AllanAllan Posts: 262

    I see Boris has compared Brexit to the millennium bug. He must mean in the sense that consultants are being paid megabucks to fly around in first class trying to sort it out.

    The panic over the millenium bug was one of the best con jobs created by a culture of fear and thus enabling tech companies to get purchasers to embark on massive expenditures of capital. The strange thing was how the tech company suppliers were not held to account for selling potentially duff software.

    One of the worst exploiters of the millenium bug in the telecoms world was Nortel which eventually went belly up having feasted on the sudden increase in spending and could not survive the inevitable trough.
  • Options
    CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,215
    edited July 2017
    Sandpit said:

    Evening all, just catching up.



    Good luck to Ms @Cyclefree on her new endeavour, working for yourself is so much better than a dreary day job chasing dodgy bankers. :)

    I quite like chasing dodgy bankers. Not dreary at all. Rather fun, in fact. It's all the rest of it which has become tiresome. If all goes well I will be able to do more of what I like, when I like and for people I like - or at least respect - and less of the tiresome crap.

    And if it doesn't work out, well, at least I'll have tried. It's always the things one doesn't do that one regrets. In my experience, anyway.

    Thank you to all for your good wishes.

    (If a refreshingly sane voice appears on your screens talking sense about stuff - a sort of anti-Shami - well, that will be me! :) )
  • Options
    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,007
    The Border Adjustment Tax is dead.

    (Which is probably good news for the world.)
  • Options
    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
  • Options
    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,946
    Cyclefree said:

    Sandpit said:

    Evening all, just catching up.



    Good luck to Ms @Cyclefree on her new endeavour, working for yourself is so much better than a dreary day job chasing dodgy bankers. :)

    I quite like chasing dodgy bankers. Not dreary at all. Rather fun, in fact. It's all the rest of it which has become tiresome. If all goes well I will be able to do more of what I like, when I like and for people I like - or at least respect - and less of the tiresome crap.

    And if it doesn't work out, well, at least I'll have tried. It's always the things one doesn't do that one regrets. In my experience, anyway.

    Thank you to all for your good wishes.

    (If a refreshingly sane voice appears on your screens talking sense about stuff - a sort of anti-Shami - well, that will be me! :) )
    Congrats on taking the plunge!
  • Options
    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,946
    rcs1000 said:

    The Border Adjustment Tax is dead.

    (Which is probably good news for the world.)

    Indeed.

    It struck me as one of those proposals that would never quite happen. Too complicated, too many vested interests against etc.
This discussion has been closed.