Perhaps our Tory supporting chums on here may now wish to revisit the way police forces have behaved in the past. It's good to see them catching up on what a lot of us have known for many a long year. If only there had been "Constant vigilance, democratic oversight, and a relentless focus on high ethical standards in public life" in the 1970s and 1980s we may not have had the Battle of Orgreave, the Birmingham 6, the Guildford 4, the Hillsborough cover up and so on. Yes, my right-wing friends, it's been happening for years. And sometimes it has been done in a way that has been very helpful to the government of the day.
"Which brings us to Ed Miliband. Mitchell has been good sport. Back in October the Labour Leader goaded David Cameron over the "double standard" that while someone "abusing police officers" in the street would be arrested, Mitchell was being protected. "While it’s a night in the cell for the yobs, it’s a night at the Carlton Club for the Chief Whip," he quipped.
If it now turns out that Mitchell is a wronged man, and is only guilty of the minor indiscretion of saying "I thought you lot were supposed to fucking help us" (his admitted remark) then he is entitled to feel aggrieved at what has happened to him. A quick return to the cabinet might not be on the cards, but speedy and earnest apologies should be. And Miliband should be first in line."
It's interesting to read the comments on that link. Clearly not the most neutral forum, but no one seems in the least bit concerned about the multiple police officers lying on several occasions. They are just about kicking the Tories. Sad, really.
We've seen that sentiment here too....fortunately it's very much a minority view...
Shows how much people think the Tories need kicking , to be so unpopular that people support police lying rather than them. Says it all.
I think it says it all about the people who support the lying police...
Mr. G, I must entirely disagree with you, and am slightly surprised with your stance.
It is not acceptable, remotely, for the police to (allegedly) engineer the downfall of a cabinet minister to suit their own political agenda.
Morris , just have a bit of fun , of course I agree it is not right , but if anyone thought the police were honest they are living on another planet. They have stitched people up over the years big time, if they can get a patsy for easy arrest they will take it. They prefer fish suppers and doughnuts to policing.
For those interested - i.e. me, and John O, because he is obliged to pretend that he us interested - the German auction on my book is still ongoing. There are still four publishers in the chase, the highest bid at the moment is €60,000.
It's extremely difficult to work in these trying and distracting conditions. Some sympathy from my fellow pb-ers would not go amiss.
Oh, I forgot about this. It is taking an awfully long time to come to a conclusion. Do you think that the resulting financial chaos if the US defaults on its debt will cause the publishers to pull out?
I wonder whether you might be best off accepting the €60,000 while it is still on the table..?
Perhaps our Tory supporting chums on here may now wish to revisit the way police forces have behaved in the past. It's good to see them catching up on what a lot of us have known for many a long year. If only there had been "Constant vigilance, democratic oversight, and a relentless focus on high ethical standards in public life" in the 1970s and 1980s we may not have had the Battle of Orgreave, the Birmingham 6, the Guildford 4, the Hillsborough cover up and so on. Yes, my right-wing friends, it's been happening for years. And sometimes it has been done in a way that has been very helpful to the government of the day.
Let's not forget the BBC's contribution to the lies about the Battle of Orgreave.
How much is the feel good factor resulting from England's World Cup qualification worth to the Tories in the polls, at least in the short term? 0.5% ....1.0% ....1.5% ? Of course, were England to win the tournament next July, well then you're really talking!
It sounds lik a mug punt but is the 33-1 on England any good Betfred is offering today. I'm not tempted at 25s but 33s...
It would not be good value at 1000-1. First good team they meet will hammer them , mediocre team at best.
There speaks a true Scotsman.
I've not checked but did Scotland qualify?
Gordon Strachan is already planning for next summer's world cup.
Perhaps our Tory supporting chums on here may now wish to revisit the way police forces have behaved in the past. It's good to see them catching up on what a lot of us have known for many a long year. If only there had been "Constant vigilance, democratic oversight, and a relentless focus on high ethical standards in public life" in the 1970s and 1980s we may not have had the Battle of Orgreave, the Birmingham 6, the Guildford 4, the Hillsborough cover up and so on. Yes, my right-wing friends, it's been happening for years. And sometimes it has been done in a way that has been very helpful to the government of the day.
It's not about right or left, its about right and wrong !
Is Plebgate and the obvious fiction produced by a cohort of dishonest officers in multiple locations the best advertisement for directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners?
The Police require scrutiny from outside the comfortable box that they inhabit.
Mr. G, regardless of whether Mitchell in general is an arse or not the issue is the police potentially stitching up a cabinet minister, which is clearly absolutely unacceptable.
Morris, I am willing to excuse them when it is useless politicians they are stitching up , that should be seen as a benefit to the country and rewarded.
So OK if they come after Eck then? Didnae think so!
Since he is not an erse and has nothing to hide , and he does not make a habit of cursing people out , he would have little to fear.
All that taxpayers money wasted trying to hide the non-existent legal advice on an independent Scotland and the EU, it would be acceptable to infer he does have something to hide.
TSE, that was not what it was spent on , it was down to whether government should release guidance they are given and so was very valid spending. Purely spiteful politics by Labour losers. They have spent millions on FOI in Scotland and got ZERO results on the SNP government.
How much is the feel good factor resulting from England's World Cup qualification worth to the Tories in the polls, at least in the short term? 0.5% ....1.0% ....1.5% ? Of course, were England to win the tournament next July, well then you're really talking!
It sounds lik a mug punt but is the 33-1 on England any good Betfred is offering today. I'm not tempted at 25s but 33s...
It would not be good value at 1000-1. First good team they meet will hammer them , mediocre team at best.
I assume you're going to lay your entire bank on England on Betfair then given you think the price is at least 40 times wrong ?
I have better things to do with my money
EDit: I should add , what little I have left after the Tories have fleeced me
How much is the feel good factor resulting from England's World Cup qualification worth to the Tories in the polls, at least in the short term? 0.5% ....1.0% ....1.5% ? Of course, were England to win the tournament next July, well then you're really talking!
It sounds lik a mug punt but is the 33-1 on England any good Betfred is offering today. I'm not tempted at 25s but 33s...
It would not be good value at 1000-1. First good team they meet will hammer them , mediocre team at best.
Im just waiting for @tim to put @malcolmg in with the thick PB tories who know nothing about betting... c'mon tim, puntings not partisan!
How much is the feel good factor resulting from England's World Cup qualification worth to the Tories in the polls, at least in the short term? 0.5% ....1.0% ....1.5% ? Of course, were England to win the tournament next July, well then you're really talking!
It sounds lik a mug punt but is the 33-1 on England any good Betfred is offering today. I'm not tempted at 25s but 33s...
It would not be good value at 1000-1. First good team they meet will hammer them , mediocre team at best.
There speaks a true Scotsman.
I've not checked but did Scotland qualify?
Mike , Your only consolation over recent tournaments re England getting humped is that Scotland did not qualify. Says it all about you. I merely speak the truth , England are mediocre in world terms , better than Scotland if that makes you happy , and will do nothing in the world cup as per normal. I meanwhile do not need to pretend that Scotland are world beaters.
How much is the feel good factor resulting from England's World Cup qualification worth to the Tories in the polls, at least in the short term? 0.5% ....1.0% ....1.5% ? Of course, were England to win the tournament next July, well then you're really talking!
It sounds lik a mug punt but is the 33-1 on England any good Betfred is offering today. I'm not tempted at 25s but 33s...
It would not be good value at 1000-1. First good team they meet will hammer them , mediocre team at best.
I assume you're going to lay your entire bank on England on Betfair then given you think the price is at least 40 times wrong ?
I have better things to do with my money
Surely you can go without the next bottle of Bucky?
Is Plebgate and the obvious fiction produced by a cohort of dishonest officers in multiple locations the best advertisement for directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners?
The Police require scrutiny from outside the comfortable box that they inhabit.
It would be if any of the relevant directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners were to do anything about it. We await their response.
How much is the feel good factor resulting from England's World Cup qualification worth to the Tories in the polls, at least in the short term? 0.5% ....1.0% ....1.5% ? Of course, were England to win the tournament next July, well then you're really talking!
It sounds lik a mug punt but is the 33-1 on England any good Betfred is offering today. I'm not tempted at 25s but 33s...
It would not be good value at 1000-1. First good team they meet will hammer them , mediocre team at best.
There speaks a true Scotsman.
I've not checked but did Scotland qualify?
Gordon Strachan is already planning for next summer's world cup.
I never understood why Hadrian used all those slaves to build the wall, he should have got a third rate European team to go to the border, the Scots would never have gotten past.
The thing is...as before the conference season the Labour vote fell to 35%-37%...what is to say the same won't happen again? After all, clearly the Labour vote is bouncing around too....from as little as 35% to as much as 42%.
Also, with the Tories now regularly on 34-35% and UKIP on 10-13%....there is clearly a lot of room for the Tories to get up to the late 30s or early 40s in 2015.
The heads of 10 of Europe’s biggest utilities said EU energy and environment policy was failing in its objectives and had raised the risk of the lights going out. "The risk of black-outs has never been higher," GDF Suez CEO Gerard Mestrallet said. Rising electricity bills that are damaging Europe's international competitiveness were the fault of political charges and misguided subsidies for solar and wind, rather than the fault of the energy companies, they said. Policymakers are expected to announce proposals for 2030 goals around year-end. They are expected to propose two goals, one for greenhouse emissions and one for renewables, while the CEOs want a single climate goal. (Source: Reuters, European utilities urge policy reform to avert black-outs, 2013)
Mr. G, my apologies. It can be hard to read moods over the internet, and I'm perhaps a little sleepy.
Morris , No problem , I usually exaggerate my opinions on here for a bit of fun and whilst not yourself, there are many who are so pompous and up their own erses they fail to see it. You are always a gentleman to discuss with.
How much is the feel good factor resulting from England's World Cup qualification worth to the Tories in the polls, at least in the short term? 0.5% ....1.0% ....1.5% ? Of course, were England to win the tournament next July, well then you're really talking!
It sounds lik a mug punt but is the 33-1 on England any good Betfred is offering today. I'm not tempted at 25s but 33s...
It would not be good value at 1000-1. First good team they meet will hammer them , mediocre team at best.
I assume you're going to lay your entire bank on England on Betfair then given you think the price is at least 40 times wrong ?
I have better things to do with my money
Surely you can go without the next bottle of Bucky?
Always a humourless CHAV waiting to take down the tone of things.
Perhaps our Tory supporting chums on here may now wish to revisit the way police forces have behaved in the past. It's good to see them catching up on what a lot of us have known for many a long year. If only there had been "Constant vigilance, democratic oversight, and a relentless focus on high ethical standards in public life" in the 1970s and 1980s we may not have had the Battle of Orgreave, the Birmingham 6, the Guildford 4, the Hillsborough cover up and so on. Yes, my right-wing friends, it's been happening for years. And sometimes it has been done in a way that has been very helpful to the government of the day.
It's not about right or left, its about right and wrong !
Well indeed. And it has been wrong for decades. It's just that a fair few people only just seem to have noticed it.
I never understood why Hadrian used all those slaves to build the wall, he should have got a third rate European team to go to the border, the Scots would never have gotten past.
But when push comes to shove, a few say ... "First they came for Mitchell but .. aw, he's only a godshite, so f*** him, let's blame Cameron instead."
I feel sorry for the good cops, tarred with the brush of a few idiots
"First they came for the mime artists but I was not a mime, so I said nothing. In retrospect, I should have thought it through a bit more."
In the free software community it goes, "First they came for the Linux users, and I didn't speak, because I couldn't get my audio drivers to work with 3.0.4".
Does that work well when you go out on the pull?
I'm not sure, but if that doesn't work the fallback is:
The worst part about the US government going into default is that you're gonna lose all your settings and preferences.
Perhaps our Tory supporting chums on here may now wish to revisit the way police forces have behaved in the past. It's good to see them catching up on what a lot of us have known for many a long year. If only there had been "Constant vigilance, democratic oversight, and a relentless focus on high ethical standards in public life" in the 1970s and 1980s we may not have had the Battle of Orgreave, the Birmingham 6, the Guildford 4, the Hillsborough cover up and so on. Yes, my right-wing friends, it's been happening for years. And sometimes it has been done in a way that has been very helpful to the government of the day.
Let's not forget the BBC's contribution to the lies about the Battle of Orgreave.
Absolutely. The notoriously left-wing, Marxist BBC stitched up the right wing NUM good and proper.
I never understood why Hadrian used all those slaves to build the wall, he should have got a third rate European team to go to the border, the Scots would never have gotten past.
Don't get too cocky, LOL
I won't get cocky, as a Liverpool and England fan, in recent years, it has been more of a penance.
Even England Rugby have been shite, thank God for the England cricket team and Great Britain's Andy Murray.
Perhaps our Tory supporting chums on here may now wish to revisit the way police forces have behaved in the past. It's good to see them catching up on what a lot of us have known for many a long year. If only there had been "Constant vigilance, democratic oversight, and a relentless focus on high ethical standards in public life" in the 1970s and 1980s we may not have had the Battle of Orgreave, the Birmingham 6, the Guildford 4, the Hillsborough cover up and so on. Yes, my right-wing friends, it's been happening for years. And sometimes it has been done in a way that has been very helpful to the government of the day.
Let's not forget the BBC's contribution to the lies about the Battle of Orgreave.
Absolutely. The notoriously left-wing, Marxist BBC stitched up the right wing NUM good and proper.
As the Hutton report showed, the BBC lied over the conduct of the Labour PM over Iraq.
Time to smash the BBC.
Edit: Which reminds me, I have lunch with a BBC employee today.
Bank of America has just taken a $1.1bn charge related to the reduction in UK corporation tax rate. I assume this is down to the reduction in the NPV of their tax losses (haven't check the detail).
Tories socking it to the bankers. Much more effective than just wittering on about a bonus tax.
I never understood why Hadrian used all those slaves to build the wall, he should have got a third rate European team to go to the border, the Scots would never have gotten past.
Don't get too cocky, LOL
I won't get cocky, as a Liverpool and England fan, in recent years, it has been more of a penance.
Even England Rugby have been shite, thank God for the England cricket team and Great Britain's Andy Murray.
What about the Lions?
On the WC, tournament football is all about the big Mo. If England can get a decent start and drop into a comfortable rhythm of play it is not impossible they could get into a position to become contenders. What we do have are plenty of players with big game experience. They may not be that good technically, but if they feel they have a chance they may just surprise us. They probably won't. There are plenty of better sides. But you only need to win six or seven games to win the World Cup. You can get lucky with the draw; your much better opposition can have an off day; a fringe player can emerge; a written off one can regain his form; you can learn how to take penalties; and so on. Gerard and Rooney remain top class players. Build the team round them. Give young Andros the freedom to charge. And you never know. Well you do. But you have to live in hope.
I never understood why Hadrian used all those slaves to build the wall, he should have got a third rate European team to go to the border, the Scots would never have gotten past.
Don't get too cocky, LOL
I won't get cocky, as a Liverpool and England fan, in recent years, it has been more of a penance.
Even England Rugby have been shite, thank God for the England cricket team and Great Britain's Andy Murray.
What about the Lions?
On the WC, tournament football is all about the big Mo. If England can get a decent start and drop into a comfortable rhythm of play it is not impossible they could get into a position to become contenders. What we do have are plenty of players with big game experience. They may not be that good technically, but if they feel they have a chance they may just surprise us. They probably won't. There are plenty of better sides. But you only need to win six or seven games to win the World Cup. You can get lucky with the draw; your much better opposition can have an off day; a fringe player can emerge; a written off one can regain his form; you can learn how to take penalties; and so on. Gerard and Rooney remain top class players. Build the team round them. Give young Andros the freedom to charge. And you never know. Well you do. But you have to live in hope.
One of my Welsh friends say my criticism of Warren Gatland doesn't allow me to share in the glory of the Lions.
Re the world cup, we're not going to win it, the one thing that will destroy our chances (apart from the players aren't good enough) is the weather.
The heat will make it unsuitable for the European teams.
I never understood why Hadrian used all those slaves to build the wall, he should have got a third rate European team to go to the border, the Scots would never have gotten past.
Don't get too cocky, LOL
I won't get cocky, as a Liverpool and England fan, in recent years, it has been more of a penance.
Even England Rugby have been shite, thank God for the England cricket team and Great Britain's Andy Murray.
What about the Lions?
On the WC, tournament football is all about the big Mo. If England can get a decent start and drop into a comfortable rhythm of play it is not impossible they could get into a position to become contenders. What we do have are plenty of players with big game experience. They may not be that good technically, but if they feel they have a chance they may just surprise us. They probably won't. There are plenty of better sides. But you only need to win six or seven games to win the World Cup. You can get lucky with the draw; your much better opposition can have an off day; a fringe player can emerge; a written off one can regain his form; you can learn how to take penalties; and so on. Gerard and Rooney remain top class players. Build the team round them. Give young Andros the freedom to charge. And you never know. Well you do. But you have to live in hope.
SO , similar chance to Spurs winning the premiership, ie Bob Hope and No Hope
I worry that the last few weeks might have been a false dawn. Ed very poor today. Clear victory for Cameron.
Ed was very proud of himself for the 'hug a huskie' line - and was determined to throw in the word 'crisis' as many times as he could. But he still couldn't put together a series of questions that actually placed any pressure on the PM.
Interesting PMQ's. Ed Miliband's attempts to link Energy prices to his cost of living stick enabled Cameron to come back and highlight this Government's record pulling the poorest workers out of tax, freezing council tax and fuel duty. It also then opened the door for Cameron to bring Labour's own record in Office on fuel duty, council tax and that removal of the 10p tax in comparison. I would have added in the continued low interest rates that have kept mortgages manageable during these austere times. These are effective policies that this Government has implemented to help with the cost of living vs a promise from Ed Miliband.
Miliband turned the ball away from the Government goals and dribbled it all the way back down the pitch to his own goals, and then he struck it squarely in the back of the net. We ended up talking about the last Labour Government's record in Office, not something that Miliband can defend. Someone from the Scottish Lab team in Holyrood should have given him the heads up on why this strategy is a gift to Cameron. I saw Salmond take up the invitation in the last Scottish FM questions.
@iainmartin1: For weeks Tory leadership has been grandstanding against green taxes it voted for and will not and *cannot* axe. #PMQs
Some nice quotes from Cameron and Osborne urging Labour to go further on green taxes The PB Tories don't want to acknowledge this, it's in the "to be ignored" file along with Goves Madrassa and rising spending
Are you suggesting Cameron should make an announcement on a particular tax before the Autumn statement ?
I never understood why Hadrian used all those slaves to build the wall, he should have got a third rate European team to go to the border, the Scots would never have gotten past.
Don't get too cocky, LOL
I won't get cocky, as a Liverpool and England fan, in recent years, it has been more of a penance.
Even England Rugby have been shite, thank God for the England cricket team and Great Britain's Andy Murray.
What about the Lions?
On the WC, tournament football is all about the big Mo. If England can get a decent start and drop into a comfortable rhythm of play it is not impossible they could get into a position to become contenders. What we do have are plenty of players with big game experience. They may not be that good technically, but if they feel they have a chance they may just surprise us. They probably won't. There are plenty of better sides. But you only need to win six or seven games to win the World Cup. You can get lucky with the draw; your much better opposition can have an off day; a fringe player can emerge; a written off one can regain his form; you can learn how to take penalties; and so on. Gerard and Rooney remain top class players. Build the team round them. Give young Andros the freedom to charge. And you never know. Well you do. But you have to live in hope.
One of my Welsh friends say my criticism of Warren Gatland doesn't allow me to share in the glory of the Lions.
Re the world cup, we're not going to win it, the one thing that will destroy our chances (apart from the players aren't good enough) is the weather.
The heat will make it unsuitable for the European teams.
It'll be autumn moving into winter in Brazil. If we get to play in Sao Paolo or Porto Alegre (or even Rio) it will be fine. The further north we go, though, the worse it will be. When I was over there in August I was told that England might end up in Boa Vista. That would be lethal.
I don't understand this badger cull or have strong views either way, and tim will of course know this more than most I'm sure, but it appears in the rural areas I go that it is believed that farmers kill the badgers (who knows how... I doubt humanely) and then leave them by the roadside so as to appear as roadkill....
A quick google tells me that the dispatch boxes themselves contain holy texts, but what are the bound books in between the two dispatch boxes?
The black marks on the dispatch box are Gordon Brown's vandalism
Dispatch Box vandal caught in the act and culprit is Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Officials are used to finding graffiti on the priceless fixtures and fittings in the House of Commons chamber. Teams of French polishers regularly repair damage caused by tourists.
"If the Labour Party – and the wider Labour movement – can do one small thing today, it should be to apologise to Andrew Mitchell for jumping on him when the facts were unclear. But more than that – if others believe, as I now do, that Mitchell has clearly been the victim of police wrongdoing, then we need to stand up for him, defend him and – yes – campaign for him.
Because the police need to be held to account whenever and wherever the overstep their authority. That’s something the Labour movement has always been good at, but if we’re being consistent we need to do it whoever the victim is. Even if it’s a former Tory Cabinet Minister.
Perhaps especially when it’s a former Tory Cabinet Minister."
Thanks, my South American weather knowledge is lacking.
What about the riots/protests in Brazil, that might have a bearing on where England end up?
Did you see any whilst you were out there?
No, it was pretty calm when I was there. But if Rio is anything to go by, logistically the event is going to be a nightmare. Getting around is just horrible. And a lot of people are going to get robbed, The Maracana is pretty impressive though and Rio is beautiful, of course. The one that would worry me a lot more is the Olympics. I just cannot see how they are going to be ready for those.
"Misrepresenting evidence has now become so commonplace amongst British police officers they no longer recognise they are doing it. There is an incredible passage in the transcript of the meeting between the Police Federation and Andrew Mitchell in which the officers expound on the importance of honesty and integrity to them and their service. Stuart Hinton explains to Mitchell: “Honesty and integrity, as I have said a number of times over the last couple of days, is a central tenor to the police core value and if that wasn’t the case anything could happen … to have a senior government figure suggesting that an officer's account of events is inaccurate and possibly untruthful has wider implications, not just for that incident but for the police service in general”. Then, having delivered this powerful and moving soliloquy on the importance of police officers giving truthful accounts of their actions, Hinton and his colleagues got up, walked out, and gave a wholly distorted account of their meeting to the waiting press." http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danhodges/100241644/theres-only-one-way-the-police-can-regain-respect-after-plebgate-start-telling-the-truth/
I never understood why Hadrian used all those slaves to build the wall, he should have got a third rate European team to go to the border, the Scots would never have gotten past.
Don't get too cocky, LOL
I won't get cocky, as a Liverpool and England fan, in recent years, it has been more of a penance.
Even England Rugby have been shite, thank God for the England cricket team and Great Britain's Andy Murray.
What about the Lions?
On the WC, tournament football is all about the big Mo. If England can get a decent start and drop into a comfortable rhythm of play it is not impossible they could get into a position to become contenders. What we do have are plenty of players with big game experience. They may not be that good technically, but if they feel they have a chance they may just surprise us. They probably won't. There are plenty of better sides. But you only need to win six or seven games to win the World Cup. You can get lucky with the draw; your much better opposition can have an off day; a fringe player can emerge; a written off one can regain his form; you can learn how to take penalties; and so on. Gerard and Rooney remain top class players. Build the team round them. Give young Andros the freedom to charge. And you never know. Well you do. But you have to live in hope.
One of my Welsh friends say my criticism of Warren Gatland doesn't allow me to share in the glory of the Lions.
Re the world cup, we're not going to win it, the one thing that will destroy our chances (apart from the players aren't good enough) is the weather.
The heat will make it unsuitable for the European teams.
Tokyo has a remarkably similiar climate to Rio in July and June. Except Rio can get alot hotter (On average the humidity/heat is the same though) and Brazil won in 2002.
So you might well have a point.
Even Spanish footballers don't really play in any sort of comparable hat over their season.
I never understood why Hadrian used all those slaves to build the wall, he should have got a third rate European team to go to the border, the Scots would never have gotten past.
Don't get too cocky, LOL
I won't get cocky, as a Liverpool and England fan, in recent years, it has been more of a penance.
Even England Rugby have been shite, thank God for the England cricket team and Great Britain's Andy Murray.
What about the Lions?
On the WC, tournament football is all about the big Mo. If England can get a decent start and drop into a comfortable rhythm of play it is not impossible they could get into a position to become contenders. What we do have are plenty of players with big game experience. They may not be that good technically, but if they feel they have a chance they may just surprise us. They probably won't. There are plenty of better sides. But you only need to win six or seven games to win the World Cup. You can get lucky with the draw; your much better opposition can have an off day; a fringe player can emerge; a written off one can regain his form; you can learn how to take penalties; and so on. Gerard and Rooney remain top class players. Build the team round them. Give young Andros the freedom to charge. And you never know. Well you do. But you have to live in hope.
One of my Welsh friends say my criticism of Warren Gatland doesn't allow me to share in the glory of the Lions.
Re the world cup, we're not going to win it, the one thing that will destroy our chances (apart from the players aren't good enough) is the weather.
The heat will make it unsuitable for the European teams.
It'll be autumn moving into winter in Brazil. If we get to play in Sao Paolo or Porto Alegre (or even Rio) it will be fine. The further north we go, though, the worse it will be. When I was over there in August I was told that England might end up in Boa Vista. That would be lethal.
If England end up in Porto Alegre, you'll need to take thermals.
Urca is very nice. I know the base they are talking about. There's a beach just by there which is spectacular. If I knew how to do it, I'd post a few pictures of the place. It's a bit of a schlep to the hotel they are talking about though. Could be well over an hour each way if the traffic is crap, but maybe they'll get a police escort.
From growth to stagnation: the path of UK real wages
'It is widely known that the 2008-09 recession has had a significant, negative impact on the real value of wages. But evidence of wage-trends over the longer term reveals that median wages in the UK had already stopped growing before the 2008-09 downturn was in sight.
When long-term trends in wages are charted from 1970, three fairly distinct periods of wage growth emerge (Figure 12): a period of moderate growth for men and strong growth for women throughout the 1970s; a period of strong growth for most people (but fast-rising inequality) in the 1980s and 1990s; and a period of stagnation from 2003, beginning in a time of economic growth, and now set to continue as real wages fall in the aftermath of the 2008-09 recession, and recover only slowly to 2015.51 51.
www.resolutionfoundation.org/media/.../Growth_without_gain_-_Web.p.. by J Plunkett - 2011 - Cited by 12 - Related articles to living standards in the UK over the last thirty years? In absolute terms ... was strong from 1977 to 2003 but from 2003-08 – before the 2008-09 recession, and.
That's part of the problem. The other part is that they let a bunch of incompetent morons write a constitution for them, then made a weird kind of secular religion around the results of their incompetence that prevents them from fixing it.
That said these things seem to follow a familiar pattern, and we're at the second-to-last step: - House Republicans take an uncompromising stand. - Everybody frets for a while. - Senate make a deal. - Boehner tries get House Republicans to vote for a more right-wing version of the deal that Senate Democrats won't accept, so he can blame it on them. - Right-wing House Republicans refuse to vote for it. <- We are here - Boehner gives up and allows a vote on the Senate thing, which passes with Democratic votes + a few Republicans.
@Tim I'm sure the BBC News reporter said- he was a little known minister...
As for Cameron's green tax stuff, he still appears to be wedded to it - gas, electricity, petrol, diesel, fuel duty...Does he have the gumption to scrap them?
Will a market open up on which Labour Front bencher is first to apologise over plodgate?
Dan Hodges @DPJHodges Watching West Midlands police commissioner on Sky. The police service is in the middle of a full scale public relations meltdown.
Comments
I wonder whether you might be best off accepting the €60,000 while it is still on the table..?
He's bought a new 50inch tv.
TSE,
I think you might be right about the timing of Plebgate. When there's mass sympathy for the police, it's not the time to carp.
I assumed that the police would put it down to a few bad apples and move on. They may still be forced to do so.
The Police require scrutiny from outside the comfortable box that they inhabit.
For our Japanese PBers
RT @PensionsJackal: Possibly the greatest snippet, I have *ever* read, in today's #Times... pic.twitter.com/VVeuYGI5ba
EDit: I should add , what little I have left after the Tories have fleeced me
I meanwhile do not need to pretend that Scotland are world beaters.
Also, with the Tories now regularly on 34-35% and UKIP on 10-13%....there is clearly a lot of room for the Tories to get up to the late 30s or early 40s in 2015.
(Source: Reuters, European utilities urge policy reform to avert black-outs, 2013)
What do you get if you cross a ball with Danny Welbeck? A goal kick.
Even England Rugby have been shite, thank God for the England cricket team and Great Britain's Andy Murray.
What a utterly pathetic line.
Time to smash the BBC.
Edit: Which reminds me, I have lunch with a BBC employee today.
At least he's no Chris Iwelumo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqkShPKgAbw
"He has gone from hug a hoodie to gas a badger - Ed M"
Isn't that nice, they're complimenting each other now.
Bank accounting never ceases to amaze me.
Bank of America has just taken a $1.1bn charge related to the reduction in UK corporation tax rate. I assume this is down to the reduction in the NPV of their tax losses (haven't check the detail).
Tories socking it to the bankers. Much more effective than just wittering on about a bonus tax.
On the WC, tournament football is all about the big Mo. If England can get a decent start and drop into a comfortable rhythm of play it is not impossible they could get into a position to become contenders. What we do have are plenty of players with big game experience. They may not be that good technically, but if they feel they have a chance they may just surprise us. They probably won't. There are plenty of better sides. But you only need to win six or seven games to win the World Cup. You can get lucky with the draw; your much better opposition can have an off day; a fringe player can emerge; a written off one can regain his form; you can learn how to take penalties; and so on. Gerard and Rooney remain top class players. Build the team round them. Give young Andros the freedom to charge. And you never know. Well you do. But you have to live in hope.
So when he raises the matters of the economy or energy prices, he is hoping the voters forget those two points.
Vaz goes on plebgate.......
......Cameron agrees 100% with May's comments.....
Re the world cup, we're not going to win it, the one thing that will destroy our chances (apart from the players aren't good enough) is the weather.
The heat will make it unsuitable for the European teams.
It was a weak performance without a doubt.
(and no, that isn't a euphemism)
Badgers quick to react to @Ed_Miliband's quip. via @JohnRentoul. #PMQs
pic.twitter.com/MjAWMFNP3N
Miliband turned the ball away from the Government goals and dribbled it all the way back down the pitch to his own goals, and then he struck it squarely in the back of the net. We ended up talking about the last Labour Government's record in Office, not something that Miliband can defend. Someone from the Scottish Lab team in Holyrood should have given him the heads up on why this strategy is a gift to Cameron. I saw Salmond take up the invitation in the last Scottish FM questions.
Dave had his tail up, but difficult not to when such a feeble attack from the opposition. Its like facing San Marino at present.
If he wins its because he strikes lucky on an area where Cam isn't prepared - not due to a sparkling wit on the hoof.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/georgeosborne/6224723/Tory-public-spending-cuts-could-push-unemployment-to-5-million.html
Remember Ed is the person who at the last election, thought comparing David Cameron to Gene Hunt would be a voter winner.
To be fair, it was a vote winner, for Dave.
That would be "unusual".
Thanks, my South American weather knowledge is lacking.
What about the riots/protests in Brazil, that might have a bearing on where England end up?
Did you see any whilst you were out there?
Owen Jones@OwenJones845s
Spot on from @Markfergusonuk. Pretty clear Andrew Mitchell was stitched up, and I'm sorry I and others doubted him http://labourlist.org/2013/10/andrew-mitchell-has-been-wronged-and-the-labour-movement-should-defend-him/ …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erskine_May:_Parliamentary_Practice
Dispatch Box vandal caught in the act and culprit is Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Officials are used to finding graffiti on the priceless fixtures and fittings in the House of Commons chamber. Teams of French polishers regularly repair damage caused by tourists.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/2652416/Dispatch-Box-vandal-caught-in-the-act-and-culprit-is-Prime-Minister-Gordon-Brown.html
Poor Wee Timmy's left all alone on the burning deck.
"If the Labour Party – and the wider Labour movement – can do one small thing today, it should be to apologise to Andrew Mitchell for jumping on him when the facts were unclear. But more than that – if others believe, as I now do, that Mitchell has clearly been the victim of police wrongdoing, then we need to stand up for him, defend him and – yes – campaign for him.
Because the police need to be held to account whenever and wherever the overstep their authority. That’s something the Labour movement has always been good at, but if we’re being consistent we need to do it whoever the victim is. Even if it’s a former Tory Cabinet Minister.
Perhaps especially when it’s a former Tory Cabinet Minister."
http://labourlist.org/2013/10/andrew-mitchell-has-been-wronged-and-the-labour-movement-should-defend-him/
"Misrepresenting evidence has now become so commonplace amongst British police officers they no longer recognise they are doing it. There is an incredible passage in the transcript of the meeting between the Police Federation and Andrew Mitchell in which the officers expound on the importance of honesty and integrity to them and their service. Stuart Hinton explains to Mitchell: “Honesty and integrity, as I have said a number of times over the last couple of days, is a central tenor to the police core value and if that wasn’t the case anything could happen … to have a senior government figure suggesting that an officer's account of events is inaccurate and possibly untruthful has wider implications, not just for that incident but for the police service in general”. Then, having delivered this powerful and moving soliloquy on the importance of police officers giving truthful accounts of their actions, Hinton and his colleagues got up, walked out, and gave a wholly distorted account of their meeting to the waiting press." http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danhodges/100241644/theres-only-one-way-the-police-can-regain-respect-after-plebgate-start-telling-the-truth/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24543581
'Interesting PMQ's. Ed Miliband's attempts to link Energy prices to his cost of living stick '
Interesting comment from Nick Robinson that living standards were already falling before the 2008 recession started.
So you might well have a point.
Even Spanish footballers don't really play in any sort of comparable hat over their season.
MT @daily_politics: Bookie says @NadineDorriesMP outsider for deputy Speaker job, they'd only received 1 bet on her (for 50p) #bbcdp
Judging by the Times article, England are planning to base themselves in Rio and commute to the games.
Edit: The telegraph has the story as well, they're going to base themselves in the Urca district of Rio
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/10382842/England-make-plans-for-friendlies-training-camps-and-accommodation-ahead-of-World-Cup-2014-in-Brazil.html
But yeah, they're idiots.
RT @ToryTreasury: @JohnRentoul not true - real disposable income over last 4 quarters was higher than in any year under Labour
Mitchell was in the Cabinet.
Mostly because Mitchell Johnson is playing.
From growth to stagnation: the path of UK real wages
'It is widely known that the 2008-09 recession has had a significant, negative impact on the real value of wages. But evidence of wage-trends over the longer term reveals that median
wages in the UK had already stopped growing before the 2008-09 downturn was in sight.
When long-term trends in wages are charted from 1970, three fairly distinct periods of wage
growth emerge (Figure 12): a period of moderate growth for men and strong growth for
women throughout the 1970s; a period of strong growth for most people (but fast-rising
inequality) in the 1980s and 1990s; and a period of stagnation from 2003, beginning in a time
of economic growth, and now set to continue as real wages fall in the aftermath of the
2008-09 recession, and recover only slowly to 2015.51
51.
www.resolutionfoundation.org/media/.../Growth_without_gain_-_Web.p..
by J Plunkett - 2011 - Cited by 12 - Related articles
to living standards in the UK over the last thirty years? In absolute terms ... was strong from 1977 to 2003 but from 2003-08 – before the 2008-09 recession, and.
That said these things seem to follow a familiar pattern, and we're at the second-to-last step:
- House Republicans take an uncompromising stand.
- Everybody frets for a while.
- Senate make a deal.
- Boehner tries get House Republicans to vote for a more right-wing version of the deal that Senate Democrats won't accept, so he can blame it on them.
- Right-wing House Republicans refuse to vote for it. <- We are here
- Boehner gives up and allows a vote on the Senate thing, which passes with Democratic votes + a few Republicans.
If you want to hear miliband say hug a huskie/gas a badger quote,turn on at 6:45
http://audioboo.fm/boos/1664610-pmqs-cameron-vs-miliband#t=0m3s
I've always liked this t-shirt from the Daily Mash.
As for Cameron's green tax stuff, he still appears to be wedded to it - gas, electricity, petrol, diesel, fuel duty...Does he have the gumption to scrap them?
Will a market open up on which Labour Front bencher is first to apologise over plodgate?
Dan Hodges @DPJHodges
Watching West Midlands police commissioner on Sky. The police service is in the middle of a full scale public relations meltdown.