I don't see how Nigel Farage could be included in the debates and representatives of the SNP, the Greens, Plaid Cymru and the various northern Irish parties could be excluded.
A sensible compromise would be to have one debate with more party leaders and two with just the main three. I expect that something like that will happen.
The thing is, would Ed Miliband and Labour really want a debate/debates where there's just Ed, Nick & Dave?
Two thirds of the participants would be defending the government and attacking the legacy Labour gave them.
I don't see how Nigel Farage could be included in the debates and representatives of the SNP, the Greens, Plaid Cymru and the various northern Irish parties could be excluded.
A sensible compromise would be to have one debate with more party leaders and two with just the main three. I expect that something like that will happen.
If UKIP come top in next years EU MEP elections, it will be seen as bias if Frarage is prevented from debating the other party leaders.
Don't humour him. One or two have been readable this was just rubbish-and boring rubbish at that. Even if you don't agree with VC at least she's readable
Asked whether Mr Miliband could make it to Downing Street, she says: “He’s going to have to pull his finger out, isn’t he, and get moving, get some policies out. They’ll be very lucky if they get in, Labour.
“Ask anybody in the street, I bet they can’t name who they are. They’re not doing well up North, there’s nothing happening up here at all.”
Don't humour him. One or two have been readable this was just rubbish-and boring rubbish at that. Even if you don't agree with VC at least she's readable
I read the VC article, she's a whackjob, totally confused but filling column inches for the wonga. And she wasn't actually that readable.
Don't humour him. One or two have been readable this was just rubbish-and boring rubbish at that. Even if you don't agree with VC at least she's readable
I partly agree with you - instead of addressing the issue (which is complex on several levels), it just reads like a luvvie-spat.
Sorry SeanT, this was the worst of your blogs so far. But Mrs Coren-Mitchell's seemed poor as well. But as she's better-looking than you (*), so I'll favour her article. Yes, I'm that shallow.
Don't humour him. One or two have been readable this was just rubbish-and boring rubbish at that. Even if you don't agree with VC at least she's readable
I read the VC article, she's a whackjob, totally confused but filling column inches for the wonga. And she wasn't actually that readable.
I agree. It wasn't one of her best and was confused but it's relative as I'm sure you'll agree if you've read Sean's piece in the Telegraph. Even Nabavi might want to reconsider his recent hagiography
Don't humour him. One or two have been readable this was just rubbish-and boring rubbish at that. Even if you don't agree with VC at least she's readable
I read the VC article, she's a whackjob, totally confused but filling column inches for the wonga. And she wasn't actually that readable.
She's still lovely. Damn you David Mitchell!
That must be one self-righteously smug household !
I agree. It wasn't one of her best and was confused but it's relative as I'm sure you'll agree if you've read Sean's piece in the Telegraph. Even Nabavi might want to reconsider his recent hagiography
I've seen her several times on TV progs, I just don't think she's as funny as she thinks she is. But then I think the same about David Mitchell, I guess I just dont "get" their humour.
Don't humour him. One or two have been readable this was just rubbish-and boring rubbish at that. Even if you don't agree with VC at least she's readable
I read the VC article, she's a whackjob, totally confused but filling column inches for the wonga. And she wasn't actually that readable.
She's still lovely. Damn you David Mitchell!
That must be one self-righteously smug household !
Ha! Indeed.
Cupboards full of Fairtrade mung beans and overpriced coffee, I'm sure. Unlikely to find a copy of the Telegraph lying around (unless oh-so-very-amusingly repurposed as loo paper).
I agree. It wasn't one of her best and was confused but it's relative as I'm sure you'll agree if you've read Sean's piece in the Telegraph. Even Nabavi might want to reconsider his recent hagiography
Yeah, I'm reconsidering. Sean's recent columns haven't lived up to the high quality of the piece I praised. The latest one just doesn't quite work, it's too contrived.
CCHQ Press Office @RicHolden 1.8 m h/holds on waiting lists & 250,000 over-crowded accom it's wrong taxpayers fund 1.5m spare rooms in social housing. #SpareRoomSubsidy
Quite.
Politico Daily @Politico_Daily "Which leader would you most like to invite to your house for dinner?" Cameron 15 Miliband 11 Clegg 8 Farage 11 None 48 Don't know 7 #YouGov
Politico Daily @Politico_Daily "Do you support or oppose raising the top rate of income tax from 45p to 50p? Support 68 Oppose 21 Don't know 11 #YouGov
I agree. It wasn't one of her best and was confused but it's relative as I'm sure you'll agree if you've read Sean's piece in the Telegraph. Even Nabavi might want to reconsider his recent hagiography
I've seen her several times on TV progs, I just don't think she's as funny as she thinks she is. But then I think the same about David Mitchell, I guess I just dont "get" their humour.
And Victoria Coren should be remembered for the excellent book: "Once more with feeling." Her poker one fell a bit flat for me, but then I don't play...
I agree. It wasn't one of her best and was confused but it's relative as I'm sure you'll agree if you've read Sean's piece in the Telegraph. Even Nabavi might want to reconsider his recent hagiography
I've seen her several times on TV progs, I just don't think she's as funny as she thinks she is. But then I think the same about David Mitchell, I guess I just dont "get" their humour.
And Victoria Coren should be remembered for the excellent book: "Once more with feeling." Her poker one fell a bit flat for me, but then I don't play...
Sorry JJ didn't laugh once. Too much like man dwelling up his own arse finds himself funny.
Mark Wallace @wallaceme RT @JoeWatts_: Oh dear, Lib Dem HQ has just accidentally emails all hacks what they want MPs to say in TV interviews. #ldconf << ouch
"The operation was a total success, and Billy is fully recovered," his spokeswoman said.
I was waiting for the punchline......
I went to see him a few days after the American's started bombing Afghanistan back to the stoneage. There was talk of the show being called off. He walked onto stage very glum faced to slightly muted applause and said nothing for maybe two or three minutes.
Then "What the F*ck". Another long pause.
"If you think they're having it bad what about me?"
This conference sees the party in a confident mood We have a strong record of achievement in Government Our priorities are jobs and easing the squeeze on household budgets Labour cannot be trusted to build a stronger economy The Conservatives on their own cannot build a fairer society
I don't see how Nigel Farage could be included in the debates and representatives of the SNP, the Greens, Plaid Cymru and the various northern Irish parties could be excluded.
A sensible compromise would be to have one debate with more party leaders and two with just the main three. I expect that something like that will happen.
Mischievously, you could suggest a "Prime Minister's" debate, between Miliband and Cameron, as they're the two most likely to be Prime Minister after the election, and a "Deputy Prime Minister's" debate, between Clegg, Harman and Hague, as that's the choice for deputy PM.
Politico Daily @Politico_Daily "Do you support or oppose raising the top rate of income tax from 45p to 50p? Support 68 Oppose 21 Don't know 11 #YouGov
Politico Daily @Politico_Daily "Do you support or oppose raising the top rate of income tax from 45p to 50p? Support 68 Oppose 21 Don't know 11 #YouGov
"Labour barking up the wrong tree yet again?"
Surely that IS Labour's position?
To date labour's position is " we agree with Osborne ".
I agree. It wasn't one of her best and was confused but it's relative as I'm sure you'll agree if you've read Sean's piece in the Telegraph. Even Nabavi might want to reconsider his recent hagiography
Yeah, I'm reconsidering. Sean's recent columns haven't lived up to the high quality of the piece I praised. The latest one just doesn't quite work, it's too contrived.
Perhaps. I don't ask to be hagiographed! However the measure of a blog is its clickability - the share count. This one may be too obscure, but the last two have been the most shared on the Telegraph website, each time. So I'm doing exactly what the editors want. Which is, after all, my job. I'm just a blogger...
WIth respect, you may eventually become too transparent and formulaic, like radio talk show shock jocks (read out local paper headline and propose loony right solution like hanging for traffic wardens and/or people who misuse disabled parking bays). The danger is you will get more and more clicks from fewer and fewer readers.
Don't humour him. One or two have been readable this was just rubbish-and boring rubbish at that. Even if you don't agree with VC at least she's readable
I partly agree with you - instead of addressing the issue (which is complex on several levels), it just reads like a luvvie-spat.
Sorry SeanT, this was the worst of your blogs so far. But Mrs Coren-Mitchell's seemed poor as well. But as she's better-looking than you (*), so I'll favour her article. Yes, I'm that shallow.
(*) A fact you're hopefully very glad of ...
Lol. I shall not repine. The good thing about blogs is that they are like days, if you don't like this one, there will surely be another along tomorrow.
Flattered to hear that Roger is an avid consumer of my blogs. Perhaps he just happens upon them in Patisserie Valerie.
Where the f have Patisserie Valerie come from? The one in Cambridge opened a few years ago, and ever since I've had people from all corners of the country telling me about this lovely patisserie that's opened in their area.
Are they going to be another Starbucks-style phenomena, or just a victim of another rushed-expansion bubble?
"The operation was a total success, and Billy is fully recovered," his spokeswoman said.
I was waiting for the punchline......
I went to see him a few days after the American's started bombing Afghanistan back to the stoneage. There was talk of the show being called off. He walked onto stage very glum faced to slightly muted applause and said nothing for maybe two or three minutes.
Then "What the F*ck". Another long pause.
"If you think they're having it bad what about me?"
Politico Daily @Politico_Daily "Do you support or oppose raising the top rate of income tax from 45p to 50p? Support 68 Oppose 21 Don't know 11 #YouGov
Labour barking up the wrong tree yet again?
If the Conservatives wish to put income tax back up, why doesn't George just do it?
"YouGov-Cambridge @YouGovCam YouGov President Peter Kellner predicts that UKIP will come first in the 2014 EU elections on 30%, Labour 25%, Con 18%, LD 8% #YGCam"
twitter.com/YouGovCam/status/378454377855737856
This was mentioned the other day, but now seems to be official.
I agree. It wasn't one of her best and was confused but it's relative as I'm sure you'll agree if you've read Sean's piece in the Telegraph. Even Nabavi might want to reconsider his recent hagiography
I've seen her several times on TV progs, I just don't think she's as funny as she thinks she is. But then I think the same about David Mitchell, I guess I just dont "get" their humour.
And Victoria Coren should be remembered for the excellent book: "Once more with feeling." Her poker one fell a bit flat for me, but then I don't play...
Whatever else Vicky Cohen is - she is a very good poker player.
I thought the point about banning it in schools was bold. After all there is nothing unusual about restrictions in dress inside the school gate as many of us have found out to our cost over the years. What I found strange was the idea that it should be banned in public places. Whilst it may be a denial of freedom that leads to the veil being worn in the first place, this is hard to prove and generally we're the sort of liberal society that says people can wear what they want.
It may seem crass politics but from Ed Miliband's point of view, being seen as a vacillating politician without strength could be an image considerably enhanced by calling for a ban on the veil inside schools.
The vice-president of the European Commission has reiterated that any part of an EU member state which secedes from that state automatically leaves the EU.
"YouGov today undertook a dial test of Nigel Farage’s address to the YouGov-Cambridge forum, looking at how the UKIP leader’s detractors and supporters changed their views of him as a result of watching the speech
38% of detractors had a more favourable view of Nigel Farage after watching the speech"
The vice-president of the European Commission has reiterated that any part of an EU member state which secedes from that state automatically leaves the EU.
Dylan Sharpe @dylsharpe Lib Dem lines continued: Lembit Opik: "is he still around?" House of Lords: "archaic, 'cept when we're packing it with Grender, Paddick etc"
Politico Daily @Politico_Daily "Do you support or oppose raising the top rate of income tax from 45p to 50p? Support 68 Oppose 21 Don't know 11 #YouGov
I don't see how Nigel Farage could be included in the debates and representatives of the SNP, the Greens, Plaid Cymru and the various northern Irish parties could be excluded.
A sensible compromise would be to have one debate with more party leaders and two with just the main three. I expect that something like that will happen.
The German solution was to have two debates on successive days, one between the Big Two (CDU/SPD) and one between the Smaller 3 (FDP/Greens/Left). Both of equal length but the first obviously more focused on what sort of government they'd want, the latter more on what sort of policies they like. I can see Tories and Labour liking that for different reasons, and UKIP and the Greens might buy it as better than nothing, but presumably Clegg wouldn't fancy it much.
The vice-president of the European Commission has reiterated that any part of an EU member state which secedes from that state automatically leaves the EU.
Interesting.
I'd be happy for Scotland to secede unless there is v.strong support to stay in the union. A half-hearted, carping we want more handouts meme would do none of us any good. Re the EU - they'd sure;y be allowed in although i think they may have to take the Euro.
The vice-president of the European Commission has reiterated that any part of an EU member state which secedes from that state automatically leaves the EU.
Interesting.
I'd be happy for Scotland to secede unless there is v.strong support to stay in the union. A half-hearted, carping we want more handouts meme would do none of us any good. Re the EU - they'd sure;y be allowed in although i think they may have to take the Euro.
On the issue of the Euro, it would be a commitment in the longer run to join (which basically means nothing). Salomnd could spin it and say it means keeping the option open. Poland, Czechs etc are in the same position but no-one expects them to join the Euro anytime soon.
I thought the point about banning it in schools was bold. After all there is nothing unusual about restrictions in dress inside the school gate as many of us have found out to our cost over the years. What I found strange was the idea that it should be banned in public places. Whilst it may be a denial of freedom that leads to the veil being worn in the first place, this is hard to prove and generally we're the sort of liberal society that says people can wear what they want.
It may seem crass politics but from Ed Miliband's point of view, being seen as a vacillating politician without strength could be an image considerably enhanced by calling for a ban on the veil inside schools.
The other evening I mentioned the uncomfortable position such a rule put on Mrs J when she taught in a Turkish university. Whether to report a woman for wearing a ḥijāb, and potentially stop her getting any further education, or ignore it and run the moral and legal implications of allowing someone in class to wear it.
One potential side effect of a ban in schools would be parents removing children from school to self-teach, and the consequent problems of social exclusion that leads to.
The vice-president of the European Commission has reiterated that any part of an EU member state which secedes from that state automatically leaves the EU.
Interesting.
I'd be happy for Scotland to secede unless there is v.strong support to stay in the union. A half-hearted, carping we want more handouts meme would do none of us any good. Re the EU - they'd sure;y be allowed in although i think they may have to take the Euro.
I've always thought the more elegant solution was that were Scotland to vote for Independence, the remainder of the UK secedes, so Scotland is the successor state.
So Scotland remains in the EU, whilst England et al leave the EU, everyone's a winner.
The referendum on Scottish independence is just a year away and, as Neil Tweedie discovers, there are many people from south of the border who want to live in a new country to the north
The vice-president of the European Commission has reiterated that any part of an EU member state which secedes from that state automatically leaves the EU.
Interesting.
I'd be happy for Scotland to secede unless there is v.strong support to stay in the union. A half-hearted, carping we want more handouts meme would do none of us any good. Re the EU - they'd sure;y be allowed in although i think they may have to take the Euro.
Erm....isn't being forced into not being part of the EU or accepting the Euro a wee bit important for the Scottish independence debate? The Scottish share of the UK's national debt is (and will still be) denominated in Sterling. But their tax flows and servicing ability would be in Euros. If, as seems hugely likely, the Euro declines vs the Pound (they want the Euro to weaken) then they'd find themselves heading for a default. This would be a pretty good reason for not admitting Scotland to the EU, as a bankrupt Scotland could kick off a wave of defaults around the Eurozone - until they meet a sustained period of entry conditions qualification. So would Scotland find itself not part of the single market? Yet another unanswered question as the vote nears. Ho hum.
The vice-president of the European Commission has reiterated that any part of an EU member state which secedes from that state automatically leaves the EU.
Interesting.
I'd be happy for Scotland to secede unless there is v.strong support to stay in the union. A half-hearted, carping we want more handouts meme would do none of us any good. Re the EU - they'd sure;y be allowed in although i think they may have to take the Euro.
I've always thought the more elegant solution was that were Scotland to vote for Independence, the remainder of the UK secedes, so Scotland is the successor state.
So Scotland remains in the EU, whilst England et al leave the EU, everyone's a winner.
I've mentioned this before but if instead of leaving, England etc agree to become part of Gibraltar, they can stay in the EU but get out of all the stuff Gibraltar is opted out of, like the CAP.
Tom Newton Dunn @tnewtondunn So after all that, at 11th hour Vince Cable fell into line and voted with @nick_clegg on every part of the Libs conference economy vote.
The vice-president of the European Commission has reiterated that any part of an EU member state which secedes from that state automatically leaves the EU.
Interesting.
I'd be happy for Scotland to secede unless there is v.strong support to stay in the union. A half-hearted, carping we want more handouts meme would do none of us any good. Re the EU - they'd sure;y be allowed in although i think they may have to take the Euro.
I've always thought the more elegant solution was that were Scotland to vote for Independence, the remainder of the UK secedes, so Scotland is the successor state.
So Scotland remains in the EU, whilst England et al leave the EU, everyone's a winner.
I've mentioned this before but if instead of leaving, England etc agree to become part of Gibraltar, they can stay in the EU but get out of all the stuff Gibraltar is opted out of, like the CAP.
I thought the point about banning it in schools was bold. After all there is nothing unusual about restrictions in dress inside the school gate as many of us have found out to our cost over the years. What I found strange was the idea that it should be banned in public places. Whilst it may be a denial of freedom that leads to the veil being worn in the first place, this is hard to prove and generally we're the sort of liberal society that says people can wear what they want.
It may seem crass politics but from Ed Miliband's point of view, being seen as a vacillating politician without strength could be an image considerably enhanced by calling for a ban on the veil inside schools.
The other evening I mentioned the uncomfortable position such a rule put on Mrs J when she taught in a Turkish university. Whether to report a woman for wearing a ḥijāb, and potentially stop her getting any further education, or ignore it and run the moral and legal implications of allowing someone in class to wear it.
One potential side effect of a ban in schools would be parents removing children from school to self-teach, and the consequent problems of social exclusion that leads to.
It's a complex issue.
Thats the trouble with rules and laws in general in that you more you have the more you can mess up peoples lives by reporting /arresting them for it. A lot of time that is worse than the original intention to prevent something happening. Not that politicians accept this with ever increasing rules,regulations and things to consider banning - As an example its rather depressing that a significant number of so called liberal democrats want to ban page 3 FGS
TSE - Regarding the successor state surely the big question is who gets to keep the Pound? Now the SNP have changed their mind and decided they want to keep it (for now) would they have any right to a say about Monetary policy having decided to leave the UK?
The other evening I mentioned the uncomfortable position such a rule put on Mrs J when she taught in a Turkish university. Whether to report a woman for wearing a ḥijāb, and potentially stop her getting any further education, or ignore it and run the moral and legal implications of allowing someone in class to wear it.
One potential side effect of a ban in schools would be parents removing children from school to self-teach, and the consequent problems of social exclusion that leads to.
It's a complex issue.
Thats the trouble with rules and laws in general in that you more you have the more you can mess up peoples lives by reporting /arresting them for it. A lot of time that is worse than the original intention to prevent something happening. Not that politicians accept this with ever increasing rules,regulations and things to consider banning - As an example its rather depressing that a significant number of so called liberal democrats want to ban page 3 FGS
Yep. Another point is the question I often ask: "What problem is the proposed law trying to solve?", and its follow-up: "What are the side effects?"
One of the reasons I'm currently against the Royal Mail sale is that no-one has really explained the reason they want to sell it: the only example given on here was an EU regulation. Not good enough.
The veil/niqab shows us how an interpretation of a religious text can become a cultural norm no matter how extreme. The text in the qu'ran referred to as justification is "to draw their cloaks (veils) over their bodies", however two alternate translations simply refer to 'over-garments' - One could argue that simply mean women should wear clothes in public to avoid harrasment (A sensible enough thing to say) !
Now I'm not sure how many rights women had in 6th Century Mecca, but the world has 'moved on' since then. As ever one can interpret an old religious text any which way but loose - it is unfortunate for Islam that alot of their most 'respected' scholars/leaders and so forth seem to be stuck in 7th century ways of thinking.
Tom Newton Dunn @tnewtondunn So after all that, at 11th hour Vince Cable fell into line and voted with @nick_clegg on every part of the Libs conference economy vote.
The veil/niqab shows us how an interpretation of a religious text can become a cultural norm no matter how extreme. The text in the qu'ran referred to as justification is "to draw their cloaks (veils) over their bodies", however two alternate translations simply refer to 'over-garments' - One could argue that simply mean women should wear clothes in public to avoid harrasment (A sensible enough thing to say) !
Now I'm not sure how many rights women had in 6th Century Mecca, but the world has 'moved on' since then. As ever one can interpret an old religious text any which way but loose - it is unfortunate for Islam that alot of their most 'respected' scholars/leaders and so forth seem to be stuck in 7th century ways of thinking.
I guess the same is true about eating pork. In hot countries in times gone by not eating pork was very sensible as measly pork could kill. Today, in the age of international refrigerated distribution, it's meaningless. But religions aren't very good at letting changing circumstances seep into their ideology very fast. Look how long it took Christianity to come around very reluctantly to the idea that the earth goes around the sun. The human rights / personal freedoms angle on 'wear / don't wear what you like' is going to take a LONG time to seep into Islam. The Christian church is not there yet on homosexuality. It will eventually.
One potential side effect of a ban in schools would be parents removing children from school to self-teach, and the consequent problems of social exclusion that leads to.
And it could - potentially - cover up child-abuse and Female-Genital-Mutilation. What should society do to remedy such evils? Ignore (in the belief that Keir Starmer knows best)...?
"YouGov-Cambridge @YouGovCam YouGov President Peter Kellner predicts that UKIP will come first in the 2014 EU elections on 30%, Labour 25%, Con 18%, LD 8% #YGCam"
twitter.com/YouGovCam/status/378454377855737856
This was mentioned the other day, but now seems to be official.
Yes, and all the more reason that Farage or whoever is leading UKIP at the time, should have equal billing with the other party leaders in any pre election debate on TV.
Comments
Two thirds of the participants would be defending the government and attacking the legacy Labour gave them.
"A great blog Mr Thomas."
Don't humour him. One or two have been readable this was just rubbish-and boring rubbish at that. Even if you don't agree with VC at least she's readable
Asked whether Mr Miliband could make it to Downing Street, she says: “He’s going to have to pull his finger out, isn’t he, and get moving, get some policies out. They’ll be very lucky if they get in, Labour.
“Ask anybody in the street, I bet they can’t name who they are. They’re not doing well up North, there’s nothing happening up here at all.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/andy-mcsmiths-lib-dems-conference-diary-no-bullying-but-lib-dems-talk-around-the-subject-8817993.html
Paddy Power ads back push to tackle homophobia in football
Bookmaker joins forces with Stonewall for campaign that includes sending rainbow laces to top English and Scottish clubs
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/sep/16/paddy-power-ads-homophobia-football?CMP=twt_fd
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-entertainment/lady-gaga-plays-to-freaks-misfits-and-outsiders-at-lib-dem-conference-2013091679479
"POP star Lady Gaga has made a surprise appearance in Glasgow playing to shunned outcasts from society at the Lib Dem conference."
Sorry SeanT, this was the worst of your blogs so far. But Mrs Coren-Mitchell's seemed poor as well. But as she's better-looking than you (*), so I'll favour her article. Yes, I'm that shallow.
(*) A fact you're hopefully very glad of ...
"The operation was a total success, and Billy is fully recovered," his spokeswoman said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24106842
I agree. It wasn't one of her best and was confused but it's relative as I'm sure you'll agree if you've read Sean's piece in the Telegraph. Even Nabavi might want to reconsider his recent hagiography
Cupboards full of Fairtrade mung beans and overpriced coffee, I'm sure. Unlikely to find a copy of the Telegraph lying around (unless oh-so-very-amusingly repurposed as loo paper).
"Seamus Heaney, the Nelson Mandela of Irish poetry, just wasn't that good. Sorry" By Sean Thomas
I would prefer to read a piece by the commentator who said of the article
"So says the winner of the 2002 Bad Sex in Fiction Award"
1.8 m h/holds on waiting lists & 250,000 over-crowded accom it's wrong taxpayers fund 1.5m spare rooms in social housing. #SpareRoomSubsidy
Quite.
Politico Daily @Politico_Daily
"Which leader would you most like to invite to your house for dinner?" Cameron 15 Miliband 11 Clegg 8 Farage 11 None 48 Don't know 7 #YouGov
"Do you support or oppose raising the top rate of income tax from 45p to 50p? Support 68 Oppose 21 Don't know 11 #YouGov
Labour barking up the wrong tree yet again?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MusyO7J2inM
And Victoria Coren should be remembered for the excellent book: "Once more with feeling." Her poker one fell a bit flat for me, but then I don't play...
Berlusconi says he does it eight times.
RT @JoeWatts_: Oh dear, Lib Dem HQ has just accidentally emails all hacks what they want MPs to say in TV interviews. #ldconf << ouch
"The operation was a total success, and Billy is fully recovered," his spokeswoman said.
I was waiting for the punchline......
I went to see him a few days after the American's started bombing Afghanistan back to the stoneage. There was talk of the show being called off. He walked onto stage very glum faced to slightly muted applause and said nothing for maybe two or three minutes.
Then "What the F*ck". Another long pause.
"If you think they're having it bad what about me?"
"I've Just bought a timeshare in Kabul"
This conference sees the party in a confident mood
We have a strong record of achievement in Government
Our priorities are jobs and easing the squeeze on household budgets
Labour cannot be trusted to build a stronger economy
The Conservatives on their own cannot build a fairer society
- See more at: http://www.cityam.com/blog/1379326626/lib-dem-lines-take-interviews-full#sthash.XLvndS6N.dpuf
Politico Daily @Politico_Daily
"Do you support or oppose raising the top rate of income tax from 45p to 50p? Support 68 Oppose 21 Don't know 11 #YouGov
"Labour barking up the wrong tree yet again?"
Surely that IS Labour's position?
New Populus Voting Intention figures: Lab 40 (-1); Cons 33 (-1); LD 11 (+1); UKIP 9 (+2); Oth 6 (-2)
Are they going to be another Starbucks-style phenomena, or just a victim of another rushed-expansion bubble?
Dan Hodges vs SeanT
The debate about Muslim women wearing veils is not complex. This is Britain, and in Britain you can wear what you want
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danhodges/100236076/the-debate-about-muslim-women-wearing-veils-is-not-complex-this-is-britain-and-in-britain-you-can-wear-what-you-want/
@YouGovCam
YouGov President Peter Kellner predicts that UKIP will come first in the 2014 EU elections on 30%, Labour 25%, Con 18%, LD 8% #YGCam"
twitter.com/YouGovCam/status/378454377855737856
This was mentioned the other day, but now seems to be official.
Clegg fires 2015 election pledges into the sun
THE Liberal Democrats’ 2015 election promises have been put into a metal tube and blasted into the heart of the solar system.
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/clegg-fires-2015-election-pledges-into-the-sun-2013091679484
@Nigel_Farage “It is by winning at local level, that is the way UKIP can succeed in 2015”"
twitter.com/YouGovCam/status/378442336839405568
It may seem crass politics but from Ed Miliband's point of view, being seen as a vacillating politician without strength could be an image considerably enhanced by calling for a ban on the veil inside schools.
38% of detractors had a more favourable view of Nigel Farage after watching the speech"
http://cambridge.yougov.com/news/2013/09/13/dial-testing-speech-nigel-farage/
Lib Dem lines continued: Lembit Opik: "is he still around?" House of Lords: "archaic, 'cept when we're packing it with Grender, Paddick etc"
Lib Dems are finally showing support for Page 3 - after nearly half rejected barmy calls for a ban.
Some 46 per cent of 580 party councillors believe it would be WRONG to outlaw our most popular page.
Only a third want a ban while 18 per cent are undecided, a ComRes poll for BBC1's Sunday Politics found.
http://www.page3.com/incoming/lib-dems-bust-wishes-72413.html
Lolzpoll
One potential side effect of a ban in schools would be parents removing children from school to self-teach, and the consequent problems of social exclusion that leads to.
It's a complex issue.
So Scotland remains in the EU, whilst England et al leave the EU, everyone's a winner.
The referendum on Scottish independence is just a year away and, as Neil Tweedie discovers, there are many people from south of the border who want to live in a new country to the north
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/scottish-politics/10311224/The-English-plotting-Scotlands-escape.html
http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/1801994/gordon-brown-ive-solar-panel-house
Martin Evans @evansma
Judge Murphy says it is unfair to ask a witness to give evidence against someone they cannot see.
Nick Boles @GeneralBoles
Clegg The Barbarian for @jameskirkup #LDconf pic.twitter.com/AxO2QJyPJe
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/16/left-new-party-ideas
The author identifies lots of problems but no solutions.
So after all that, at 11th hour Vince Cable fell into line and voted with @nick_clegg on every part of the Libs conference economy vote.
One of the reasons I'm currently against the Royal Mail sale is that no-one has really explained the reason they want to sell it: the only example given on here was an EU regulation. Not good enough.
Now I'm not sure how many rights women had in 6th Century Mecca, but the world has 'moved on' since then. As ever one can interpret an old religious text any which way but loose - it is unfortunate for Islam that alot of their most 'respected' scholars/leaders and so forth seem to be stuck in 7th century ways of thinking.