Yes. I am sure the review is being used to investigate which powers should be repatriated, given that 'broadly appropriate' is not 'ideal'.
It's broadly appropriate which hardly gives Cammie much cover from his Eurosceptics because for those with a short memory it didn't take much for them to get stroppy yet again only a few short months ago when they made Cammie look like John Major. Nor will it take much again either during or after the EU elections. Which is I believe what Henry is driving at in the article above through the prism of the tory EU leader's fate.
The tory Eurosceptics are playing a waiting game right now and what they are waiting on is the EU elections and their results.
In a surprise development....the SNP's sums don't add up:
"Michael Fallon told a fringe meeting at the Tory conference in Manchester that UK taxpayers contribute £500 million a year towards Scotland’s renewable energy industry. This is 40 per cent of the UK’s renewables total despite Scotland only having about 10 per cent of the population, he said, suggesting this burden would have to be borne by Scottish bill payers alone after independence."
Leaving the Union will cost £500m in cross subsidy from the UK on renewables - will you stop investing in them, fund from energy bills, or from general taxation? Nicola promised today to save £200m......where is the £300m to come from?
Well, Scotland won't have to pay for their share of all the infrastructure spending that goes on around London, such as Crossrail, High-Speed 2, etc.
Of course there are lots of cross-border flows of money that you can point to now, in both directions, but Scotland's fiscal position after independence isn't going to be that much worse than the UK's is now, if at all. Which is not to say that it will be that good, because the UK's fiscal position is still pretty horrendous, but it seems like a transparently crap line of argument, just like the independence argument that everything will be fine because they have the oil money is a load of rubbish.
Yes - taking the money making powerhouse of London away should have no effect - and not having your own currency won't make much impact on their ability to borrow cheaply...
"Scotland won't have to pay for their share of infrastructure spending....around London...." Isn't it the case that under the Barnet formula London has to pay Scotland a proportional equivalent to the infrastructure expenditures?
"While Scottish National party ministers rail against the "despicable" bedroom tax and "shameful" cuts in public services at their conference in Perth, rumours circulate that Alex Salmond has been staying at Scotland's most luxurious hotel, Gleneagles, for the weekend.
The opulent Royal Lochnagar suites at Gleneagles, described as a "magnificent French chateau" 20 miles from Perth, cost £1,770 a night this weekend. A basic Classic room for a Sunday night in mid-November would cost£295.
The hotel, set in 350 hectares of grounds, boasts some of the world's most famous golf courses. So the first minister may be there for in-depth research into next year's Ryder Cup golf tournament, which is being hosted at Gleneagles after next September's independence referendum.
If all goes to plan, and the yes campaign triumphs, Salmond will be booking its presidential suite."
@SeanT - so the arrivistes have more money than "old money"!
Plus ca change.....
I discovered recently that Robert Plant has a house in Primrose Hill. As does Jeremy Clarkson.
Robert Plant is quite old.
Old, but immortal.
Absolutely. About six months fter JB died, Robert Plant went on the road with a new band called The Honeydrippers. They were on at our Uni, and Robert was on the desk selling tickets before the show. Great guy, he was trying to persuade people to come and see him, a few were stunned, others didn't know who he was.
"Scotland won't have to pay for their share of infrastructure spending....around London...." Isn't it the case that under the Barnet formula London has to pay Scotland a proportional equivalent to the infrastructure expenditures?
Not if it's accounted to be of general benefit to the UK e.g. the Channel Tunnel rail link or HS2
rumours circulate that Alex Salmond has been staying at Scotland's most luxurious hotel
MPs' expenses list reveals David Cameron 'used the system' to claim £21,000 in a year to pay his mortgage
He also used public funds for a series of repairs to the picturesque cottage including the removal of wisteria from a chimney. For most of the past five years, Mr Cameron has claimed only for mortgage interest and utility bills on his designated second home.
But he deviated from his straightforward claiming habits in November 2006 when he billed the public purse £680 for repairs to the cottage, including clearing wisteria and vines from a chimney, replacing outside lights and resealing his conservatory roof.
"While Scottish National party ministers rail against the "despicable" bedroom tax and "shameful" cuts in public services at their conference in Perth, rumours circulate that Alex Salmond has been staying at Scotland's most luxurious hotel, Gleneagles, for the weekend.
The opulent Royal Lochnagar suites at Gleneagles, described as a "magnificent French chateau" 20 miles from Perth, cost £1,770 a night this weekend. A basic Classic room for a Sunday night in mid-November would cost£295.
The hotel, set in 350 hectares of grounds, boasts some of the world's most famous golf courses. So the first minister may be there for in-depth research into next year's Ryder Cup golf tournament, which is being hosted at Gleneagles after next September's independence referendum.
If all goes to plan, and the yes campaign triumphs, Salmond will be booking its presidential suite."
We are in it together unless you are Alex Salmond.... Just remind me how far of a commute from Bute House it was that forced Alex Salmond to slum it a Scotland's most prestigious 5* hotel? Was Alex worried he might have to mingle with his SNP MSP/MP colleagues, or even the odd SNP supporter outside the Conference hall this weekend?
Twitter Ruth Davidson MSP @RuthDavidsonMSP 7h @paulhutcheon on the Salmond @Gleneagleshotel story - happy to disclose I stayed at the Blackfriars St Travel Lodge at conference in Manc!
Salmond was probable acting on fiscal advice he is unable to publish, but which proved that it was cheaper to have his taxpayer funded chauffeur and car run him between a suite at Gleneagles and the Conference hall in true Presidential style instead.
"While Scottish National party ministers rail against the "despicable" bedroom tax and "shameful" cuts in public services at their conference in Perth, rumours circulate that Alex Salmond has been staying at Scotland's most luxurious hotel, Gleneagles, for the weekend.
The opulent Royal Lochnagar suites at Gleneagles, described as a "magnificent French chateau" 20 miles from Perth, cost £1,770 a night this weekend. A basic Classic room for a Sunday night in mid-November would cost£295.
The hotel, set in 350 hectares of grounds, boasts some of the world's most famous golf courses. So the first minister may be there for in-depth research into next year's Ryder Cup golf tournament, which is being hosted at Gleneagles after next September's independence referendum.
If all goes to plan, and the yes campaign triumphs, Salmond will be booking its presidential suite."
I'd have thought accommodation at a party conference would be a party matter, so presumably the SNP paid for it and can put him wherever they so please.
George Osborne was under pressure last night after it was revealed he claimed expenses to cover mortgage payments for a paddock.
The paddock adjoins his Cheshire farmhouse and was bought by the Chancellor and his wife, Frances, as part of the purchase of his Cheshire farmhouse for £455,000 in 2000, before he became an MP.
After winning a seat at Westminster in the 2001 General Election, Mr Osborne claimed up to £100,000 in expenses for mortgage interest payments on the home and paddock. However, it has now been revealed that the paddock is recorded by the land registry as a property separate from the farmhouse near Macclesfield.
The mortgage claims on the farmhouse were considered during the Parliamentary inquiry into MPs' expenses because Mr Osborne had "flipped" his second home allowance on to the property but there was no mention of the paddock being separate. The house and paddock have now been sold, reportedly for up to £1m.
Labour's John Mann said: "Mr Osborne clearly didn't need it [the paddock] to discharge his Parliamentary duties."
In January 2010 Mr Osborne was ordered to repay £1,666 after being found to have overclaimed for mortgage interest on the farmhouse.
I'd have thought accommodation at a party conference would be a party matter, so presumably the SNP paid for it and can put him wherever they so please.
Good God man, don't be spoiling things with rationality! The wee, cow'rin, tim'rous surgers don't have much to cheer about, let them have their moment.
After winning a seat at Westminster in the 2001 General Election, Mr Osborne claimed up to £100,000 in expenses for mortgage interest payments on the home and paddock.
Not a complaint about you Pork, but it really annoys me when people use the phrase "up to". Given that it means that the true value could lie anywhere between 0 and 100,000. Why not just state the freaking value!! ARGH
I'd have thought accommodation at a party conference would be a party matter, so presumably the SNP paid for it and can put him wherever they so please.
I'd have thought inept Cameroonian spinners should know not to be so stupid as to raise the bedroom tax, but of course that would be dependent on them not being out of touch twits.
Unfortunately looks like @SouthamObserver was wrong to call the Hodgson Space Monkey story done and dusted.. lead story on Radio 2 News at 4 and now the idiots at the Black Lawyers Society have got involved
But the exclusive Pall Mall club hired by the Scottish National Party for the duration of the Games was largely empty yesterday.
Mr Salmond was widely condemned for spending £400,000 of taxpayers’ money hiring the Army and Navy Club – described by critics as a ‘vanity project’."
Telegraph - Alex Salmond spends £370,000 on entertaining "Alex Salmond spent more than £370,000 of taxpayers’ money on official entertaining during his first term in office, according to official figures obtained by the Daily Telegraph."
Telegraph - Alex Salmond spent £468,580 on Ryder Cup visit "Alex Salmond spent nearly half a million pounds of taxpayers’ money taking a Scottish delegation to this year’s Ryder Cup in Chicago, it has emerged."
Not a complaint about you Pork, but it really annoys me when people use the phrase "up to". Given that it means that the true value could lie anywhere between 0 and 100,000. Why not just state the freaking value!! ARGH
You won't like this then.
Osborne 'made £400,000 profit' on second home he claimed on expenses, say neighbours
George Osborne made a huge profit of £450,000 by selling his second home which was part paid for by the taxpayer, it was claimed today.
The Chancellor used Commons expenses to pay interest on the mortgage for the farmhouse in his Cheshire constituency.
He sold the property in January this year amid claims he was preparing for the Tatton seat to be abolished under plans to cut the number of MPs.
Mr Osborne bought the house at Harrop Fold Farm near Macclesfield for £445,000 in 2000.
Neighbours say that he sold the house for up to £900,000, the Daily Mirror reported.
Not a complaint about you Pork, but it really annoys me when people use the phrase "up to". Given that it means that the true value could lie anywhere between 0 and 100,000. Why not just state the freaking value!! ARGH
You won't like this then.
Totally inconsistent use of the phrase 'up to' there. All of the values in that paragraph should be preceded with the words 'up to' if it was sold for 'up to' £900,000. He could have made a £450,000 loss.....
But the exclusive Pall Mall club hired by the Scottish National Party for the duration of the Games was largely empty yesterday.
Mr Salmond was widely condemned for spending £400,000 of taxpayers’ money hiring the Army and Navy Club – described by critics as a ‘vanity project’."
Telegraph - Alex Salmond spends £370,000 on entertaining "Alex Salmond spent more than £370,000 of taxpayers’ money on official entertaining during his first term in office, according to official figures obtained by the Daily Telegraph."
Telegraph - Alex Salmond spent £468,580 on Ryder Cup visit "Alex Salmond spent nearly half a million pounds of taxpayers’ money taking a Scottish delegation to this year’s Ryder Cup in Chicago, it has emerged."
And yet even 1 out of 3 Scottish Tories actually approves of the Salmond-led SNP government. That won't be a very big number admittedly, but still...
You've all pricked my conscience. I'll put £100 behind the bar at the next pb do. So you will be FORCED to toast me.
It's all up in the air. It was meant to be next Spring but with this enormous American interest everything has been set back, as the Americans want time to edit and prepare, and they are in charge now, as they have all the money.
Crazy day. Even at 4pm this afternoon we were getting entirely new publishers - e.g. St Martin's Press - coming in from nowhere and making handsome six figure offers. I guess I touched a nerve - or it's just some mass delusion where everyone decides they must have something simply because other people want it so much.
Ditto Germany, the auction was about to close today when a NEW publisher - the seventh - said "Wait, we want to bid as well".
I'm guessing this will only ever happen once in my life so I am trying to enjoy it, though it is oddly unsettling, as well as exciting.
Claims that David Cameron has a £30m fortune sit uneasily with taxpayers. So what is the truth about his money?
But the fascination with bike-riding Cameron's '£30million' refuses to go away. As does gossip of his alleged personal family fortune, helped by the Mail on Sunday's disclosure that he paid off the £75,000 mortgage on the £1.5 million home in North Kensington, London, that he owns with his wife Samantha, after they took out a £350,000 taxpayer-funded HSBC mortgage on his designated Oxfordshire constituency second home.
While within the rules, this is precisely the kind of financial jiggery-pokery for which other MPs have been criticised in recent weeks, as details of the way they have abused their second homes allowances have been made public.
For his part, Cameron claims he was able to pay off the mortgage on his London home by selling shares. But he is still open to the charge that someone who's clearly worth a few bob was 'playing' the system by claiming more than £21,200 from taxpayers in 2005-6, for the mortgage interest paid on his constituency home.
But the exclusive Pall Mall club hired by the Scottish National Party for the duration of the Games was largely empty yesterday.
Mr Salmond was widely condemned for spending £400,000 of taxpayers’ money hiring the Army and Navy Club – described by critics as a ‘vanity project’."
Telegraph - Alex Salmond spends £370,000 on entertaining "Alex Salmond spent more than £370,000 of taxpayers’ money on official entertaining during his first term in office, according to official figures obtained by the Daily Telegraph."
Telegraph - Alex Salmond spent £468,580 on Ryder Cup visit "Alex Salmond spent nearly half a million pounds of taxpayers’ money taking a Scottish delegation to this year’s Ryder Cup in Chicago, it has emerged."
And yet even 1 out of 3 Scottish Tories actually approves of the Salmond-led SNP government. That won't be a very big number admittedly, but still...
*chortle*
Always bear in mind that on PB we have the lunatic fringe or 'turnip taliban' militant wing of the scottish tories. They aren't comically inept anti-tipsters for nothing.
Every time I visit the site SeanT is talking about how much money he's got or what his house is worth or what rich people can afford to live in his neighbourhood or how much he might earn.......
Every time I visit the site SeanT is talking about how much money he's got or what his house is worth or what rich people can afford to live in his neighbourhood or how much he might earn.......
Can anyone be more vulgar when sober?
I thought Financier supposedly regularly made money that made that seem like peanuts?
You cheeky boy! That whole IPSA thing really did take the biscuit though. Any news on what has happened since it all died down? Have the MPs pay rise gone through?
You cheeky boy! That whole IPSA thing really did take the biscuit though. Any news on what has happened since it all died down? Have the MPs pay rise gone through?
It was for 2015 wasn't it? Superb timing if it is.
Every time I visit the site SeanT is talking about how much money he's got or what his house is worth or what rich people can afford to live in his neighbourhood or how much he might earn.......
Jeremy Hunt really is an annoying person, isn't he. I can't stand politicians who lecture us on how we should be living, especially if they believe in nonsense like homeopathy.
I'm not sure where the bedroom tax fits into this idea about taking in elderly relatives who can no longer look after themselves.
Tough one this. I'm guessing that because their spare room won't be spare any more, they might not have to pay the spare room subsidy. What do you think?
Every time I visit the site SeanT is talking about how much money he's got or what his house is worth or what rich people can afford to live in his neighbourhood or how much he might earn.......
Every time I visit the site SeanT is talking about how much money he's got or what his house is worth or what rich people can afford to live in his neighbourhood or how much he might earn.......
"I thought Financier supposedly regularly made money that made that seem like peanuts?"
I suspect both would clear a bar pretty quickly
Roger, dear heart, you spent your life in ADVERTISING. Your entire career consisted of "directing commercials" for tampons and breakfast cereals. That's what you did. That's what you were. That's all you are, were, shall be, or ever will be. AN ADVERTISER.
You are not just vulgar, you ARE Vulgarity. The Quintessence of Vulgar.
Your life was worthless BY DEFINITION. Your soul is made of TAT. Where others created, you plagiarised; where others invented, you ripped them off; where others strove to make stories, you stole their ideas and spat them out of your fetid cat's arse of a mouth, and pretended the resultant, noisome stain was something interesting, because THAT IS WHAT ADVERTISERS DO.
' Increasingly, you can discern a more minor-key debate among some Nats. How well can we do to keep the independence issue alive after 2014? What would be an honourable defeat? Or even, given the consistency of the polls, a moral victory?"
Every time I visit the site SeanT is talking about how much money he's got or what his house is worth or what rich people can afford to live in his neighbourhood or how much he might earn.......
Can anyone be more vulgar when sober?
I thought Financier supposedly regularly made money that made that seem like peanuts?
Don't forget Ricardohos. Him and Financier are my favourites I think.
"I don't bet I invest in certainties" is a great line.
tim
If you and Roger put together a PB vulgarity index, I'll post the tabulated results in a yellow box.
Oh bah, Roger. No, I mean it. Must be an amazing position to be in. I know we lefties live under the shadow of that 'politics of envy' bollocks, but if money/material success makes you happy why not? Anyway, the people who get most uptight about the money thing are those who have as much... or maybe just that little bit less.
Imo society's values are all to cock, but there you go.
Every time I visit the site SeanT is talking about how much money he's got or what his house is worth or what rich people can afford to live in his neighbourhood or how much he might earn.......
Can anyone be more vulgar when sober?
Probably not, you usually hear , I am considerably richer than thou , between two pub bores at around 1130 pm.
Salmond's increasingly expensive Presidential style is now beginning to seep through into the media as some of the FoI requests are granted. Alex Salmond obviously thinks he as FM is worth it because he thinks it gives him added Statesman like gravitas. But I think that this kind of lavish taxpayer funded grandstanding could end up not only damaging him at a personal level with ordinary Scots, but also among natural SNP supporters too. For now, his own grass roots will tolerate it by making excuses, especially while they have their dreamed on Indy Ref within their sights, but if they lose.......
This kind of petty lack of transparency is now becoming a regular feature of this SNP Government, and its going to be their political downfall against their auld enemy the Scottish Labour party. Telegraph - Alex Salmond's secrecy battle over £250 tartan trews "Alex Salmond charged the taxpayer more than £250 for a pair of tartan trews before waging an extraordinary campaign to keep secret his failure to refund the public purse, the Telegraph can disclose today."
Can we Scots afford to run President Salmond in an Independent Scotland
Is this a problem for Eck? It seems to me he does rather enjoy the pomp and perks of high office, not to mention the enormous free meals and first class flights.
Do Scots forgive him this, on the basis that most of it is paid for by English taxpayers? Or is there a dour, chippy resentment?
"I thought Financier supposedly regularly made money that made that seem like peanuts?"
I suspect both would clear a bar pretty quickly
Roger, dear heart, you spent your life in ADVERTISING. Your entire career consisted of "directing commercials" for tampons and breakfast cereals. That's what you did. That's what you were. That's all you are, were, shall be, or ever will be. AN ADVERTISER.
You are not just vulgar, you ARE Vulgarity. The Quintessence of Vulgar.
Your life was worthless BY DEFINITION. Your soul is made of TAT. Where others created, you plagiarised; where others invented, you ripped them off; where others strove to make stories, you stole their ideas and spat them out of your fetid cat's arse of a mouth, and pretended the resultant, noisome stain was something interesting, because THAT IS WHAT ADVERTISERS DO.
I am available for copywriting at £300 an hour.
SeanT, believe me, there are things far more worthless, tatty, and vulgar than advertising. I should know I've been working through some of them.
You've made a load of money off your writing, and you're happy about it. Well done (I am genuinely impressed). And if you want to make sure everyone knows about it, then based on your postings here that seems true to your personality. And I'm sure you enjoyed your vitriolic rant at Roger about the hollowness of advertising. Speaking for myself though, the vitriol aimed at Roger just makes the rest less impressive and smaller.
This batting display was doing the rounds earlier this week but I've only just seen it - so british and so typical of the village green cricket I love playing in! It is the poor batsman's teammate reaction which is so familiar....after my own failed 'efforts' with the willow....
Poll: 57% of Scots satisfied with @ScotGov compared to 34% who are dissatisfied, giving a net approval rating of +23 http://bit.ly/16kv3HG
There's no need for pesky things like polling. The big news of the night is a Scottish Tory Surger is now predicting a Scottish Labour surge; it's like Honecker circa 1989 predicting wonderful things for the Ceaucescus.
"I thought Financier supposedly regularly made money that made that seem like peanuts?"
I suspect both would clear a bar pretty quickly
Roger, dear heart, you spent your life in ADVERTISING. Your entire career consisted of "directing commercials" for tampons and breakfast cereals. That's what you did. That's what you were. That's all you are, were, shall be, or ever will be. AN ADVERTISER.
You are not just vulgar, you ARE Vulgarity. The Quintessence of Vulgar.
Your life was worthless BY DEFINITION. Your soul is made of TAT. Where others created, you plagiarised; where others invented, you ripped them off; where others strove to make stories, you stole their ideas and spat them out of your fetid cat's arse of a mouth, and pretended the resultant, noisome stain was something interesting, because THAT IS WHAT ADVERTISERS DO.
I am available for copywriting at £300 an hour.
SeanT, believe me, there are things far more worthless, tatty, and vulgar than advertising. I should know I've been working through some of them.
You've made a load of money off your writing, and you're happy about it. Well done (I am genuinely impressed). And if you want to make sure everyone knows about it, then based on your postings here that seems true to your personality. And I'm sure you enjoyed your vitriolic rant at Roger about the hollowness of advertising. Speaking for myself though, the vitriol aimed at Roger just makes the rest less impressive and smaller.
Oh give over. Fact is, Roger is quite right: I may - at the moment - be the most vulgar man in Britain, indeed NATO.
But taking a lesson in vulgarity from some tragic, retired, no-mark who worked in ADVERTISING?
I mean, ADVERTISING?!!
lol. Nah.
At least you own the vulgarity, which is something. If you're going to be something, own it and own to it.
"I thought Financier supposedly regularly made money that made that seem like peanuts?"
I suspect both would clear a bar pretty quickly
Roger, dear heart, you spent your life in ADVERTISING. Your entire career consisted of "directing commercials" for tampons and breakfast cereals. That's what you did. That's what you were. That's all you are, were, shall be, or ever will be. AN ADVERTISER.
You are not just vulgar, you ARE Vulgarity. The Quintessence of Vulgar.
Your life was worthless BY DEFINITION. Your soul is made of TAT. Where others created, you plagiarised; where others invented, you ripped them off; where others strove to make stories, you stole their ideas and spat them out of your fetid cat's arse of a mouth, and pretended the resultant, noisome stain was something interesting, because THAT IS WHAT ADVERTISERS DO.
I am available for copywriting at £300 an hour.
SeanT, believe me, there are things far more worthless, tatty, and vulgar than advertising. I should know I've been working through some of them.
You've made a load of money off your writing, and you're happy about it. Well done (I am genuinely impressed). And if you want to make sure everyone knows about it, then based on your postings here that seems true to your personality. And I'm sure you enjoyed your vitriolic rant at Roger about the hollowness of advertising. Speaking for myself though, the vitriol aimed at Roger just makes the rest less impressive and smaller.
Yes, speak for yourself. Speaking for myself, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I waded my way through that whole rant of an attempted rebuttal and hatchet job. And at no point did the author demolish the story about Salmond putting himself up at the Gleneagles hotel. If things get desperate, link to the blog of impartiality that is Wings over Scotland. Bless, I am sure that this article has managed to soothe the fevered brows of a few SNP supporters tonight after being faced with Salmond's latest faux pas during the highlight of their year. But its gotta hurt a wee bit that Salmond really doesn't want to mingle with the great and good of his own party at the SNP Conference.
Here is that Guardian article again - Alex Salmond derided for stay at Gleneagles for SNP conference "There were no denials from the SNP about the first minister's choice of accommodation, and Labour activists took to Twitter with gleeful digs about his choice. One, Mike Ewart, tweeted: "@AlexSalmond how is your staying at £1770 per night Gleneagles Hotel addressing #childpoverty exactly?""
I waded my way through that whole rant of an attempted rebuttal and hatchet job. And at no point did the author demolish the story about Salmond putting himself up at the Gleneagles hotel.
*tears of laughter etc*
Unspoofable as always.
The comments section even tears the inept fool a new arsehole for such a feeble bit of joke journalism based on rumours and a couple of *shock horror* attempted digs from your scottish labour chums.
A reminder for the out of touch tea party tories of what the incompetent fop promised the public on energy prices.
Millions to see energy bills fall after David Cameron promises tariff reform
Millions of households will see a fall in their gas and electricity bills after David Cameron said he will force energy companies to give every customer the cheapest possible deal.
I waded my way through that whole rant of an attempted rebuttal and hatchet job. And at no point did the author demolish the story about Salmond putting himself up at the Gleneagles hotel.
*tears of laughter etc*
Unspoofable as always.
The comments section even tears the inept fool a new arsehole for such a feeble bit of joke journalism based on rumours and a couple of *shock horror* attempted digs from your scottish labour chums.
Why shouldn't Salmond go to the Gleneagles Hotel, have I missed something?
Because the scottish tory surgers think him doing so will make the bedroom tax more popular or some other stupidity of the sort.
Is that it? With the one exception of the last - which in practice wouldn't happen anyway - these are minor details in the overall scheme of things, the sort of routine promise which Ed Miliband makes and no one takes very seriously because they know that, even if they happen, they'll have to be paid for out of some other tax or cut in spending.
Certainly nothing there to motivate one to bet against the crowd and back a Yes vote, even at 9/2.
And more amusement (I must say the SNP are providing endless fun). I thought the idea was to reject the politics of fear and the wicked negativity of the unionist nay-sayers, right? And concentrate on the positive messages, like this:
"But do not ever let anyone pull the wool over your eyes about the consequences of a No vote.
"They are clear and they are real. Scotland's social security system will be dismantled; Scotland's public services and universal benefits will be under threat and Scotland's budget will be cut.
'Britain has lost its sense of ambition and optimism and has allowed “the bits that were great” to wither, George Osborne has said as he called on the country to “up our game” '
Is that it? With the one exception of the last - which in practice wouldn't happen anyway - these are minor details in the overall scheme of things, the sort of routine promise which Ed Miliband makes and no one takes very seriously because they know that, even if they happen, they'll have to be paid for out of some other tax or cut in spending.
Certainly nothing there to motivate one to bet against the crowd and back a Yes vote, even at 9/2.
What was Cammie Blair's big conference message again?
"Land of Hope is Tory"
Golly! Inspiring stuff from the fop. "Near perfect" as an obsequious Cameroon might put it ;^ )
So that's an inept bit of public relations soundbite twattery compared to a raft of popular policies from a party which won a majority in a landslide election under a system designed to prevent it. (unlike Cammie who couldn't even win a majority against Brown under FPTP) A party that also just got these kind of approval ratings compared to the comedy coalition.
Latest poll finds that satisfaction with the Scottish Government is +23, 10 point increase since May. (UK Gov -28)
@Mick_Pork - The truth is, the SNP has probably blown it. It's a pity, both from Scotland's point of view and for the rest of the UK, but there we go. It was always going to be hard to overcome fear of the unknown, but failing to have answers ready for even the most predictable and fundamental questions such as those on the currency, EU membership, government borrowing, and NATO, was staggeringly incompetent. I suppose arrogance must be the explanation; I can't think of any other. Anyway a Yes is looking very unlikely indeed now.
Political punters need to think very carefully about the implications of this. Whilst I don't buy into Rod Crosby's prediction of a Tory surge, there will undoubtedly be a shake-up. Presumably Labour will be the main beneficiaries, faute de mieux, which in Westminster terms probably means little change.
Comments
The tory Eurosceptics are playing a waiting game right now and what they are waiting on is the EU elections and their results.
Isn't it the case that under the Barnet formula London has to pay Scotland a proportional equivalent to the infrastructure expenditures?
we have seats
Lab 31
UKIP 17
Con 13
LD 5
Green 1
SNP 2
PC 1
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AswNZWYSW1uvdFFtVGpSQzVoVXpGM253UkhrTEdFbVE&usp=sharing
LDs would retain seats in SE, SW, London, Eastern and the NorthWest
usual caveats about UNS apply...
'Scottish first minister mocked for staying in opulent golf resort as Scottish National party conference debates bedroom tax'
"While Scottish National party ministers rail against the "despicable" bedroom tax and "shameful" cuts in public services at their conference in Perth, rumours circulate that Alex Salmond has been staying at Scotland's most luxurious hotel, Gleneagles, for the weekend.
The opulent Royal Lochnagar suites at Gleneagles, described as a "magnificent French chateau" 20 miles from Perth, cost £1,770 a night this weekend. A basic Classic room for a Sunday night in mid-November would cost£295.
The hotel, set in 350 hectares of grounds, boasts some of the world's most famous golf courses. So the first minister may be there for in-depth research into next year's Ryder Cup golf tournament, which is being hosted at Gleneagles after next September's independence referendum.
If all goes to plan, and the yes campaign triumphs, Salmond will be booking its presidential suite."
"we're all in this together"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frP86R9ZNCM
He could teach tim a truth or two.
The meeting of the Queen and PP with the saintly Malala Yousafzai filmed by Sky.
Prince Philip to Malala
"The reason that children get sent to school is that their parents don't want them hanging around at home".
Now do you understand tim?
Next PB drinks, TBC, Mid to late November, Dirty Dicks.
Just remind me how far of a commute from Bute House it was that forced Alex Salmond to slum it a Scotland's most prestigious 5* hotel?
Was Alex worried he might have to mingle with his SNP MSP/MP colleagues, or even the odd SNP supporter outside the Conference hall this weekend?
Twitter
Ruth Davidson MSP @RuthDavidsonMSP 7h
@paulhutcheon on the Salmond @Gleneagleshotel story - happy to disclose I stayed at the Blackfriars St Travel Lodge at conference in Manc!
Or that the First Minister is also promoting Scotland to around 50 international diplomats even if it was true?
More slaves in London than at any time since the Romans.
Someone should inform the BBC.
LOL
A bit like this really: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om7O0MFkmpw
LOL
Daily Mail - Salmond spends £400k on London visitor centre... but no one turns up!
"It was billed by First Minister Alex Salmond as Scotland’s London ‘embassy’, aimed at attracting foreign investment into the country.
But the exclusive Pall Mall club hired by the Scottish National Party for the duration of the Games was largely empty yesterday.
Mr Salmond was widely condemned for spending £400,000 of taxpayers’ money hiring the Army and Navy Club – described by critics as a ‘vanity project’."
Telegraph - Alex Salmond spends £370,000 on entertaining
"Alex Salmond spent more than £370,000 of taxpayers’ money on official entertaining during his first term in office, according to official figures obtained by the Daily Telegraph."
Telegraph - Alex Salmond spent £468,580 on Ryder Cup visit
"Alex Salmond spent nearly half a million pounds of taxpayers’ money taking a Scottish delegation to this year’s Ryder Cup in Chicago, it has emerged."
I think I'm going to lie down...
George Osborne in expense claim for paddock
Pork
A paddock is part of the normal curtilage of a gentleman's residence.
You wouldn't keep a pig in the drawing room would you?
Always bear in mind that on PB we have the lunatic fringe or 'turnip taliban' militant wing of the scottish tories. They aren't comically inept anti-tipsters for nothing.
Please?
Can anyone be more vulgar when sober?
You cheeky boy! That whole IPSA thing really did take the biscuit though. Any news on what has happened since it all died down? Have the MPs pay rise gone through?
It was for 2015 wasn't it? Superb timing if it is.
"I thought Financier supposedly regularly made money that made that seem like peanuts?"
I suspect both would clear a bar pretty quickly
Maybe things are different at the Ivy....
"Congrats @seant. Wow. Amazing."
I'm guessing you're taking the piss?
SeanT ... the half-million dollar man.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/18/snp-conference-political-reality-no
' Increasingly, you can discern a more minor-key debate among some Nats. How well can we do to keep the independence issue alive after 2014? What would be an honourable defeat? Or even, given the consistency of the polls, a moral victory?"
If you and Roger put together a PB vulgarity index, I'll post the tabulated results in a yellow box.
Imo society's values are all to cock, but there you go.
Likes?
This kind of petty lack of transparency is now becoming a regular feature of this SNP Government, and its going to be their political downfall against their auld enemy the Scottish Labour party.
Telegraph - Alex Salmond's secrecy battle over £250 tartan trews
"Alex Salmond charged the taxpayer more than £250 for a pair of tartan trews before waging an extraordinary campaign to keep secret his failure to refund the public purse, the Telegraph can disclose today."
You've made a load of money off your writing, and you're happy about it. Well done (I am genuinely impressed). And if you want to make sure everyone knows about it, then based on your postings here that seems true to your personality. And I'm sure you enjoyed your vitriolic rant at Roger about the hollowness of advertising. Speaking for myself though, the vitriol aimed at Roger just makes the rest less impressive and smaller.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/video.cfm?c_id=1503077&gal_cid=1503077&gallery_id=138467
Meanwhile back in the real world..
Is a scottish tory surger and notorious PB anti-tipster an Oxymoron that spreads accurate rumours ?
There's no need for pesky things like polling. The big news of the night is a Scottish Tory Surger is now predicting a Scottish Labour surge; it's like Honecker circa 1989 predicting wonderful things for the Ceaucescus.
Just for the morons who gave it credence to enjoy.
http://wingsoverscotland.com/gutter-press-aspired-to/
But sure, advertising.
No 10 says people should consider wearing jumpers to keep fuel bills down
Prime minister's spokesman is reluctantly drawn into row after energy secretary says he wears warm clothes at home
Can not see the problem with this advice.
Mind you, their web bods do seem to have reported it straight here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24586951
Here is that Guardian article again - Alex Salmond derided for stay at Gleneagles for SNP conference
"There were no denials from the SNP about the first minister's choice of accommodation, and Labour activists took to Twitter with gleeful digs about his choice. One, Mike Ewart, tweeted: "@AlexSalmond how is your staying at £1770 per night Gleneagles Hotel addressing #childpoverty exactly?""
Unspoofable as always.
The comments section even tears the inept fool a new arsehole for such a feeble bit of joke journalism based on rumours and a couple of *shock horror* attempted digs from your scottish labour chums.
Cut energy bills by about 5% a year (about £70 per annum) by removing a number of "green" charges.
Bring Scotland's postal service back into public hands.
Abolish the so-called "bedroom tax".
Protect the state pension and make sure it keeps pace with the cost of living.
Remove Trident weapons from Faslane on the Clyde.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-24568887
Is that it? With the one exception of the last - which in practice wouldn't happen anyway - these are minor details in the overall scheme of things, the sort of routine promise which Ed Miliband makes and no one takes very seriously because they know that, even if they happen, they'll have to be paid for out of some other tax or cut in spending.
Certainly nothing there to motivate one to bet against the crowd and back a Yes vote, even at 9/2.
p.s. Congratulations on your success re the American publisher.
"But do not ever let anyone pull the wool over your eyes about the consequences of a No vote.
"They are clear and they are real. Scotland's social security system will be dismantled; Scotland's public services and universal benefits will be under threat and Scotland's budget will be cut.
"The risks of a No vote are real."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-24568887
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/china-business/10390164/Osborne-Britain-must-up-its-game-to-compete-in-global-economy.html
"Land of Hope is Tory"
Golly! Inspiring stuff from the fop. "Near perfect" as an obsequious Cameroon might put it ;^ )
So that's an inept bit of public relations soundbite twattery compared to a raft of popular policies from a party which won a majority in a landslide election under a system designed to prevent it. (unlike Cammie who couldn't even win a majority against Brown under FPTP)
A party that also just got these kind of approval ratings compared to the comedy coalition.
Latest poll finds that satisfaction with the Scottish Government is +23, 10 point increase since May. (UK Gov -28)
"Lib Dem MP Jeremy Browne, who was sacked as a Home Office minister in a recent reshuffle, has compared his party to a faulty shopping trolley that "defaults to the left".
In an interview with the Times, he said he had spent years trying to exert "corrective pressure" on the Lib Dems to make them a "party of government".
Now they were in danger of becoming a "party of protest" again, he warned."
Political punters need to think very carefully about the implications of this. Whilst I don't buy into Rod Crosby's prediction of a Tory surge, there will undoubtedly be a shake-up. Presumably Labour will be the main beneficiaries, faute de mieux, which in Westminster terms probably means little change.