The pitch in the cricket is looking as boring and predictable as the last Jedi. Its a good job the darts was exciting as this test match has draw written in massive letters.
Adonis is one of several Metropolitan elite anti Brexit crusaders including Osborne, Clegg, Umunna, Blair, Mandelson etc and their views are at the opposite extreme of Farage.
To accuse TM of being a Ukipper is just hysterical and as far as I am concerned a plague on all of them
I nearly made the point in this article that the Conservatives are currently implementing UKIP's 2015 manifesto piecemeal. Lord Adonis is correct in substance.
I find it very difficult to believe he has only just found this out. Given that, I am struggling with the idea he has genuinely quit over Brexit.
Oh I'm sure his flexible opinions have not suddenly found their breaking point. Even a careerist can be right though.
Looking at his letter it seems clear the real issue is a profound disagreement with Chris Grayling. There seem to be a number of very worrying aspects to the bail-out decision the minister took and these deserve serious scrutiny. In leading on Brexit, though, Adonis has made a serious mistake and given the government all the material it needs to portray him as nothing more than a malcontent. He has made a fool of himself and ensured that Grayling will probably ride out what could have been a very difficult period - and that the taxpayer will end up heavily subsidising private companies who have proved themselves incapable of running efficient businesses.
Yes - that had passed me by before - but as you observe as its buried in a scream of consciousness rant about Brexit (and whatever May's faults to describe her as UKIP is hysterically over the top) - it will get lost as the ripples close over his head for the final time....
Although his main complaint seems to be "Chris Grayling didn't use my blueprint which would have allowed me to seem more important than I really am"
FWIW, I think there is personal animosity between Grayling and Adonis.
Had he led with that he'd have had most people's sympathy...
Friday morning going slow I'm watching the election show Lots of Ladbrokes slips on the floor Memories of the night before Out knocking up and having fun Now I've stopped reading The Sun Waiting for the results to show But why I voted no one knows
Voting, polling Blogging, trolling And now I'm all alone In Brexit Land My only home
I think it's time to write a thread To vent the bemusement in my head Spent my money on online bookies Got nowt here but all the cookies Clean my suit and my rosette Election promises to forget Start campaigning all over again Kid myself I'm having fun
Voting, polling Blogging, trolling And now I'm all alone In Brexit Land My only home
Looking out from my worldview I've really nothing else to do Seems like I have started fretting Let's read Political Betting Forget The Mirror and The Times The battle bus with such great lines Look around and I can see A thousand punters just like me
Voting, polling Blogging, trolling And now I'm all alone In Brexit Land My only home
Voting, polling Blogging, trolling And now I'm all alone In Brexit Land My only home
This Iran thing got legs ? And are the rebels the good guys or madder mullahs ?
Bit of a coincidence that today the draconian restrictions on women's dress were relaxed in Tehran for the first time since 1979.
According to one BBC report, it started as an anti-Rouhani (reformer) protest fomented by hardliners, on the basis that the nuclear deal hadn't produced the promised benefits, but it had spread to people who blame the regime in general for failure to improve living standards, including the religious leadership.
Gone Girl on BBC1, one of my favourite films from the last couple of years or so.
No accounting for taste - I saw it praised to high heaven, and though it was well acted I thought it an absolutely stock thriller, nothing standout about it all, and with a really stupid ending.
I see Mariano Rajoy is hopeful for a Catalan government that is open to dialogue. He has some brass ones saying that, even considering the separatists actions.
British artificial intelligence researcher Demis Hassabis has been recognised on the New Year Honours list. Mr Hassabis is chief executive of DeepMind, which has developed software that can beat human experts at the complex board game Go.
They give these gongs out to any old idiot these days ;-)
A world of free movement would be $78 trillion richer says the Economist, forgetting it would also be crammed into western Europe, North America, Oceania and the Far East
The Tories are obsessed on Brexit and it will, thank God, destroy them in the end.
Assuming self preservation remains active they will be in power until 2022, and 12 years is not a bad run in office, even if it will have been a rockier ride than they would have liked. They might well find themselves landslided, but that is not destruction.
On other random news, I see Northern Ireland is being its usual self. Something about the story as reported amuses me, possibly in how after so much time and rounds of talking, they still cannot even get around to discussing the date of more talking without arguing about it.
A date for a fresh round of political talks to restore power sharing in Northern Ireland will be set in the next few days, a DUP MP has said.
Gregory Campbell told BBC Radio Foyle he expects the date to be "within the next 10 days".
But Sinn Féin said: "Another round of talks for talks sake have no political or public credibility."
The Tories are obsessed on Brexit and it will, thank God, destroy them in the end.
Assuming self preservation remains active they will be in power until 2022, and 12 years is not a bad run in office, even if it will have been a rockier ride than they would have liked. They might well find themselves landslided, but that is not destruction.
As long as Corbyn leads Labour the Tories will not be landslided, don't forget Blair had a 13% lead in 1997
The Tories are obsessed on Brexit and it will, thank God, destroy them in the end.
Assuming self preservation remains active they will be in power until 2022, and 12 years is not a bad run in office, even if it will have been a rockier ride than they would have liked. They might well find themselves landslided, but that is not destruction.
As long as Corbyn leads Labour the Tories will not be landslided, don't forget Blair had a 13% lead in 1997
Probably not, but 5 years is a long time, he might not be there, and the situation could get quite a lot worse for them (poor brexit, economic downturn, opposition leader able to rally the corbynistas and without some of corbyn's baggage etc). We shall see.
Adonis is one of several Metropolitan elite anti Brexit crusaders including Osborne, Clegg, Umunna, Blair, Mandelson etc and their views are at the opposite extreme of Farage.
To accuse TM of being a Ukipper is just hysterical and as far as I am concerned a plague on all of them
I nearly made the point in this article that the Conservatives are currently implementing UKIP's 2015 manifesto piecemeal. Lord Adonis is correct in substance.
I find it very difficult to believe he has only just found this out. Given that, I am struggling with the idea he has genuinely quit over Brexit.
Oh I'm sure his flexible opinions have not suddenly found their breaking point. Even a careerist can be right though.
Looking at his letter it seems clear the real issue is a profound disagreement with Chris Grayling. There seem to be a number of very worrying aspects to the bail-out decision the minister took and these deserve serious scrutiny. In leading on Brexit, though, Adonis has made a serious mistake and given the government all the material it needs to portray him as nothing more than a malcontent. He has made a fool of himself and ensured that Grayling will probably ride out what could have been a very difficult period - and that the taxpayer will end up heavily subsidising private companies who have proved themselves incapable of running efficient businesses.
Yes - that had passed me by before - but as you observe as its buried in a scream of consciousness rant about Brexit (and whatever May's faults to describe her as UKIP is hysterically over the top) - it will get lost as the ripples close over his head for the final time....
Although his main complaint seems to be "Chris Grayling didn't use my blueprint which would have allowed me to seem more important than I really am"
The Virgin east coast bailout is absolutely shocking.
The Tories are obsessed on Brexit and it will, thank God, destroy them in the end.
Assuming self preservation remains active they will be in power until 2022, and 12 years is not a bad run in office, even if it will have been a rockier ride than they would have liked. They might well find themselves landslided, but that is not destruction.
As long as Corbyn leads Labour the Tories will not be landslided, don't forget Blair had a 13% lead in 1997
Probably not, but 5 years is a long time, he might not be there, and the situation could get quite a lot worse for them (poor brexit, economic downturn, opposition leader able to rally the corbynistas and without some of corbyn's baggage etc). We shall see.
Corbyn will be there, he and McDonnell have an iron grip on Labour now until the next general election and no matter how bad the economy gets or how bad Brexit gets close to 40% of the electorate will vote Tory to keep out Corbynism
I see Mariano Rajoy is hopeful for a Catalan government that is open to dialogue. He has some brass ones saying that, even considering the separatists actions.
He wants to talk to Citizens, the largest party in Catalonia but not the separatist majority.
A new national Spanish poll after the Catalonia election had Rajoy's PP narrowly ahead still on 25.8% with the Socialists in second on 23% just ahead of Citizens on 22.4%
Read some of the comments on here with its "one more heave" mentality. Look at some of the videos on Youtube of the hubristic Labour conference. Listen to the songs to Corbyn.
Your last sentence bears me out. 2017 saw Labour lose its third successive general election defeat with a tally of seats little higher than when it lost power under Gordon Brown in 2010. It saw the Tory vote rise to Margaret Thatcher levels in 1987. The voters did that.
That is not true of England though where Labour did a lot better than in 2010. Labour appears well placed to end up with in excess of 300 seats next time - 20 gains from the SNP plus 20 - 25 from the Tories.
It's net gains from the Conservatives that matter, and for that, they need to close them down on vote share. So far there's little sign of that. It is easily possible that Labour could go backwards overall in England next time given what they have to defend and where, although if they pick up seats in Scotland that may hide it.
Remember, while Labour are moving forwards in England the Conservatives are not moving backwards significantly at the moment - they are just one seat down on 2010, following shifts in voting patterns that have allowed them to pick up seats in the north and West Country to compensate for losses in the South-east. Corbyn needs to reach out to his northern voters and to middle-class voters in the Midlands and so far there's little sign he can do that either.
It is possible that Labour could go backwards in England next time but at the moment it does not look particularly likely.After 12 years of Tory -led Government , it is quite probable that Labour will recoup some of its working class losses and win back seats such as Walsall North, Copeland and Morley & Outwood. In Wales, Labour looks very well placed to gain Preseli Pembrokeshire and Aberconway - and has a fair chance in Vale of Glamorgan. I am not going to list all the possibilities, but there are a lot of them - including both seats in Milton Keynes as examples.Watford too could easily fall next time.
I can see Labour doing extremely well next time and getting around 40% once again, but it's difficult to envisage them getting more than about 280 to 290 seats. They might just be able to scrape into government with the help of the SNP, Plaid, Greens, etc.
I could see Labour polling circa 42% next time and wining circa 310 seats.
I see Mariano Rajoy is hopeful for a Catalan government that is open to dialogue. He has some brass ones saying that, even considering the separatists actions.
He wants to talk to Citizens, the largest party in Catalonia but not the separatist majority
Yeah, I got that - perhaps I should have put 'open to dialogue' in inverted commas to be clear.
Landslided. Even allowing for the lateness of the hour at the Festive season is worse than pineapple on pizza and Radiohead. You should be thoroughly ashamed.
Read some of the comments on here with its "one more heave" mentality. Look at some of the videos on Youtube of the hubristic Labour conference. Listen to the songs to Corbyn.
Your last sentence bears me out. 2017 saw Labour lose its third successive general election defeat with a tally of seats little higher than when it lost power under Gordon Brown in 2010. It saw the Tory vote rise to Margaret Thatcher levels in 1987. The voters did that.
That is not true of England though where Labour did a lot better than in 2010. Labour appears well placed to end up with in excess of 300 seats next time - 20 gains from the SNP plus 20 - 25 from the Tories.
It's net gains from the Conservatives that matter, and for that, they need to close them down on vote share. So far there's little sign of that. It is easily possible that Labour could go backwards overall in England next time given what they have to defend and where, although if they pick up seats in Scotland that may hide it.
Remember, while Labour are moving forwards in England the Conservatives are not moving backwards significantly at the moment - they are just one seat down on 2010, following shifts in voting patterns that have allowed them to pick up seats in the north and West Country to compensate for losses in the South-east. Corbyn needs to reach out to his northern voters and to middle-class voters in the Midlands and so far there's little sign he can do that either.
It is possible that Labour could go backwards in England next time but at the moment it does not look particularly likely.After 12 years of Tory -led Government , it is quite probable that Labour will recoup some of its working class losses and win back seats such as Walsall North, Copeland and Morley & Outwood. In Wales, Labour looks very well placed to gain Preseli Pembrokeshire and Aberconway - and has a fair chance in Vale of Glamorgan. I am not going to list all the possibilities, but there are a lot of them - including both seats in Milton Keynes as examples.Watford too could easily fall next time.
I can see Labour doing extremely well next time and getting around 40% once again, but it's difficult to envisage them getting more than about 280 to 290 seats. They might just be able to scrape into government with the help of the SNP, Plaid, Greens, etc.
I could see Labour polling circa 42% next time and wining circa 310 seats.
Which would be worse than Cameron got in 2015 and May got in 2017 and with no formal coalition likely with either the LDs or SNP would be a very weak government
But why did he get it when Bob Mackenzie did not? David Butler only received it in very recent years. Personally I view honours as a load of tosh and refuse to take notice of them. If Mrs Windsor wishes to call someone 'Sir' or 'Dame' that is a matter for her - I don't feel obliged to do likewise.
The Tories are obsessed on Brexit and it will, thank God, destroy them in the end.
Assuming self preservation remains active they will be in power until 2022, and 12 years is not a bad run in office, even if it will have been a rockier ride than they would have liked. They might well find themselves landslided, but that is not destruction.
As long as Corbyn leads Labour the Tories will not be landslided, don't forget Blair had a 13% lead in 1997
Probably not, but 5 years is a long time, he might not be there, and the situation could get quite a lot worse for them (poor brexit, economic downturn, opposition leader able to rally the corbynistas and without some of corbyn's baggage etc). We shall see.
Corbyn will be there, he and McDonnell have an iron grip on Labour now until the next general election and no matter how bad the economy gets or how bad Brexit gets close to 40% of the electorate will vote Tory to keep out Corbynism
I don't think that is the case 'no matter how bad' things get, there has to be a point where some will dislike what is there enough to not try to prevent what looks like a very bad alternative. Besides, which, it need not be a massive movement - switch the percentages around, and suddenly Labour start getting numbers enough to think about coalitions and the like.
Landslided. Even allowing for the lateness of the hour at the Festive season is worse than pineapple on pizza and Radiohead. You should be thoroughly ashamed.
We should always try to create silly new words, or just mess around with the language construction, you never know which ones might catch on!
It's not happening so far for England in Melbourne.
Moeen being found out big time against decent players. He needs dropped.
Boycott is definitely not a fan. 'No zip... no revolutions..."
TO be fair, boycott has long pointed out that Ali is not a world class frontline spinner. He likes him as a secondary option / batsman, but this series his batting has been shit.
It's not happening so far for England in Melbourne.
Moeen being found out big time against decent players. He needs dropped.
He's proven on enough occasions he has plenty of quality, but it is clear he cannot really be the sole or main spinner most of the time. Dropping for the last test to give someone else a chance, and to give him a shot in the arm to sort himself out for another series.
The Tories are obsessed on Brexit and it will, thank God, destroy them in the end.
Assuming self preservation remains active they will be in power until 2022, and 12 years is not a bad run in office, even if it will have been a rockier ride than they would have liked. They might well find themselves landslided, but that is not destruction.
As long as Corbyn leads Labour the Tories will not be landslided, don't forget Blair had a 13% lead in 1997
Probably not, but 5 years is a long time, he might not be there, and the situation could get quite a lot worse for them (poor brexit, economic downturn, opposition leader able to rally the corbynistas and without some of corbyn's baggage etc). We shall see.
Corbyn will be there, he and McDonnell have an iron grip on Labour now until the next general election and no matter how bad the economy gets or how bad Brexit gets close to 40% of the electorate will vote Tory to keep out Corbynism
I don't think that is the case 'no matter how bad' things get, there has to be a point where some will dislike what is there enough to not try to prevent what looks like a very bad alternative. Besides, which, it need not be a massive movement - switch the percentages around, and suddenly Labour start getting numbers enough to think about coalitions and the like.
Coalition is still not a landslide, there are a number of current Tory voters who voted for Blair but would never consider voting for Corbyn under any circumstance
The Tories are obsessed on Brexit and it will, thank God, destroy them in the end.
Assuming self preservation remains active they will be in power until 2022, and 12 years is not a bad run in office, even if it will have been a rockier ride than they would have liked. They might well find themselves landslided, but that is not destruction.
As long as Corbyn leads Labour the Tories will not be landslided, don't forget Blair had a 13% lead in 1997
Probably not, but 5 years is a long time, he might not be there, and the situation could get quite a lot worse for them (poor brexit, economic downturn, opposition leader able to rally the corbynistas and without some of corbyn's baggage etc). We shall see.
Corbyn will be there, he and McDonnell have an iron grip on Labour now until the next general election and no matter how bad the economy gets or how bad Brexit gets close to 40% of the electorate will vote Tory to keep out Corbynism
I don't think that is the case 'no matter how bad' things get, there has to be a point where some will dislike what is there enough to not try to prevent what looks like a very bad alternative. Besides, which, it need not be a massive movement - switch the percentages around, and suddenly Labour start getting numbers enough to think about coalitions and the like.
Coalitions is still not a landslide, there are a number of current Tory voters who voted for Blair but would never consider voting for Corbyn under any circumstance
I was responding to your point about how no matter what they would be enough votes to keep out Corbynism, by demonstrating that it will not take much of a movement against the Tories and toward Labour to see Corbynism win. I personally think that scenario more likely than a landslide (that was in response to Chris A hoping the Tories will be destroyed, as I was pointing out even if they are landslided that is not destroyed, not that I think they will be landslided - it is a possibility, and more likely than the Tories thumping labour, but a narrower result seems a reasonable guess)*
It's not happening so far for England in Melbourne.
Moeen being found out big time against decent players. He needs dropped.
He's proven on enough occasions he has plenty of quality, but it is clear he cannot really be the sole or main spinner most of the time. Dropping for the last test to give someone else a chance, and to give him a shot in the arm to sort himself out for another series.
Sorry he’s had a few good days with the ball on dodgy pitches but his overall stats are very very poor.
England need to break from mediocrity and try something else -give Crane a dig in the next test. Moeen looks shot mentally too.
It's not happening so far for England in Melbourne.
Moeen being found out big time against decent players. He needs dropped.
He's proven on enough occasions he has plenty of quality, but it is clear he cannot really be the sole or main spinner most of the time. Dropping for the last test to give someone else a chance, and to give him a shot in the arm to sort himself out for another series.
Sorry he’s had a few good days with the ball on dodgy pitches but his overall stats are very very poor.
England need to break from mediocrity and try something else -give Crane a dig in the next test. Moeen looks shot mentally too.
He's had multiple match winning performances, his batting average is decent and as a part time bowler would be very useful. His number of centuries already show that if he can get his batting average up a little more, he would be worth his place even with a bowling average that is not enough, on its own, to justify a place.
Being dropped for the last test might do him the world of good, longer term, to get him to really knuckle down on what he can do best. Not saying he will be the next Steven Smith, brought in as a bowler, not good enough, come back as the best batsman in the world, but as a very good lower order batsmen and useful bowler? Sure.
It's not happening so far for England in Melbourne.
Moeen being found out big time against decent players. He needs dropped.
He's proven on enough occasions he has plenty of quality, but it is clear he cannot really be the sole or main spinner most of the time. Dropping for the last test to give someone else a chance, and to give him a shot in the arm to sort himself out for another series.
Sorry he’s had a few good days with the ball on dodgy pitches but his overall stats are very very poor.
England need to break from mediocrity and try something else -give Crane a dig in the next test. Moeen looks shot mentally too.
He's had multiple match winning performances, his batting average is decent and as a part time bowler would be very useful. His number of centuries already show that if he can get his batting average up a little more, he would be worth his place even with a bowling average that is not enough, on its own, to justify a place.
Being dropped for the last test might do him the world of good, longer term, to get him to really knuckle down on what he can do best. Not saying he will be the next Steven Smith, brought in as a bowler, not good enough, come back as the best batsman in the world, but as a very good lower order batsmen and useful bowler? Sure.
He’s had just 4 5 fers in nearly 50 tests - Panesar had 12 by that time.
It's not happening so far for England in Melbourne.
Moeen being found out big time against decent players. He needs dropped.
He's proven on enough occasions he has plenty of quality, but it is clear he cannot really be the sole or main spinner most of the time. Dropping for the last test to give someone else a chance, and to give him a shot in the arm to sort himself out for another series.
Sorry he’s had a few good days with the ball on dodgy pitches but his overall stats are very very poor.
England need to break from mediocrity and try something else -give Crane a dig in the next test. Moeen looks shot mentally too.
He's had multiple match winning performances, his batting average is decent and as a part time bowler would be very useful. His number of centuries already show that if he can get his batting average up a little more, he would be worth his place even with a bowling average that is not enough, on its own, to justify a place.
Being dropped for the last test might do him the world of good, longer term, to get him to really knuckle down on what he can do best. Not saying he will be the next Steven Smith, brought in as a bowler, not good enough, come back as the best batsman in the world, but as a very good lower order batsmen and useful bowler? Sure.
He’s had just 4 5 fers in nearly 50 tests - Panesar had 12 by that time.
Panesar was a specialist spinner. Ali’s a batter who can bowl a bit.
The Tories are obsessed on Brexit and it will, thank God, destroy them in the end.
Assuming self preservation remains active they will be in power until 2022, and 12 years is not a bad run in office, even if it will have been a rockier ride than they would have liked. They might well find themselves landslided, but that is not destruction.
As long as Corbyn leads Labour the Tories will not be landslided, don't forget Blair had a 13% lead in 1997
Probably not, but 5 years is a long time, he might not be there, and the situation could get quite a lot worse for them (poor brexit, economic downturn, opposition leader able to rally the corbynistas and without some of corbyn's baggage etc). We shall see.
Corbyn will be there, he and McDonnell have an iron grip on Labour now until the next general election and no matter how bad the economy gets or how bad Brexit gets close to 40% of the electorate will vote Tory to keep out Corbynism
I don't think that is the case 'no matter how bad' things get, there has to be a point where some will dislike what is there enough to not try to prevent what looks like a very bad alternative. Besides, which, it need not be a massive movement - switch the percentages around, and suddenly Labour start getting numbers enough to think about coalitions and the like.
Coalitions is still not a landslide, there are a number of current Tory voters who voted for Blair but would never consider voting for Corbyn under any circumstance
I was responding to your point about how no matter what they would be enough votes to keep out Corbynism, by demonstrating that it will not take much of a movement against the Tories and toward Labour to see Corbynism win. I personally think that scenario more likely than a landslide (that was in response to Chris A hoping the Tories will be destroyed, as I was pointing out even if they are landslided that is not destroyed, not that I think they will be landslided - it is a possibility, and more likely than the Tories thumping labour, but a narrower result seems a reasonable guess)*
*Yes, I am going to keep using it.
I said close to 40% would vote Tory regardless to keep out Corbynism, that would not stop a Corbyn minority government necessarily but it would stop a Corbyn landslide
Landslided. Even allowing for the lateness of the hour at the Festive season is worse than pineapple on pizza and Radiohead. You should be thoroughly ashamed.
We should always try to create silly new words, or just mess around with the language construction, you never know which ones might catch on!
And few things are as bad as pineapple on pizza.
Couldn't agree more! After all, all neologisms begin somewhere. Or else they wouldn't be neologisms QED. Just teasing.
It's not happening so far for England in Melbourne.
Moeen being found out big time against decent players. He needs dropped.
He's proven on enough occasions he has plenty of quality, but it is clear he cannot really be the sole or main spinner most of the time. Dropping for the last test to give someone else a chance, and to give him a shot in the arm to sort himself out for another series.
Sorry he’s had a few good days with the ball on dodgy pitches but his overall stats are very very poor.
England need to break from mediocrity and try something else -give Crane a dig in the next test. Moeen looks shot mentally too.
He's had multiple match winning performances, his batting average is decent and as a part time bowler would be very useful. His number of centuries already show that if he can get his batting average up a little more, he would be worth his place even with a bowling average that is not enough, on its own, to justify a place.
Being dropped for the last test might do him the world of good, longer term, to get him to really knuckle down on what he can do best. Not saying he will be the next Steven Smith, brought in as a bowler, not good enough, come back as the best batsman in the world, but as a very good lower order batsmen and useful bowler? Sure.
He’s had just 4 5 fers in nearly 50 tests - Panesar had 12 by that time.
That's why I keep emphasizing he needs to improve his batting - I think he could be good enough to justify a place on that plus a bit of bowling, rather than trying to be a complete allrounder, equally good in both, and having the pressure of being the frontline spinner, which I don't think he has the quality for.
It's not happening so far for England in Melbourne.
Moeen being found out big time against decent players. He needs dropped.
He's proven on enough occasions he has plenty of quality, but it is clear he cannot really be the sole or main spinner most of the time. Dropping for the last test to give someone else a chance, and to give him a shot in the arm to sort himself out for another series.
Sorry he’s had a few good days with the ball on dodgy pitches but his overall stats are very very poor.
England need to break from mediocrity and try something else -give Crane a dig in the next test. Moeen looks shot mentally too.
He's had multiple match winning performances, his batting average is decent and as a part time bowler would be very useful. His number of centuries already show that if he can get his batting average up a little more, he would be worth his place even with a bowling average that is not enough, on its own, to justify a place.
Being dropped for the last test might do him the world of good, longer term, to get him to really knuckle down on what he can do best. Not saying he will be the next Steven Smith, brought in as a bowler, not good enough, come back as the best batsman in the world, but as a very good lower order batsmen and useful bowler? Sure.
His batting this tour has been feeble - and even facing the depleted Aussie attack in the current test he played like a feckless tailender; and his bowling has been utterly ineffective. Had Stokes - or Rashid - been on the tour, I'm pretty certain he would have been dropped for this test.
It's hard to say quite what has gone wrong, as he's not as bad as this whatever you think of his status as an all rounder.
What's eminently clear is that the lack of any attacking spin option will likely cost England the win today.
It's not happening so far for England in Melbourne.
Moeen being found out big time against decent players. He needs dropped.
He's proven on enough occasions he has plenty of quality, but it is clear he cannot really be the sole or main spinner most of the time. Dropping for the last test to give someone else a chance, and to give him a shot in the arm to sort himself out for another series.
Sorry he’s had a few good days with the ball on dodgy pitches but his overall stats are very very poor.
England need to break from mediocrity and try something else -give Crane a dig in the next test. Moeen looks shot mentally too.
He's had multiple match winning performances, his batting average is decent and as a part time bowler would be very useful. His number of centuries already show that if he can get his batting average up a little more, he would be worth his place even with a bowling average that is not enough, on its own, to justify a place.
Being dropped for the last test might do him the world of good, longer term, to get him to really knuckle down on what he can do best. Not saying he will be the next Steven Smith, brought in as a bowler, not good enough, come back as the best batsman in the world, but as a very good lower order batsmen and useful bowler? Sure.
He’s had just 4 5 fers in nearly 50 tests - Panesar had 12 by that time.
Panesar was a specialist spinner. Ali’s a batter who can bowl a bit.
On current form his batting is no better than Rashid - who is a specialist spinner who can bat a bit (he's got an excellent eye, a decent selection of shots, and could well improve with proper encouragement). Better fielder, though.
A world of free movement would be $78 trillion richer says the Economist, forgetting it would also be crammed into western Europe, North America, Oceania and the Far East
Read some of the comments on here with its "one more heave" mentality. Look at some of the videos on Youtube of the hubristic Labour conference. Listen to the songs to Corbyn.
Your last sentence bears me out. 2017 saw Labour lose its third successive general election defeat with a tally of seats little higher than when it lost power under Gordon Brown in 2010. It saw the Tory vote rise to Margaret Thatcher levels in 1987. The voters did that.
That is not true of England though where Labour did a lot better than in 2010. Labour appears well placed to end up with in excess of 300 seats next time - 20 gains from the SNP plus 20 - 25 from the Tories.
It's net gains from the Conservatives that matter, and for that, they need to close them down on vote share. So far there's little sign of that. It is easily possible that Labour could go backwards overall in England next time given what they have to defend and where, although if they pick up seats in Scotland that may hide it.
Remember, while Labour are moving forwards in England the Conservatives are not moving backwards significantly at the moment - they are just one seat down on 2010, following shifts in voting patterns that have allowed them to pick up seats in the north and West Country to compensate for losses in the South-east. Corbyn needs to reach out to his northern voters and to middle-class voters in the Midlands and so far there's little sign he can do that either.
It is possible that Labour could go backwards in England next time but at the moment it does not look particularly likely.After 12 years of Tory -led Government , it is quite probable that Labour will recoup some of its working class losses and win back seats such as Walsall North, Copeland and Morley & Outwood. In Wales, Labour looks very well placed to gain Preseli Pembrokeshire and Aberconway - and has a fair chance in Vale of Glamorgan. I am not going to list all the possibilities, but there are a lot of them - including both seats in Milton Keynes as examples.Watford too could easily fall next time.
I can see Labour doing extremely well next time and getting around 40% once again, but it's difficult to envisage them getting more than about 280 to 290 seats. They might just be able to scrape into government with the help of the SNP, Plaid, Greens, etc.
They need to directly attract Tory voters in middle England marginals to win. I still struggle to see how Corbyn is going to do that.
I think a lot of people are using their opinion of Corbyn rather than thinking of the opinions of current and potential Labour voters.
A more centrist Labour candidate would bring in more Tory votes and a Tory Labour switcher is worth 2 new Labour votes that didn't switch from voting Tory. However Corbyn and the manifesto drew in millions of extra votes, voters that voted for Labour because of the change in Labour, voters that were inspired by Labour ditching the Blairite era.
The enthusiasm online and its translation into increased ground activity and the massive increase in membership did not come about because what the people really really want is to go back to a centrist candidate.
It is amusing to think it, but the reason Labour can't shift right, to any significant degree, is for electoral reasons, it wasn't working previously and Brexit, which like it or not more people supported than opposed would not have turned that around. The reason Labour have start making ground is because of the move to Corbyn not in spite of it.
Look at what happened to Labour in Scotland prior to Corbyn, I don't doubt that would have slowly started to happen elsewhere, Labour were starting to get into trouble electorally, I think it might have been an MP who mentioned that people had been voting Labour (those New Labour hadn't yet drove away) without any enthusiasm for many years.
Much the same I imagine as many voted Conservative this time just as an anti Labour vote many of these voters didn't have much more enthusiasm about their own Labour vote.
Read some of the comments on here with its "one more heave" mentality. Look at some of the videos on Youtube of the hubristic Labour conference. Listen to the songs to Corbyn.
Your last sentence bears me out.
That is not true of England though where Labour did a lot better than in 2010. Labour appears well placed to end up with in excess of 300 seats next time - 20 gains from the SNP plus 20 - 25 from the Tories.
It's net gains from the Conservatives that matter, and for that, they need to close them down on vote share. So far there's little sign of that. It is easily possible that Labour could go backwards overall in England next time given what they have to defend and where, although if they pick up seats in Scotland that may hide it.
Remember, while Labour are moving forwards in England the Conservatives are not moving backwards significantly at the moment - they are just one seat down on 2010, following shifts in voting patterns that have allowed them to pick up seats in the north and West Country to compensate for losses in the South-east. Corbyn needs to reach out to his northern voters and to middle-class voters in the Midlands and so far there's little sign he can do that either.
It is possible that Labour could go backwards in England next time but at the moment it does not look particularly likely.After 12 years of Tory -led Government , it is quite probable that Labour will recoup some of its working class losses and win back seats such as Walsall North, Copeland and Morley & Outwood. In Wales, Labour looks very well placed to gain Preseli Pembrokeshire and Aberconway - and has a fair chance in Vale of Glamorgan. I am not going to list all the possibilities, but there are a lot of them - including both seats in Milton Keynes as examples.Watford too could easily fall next time.
I can see Labour doing extremely well next time and getting around 40% once again, but it's difficult to envisage them getting more than about 280 to 290 seats. They might just be able to scrape into government with the help of the SNP, Plaid, Greens, etc.
They need to directly attract Tory voters in middle England marginals to win. I still struggle to see how Corbyn is going to do that.
There are several other routes to a majority.
1) they can squeeze third partties more, particularly in marginals
2) Increase the turnout further amongst previous nonvoters.
3) Tory voters turnout may drop.
4) Better tactical voting and tacit electoral alliances.
1) they can squeeze third partties more, particularly in marginals
2) Increase the turnout further amongst previous nonvoters.
3) Tory voters turnout may drop.
4) Better tactical voting and tacit electoral alliances.
5) All of the above combined.
A majority Labour government is not impossible.
It's very difficult to see how they can manage more of 1-3 than they managed in 2017. Furthermore the brutality of the squeeze on third parties left little room for tactical alliances. Moreover as there was a comparatively high abstention rate among Tory leaning groups Labour run the real risk of finding non-voters break for their opponents.
They need, however much they dislike hearing this, to attract direct switchers from the Tories. That's the only realistic route to majority power. It is also a route they have effectively ruled out entirely by both their policies and their vicious campaigning methods.
1) they can squeeze third partties more, particularly in marginals
2) Increase the turnout further amongst previous nonvoters.
3) Tory voters turnout may drop.
4) Better tactical voting and tacit electoral alliances.
5) All of the above combined.
A majority Labour government is not impossible.
It's very difficult to see how they can manage more of 1-3 than they managed in 2017. Furthermore the brutality of the squeeze on third parties left little room for tactical alliances. Moreover as there was a comparatively high abstention rate among Tory leaning groups Labour run the real risk of finding non-voters break for their opponents.
They need, however much they dislike hearing this, to attract direct switchers from the Tories. That's the only realistic route to majority power. It is also a route they have effectively ruled out entirely by both their policies and their vicious campaigning methods.
What vicious campaigning methods have Labour used?
Comments
Dame Darcy Bussell is a great choice.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/29/theresa-may-moves-cement-position-tory-leader-giving-top-honours/
Angry eruptions proliferate after police disperse spontaneous demonstration in city of Kermanshah in western Iran"
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/29/iranian-police-disperse-anti-government-protests
One of my Father's colleague hailed from Tehran.
Said especially under The Shah, Iran had been one of the most liberal countries in the world, not just the Muslim world.
Brexitter
-------------
New words by Sunil, original music by Marc Almond & Dave Ball.
Friday morning going slow
I'm watching the election show
Lots of Ladbrokes slips on the floor
Memories of the night before
Out knocking up and having fun
Now I've stopped reading The Sun
Waiting for the results to show
But why I voted no one knows
Voting, polling
Blogging, trolling
And now I'm all alone
In Brexit Land
My only home
I think it's time to write a thread
To vent the bemusement in my head
Spent my money on online bookies
Got nowt here but all the cookies
Clean my suit and my rosette
Election promises to forget
Start campaigning all over again
Kid myself I'm having fun
Voting, polling
Blogging, trolling
And now I'm all alone
In Brexit Land
My only home
Looking out from my worldview
I've really nothing else to do
Seems like I have started fretting
Let's read Political Betting
Forget The Mirror and The Times
The battle bus with such great lines
Look around and I can see
A thousand punters just like me
Voting, polling
Blogging, trolling
And now I'm all alone
In Brexit Land
My only home
Voting, polling
Blogging, trolling
And now I'm all alone
In Brexit Land
My only home
(I'm waiting for Brexit
Or am I wasting time)
The boy done good.
They give these gongs out to any old idiot these days ;-)
https://www.economist.com/news/world-if/21724907-yes-it-would-be-disruptive-potential-gains-are-so-vast-objectors-could-be-bribed?fsrc=scn/tw/te/rfd/pe
A date for a fresh round of political talks to restore power sharing in Northern Ireland will be set in the next few days, a DUP MP has said.
Gregory Campbell told BBC Radio Foyle he expects the date to be "within the next 10 days".
But Sinn Féin said: "Another round of talks for talks sake have no political or public credibility."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-42504012
CRONIES OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
Theresa May sparks fresh cronyism row as one in five knighthoods are handed to MPs – including Tory kingmaker
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5233491/theresa-may-honours-cronies-row-new-year-2017/
A new national Spanish poll after the Catalonia election had Rajoy's PP narrowly ahead still on 25.8% with the Socialists in second on 23% just ahead of Citizens on 22.4%
http://m.publico.es/politica/2026193/cs-devora-al-pp-y-se-pondria-casi-a-la-par-con-el-psoe-en-unas-elecciones-generales-en-2018
You should be thoroughly ashamed.
Personally I view honours as a load of tosh and refuse to take notice of them. If Mrs Windsor wishes to call someone 'Sir' or 'Dame' that is a matter for her - I don't feel obliged to do likewise.
That conviction will always be a bar.
'No zip... no revolutions..."
And few things are as bad as pineapple on pizza.
*Yes, I am going to keep using it.
England need to break from mediocrity and try something else -give Crane a dig in the next test. Moeen looks shot mentally too.
Being dropped for the last test might do him the world of good, longer term, to get him to really knuckle down on what he can do best. Not saying he will be the next Steven Smith, brought in as a bowler, not good enough, come back as the best batsman in the world, but as a very good lower order batsmen and useful bowler? Sure.
Night all.
ditto fatty Gatting.
(And of course Boycott has one too.)
Just teasing.
It's hard to say quite what has gone wrong, as he's not as bad as this whatever you think of his status as an all rounder.
What's eminently clear is that the lack of any attacking spin option will likely cost England the win today.
Better fielder, though.
Unless Australia panic, it should still be a draw though.
I wonder if anyone's got a bet on Australia winning in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, and England in Melbourne and Sydney.
A more centrist Labour candidate would bring in more Tory votes and a Tory Labour switcher is worth 2 new Labour votes that didn't switch from voting Tory. However Corbyn and the manifesto drew in millions of extra votes, voters that voted for Labour because of the change in Labour, voters that were inspired by Labour ditching the Blairite era.
The enthusiasm online and its translation into increased ground activity and the massive increase in membership did not come about because what the people really really want is to go back to a centrist candidate.
It is amusing to think it, but the reason Labour can't shift right, to any significant degree, is for electoral reasons, it wasn't working previously and Brexit, which like it or not more people supported than opposed would not have turned that around. The reason Labour have start making ground is because of the move to Corbyn not in spite of it.
Look at what happened to Labour in Scotland prior to Corbyn, I don't doubt that would have slowly started to happen elsewhere, Labour were starting to get into trouble electorally, I think it might have been an MP who mentioned that people had been voting Labour (those New Labour hadn't yet drove away) without any enthusiasm for many years.
Much the same I imagine as many voted Conservative this time just as an anti Labour vote many of these voters didn't have much more enthusiasm about their own Labour vote.
1) they can squeeze third partties more, particularly in marginals
2) Increase the turnout further amongst previous nonvoters.
3) Tory voters turnout may drop.
4) Better tactical voting and tacit electoral alliances.
5) All of the above combined.
A majority Labour government is not impossible.
They need, however much they dislike hearing this, to attract direct switchers from the Tories. That's the only realistic route to majority power. It is also a route they have effectively ruled out entirely by both their policies and their vicious campaigning methods.