Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Options

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Local By-Election Preview : November 21st 2013

SystemSystem Posts: 11,704
edited November 2013 in General

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Local By-Election Preview : November 21st 2013

2010: Lib Dem 3,166 (37%), Lab 2,111 (24%), Con 1,917 (22%), BNP 783 (9%), Green 381 (4%), Ind 289 (3%)
2011: Lab 1,769 (40%), Lib Dem 1,567 (36%), Green 384 (9%), Ind 340 (8%), BNP 292 (7%), TUSC 59 (1%)
2012: Lab 1,729 (40%), Lib Dem 1,584 (36%), Con 548 (13%), Green 490 (11%)
Candidates duly nominated:

Read the full story here


«1

Comments

  • Options
    Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    I doubt this will please ex City Trader Farage.
    NicholasPetre ‏@NickPetre 20m

    Goldman Sachs says new HQ on hold due to uncertainty over possible UK exit frm #EU.If they that worried,dread to think impact real economy.
  • Options
    Thanks again for another round-up, Harry. Not sure I'd describe it as a surprise if the Lib Dems win in Golcar, given that they've been within 4% in the two elections since the coalition was formed. That said, I don't have any on-the-ground info (unlike for the Horbury election next week).
  • Options
    FluffyThoughtsFluffyThoughts Posts: 2,420
    edited November 2013
    Junior:

    Please sort the site out: Your load-balancing algorythms are as balanced as a late-night post from Wee-Timmy. Is Vanilla becoming a problem...?
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,584
    edited November 2013
    For those betting on Dame Tessa Jowell as next London Mayor/Labour's candidate

    She's standing down at the next election.

    The 66-year-old - credited with leading London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics - is understood to be considering a move to the US to take up a professorship at Harvard.
  • Options
    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    @TSE

    Ouch. She was giving every indication of being interested up until recently. Though has drifted in price since then.
  • Options
    Neil said:

    @TSE

    Ouch. She was giving every indication of being interested up until recently. Though has drifted in price since then.

    I missed off the headline,

    She's standing down at the next election.
  • Options
    I still think my tips on George Galloway and James Purnell still are in with a shout.
  • Options
    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    @TSE

    She was always going to stand down at the next GE. Andrea has been pimping Dora Dixon-Fyle for the seat for years ;)
  • Options
    Here's the sky news story

    Former Culture Secretary Dame Tessa Jowell is to step down as an MP at the next general election, according to Sky Sources.

    http://news.sky.com/story/1171986/dame-tessa-jowell-to-step-down-as-mp-in-2015
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,164
    So the by-electons in both Herefordshire and Eastfield on Scarborough could change Council control
  • Options
    Those poor Aussies, Stuart Broad really is winding them up.

    Jonathan Agnew ‏@Aggerscricket 1m

    Scorecard in the Courier Mail pic.twitter.com/qpvJCiqU2L

    Ian Ward ‏@Wardyskycricket 44m

    Brilliant!!! pic.twitter.com/WUW0RNdMNO
  • Options
    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,290
    John Mann MP ‏@JohnMannMP 12m
    Co-op Bank: everyone rushing to blame the hapless Rev Flowers. Need to focus on those who actually made decisions and their advisers
  • Options
    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @pppolitics: Tessa Jowell to stand down as MP at the next election. Price cut from 10/1 to 7/1 to be London Mayor 2016 http://t.co/NbbPZe498v
  • Options
    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    Scott_P said:

    @pppolitics: Tessa Jowell to stand down as MP at the next election. Price cut from 10/1 to 7/1 to be London Mayor 2016 http://t.co/NbbPZe498v

    Have they not read the Sky piece? And they should really have priced her standing down at the GE in anyway, it's not news. Mind you they were offering 4/7 on Silvio not standing for a party that doesnt exist any more earlier on.

  • Options
    Neil said:

    Scott_P said:

    @pppolitics: Tessa Jowell to stand down as MP at the next election. Price cut from 10/1 to 7/1 to be London Mayor 2016 http://t.co/NbbPZe498v

    Have they not read the Sky piece? And they should really have priced her standing down at the GE in anyway, it's not news. Mind you they were offering 4/7 on Silvio not standing for a party that doesnt exist any more earlier on.

    Perhaps she might stand for Silvio's party?

    Is there any link between Dame Tessa and Silvio?
  • Options
    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983


    Is there any link between Dame Tessa and Silvio?

    I would have thought she was about 50 years too old for him.
  • Options
    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,290
    Mortgage management for beginners 101.
  • Options
    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    Mick_Pork said:

    I doubt this will please ex City Trader Farage.

    NicholasPetre ‏@NickPetre 20m

    Goldman Sachs says new HQ on hold due to uncertainty over possible UK exit frm #EU.If they that worried,dread to think impact real economy.
    Are you sure it is nothing to do with the fact they tried to screw the Diocese of London, and +Richard (or at least one of his little helpers) told them to go **** themselves?
  • Options
    sladeslade Posts: 1,940
    There has been a ferocious battle between Labour and the Lib Dems in Golcar (Kirklees). This is the first by-election in the Colne Valley constituency since 1998. The main streets are awash with posters and there are allegations of malpractice flying around. The weather today has been cold but mostly dry. Turnout on the day has been low but apparently quite a high postal vote. Counting is not due until tomorrow.
  • Options
    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    slade said:

    This is the first by-election in the Colne Valley constituency since 1998.

    That's not bad going!
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,164
    Charles/MickPork As Goldman Sachs is obviously pro banker, pro cuts in tax for the rich, pro EU and pro immigrant, I think it is safe to say Farage should not be too worried about how ignoring them will affect UKIP's popularity!
  • Options
    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @Sun_Politics: YouGov/Sun poll tonight: Labour with a 7 point lead. CON 32%, LAB 39%, LD 10%, UKIP 12%
  • Options
    who will give the next most unsuprising retirement news?
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,164
    SeanT Indeed, I live in Hereford at the moment, and there is a great view of the cathedral from the Wye by a statue of a dog which Elgar used to walk with a friend while living in the city (and allegedly he used the image of Dan retrieving sticks from the river in Enigma variations). The by-election tonight could also see the Council move to NOC
  • Options
    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @ToryTreasury: When will Balls admit Flowers personally approved it? RT @TelePolitics: Ed Balls 'proud' to take £50,000 from Co-op http://t.co/oYGbtT6k2g
  • Options
    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    @tim @Scott_P

    You may not be able to comment on each others' posts directly but we appreciate your twitter oneupmanship.

  • Options
    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Yeah, right. It is all so embarrasing for the Tories isn't it?
    tim said:

    The ever helpful David Davis

    @JonAshworth: So now we have senior Conservative David Davis saying the George Osborne Treasury has "really serious questions to answer" over Co-op Bank

  • Options
    MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    UKIP may be going all electronic. Story on Farage and TV debates on the Huff. Mind you, the lefty Huffington post can't resist taking a couple of under the belt digs at UKIP.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/21/nigel-farage-tv-election-debates_n_4318173.html?utm_hp_ref=tw
  • Options
    Scottish referendum: beware the Thatcher factor, Cabinet warned

    Scottish secretary Alistair Carmichael concerned over what is seen as complacency in England

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/21/scottish-referendum-thatcher-factor-cabinet?CMP=twt_gu
  • Options
    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    SeanT said:

    HYUFD said:

    SeanT Indeed, I live in Hereford at the moment, and there is a great view of the cathedral from the Wye by a statue of a dog which Elgar used to walk with a friend while living in the city (and allegedly he used the image of Dan retrieving sticks from the river in Enigma variations). The by-election tonight could also see the Council move to NOC

    I hated Hereford as a teenager - a boring, stifling small city - and so bourgeois - eek. Couldn't wait to get to London.

    And yet I had, in some ways, an idyllic youth - my friends and I would drop acid and take magic mushrooms and just wander out into the countryside - some of the most beautiful countryside on earth. And I spent many happy hours on my motorbike zipping around the hills and churches - Kilpeck to Golden Valley.

    A delightful part of the world. I am happy it is overlooked, and just a bit too far from anywhere important to be developed or industrialised.

    Its obscurity has been its salvation. Nothing much has happened there since the 14th century.
    Although it did feature in the wonderful drinking song: Hereford Square

    In Hereford Square,
    in Hereford Square
    There dwells a race of men
    Unworthy the name,
    For dead to shame,
    They close their pubs at ten

    They close their pubs at ten, my lad
    And here is the reason why:
    For there came that way,
    One night in May,
    A lad of Romany

    [continues on for another 14 verses of sub-homoerotic kippery]
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,164
    SeanT Indeed, it is probably not the most exciting place in the world if you are young, but it is a great place for families. As you say, nothing much significant has happened there since Owen Tudor was executed in the town centre in the Wars of the Roses (although it does attract the literary crowd and London intelligentsia to the Hay Festival at the beginning of every summer)
  • Options
    Just done a VI survey from Survation It had both Westminster and EP2014 questions as well as my view on Bulgarians flooding the country. Methinks it is for the Mail on Sunday
  • Options
    She should have tried for Greenwich too!
    Neil said:

    @TSE

    She was always going to stand down at the next GE. Andrea has been pimping Dora Dixon-Fyle for the seat for years ;)

  • Options

    Just done a VI survey from Survation It had both Westminster and EP2014 questions as well as my view on Bulgarians flooding the country. Methinks it is for the Mail on Sunday

    1) Are you planning to vote Lib Dem in 2014?

    2) Did they use the word flooding? That's ahem push polling.
  • Options
    AndreaParma_82AndreaParma_82 Posts: 4,714
    edited November 2013
    Con gain South Cambridgeshire
  • Options
    Mick_Pork said:

    I doubt this will please ex City Trader Farage.

    NicholasPetre ‏@NickPetre 20m

    Goldman Sachs says new HQ on hold due to uncertainty over possible UK exit frm #EU.If they that worried,dread to think impact real economy.
    That would be Goldman Sachs who helped Greece lie to allow them to get into the Euro.

    Not sure anyone should take anything they say about the EU seriously at all. Certainly they should not be considered to have any relevance to the 'real economy' given that they have been so dishonest about countries' economies in the past.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,584
    edited November 2013
    I don't think Jack Dromey has anything to do with this,

    Fear for house prices as 'estate resembles giant penis' when viewed from above in The Wirral

    The row over the street comes days after it emerged that the design for Qatar's 2022 World Cup stadium can be said to resemble a vagina

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/10464674/Fear-for-house-prices-as-estate-resembles-giant-penis-when-viewed-from-above.html
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,164
    Sean Indeed, the Barrels is still very lively on a Saturday night. Herefordshire is supposedly the most haunted county in England, so would make an excellent situation for your next thriller. Night!
  • Options
    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,068
    Has anyone other than me noticed the extreme similiarities between SeanT and the Rev Flowers.

    1. They've both taken serious quantities of Class A drugs
    2. They've both enjoyed the company of... errr... paid for companions
    3. They both believe in God
    4. They've both ended up in court on sex related charges
    5. They both hold strong political views
  • Options
    AndreaParma_82AndreaParma_82 Posts: 4,714
    edited November 2013
    Timothy Scott (Con) 378
    Fay Boissieux (Lib Dem) 96
    Helen Haugh (Lab) 74
    Elizabeth Smith (UKIP) 48

    Turnout- 32.33%

    as reported by the council twitter feed
    twitter.com/SouthCambs

    a typo or did the LD candidate killed half of the village?


  • Options

    For those betting on Dame Tessa Jowell as next London Mayor/Labour's candidate

    She's standing down at the next election.

    The 66-year-old - credited with leading London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics - is understood to be considering a move to the US to take up a professorship at Harvard.

    Will she be taking Sir David with her or will those unfortunate Italian misunderstandings preclude that ?
  • Options

    That said, I don't have any on-the-ground info (unlike for the Horbury election next week).

    Care to share ?

  • Options
    In Dulwich selection for 1992 GE, IIRC Tessa beat Barbara Follett by a small margin.
  • Options
    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Just done a VI survey from Survation It had both Westminster and EP2014 questions as well as my view on Bulgarians flooding the country. Methinks it is for the Mail on Sunday

    Bulgarians flooding the country.

    Did they use that phrase in the question....?

  • Options
    FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,054

    Just done a VI survey from Survation It had both Westminster and EP2014 questions as well as my view on Bulgarians flooding the country. Methinks it is for the Mail on Sunday

    I bet the Mail On Sunday would love to have your views. Incidentally why are you so keen to see the mythic Dan Hodges poll published. I mean I know as a political better you'd be interested but you seemed to argue it as a point of principle. Personally I would defend the Tories right to privacy. What they do in their bedrooms/polling questionnaires is up to them.
  • Options
    rcs1000 said:

    Has anyone other than me noticed the extreme similiarities between SeanT and the Rev Flowers.

    1. They've both taken serious quantities of Class A drugs
    2. They've both enjoyed the company of... errr... paid for companions
    3. They both believe in God
    4. They've both ended up in court on sex related charges
    5. They both hold strong political views

    Yeah but Sean's never run a bank.

    Actually, perhaps that's it.

    How to boost the share price/value to the shareholder.

    Make SeanT the Chairman or Chief Executive of RBS.
  • Options
    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    rcs1000 said:

    Has anyone other than me noticed the extreme similiarities between SeanT and the Rev Flowers.

    1. They've both taken serious quantities of Class A drugs
    2. They've both enjoyed the company of... errr... paid for companions
    3. They both believe in God
    4. They've both ended up in court on sex related charges
    5. They both hold strong political views

    the company of... errr... paid for companions

    I believe the accepted phrase is "ladies of negotiable virtue" ;-)
  • Options
    rcs1000 said:

    Has anyone other than me noticed the extreme similiarities between SeanT and the Rev Flowers.

    1. They've both taken serious quantities of Class A drugs
    2. They've both enjoyed the company of... errr... paid for companions
    3. They both believe in God
    4. They've both ended up in court on sex related charges
    5. They both hold strong political views

    And they both have an interest in toilets.

  • Options
    Charles said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Has anyone other than me noticed the extreme similiarities between SeanT and the Rev Flowers.

    1. They've both taken serious quantities of Class A drugs
    2. They've both enjoyed the company of... errr... paid for companions
    3. They both believe in God
    4. They've both ended up in court on sex related charges
    5. They both hold strong political views

    the company of... errr... paid for companions

    I believe the accepted phrase is "ladies of negotiable virtue" ;-)
    No, no, no.

    If you ever get caught by the Fuzz and or up before the courts, the accepted phrase is

    "She's a condom seller, and she was providing me with a free demonstration on how to use one"
  • Options
    But let's face it, SeanT never done anything as shameful as join the Labour party.
  • Options

    In Dulwich selection for 1992 GE, IIRC Tessa beat Barbara Follett by a small margin.

    Clearly Dulwich wasn't 'too working class' for Barbara.
  • Options

    Just done a VI survey from Survation It had both Westminster and EP2014 questions as well as my view on Bulgarians flooding the country. Methinks it is for the Mail on Sunday

    I bet the Mail On Sunday would love to have your views. Incidentally why are you so keen to see the mythic Dan Hodges poll published. I mean I know as a political better you'd be interested but you seemed to argue it as a point of principle. Personally I would defend the Tories right to privacy. What they do in their bedrooms/polling questionnaires is up to them.
    Iff, that poll is accurate (or even remotely accurate) then it has major betting implications.

    There's something about private/marginal polls that excites the media, and makes them believe them to be sooooo accurate than a normal VI poll.
  • Options
    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Charles said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Has anyone other than me noticed the extreme similiarities between SeanT and the Rev Flowers.

    1. They've both taken serious quantities of Class A drugs
    2. They've both enjoyed the company of... errr... paid for companions
    3. They both believe in God
    4. They've both ended up in court on sex related charges
    5. They both hold strong political views

    the company of... errr... paid for companions

    I believe the accepted phrase is "ladies of negotiable virtue" ;-)
    No, no, no.

    If you ever get caught by the Fuzz and or up before the courts, the accepted phrase is

    "She's a condom seller, and she was providing me with a free demonstration on how to use one"
    I've never been in that situation.

    Although last night someone did try to pitch me the idea of a company providing PAs/escorts... "hassle free wife" was I think the term used...

    Needless to say I passed on the opportunity...
  • Options
    FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,054
    tim said:

    @gallaghereditor: Cracks starting to show between PM & Chancellor. Fascinating from @frasernelson via @Telegraph http://t.co/IN3c6kbr4z

    Superficially looks like Osborne selling shares in Cameron

    I suspect most non-posh people will find it a bit obscure. Got the feeling he was saying that Cameron was more old money whereas Osborne was more comfortable with new money types. One likes country sports, the other likes Mediterranean yachts. Hardly a gaping divide I would have thought, more like Freud's narcissism of small differences.
  • Options
    New Scotland secretary raises possibility of referendum defeat

    http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b6c3be12-52c3-11e3-8586-00144feabdc0.html
  • Options
    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,068

    rcs1000 said:

    Has anyone other than me noticed the extreme similiarities between SeanT and the Rev Flowers.

    1. They've both taken serious quantities of Class A drugs
    2. They've both enjoyed the company of... errr... paid for companions
    3. They both believe in God
    4. They've both ended up in court on sex related charges
    5. They both hold strong political views

    And they both have an interest in toilets.

    Good point. There is a crucial difference, mind: SeanT's stories are a lot more plausible than the Rev Flower's
  • Options
    I noticed some people getting excited on the previous thread about industrial production apparantly being at its highest since 1995.

    It isn't, its actually about 10% less:

    http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/datasets-and-tables/data-selector.html?cdid=K222&dataset=diop&table-id=A1

    The CBI industrial trends survey is similar to the PMI surveys in that it measures direction and rate of change rather than actual output.
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,164
    edited November 2013
    A tragedy for British politics as one of the titans of public service, Dame Tessa Jowell, has retired from the House of Commons

    Also, random point of the night flicking between Jonathan Ross and QT has anyone noticed how much Harry Styles looks like Mick Jagger?
  • Options
    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    @tim

    I'm happy enough with my Jowell stakes. I've been on her since the weird one term / Eddie Izzard takes over thing that came out at the Labour conference. Iirc Fluffy flagged the post I tipped her in as spam, but maybe he thinks everything in English is spam.
  • Options
    Charles said:

    Charles said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Has anyone other than me noticed the extreme similiarities between SeanT and the Rev Flowers.

    1. They've both taken serious quantities of Class A drugs
    2. They've both enjoyed the company of... errr... paid for companions
    3. They both believe in God
    4. They've both ended up in court on sex related charges
    5. They both hold strong political views

    the company of... errr... paid for companions

    I believe the accepted phrase is "ladies of negotiable virtue" ;-)
    No, no, no.

    If you ever get caught by the Fuzz and or up before the courts, the accepted phrase is

    "She's a condom seller, and she was providing me with a free demonstration on how to use one"
    I've never been in that situation.

    Although last night someone did try to pitch me the idea of a company providing PAs/escorts... "hassle free wife" was I think the term used...

    Needless to say I passed on the opportunity...
    In the words of Charlie Sheen, I don't pay them for the sex, I pay them to leave.
  • Options
    FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,054
    OGH has just tweeted a Tory gain from the Lib Dems in South Cambridgeshire. Clegg really is electoral poison.
  • Options
    Eastfield on Scarborough is a Lab gain in the absence of a LD candidate
  • Options
    FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,054
    tim said:

    tim said:

    @gallaghereditor: Cracks starting to show between PM & Chancellor. Fascinating from @frasernelson via @Telegraph http://t.co/IN3c6kbr4z

    Superficially looks like Osborne selling shares in Cameron

    I suspect most non-posh people will find it a bit obscure. Got the feeling he was saying that Cameron was more old money whereas Osborne was more comfortable with new money types. One likes country sports, the other likes Mediterranean yachts. Hardly a gaping divide I would have thought, more like Freud's narcissism of small differences.
    I read it as Osborne briefing that the marriage tax nonsense is nothing to do with him and Daves "modern" Toryism isn't really modern at all (if they lose) if the Tories win of course Osborne will brief its his policies that were responsible.

    I liked the bit claiming Osborne thinks through every move carefully, the man who knocked 5% off Tory polling by linking a top rate tax cut to a pasty tax and chose to spend his time in the White House while not thinking it through
    Could be his briefing or maybe it's just that a lot of the print journos prefer Osborne to Cameron. I don't know why but Osborne does seem to have better connections/more friends in the press than the PM does.
  • Options
    SMukeshSMukesh Posts: 1,650
    The Times scraping the barrel with accusations that Balls was responsible as treasury minister for the Co-op Britannia merger.He had moved to the Education department a full 18 months before the merger took place.

    The Tory press must raise their game as so far their attempts to draw in Labour bigwigs has had no effect on the polls.
  • Options
    SMukesh said:

    The Times scraping the barrel with accusations that Balls was responsible as treasury minister for the Co-op Britannia merger.He had moved to the Education department a full 18 months before the merger took place.

    The Tory press must raise their game as so far their attempts to draw in Labour bigwigs has had no effect on the polls.

    I'm reading that story

    However, literature from his Labour leadership campaign shows Mr Balls keen to highlight his work while a Treasury minister in clearing the way for the Co-operative Bank to merge with the Britannia Building Society in 2009.

    So the legalisation happened in 2007, under Ed's tenure as Economic Secretary to the Treasury
  • Options
    FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,054
    SMukesh said:

    The Times scraping the barrel with accusations that Balls was responsible as treasury minister for the Co-op Britannia merger.He had moved to the Education department a full 18 months before the merger took place.

    The Tory press must raise their game as so far their attempts to draw in Labour bigwigs has had no effect on the polls.

    I notice not many of the Hodges fan club on here have been highlighting their hero's latest blog for the Telegraph in which he compares Cameron to Richard Nixon over his handling of the Co-op Flowers stuff.
  • Options
    SMukesh said:

    The Times scraping the barrel with accusations that Balls was responsible as treasury minister for the Co-op Britannia merger.He had moved to the Education department a full 18 months before the merger took place.

    The Tory press must raise their game as so far their attempts to draw in Labour bigwigs has had no effect on the polls.

    'Tory press' alert !!!

    There's some real shitting of bricks among the PB lefties about what might be revealed.
  • Options
    SMukesh said:

    The Times scraping the barrel with accusations that Balls was responsible as treasury minister for the Co-op Britannia merger.He had moved to the Education department a full 18 months before the merger took place.

    The Tory press must raise their game as so far their attempts to draw in Labour bigwigs has had no effect on the polls.

    Given ed balls own website has him taking credit for the merger, I think you look a little silly writing that!!!
  • Options

    SMukesh said:

    The Times scraping the barrel with accusations that Balls was responsible as treasury minister for the Co-op Britannia merger.He had moved to the Education department a full 18 months before the merger took place.

    The Tory press must raise their game as so far their attempts to draw in Labour bigwigs has had no effect on the polls.

    'Tory press' alert !!!

    There's some real shitting of bricks among the PB lefties about what might be revealed.
    The funny thing is, it is from the horse's mouth, and what Ed Balls said in 2010.

    Most analysts agree that the root of its problems lie in the Britannia merger deal. A page on Mr Balls’ website shows that in September 2010 he was still referring to his role in the merger when he was Economic Secretary.

    “In that role I was able to give the Treasury’s support for a new Private Member’s Bill that led to the creation of the first ever super-mutual bringing Britannia Building Society and the Co-op Bank together in the interests of customers rather than consumers,” he said.
  • Options
    SMukeshSMukesh Posts: 1,650

    SMukesh said:

    The Times scraping the barrel with accusations that Balls was responsible as treasury minister for the Co-op Britannia merger.He had moved to the Education department a full 18 months before the merger took place.

    The Tory press must raise their game as so far their attempts to draw in Labour bigwigs has had no effect on the polls.

    I'm reading that story

    However, literature from his Labour leadership campaign shows Mr Balls keen to highlight his work while a Treasury minister in clearing the way for the Co-operative Bank to merge with the Britannia Building Society in 2009.

    So the legalisation happened in 2007, under Ed's tenure as Economic Secretary to the Treasury
    As recently as 2012,the Treasury under the Tories had concluded that the Co-op Brittania merger was a good deal.

    All this innuendo is just irritating as clearly an attempt is being made by Tores` media friends to implicate Labour`s top leadership rather than to get at what was responsible for Co-op`s troubles.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24997820
  • Options

    New Scotland secretary raises possibility of referendum defeat

    http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b6c3be12-52c3-11e3-8586-00144feabdc0.html

    A couple of days ago we had Labour blaming the Tories for possible defeat in the referendum....today we've got the Lib Dems.......nothing like taking responsibility, eh?
  • Options
    The most interesting bit from the Times piece is that Labour insiders think the whole Flowers farrago will boost the influence of the unions.

    That the new management of the Co-op bank will not be able to give the same terms as the previous management.

    Making Labour reliant on the funds the union going forward.
  • Options
    SMukeshSMukesh Posts: 1,650

    The most interesting bit from the Times piece is that Labour insiders think the whole Flowers farrago will boost the influence of the unions.

    That the new management of the Co-op bank will not be able to give the same terms as the previous management.

    Making Labour reliant on the funds the union going forward.

    If it looks like Miliband will be part of the next government,the funding will come.
  • Options
    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983


    That the new management of the Co-op bank will not be able to give the same terms as the previous management.

    Wasnt it the Coop Group that mainly contributed to Labour?
  • Options
    Didn't the Co-Op bank use to have adverts boasting about its ethical policies ?

    I seem to remember that they would 'never support authoritarian regimes' or some such.

    They never had any problem in subsidising the Labour party and its love of illegal wars.
  • Options
    A man has been charged after police stopped a spectator from releasing a pig onto the field during day one of the first Test at the Gabba on Thursday.

    Police media confirmed a man has been charged with animal cruelty.

    The pig, whose name is Ash, was taken to the RSPCA to be treated for dehydration.

    http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/2013/11/22/man-brought-pig-to-first-ashes-test-at-gabba-charged
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,164
    FrankBooth Indeed, and it was actually Cameron who stopped Osborne cutting the top rate straight back to 40p rather than 45p
  • Options
    Neil said:


    That the new management of the Co-op bank will not be able to give the same terms as the previous management.

    Wasnt it the Coop Group that mainly contributed to Labour?
    Yes and no.

    But the loans and overdraft are provided by the banking section.

    Labour admits they still owe £2million to the bank.
  • Options
    SMukesh said:

    The most interesting bit from the Times piece is that Labour insiders think the whole Flowers farrago will boost the influence of the unions.

    That the new management of the Co-op bank will not be able to give the same terms as the previous management.

    Making Labour reliant on the funds the union going forward.

    If it looks like Miliband will be part of the next government,the funding will come.
    How revealing an attitude...more jobs for the ex lab councillors and chumocracy??? Thought we blues only did that.
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,164
    CarlottaVance/Stuart Dickson With a healthy No lead in the polls at the moment maybe it would be better if the NO campaign shut up shop until polling day to avoid any more gaffes
  • Options
    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983


    But the loans and overdraft are provided by the banking section.

    I dont see Labour going bankrupt any time soon. I would suggest they probably remain a good risk.
  • Options
    A flick through the Electoral Commission’s records reveals outstanding loans from the bank to the central party and its branches totalling £1,621,289, some at an interest rate as low as 2 per cent above base rate.

    Those terms are generous – as apparently is the approach to repayment.

    For example, £75,000 was loaned to Islington South and Finsbury Constituency Labour Party on 3rd June 1992. The CLP was meant to pay this back in June 2012, but it’s still listed as “outstanding” by the Electoral Commission. Many a small business would give their eye teeth for low interest rates and a bank manager who was so relaxed about getting the payments in on time.

    http://www.conservativehome.com/leftwatch/2013/10/co-op-bank-the-generous-lender-which-props-up-the-labour-party-goes-into-meltdown.html
  • Options
    R0bertsR0berts Posts: 391
    Jeremy Hunt eh?

    He's in charge of stuff. No, not just that, he's in charge of your healthcare!

    OMG
  • Options
    tim said:

    Neil said:


    That the new management of the Co-op bank will not be able to give the same terms as the previous management.

    Wasnt it the Coop Group that mainly contributed to Labour?
    Yes and no.

    But the loans and overdraft are provided by the banking section.

    Labour admits they still owe £2million to the bank.
    If you're going to claim that the terms of the loan were influenced politically I hope you can recommend a good solicitor to Mike.
    That ones a corker
    Try not to make an idiot of yourself.

    I've not made that claim. You think other people are like you and are happy to smear and libel away on here to make partisan points, but we're not.

    See what conhome have written.

    I can provide other sources.
  • Options
    Jeremy Hunt is apparently about to sell his share of a business for £15m or more. He's obviously got talents.
  • Options
    GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 20,920
    Hmmmmm.... Jeremy Hunt quite good on Question Time?
  • Options
    FinancierFinancier Posts: 3,916
    The UK's economic recovery will take a "number of years" the Bank of England's chief economist Spencer Dale has said.

    Speaking to the BBC, Mr Dale added that interest rates will remain low for what he termed a "sustained period".

    "We had a very deep recession, we have a number of years to go" he added, though he said that the economy is moving in the right direction.

    Mr Dale also said that while a close eye is being kept on house prices, he doesn't see a housing market bubble.

    He said: "We know that the housing market can quickly go from normal levels to overheating," but that the UK is "not there now".

    Spencer Dale sits on the BoE's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which sets interest rates

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25044115
  • Options
    Neil said:


    But the loans and overdraft are provided by the banking section.

    I dont see Labour going bankrupt any time soon. I would suggest they probably remain a good risk.
    No one thinks they well, the Labour have party have done well since the Cash for Honours era, and brought their debt down.

    The other bit I've found interesting is that the co-op have informed local authorities they will be withdrawing their banking services/facilities in the future.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,584
    edited November 2013
    GIN1138 said:

    Hmmmmm.... Jeremy Hunt quite good on Question Time?

    Not watching it, 'cause I seldom watch it, but The New Statesman staggers blog editor is a bit of a fan

    George Eaton ‏@georgeeaton 39m
    Hunt and Khan among their parties' most fluent and confident performers. Expect both to continue to rise. #bbcqt
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,584
    edited November 2013
    tim said:

    tim said:

    Neil said:


    That the new management of the Co-op bank will not be able to give the same terms as the previous management.

    Wasnt it the Coop Group that mainly contributed to Labour?
    Yes and no.

    But the loans and overdraft are provided by the banking section.

    Labour admits they still owe £2million to the bank.
    If you're going to claim that the terms of the loan were influenced politically I hope you can recommend a good solicitor to Mike.
    That ones a corker
    Try not to make an idiot of yourself.

    I've not made that claim. You think other people are like you and are happy to smear and libel away on here to make partisan points, but we're not.

    See what conhome have written.

    I can provide other sources.
    I doubt that repeating what other people have written would form the basis of a defence frankly.
    Go to bed, you're not on top form and never heard of fair comment.
  • Options
    Scarborough

    Lab 310
    UKIP 175
    Ind 97
    Con 32
    Green 11
    Ind 10


  • Options
    RichardNabaviRichardNabavi Posts: 3,413
    edited November 2013
    tim said:

    @drjennings: "He [Flowers] got where he did because of his connections" says Jeremy Hunt of Charterhouse and Magdalen, Oxford contemporary of BoJo and DC

    Even Richard Nabavi was startled that Jeremy Chum got the plum

    I was, but it turns out that Cameron was right and I was wrong. Hunt is proving an excellent health minister, much better than Lansley who might have been good on knowledge of the NHS but was poor on the politics and presentation. No wonder Labour are worried and are trying to counter-attack.
  • Options
    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    Jeez, the Mail couldnt wait until the weekend to splash on the dastardly Romanians and Bulgarians. I for one welcome our new Romanian and Bulgarian overlords.
  • Options
    tim said:

    tim said:

    tim said:

    Neil said:


    That the new management of the Co-op bank will not be able to give the same terms as the previous management.

    Wasnt it the Coop Group that mainly contributed to Labour?
    Yes and no.

    But the loans and overdraft are provided by the banking section.

    Labour admits they still owe £2million to the bank.
    If you're going to claim that the terms of the loan were influenced politically I hope you can recommend a good solicitor to Mike.
    That ones a corker
    Try not to make an idiot of yourself.

    I've not made that claim. You think other people are like you and are happy to smear and libel away on here to make partisan points, but we're not.

    See what conhome have written.

    I can provide other sources.
    I doubt that repeating what other people have written would form the basis of a defence frankly.
    Go to bed, you're not on top form and never heard of fair comment.
    Listen and learn, it's an alternative to losing all your bets.


    The Mail is the story, it defines the next six months
    I thought the next six months were going to be defined by George Osborne crying at a funeral?
  • Options
    R0bertsR0berts Posts: 391
    TSE, your "yes and no" comment below was a textbook smear.
  • Options
    FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,054
    I don't much like Question Time so I've been re-watching Nick Clegg's 2008 Party conference speech from 2008. Contains some corkers.

    'Cameron's only aim was to make the Conservatives inoffensive. The problem is once you take out the offensive parts of the Conservative party there isn't much left.' (Huge cheers)

    'Cameron's hope is to become the Andrex puppy of British politics. A cuddly symbol perhaps but fundamentally irrelevant to the product he's promoting.' (I wonder if he has changed his mind?)

    'The freewheeling, bonus driven short-termism of the City must come to an end' (How's that one looking?)

    It's funny but seeing this young handsome man speaking about fairness and social justice with real passion you could (if you were getting a bit carried away) almost envisage him as our John F Kennedy. Funny how it's turned out.

  • Options
    In case the moderators are concerned.

    Tim is talking shite.

    I am not saying what Tim is saying, I'm pointing out that the future operations of the co-op banking division is going to be vastly different to what has gone on before.

    They are changing their approach, for example they've announced this.

    The Co-op Bank will halt all its lending to local authorities across Britain as the troubled lender prepares to offload nearly £15bn of so-called “non-core” assets.

    The lender has written to the leaders of 130 councils informing them of its decision to withdraw banking services to local authorities as it focuses on its ongoing retail and SME businesses.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/10437100/Co-op-axes-banking-services-to-local-authorities.html
  • Options
    R0berts said:

    TSE, your "yes and no" comment below was a textbook smear.

    How so, Neil asked a question, and I answered it.
  • Options
    R0bertsR0berts Posts: 391
    I think Cameron's NHS lies are actually worse, more toxic, than Clegg's posturing on tuition fees, and will contribute significantly to his and the Tory Party's loss in 2015.

This discussion has been closed.