If they are anti Brexit centrists I can't see why Lib Dems seats would fall to them, I think for some the idea is the Lib Dems would join or at least they wouldn't compete with each other, so why compete with the Lib Dems and if so why swap Lib Dem MP for new party MP?
It also doesn't seem likely that safe Conservative or safe Labour seats would fall to a new party. Too much ground to make up and an attachment to the party holding the seat already.
Scotland just seems too crowded for anyone else to make a break through, not that England and Wales aren't but with the SNP and the independence issue on top I struggle to see even a new party that somehow starts making strides elsewhere breaking in.
That would presumably leave the main hunting ground as marginal seats where the Lib Dems aren't holding the seat or aren't the party in second place. Which can't leave a huge amount of potential seats before we even get into how difficult taking these seats will be.
The SDP was a long time ago now but looking to the much more recent past UKIP's experiences are very telling. Despite winning millions of votes without having any kind of strong regional base they couldn't in the end win any seats and only held the 1 that defected to them.
The media wasn't necessarily crying out for a UKIP style party, not as much as they do a centrist party now but there were much more favourable conditions for a UKIP style party to flourish back then and they could not actually breakthrough.
There is something of a counter argument about them actually achieving their main aim and I would concede that a couple of decades (ish) after being formed and winning millions of votes in a couple of general elections they did bring about change. I'm just not sure that a new party will do as well as even them.
Half of the electorate believes that there are at least pockets of antisemitism in the Labour party, according to a poll.
A third (34%) of voters also believe that Jeremy Corbyn is among those in the party who hold antisemitic views, despite his repeated denials and pledge to be a “militant opponent” of the problem.
People on American sites are pointing out Trump recently met with Putin alone in his office and shortly after Trump was extremely keen to pull out of Syria.
I wonder if Jeremy Corbyn will condemn this attack as strongly as he condemned the recent attack on Palestinians? Or will he need an investigation as it could have been the Jews?
As I said in the previous thread, our political system doesn't lend itself to political movements driven entirely by personality.
The only recent examples are probably Farage, and possibly Blair before him. What definitively wouldn’t work for a new party is a bunch of retread senior politicians from other parties - enough people loathe the lot of them. They will need some new faces who have positive ideas and a coherent platform, rather than defining themselves purely by what they are against.
Half of the electorate believes that there are at least pockets of antisemitism in the Labour party, according to a poll.
A third (34%) of voters also believe that Jeremy Corbyn is among those in the party who hold antisemitic views, despite his repeated denials and pledge to be a “militant opponent” of the problem.
Any other result would be surprising considering Jezza himself accused his own party. He really is a naive leader. Even Gerald Ratner when damning his own company didn't expect it to be made public
So the Metropolitan Police have £240m sitting in the bank, and it took 55 deaths since the start of the year before they realised they needed a task force to sort out the gang problem? https://twitter.com/MsHelicat/status/982723842786328577
People on American sites are pointing out Trump recently met with Putin alone in his office and shortly after Trump was extremely keen to pull out of Syria.
Very interesting front page of the Times. I mentioned a couple of days ago on here that there must be a lot of high-level multi-agency talks going on about what to do with the Skripals, now that they’re looking likely to survive the attack on their lives. https://twitter.com/MsHelicat/status/982720195948097537
People on American sites are pointing out Trump recently met with Putin alone in his office and shortly after Trump was extremely keen to pull out of Syria.
People on American sites are pointing out Trump recently met with Putin alone in his office and shortly after Trump was extremely keen to pull out of Syria.
Neither Trump nor Putin have travelled to each other’s countries since Trump has been President, so either that story’s bollox or they’re really good at travelling incognito! They did meet at the G20 summit last June in Hamburg Germany.
The Jacobite Party (Auchentennach Branch) will be pleased to receive proposals for consideration in return for a modest injection of funds of £50m.
I thank you.
I bet SeanT could organise one heck of a party for £50 million ...
Next PB party - rent an island in the Caribbean, unlimited coke and hookers, free casino and a sports book with a couple of dozen TV screens. The £50m should last a few months at least...
An interesting story, though it is in The Observer [where the fake news of Conservatives apparently not believing animals could be sentient, causing quite the Twitter storm, came from].
Distribution of resources would be critical. Not merely in the tactical "can we win seats?" sense, but, perhaps more importantly, in avoiding the appearance of being an anti-Conservative or anti-Labour party. If it looks like the Ralph Nader Party, that could be less than helpful for its prospects.
His analysis of Corbyn may even be fully justified, but let other people say it. The British foreign secretary should be concentrating on his job, not trying to score party political points. It is surely in the interests of the U.K. to play down internal political opposition to their Russia stance not big it up.
A party that offered radical but credible changes to our economic, financial and political systems to address the iniquity and failings of current state capitalism might get some traction, particularly with working age voters. This is of course why Corbyn is doing so well in the first place, by willing similar ends but without credible means.
But where and by whom is any such thinking being done?
The Observer story is money before tactics before strategy before purpose; three carts before one horse. Insofar as it is possible to tell, the floated new outfit looks dangerously like a 'status quo party' (not Brexit, not Corbyn..), at a time when confidence in the status quo is remarkably low; even a small-c conservative like Mrs May is forced to at least speak about how things need to change.
Indeed isn't this the same hole the LibDems have already fallen into, being seen as principally defending the current settlement at the worst possible time?
His analysis of Corbyn may even be fully justified, but let other people say it. The British foreign secretary should be concentrating on his job, not trying to score party political points. It is surely in the interests of the U.K. to play down internal political opposition to their Russia stance not big it up.
The Times headline "Corbyn is Kremlin's Useful Idiot' by Boris Johnson made me smile. You'd rather hope Boris would have the nous to avoid the word 'idiot' next to a photo of himself
His analysis of Corbyn may even be fully justified, but let other people say it. The British foreign secretary should be concentrating on his job, not trying to score party political points. It is surely in the interests of the U.K. to play down internal political opposition to their Russia stance not big it up.
The Times headline "Corbyn is Kremlin's Useful Idiot' by Boris Johnson made me smile. You'd rather hope Boris would have the nous to avoid the word 'idiot' next to a photo of himself
This Russian crisis has put Boris in an unsackable position; and boy does he know it.
Another interesting thing is that in the last four races at Bahrain, only once has the chap on pole won it. [I expect that to become two in five, but it's a bit surprising].
His analysis of Corbyn may even be fully justified, but let other people say it. The British foreign secretary should be concentrating on his job, not trying to score party political points. It is surely in the interests of the U.K. to play down internal political opposition to their Russia stance not big it up.
How has Johnson NOT 'seriously misrepresented what he was told by Porton Down chemical weapons experts’?.
His analysis of Corbyn may even be fully justified, but let other people say it. The British foreign secretary should be concentrating on his job, not trying to score party political points. It is surely in the interests of the U.K. to play down internal political opposition to their Russia stance not big it up.
+1
Deltapoll also looked at the popularity of leading politicians. Corbyn scored a net approval rating of -27, with the prime minister, Theresa May, on -6. She had better ratings than her cabinet team, with the chancellor Philip Hammond on -10, Brexit secretary David Davis on -22, and foreign secretary Boris Johnson on -26.
At the bottom of the pile came Vince Cable. With the Lib Dems still struggling to make an impact, its leader has a net approval rating of -29
Corbyn tied with Johnson.....sounds about right.....
His analysis of Corbyn may even be fully justified, but let other people say it. The British foreign secretary should be concentrating on his job, not trying to score party political points. It is surely in the interests of the U.K. to play down internal political opposition to their Russia stance not big it up.
The Times headline "Corbyn is Kremlin's Useful Idiot' by Boris Johnson made me smile. You'd rather hope Boris would have the nous to avoid the word 'idiot' next to a photo of himself
This Russian crisis has put Boris in an unsackable position; and boy does he know it.
The Labour antisemitism row rules Boris out as leader and strengthens May's hand in getting rid of him without triggering a leadership challenge. All of Boris's Conservative enemies and rivals will have been taking notes.
His analysis of Corbyn may even be fully justified, but let other people say it. The British foreign secretary should be concentrating on his job, not trying to score party political points. It is surely in the interests of the U.K. to play down internal political opposition to their Russia stance not big it up.
The Times headline "Corbyn is Kremlin's Useful Idiot' by Boris Johnson made me smile. You'd rather hope Boris would have the nous to avoid the word 'idiot' next to a photo of himself
This Russian crisis has put Boris in an unsackable position; and boy does he know it.
Really? I'd have thought it showed the absolute imperative of sacking him. Unlike everything else he's done buffoonery in this job has potentially life and death consequences.
People on American sites are pointing out Trump recently met with Putin alone in his office and shortly after Trump was extremely keen to pull out of Syria.
Neither Trump nor Putin have travelled to each other’s countries since Trump has been President, so either that story’s bollox or they’re really good at travelling incognito! They did meet at the G20 summit last June in Hamburg Germany.
His analysis of Corbyn may even be fully justified, but let other people say it. The British foreign secretary should be concentrating on his job, not trying to score party political points. It is surely in the interests of the U.K. to play down internal political opposition to their Russia stance not big it up.
He is reminding the Conservative membership that he wants to be facing Corbyn at the next election, and is taking the fight direct to JC.
On topic - any new party will need to take a position on Brexit as politics will continue to be seen through that prism for the next few years at least. That immediately limits its appeal and possible vote share by a half. It then needs to be distinctive and not-status quo. Not much chance of it pulling anything off IMHO.
The SDP was based upon talented and respected Labour MPs (Owen, Jenkins, Williams, Rodgers) who were credible with the public and their opposition to the hard left of Labour. When I look across the current landscape, I see no credible personalities in the same mould.
IF there were to be British Macron, they would be a senior minister in May's government ready to jump ship when government hits the rocks in a serious way.
If Brexit causes major economic problems, Corbyn is seen as likely and the Tory leadership is unavailable (perhaps a leadership election has just been won by a right winger) it is possible that something might happen. Unlikely, but possible.
Another interesting thing is that in the last four races at Bahrain, only once has the chap on pole won it. [I expect that to become two in five, but it's a bit surprising].
Looking around the Betfair markets trying to find something interesting, came across Raikkonen 4.4 to lead the first lap, and Bottas 8 in the same market.
Also trying to work out something involving a combination of a safety car and a good result for Hamilton, given he’ll be stopping 15 laps after everyone else, and possibly one-stopping when the field stops twice.
I am happy to have another option to vote for. I wouldn't like the job of coming up with a policy mix that would appeal to enough people to make an impact though.
His analysis of Corbyn may even be fully justified, but let other people say it. The British foreign secretary should be concentrating on his job, not trying to score party political points. It is surely in the interests of the U.K. to play down internal political opposition to their Russia stance not big it up.
+1
Deltapoll also looked at the popularity of leading politicians. Corbyn scored a net approval rating of -27, with the prime minister, Theresa May, on -6. She had better ratings than her cabinet team, with the chancellor Philip Hammond on -10, Brexit secretary David Davis on -22, and foreign secretary Boris Johnson on -26.
At the bottom of the pile came Vince Cable. With the Lib Dems still struggling to make an impact, its leader has a net approval rating of -29
Corbyn tied with Johnson.....sounds about right.....
Yep - Johnson is not going to deliver a Tory majority. He polarises as much as Corbyn does. Looks like Hammond would be the best Tory choice. But is it possible for him to win a leadership election?
His analysis of Corbyn may even be fully justified, but let other people say it. The British foreign secretary should be concentrating on his job, not trying to score party political points. It is surely in the interests of the U.K. to play down internal political opposition to their Russia stance not big it up.
The Times headline "Corbyn is Kremlin's Useful Idiot' by Boris Johnson made me smile. You'd rather hope Boris would have the nous to avoid the word 'idiot' next to a photo of himself
This Russian crisis has put Boris in an unsackable position; and boy does he know it.
Really? I'd have thought it showed the absolute imperative of sacking him. Unlike everything else he's done buffoonery in this job has potentially life and death consequences.
May can't sack for the duration of the Russian crisis. The Kremlin will be all over that.
Half of the electorate believes that there are at least pockets of antisemitism in the Labour party, according to a poll.
A third (34%) of voters also believe that Jeremy Corbyn is among those in the party who hold antisemitic views, despite his repeated denials and pledge to be a “militant opponent” of the problem.
People on American sites are pointing out Trump recently met with Putin alone in his office and shortly after Trump was extremely keen to pull out of Syria.
Neither Trump nor Putin have travelled to each other’s countries since Trump has been President, so either that story’s bollox or they’re really good at travelling incognito! They did meet at the G20 summit last June in Hamburg Germany.
Sorry. It was a phone call.
Ah okay, makes more sense.
Syria is very strategic for Russia, it’s in their interest to keep the war going there as it blocks the possibility of a rival gas pipeline from the Arabian Gulf to Europe. O&G exports are just about Putin’s only source of hard currency, and also act to keep a lot of Eastern Europe from wanting to impose more sanctions. If that pipeline guts built Russia and Putin are screwed.
A top down party built by millionaires has less chance of success than those of us seeking to change the Labour party from within. It’s a fool’s errand and will have no impact whatsoever.
His analysis of Corbyn may even be fully justified, but let other people say it. The British foreign secretary should be concentrating on his job, not trying to score party political points. It is surely in the interests of the U.K. to play down internal political opposition to their Russia stance not big it up.
The Times headline "Corbyn is Kremlin's Useful Idiot' by Boris Johnson made me smile. You'd rather hope Boris would have the nous to avoid the word 'idiot' next to a photo of himself
This Russian crisis has put Boris in an unsackable position; and boy does he know it.
Really? I'd have thought it showed the absolute imperative of sacking him. Unlike everything else he's done buffoonery in this job has potentially life and death consequences.
May can't sack for the duration of the Russian crisis. The Kremlin will be all over that.
Yep, she’s stuck with the team she has for now. I’d expect a serious reshuffle this time next year, after Brexit Day, to bring in new blood and clear a few of the old guard away.
His analysis of Corbyn may even be fully justified, but let other people say it. The British foreign secretary should be concentrating on his job, not trying to score party political points. It is surely in the interests of the U.K. to play down internal political opposition to their Russia stance not big it up.
+1
Deltapoll also looked at the popularity of leading politicians. Corbyn scored a net approval rating of -27, with the prime minister, Theresa May, on -6. She had better ratings than her cabinet team, with the chancellor Philip Hammond on -10, Brexit secretary David Davis on -22, and foreign secretary Boris Johnson on -26.
At the bottom of the pile came Vince Cable. With the Lib Dems still struggling to make an impact, its leader has a net approval rating of -29
Corbyn tied with Johnson.....sounds about right.....
We clearly need another general election campaign to remind voters how crap May actually is.
All this talk of her staying to fight the next election - bring it on!
Mr. Sandpit, I put a pound, or suchlike, on Raikkonen to win and have set up a tiny hedge with LadEx, so I won't be going for the lead lap 1 bet, though it's an interesting idea.
A VSC/Safety Car could cut both ways for Hamilton depending on the timing. If it comes after his stop it could set him back.
A top down party built by millionaires has less chance of success than those of us seeking to change the Labour party from within. It’s a fool’s errand and will have no impact whatsoever.
Macron came from the governing party when that party looked like it was heading for the rocks.
As things stand, a British Macron will not be coming from Labour.
Let's be frank, this "new party" has not been spawned out of a fear of PM Corbyn; it has been spawned by fear of Brexit. As Brexit will have happened by the time this new party has even got its socks on, I suspect much of the enthusiasm/£50m will have already dissipated.
One presumes it will have to take a markedly pro-EU stance. So another bald man enters the fray for the comb....yawn.
I'm not sure there's any room for a new middle party because things are different now. It's not a binary choice between hard monetary policy and a pseudo-Marxist movement. Any new middle party would be a naturally Remain party or it would be categorised as a swivel-eyed, racist grouping by the media.
Having to be a Remain party with vaguely Liberal aims would beg the question ... Isn't there already such a party called the Liberal Democrats? And that's going well, isn't it?
A top down party built by millionaires has less chance of success than those of us seeking to change the Labour party from within. It’s a fool’s errand and will have no impact whatsoever.
Macron came from the governing party when that party looked like it was heading for the rocks.
As things stand, a British Macron will not be coming from Labour.
Gavin Williamson probably considers himself to be the British Macron. In a minority of one, mind.
Mr. Sandpit, I put a pound, or suchlike, on Raikkonen to win and have set up a tiny hedge with LadEx, so I won't be going for the lead lap 1 bet, though it's an interesting idea.
A VSC/Safety Car could cut both ways for Hamilton depending on the timing. If it comes after his stop it could set him back.
Agree with your piece that the markets are all crap for this race. I also looked at lay LH podium and lay MV top 6 but odds not tempting.
There was lots of overtaking in the F2 race yesterday, including Antem Markalov being pushed from the grid and starting from the pit lane, then coming through the field for a podium which was mighty impressive - nearly as impressive as the young Lando Norris, who won by a mile from pole in only his third F2 race. Two names to watch for F1 in the coming years.
Let's be frank, this "new party" has not been spawned out of a fear of PM Corbyn; it has been spawned by fear of Brexit. As Brexit will have happened by the time this new party has even got its socks on, I suspect much of the enthusiasm/£50m will have already dissipated.
One presumes it will have to take a markedly pro-EU stance. So another bald man enters the fray for the comb....yawn.
If they’re yet another pro-EU stop-Brexit party then they’ll be stillborn.
They will need to accept the status quo of Brexit but be internationally minded, outward rather than inward looking.
A top down party built by millionaires has less chance of success than those of us seeking to change the Labour party from within. It’s a fool’s errand and will have no impact whatsoever.
Macron came from the governing party when that party looked like it was heading for the rocks.
As things stand, a British Macron will not be coming from Labour.
There are so many reasons why Macron and En Marche are not transferable to the UK.
Look forward to this splitting the Lib Dem’s 7% of the vote
Lol, my favourite response so far.
I try not to talk from a partisan perspective especially when discussing the possibility of something but there just feel like there are too many obstacles for this to go anywhere.
I agree with Jonathan that a Macron would make more sense from the Conservative party but who even is this Macron figure?
Nobody say Ruth Davidson.
Brexit as someone else mentioned just cuts through too many things, I don't see the room for a pro Brexit centrist party, I can't imagine these millions are being thrown at the idea of a pro Brexit party anyway.
The idea I assume is anti Brexit and anti Corbyn otherwise why bother.
Then it just basically ends up as the Lib Dems as Wisemann basically pointed out.
Someone else determined to see us crash out with no deal, just so they can get on their high horse and shout that they were right.
We’re leaving in name only. We’ll be slightly worse off than we would have been; we’ll have less opportunity to shape the world we live in; but day-to-day very little is going to change. Time to move on.
And I see that 38degrees has a petition for Boris Johnson to be sacked after his Porton Down 'lie'.
My flabber is well and truly ghasted. The UK is attacked, and they focus the blame on ... us.
To be fair you can think that Russia did it, we should respond, Boris lied* and Boris should be fired.
*You might think things from he lied, he exaggerated the truth for effect, he's a bumbling idiot who just says things.
Of course then there is plenty of room outside of those reasons for crazy people who think all kinds of crazy things.
I think I've said it elsewhere, my view is Russia probably did it.
I haven't signed it personally (not that I wouldn't necessarily) I think I retweeted something about him lying. You could argue we shouldn't be divided at this point but considering the evidence hasn't been shared with the opposition leader and right wingers have used this whole thing for partisan advantage you can't really blame the other side for doing the same can you?
If the Tories can't trust Corbyn I don't really see why I should trust the Tories.
I like the partisan fightback side personally but if I was going to be annoyed at Boris for anything it would be for getting caught out on something. At best it was stupid to get caught out on quite an important subject at this moment, it wasn't forgetting information, for whatever reason he actually said something that wasn't true regarding it.
Edit: To clarify regarding that last line I don't think the reason is conspiracy.
”Next up, a group of entrepreneurs with serious money to fund a new enterprise are clustered around Simon Franks, a former Labour donor. They hover in the background, are much discussed and are in touch with the “centrist dads” in the Liberal Democrats and on the moderate wing of Labour. But will they pounce? And what would be their electoral strategy in a country where first past the post makes even a successful national insurgency, with good headline poll figures, an extreme long shot at general elections? Vince Cable, Lib Dem leader, who is struggling to get his own party off life support, says he was invited to lead them but declined because they offered “the kind of ideology-free, technocratic, authoritarian centrism that would be more at home in, say, Singapore”.”
Google a selection of the text to get past the firewall. Being turned down by Vince cable is not a good look (and parenthetically lol at his reason for spurning them *not* being on the lines of ”i already have a credible party to run”).
Russia has slammed the Queen for downing gin, wine and champagne every day in a 'fake news' propaganda blast against the UK.Senator Aleksey Pushkov, an ally of President Vladimir Putin , said the monarch treats drinking like a "ceremony" while Prime Minster Theresa May has a brandy habit. The politician claimed tell-tale mannerisms reveal the pair as 'unpleasant' heavy drinkers.
Russia has slammed the Queen for downing gin, wine and champagne every day in a 'fake news' propaganda blast against the UK.Senator Aleksey Pushkov, an ally of President Vladimir Putin , said the monarch treats drinking like a "ceremony" while Prime Minster Theresa May has a brandy habit. The politician claimed tell-tale mannerisms reveal the pair as 'unpleasant' heavy drinkers.
Russia has slammed the Queen for downing gin, wine and champagne every day in a 'fake news' propaganda blast against the UK.Senator Aleksey Pushkov, an ally of President Vladimir Putin , said the monarch treats drinking like a "ceremony" while Prime Minster Theresa May has a brandy habit. The politician claimed tell-tale mannerisms reveal the pair as 'unpleasant' heavy drinkers.
And May has higher net favourability (-10) at home than Macron (-18). Foreign leaders are usually more popular abroad than at home - Merkel in France is 16 points ahead of her home score, while Macron in Germany is 48 points ahead of France, so Merkel & Macron being ahead of May in the UK is par for the course. And the UK is much less enamoured of either than other European countries.
Russia has slammed the Queen for downing gin, wine and champagne every day in a 'fake news' propaganda blast against the UK.Senator Aleksey Pushkov, an ally of President Vladimir Putin , said the monarch treats drinking like a "ceremony" while Prime Minster Theresa May has a brandy habit. The politician claimed tell-tale mannerisms reveal the pair as 'unpleasant' heavy drinkers.
Not exactly their top stuff even if we assume, for the sake of argument, that it is true. ‘You say we murder and attempt to murder people abroad, oppress opponents and are massively corrupt? Well, your queen drinks too much! How do you like that, huh?’
”Next up, a group of entrepreneurs with serious money to fund a new enterprise are clustered around Simon Franks, a former Labour donor. They hover in the background, are much discussed and are in touch with the “centrist dads” in the Liberal Democrats and on the moderate wing of Labour. But will they pounce? And what would be their electoral strategy in a country where first past the post makes even a successful national insurgency, with good headline poll figures, an extreme long shot at general elections? Vince Cable, Lib Dem leader, who is struggling to get his own party off life support, says he was invited to lead them but declined because they offered “the kind of ideology-free, technocratic, authoritarian centrism that would be more at home in, say, Singapore”.”
Google a selection of the text to get past the firewall. Being turned down by Vince cable is not a good look (and parenthetically lol at his reason for spurning them *not* being on the lines of ”i already have a credible party to run”).
The idea that their first thought was to ask Vince to do it suggests a shaky grasp of the state of British politics. That would instantly label the new party as a LibDem front with a leader who for whatever reason is not doing well. And in fact he's right, the LibDems are more credinle than this project would be.
And I see that 38degrees has a petition for Boris Johnson to be sacked after his Porton Down 'lie'.
My flabber is well and truly ghasted. The UK is attacked, and they focus the blame on ... us.
To be fair you can think that Russia did it, we should respond, Boris lied* and Boris should be fired.
*You might think things from he lied, he exaggerated the truth for effect, he's a bumbling idiot who just says things. (Snip)
That's not the impression the petition gives.
I'm bemused you see Boris as a 'bumbling idiot', yet seem to like your dear leader. Corbyn just bumbles from one thing to another, yet the devout don't treat his utterances to the same degree of scrutiny?
Half of the electorate believes that there are at least pockets of antisemitism in the Labour party, according to a poll.
A third (34%) of voters also believe that Jeremy Corbyn is among those in the party who hold antisemitic views, despite his repeated denials and pledge to be a “militant opponent” of the problem.
Given Corbyn believes there are pockets, and I’d think most Tories would agree, I am surprised only half the electorate thinks so. The simplest explanation is a lot of labour supporters disagree with Corbyn on the existence of pockets. Which is odd given they think he is doing well in the issue. I’d have assumed most would agree with him, just not think it is as big an issue as opponents say.
Russia has slammed the Queen for downing gin, wine and champagne every day in a 'fake news' propaganda blast against the UK.Senator Aleksey Pushkov, an ally of President Vladimir Putin , said the monarch treats drinking like a "ceremony" while Prime Minster Theresa May has a brandy habit. The politician claimed tell-tale mannerisms reveal the pair as 'unpleasant' heavy drinkers.
A top down party built by millionaires has less chance of success than those of us seeking to change the Labour party from within. It’s a fool’s errand and will have no impact whatsoever.
I just want to know if they are looking to take on an experienced analyst. Might get paid to explain how FPTP works for 4 years.
"We have all been wrong about Corbynism. It is not a political movement. Nor – despite the cultish devotion of his followers – is it a pseudo-religious one. It is actually a form of mass psychosis."
Comments
https://www.freeflush.co.uk/blogs/freeflush-rainwater-harvesting-blog/revealed-the-wettest-cities-in-the-uk
In regards to the article and a new party.
If they are anti Brexit centrists I can't see why Lib Dems seats would fall to them, I think for some the idea is the Lib Dems would join or at least they wouldn't compete with each other, so why compete with the Lib Dems and if so why swap Lib Dem MP for new party MP?
It also doesn't seem likely that safe Conservative or safe Labour seats would fall to a new party. Too much ground to make up and an attachment to the party holding the seat already.
Scotland just seems too crowded for anyone else to make a break through, not that England and Wales aren't but with the SNP and the independence issue on top I struggle to see even a new party that somehow starts making strides elsewhere breaking in.
That would presumably leave the main hunting ground as marginal seats where the Lib Dems aren't holding the seat or aren't the party in second place. Which can't leave a huge amount of potential seats before we even get into how difficult taking these seats will be.
The SDP was a long time ago now but looking to the much more recent past UKIP's experiences are very telling. Despite winning millions of votes without having any kind of strong regional base they couldn't in the end win any seats and only held the 1 that defected to them.
The media wasn't necessarily crying out for a UKIP style party, not as much as they do a centrist party now but there were much more favourable conditions for a UKIP style party to flourish back then and they could not actually breakthrough.
There is something of a counter argument about them actually achieving their main aim and I would concede that a couple of decades (ish) after being formed and winning millions of votes in a couple of general elections they did bring about change. I'm just not sure that a new party will do as well as even them.
"Syria war: At least 70 reported dead in suspected gas attack"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-43686157
Half of the electorate believes that there are at least pockets of antisemitism in the Labour party, according to a poll.
A third (34%) of voters also believe that Jeremy Corbyn is among those in the party who hold antisemitic views, despite his repeated denials and pledge to be a “militant opponent” of the problem.
https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/08/labour-antisemitism-opinion-poll?__twitter_impression=true
https://twitter.com/MsHelicat/status/982723842786328577
I thank you.
https://twitter.com/MsHelicat/status/982720195948097537
Up here we use proper metres, and my valley sees 2 1/2 of these per year.
An interesting story, though it is in The Observer [where the fake news of Conservatives apparently not believing animals could be sentient, causing quite the Twitter storm, came from].
Distribution of resources would be critical. Not merely in the tactical "can we win seats?" sense, but, perhaps more importantly, in avoiding the appearance of being an anti-Conservative or anti-Labour party. If it looks like the Ralph Nader Party, that could be less than helpful for its prospects.
CON 27%+1
LAB 26%+3
LD 6%=
GRN 2%=
Comparisons with last September
Sunday Times Panelbase .
Looks like the Scottish Tories holding up rather well.
His analysis of Corbyn may even be fully justified, but let other people say it. The British foreign secretary should be concentrating on his job, not trying to score party political points. It is surely in the interests of the U.K. to play down internal political opposition to their Russia stance not big it up.
But where and by whom is any such thinking being done?
The Observer story is money before tactics before strategy before purpose; three carts before one horse. Insofar as it is possible to tell, the floated new outfit looks dangerously like a 'status quo party' (not Brexit, not Corbyn..), at a time when confidence in the status quo is remarkably low; even a small-c conservative like Mrs May is forced to at least speak about how things need to change.
Indeed isn't this the same hole the LibDems have already fallen into, being seen as principally defending the current settlement at the worst possible time?
Another interesting thing is that in the last four races at Bahrain, only once has the chap on pole won it. [I expect that to become two in five, but it's a bit surprising].
Deltapoll also looked at the popularity of leading politicians. Corbyn scored a net approval rating of -27, with the prime minister, Theresa May, on -6. She had better ratings than her cabinet team, with the chancellor Philip Hammond on -10, Brexit secretary David Davis on -22, and foreign secretary Boris Johnson on -26.
At the bottom of the pile came Vince Cable. With the Lib Dems still struggling to make an impact, its leader has a net approval rating of -29
Corbyn tied with Johnson.....sounds about right.....
SNP 36.9%
Con 28.6%
Lab 27.1%
On topic - any new party will need to take a position on Brexit as politics will continue to be seen through that prism for the next few years at least. That immediately limits its appeal and possible vote share by a half. It then needs to be distinctive and not-status quo. Not much chance of it pulling anything off IMHO.
The SDP was based upon talented and respected Labour MPs (Owen, Jenkins, Williams, Rodgers) who were credible with the public and their opposition to the hard left of Labour. When I look across the current landscape, I see no credible personalities in the same mould.
If Brexit causes major economic problems, Corbyn is seen as likely and the Tory leadership is unavailable (perhaps a leadership election has just been won by a right winger) it is possible that something might happen. Unlikely, but possible.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/07/opportunity-knocks-for-new-party-will-anybody-dare-open-door?CMP=share_btn_tw
Also trying to work out something involving a combination of a safety car and a good result for Hamilton, given he’ll be stopping 15 laps after everyone else, and possibly one-stopping when the field stops twice.
Syria is very strategic for Russia, it’s in their interest to keep the war going there as it blocks the possibility of a rival gas pipeline from the Arabian Gulf to Europe. O&G exports are just about Putin’s only source of hard currency, and also act to keep a lot of Eastern Europe from wanting to impose more sanctions. If that pipeline guts built Russia and Putin are screwed.
Betting Post
F1: backed Ricciardo at 3.75/3.9 [with boost] to be winner without Ferrari:
http://enormo-haddock.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/bahrain-pre-race-2018.html
All this talk of her staying to fight the next election - bring it on!
A VSC/Safety Car could cut both ways for Hamilton depending on the timing. If it comes after his stop it could set him back.
As things stand, a British Macron will not be coming from Labour.
One presumes it will have to take a markedly pro-EU stance. So another bald man enters the fray for the comb....yawn.
Having to be a Remain party with vaguely Liberal aims would beg the question ... Isn't there already such a party called the Liberal Democrats? And that's going well, isn't it?
There was lots of overtaking in the F2 race yesterday, including Antem Markalov being pushed from the grid and starting from the pit lane, then coming through the field for a podium which was mighty impressive - nearly as impressive as the young Lando Norris, who won by a mile from pole in only his third F2 race. Two names to watch for F1 in the coming years.
Indeed. It's the faltering despair of the thwarted middle-class who see their European dreams fading. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
They will need to accept the status quo of Brexit but be internationally minded, outward rather than inward looking.
https://twitter.com/nick_clegg/status/982876660440752128
I try not to talk from a partisan perspective especially when discussing the possibility of something but there just feel like there are too many obstacles for this to go anywhere.
I agree with Jonathan that a Macron would make more sense from the Conservative party but who even is this Macron figure?
Nobody say Ruth Davidson.
Brexit as someone else mentioned just cuts through too many things, I don't see the room for a pro Brexit centrist party, I can't imagine these millions are being thrown at the idea of a pro Brexit party anyway.
The idea I assume is anti Brexit and anti Corbyn otherwise why bother.
Then it just basically ends up as the Lib Dems as Wisemann basically pointed out.
BTW, thanks for your threader yesterday. Very interesting, and a dilemma for you.
My flabber is well and truly ghasted. The UK is attacked, and they focus the blame on ... us.
*You might think things from he lied, he exaggerated the truth for effect, he's a bumbling idiot who just says things.
Of course then there is plenty of room outside of those reasons for crazy people who think all kinds of crazy things.
I think I've said it elsewhere, my view is Russia probably did it.
I haven't signed it personally (not that I wouldn't necessarily) I think I retweeted something about him lying. You could argue we shouldn't be divided at this point but considering the evidence hasn't been shared with the opposition leader and right wingers have used this whole thing for partisan advantage you can't really blame the other side for doing the same can you?
If the Tories can't trust Corbyn I don't really see why I should trust the Tories.
I like the partisan fightback side personally but if I was going to be annoyed at Boris for anything it would be for getting caught out on something. At best it was stupid to get caught out on quite an important subject at this moment, it wasn't forgetting information, for whatever reason he actually said something that wasn't true regarding it.
Edit: To clarify regarding that last line I don't think the reason is conspiracy.
https://www.ft.com/content/12cd8338-db45-11e7-a039-c64b1c09b482
7 Dec 2017
Google a selection of the text to get past the firewall. Being turned down by Vince cable is not a good look (and parenthetically lol at his reason for spurning them *not* being on the lines of ”i already have a credible party to run”).
https://twitter.com/spreadsheetben/status/982561532461699072?s=21
Russia has slammed the Queen for downing gin, wine and champagne every day in a 'fake news' propaganda blast against the UK.Senator Aleksey Pushkov, an ally of President Vladimir Putin , said the monarch treats drinking like a "ceremony" while Prime Minster Theresa May has a brandy habit.
The politician claimed tell-tale mannerisms reveal the pair as 'unpleasant' heavy drinkers.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/russia-claims-queen-downs-cocktails-12324595
I'm bemused you see Boris as a 'bumbling idiot', yet seem to like your dear leader. Corbyn just bumbles from one thing to another, yet the devout don't treat his utterances to the same degree of scrutiny?
"We have all been wrong about Corbynism. It is not a political movement. Nor – despite the cultish devotion of his followers – is it a pseudo-religious one. It is actually a form of mass psychosis."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-5590269/DAN-HODGES-low-Corbyn-cult-Ask-Putins-poisoners.html#ixzz5C4B4PB4L