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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Corbyn’s gift to the Tories and Mrs May – his boycott of the House of Lords
Jeremy Corbyn doesn’t like the House of Lords and as with many things he doesn’t like, he’s gone out of his way to avoid engaging with it. When he was first running for the Labour leadership, he promised that he wouldn’t nominate any new Labour peers. That was understandable for someone who has long opposed the nature of the undemocratic upper House, and for someone who’s always believed in the power of the boycott.
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Given the many challenges of the coming months and years, that might only be a slim silver lining – but in an otherwise dull lead sky, any sparkle will be welcomed.
I suspect Mrs May will take any silver linings she can get.....
I see the Khashoggi story has 'evolved':
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/jamal-khashoggi-killed-consulate-saudi-arabia-confirms-1213104619
In a surprise to no-one 'Mister Bone Saw' had no idea at all what was going on.
https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1053491178782498817
And put the blame solely on the killers rather than those who might have instructed it.
Note Trump has called it “a good first step”.
At the same time as his proxies have started smearing Khashoggi as a terrorist sympathiser.
Or people who think Assad is just a little misunderstood ...
Of course actual anti-semites who have a problem with Jewish people rather than just the occupation of Palestine are a different matter.
But as it's coming towards November 5th, I hope you've learnt the difference between fireworks and rockets designed to main and kill. Otherwise I'd like to keep away from any display you organise.
Please tell us again how Assad is a wonderful person ...
You may look at the evidence and differ. Fair enough. But even you must admit there are reasonable grounds for saying so.
I am not massively sure on HOL reform myself. I don't know if I really like the idea of the Lords becoming an elected second chamber, just seems like even more potential invitation for gridlock if it has more powers than the current Lords.
I'm not sure what Corbyn would actually push for but I like the idea of it being a chamber (if that is the right word) which offers some expertise and can advise, delay and try to revise but with power ultimately resting with Parliament.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-45924702
It's just that I know the difference between, say, a Qassam and a sky magic display pack. You evidently do not.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-45586903
Deliberate misinterpretation does not help your case.
https://tinyurl.com/y6uv788y
The Huddersfield grooming trials were revealed on Friday after a judge agreed to partially lift reporting restrictions designed to ensure a fair trial.
Following an application by media groups, including the Guardian, the harrowing details were disclosed in detail for the first time.
I do think that once it's all concluded, an explanation needs to be given as to why reporting restrictions were in place. I know there are circumstances where this has to happen, but I can see why the likes of Robinson are suspicious. By having reporting restrictions, the case only gets revealed after it's happened and therefore the media coverage is much reduced.
I've worked with Syrian crews many times. I've shot for the Saudis many times. I've shot for the Saudis in Lebanon with mixed Syrian Lbanese crew before and after Sryria occupied Lebanon. The Saudi client I most often work for is one of 14 children with four mothers. He would be the first to tell you that being born a woman in Saudi is to pick the short straw. The regime is brutal (if you aren't a Saudi and a male). The Syrians by contrast respect (or not) their female population as they do their men. The subject is complicated
To then hear you pontificating on it and anti semitism when you wouldn't know a Jew if you fell over one let alone an anti semite is just tiring
Assad is indeed an equal-opportunities tyrant.
https://www.dw.com/en/syrian-women-tortured-and-humiliated-in-assad-regime-prisons/a-43600204
Assad doesn't care if he kills men or women. Which, to be fair, is something he shares with many other tyrants, for instance Hitler, Stalin, Mao et al.
As for your last sentence; it's fairly disgusting. And not just that, it's wrong and ridiculous for several reasons.
Interesting article on an underreported aspect of politics, Mr. Herdson.
F1: Gasly was very fast in the wet in second practice (happily, I hadn't bet on him to 'win' first practice, or I would be quite annoyed). However, though qualifying is expected to be wet, the race is likely to be dry. Worse still for Toro Rosso, both cars have significant engine changes so they're starting at the back.
Incidentally, third practice is at 7pm and the qualifying at 10pm, so the pre-qualifying blog will be up at the unusual hour of 8-9pm.
Also, Vettel may well end up with a 3 place grid penalty for insufficiently slowing under red flags (may already be confirmed, I haven't checked yet).
Be gentle.
Fiendishly difficult to do, as they'll almost certainly bat it back as many times as they can.
FWIW, I quite like the House of Lords. I just wish there was a term-limit and more crossbenchers from more backgrounds and professions, and not just big businessman, retired politicans, bishops, barristers and law lords (sort of).
Otherwise I think it by and large does a good job.
Hopefully Brexit will be the trigger for deep reform. After all you can argue to leave to the EU on democratic grounds and then keep something like that.
So he can abolish the Lords.
If the Lords play silly beggars then he can rightly ask the Monarch to create 400 new peers to help vote in abolition.
When challenged, you changed it to 'advanced or enhanced fireworks.' Which is ridiculous, as that term covers everything from something I can buy in the local shop to a Space Shuttle SRB. You also quoted Norman Finkelstein in your defence, which is not exactly a good sign IMO.
You then underplayed the number of people killed and injured, and doubted the psychological effects caused by the weapons.
I am not misinterpreting what you said, deliberately or otherwise.
But I am intrigued why you want to downplay the Palestinian attacks in such a manner, especially as there won't be peace until the attacks on both sides stop.
I did mention the Palestinians as using glorified fireworks and then linked something talking about them being advanced or enhanced fireworks. That is how you get hundreds of missiles fired and very little damage or casualties. It does make a good PR talking point much like the use of weapons of mass destruction.
TBH if you were informed about the conflict and wanted the conflict to end you would want the occupation to end, expecting the Palestinians to not put up a token resistance whilst under brutal occupation is either an excuse for supporting the continuation of the occupation or a position based on ignorance.
When you have absolute deadbeats like that loser Mone in it you know it is rotten to the core.
But it still takes up multiple parliamentary sessions, and is fiendishly difficult to do. Plus, I doubt he'll win a very strong majority, which will make his amendments and bills vulnerable to ambush in the HoC too.
I reckon he might have other priorities in his first term.
Thing is, qualifying is likely to be wet, and the race likely to be dry. For most cars, the Ferrari's still miles too good, but passing Red Bulls or Mercedes will be trickier.
Edited extra bit: I think I'll wait until after qualifying to consider the race implications.
Surely, you think it's a good thing to have a revising chamber that scrutinises the details of proposed bill separate from the febrile atmosphere of the primary chamber?
With Hales in for YJB the start is going to be important.
Alternatively the runners up in GE.
But not appointed or hereditary.
A referendum for Lords abolition after they've blocked a renationalisation could happen though.
That would be pretty bad. We need the check and balance of a second chamber, but the current Lords is indefensible. Another example where short-term thinking by the Tories during the Coalition would come back to haunt them. If they'd sorted out reform then the place wouldn't be vulnerable to abolition when a PM Corbyn is seeking to remove the limits to his power.
I wouldn't call it a Senate though, and I'd appoint it by lot.
Its now been called for the independent candidate Kerryn Phelps who has won win an estimated 27 per cent swing. Memories of the Richmond by election here post Brexit?
So quite a dramatic protest and probably not a good sign for the Coalition for next year's election. The Coalition is now a minority government relying on independents - if it can persuade them - to get its legislation though.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2018/oct/20/wentworth-by-election-live-results-liberal-dave-sharma-kerryn-phelps-exit-poll-latest-news-updates
The Lords is one of those areas where it seems it should have been possible to arrive at a solution a long time ago, but as far as kicking cans go there's nothing to stop it being endless.
Its obvious they simply want to overturn the original vote and revert to remain - so why not just say so.
Although its not clear even what remain means now (e.g. would we keep the rebate and if not the £350m gets closer to fact). Imagine the campaign - vote remain 'the other side want us to spend £350m a week on the NHS - lets subsidise French farmers and fund Slovakian motorways and Spanish metro system upgrades instead)!. If we decided to remain now I find it hard to believe the EU wouldn't seek to extract maximum concessions in our hour of humiliation afer having wasted their time for the last 2 and a half years.
But as they start to march done Park Lane - what will be the question or questions on the ballot paper?
If you don't show up a certain number of times you lose your place (exceptions for illness act of course). We want people who are not perhaps the sort to generally do politics but they are still legislators as a result and need to put the time in. If they just want a fancy title that's what honours are for.
And there must be a gap of x years between being an mp and becoming a peer. If you are standing down but immediately into the lords you're not really standing down. It lowers the number rewarded with a peerage and perhaps ensures more if those who are grandees get appointed.
Party forming up at my brothers house, flags prepared!
No Surrender to the Brexiteers!
Even Golf courses in Scotland can cause a problem for Trump.
You said 'lob fireworks'. That's such a ridiculous trivialisation of what's happening that I have to wonder why you want to trivialise it. Is it because Israeli's don't matter?
As it happens, there have been lots of casualties: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel#Casualties,_fatalities_and_rockets_fired
And then there are the psychological effects. from Amnesty:
"Scores [of rockets] have struck homes, businesses, schools, other public buildings and vehicles in and around towns and villages in southern Israel. It is purely by chance that in most cases such strikes have not caused death or injury, and the lethal potential of such projectiles should not be underestimated. Above all, the constant threat of impending rocket attacks has caused fear and disrupted the lives of the growing number of Israelis who live within range of such attacks, reaching up to a million.[22]"
As for your last paragraph: if you wanted peace, you would understand that both sides need to move. Israel has much more room to move (and should), but that does not mean that the Palestinians cannot do some things. Two being recognising Israel's right to exist and stopping the rocket attacks. And yes, Israel need to do much more. But stopping the rocket attacks is a trivially easy first step.
You'd be glad to know that Israel has not been attacked for three days now:
http://israelhasbeenrocketfreefor.com/ (If you trust that site...)
But I doubt it will happen.
Its even less prominent than a story about problems recycling plastic causing many local authorities a few grand a year. Trump's comments about some Republican who pushed a Guardian journalist to the floor - not nice but not mass abuse - gets a bigger font.
And I expect by Monday the media will have moved on.
Me too only seems to apply to middle class liberals from London - poor young girls often from broken homes in the north of England (who have suffered far more brutally) just don't seem to be as important.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk
I support a second ref with deal, no deal and remain as options. There's details I've not worked out, but the 'no surrender ' crowd clearly have no justifying reason to Not just be clear about preferred intention since it doesn't matter what the question is if you're already committed to a remain position.
More on Scottish Golf Courses.
Also in the Washington Post behind a paywall.
I think there's a place for a revising chamber. My package would be:
1. All appointments should be intended to represent different strands of British life, so there's an expert on everything. We need famous scientists and former Ministers, certainly, but also farmers, stockbrokers, single parents, recent immigrants, students, etc.
2. All legislation should go first to the Lords for review on objective grounds. Does the legislation make sense, does it have loppholes, will it have unintended consequences? Amendments can be made but Bills cannot be rejected in their entirety, and the Commons can overturn the amendments at the political cost of being seen to overrule expert opinion.
3. New legislation can be proposed from the Lords, including from backbenchers, and this must be given reasonable time for consideration in the Commons.
4. The power of delay should be taken away. If a Bill is bad, they need to make the case why, not merely drag it out. It should be a revising chamber, not a delaying chamber.
But I've never heard Corbyn mention it as a particular concern - I can well see him accepting a reform or abolition proposal, but not in a first term.
It seems rather pointless. But this is a free country, and they're not doing anything illegal, so I hope they all have a lovely time. If any PBers are there, have fun!